Cubs Top Prospects Lists (BP, John Sickels, BA, Keith Law)

[Outshined_One]

If Vitters has a good year, he can rocket to the top 10.

 

I don't see that possibility for anyone else in the system.

 

Do you mean next year or within the next few years?

Vitters having the kind of year he's capable of means that he likely shows up in top 10 lists next season.

 

Of course, I believe that if he has the kind of year he's capable of, he'll have the kind of season that Dope put up in the MWL.

 

I should have clarified.

 

Did you mean that about anyone else in the system next year, or anyone else in the system within the next few years?

[Guest]

If Vitters has a good year, he can rocket to the top 10.

 

I don't see that possibility for anyone else in the system.

 

Do you mean next year or within the next few years?

Vitters having the kind of year he's capable of means that he likely shows up in top 10 lists next season.

 

Of course, I believe that if he has the kind of year he's capable of, he'll have the kind of season that Dope put up in the MWL.

 

I should have clarified.

 

Did you mean that about anyone else in the system next year, or anyone else in the system within the next few years?

Next year.

 

Some of the SS's down in rookie ball have enough in the way of tools that they could be perceived at that level if they perform, but it would take a few years for them to get there.

 

From a pitching standpoint...

 

I guess the only guy that has enough in the way of scouting glory to ever be perceived as a top-10 in baseball guy is cashner. If he's going to do it, it would be by dominating as a starter this year. In which case, next year would be his only year he could be in those rankings. I guess I'm just not holding out much hope for that level of performance from him as a starter.

[jersey cubs fan]

I guess the only guy that has enough in the way of scouting glory to ever be perceived as a top-10 in baseball guy is cashner. If he's going to do it, it would be by dominating as a starter this year. In which case, next year would be his only year he could be in those rankings. I guess I'm just not holding out much hope for that level of performance from him as a starter.

 

What if Samardzija spends the year at AAA due to the big league staff being full, and dominates?

[SouthSideRyan]

If Vitters has a good year, he can rocket to the top 10.

 

I don't see that possibility for anyone else in the system.

 

Do you mean next year or within the next few years?

Vitters having the kind of year he's capable of means that he likely shows up in top 10 lists next season.

 

Of course, I believe that if he has the kind of year he's capable of, he'll have the kind of season that Dope put up in the MWL.

 

I should have clarified.

 

Did you mean that about anyone else in the system next year, or anyone else in the system within the next few years?

Next year.

 

Some of the SS's down in rookie ball have enough in the way of tools that they could be perceived at that level if they perform, but it would take a few years for them to get there.

 

From a pitching standpoint...

 

I guess the only guy that has enough in the way of scouting glory to ever be perceived as a top-10 in baseball guy is cashner. If he's going to do it, it would be by dominating as a starter this year. In which case, next year would be his only year he could be in those rankings. I guess I'm just not holding out much hope for that level of performance from him as a starter.

 

Jay Jackson.

[Cubswin11]

If Vitters has a good year, he can rocket to the top 10.

 

I don't see that possibility for anyone else in the system.

While we certainly don't have guys that could jump into the top 10 outside of Vitters I could see Cashner, Jackson, or Flaherty taking big jumps (top 50 or better) if they have successful years.

[Guest]

If Vitters has a good year, he can rocket to the top 10.

 

I don't see that possibility for anyone else in the system.

 

Do you mean next year or within the next few years?

Vitters having the kind of year he's capable of means that he likely shows up in top 10 lists next season.

 

Of course, I believe that if he has the kind of year he's capable of, he'll have the kind of season that Dope put up in the MWL.

 

I should have clarified.

 

Did you mean that about anyone else in the system next year, or anyone else in the system within the next few years?

Next year.

 

Some of the SS's down in rookie ball have enough in the way of tools that they could be perceived at that level if they perform, but it would take a few years for them to get there.

 

From a pitching standpoint...

 

I guess the only guy that has enough in the way of scouting glory to ever be perceived as a top-10 in baseball guy is cashner. If he's going to do it, it would be by dominating as a starter this year. In which case, next year would be his only year he could be in those rankings. I guess I'm just not holding out much hope for that level of performance from him as a starter.

 

Jay Jackson.

 

Jackson could dominate and easily not be make the top 10. He doesn't have the pedigree to get that much love.

[Guest]

BA broke down the top prospects by position.

 

C:

1. Matt Wieters

2. Buster Posey

3. Carlos Santana

24. Welington Castillo

No other Cubs in the top 25

 

RHSP:

1. Tommy Hanson

2. Neftali Feliz

3. Trevor Cahill

No Cubs in the top 35. Jay Jackson was listed as an X-Factor:

 

The Cubs' Jay Jackson, 21, a ninth-round pick and a two-way player at Furman last year, struck out 72 in 50 innings in his pro debut with high-octane stuff. The

 

CF:

1. Colby Rasmus

2. Cameron Maybin

3. Dexter Fowler

No Cubs in the top 15.

 

LHSP:

1. David Price

2. Brett Anderson

3. Madison Bumgarner

No Cubs in the top 20.

 

1B:

1. Lars Anderson

2. Logan Morrison

3. Justin Smoak

No Cubs in the top 15.

 

3B:

1. Pedro Alvarez

2. Mike Moustakas

3. Mat Gamel

6. Josh Vitters

No other Cubs in the top 20.

 

Corner OFs:

1. Jason Heyward

2. Travis Snider

3. Mike Stanton

No Cubs in the top 20.

 

SS:

1. Alcides Escobar

2. Gordon Beckham

3. Tim Beckham

No Cubs in the top 15.

 

Relievers:

1. Jeff Samardzija

2. Adam Miller

3. Chris Perez

No other Cubs in the top 10.

 

2B:

1. Adrian Cardenas

2. Carlos Triunfel

3. Chris Coghlan

No Cubs in the top 10.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/prospect-pulse/2009/267683.html

[SouthSideRyan]

Make it stop.

[Guest]

Q: Jason from New York asks:

Ben, last year you tipped us off to Jhoulys Chacin before the season started as your player to watch. Anyone on your radar for htis season?

 

A: Ben Badler: If we're talking low minors pitchers, I'd look at Juan Ramirez, Nick Barnese, Danny Duffy, Zach McAllister, Arodys Vizcaino, Will Smith, Kyle Lobstein, Jay Jackson, Jack McGeary and Kelvin De La Cruz as guys who could make big leaps this year.

 

Q: Mitch from Nashville, TN asks:

Ryan Flaherty was the #41 pick of the Cubs last June and had a very good start in Boise, with pretty strong power numbers. Surprised not to see him in the ss rankings. What do you see for him?

 

A: Ben Badler: Boise's a great place to hit, so keep that inflation in mind, plus I don't know many scouts who think he'll stick at shortstop. He's a good prospect with some tools and a solid handle of the strike zone, but I think he settles in at another position, possibly 3B.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/chat/chat.php?id=2009022501&rnd=15

[Guest]

It's a bit disappointing to see Adam Miller listed as a reliever. I guess the injuries have severly handicapped his chances of making it as a starter. Miller seems to be an unlucky name in the sense of being a top prospect who never quite makes it to the bigs. Greg Miller fell off the face of the earth. Andrew Miller should pray before he goes to bed at night.

[imb]

Corner OFs:

1. Jason Heyward

2. Travis Snider

3. Mike Stanton

No Cubs in the top 20.

 

urge to kill... rising

[Guest]

http://projectprospect.com/article/2009/03/03/chicago-cubs-top-5

 

Project Prospect Top 5:

 

Chicago Cubs Top 5

1 Josh Vitters 3B

2 Jeff Samardzija RHP

3 Andrew Cashner RHP

4 Hak-Ju Lee SS

5 Jay Jackson RHP

Honorables: Dae-Eun Rhee (RHP), Tyler Colvin (OF), Ryan Flaherty (SS), and Starlin Castro (SS).

[Guest]

MiLB.com's Top 10 Prospects to Watch: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090311&content_id=3969782&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Cashner

Castillo

Colvin

Flaherty

Guyer

Hoffpauir

Lee

Rhee

Samardzija

Vitters

 

MiLB.com's Look at Cubs system: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090311&content_id=3963926&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

"Paul Weaver and Steve Wilson have certainly put us on the map internationally. We also hired Louie Eljaua and Jose Serra was promoted to Latin American coordinator. They've put us on the map, getting top athletes around the world, and have made my job a lot easier. We have kids who almost made the Australian World Baseball Classic team. There's Alex Maestri on Team Italy and Hung-Wen Chen, he's on the Taiwanese team. Those are the kind of guys when they get the chance to make those teams, it speaks volumes that we are signing the top guys internationally. When you do that and you have a guy like Tim Wilken as scouting director, you'll get better and in a hurry."

 

--Oneri Fleita, Cubs vice president, player personnel

[NCCubFan]

MiLB.com's Top 10 Prospects to Watch: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090311&content_id=3969782&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Cashner

Castillo

Colvin

Flaherty

Guyer

Hoffpauir

Lee

Rhee

Samardzija

Vitters

 

MiLB.com's Look at Cubs system: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090311&content_id=3963926&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

At first I was shocked to see Samardz and Vitters 9th and 10th, but then I realized they're listed in alphabetical order and not ranked from 1 to 10.

[CUBZ99]

Where is Ty Wright rated out of the Cubs prospects? It seems that Lou has taken a liking to him the spring. Just looked up his numbers and they seem pretty solid, if not spectacular.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

http://cubsminors.wikispaces.com/WrightT

[Outshined_One]

Where is Ty Wright rated out of the Cubs prospects? It seems that Lou has taken a liking to him the spring. Just looked up his numbers and they seem pretty solid, if not spectacular.

 

That pretty much describes him. He won't hit for much power and will have to sustain good numbers BA-wise and OBP-wise if he wants any shot in the majors. He could make a decent 4th or 5th OF, but I don't see him becoming a starter down the line.

[CUBZ99]

http://cubsminors.wikispaces.com/WrightT

 

Thanks TT, I need to make better use of that site. Excellent work btw.

 

Where is Ty Wright rated out of the Cubs prospects? It seems that Lou has taken a liking to him the spring. Just looked up his numbers and they seem pretty solid, if not spectacular.

 

That pretty much describes him. He won't hit for much power and will have to sustain good numbers BA-wise and OBP-wise if he wants any shot in the majors. He could make a decent 4th or 5th OF, but I don't see him becoming a starter down the line.

 

Your analysis might be spot on. Just checked out TT's link and apparently his arm is rated as a 35, which according to the scouting report limits him to LF. It will be probably be hard for him to start in LF without much power.

[Guest]

BA had Wright ranked 25.

 

Since he's locked into LF, I can't see him ever making it as a starter with his limited power.

[Clem Fandango]

Not sure if it has been posted here yet, but this is Baseball Intellect's Top 15 prospects:

 

1. Josh Vitters

2. Andrew Cashner

3. Ryan Flaherty

4. Jay Jackson

5. Dae-Eun Rhee

6. Starlin Castro

7. Hak-Ju Lee

8. Wellington Castillo

9. Brandon Guyer

10. Tyler Colvin

11. Steve Clevenger

12. Micah Hoffpauir

13. Junior Lake

14. Tony Thomas

15. Alessandro Maestri

 

*Take Note: Jeff Samardzija did not qualify for this list…as a reliever, he was over the 25 inning threshold for moving out of prospect status. He would be the team’s No. 2 prospect and a grade B should he have been included. The same rule applies to Kevin Hart.

 

Prospects 1-5

Prospects 6-15

[RammyFanny]

Video of Jay Jackson's FB and Slider in the 1st link if anyone's interested. Slider looked nice.

[sneakypower]

http://projectprospect.com/article/2009/03/16/top-200-prospect-list

 

couple weeks old but depressing. only 2 of the top 199 and Cashner sitting there at 200