Cub prospects in the news

[bubblesdachimp]

I think you are mostly correct. I really do. I am really hoping he turned a corner. That would be awesome. That is something I didnt really expect from him. I really like the coaching our kids are getting at Peoria.

 

Frankly, I don't blame you for wondering whether Burke has finally turned the corner. There is a legitimate point in saying that this is his third go-round in the MWL and that he fell on his face both times. Yes, he was fresh out of high school in his first go-round, but remember that he was a supplemental first round pick by the Padres who was highly touted as a five tool OFer. You would expect someone like him to move quickly through a system, but he has not done that.

 

If he produces like this next season in Daytona or Tennessee, then there will be legitimate reason to be excited. For now, cautious optimism seems to be the order of the day for him.

 

I agree with this in its entirety. I hope the kid turns out well. But I have jsut seen this so many times with our stupid outfielder prospects.. Hopefully this kid will develop and see some time at Tennessee. We could have a very productive OF by the time Dome and Bradley are done of Soriano B Jax and Burke. If everything goes to plan.

[TruffleShuffle]

I think you are mostly correct. I really do. I am really hoping he turned a corner. That would be awesome. That is something I didnt really expect from him. I really like the coaching our kids are getting at Peoria.

 

Frankly, I don't blame you for wondering whether Burke has finally turned the corner. There is a legitimate point in saying that this is his third go-round in the MWL and that he fell on his face both times. Yes, he was fresh out of high school in his first go-round, but remember that he was a supplemental first round pick by the Padres who was highly touted as a five tool OFer. You would expect someone like him to move quickly through a system, but he has not done that.

 

not really. he was a raw player coming from an area (southeast TN) with relatively poor competition in baseball. you can't really judge a guy based on his tools and his draft position and say he should or shouldn't move quickly. i mean, anthony hewitt (phillies draft pick last year) was chosen higher than burke and is struggling in the NY Penn league in his second season. he was regarded as a potential five tool player, but like burke he played subpar competition in high school and was a multi-sport athlete. contrast burke to a guy like vitters, who played nearly all of his second season at short-season ball. if a guy who was a better pure hitter, played only baseball and faced very good competition isn't necessarily ready for low-A at age 19, why would someone with burke's pedigree be ready?

 

burke barely OPS'ed .600 in 45 games his first year after being drafted; he clearly was going to flop if he was pushed to the MWL at age 19. last year was a disappointment at peoria, but he had some bad luck there and seems to be a bit of a slow starter. i can understand not being fully on the bandwagon but the signs are there for a breakthrough. next year should certainly be telling.

[ChiefsVoice]

ia

Best Defensive 1B: Rebel Ridling

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/best-tools/2009/268704.html

Maybe I saw him have two bad games in a row or something but from what I saw his defense was pretty bad.

 

you saw two bad games in a row. Apparently. Not sure where you saw us. but as I indicated earlier in this thread, this award doesn't surprise me at all...

[Rob]

After not having any entries in AA and AAA for BA's best tools lists, the Cubs got quite a bit of love at A-ball:

 

FSL:

 

Best Fastball: Andrew Cashner, Daytona

Best Defensive SS: Starlin Castro, Daytona

 

MWL:

 

Best Batting Prospect: Josh Vitters, Peoria

Best Power Prospect: Josh Vitters, Peoria

Best Defensive 1B: Rebel Ridling

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/best-tools/2009/268704.html

 

Nice to see Castro getting that. I tend to take defensive statistics with a grain of salt in the minors, simply because the fields aren't always as well tended as they are at the major league level. The scouting reports have always been glowing though, and I like to see they seem to be getting even better.

[Rob]

Sickels goes back over the Cubs top 20 from the preseason.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/8/19/995012/chicago-cubs-top-20-pre-season

[bubblesdachimp]

ia

Best Defensive 1B: Rebel Ridling

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/best-tools/2009/268704.html

Maybe I saw him have two bad games in a row or something but from what I saw his defense was pretty bad.

 

you saw two bad games in a row. Apparently. Not sure where you saw us. but as I indicated earlier in this thread, this award doesn't surprise me at all...

 

What is your opinion on Burke? You have seen him for a while? Just curious..

 

Thanks for all you report.

[Guest]

Logan Watkins was the NWL player of last week:

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Northwest League

Logan Watkins, Boise

.500 (13-26), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SO, 2 SB, .500 SLG

Cubs prospect Logan Watkins ended the week with a modest seven-game hitting streak, collecting nine hits in his last three game. His two stolen bases over the course of this week's six games put his season total to nine thefts in 13 attempts, and he's third in the Northwest League with a .337 average and tied for second with 68 hits.

 

Jay Jackson was the FSL pitcher of last week:

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Florida State League

Jay Jackson, Daytona

1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO

Cubs 2008 draftee Jay Jackson moved down to the Florida State League from Double-A at the end of July, but this week he pitched like he's ready to take another stab at the Southern League. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Monday, and he blanked them again over 6 2/3 frames on Sunday, striking out seven in that game. The Dunedin hitters saw plenty of Jackson, but nobody could get a handle on him -- five players combined for six of the team's hits.

[CyHawk_Cub]

 

Jay Jackson was the FSL pitcher of last week:

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Florida State League

Jay Jackson, Daytona

1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO

Cubs 2008 draftee Jay Jackson moved down to the Florida State League from Double-A at the end of July, but this week he pitched like he's ready to take another stab at the Southern League. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Monday, and he blanked them again over 6 2/3 frames on Sunday, striking out seven in that game. The Dunedin hitters saw plenty of Jackson, but nobody could get a handle on him -- five players combined for six of the team's hits.

 

Free J. Jax!!!!!

[Guest]

BA Hot Sheet: August 21

 

No. 8 TYLER COLVIN, RF, CUBS

 

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 23

Why He's Here: .524/.583/1.000 (11-for-21), 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 BB, 1 SO

The Scoop: Tyler Colvin's climb up the minor league ladder has been more of a camp-out. He arrived in Double-A in 2007, and two seasons later, he's still there. He actually put up worse numbers in 2008 in his return to Double-A than he did in half a season there in 2007—though an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery played a part in his struggles.

 

His 2009 season hadn't been much better, but this August he's finally putting together an argument to get out of Tennessee. Colvin is hitting .381/.439/.698 to raise his batting average by 30 points. It won't be enough to put him back on the fast track, but it should be enough to get him to Triple-A for the 2010 season.

[Guest]

At this point, it might not be enough

 

Carlos Zambrano, RHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria)

Thursday's stats: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

On the shelf since early in the month with back spasms, Zambrano carved up Midwest League hitters on Thursday in preparation for a return to the Cubs rotation. The problem is, it might be too little, too late, as the Cardinals have the biggest lead of any division leader, and the north-siders have four teams ahead of them in the wild card race. It's looking nearly impossible for the Cubs to make the playoffs at this point, but it would be even more so without Big Z.

[Guest]

Todd (Chattanooga): What do you see in Tyler Colvin's future? 4th/utility outfielder?

 

J.J. Cooper: That sounds about right to me. Being a lefty bat will help him, and he can play both corner spots. He's not the athlete he was when the Cubs drafted him, and he's clearly on the slow track, so he still has some work to do to reach that level.

 

grant (wpg): Any future for Dopirak? Seems like he should be passed being a prospect, so long ago that he was hyped, but he's still just 25 (or about the same age as Clay Bucholz), and tearing up AA and AAA.

 

J.J. Cooper: Dopirak is a favorite of mine from a "don't give up on his yet" standpoint. The tools were always there, even when he fell apart at the plate. He seems to have figured it out again. Playing in Las Vegas will help inflate a hitter's numbers, but Dopirak has now been producing again for two seasons. Before it's all over, I'd be shocked if he didn't get a shot at the big leagues, but because of his past failure, he's got a smaller window for success than a more highly-regarded prospect. I could see him having a Jack Cust type career (although he's not the same kind of hitter as Cust as he has less patience and less strikeouts) where he bounces around but eventually runs into 400-500 at-bats somewhere because of his power potential.

 

larry (chicago): When are AFL rosters going to be released? And what's the status of the "junior" AFL league for less experienced minor leaguers?

 

J.J. Cooper: If past history is a guide we should get them next week. The junior league has been cancelled to save money which is a shame. Whether in Hawaii or Arizona, it would be helpful to have a league for less polished players to get more ABs or innings, especially for players who were injured during the summer.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1250875837

[Guest]

markDC (Washington, DC): Starlin Castro - starting Cubs shortstop in 2011?

 

Kevin Goldstein: No. Second base, maybe, but not shortstop.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=639

[Ryno12]

markDC (Washington, DC): Starlin Castro - starting Cubs shortstop in 2011?

 

Kevin Goldstein: No. Second base, maybe, but not shortstop.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=639

 

I'm curious as to why he thinks Castro will move off shortstop. Sure, he's making several errors, but it seems he has the tools to stick there. If it's because Theriot would be blocking him, that'd be insane, as moving Theriot to 2b makes a lot more sense.

[Wrigley Rat]

markDC (Washington, DC): Starlin Castro - starting Cubs shortstop in 2011?

 

Kevin Goldstein: No. Second base, maybe, but not shortstop.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=639

 

I'm curious as to why he thinks Castro will move off shortstop. Sure, he's making several errors, but it seems he has the tools to stick there. If it's because Theriot would be blocking him, that'd be insane, as moving Theriot to 2b makes a lot more sense.

I think he is saying that if he were to be on the major league roster in 2011, he would have to be playing 2B because his defense at shortstop needs more time. He could have added, "Shortstop in 2012 or 2013 is more likely."

[TruffleShuffle]

i wonder how reliable the GB/LD/FB stats are in the minors, especially lower levels. minor league splits has logan watkins at a 10.6 LD%, which seems ridiculously low for a guy who's hitting .344 and seems really good at squaring the ball up. hak-ju lee has a low LD% supposedly. i'm inclined to think these are bogus.

[jersey cubs fan]

markDC (Washington, DC): Starlin Castro - starting Cubs shortstop in 2011?

 

Kevin Goldstein: No. Second base, maybe, but not shortstop.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=639

 

I'm curious as to why he thinks Castro will move off shortstop. Sure, he's making several errors, but it seems he has the tools to stick there. If it's because Theriot would be blocking him, that'd be insane, as moving Theriot to 2b makes a lot more sense.

I think he is saying that if he were to be on the major league roster in 2011, he would have to be playing 2B because his defense at shortstop needs more time. He could have added, "Shortstop in 2012 or 2013 is more likely."

 

That would seem like a really weird assertion to make, that he would be incapable of playing SS in 2011 but by 2012 or 2013 he should figure it out.

[Guest]

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee)

It was a big surprise to see Castro begin the year at High-A as a 19-year-old after only playing the complex league last year, so now it's an even bigger surprise to see him at Double-A. A contact machine who hit .302/.340/.391 in the Florida State League, Castro got off to a slow start with the Smokies, but after going 3-for-3 last Thursday and delivering two-hit games in all three weekend contests, he's now up to .297/.375/.344 with just three strikeouts in 64 at-bats. His lack of power and questionable range for the left side keep him from being an elite-level prospect, but a weak Cubs farm system will take anything they can get.

[Outshined_One]

That's the first I've heard about him having questionable range to his left.

[JeffH]

That's the first I've heard about him having questionable range to his left.

 

I don't think they meant questionable range going to his left. I think they mean questionable range for the left side of the infield (i.e., shortstop). Maybe he fits better defensively at 2B.

[davell]

I think that there is a very good chance that this is BP not doing their research. He did just get Best Defensive at his position through BA at High A and I find it kind of amusing that they would comment about lack of power from a 19 year old 160 pound kid who is 6'1 and will certainly put on more weight in the near future as it is. I'm not sure what constitutes an "elite" prospect or how many true "elite" prospects there are right now, but I feel very comfortable to say I expect him in the top 75 through BA next year and possibly at the bottom of the top 50.

[CUBZ99]

I think that there is a very good chance that this is BP not doing their research. He did just get Best Defensive at his position through BA at High A and I find it kind of amusing that they would comment about lack of power from a 19 year old 160 pound kid who is 6'1 and will certainly put on more weight in the near future as it is. I'm not sure what constitutes an "elite" prospect or how many true "elite" prospects there are right now, but I feel very comfortable to say I expect him in the top 75 through BA next year and possibly at the bottom of the top 50.

 

Agreed, I don't see how you don't get excited about a kid with Casto's potential. What he has done so far in his short minor league career is remarkable.

[TruffleShuffle]

i too am dubious about their scouting report of castro's defense. and i wouldn't call the cubs' system weak any more; with trades (mostly derosa), improvement and other systems falling back (see cardinals), the cubs are probably middle of the pack.

[Ryno12]

i too am dubious about their scouting report of castro's defense. and i wouldn't call the cubs' system weak any more; with trades (mostly derosa), improvement and other systems falling back (see cardinals), the cubs are probably middle of the pack.

 

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only person scratching my head after the reading that this morning.

[Mephistopheles]

I think that there is a very good chance that this is BP not doing their research. He did just get Best Defensive at his position through BA at High A and I find it kind of amusing that they would comment about lack of power from a 19 year old 160 pound kid who is 6'1 and will certainly put on more weight in the near future as it is. I'm not sure what constitutes an "elite" prospect or how many true "elite" prospects there are right now, but I feel very comfortable to say I expect him in the top 75 through BA next year and possibly at the bottom of the top 50.

 

There's also a very good chance that this IS BP doing their research. The comment about his defense is pretty specific and almost certainly came from (at least) one scout, and probably multiple. That being said it's way too early for us to tell whether he will be at 2b or SS in three years, even if his range is suspect to the left.

[davell]

Unless I'm mistaken and reading it wrong, it says "for the left side" not "to his left" which would be more specific. But, I read it as a generic comment probably based on his high error rate. But, I DO agree it's too early obviously to say where he'll wind up eventually anyway.