Cub prospects in the news

[Shilzzz]

Over in Mexico, Jeff Samardzija (CHN) has had five starts for Mexicali, three of which have been excellent. In his latest outing Friday, he went six innings of four-hit shutout ball with 1 BB and 7 Ks at Hermosillo. I’ve never been on the Samardzija bandwagon, but a good winter season might breathe some life into his career, which stalled a bit last year.

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/minor_key/discussion/quick_notes_from_the_winter_leagues/

[davell]

BA's Cubs top 10 list will be on their website on November 16.

 

So, after reading through the comments from the League top 20's, what are we thinking for the top 10 list from BA? I figure we'll get the same top 7 we have all basically mentioned, but about the only thing I'm comfortable with at this point is putting Castro at 1 and Carpenter at 7. With Vitters, Cashner, Lee and Jay and Brett Jackson in some order from 2-6. My guess is Vitters at 2, B Jackson at 3, with Lee, Jay Jackson and Cashner at 4-5-6. Not how I'd rank them, but I can see BA doing it this way.......

 

The real question for us is who is 8,9, and 10? To me, it looks like Archer is going to be in at 8, at least based on the league top 20's. I'm figuring that 9 and 10 will come from Burke, Flaherty, LeMahieu, Colvin, Rhee or Watkins......I'll go with Burke and Rhee as my guesses from them. What do you guys see at this point?

[Tryptamine]

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL): Starlin Castro, Tim Beckham or Alcides Escobar?

 

Jim Callis: Castro. Better all-around player than Beckham and a better hitter (and not much less a fielder) than Escobar.

 

Wow, even a Cubby blue koolaid sipper like myself is caught off guard by this. I was thinking Castro might be in the 35 to 40 range, but might he be even higher than that?

[Sever82]

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL): Starlin Castro, Tim Beckham or Alcides Escobar?

 

Jim Callis: Castro. Better all-around player than Beckham and a better hitter (and not much less a fielder) than Escobar.

 

Wow, even a Cubby blue koolaid sipper like myself is caught off guard by this. I was thinking Castro might be in the 35 to 40 range, but might he be even higher than that?

 

Don't let a Brewer's fan read this. According to them Escobar is the next big thing. I hope Castro lives up to the hype though, would be nice if it panned out and both him and vitters were studs, along with Cashner.

[Tedward]

From last week's chat...

 

Jack (Toronto)

 

 

Is Starlin Castro an elite prospect? Top 25? 50?

 

Jim Callis (2:04 PM)

 

 

He's one of the best shortstop prospects in the minors. Not sure I'd put him in the Top 25 overall yet, but I could see him in the 26-50 range.

[davell]

I'd say that seeing how much progress Castro has made in one season has been the biggest bright spot for the Cubs in 2009. It's also awesome to see the hype coming all at once, while we've been seeing it develop all year.

[TruffleShuffle]

i love castro but i don't know that i'd put him above beckham or escobar yet. i really like both of those guys.

 

still, if castro is ahead of them i don't see how he's not top 25. seems weird to me.

[sweetpeteman]

i love castro but i don't know that i'd put him above beckham or escobar yet. i really like both of those guys.

 

still, if castro is ahead of them i don't see how he's not top 25. seems weird to me.

 

 

He didn't say "best", he said "one of the best."

 

That doesn't mean he's above Beckham or Escobar.

[TruffleShuffle]

i love castro but i don't know that i'd put him above beckham or escobar yet. i really like both of those guys.

 

still, if castro is ahead of them i don't see how he's not top 25. seems weird to me.

 

 

He didn't say "best", he said "one of the best."

 

That doesn't mean he's above Beckham or Escobar.

 

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL): Starlin Castro, Tim Beckham or Alcides Escobar?

 

Jim Callis: Castro. Better all-around player than Beckham and a better hitter (and not much less a fielder) than Escobar.

[Guest]

Mark (Austin, TX) What kind of numbers do you project from Starlin Castro down the road? I recently heard he was compared to Hanley Ramirez. If so, where does he fall in your prospect rankings?

 

Jim Callis (2:23 PM) The sky is the limit for Castro, who's not far away from the majors as a 19-year-old. He still needs some baseball and physical development, but I could see him in Chicago by the end of 2010 if he continues to progress rapidly. I'm not saying he'll be as good as either guy because they're both elite players, but I think his ceiling is more like Derek Jeter's than Hanley Ramirez'. Ramirez has more pure speed and power than Jeter. I haven't done an overall top prospects list, but Castro will be near the top when I do.

 

Ken (Mass) how does Starlin Castro's power project for the future? 3 HR in 469 AB and he's skinny, does he project to fill out more ? I know, it's early, he's young etc...

 

Jim Callis (2:45 PM) He's just 19 and still growing. The Cubs antcipate him being 6-foot-3 and 195-200 pounds. He'll have some strength and he knows how to hit, so I anticipate average power.

[bubblesdachimp]

From Callis today

 

Mark (Austin, TX)

 

 

What kind of numbers do you project from Starlin Castro down the road? I recently heard he was compared to Hanley Ramirez. If so, where does he fall in your prospect rankings?

 

Jim Callis (2:23 PM)

 

 

The sky is the limit for Castro, who's not far away from the majors as a 19-year-old. He still needs some baseball and physical development, but I could see him in Chicago by the end of 2010 if he continues to progress rapidly. I'm not saying he'll be as good as either guy because they're both elite players, but I think his ceiling is more like Derek Jeter's than Hanley Ramirez'. Ramirez has more pure speed and power than Jeter. I haven't done an overall top prospects list, but Castro will be near the top when I do.

 

Matt (Chicago)

 

 

Please tell me that Sam Fuld and Reed Johnson won't be platooning in center field for the Cubs next year. Does Rick Ankiel make any sense there as a flier?

 

Jim Callis (2:35 PM)

 

 

Depends on what it would cost for Ankiel. I think the Cubs would like to kill two birds with one stone and get rid of Milton Bradley in a deal that will land them someone who can play center. The latest rumor is Aaron Rowand, who was a hit with the crosstown White Sox.

 

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL)

 

 

Starlin Castro, Tim Beckham or Alcides Escobar?

 

Jim Callis (2:38 PM)

 

 

Castro. Better all-around player than Beckham and a better hitter (and not much less a fielder) than Escobar.

 

Ken (Mass)

 

 

how does Starlin Castro's power project for the future? 3 HR in 469 AB and he's skinny, does he project to fill out more ? I know, it's early, he's young etc...

 

Jim Callis (2:45 PM)

 

 

He's just 19 and still growing. The Cubs antcipate him being 6-foot-3 and 195-200 pounds. He'll have some strength and he knows how to hit, so I anticipate average power.

 

rayg (burlington, nj)

 

 

you say don't read too much into Desme's AFL numbers, but aren't you (and others) reading alot into Starlin Castros AFL numbers?

 

Jim Callis (2:50 PM)

 

 

Can't speak for others, but I'm not. I was bullish on Castro before he got to the AFL.

 

Rick (Oakland)

 

 

Cubs' Tim Wilken or the average major league scouting director?

 

Jim Callis (2:50 PM)

 

 

Wilken vs. the average? Wilken, easily.

 

Nothing new but I am pretty excited about Castro

[javy knows my name]

well that's sort of obnoxious

[bubblesdachimp]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram.... Damn it feels good to hit the lottery. Also feels good to have the best SS in the minors. And i actually think he hits his ceiling. This kid wont stop hitting. He is special.

 

For long time posters whats the deal with posting David Grey's take on Vitters and Parker. It is a little longer... Fair or foul

[CUBZ99]

i love castro but i don't know that i'd put him above beckham or escobar yet. i really like both of those guys.

 

still, if castro is ahead of them i don't see how he's not top 25. seems weird to me.

 

I haven't done an overall top prospects list, but Castro will be near the top when I do.

 

Considering this quote today, maybe Callis has changed his mind and Castro will be in the top 25?

[TruffleShuffle]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram....

 

no

[Sever82]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram....

 

no

 

Yeah I wouldn't assume that just yet, maybe we have a castro instead of a jeter or han ram. I'm excited about Castro too but you have to get a bigger sample size before biting into the hype. The most exciting part i got from the whole post is how big the cubs expect Castro to grow into. If he become 6'3 195-200lbs, I'd imagine he'd lean more towards a Han Ram than Jeter.

[Lefty]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram.... Damn it feels good to hit the lottery. Also feels good to have the best SS in the minors. And i actually think he hits his ceiling. This kid wont stop hitting. He is special.

 

For long time posters whats the deal with posting David Grey's take on Vitters and Parker. It is a little longer... Fair or foul

 

Yeah, I remember a few years ago we had a pitcher whose upside was Clemens and downside was Mussina.

[TruffleShuffle]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram....

 

no

 

Yeah I wouldn't assume that just yet, maybe we have a castro instead of a jeter or han ram. I'm excited about Castro too but you have to get a bigger sample size before biting into the hype. The most exciting part i got from the whole post is how big the cubs expect Castro to grow into. If he become 6'3 195-200lbs, I'd imagine he'd lean more towards a Han Ram than Jeter.

 

if he pans out and reaches his ceiling then maybe he's a jeter (sure-fire hall of fame ss) or han ram (hall of fame ss if he keeps this up another several years). castro could also be an edgar renteria (solid ss but not hall of fame) or he could be the next rey ordonez. sometimes highly-touted prospects bust.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram.... Damn it feels good to hit the lottery. Also feels good to have the best SS in the minors. And i actually think he hits his ceiling. This kid wont stop hitting. He is special.

 

For long time posters whats the deal with posting David Grey's take on Vitters and Parker. It is a little longer... Fair or foul

 

Yeah, I remember a few years ago we had a pitcher whose upside was Clemens and downside was Mussina.

 

And that guy suuuuucked at pitching.

[jersey cubs fan]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram....

 

no

 

Yeah I wouldn't assume that just yet, maybe we have a castro instead of a jeter or han ram. I'm excited about Castro too but you have to get a bigger sample size before biting into the hype. The most exciting part i got from the whole post is how big the cubs expect Castro to grow into. If he become 6'3 195-200lbs, I'd imagine he'd lean more towards a Han Ram than Jeter.

 

if he pans out and reaches his ceiling then maybe he's a jeter (sure-fire hall of fame ss) or han ram (hall of fame ss if he keeps this up another several years). castro could also be an edgar renteria (solid ss but not hall of fame) or he could be the next rey ordonez. sometimes highly-touted prospects bust.

 

I would think maybe Alex Gonzalez (Toronto/Cubs) instead of ReyO. Ordonez was a midget who never came close to being productive. Gonzo at least flirted with being a productive SS from time to time, was a bigger guy. Alex struck out more, and was moderately productive in the minors. Ordonez only got the job becaus of his glove, he sucked hitting.

 

Castro has been much better than both by the way. I'm trying to stay reasonable about him, but I'm definitely optimistic.

[Guancous]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram....

 

no

 

Yeah I wouldn't assume that just yet, maybe we have a castro instead of a jeter or han ram. I'm excited about Castro too but you have to get a bigger sample size before biting into the hype. The most exciting part i got from the whole post is how big the cubs expect Castro to grow into. If he become 6'3 195-200lbs, I'd imagine he'd lean more towards a Han Ram than Jeter.

 

if he pans out and reaches his ceiling then maybe he's a jeter (sure-fire hall of fame ss) or han ram (hall of fame ss if he keeps this up another several years). castro could also be an edgar renteria (solid ss but not hall of fame) or he could be the next rey ordonez. sometimes highly-touted prospects bust.

 

I would think maybe Alex Gonzalez (Toronto/Cubs) instead of ReyO. Ordonez was a midget who never came close to being productive. Gonzo at least flirted with being a productive SS from time to time, was a bigger guy. Alex struck out more, and was moderately productive in the minors. Ordonez only got the job becaus of his glove, he sucked hitting.

 

Castro has been much better than both by the way. I'm trying to stay reasonable about him, but I'm definitely optimistic.

 

I'll take six years of Rey Ordonez/Alex Gonzalez under team control. It beats paying $5 million a year to the Orlando Cabreras of the world.

[Lefty]

So we either have Jeter or Han Ram.... Damn it feels good to hit the lottery. Also feels good to have the best SS in the minors. And i actually think he hits his ceiling. This kid wont stop hitting. He is special.

 

For long time posters whats the deal with posting David Grey's take on Vitters and Parker. It is a little longer... Fair or foul

 

Yeah, I remember a few years ago we had a pitcher whose upside was Clemens and downside was Mussina.

 

And that guy suuuuucked at pitching.

 

The guy I referred to in my "prior" post did not suck at pitching.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'll take six years of Rey Ordonez/Alex Gonzalez under team control. It beats paying $5 million a year to the Orlando Cabreras of the world.

 

I would be very disappointed with ReyO 2.0. You can't justify a 60 OPS+ in your lineup everyday, especially not the Cubs who have no stars that can carry the team, and none on the horizon.

[sneakypower]

for Castro's floor, i'm trying to think of highly touted prospects with decent enough plate disc who never much grew into power or had other developmental problems, like Cabrera, Rivas or Guzman but none of those guys had success with the bat in the minors like Castro's past season

[SouthSideRyan]

for Castro's floor, i'm trying to think of highly touted prospects with decent enough plate disc who never much grew into power or had other developmental problems, like Cabrera, Rivas or Guzman but none of those guys had success with the bat in the minors like Castro's past season

 

It's hard to find a floor comp for a 19 year old having success in AA. Cedeno was a couple years older along the way, he was my 1st instinct for a floor.