Cub prospects in the news

[illiniguy]

Rizzo was in Baseball America's team photo this week as well.

[Guest]

Anthony Rizzo (IA): I've been knocking at the door to Wrigley, especially of late. How long until they let me in?

 

Matthew Eddy: Bryan LaHair got 45 games with the Mariners in 2008, didn't hit and had to wait three years for another chance, with last year's Cubs. Anthony Rizzo won't have to wait that long, but there's value for Chicago in keeping him in the minors for a few months. For one thing, they can delay Rizzo's free agency for a year if they exercise some patience now (and it's not like they're going to contend for the Central crown this year). And second, Rizzo could use the repetitions against Triple-A arms to make sure his new swing path takes. Big league hurlers exposed a hole in his swing up in the zone last year.

 

Rizzo (AAA Hall of Fame): Chances he's just a bust?

 

Matthew Eddy: Small, but not non-existent. Worst case, Rizzo is an all-or-nothing slugger like Carlos Pena. The good news is that scouts believe Rizzo has a better feel to hit.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2012/2613289.html

[ctcf]

Speaking of which, has anyone heard/read anything regarding his readjusted swing this year? I'm wondering what the opinions are out there.

[javy knows my name]

Speaking of which, has anyone heard/read anything regarding his readjusted swing this year? I'm wondering what the opinions are out there.

 

Joke, right?

[ctcf]

Speaking of which, has anyone heard/read anything regarding his readjusted swing this year? I'm wondering what the opinions are out there.

 

Joke, right?

 

Why would that be a joke?

[javy knows my name]

Speaking of which, has anyone heard/read anything regarding his readjusted swing this year? I'm wondering what the opinions are out there.

 

Joke, right?

 

Why would that be a joke?

 

It's literally 5 posts back

[toonsterwu]

The talk is that the swing is shorter and improved. From the little I've seen (and there are far more knowledgeable people here on swing mechanics), he seems to have a shorter load than before, but at times, the swing is still a bit loopy and similar to what I recall seeing of him coming up in Boston and San Deigo's system (but again, very SSS that I've seen of him this year). I know there are some folks that still wonder how he'll do against big league pitching that can run the ball in at higher velos and better command than the guys in AAA, so really, we won't know that much about Rizzo until he gets to the bigs. But he probably needs the repetitions in the minors.

 

I do agree with the sentiment that it's a "small" chance that he'll bust (as Matt Eddy notes below). there's just not enough dominant pitchers on a consistent basis to think that he'll be exposed daily through the course of a season. Whether or not he's an elite bat, only time will tell.

 

Total side note - I've always felt that Jackson's ceiling was higher than Rizzo's, but Rizzo's floor was higher than Jackson's. Was reading some comments on another site, and it feels like a lot of people feel the other way around.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Comment From Britt

What are your expectations for Anthony Rizzo at the ML level, once he's called up to Wrigley later this summer? Is his newly shortened swing cause for optimism?

Monday April 23, 2012 1:43 Britt

1:43

 

Dan Szymborski:

It's certainly good to see him continuing to hit in Iowa, rather than Tucson or Portland, much easier places to play.

Monday April 23, 2012 1:43 Dan Szymborski

1:44

 

Dan Szymborski:

Iowa, of course, is still in the PCL, but it's one of thsoe less crazy PCL places that carried over when teh American Association was dissolvoed.

[BeerHere]

BA story on the continued struggles of Simpson. Simpson, Pawelek, Ben Christiansen, Brownlie.....shoot me.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/04/cubs-hayden-simpson-struggles-carry-over-into-2012/

[Guest]

tony (illinois): Any thoughts on Kyler Burkes ?

 

Jim Callis: Strong arm, nice start, we'll see.

[Little Slide Rooter]

BA story on the continued struggles of Simpson. Simpson, Pawelek, Ben Christiansen, Brownlie.....shoot me.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/04/cubs-hayden-simpson-struggles-carry-over-into-2012/

 

I wonder when is too early or too late to try and conert him to the pen as an attempt to savage something out of him. I'd rather he end up a decent mildle reliever than a poor 6th starter if possible.

[KingCubsFan]

BA story on the continued struggles of Simpson. Simpson, Pawelek, Ben Christiansen, Brownlie.....shoot me.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/04/cubs-hayden-simpson-struggles-carry-over-into-2012/

 

I wonder when is too early or too late to try and conert him to the pen as an attempt to savage something out of him. I'd rather he end up a decent mildle reliever than a poor 6th starter if possible.

At this rate he'll be lucky to be in baseball in 2 years.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Speaking of Pawelek, he's only 25 and last pitched in 2010. I wonder what the record is for shortest amount of time taken for baseball to was it's hands of a 1st round pick.

[Guest]

MiLB.com[/url]"]Concerns over his fastball velocity had also chased Simpson throughout the early years of his professional career.

 

He did not pitch in the Cubs system in 2010 because of a bad bout with mononucleosis that caused him to lose 20 pounds over seven months. After that, Simpson's four-seam fastball, which had sat in the mid-90s during his days at Division-II Southern Arkansas University, had moved toward the mid-80s last season, when he was 1-10 with a 6.27 ERA between Rookie ball and Class A.

 

The four-seamer touched 90 on the gun Thursday, according to Simpson. But the hurler noted that his reliance on his sinker -- a pitch not known for its velocity -- should soften the concerns about the speed of his fastball. Nonetheless, he added he has regained all of the weight he had previously lost and his health is better than it has been in years.

 

"I feel good," Simpson said. "My arm feels really feels really well. I'm still working to get my strength back, so that's still a process I'm going through. But the difference between last year and this year [health-wise], it's night and day.

 

"I felt like I pitched in college. Now I've just got to trust the system, trust the process and execute it when I get out there."

 

Simpson feels as healthy and good as he did in college but is topping out 6+ MPH lower. At least he does say he needs to get his strength back.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Good to hear because he's interesting and kind of an underdog as the wtf first round pick who got hurt off the back.

[TruffleShuffle]

dylan bundy update: 3 ip, 1 h, 1 r, 0 er, 0 bb, 8 k.

 

season numbers: 20 ip, 2 h, 1 r, 0 er, 2 bb, 33 k.

[Guest]

dylan bundy update: 3 ip, 1 h, 1 r, 0 er, 0 bb, 8 k.

 

season numbers: 20 ip, 2 h, 1 r, 0 er, 2 bb, 33 k.

If only this were a Cubs prospect in the news.

[TruffleShuffle]

son of a bitch

[Guest]

Dan (Israel): What should we know about Arismandy Alcantara who had a monster offensive week at SS in the FSL?

 

Matthew Eddy: Cubs 20-year-old Arismendy Alcantara possesses some loud tools — he can field, throw and run — and the shortstop reminded us this week that he also has potential with the bat, going 12-for-29 with two doubles and three triples for High-A Daytona. He very nearly made the Hot Sheet in the Helium section. If the offensive gains are real, then he's a prospect. Even if they're not he might make a fine utility player or quality system depth.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Does anyone have an early idea of which of our guys are Rule 5 eligible?

[davell]

I saw it somewhere, maybe CubsDen had it? All I remember is this is something I irrationally worry about and after seeing the list, even I'm not worried.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I saw it somewhere, maybe CubsDen had it? All I remember is this is something I irrationally worry about and after seeing the list, even I'm not worried.

 

I just found it, and there's actually a handful. I started a new thread for it.

[Guest]

MLB.com's Prospects in line to become next big thing

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120516&content_id=31403538&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

At the plate

 

The hitters' pool is not as rich. There clearly isn't a Harper or Trout waiting in the wings right now. At the Triple-A level, there are three hitters who stand out as potential impact call-ups. None has been hitting better than the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (No. 33 overall), who has a 1.078 OPS with Iowa. There's no question about his ability to hit Triple-A pitching, but he needs another opportunity in the big leagues. However, Bryan LaHair has been hitting for Chicago, so there's no room at first base. LaHair has played a good amount of outfield, though ... food for thought.

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2012/05/cubsminors51612.php

 

Interview with Oneri Fleita and Joe Bohringer:

 

CCO: Do you see any promotions coming?

 

Bohringer: We'd like to see the rosters stabilized at this point. We're just coming around to 100 at bats for some players, and some players are just coming back from injuries or are just not ready yet.

 

Fleita: We try not to get too high or too low on any of our players this early in the season. Some players get off to slow starts.

 

CCO: Are there any players that are in Arizona at this time that have looked good?

 

Bohringer: Well, I haven't seen him since spring training, but Shawon Dunston Jr. comes to mind. He can hit leadoff, and projects to center or left. We currently see him as a centerfielder. He works hard, and I've had good reports on him. Is that okay to say (to Fleita)?

[Guest]

Gerardo Concepcion, LHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K. First good start lowers ERA to 8.10. Commanding an upper 80s fastball very well.

 

Junior Lake, SS/3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 3-for-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI, K. On base 19 times in his first nine games; .344/.475/.594 overall.

 

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-for-4, 3B, HR (13), R, 2 RBI, K. Six home runs in last eight games and up to .359/.420/.704 overall; it's getting close to the time for the Cubs to find a way to get him in the lineup.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16944