Cub prospects in the news

[Cubswin11]

Vizcaino will continue his rehab in Mesa, Ariz., at the Cubs complex.

 

"I'm going to be ready next year in Spring Training," Vizcaino said.

 

He's able to throw every other day, and threw on flat ground Tuesday.

Didn't Muskat tweet yesterday that Vizcaino was with the team in San Diego? Or did she confuse him with Brett Jackson?

[El Duderino]

Arismendy Alcantara was voted best infield arm in the FSL in BA's best tools survey. Javier Baez was voted most exciting player in the MWL. I'm guessing he would have won best power if not for Sano.

[Guest]

Arismendy Alcantara was voted best infield arm in the FSL in BA's best tools survey. Javier Baez was voted most exciting player in the MWL. I'm guessing he would have won best power if not for Sano.

Additionally, Rizzo got best hitting prospect in the PCL and Szczur fastest base runner in the FSL.

[Guest]

Drew (IL): I know it is only 3 games, and I know the K rate at AAA was quite alarming, but pitchers don't strike out like Brett Jackson strikes out. Gets in an 0-2 count followed by breaking ball low and inside and he swings right over it. Do you think it has been so bad it is in between his ears, or does his swing just have that much hit and miss?

 

J.J. Cooper: Count me into the camp of people who thinks that Jackson's strikeout troubles will significantly limit his ceiling. He's got Drew Stubbs strikeout problem, but without as much power, speed or defense.

 

Jack (MA): Was Javier Baez considered for best Midwest League hitting prospect? I know neither of them has played much this year, but I would have imagined it being between him and Rosario.

 

J.J. Cooper: He was eligible, but by getting a late start to his season he was also not seen by as many managers which affects his chances of winning the category.

 

Dioni (Illinois): Could Javier Baez open next year in AA and be on the fast track to be the Cubs savior?

 

J.J. Cooper: I'd say it's more likely he starts the year in high Class A and gets a quick promotion to Double-A with a strong start, but that's not out of the realm of possibility.

[Warpticon]

I like how he didn't actually answer the first question.

[Guest]

Pierce Johnson ‏@Flowbro34

 

Off to Boise Idaho. Good luck to all boys playing in the azl! Win it all! #gocubs

[Guest]

good video of a couple almora singles and a great catch (with a great POV)

 

http://rangers.scout.com/a.z?s=324&p=9&c=2&cid=1210588&nid=6207508&fhn=1

[El Duderino]

Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 2-for-3, 2B, R.

 

You don't want to judge any player on just one look, but especially a guy like Soler. A few months ago he was a Cuban refugee, and now he's a guy with millions of dollars in his pocket playing baseball in Wisconsin. That's a big adjustment, mentally, but Peoria is a great fit for him, as Soler is being guided along by Chiefs batting coach Barbaro Garbey, a fellow Cuban. On just one game, I certainly get it. He's a big, athletic outfielder who catches your eye the second he takes the field. He he tremendous hands and wrists, with a remarkably short swing for a power hitter, and a swing that helps explain his excellent contact rate. He wasn't challenged in the field and he put up a middling 4.4 time to first on a double-play ball, and he's a bit of a strange runner who stays on the balls of his feet. Not enough data to really make a call here, but again, I get it.

 

Austin Reed, RHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 K.

 

A 12th round pick in 2010, Reed doesn't have great numbers this year out of the bullpen, with a 3.60 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 55 innings, but you do sit up a bit when he touches 96 mph while generally sitting at 92-94. Command/control is an issue.

[Guest]

Keith (Manchester, CT): Thanks John. How impressive are Dan Vogelbach's numbers -- .326/.391/.691 in 181 AB in Rookie Ball and Short Season -- given that he turns 20 in December? How high do you see his ceiling?

 

John Manuel: Another guy who can flat-out hit, like Winker. Ceiling is definitely as a first-division starter at 1b, or as a Travis Hafner-ish DH. No one really questioned the hitting ability out of HS; some scouts even tried to throw a Prince Fielder comp on Vogelbach. One problem is all the value is in the bat, but that's a huge start to a pro career. The feel for hitting is what everyone underestimated about Prince Fielder back in 2002; his feel for hitting allowed him to get to his power. Vogelbach has some of that, but let's see him cut down on the K's next year when he goes to full-season ball before he gets Fielder comps as a pro.

[Guest]

man, it seems like everyone thinks his bat is legit.

[Guest]

Mike (Chicago) Darwin Barney was top 10 in WAR the other day. Who is wrong, the stat or my eyes?

 

Klaw  (2:07 PM) The stat - it's not properly accounting for defensive shifts. He's an extra guy at best.

 

Jon (Chicago) Any chance Brett Jackson gets his strikeouts under control enough to be a productive player?

 

Klaw  (2:42 PM) I think he's got swing issues rather than approach issues. The latter is easy to fix, the former much less so - witness Snider.

 

Tom (Boise)What year does Vogelbach get elected to baseball's HOF?

 

Klaw  (2:47 PM) The Cubs are going to have to figure out what to do with him if he keeps hitting for average. We knew he had power, but he's a DH only for me.

 

Kasey (Mission Viejo, CA) Any GM's or Scouting Director changes you foresee in the next coming weeks?

 

Klaw  (2:51 PM) I've heard rumors on more changes in Chicago and Houston plus possible changes in Milwaukee, Colorado, and even Seattle, although I think that last one is unlikely.

[davell]

I wonder what other changes can happen, other than replacing Fleita? And part of me wonders if we don't just promote Serra anyway.

[Guest]

Remy (Birmingham): My name is Javier Baez.....do you think I am a top 50 prospect in 2013 BA handbook?

 

Matthew Eddy: On most prospects I'd hedge, but not Baez. He's going to be a legit MLB hitter.

[pitchcs]

Is Law never going to give Barney his due? I think he's proved that he's more than just an "extra guy" at this point. Only good because of defensive shifts? What? I mean he's making ridiculous plays from those shifts so I don't really get it.

[Guest]

Is Law never going to give Barney his due? I think he's proved that he's more than just an "extra guy" at this point. Only good because of defensive shifts? What? I mean he's making ridiculous plays from those shifts so I don't really get it.

 

I'm pretty sure the shifts are a big reason bWAR has him so high.

[Tyrant]

Mike (Chicago) Darwin Barney was top 10 in WAR the other day. Who is wrong, the stat or my eyes?

 

Klaw  (2:07 PM) The stat - it's not properly accounting for defensive shifts. He's an extra guy at best.

 

This is why people think Law and Goldstein are insufferable. A phrase like "extra guy at best" is just irritating and trolling.

[davell]

FWIW, KG really likes Barney.

[El Duderino]

Kevin Goldstein is Mother Teresa compared to Law. Law is repugnant, and I wish people wouldn't quote his tweets. :wink:

[davell]

I actually really respect hia analysis. In both cases, Law moreso, they can get trolly. But they also give out lots of great info. Law is great when it comes to the draft, it's worth putting up with the rest just to get his take on that.

[Guest]

Law loves Theo and everything Theo does, so you guys should probably stop hating him.

[KingCubsFan]

Mike (Chicago) Darwin Barney was top 10 in WAR the other day. Who is wrong, the stat or my eyes?

 

Klaw  (2:07 PM) The stat - it's not properly accounting for defensive shifts. He's an extra guy at best.

 

This is why people think Law and Goldstein are insufferable. A phrase like "extra guy at best" is just irritating and trolling.

Up until this year, when Barney's WAR went through the roof, he was almost universally seen as a utility guy. So it's not that too far off base.

 

Comparing Sczcur to Pierre is a good example of just irritating and trolling.

[Epsteenie]

Mike (Chicago) Darwin Barney was top 10 in WAR the other day. Who is wrong, the stat or my eyes?

 

Klaw  (2:07 PM) The stat - it's not properly accounting for defensive shifts. He's an extra guy at best.

 

This is why people think Law and Goldstein are insufferable. A phrase like "extra guy at best" is just irritating and trolling.

Up until this year, when Barney's WAR went through the roof, he was almost universally seen as a utility guy. So it's not that too far off base.

 

Comparing Sczcur to Pierre is a good example of just irritating and trolling.

 

As is saying that Starlin will forget how many years he signed for after the contract is done.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Mike (Chicago) Darwin Barney was top 10 in WAR the other day. Who is wrong, the stat or my eyes?

 

Klaw  (2:07 PM) The stat - it's not properly accounting for defensive shifts. He's an extra guy at best.

 

This is why people think Law and Goldstein are insufferable. A phrase like "extra guy at best" is just irritating and trolling.

Up until this year, when Barney's WAR went through the roof, he was almost universally seen as a utility guy. So it's not that too far off base.

 

Comparing Sczcur to Pierre is a good example of just irritating and trolling.

 

A lot of fans get upset when these guy refer to a prospect or young player as a 4th outfielder, utility guy, or 4-5 starter, but those really aren't insults, assuming it's in reference to a fringy type of player and not a top prospect. However, it's hard to take the term "extra guy at best" as anything other than a knock on the player. If nothing else, Barney can be a great utility infielder with a decent bench bat for the next 5 years. Matt Tolbert's an extra guy at best.

[Guest]

Jon (Chicago) Any chance Brett Jackson gets his strikeouts under control enough to be a productive player?

 

Klaw  (2:42 PM) I think he's got swing issues rather than approach issues. The latter is easy to fix, the former much less so - witness Snider.

 

Apologies for bringing this back, but seriously? You're seriously going to say that it's easy to fix problems with approach, much easier than mechanical problems? That's not even trolling from Law like the Barney comment, that's just flat out dumb.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@BleacherNation: #Cubs: Cubs' Minor League Daily: The Mysterious Mr. Negrin http://t.co/w1dAL2FW

 

BN with a little piece on Yeonnis Negrin, who recently materialized out of nowhere. The writer seems to think that he could potentially be a 3-4 starter or 7-8 inning guy out of the pen. I'm not sure that I can be as optimistic about a 28 year old pitching above A ball for the first time.