Cub prospects in the news

[Little Slide Rooter]

My guess is that the ultimate decision was made by the organization based on the results of the tests he underwent. They probably told him that he could undergo it now, but it wasn't necessary, but to let them know if he feels any elbow discomfort and they'll evaluate further. You could say that they're experimenting, even gambling by letting him pitch.

[Guest]

I'm not a medical expert nor do I even know the specifics on Wells' injury. I hope and imagine the FO knows what they're doing.

 

I'll bump Wells back up my rankings since he didn't have TJS but he won't be as high as he was before injury because of added talent and because I'm knocking him a few spots as an injury risk.

[mul21]

I'm not a medical expert nor do I even know the specifics on Wells' injury. I hope and imagine the FO knows what they're doing.

 

I'll bump Wells back up my rankings since he didn't have TJS but he won't be as high as he was before injury because of added talent and because I'm knocking him a few spots as an injury risk.

 

Sounds like a situation similar to Adam Wainwright. Partial tear that held up for quite a few years before he tore it completely. Who knows, you get him developed and then he tears it, he's only coming back from the injury and not trying to learn how to pitch at the professional level and coming back from injury.

[ctcf]

I'm not a medical expert nor do I even know the specifics on Wells' injury. I hope and imagine the FO knows what they're doing.

 

I'll bump Wells back up my rankings since he didn't have TJS but he won't be as high as he was before injury because of added talent and because I'm knocking him a few spots as an injury risk.

 

Yeah, I'll have to trust Theo and Co. I remember them really emphasizing pitcher health coming into the season.

[Clem Fandango]

Looks like Marlin isn't the insider everyone thought he was.

 

That's pretty good news.

He's been right on a ton of stuff that came out of no where, I definitely think he's got connections, but I honestly can't remember whether he said he HAD TJS or if he was going to. And if I remember, a couple of media guys followed up with the same thing.

 

When I was working with the Bay Bears Jarrod Parker went down with an elbow injury and when we were in the office we got the doctor's fax in with the suggested course of action and he suggested TJS, so we all assumed he was going to have it. I sort of leaked that bit of info to a D-Backs message board at the time and when it didn't happen and he tried to rehab I got called out on it. Of course, Parker ended up getting TJS, but this could've been a similar situation, where someone he had connections with knew that bit of info and passed it along before any decisions were made.

[Guest]

Jim Callis interview: http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/08/q-a-with-jim-callis-on-cubs-prospects/

[Guest]

i kind of feel like he forgot the cubs had vizcaino.

[Guest]

Dan (Chicago) I was looking at the box score from the Boise Hawks game the other night (you can't scout one, I know), but I noticed Vogelbach made an error and it was his first of the year. So I guess he isn't just kicking the ball all over the infield at least. Is it just his utter lack of range of any kind that makes him a DH only for you? What are the odds he can play a passable 1B in the future?

 

Klaw (1:26 PM) Another scout tagged his range as "one step and a dive." That might be generous - "one step and a fall" feels more accurate to me.

 

Paul ((Chicago via Northern Va)) I heard the cubs let several professional and amateur scouts go. Is this common? Was this Theo and crew putting their guys in place?

 

Klaw (1:46 PM) This is the time of year for those moves, and I think it's largely about front offices getting their own guys.

 

Sean (New Haven) SSS but are you surprised at the speed Soler is flashing? Can he be a 20 SB guy in MLB or will he grow out of it?

 

Klaw (2:07 PM) Nah, he's a good athlete. Not a burner, not a 40-50 SB guy, but could steal 20.

 

Mark (Chicago) Another SSS, but can Brett Jackson do enough to be a star player in the majors or is he likely going to be a lineup filler at best?

 

Klaw (2:13 PM) I think his ceiling is average regular, and after this year I'm inclined to guess his actual outcome will be extra outfielder.

[C.C.]

Ouch! On Jackson.

[Guest]

Ouch! On Jackson.

 

he's saying exactly what everyone on this board has been saying.

[El Duderino]

Logan Watkins got a shout out in KG's minor league update:

 

Logan Watkins, UT, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): Sleeper in system with versatility, lefty bat, and lots of patience; .280/.381/.410 in 128 games.

[Guest]

Kyle (Chicago): Javier Baez struggling with A+ pitching or with inconsistent playing time due to over 10 rain-outs this month? Only knock on him at Peoria seemed to be his over aggressive approach.

 

Jim Callis: It's a small sample size, too, and the weather hasn't helped. He is overly aggressive at the plate, and the high Class A pitchers are maybe taking more advantage of that than their low Class A counterparts. But overall, it's been quite the impressive pro debut. He'll be our No. 1 prospect when we unveil a new Cubs Top 30 this offseason.

[El Duderino]

Amaya was named to the NWL all-star team, fwiw.

[Guest]

Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler

 

Somewhere in the 6-12 range RT @Duderino_Abides Where would you have taken Soler had he been eligible for draft?

[Guest]

vogelbach interview. it could be the angle, but he does not look nearly as fat as i had in my mind.

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=24344281

[pitchcs]

vogelbach interview. it could be the angle, but he does not look nearly as fat as i had in my mind.

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=24344281

 

Wow, he looks slimmer/more muscular there.

[Guest]

Ryno Spirit (Chilandia) With a defensive WAR of 3.4 and far better defensive stats than Brandon Philips, what's it going to take for voters to award Darwin Barney a gold glove this years?

 

Klaw  (1:08 PM) Teams that employ the overshift tend to have very screwy results in advanced defensive metrics. Barney's not as good as his numbers would indicate.

 

John (St. Louis) Now that it's official, what are your thoughts on Starlin Castro's contract extension?

 

Klaw  (1:30 PM) Same as they were before it was official - great deal for the club.

 

@Jaypers413 (IL) Thoughts on the decision to exclude Jorge Soler from both the AFL and winter ball?

 

Klaw  (1:49 PM) Very disappointed - I think it would have helped him, and obviously it would have been great to see him some more.

 

@Jaypers413 (IL) Thoughts on the decision to exclude Jorge Soler from both the AFL and winter ball?

 

Klaw  (1:49 PM) Very disappointed - I think it would have helped him, and obviously it would have been great to see him some more.

 

Shawn (Chicago) Are Vizcaino and Paniagua the Cubs' top 2 pitching prospects?

 

Klaw  (1:54 PM) Probably.

 

Dale (KY) What does a Director of Player Development do, and who is Brandon Hyde?

 

Klaw  (2:04 PM) Oversees the minor league system, including hiring coaches, implementing development philosophies, and creating and executing player plans. It's a big deal. I've met Brandon but haven't spent a ton of time talking to him.

[Guest]

David (Va Beach): Is Paniagua the Cubs second best pitching prospect, behind Vizcaino?

 

Jim Callis: He very well might be. The Cubs don't have a lot of quality pitching prospects. Pierce Johnson, Duane Underwood and Dillon Maples also would be in that discussion.

 

Justin (Nashville): There have been some reports that Dan Vogelbach moves a lot better for a big guy than some scouts first believed. With Rizzo hopefully being the long term solution at 1B for the Cubs, how laughable/ridiculous is the notion that Vogelbach could play LF?

 

Jim Callis: I'll put it this way: I've never talked to a scout who thought Vogelbach had a chance to play left field. There's a better chance that he's a DH only than he's a left fielder. That said, kudos to him on a great year with the bat.

[El Duderino]

@BleacherNation

 

Re: Logan Watkins as possible future big league 2B. RT @BenBadler Certainly has a chance. Development took a nice step forward this year.

[davell]

I'm starting to think Paniagua may very well show up in our top 10 for BA. I think Vizcaino has a decent shot at being a top 100 guy for them and figure Villanueva( based off of being 100 last year) may stick in at the bottom for them. I figure Vogelbach has the next best chance, albeit a very small one.

[Cubswin11]

I'm starting to think Paniagua may very well show up in our top 10 for BA. I think Vizcaino has a decent shot at being a top 100 guy for them and figure Villanueva( based off of being 100 last year) may stick in at the bottom for them. I figure Vogelbach has the next best chance, albeit a very small one.

Agreed, but outside of the top 5 (Baez, Soler, Almora, Vizcaino, Villanueva) there's a large pool of guys who can fit anywhere from 6-10 and solid arguments can be made for about 7-10 guys to be in that range of 5 guys in any given order.

[Guest]

Interview with Jim Callis: http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2012/09/06/an-interview-with-jim-callis-of-baseball-america/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheViewFromTheBleachers+%28View+From+The+Bleachers%29

 

Q: Right now, who do you think are the Cubs top 5 prospects?

 

A: In order: Javier Baez, Albert Almora, Jorge Soler, Arodys Vizcaino, Christian Villanueva.

 

Q: The Cubs have recently signed Juan Carlos Paniagua for 1.5 million. This is the third time Paniagua has signed with a club but only the first time it was approved after he used an assumed identity and fraudulent identification papers in his first two attempts. His listed date of birth is still unconfirmed by the MLB. Is this something that could come back to bite the Cubs later? What can you tell us about Paniagua’s pitching ability and where would you guess he fits in the Cubs top prospects?

 

A: It can’t come back to bite the Cubs in terms of having this deal voided. They know his birth date is unconfirmed and made the decision to sign him anyway. He has a tremendous arm, clocked up to 98 mph with his fastball and backing it up with a hard slider. I think he’ll fit in the 6-10 range when I do our Cubs Top 30 Prospects list in the offseason, but I don’t have a great feel for him yet.

[imb]

Our entire top 5 has been added in less than 2 years.

[Cubswin11]

Our entire top 5 has been added in less than 2 years.

And probably 7 of our top 10. I would think Johnson and Paniagua will also be top 10 guys

[Guest]

Our entire top 5 has been added in less than 2 years.

 

Baez was the first acquired of those 5 and he was drafted 15 months ago.