Cub prospects in the news

[drewha]

just to get us back on topic, maybe? not that it's a really great article.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1742661-stock-up-stock-down-for-chicago-cubs-top-10-prospects-for-week-20

[Have a seat, Neifi]

In an ESPN chat held yesterday, August 21, Keith Law answers a bunch of Javy Baez-related questions in typical Keith Law fashion:

 

Justin (Chicago)

If Baez finishes the year like he's been hitting in Aug (.377/.435/.636, increased BB rate and decreased K rate ), what are the odds he cracks your top 10?

 

Klaw (2:29 PM)

I don't see how what he does in the next two weeks would affect anyone's rankings. That's a miniscule sample.

 

Mac (Kalamazoo)

Has Javier Baez surpassed Fransisco Lindor? Or are you still hung up on the 50 pt difference in OBP? I mean he has only out homered Lindor by about 29...

 

Klaw (3:01 PM)

Yeah, no reason to favor the plus defender at short over the guy who might end up at third base.

 

Mac (Kalamazoo)

I feel the potential position change for Baez is irrelevant though because if Castro was not there, there is no reason to think he couldn't become and above average SS.

 

Klaw (3:07 PM)

The position change is based on Baez's skills, not on the presence of Castro. Besides, Castro shouldn't be blocking anyone right now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

*minuscule

 

Get your head in the game, Keith.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

Yes Keith there is no reason to favor the plus defender at short over the guy who might end up at third base whose bat is infinitely better.

[XZero771679666304]

Yes Keith there is no reason to favor the plus defender at short over the guy who might end up at third base whose bat is infinitely better.

 

This. It's getting to the point that there is such a yawning chasm between Baez and Lindor offensively that the position issue is becoming less and less relevant.

 

Lindor has a better approach and may make a fine top of the order hitter because of his OBP, but Baez is looking like an middle of the order, impact bat. Even at 3B, I'm thinking Baez is more valuable.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

From today's BA prospect handbook:

 

Javier Baez, ss, Cubs: The owner of the minors’ only four home run game this season likes to go on power binges.

 

Baez went 4-for-4 with two home runs on Wednesday night, giving him his fourth multi-home run game of the season and his third since joining Double-A Tennessee at the end of June.

 

Both of Baez’s home runs on Wednesday were pulled to left-center field. The first was a long drive that landed at the back of the Birmingham Barons’ picnic area behind the bullpen. With the two home runs, Baez is now second in all the minors with 33, three behind leader George Springer.

 

Few shortstops anywhere in baseball have Baez’s power and bat speed. But as important as that will be to Baez’s long-term success, what has been equally impressive about Baez’s 2013 season is his steady improvement.

 

Scouts are less skeptical about Baez’s ability to stick at shortstop than they were when he was drafted because he’s shown improvement in his first-step quickness and range. He’s also slowly becoming a steadier defender.

 

Baez was prone to making errors in bunches when he was in high Class A Daytona for the first half of the season. He made 33 errors overall in 73 games at short for an ugly .922 fielding percentage. Since being promoted to Tennessee, Baez has cut down on the defensive mistakes—he has a .951 fielding percentage in 40 games at shortstop with the Smokies.

 

At the plate, Baez still is a little too aggressive for his own good at times, but he has shown signs of improved patience. His strikeout rate has gone up with the jump to Double-A, which can be expected because of the tougher competition he’s facing, but his walk rate has also increased from 6.2 percent of his plate appearances in high Class A to 8.8 percent of his plate appearances in Double-A.

 

When the Cubs promoted Baez to Double-A at the end of June, it looked like an aggressive move for a still very young (20-year-old) prospect. But with his excellent finish to the 2013 season, it’s not unrealistic to think he could be contending for a big league job in 2014.

[RammyFanny]

Kiley McDaniel just ranked Edwards the 44th best prospect in baseball. He had just seen him recently.

44. C.J. Edwards, RHP, Cubs (Hi-A - Daytona)

 

6'2/155, R/R, Age: 21.98, Acquired: 2011 48-1464, HS - South Carolina

 

Signed for $50,000 as a 48th round pick two years ago and took a giant step forward this season before being traded for Matt Garza; super athletic righty is just scratching the surface with 91-95 mph heater and potential plus curve.

http://sbb.scout.com/2/1319654.html

[UMFan83]

So does that mean Baez, Bryant, Almora and Soler are all in his top 25, or has Soler's injury dropped him out of the top 50?

[Guest]

So does that mean Baez, Bryant, Almora and Soler are all in his top 25, or has Soler's injury dropped him out of the top 50?

 

I highly doubt this.

 

And those guys all being top 25 wouldn't be all that surprising. Parks was talking about it as a possibility in June or July.

[imb]

So does that mean Baez, Bryant, Almora and Soler are all in his top 25, or has Soler's injury dropped him out of the top 50?

 

I highly doubt this.

 

And those guys all being top 25 wouldn't be all that surprising. Parks was talking about it as a possibility in June or July.

 

I bet it has, that ranking has a few strange issues.

[Guest]

So does that mean Baez, Bryant, Almora and Soler are all in his top 25, or has Soler's injury dropped him out of the top 50?

 

I highly doubt this.

 

And those guys all being top 25 wouldn't be all that surprising. Parks was talking about it as a possibility in June or July.

 

I bet it has, that ranking has a few strange issues.

 

I guess a good way to get an idea would be to see how McDaniel has ranked Soler in the past.

[Guest]

@kileymcd: Tomorrow. 3 Amateur/Foreign players in the top 10 RT @BALLHAWK68 when is 1-25 being posted?

 

Gotta be Carlos Rodon, Jeff Hoffman and Masahiro Tanaka.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

So does that mean Baez, Bryant, Almora and Soler are all in his top 25, or has Soler's injury dropped him out of the top 50?

 

I highly doubt this.

 

And those guys all being top 25 wouldn't be all that surprising. Parks was talking about it as a possibility in June or July.

 

I bet it has, that ranking has a few strange issues.

 

I guess a good way to get an idea would be to see how McDaniel has ranked Soler in the past.

 

I'm not sure if this list was created by McDaniel but Soler did not crack the top 50.

 

http://sbb.scout.com/a.z?s=381&p=9&c=12&nid=287&lnid=287&pid=88&yr=2013

[sneakypower]

lol @ #23

 

edit: and 12

[jersey cubs fan]

is that list like how the WTA ranks tennis players?

[imb]

Baez with another RBI single. I'm guessing we go into next year with Valbuena/Castro on the left side. If Castro rebounds at all and Baez hits well in 200 or ABs, he comes up and replaces Valbuena WHO HOPEFULLY MOVES TO SECOND BASE TO TAKE OVER FOR THE DECEASED DARWIN BARNEY

[mul21]

Baez with another RBI single. I'm guessing we go into next year with Valbuena/Castro on the left side. If Castro rebounds at all and Baez hits well in 200 or ABs, he comes up and replaces Valbuena WHO HOPEFULLY MOVES TO SECOND BASE TO TAKE OVER FOR THE DECEASED DARWIN BARNEY

 

Why are you going to off Barney? WHAT'D HE EVER DO TO YOU????????

[NOLA]

Baez with another RBI single. I'm guessing we go into next year with Valbuena/Castro on the left side. If Castro rebounds at all and Baez hits well in 200 or ABs, he comes up and replaces Valbuena WHO HOPEFULLY MOVES TO SECOND BASE TO TAKE OVER FOR THE DECEASED DARWIN BARNEY

 

Or Valbuena stays at 3B, Baez at SS, Castro at 2B, Rizzo at 1B. When Bryant is ready Valbuena becomes a supersub. That infield could be sexy.

[Guest]

Wouldn't you think Castro is the better SS right now? I love Baez but he seems a bit raw defensively yet.

[Cubswin11]

Baez with another RBI single. I'm guessing we go into next year with Valbuena/Castro on the left side. If Castro rebounds at all and Baez hits well in 200 or ABs, he comes up and replaces Valbuena WHO HOPEFULLY MOVES TO SECOND BASE TO TAKE OVER FOR THE DECEASED DARWIN BARNEY

 

Why are you going to off Barney? WHAT'D HE EVER DO TO YOU????????

Not being all that useful of a player is a starting point, especially when the majority of his value is tied to his defense at a position where defense isn't all that hard.

[NOLA]

Wouldn't you think Castro is the better SS right now? I love Baez but he seems a bit raw defensively yet.

 

I agree about Baez but he has steadily improved his D, and I am not so sure that Castro isn't a better fit for 2B long term. It's not like his defense has been stellar.

[Guest]

In an ESPN chat held yesterday, August 21, Keith Law answers a bunch of Javy Baez-related questions in typical Keith Law fashion:

 

Justin (Chicago)

If Baez finishes the year like he's been hitting in Aug (.377/.435/.636, increased BB rate and decreased K rate ), what are the odds he cracks your top 10?

 

Klaw (2:29 PM)

I don't see how what he does in the next two weeks would affect anyone's rankings. That's a miniscule sample.

 

this is what annoys me with law. it's obvious the guy just wanted to know if baez is in his top 10, and instead of answering the question he has be a dick about the way the guy worded it.

[imb]

In an ESPN chat held yesterday, August 21, Keith Law answers a bunch of Javy Baez-related questions in typical Keith Law fashion:

 

Justin (Chicago)

If Baez finishes the year like he's been hitting in Aug (.377/.435/.636, increased BB rate and decreased K rate ), what are the odds he cracks your top 10?

 

Klaw (2:29 PM)

I don't see how what he does in the next two weeks would affect anyone's rankings. That's a miniscule sample.

 

this is what annoys me with law. it's obvious the guy just wanted to know if baez is in his top 10, and instead of answering the question he has be a dick about the way the guy worded it.

 

i hate to harp on this (no i dont) but this is what gets me, too. law clearly doesn't want to answer the question, so, uhh, just dont. you're not on live tv, it's just twitter. if it's that annoying to you, just ignore it.

[XZero771679666304]

 

i hate to harp on this (no i dont) but this is what gets me, too. law clearly doesn't want to answer the question, so, uhh, just dont. you're not on live tv, it's just twitter. if it's that annoying to you, just ignore it.

 

He just likes to browbeat people to make himself feel superior. He's a [expletive] punk.

 

That said, I value his baseball opinions (most of the time).

[TruffleShuffle]

i hate to harp on this (no i dont) but this is what gets me, too. law clearly doesn't want to answer the question, so, uhh, just dont. you're not on live tv, it's just twitter. if it's that annoying to you, just ignore it.

 

it was from an espn chat, but yeah, the same principle applies. instead of avoiding answering the question and making some snarky comment at the expense of the person who asked it, he could have (a) responded to what the person clearly wanted to know, or (b) ignored it and given a valid answer to another person in the chat. giving some stupid answer like the one dexter posted just wastes everyone's time. at least when joe morgan wouldn't answer a question in a joechat, it was because he was obtuse and weird. keith law is just being a dick.