Cub prospects in the news

[Clem Fandango]

Soler always has been the better prospect.

 

not necessarily after soler was solid but not eye poppingly spectacular in high A while puig made MLB his bitch for 3 months in swaggerific fashion

 

To be fair, he "made MLB his bitch" for about one month, and was merely pretty good after that.

 

Arbitrary endpoints. 4 WAR in 100 games is plenty for me.

 

5.0 rWAR, too.

 

That said... 96 K's in 104 games and a .383 BABIP. He'll fall back down to Earth and be probably what Cespedes is now, IMO.

[Sammy Sofa]

How dare you.

[Rex Buckingham]

Lindbergh wrote another piece on scout school for Grantland, this one focusing almost solely on Almora. http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/77854/baseball-scout-school-part-3-how-to-write-a-scouting-report

[Guest]

Heh. This sounds awfully close to what everyone else says for someone actively trying to go into it as though he knew nothing about the player prior to making this report:

 

I give Almora an average run grade because I clocked him at 4.5 on the turn to second; as a rule of thumb, you remove two-tenths of a second from a turn time to get a true time to first, and 4.3 seconds is a typical time for a right-handed hitter. I give him an average arm because I didn’t see him use it, aside from a few practice tosses between innings. Next to each grade is a space in which to justify your rating; next to my “Arm Strength” grade, I write, “Solid-average w/clean actions. Didn’t see him air it out; might be more in there.”

 

I stick with the 7 field, because I’m so impressed by Almora’s range and instincts. Center fielders have to cover a lot of ground, so they tend to be speedy; if anything, Almora’s running ability is subpar for the position. But he makes up for his lack of quickness in other ways. Next to “Fielding,” I write, “Gets great reads.” Next to “Range,” I write, “Covers much more ground than speed suggests. Can go get balls from gap to gap.” Next to “Baseball Instincts,” I add, “On the move almost before ball leaves bat. Makes game seem slow.” I’m coming close to repeating myself, but I want to stress that this skill sets Almora apart.

[imb]

The Benji Gil blurb was awesome

[Guest]

The Benji Gil blurb was awesome

lol yes

[The-Kris-Bryant]

And this is why most scouts who aren't UK suck at identifying good baseball players. I have no doubt that most excel and do well at evaluating each individual tool but using that crude system to find OFP is downright unintelligent. Since when is an 8 power tool equivalent to any position having an 8 arm? Heck, when is having a 6 tool worth having an 8 arm at any position?

[Sammy Sofa]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[Sammy Sofa]

Is this a Bruce Miles-type situation?

[imb]

And this is why most scouts who aren't UK suck at identifying good baseball players. I have no doubt that most excel and do well at evaluating each individual tool but using that crude system to find OFP is downright unintelligent. Since when is an 8 power tool equivalent to any position having an 8 arm? Heck, when is having a 6 tool worth having an 8 arm at any position?

 

It's how Ben Zobrist happens

[Guest]

Almora fluff piece

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1013-afl-cubs-chicago-20131013,0,312557.story?track=rss

[EhDubya]

Almora pay piece

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1013-afl-cubs-chicago-20131013,0,312557.story?track=rss

 

FIFY

[Guest]

Almora pay piece

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1013-afl-cubs-chicago-20131013,0,312557.story?track=rss

 

FIFY

I've told you guys multiple ways to get around that by now. Get with the program.

 

Either Google a sentence from the article and click the link via Google (usually works) or add this to your Ad Block filter:

 

www.tribdss.com/assets/

[Bruno7481]

CubbiesBear (Chicago): What are the top 3 systems in baseball?

 

Jason Parks: (No specified order): Astros, Cubs, Twins, Pirates in the mix

 

jharrison3 (Illinois): Can you explain the difference between what you see in C.J. Edwards and what others, like KLaw, see in him? Why is there such a big gap and does this happen very often?

 

Jason Parks: I've actually seen him pitch quite a bit, so that's probably a difference right there. I like Edwards. The delivery is easy and athletic; the arm is loose; the fastball has some punch; he can spin a good CB; shows flashes of a good CH. My biggest issue with Edwards from a scouting standpoint is his body and how that might influence his durability and effectiveness in a rotation. As someone who has been around Edwards since he signed, I'm aware that his efforts to add weight to his frame have been unsuccessful. His natural build is very slender, with a narrow waist and a skinny frame. He's not the type of arm that is going to add much in terms of mass, and despite having the loose arm, I do have concerns about his long-term role. I think Edwards has the stuff to pitch at the big league level, and in bursts, he could have impact potential. But I don't see a frontline starter. I know his stats suggests a different outcome, but that's why we watch these guys in person instead of making projections based on a pitcher's A-ball numbers. Scouts are mixed on ultimate projection, but I've yet to speak to one scout with familiarity who believes Edwards is a top of the rotation type.

 

Biscuits (Cali): Since coming back from a broken hamate bone, Albert Almora has been displaying #rig all over the yard, and continued into the AFL. How much stock should we put into his early success in the AFL?

 

Jason Parks: I don't put a lot of stock in AFL performances, but I don't discredit/ignore them either. #Rig might not be the best meme descriptor for Almora, as some of the scouting reports on him suggest he might play a little softer than you might assume. But he's a role 6 for me, and a top 20 prospect in the game.

 

BTH524 (Pennsylvania): Where do you project the top 2013 draft picks (Kris Bryant, Mark Appel, etc.) to be slotted in your top prospect list? With the understanding that you may change your mind, of course!

 

Jason Parks: Bryant could/should be in the top ten in the game. He's a polished offensive monster that should be at the highest level at some point in 2014. Appel is also a polished collegiate talent that will move quickly, but I'm not as high on his ceiling as some and I don't see him as a future #1 type. He will be in the top 25, but not the top 10.

 

earpbartman (West Chester): How good is Kris Bryant?

 

Jason Parks: In terms of polish and projection, I would put him right behind Taveras. He's a very low risk offensive prospect. He's a top 10 type right now.

 

Tim (The Up n In Detox Center): Your best guess on Baez' defensive home? Possibly time late in the year in Chicago at 2nd and 3rd just to see the bat or do u forecast a permanent move to either?

 

Jason Parks: I would prefer to see him at 3B because he has a very good arm and very good hands, despite his errors at SS. Either way, the bat is his glory.

 

AndrewBokermann (IL): Would the Cubs ever consider jumping Almora from A to AA, similarly to both Profar and Tavares in 2012. He seems to be a very instinctual and knowledgeable player, who would be able to handle this promotion. What would be the drawbacks and benefits of such a move? Would it be beneficial for him to be playing with players like Soler and Bryant to start the year?

 

Jason Parks: He could handle it. They don't have to rush him, but if they feel he would benefit from an accelerated developmental program, his skill-set could handle such a jump. The drawbacks are failure, which can be both good and bad. But you don't want to set a player up for failure if you don't have to. As I said, I think he can handle it, but the Cubs' player dev are the ones better equipped to make that call.

 

Matt (Chicago): Does CHC have enough of a SP pipeline to rely on for their next competitive club or are significant trades and/or FA signings going to be necessary? What are your thoughts on Sam Elliott- the actor.

 

Jason Parks: All talent is currency. They don't have a deep stock of pitching talent, but those fortunes can change for a number of reasons.

 

Huge fan of the mustache and the masculinity.

 

 

ddivi23 (Bartlett, IL): Prof. Parks, as a long suffering Cub fan is it possible that Bryant,Baez,Almora, and Soler all turn out?

 

Jason Parks: Not to your level of expectation. I expect at least one of those prospects to underwhelm.

[Guest]

Wow. That's the first I've seen of Bryant as a top 10 already. That's awesome.

 

Is Parks one of the guys who doesn't see Baez as top 10 even after he tore up AA, or was that just Law?

[Guest]

Wow. That's the first I've seen of Bryant as a top 10 already. That's awesome.

 

Is Parks one of the guys who doesn't see Baez as top 10 even after he tore up AA, or was that just Law?

 

Callis had Bryant in his top 10.

[Guest]

It's a touch frustrating that I've seen Parks use a lot of words talking about Edwards at a couple different points, and I'm still not sure how good he thinks Edwards is. I know that he thinks Edwards' frame won't hold up, but aside from that I can't tell how much of that "impact reliever ceiling" skepticism is his frame, or his frame + other factors.

[Guest]

Wow. That's the first I've seen of Bryant as a top 10 already. That's awesome.

 

Is Parks one of the guys who doesn't see Baez as top 10 even after he tore up AA, or was that just Law?

 

Callis had Bryant in his top 10.

 

OK, I sort of remember that and sort of remember writing it off as Callis being Callis.

[Bruno7481]

Juan (San Diego ): Corey Black has Bullpen Written all over him, Huge arm,small frame. But can that arm produce swing and miss stuff?

 

Jason Parks: Sure. I've seen him miss plenty of bats. Bullpen arm all the way, but a future major leaguer.

 

eamuscatuli15 (neb): Ok...so it looks like my question on the Cubs manager search didn't make the cut. [expletive] it, how dope is Baez?

 

Jason Parks: I would hire AJ Hinch.

 

 

 

Kingpin (Grinnell, IA): Any chance Kris Bryan is in the bigs in 2014?

 

Jason Parks: Yes. I think he will reach the majors at some point in 2014.

 

Riley (Iowa): Does the Cubs lack of a clear top pitching prospect hurt them in the rankings or are the postional prospects good enough to make up for it.

 

Jason Parks: Talent is talent. I don't care if they are position heavy. Top 3 system in baseball

 

LGB (Evansville, In.): Do any of the Cubs top 4 get a grade of "role 7" player? How would you rate them all.

 

Jason Parks: These are ceiling-based projections, not realistic roles: Baez (7); Bryant (H6); Almora (6); Soler (6).

[imb]

i want to order a kris bryant jersey right now

[Sammy Sofa]

I want an entire Bryant ensemble.

[jersey cubs fan]

I want Bryant's actual wardrobe.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I want Bryant

[Guest]

I will be buying a Baez shirtzee the moment I see one.

 

Also, Parks is still calling it a top 3 system...the Cubs are saying BP put them at #2. Is there anywhere where they actually did this?

[davell]

I will be buying a Baez shirtzee the moment I see one.

 

Also, Parks is still calling it a top 3 system...the Cubs are saying BP put them at #2. Is there anywhere where they actually did this?

It was a passing comment from Parks somewhere. He did say top 2, don 't remember where-Twitter, chat, or podcast.....