Cub prospects in the news

[imb]

I think you're more likely to get two all stars out of the Baez, Bryant combo, but Buxton is enough to tempt me to take the twins pair

[Guest]

I'd take Buxton over either of Javy or Bryant but I'd take both Javy and Bryant over Sano

 

Buxton/Sano or Almora/Bryant?

 

You have to choose a pair.

 

Wait, why add a prospect who isn't as good (Almora) in there when everyone would take Buxton/Sano over Baez/Bryant?

 

Not everyone would. I was adding Almora in because everyone here likes Baez and Bryant more than Sano. Is the gap between Buxton and Almora greater than the gap between Sano and Baez/Bryant?

[SouthSideRyan]

I think you're more likely to get two all stars out of the Baez, Bryant combo, but Buxton is enough to tempt me to take the twins pair

 

Right, Buxton is the one with the surest bet to become an all-star to me.

[Sammy Sofa]

I think you're more likely to get two all stars out of the Baez, Bryant combo, but Buxton is enough to tempt me to take the twins pair

 

Right, Buxton is the one with the surest bet to become an all-star to me.

 

Pretty much. I'm loving Bryant, and I hope to God Baez pans out, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if it's kinda rough for him. I'll be stunned if Buxton isn't kicking 18 kinds of ass.

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2013/11/cubs-prospects-qa-mlb-coms-jim-callis.php#.UpTJCjd5mc0

 

Jim Callis Q&A on Cubs prospects.

[NOLA]

I got excited when I read this:

JC: Baez can play a decent shortstop but can be a Gold Glover at third base.

 

But then I read this:

JC: Speaking of Castro, the best shortstop on the big league roster is probably Darwin Barney, but that’s another story.

[jersey cubs fan]

I got excited when I read this:

JC: Baez can play a decent shortstop but can be a Gold Glover at third base.

 

But then I read this:

JC: Speaking of Castro, the best shortstop on the big league roster is probably Darwin Barney, but that’s another story.

 

 

It's widely assumed that Barney is a better defensive shortstop than Castro. There's nothing new there, and as he points out, that is another story.

[Guest]

an outfield of Bryant/Almora/Soler, holy [expletive] that's a manager's dream.

[Guest]

Not sure where else to put this. From Roto...

 

Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio would like to see Kyle Hendricks in the starting rotation next season.

Hendricks went 13-4 with a 2.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 27 starts between Double- and Triple-A this past season. Hendricks was acquired from the Rangers on the trade deadline in 2012 along with fellow prospect Christian Villanueva for Ryan Dempster. "Who's to say he couldn't start for us?" Bosio asked. "I saw a 22-year-old starter (Michael Wacha) for the St. Louis Cardinals pitch in the World Series. Why can't we take a kid that's just had a couple years in the minor leagues and put him in our rotation? ... What's to say he couldn't be a fourth or fifth starter? ... I'll be talking to Theo, Jed and Rick about giving this guy ample opportunity to be that guy for us. Maybe we don't have to make a lot of moves. Maybe those young guys we have now can be the answer."

[Cubswin11]

I would like to see Hendricks get a chance at some point this year too. But I'd like to see some more substantial reasoning for it from our pitching coach (since, you know, he knows about pitching and stuff maybe something like talking about thinking one or more of his pitches is MLB ready, or he has excellent command, etc) other than "he's 22, another pitcher who is also 22 pitched in the world series, let's give him a shot!"

[Guest]

i'd like to see him get a chance to break camp if he looks good.

[craig]

I would like to see Hendricks get a chance at some point this year too. But I'd like to see some more substantial reasoning for it from our pitching coach (since, you know, he knows about pitching and stuff maybe something like talking about thinking one or more of his pitches is MLB ready, or he has excellent command, etc) other than "he's 22, another pitcher who is also 22 pitched in the world series, let's give him a shot!"

 

Yeah, the "who's to say he can't" logic is not that inspiring. I'm interested in Hendricks, but I'd like to see him open with Iowa. If he's ready to be a capable big-league guy, he should do very well at Iowa; and if he doesn't sustain excellence at Iowa then we know he's not qualified.

 

I think I'd prefer to see him start with Iowa. If we have another summer trade, or an injury, then if he's excelling at Iowa he can get called up and get his shot then.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would like to see Hendricks get a chance at some point this year too. But I'd like to see some more substantial reasoning for it from our pitching coach (since, you know, he knows about pitching and stuff maybe something like talking about thinking one or more of his pitches is MLB ready, or he has excellent command, etc) other than "he's 22, another pitcher who is also 22 pitched in the world series, let's give him a shot!"

 

I trust Bosio enough to think that that's not his real thought process. It's just easier to sell to the morons.

[Guest]

I would like to see Hendricks get a chance at some point this year too. But I'd like to see some more substantial reasoning for it from our pitching coach (since, you know, he knows about pitching and stuff maybe something like talking about thinking one or more of his pitches is MLB ready, or he has excellent command, etc) other than "he's 22, another pitcher who is also 22 pitched in the world series, let's give him a shot!"

 

I trust Bosio enough to think that that's not his real thought process. It's just easier to sell to the morons.

I agree. If the talent is there Hendricks will adjust. Besides that, who really gives a [expletive] about the 2013 Cubs #of wins? Certainly not the front office.

[jersey cubs fan]

I would like to see Hendricks get a chance at some point this year too. But I'd like to see some more substantial reasoning for it from our pitching coach (since, you know, he knows about pitching and stuff maybe something like talking about thinking one or more of his pitches is MLB ready, or he has excellent command, etc) other than "he's 22, another pitcher who is also 22 pitched in the world series, let's give him a shot!"

 

I trust Bosio enough to think that that's not his real thought process. It's just easier to sell to the morons.

But that is such a baseball person line of reasoning.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2013/11/27/5144842/minor-league-prospects-walk-rates-strikeout-rates-success

 

I refuse to accept what the stats are telling me about Javy Baez.

[Sammy Sofa]

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2013/11/27/5144842/minor-league-prospects-walk-rates-strikeout-rates-success

 

I refuse to accept what the stats are telling me about Javy Baez.

 

That article still seems to be pretty positive about him despite those numbers.

[Guest]

The thing about Baez is that he's been so good even without strong BB/K numbers that when he starts figuring that part out, the FO steps in and stops the fight by promoting him. A lesser prospect would've stayed in Daytona for the rest of the year because with his atrocious discipline at the start of the season, he'd have had a .650 OPS when he figured it out and got hot. For a quick and dirty example:

 

April (Daytona): .809 OPS, 27% K%, 4% BB%

May (Daytona): .770 OPS, 22% K%, 5% BB%

June/July (Daytona): 1.048 OPS, 20% K%, 10% BB%

**FO decides enough's enough, promotes him to AA on 7/5**

July (Tennessee): .888 OPS, 34% K%, 9% BB%

August (Tennessee): 1.059 OPS, 24% K%, 8% BB%

[Clem Fandango]

Very encouraging!

 

Cubs president Theo Epstein said Thursday that Arodys Vizcaino (elbow) has been throwing 98 mph and showing "electric" stuff.

Vizcaino missed the 2012 season following Tommy John surgery and then all of 2013 after having a procedure to address a calcium buildup in his elbow. It sounds like his arm has made a full recovery, though, and the 23-year-old remains an intriguing prospect. The Cubs haven't revealed whether Vizcaino will start or relieve in 2014, but if it's the latter, he could wind up being a sleeper for saves on a team with an unsettled ninth inning situation.

[wekim81]

where's he pitching at that he's shown this recently?

[Guest]

Instructs, in Arizona.

[Clem Fandango]

As much as I'd like to see him succeed as a starter, I think I'd be okay giving him the Chapman treatment where you start him out in the pen at the MLB level, with intentions on moving him to the rotation eventually, but if he shines in the relief role you let him be and flourish, especially given his arm issues. I also think with some of our pitching depth getting better it makes the urgency to have him be a good starter a little less urgent. Especially if we trade Samardzija for some big arms

[rawaction]

As much as I'd like to see him succeed as a starter, I think I'd be okay giving him the Chapman treatment where you start him out in the pen at the MLB level, with intentions on moving him to the rotation eventually, but if he shines in the relief role you let him be and flourish, especially given his arm issues. I also think with some of our pitching depth getting better it makes the urgency to have him be a good starter a little less urgent. Especially if we trade Samardzija for some big arms

 

He is never starting a game in the majors (again).

[Clem Fandango]

As much as I'd like to see him succeed as a starter, I think I'd be okay giving him the Chapman treatment where you start him out in the pen at the MLB level, with intentions on moving him to the rotation eventually, but if he shines in the relief role you let him be and flourish, especially given his arm issues. I also think with some of our pitching depth getting better it makes the urgency to have him be a good starter a little less urgent. Especially if we trade Samardzija for some big arms

 

He is never starting a game in the majors (again).

 

I think that'd the obvious route that will happen, but haven't they kept saying they're not ruling it out until they determine what's best for him and the team's plans?

[Guest]

As much as I'd like to see him succeed as a starter, I think I'd be okay giving him the Chapman treatment where you start him out in the pen at the MLB level, with intentions on moving him to the rotation eventually, but if he shines in the relief role you let him be and flourish, especially given his arm issues. I also think with some of our pitching depth getting better it makes the urgency to have him be a good starter a little less urgent. Especially if we trade Samardzija for some big arms

 

He is never starting a game in the majors (again).

 

I think that'd the obvious route that will happen, but haven't they kept saying they're not ruling it out until they determine what's best for him and the team's plans?

 

I don't know that they've said anything that specific recently, especially since his setback this summer. I'm flashing back to a radio interview that McLeod(I think? Might've been someone like Madison) where they mentioned they were excited about his velocity but also made zero mention of him being a SP. I have to think the only way they'll consider moving him to the rotation is after he can prove himself as an MLB reliever, and even then it's not terribly likely for a few different reasons.