Cub prospects in the news

[Gilby]

The couple times McLeod has publicly spoken about Javy's position, he's made it sound like they're leaning towards 2B. It will depend on how those positions are performing like David said (my guess is they like Valbuena at 3B more than Barney at 2B) and how confident they are Bryant will stick at 3B.

[Guest]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

[CubsWin]

So Parks was asked in his chat today if Correa would win a prospect smack down with the rest of the minor league SS's.....Said Lindor is the safest bet, with Russell close behind. But Javy has one of the highest ceilings in the minors and if he reaches it, HE'S THE BEST SS IN THE GAME and a perennial All Star. Higher risk, of course, but higher reward.

Also, when asked to name the starting roster for his all-prospect team. He picked Bryant as his RFer. The team went:

 

LF: Taveras

CF: Buxton

RF: Bryant

3B: Sano

SS: Bogaerts

2B: Odor

1B: Singleton

C: Hedges

 

RHP: Walker

RHP: Bradley

RHP: Gausman

RHP: Ventura

RHP: Syndergaard

Closer: Meyer

 

Not necessarily a comment on his ability to stick at 3B. More of a comment on how good his bat and athleticism are. I'll take it.

[apete6]

Almora fluff piece

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131218&content_id=66052634&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc&tcid=tw_article_66052634

 

How much of this "leadership" and "maturity" stuff really matters? Understandably he has to be a very good player for those things to really matter, but is there any tangible value in those things? Has Derek Jeter been so good because of those qualities or is he just a really damn good baseball player?

 

I'm sure there's really no way you can analyze it, but it's becoming pretty commonplace for every story or writeup on Almora to focus on those things. Instead, can't they just say that his ceiling is a GG CF who wins the batting title and puts out a couple of 6+ WAR seasons?

 

Then again, if Almora and Baez turn into Toews and Kane, I can deal with the narrative a heck of a lot better.

[Guest]

Almora fluff piece

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131218&content_id=66052634&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc&tcid=tw_article_66052634

 

How much of this "leadership" and "maturity" stuff really matters? Understandably he has to be a very good player for those things to really matter, but is there any tangible value in those things? Has Derek Jeter been so good because of those qualities or is he just a really damn good baseball player?

 

I'm sure there's really no way you can analyze it, but it's becoming pretty commonplace for every story or writeup on Almora to focus on those things. Instead, can't they just say that his ceiling is a GG CF who wins the batting title and puts out a couple of 6+ WAR seasons?

 

Then again, if Almora and Baez turn into Toews and Kane, I can deal with the narrative a heck of a lot better.

 

I think the FO buys into the maturity and those types of qualities having some real level of impact on the likelihood of a player developing and fulfilling potential.

[apete6]

Almora fluff piece

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131218&content_id=66052634&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc&tcid=tw_article_66052634

 

How much of this "leadership" and "maturity" stuff really matters? Understandably he has to be a very good player for those things to really matter, but is there any tangible value in those things? Has Derek Jeter been so good because of those qualities or is he just a really damn good baseball player?

 

I'm sure there's really no way you can analyze it, but it's becoming pretty commonplace for every story or writeup on Almora to focus on those things. Instead, can't they just say that his ceiling is a GG CF who wins the batting title and puts out a couple of 6+ WAR seasons?

 

Then again, if Almora and Baez turn into Toews and Kane, I can deal with the narrative a heck of a lot better.

 

I think the FO buys into the maturity and those types of qualities having some real level of impact on the likelihood of a player developing and fulfilling potential.

 

Fair enough, but in baseball, I'd still rather have A-Rod than Jeter, despite the large gap in maturity/leadership or whatever you want to call it. He's just a better overall player and would have had an even more legendary career if he was on a team where he could have stayed at SS another 5 years. The individuality of the sport still generally rewards talent over maturity, particularly in an offensive player, though, obviously you'd like to have the combination of both. Unfortunately, the Cubs have a player that could be dis-proving my theory right now in Castro. Let's hope not.

[Cubswin11]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

I'm pretty sure it was posted/mentioned somewhere when they announced it. I think maybe around the end of the year or early offseason.

[Guest]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

 

Wasn't he the VSL Cubs pitching coach last year too?

[Guest]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

 

Wasn't he the VSL Cubs pitching coach last year too?

Not according to the press release from today.

[Guest]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

 

Wasn't he the VSL Cubs pitching coach last year too?

Not according to the press release from today.

 

@sahadevsharma: Press release says it's Angel Guzman's 1st year with organization, but apparently he was a pitching coach in VSL last year as well

[Guest]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

 

Wasn't he the VSL Cubs pitching coach last year too?

Not according to the press release from today.

 

@sahadevsharma: Press release says it's Angel Guzman's 1st year with organization, but apparently he was a pitching coach in VSL last year as well

I've been misled!

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Angel Guzman is 32. Not sure which is worse, how old that makes me feel or the fact he could still be in the prime of his career.

[Guest]

I found this interesting: http://conorglassey.com/baseball-americas-blind-spots-2/

 

Connor Glassey on the type of prospects Baseball America missed on in their top 100 lists. He also brings up current prospects who BA likely would underrate - Dan Vogelbach, Stephen Bruno, Jon Andreoli, Matt Szczur and Kyle Hendricks.

 

Speaking of Matt Adams, that’s who Cubs’ first baseman Dan Vogelbach reminds me of—either him or a lefthanded Billy Butler. For as much flack as Vogey gets for his weight, he’s going to hit and he’s going to hit for power . . .

 

Finally, Stephen Bruno missed most of 2013 with injuries. He’s only 5-foot-9 and might wind up being a utility player, but I’d bet on him being a useful big leaguer in some capacity and he might just hit his way into an everyday role.

 

Cubs outfielder John Andreoli was overshadowed at Connecticut, but has held his own as a pro to the tune of .293/.385/.382 with an average of 57 stolen bases for every 150 games. His teammate, Matt Szczur, also has a lot of athleticism and speed and is still trying to put it all together at the plate.

 

I’ve always liked Cubs prospect Kyle Hendricks. While he doesn’t wow scouts with his stuff, he fills up the strike zone with a four-pitch mix and obviously has smarts, as he was drafted out of Dartmouth . .

[burnt out cubbie fan]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

At least he can't be out for the season with a torn up shoulder in that position.

[Clem Fandango]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

At least he can't be out for the season with a torn up shoulder in that position.

 

Not with that attitude, mister.

[CubsWin]

huh...Did anyone mention yet that Angel Guzman is going to be the pitching coach for our Venezuelan affiliate?

At least he can't be out for the season with a torn up shoulder in that position.

 

Not with that attitude, mister.

That's hilarious. Audible laughs from me. Side note, I predict ALFM will overtake LOL by the end of the century.

[CubsWin]

You could call this a fluff piece on Baez, but I wouldn't. Just a great heart-warming story about his miracle sister. The work he's done with kids with Spina Bifida in the Jacksonville, FL area is chronicled, too. Kinda puts to rest any notion that Javy's a cocky jerk. Clearly those reports came from his opponents to whom he can do whatever he wants. He may have gotten that from his sister Noely (great Christmas name) who seemingly can do whatever she wants, too. It's a good read.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/chc/every-day-with-sister-noely-is-special-for-chicago-cubs-player-javier-baez?ymd=20131223&content_id=66112700&vkey=news_chc

 

Merry Christmas, everybody.

[A New Era]

I was watching Inside Baseball on MLB network and they had a list of top 10 prospects by MLB.com. I think maybe it is an updated 2014 list that's just not posted online yet.

 

But it had Baez at #7 and Bryant at #9.

[davell]

I don't consider that a fluff piece either. And with the "I'll do WTF I want", the 4 HR game, calling his HR in spring training last year, and having the MLB logo tattooed on his neck, I refuse to believe Javy has a chance at being ANYTHING other than a damn superstar from hell for us.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=1110

 

Peter (Chicago): Is it safe to say that, assuming Baez has the better hit tool and Sano has the better power tool, that Baez may be less risky to reach his ceiling because you need the hit tool to tap into the power?

 

Harry Pavlidis: I'd say that make-up will be the most important factor for reaching a ceiling. On that note, Baez seems to be maturing. I like Baez more than Sano because he's in a better spot on the defensive spectrum, he's got the hit tool, and he's not exactly a power slouch himself. He's a 75 if Sano is an 80. I've said this for a while now: I haven't seen hands as fast as Javy's since Gary Sheffield.

 

 

David (Malibu): With news that the Cubs likely signed another top 30 type IFA(Wladimir Galindo) do you see them spending plenty more, since they're well past the cap?

 

Harry Pavlidis: yea, I'm pretty sure they found a loop-hole or an exploit of some kind that they are happy to live with. They'll throw money at Tanaka. The inability to acquire talent on the free agent market is a big aggravation for Hoyer, he and Theo both love these chances to acquire talent from abroad.

 

Billy (Boston): Did Theo E. know what he was getting into (spending limitations wise) when he took the Chicago Cubs gig? I'm hearing there are some major player spending constraints tied to the balance sheet via Dollar in and Dollar out...

 

Harry Pavlidis: Yes and no. I think the limitations on spending in the first years were not completely to his liking. That said, he has an approach to organizational improvement that involves spending a lot of money away from the field--they overhauled the scouting and coaching and development staffs. So, on one hand he's gotten everything he's needed to turn the organization around but he's been stymied by the lack of cash flow and the crimp in the free agent market (as I noted earlier).

[davell]

Parks bias against Cubs prospects, Javy in particular, in full effect. He's got Javy in his overall top 5.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

So Parks does play catch up after the season.

[Clem Fandango]

Parks bias against Cubs prospects, Javy in particular, in full effect. He's got Javy in his overall top 5.

 

He doesn't even have Sano in his top 10 apparently

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So Parks does play catch up after the season.

 

Yep.

[davell]

7 Cubs currently in BP's top 101. Interesting, since Parks isn't a fan of CJ. My guess is he made it anyway, with PJ also making it. We know the other 5. My dark horse is Candelario over CJ though.