Cub prospects in the news

[Serge]

I think it's pretty realistic to say we have 8 top 150 guys(Rhee would make it 9 if he were healthy this year) but other than Vitters and Castro, it's probably a crapshoot as to who else actually makes the top 100. Cashner SHOULD and probably will, but I don't think he's 100% either. Both Jacksons will have a solid shot and I'd venture to say it's probably an 80% chance one or the other hits the top 100. Carpenter and Burke probably have the least chance of anyone, but both should be there by midseason next year, if they have solid first halves. Lee is the most interesting one to me, I definitely think he could skyrocket next year up these lists(like Castro most likely will have this year) but he MAY have done enough already to make a top 100 list. I'd say he's 50-50 personally.

 

In the end, I think we will wind up with at least 3 and probably 4 that end up in there.

 

Yeah, I'd say Vitters, Castro, Cashner are all probably locks. Jay Jackson should but I'm not sure if he actually will, and Brett Jackson and Hak Ju Lee are probably bubble guys. I agree that Carpenter and Burke are unlikely for this year, but definitely will if they keep performing next year.

[Guest]

I haven't always followed the minor leagues as closely as I have this year, but when was the last time we had this much to look forward to?

Prior, Cruz, Hill and Choi were all top prospects at one point.

Let's hope these prospects end up better than those did.

Let's hope that any of them end up as good as Prior.

[Keener98]

I haven't always followed the minor leagues as closely as I have this year, but when was the last time we had this much to look forward to?

Prior, Cruz, Hill and Choi were all top prospects at one point.

Let's hope these prospects end up better than those did.

Let's hope that any of them end up as good as Prior.

 

Yea and Id be happy as hell if any of them equal what Choi did for us. Choi didn succeed as a Cub,but he landed us Derrek Lee. Id take that agin from any of these guys.

[jersey cubs fan]

I haven't always followed the minor leagues as closely as I have this year, but when was the last time we had this much to look forward to?

Prior, Cruz, Hill and Choi were all top prospects at one point.

Let's hope these prospects end up better than those did.

Let's hope that any of them end up as good as Prior.

 

Yea and Id be happy as hell if any of them equal what Choi did for us. Choi didn succeed as a Cub,but he landed us Derrek Lee. Id take that agin from any of these guys.

 

Choi was playing really well for the Cubs in his age 24 season until he broke his brain.

[Rob]

Hill was a big part of the Aramis Ramirez deal too.

[fromthestretch]

Choi was playing really well for the Cubs in his age 24 season until he broke his brain.

 

He also played really well for Florida the following season, until they dealt him to LA, where his career died a slow death on the bench.

[sneakypower]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/hak-ju-lee-leads-impressive-wave-of-talent

 

kind of a fluff piece though, not much groundbreaking analysis

[Guest]

Thanks for the link, sneakypower.

 

Chet (LA) Is Tyler Colvin the starting CF for the Cubs out of spring training? 5th OF, solid regular or all-star?

 

Jim Callis (2:14 PM) I think that would be a big stretch to count on Colvin as a big league regular in center. I see him more on a corner, more of a decent player than anything more.

 

Serge (El Nido) What can we expect from Jake Fox going forward? Is he a legit .280/.330/.520 hitter capable of playing everyday, or is he more of a bench player with some good pop?

 

Jim Callis (2:39 PM) I still think he's more of a platoon player who doesn't have a real position. He'd be a better fit with an AL club.

 

Miller (Vegas) Your thoughts on Josh Vitters after this season??? He was great in low A but his High A numbers weren't so good. Does his lack of walks scare you?

 

Jim Callis (2:49 PM) Considering he was 19 for most of the year, it was a solid season. The lack of walks (12 in 120 games) is a concern, and he may love hitting too much to ever draw many walks. I still think he'll hit for average and power though. I'm not sold he'll be a long-term third baseman either.

 

BK (Mpls) Jim, what is your take on Hendry? Many in the Chicago media clamored for change after back to back sweeps and Hendry made changes and now many or clamoring that Hendry shouldn't have gutted such a good team. Whats your take on the Chi situation?

 

Jim Callis (2:27 PM) I don't see how the sweeps can be held against him—anything can happen in a short series and the Cubs had as good a team as any in the NL in 2007 and 2008. But I do think the sweeps led the Cubs to make moves (starting with Milton Bradley) that diminished the team. It hasn't been a good year for the Cubs or Hendry, but he deserves some time to try to right the ship. After all, he did put together the first back-to-back Cubs playoff teams since 1906-08.

[Serge]

Serge (El Nido) What can we expect from Jake Fox going forward? Is he a legit .280/.330/.520 hitter capable of playing everyday, or is he more of a bench player with some good pop?

 

Jim Callis (2:39 PM) I still think he's more of a platoon player who doesn't have a real position. He'd be a better fit with an AL club.

 

This guy sure knows how to ask some good, hard hitting questions. :)

[toonsterwu]

Something's wrong with my computer, so for some reason, I can't copy anything and am admittedly too lazy to flip back and forth to type up the entire link, but over in the BA chat on the Appalachian League today, Matt Eddy was asked to compare Jiovanni Mier and Hak-ju Lee, and he turned to Conor Glassey for the answer, with Glassey preferring Mier due to potentially better defense and potentially more power.

[Serge]

Something's wrong with my computer, so for some reason, I can't copy anything and am admittedly too lazy to flip back and forth to type up the entire link, but over in the BA chat on the Appalachian League today, Matt Eddy was asked to compare Jiovanni Mier and Hak-ju Lee, and he turned to Conor Glassey for the answer, with Glassey preferring Mier due to potentially better defense and potentially more power.

 

Here you go:

Park (Korea): Jiovanni Meier vs Hak Ju Lee

 

Matthew Eddy: I posed this question to Conor Glassey, who covered Boise SS Hak Ju Lee in the Northwest League. He says that he comes down on the side of Mier for two reasons: He projects to have a bit more power once he matures and he's a slightly better defender. Be sure to stop by for Conor's chat next Wednesday.

[davell]

Northwest League's top 20 is tomorrow. My fearless prediction is Lee is number 1, Watkins makes the top 10, Ha makes the top 20. If they put Antigua on this list, I figure he's top 10 as well. May not have pitched enough innings though.

[Guest]

Brett Jackson and Hak-Ju Lee both have a chance at #1 and both should be in the top 5 (along with Tim Wheeler and Robbie Ross as candidates for #1). Antigua should be in the top 10 and maybe Watkins in the top 20. Ha won't make it.

 

Based on IP and AB from players in previous NWL Top 20 Lists, Jackson and Antigua should qualify.

 

If I had to guess their top 4, it'd be 1) Jackson, 2) Ross, 3) Lee and 4) Wheeler.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I wanted Wheeler over Brett Jackson, but how does he deserve consideration for NWL #1? A .713 OPS for a 21 year old isn't quite awe-inspiring, especially considering Jackson outperformed him(to speak nothing of how Jackson did even better a level higher). And Lee was better across the board while being a shortstop that's 2 years younger.

[Guest]

I wanted Wheeler over Brett Jackson, but how does he deserve consideration for NWL #1? A .713 OPS for a 21 year old isn't quite awe-inspiring, especially considering Jackson outperformed him(to speak nothing of how Jackson did even better a level higher). And Lee was better across the board while being a shortstop that's 2 years younger.

 

I just mentioned Ross and Wheeler as other candidates for #1. BA still takes into account projection and ceilings in these lists and not just the performance in the league. I do agree that Wheeler should be behind Jackson and Lee.

[davell]

Do players get ranked in multiple leagues? I didn't include Jackson solely because I fgured he'd be ranked high in the Midwest League. If he's ranked here, I could see him at 1 possibly. I agree that Ross will be top 3 and depending on whether or not Jackson is on this list, Wheeler could be as well.

[Outshined_One]

Do players get ranked in multiple leagues? I didn't include Jackson solely because I fgured he'd be ranked high in the Midwest League. If he's ranked here, I could see him at 1 possibly. I agree that Ross will be top 3 and depending on whether or not Jackson is on this list, Wheeler could be as well.

 

They do.

[Guest]

Brett Jackson probably won't have enough at bats to qualify for the MWL Top 20 list.

 

Odds are, the Cubs should have the #1 prospect in each of the leagues BA presents during the next two days.

[Outshined_One]

Brett Jackson probably won't have enough at bats to qualify for the MWL Top 20 list.

 

Odds are, the Cubs should have the #1 prospect in each of the leagues BA presents during the next two days.

 

I have a strange feeling BA will be heaping tons of praise on Starlin Castro and Hak-Ju Lee over the coming days. Both strike me as the kinds of guys BA writers tend to fall in love with (international signings, young, tools out the wazoo, good defensive reputations, etc.).

[Serge]

Brett Jackson probably won't have enough at bats to qualify for the MWL Top 20 list.

 

Odds are, the Cubs should have the #1 prospect in each of the leagues BA presents during the next two days.

 

I have a strange feeling BA will be heaping tons of praise on Starlin Castro and Hak-Ju Lee over the coming days. Both strike me as the kinds of guys BA writers tend to fall in love with (international signings, young, tools out the wazoo, good defensive reputations, etc.).

 

I think Starlin has a very good chance to be a top 50 prospect for BA. I personally don't think he's that good, but BA loves toolsy shortstops who are young for their league. Last year Andrus was #37, and he put up similar numbers, although he was in AA the entire year compared to Castro. And tools-wise, they're pretty similar, with a little bit of an speed/defensive edge to Andrus and a little bit of a power edge to Castro. Also Alcides Escobar was #19, and he's the worst offensively of the 3 and the oldest. Although that might not be a fair comparison since apparently Escobar is a crazy good defensive shortstop.

[Outshined_One]

Brett Jackson probably won't have enough at bats to qualify for the MWL Top 20 list.

 

Odds are, the Cubs should have the #1 prospect in each of the leagues BA presents during the next two days.

 

I have a strange feeling BA will be heaping tons of praise on Starlin Castro and Hak-Ju Lee over the coming days. Both strike me as the kinds of guys BA writers tend to fall in love with (international signings, young, tools out the wazoo, good defensive reputations, etc.).

 

I think Starlin has a very good chance to be a top 50 prospect for BA. I personally don't think he's that good, but BA loves toolsy shortstops who are young for their league. Last year Andrus was #37, and he put up similar numbers, although he was in AA the entire year compared to Castro. And tools-wise, they're pretty similar, with a little bit of an speed/defensive edge to Andrus and a little bit of a power edge to Castro. Also Alcides Escobar was #19, and he's the worst offensively of the 3 and the oldest. Although that might not be a fair comparison since apparently Escobar is a crazy good defensive shortstop.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see them name Castro the Cubs' top prospect with Hak-Ju Lee cracking their Top 100 and getting the #3 spot in the Cubs' rankings.

[Guest]

BA rating Lee ahead of Cashner and Brett Jackson would surprise me. I can easily see them going Castro over Vitters.

[Guest]

jay (st louis) better prospect- dom brown or josh vitters?

 

Ben Badler (2:18 PM) Brown. More offensive value, possibly more defensive value as well because scouts have questions about Vitters' ability to remain at third base while Brown is a potential above-average defender in right field.

[CyHawk_Cub]

^^ Vitters' perceived value just keeps sliding, doesn't it?

[bubblesdachimp]

Starlin Castro or Hak Ju Lee?

Jim Callis

(2:43 PM)

 

 

Castro. But Lee is also very good in his own right.

 

Dave (Thousand Oaks, CA)

 

 

Jim, would you say the Cubs' farm system is better, worse, or about the same as it was last year at this time?

Jim Callis

(2:34 PM)

 

 

Better. Several players took a step forward, most notably Starlin Castro. He's one of the game's best unheralded prospects.