Cub prospects in the news

[KingCubsFan]

Sup 1st/2nd. RT @Frankieaaron: @Kevin_Goldstein If Gerardo Concepcion were in the draft, about which round would you expect him picked?

Is Goldstein the one that's higher on Concepcion than the others? Because it's hard to see a guy with a ceiling of a 5 starter going that high in the draft. Then again, we drafted Austin Kirk in the third round.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Sup 1st/2nd. RT @Frankieaaron: @Kevin_Goldstein If Gerardo Concepcion were in the draft, about which round would you expect him picked?

Is Goldstein the one that's higher on Concepcion than the others? Because it's hard to see a guy with a ceiling of a 5 starter going that high in the draft. Then again, we drafted Austin Kirk in the third round.

 

Not to mention getting a big league contract.

[Guest]

Sup 1st/2nd. RT @Frankieaaron: @Kevin_Goldstein If Gerardo Concepcion were in the draft, about which round would you expect him picked?

Is Goldstein the one that's higher on Concepcion than the others? Because it's hard to see a guy with a ceiling of a 5 starter going that high in the draft. Then again, we drafted Austin Kirk in the third round.

 

Yeah, Goldstein said he'd rate Concepcion 6th in the Cubs system.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

So does anyone else feel like Anthony Rizzo is alot like Derrel Lee but as a lefty bat? The more I read about him and the little I see put that into my head.

 

Oh and which one of Vitters, McNutt, and Lake takes a leap to a more believable level of prodpectdom?

[Cubswin11]

So does anyone else feel like Anthony Rizzo is alot like Derrel Lee but as a lefty bat? The more I read about him and the little I see put that into my head.

 

Oh and which one of Vitters, McNutt, and Lake takes a leap to a more believable level of prodpectdom?

Who the eff is Derrel Lee? You mean Derrek Lee?

 

I think McNutt takes the biggest leap if he can avoid those weird injuries (blisters, etc.), then I think it's Vitters, followed by Lake. I think Vitters will have a big year and jump back up into our top 3-5 prospects in the system this time next year, when our system should be stronger and more highly regarded than it is now.

Edited February 12, 2012 by Cubswin11

[davell]

It's one letter off on the keypad, happens to all of us. As for the question, I've got McNutt out of those 3 going forward. Even if he winds up as a setup guy, it's likely, to me anyway, he'll have a better career than Vitters or Lake. Love the upside both possess, just have way too many doubts. Big years for all 3 though, if enough people answered that question from here, I have no idea how the vote would turn out.

[Rob]

If Rizzo is like Derrek Lee, it's more likely the version of Lee from when he was on the Marlins.

 

Rizzo's swing has me thinking he's gonna strike out a good deal more than Lee did in his time with the Cubs.

[Guest]

I know most (myself included) would take issue with LaHair being labeled a prospect, but there wasn't anywhere better to put this.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/winter-baseball/winter-wonders/2012/2612979.html

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

So does anyone else feel like Anthony Rizzo is alot like Derrel Lee but as a lefty bat? The more I read about him and the little I see put that into my head.

 

Oh and which one of Vitters, McNutt, and Lake takes a leap to a more believable level of prodpectdom?

Who the eff is Derrel Lee? You mean Derrek Lee?

 

I think McNutt takes the biggest leap if he can avoid those weird injuries (blisters, etc.), then I think it's Vitters, followed by Lake. I think Vitters will have a big year and jump back up into our top 3-5 prospects in the system this time next year, when our system should be stronger and more highly regarded than it is now.

 

Of course I meant Derrek Lee. That one letter was pretty crazy.

 

Completely agreed with your rest though. I like McNutt athletically more than I thought I would. It looks like they tweaked his mechanics over the course of the year last yea too....

I am highly optimistic on Vitters this year for no particular reason.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

If Rizzo is like Derrek Lee, it's more likely the version of Lee from when he was on the Marlins.

 

Rizzo's swing has me thinking he's gonna strike out a good deal more than Lee did in his time with the Cubs.

 

Agreed on the K's, BUT I thought he covered more of the plate than I thought he would/could. Its what prompted me to go to Lee as an image. Do you think he'll walk as much as Lee did?

 

It's a little off as a comp, but for some reason I like it. Both tall, athletic 1B with strong plate coverage, slightly long swings because of their length, good line drive power early on, strong makeups...debuted with the Padres (superfluous I know)...Neither is projected as a superstud, but both were touted prospects who made it to the show young....Definitely some similarities here. I'd be very happy with the Marlins version of Lee here.

[dew1679666265]

I am highly optimistic on Vitters this year for no particular reason.

 

I'm somewhat optimistic about Vitters and Lake both because of the emphasis we'll have in the organization now. Theo/Hoyer has been preaching defense and plate discipline ("grinding ABs") since taking over and those are the two major weaknesses of both Vitters and Lake. Both already have contact ability (especially Vitters) and both project to decent to good power, but both have atrocious walk rates and both are weak to butchers in the field.

 

If the Cubs could improve on those weaknesses, both could become really good prospects and I think we've got the guys in place to make that happen, if it's possible.

[sneakypower]

well, all that, and the inability to field their positions

[Cubswin11]

I am highly optimistic on Vitters this year for no particular reason.

 

I'm somewhat optimistic about Vitters and Lake both because of the emphasis we'll have in the organization now. Theo/Hoyer has been preaching defense and plate discipline ("grinding ABs") since taking over and those are the two major weaknesses of both Vitters and Lake. Both already have contact ability (especially Vitters) and both project to decent to good power, but both have atrocious walk rates and both are weak to butchers in the field.

 

If the Cubs could improve on those weaknesses, both could become really good prospects and I think we've got the guys in place to make that happen, if it's possible.

Vitters could be an interesting study to see if plate discipline can be taught/learned at a later stage. By all the accounts of his superior vision/hand eye coordination it seems like if there was every a guy who could go from taking very few walks to taking a ton he seems to be as good a bet as anyone to do so. According to the scouting reports it's not that he has a pitch recognition/contact problem, it's that he's too good at making contact and thus swings at pitches out of the zone or ones in the zone he can't do much with but still is able to put them in play. If/when they start emphasizing the "grinding ab's" thing in the minor league level and Vitters buys into it, I could see him turning the corner on taking more pitches/walks. Which would almost more than likely cut down on his BA and increase his K's, but it should also help his power as he would be swinging at more "hitters" pitches. He also could go the complete opposite way and say "[expletive] it, I can hit any pitch I decide to swing at and put it in play" and continue on in his ways.

[KingCubsFan]

I am highly optimistic on Vitters this year for no particular reason.

 

I'm somewhat optimistic about Vitters and Lake both because of the emphasis we'll have in the organization now. Theo/Hoyer has been preaching defense and plate discipline ("grinding ABs") since taking over and those are the two major weaknesses of both Vitters and Lake. Both already have contact ability (especially Vitters) and both project to decent to good power, but both have atrocious walk rates and both are weak to butchers in the field.

 

If the Cubs could improve on those weaknesses, both could become really good prospects and I think we've got the guys in place to make that happen, if it's possible.

Vitters could be an interesting study to see if plate discipline can be taught/learned at a later stage. By all the accounts of his superior vision/hand eye coordination it seems like if there was every a guy who could go from taking very few walks to taking a ton he seems to be as good a bet as anyone to do so. According to the scouting reports it's not that he has a pitch recognition/contact problem, it's that he's too good at making contact and thus swings at pitches out of the zone or ones in the zone he can't do much with but still is able to put them in play. If/when they start emphasizing the "grinding ab's" thing in the minor league level and Vitters buys into it, I could see him turning the corner on taking more pitches/walks. Which would almost more than likely cut down on his BA and increase his K's, but it should also help his power as he would be swinging at more "hitters" pitches. He also could go the complete opposite way and say "[expletive] it, I can hit any pitch I decide to swing at and put it in play" and continue on in his ways.

Agreed on Vitters. With the new organizational philosophy, hopefully the front office has conveyed to him that, if he doesn't start showing more discipline, he probably doesn't have a future with the team. I don't have as much hope for Lake. Not only is his K/BB ratio horrible, but he's also been reportedly resistant to coaching. Guys with that type of pitch recognition problem usually don't make it.

[dew1679666265]

well, all that, and the inability to field their positions

 

I mentioned defense a couple times in that post. It wasn't the focus, but I did mention it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Keith Law had some tweets about Cubs prospects yesterday.

 

The good news is that he says Vogelbach lost another 20-25 pounds during the offseason.

 

The unsurprising news is that he saw Vogelbach strike out twice and has pretty much already written him off.

[TruffleShuffle]

no, he said "overmatched today."

[Hairyducked Idiot]

no, he said "overmatched today."

 

Law is the type to cling to that initial impression forever.

[nightman]

Law mentioned some other guys in his chat yesterday.

 

Dale (KY)

 

Can you give me some guys from the lower levels of the Cubs system to be excited about?

 

 

Klaw (2:10 PM)

 

Baez (that's some of the easiest power I've ever seen, including to the opposite field), Candelario, Dunston, the Cuban outfielder whose name I won't try to spell. Saw all those guys yesterday.

 

That comment on Baez is exciting. I sent him a tweet to get some clarification. Asked him how Baez' easy power compares to Stanton. Not as easy, I'm guessing, but it's still exciting.

 

The Cuban OF is Balaguert.

[jersey cubs fan]

enemy of dayman?

[nightman]

enemy of dayman?

 

That's right. I pin him down with my strong hands.

[toonsterwu]

Not sure that this deserved it's own thread, but official Peoria roster is up. Here's the write-up from Nate -

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120401&content_id=27830444&vkey=pr_t443&fext=.jsp&sid=t443

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I have not read a word on the young Vitters in months. Anyone out there have an opinion on how his preseason went?

[TruffleShuffle]

from kevin goldstein's nl central preview:

 

Affiliate to Watch: The immediate future will be at Triple-A, specifically in the form of outfielder Brett Jackson and first baseman Anthony Rizzo; third baseman Josh Vitters is always worth watching as well. While the roster for Low-A Peoria isn't set, Top 2011 picks Javier Baez, Dan Vogelbach and Dillon Maples could all see time there, as well as toolsy but unrefined Reggie Golden.

 

Trade Bait: As a rebuilding club, the question is more what kind of prospect they can get for Marlon Byrd or, if they want to get aggressive, Matt Garza.

 

Breakout Candidate: Baez was arguably the best pure hitter in last year's draft among high school talent, and could gain significant prospect traction in his first full season.

 

Don't Be Surprised If He Gets to The Big Leagues: While he did not crack the big league roster this spring, Welington Castillo remains the Cubs' catcher of the future, and a trade of Geovany Soto could make the future come quick.

 

Fans Are Too Excited About: Outfielder Matt Szczur is fast, but not a burner, has some power, but is not a slugger, has questionable on-base skills, and turns 23 in July. That's not the combination of a future star.

 

Odds to Be 2013 No. 1 Prospect:

Javier Baez: 2-1

No. 6 pick in 2012 draft: 5-2

Dillon Maples: 25-1

[Guest]

Opening Day BA chat:

 

Roger (Greenville, SC): Are there any offensive SS prospects who project to remain there and could also breakout this year? Perhaps Marco Hernandez?

 

J.J. Cooper: Hernandez has a chance to stick at SS, but it's not a guarantee, but yeah, he has a very intriguing mix of offensive potential and defensive tools. I'll throw out a guy at a higher level: Arizona's Chris Owings. He's had some troubles with his approach in the past, but the tools are very solid and he's showing signs this spring that he's starting to look a little more skeptically at pitches out of the zone.

 

jay johnson (new york): How are the cubs going to handle, Baez, Volgebach, Maples and Dunston and Conception, do you see them all going to Bosie or a few of them going to Low a from extended? They spent alot of money on these guys, so they have to have alot of expectations for these guys?

 

J.J. Cooper: I've got to expect that we're going to see a wave of those guys hitting Boise at some point in the first half of the season. It's hard to believe that almost the entire draft class would be placed on the "take it slow" track.

 

Navin (Pasadena, CA): Speaking of Marco Hernandez, how surprised are you that it's he and not Javier Baez starting the season at Peoria?

 

J.J. Cooper: Quite surprised. I talked to Cubs officials a couple of weeks into spring training and didn't get the inkling that was coming.

 

Roger (Greenville, SC): What are the chances that we see Bubba Starling, Brandon Nimmo, or Javier Baez make a late debut in low A rather than waiting for rookie ball?

 

J.J. Cooper: Quite good. Wouldn't be surprised to see all three of them make it to low Class A before June.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/2012/2613233.html