Cub prospects in the news

[Post Count Padder]

Nice to see Lake progressing, especially in terms of plate discipline.

[Guest]

If Lake's bat continues to progress into a thing, is there a position he would be able to field well?

[Little Slide Rooter]

There's 3rd where he's played a handfull of games, though he still plays the bulk of his games at SS. They did have him playing a lot of 2B, but he hasn't played there since 2009. At 6'2 215lbs, seems like a big guy for the middle infield. I'm surprised they've never put him in the OF.

[davell]

If Lake's bat continues to progress into a thing, is there a position he would be able to field well?

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy. Fills in hopefully at SS, 3B, 2B, LF, and RF, getting 100+ starts over the course of the season.

[craig]

There's 3rd where he's played a handfull of games, though he still plays the bulk of his games at SS. They did have him playing a lot of 2B, but he hasn't played there since 2009. At 6'2 215lbs, seems like a big guy for the middle infield. I'm surprised they've never put him in the OF.

 

By many accounts, he's a lot taller/bigger than 6'2" now. I think RF would make a lot of sense, if he hits enough.

 

He may resemble Soriano. Great arm, fast, athletic, the tools would seem to profile great in RF. Soriano had great infield tools, but never became even a decent infielder. Great outfield tools, but never became a good outfielder either.

 

Hopefully Lake with practice and experience will get good, or at least acceptable, somewhere.

[Guest]

Lake hasn't been 6'2/215 in a few years. He's closer to 6'4 now. The early results at 3B haven't been great, but he'd need more time to get a better idea of his 3B abilities. I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up a RF if his bat keeps up.

[Guest]

If Lake's bat continues to progress into a thing, is there a position he would be able to field well?

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy. Fills in hopefully at SS, 3B, 2B, LF, and RF, getting 100+ starts over the course of the season.

 

Not saying it doesn't happen... but how often does a utility/bench guy get 100+ starts?

[CubsInNC]

If Lake's bat continues to progress into a thing, is there a position he would be able to field well?

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy. Fills in hopefully at SS, 3B, 2B, LF, and RF, getting 100+ starts over the course of the season.

 

Not saying it doesn't happen... but how often does a utility/bench guy get 100+ starts?

 

 

3 times over a 10 year career?

[KingCubsFan]

Lake hasn't been 6'2/215 in a few years. He's closer to 6'4 now. The early results at 3B haven't been great, but he'd need more time to get a better idea of his 3B abilities. I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up a RF if his bat keeps up.

Yeah. Given that he has an 80 arm, I'm guessing he'll switch over to 3B soon and, if that fails, RF.

[davell]

If Lake's bat continues to progress into a thing, is there a position he would be able to field well?

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy. Fills in hopefully at SS, 3B, 2B, LF, and RF, getting 100+ starts over the course of the season.

 

Not saying it doesn't happen... but how often does a utility/bench guy get 100+ starts?

 

Probably not often at all. I'm thinking a guy who fills in like Figgins did for the Angels, in the early to mid 2000's. Off the top of my head, perfect case scenario for something like this would be platoon with Stewart at 3rd, give off days to guys at 2B, SS, LF, and RF, plus play everyday when any of those guys were hurt.

[SouthSideRyan]

If Lake's bat continues to progress into a thing, is there a position he would be able to field well?

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy. Fills in hopefully at SS, 3B, 2B, LF, and RF, getting 100+ starts over the course of the season.

 

Not saying it doesn't happen... but how often does a utility/bench guy get 100+ starts?

 

 

3 times over a 10 year career?

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phillto02.shtml

[craig]

I think multi-position guys tend to be guys who have fairly decent instincts defensively. May not be really gifted at any individual position, but can usually catch whatever they can reach, throw the ball straight, and read the ball OK anywhere.

 

Bellhorn, DeRosa, Jose Hernandez, Theriot, they tended to be fairly instinctive and competent wherever you played them. Not great anywhere, and maybe short on range or arm for some of the positions they played at, but they wouldn't be embarrassing themselves. They could catch what they could get to and throw the ball straight no matter where you put them.

 

I get the impression that Lake seems rather non-instinctive defensively and may not be competent at either catching the ball or throwing the ball straight at present from any position, much less expecting him to do so from five positions. I think he might end up needing to kind of memorize how to play one or two positions.

 

Hopefully he'll end up being quite good at either 3rd or RF. And will hit enough so that we'll want him to play.

[El Duderino]

Not sure where to post this, thought it was funny.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/IowaCubs/status/204572580693282820/photo/1

[jersey cubs fan]

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy.

 

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that is not a thing!!!!!!

 

I hated when everybody decided they had to describe Derosa that way. You are a utility player if you can't be a starter but can play multiple positions. There is not such thing as a "super utility" guy.

[Guest]

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy.

 

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that is not a thing!!!!!!

 

I hated when everybody decided they had to describe Derosa that way. You are a utility player if you can't be a starter but can play multiple positions. There is not such thing as a "super utility" guy.

 

What if you can play a bunch of positions (but none of them really all that well) but you're a very good hitter?

 

 

Not that I disagree with you on the labels thing.

[jersey cubs fan]

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy.

 

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that is not a thing!!!!!!

 

I hated when everybody decided they had to describe Derosa that way. You are a utility player if you can't be a starter but can play multiple positions. There is not such thing as a "super utility" guy.

 

What if you can play a bunch of positions (but none of them really all that well) but you're a very good hitter?

 

 

Not that I disagree with you on the labels thing.

 

If you are truly a "very good hitter" and can play a bunch of positions, you can play one of them well enough to start.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy.

 

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that is not a thing!!!!!!

 

I hated when everybody decided they had to describe Derosa that way. You are a utility player if you can't be a starter but can play multiple positions. There is not such thing as a "super utility" guy.

 

What if you can play a bunch of positions (but none of them really all that well) but you're a very good hitter?

 

 

Not that I disagree with you on the labels thing.

 

If you are truly a "very good hitter" and can play a bunch of positions, you can play one of them well enough to start.

 

That Albert Pujols guy comes to mind. 3B, LF, and eventually 1B.

[Guest]

I've kind of had it in my mind that he's going to be a super utility type guy.

 

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that is not a thing!!!!!!

 

I hated when everybody decided they had to describe Derosa that way. You are a utility player if you can't be a starter but can play multiple positions. There is not such thing as a "super utility" guy.

 

What if you can play a bunch of positions (but none of them really all that well) but you're a very good hitter?

 

 

Not that I disagree with you on the labels thing.

 

If you are truly a "very good hitter" and can play a bunch of positions, you can play one of them well enough to start.

 

That Albert Pujols guy comes to mind. 3B, LF, and eventually 1B.

 

Except he actually is/was really good at 1B.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Except he actually is/was really good at 1B.

 

The point is that if you can hit you'll find a way onto the field even if no one has quite figured out what position you're going to play. Pujols wouldn't be a full time 1B until 2004, his 4th MLB season, which is where his mention fits into the discussion.

 

If Lake can hit I expect he'll see ABs at 3B, LF, and RF.

[Guest]

Except he actually is/was really good at 1B.

 

The point is that if you can hit you'll find a way onto the field even if no one has quite figured out what position you're going to play. Pujols wouldn't be a full time 1B until 2004, his 4th MLB season, which is where his mention fits into the discussion.

 

If Lake can hit I expect he'll see ABs at 3B, LF, and RF.

 

The discussion was about the term "super utility" and only involved Lake in so much as someone earlier having said that he might potentially fit that description.

[Tyrant]

I hope we're headed for another long discussion about semantics.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Except he actually is/was really good at 1B.

 

The point is that if you can hit you'll find a way onto the field even if no one has quite figured out what position you're going to play. Pujols wouldn't be a full time 1B until 2004, his 4th MLB season, which is where his mention fits into the discussion.

 

If Lake can hit I expect he'll see ABs at 3B, LF, and RF.

 

The discussion was about the term "super utility" and only involved Lake in so much as someone earlier having said that he might potentially fit that description.

 

What? The discussion involved guys who might be able to hit, don't have a position, but do have the tools to find a position.

 

Lake as a utility guy doesn't make sense because utility guys tend to be known for being competent defensive players rather than raw defensive players. Super utility just sounds like a phrase someone made up to glorify the job.

[UK1679666180]

With Parker getting called up, is anyone surprised Rhoderick is still at AA?

 

He's their likely choice as future closer, IMO.

[Guest]

With Parker getting called up, is anyone surprised Rhoderick is still at AA?

 

He's their likely choice as future closer, IMO.

 

I prefer Cabrera a whole lot more as future closer.

[Little Slide Rooter]

With Parker getting called up, is anyone surprised Rhoderick is still at AA?

 

He's their likely choice as future closer, IMO.

 

I prefer Cabrera a whole lot more as future closer.

 

I prefer them and Hatley to all the retreads that occupy the bulk of the AAA pen.