it's early but I'm excited about... milb version

[biittner77]

it's early but I'm excited about Tyler Colvin with more walks than Ks and a 400+ obp.

[Keener98]

Ill take the easy answer of Vitters. Hes mashing again.

[jersey cubs fan]

shouldn't it be milb version? ml is major league.

 

I am honestly not excited about any minor league Cubs. Maybe it's a matter of having less time to pay attention to them, but there isn't a guy down there whose numbers I just have to see in these box scores. I guess Vitters might become that guy. Colvin is going to have to do much more than OPS a shade over 800 as a 23 year old back down in A ball.

[Guest]

There are others but the obvious choice besides Vitters is Casey Coleman.

 

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

[CUBZ99]

Obviously we knew that Jake Fox could hit, but his numbers are ridiculous at this point 7 Hr's 24 RBI's two weeks into the season? He is really forcing the Cubs to pay attention to him similar to Hoffpauir last year. If nothing else, his trade value has to be at an all time high.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

I doubt that's it. I've been a passionate follower of Cubs minor leaguers for a decade now, and have always had a few guys who I just had to see what they were doing. Indifference would be a poor description. If I was indifferent I wouldn't be disappointed in the status of the system. Maybe it has something to do with being less fascinated with low level numbers and with Vitters being the only good prospect, but still at a very low level, I'm not obsessed with it. Or maybe it's because I would have preferred Weiters and hold it against him. I guess as the season goes along I might get more interested in him, or more interested in some other standout that emerges.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Obviously we knew that Jake Fox could hit, but his numbers are ridiculous at this point 7 Hr's 24 RBI's two weeks into the season? He is really forcing the Cubs to pay attention to him similar to Hoffpauir last year. If nothing else, his trade value has to be at an all time high.

 

Could he really be worse defensively than Daryl Ward? Bring him up.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm excited about the 2008 draft. You have Jackson, Coleman, Shafer, and Carpenter have shown good things so far as starters. Flaherty is showing that he can hithithit. McDaniel(although he's starting right now) and my favorite Cales have done well in relief roles. And Cerda and Watkins have shown advanced approaches for young draftees. And I haven't even mentioned Cashner, who showed why he went in the 1st round when they put him in the pen last year. Bristow pitched well last year too(I can't remember, is he hurt?).

 

I also like the relief prospects we have coming along right now as well. Stevens and Gaub are off to good starts as Cubs, Parker is striking out everyone, the aforementioned McDaniel and Cales have pitched well, and Papelbon's off to a good start as well.

[CubColtPacer]

Obviously we knew that Jake Fox could hit, but his numbers are ridiculous at this point 7 Hr's 24 RBI's two weeks into the season? He is really forcing the Cubs to pay attention to him similar to Hoffpauir last year. If nothing else, his trade value has to be at an all time high.

 

Could he really be worse defensively than Daryl Ward? Bring him up.

 

No, he's not. But the reason that Hoffpauir got stuck in the minor leagues last year for most of the year was because Ward was on the roster. The same will likely be true this year with Fox because Hoffpauir is blocking him.

[Outshined_One]

I'll throw Tony Thomas' name into the mix.

 

I think skipping Peoria last season was a large part of the reason why he struggled down in Daytona, considering it was his first full season and he went from a very hitter-friendly league in Boise to one of the most pitcher-friendly leagues in Daytona. He had his struggles last year, but it seems like he's finally worked through them.

 

We'll see if he keeps up his current production.

[Guest]

I'm excited about the 2008 draft. You have Jackson, Coleman, Shafer, and Carpenter have shown good things so far as starters. Flaherty is showing that he can hithithit. McDaniel(although he's starting right now) and my favorite Cales have done well in relief roles. And Cerda and Watkins have shown advanced approaches for young draftees. And I haven't even mentioned Cashner, who showed why he went in the 1st round when they put him in the pen last year. Bristow pitched well last year too(I can't remember, is he hurt?).

 

I also like the relief prospects we have coming along right now as well. Stevens and Gaub are off to good starts as Cubs, Parker is striking out everyone, the aforementioned McDaniel and Cales have pitched well, and Papelbon's off to a good start as well.

 

Sounds like Bristow is healthy again. He had "elbow stiffness" that got him shut down for the final month of last season but according to Arizona Phil's reports, he was pitching this spring and had a chance to make the Peoria rotation.

[biittner77]

maybe excited is too strong. Would guarded optimism be ok?

 

Colvin is going to have to do much more than OPS a shade over 800 as a 23 year old back down in A ball.

 

Thy seem to be trying to get him out on crap and he's laying off. That's encouraging to me, more so than slg inflated ops numbers.

 

When he's able to play defense and gets to AA they will challenge him more and his slg will need to improve once he's there.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Is Tony Thomas for real? We could use a second baseman who can hit. Obviously hes only 2 years into his pro career, so we'll probably have to wait at least 2 more years before he gets his chance.

 

Blake Lalli seems to be doing very well for himself, but I wouldnt put too much stock in a 26 year old whose never been past AA.

 

Ive been a fan of Rebel Ridling and Marquez Smith since last year, but we'll see what the future holds for them.

 

Jeff Stevens may be close to the big show too, especially if our current relievers keep pissing off Lou. Justin Wadells another one, especially if he keeps doing what hes doing and Cotts keeps doing what hes doing.

 

Then theres the usual rank and file of Mitch Atkins, Kevin Hart, Randy Wells, J.R. Mathes et all. None of them are getting any younger(I guess Atkins is still pretty young), and the best thing for any of these guys may be a trade.

[TruffleShuffle]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

vitters' numbers scream "second coming of howie kendrick" which might be nice for a middle infielder, but not so much for a 3B.

[weis21]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

vitters' numbers scream "second coming of howie kendrick" which might be nice for a middle infielder, but not so much for a 3B.

So you'd rather "judge" 361 AB's over 3 years for a 19 year-old rather than scouting reports concerning his upside? Interesting. He's been at worst moderately impressive in his limited action. Go ahead and doubt his defense if you'd like, but there is absolutely no reason to be pessimistic to his upside at this point of his career.

[JeffH]

I'm excited that we're several weeks closer to the end of the Hendry/Wilken era.

[sneakypower]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

vitters' numbers scream "second coming of howie kendrick" which might be nice for a middle infielder, but not so much for a 3B.

his numbers forbode a career progression stalled by injuries?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Standout performers thus far

 

Iowa

Jake Fox .438/.493/1.000/1.493 9HR 27 RBI-I refuse to believe that aguy putting up these kind of ungodly numbers at any level wont at least have some level of major league sucess

Jason DuBois .412/.444/.706/1.150-if theres such a thing as a career minor leaguer Hall of Fame, hes a first ballotter, but thats about it.

Bobby Scales .362/.441/.586/1.027-another guy who waited until his late 20's torn heads. we'll see if he ever gets a cup of coffee

Jeff Stevens 0-0 0.00 0.82 WHIP-Id still prefer DeRosa

Randy Wells 2-0 2.65 WHIP 0.94-I think he'll one day be a major leaguer

Jose Ascanio 0-0 0.54 WHIP 0.96-he could be helping our pen sooner than later

Greg Reinhard 0-0 0.00 WHIP 1.09-who?

 

Tenessee

Tony Thomas .364/.438/.618/1.056 4HR 13 RBI

Blake Lalli .429/.487/.600/1.097-a 26 year old AAer?

Casey Coleman3-0 1.50 WHIP 1.06

Casey Lambert1-1 1.80 WHIP 1.00-I know strikeouts are over rated, but he only has 3 in 15 IP, and thats a red flag

John Gaub 0-0 2.08 WHIP 0.92- 4 words LEFT HANDED RELIEF PITCHER

 

Daytona

Marquez Smith .293/.356/.683/1.038 5HR

Dan McDaniel 2-0 0.79 WHIP 0.44

Marcus Mateo 0-0 0.00 WHIP 0.67

[TruffleShuffle]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

vitters' numbers scream "second coming of howie kendrick" which might be nice for a middle infielder, but not so much for a 3B.

his numbers forbode a career progression stalled by injuries?

 

well he's been getting hurt a lot since the cubs drafted him, so that could work.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

vitters' numbers scream "second coming of howie kendrick" which might be nice for a middle infielder, but not so much for a 3B.

So you'd rather "judge" 361 AB's over 3 years for a 19 year-old rather than scouting reports concerning his upside? Interesting. He's been at worst moderately impressive in his limited action. Go ahead and doubt his defense if you'd like, but there is absolutely no reason to be pessimistic to his upside at this point of his career.

 

Upside is just upside, not reality. Scouting reports about upside are more often than not far more glowing than what happens in a players career. What matters is what the stat book says at the end of the day.

[chattbaseball]

If Vitters doesn't scream thay guy whose numbers I have to see every night, you're probably just indifferent to the minors.

 

vitters' numbers scream "second coming of howie kendrick" which might be nice for a middle infielder, but not so much for a 3B.

So you'd rather "judge" 361 AB's over 3 years for a 19 year-old rather than scouting reports concerning his upside? Interesting. He's been at worst moderately impressive in his limited action. Go ahead and doubt his defense if you'd like, but there is absolutely no reason to be pessimistic to his upside at this point of his career.

 

Upside is just upside, not reality. Scouting reports about upside are more often than not far more glowing than what happens in a players career. What matters is what the stat book says at the end of the day.

 

I agree to a certain extent. But for someone who has tremendous upside, is only 19 years old, and still rather raw at the plate (from a professional experience standpoint), it's too early to write someone off...which seems to happen a lot with fans.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'm not writing off vitters. i'm using what i've read in scouting reports, which is that his ability to make contact is so good that he hasn't really needed to learn plate discipline, and his swing is aimed more toward hitting line drives than hitting for power. that's cool if he ends up hitting .310 or .320 regularly, but if he doesn't walk much and doesn't hit for much power, we'll have the next jeff cirillo on our hands. a nice player, but not really the impact bat you want when you're drafting 3rd overall.

[chattbaseball]

i'm not writing off vitters. i'm using what i've read in scouting reports, which is that his ability to make contact is so good that he hasn't really needed to learn plate discipline, and his swing is aimed more toward hitting line drives than hitting for power. that's cool if he ends up hitting .310 or .320 regularly, but if he doesn't walk much and doesn't hit for much power, we'll have the next jeff cirillo on our hands. a nice player, but not really the impact bat you want when you're drafting 3rd overall.

 

fair enough, i'll take that.