Would it be outrageous to bring Josh Vitters up?

[Outshined_One]

I've been told by a bunch of guys that played AAA and had brief stints in MLB that the biggest jump is from A to AA. I can't imagine how anyone could go from A to the bigs and be even remotely compitent

 

The difference between the average slider in Low A and the average slider in the majors is impressive in terms of velocity, break, and movement.

[Guest]

Wouldn't be crazy at all. He'd probably hit better than Soto, Lee, Bradley, and Fontenot.

 

No he wouldn't.

[NCCubFan]

Wouldn't be crazy at all.

It would be beyond crazy; it would be totally stupid. If Hendry were to do it he should be shot first and fired later. You don't even THINK about jumping a player all the way from low A to the majors.

[RedFlash]

Calling up a young man who isn't ready for the big leagues is not only stupid, irresponisble but it can and will get a GM fired once the prospect flames out. We talked about how the Cubs rushed prospects like Corey Patterson and Felix Pie, now to suggest to call up an A Ball prospect because the major league team is struggling is a panic move. You can get away with a gamble if you are Florida, or Oakland, etc, etc, but a major market team like the Cubs cannot and shouldn't take that chance.

 

So to the question of the thread: Yes it would be "outrageous" to call up Josh Vitters.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Yes... that would be outrageous. I think Jake Fox falls into the same category. It's silly to think one of these guys is gonna get called up and suddenly carry our offense. At the very least, we need to be looking at big-league solutions to our offensive struggles. Additionally, as others have said, there's too much potential downside to bringing someone up early.

 

With that said... I'm going to see Vitters play in Peoria on Monday. I'll certainly be paying extra attention to him and doing a little scouting of my own, as I haven't seen him yet in person.

 

I remember the first time I saw Pujols play in person (again, with Peoria, when they were a St. Louis affiliate). He came up to bat, they announced him, and I was just sitting there laughing out loud. At the time, I was not familiar with him. I was like, "are they serious?". Then he cranked one about 500 feet to almost dead center, and I stopped laughing. I did my research and found out who the guy was, and not long after that, I saw him on Sportscenter and then watched him take over the league.

[SouthSideRyan]

I've been told by a bunch of guys that played AAA and had brief stints in MLB that the biggest jump is from A to AA. I can't imagine how anyone could go from A to the bigs and be even remotely compitent

 

If he played in the SEC he wouldn't have to worry about that.

[imb]

would it be outrageous to summon the corpse of andre dawson and put him in right field

[Cubbie Swagger]

would it be outrageous to summon the corpse of andre dawson and put him in right field

Certainly not as outrageous as things like calling up Vitters or Fox to be our savior, or thinking Neal Cotts is a capable pitcher.

[Drew Doughty]

would it be outrageous to summon the corpse of andre dawson and put him in right field

 

maybe we can get some sort of frankenstein's monster right fielder. babe ruth's left arm and andre dawson's right arm and adam dunn's eyes (not because he's good at walking, just because they're dreamy) and barry bonds's steroids and so on.

[TruffleShuffle]

would it be outrageous to summon the corpse of andre dawson and put him in right field

 

maybe we can get some sort of frankenstein's monster right fielder. babe ruth's left arm and andre dawson's right arm and adam dunn's eyes (not because he's good at walking, just because they're dreamy) and barry bonds's steroids and so on.

 

if you're talking about baseball-playing robots, i've been pimping this idea for years. frankly i'm disappointed that no forward-thinking organization has tried it out.

[Little Slide Rooter]

would it be outrageous to summon the corpse of andre dawson and put him in right field

 

maybe we can get some sort of frankenstein's monster right fielder. babe ruth's left arm and andre dawson's right arm and adam dunn's eyes (not because he's good at walking, just because they're dreamy) and barry bonds's steroids and so on.

 

If that type of technology was available, surely Kerry Prior would have won a few Cy Youngs by now.

[The Other One]

would it be outrageous to summon the corpse of andre dawson and put him in right field

 

maybe we can get some sort of frankenstein's monster right fielder. babe ruth's left arm and andre dawson's right arm and adam dunn's eyes (not because he's good at walking, just because they're dreamy) and barry bonds's steroids and so on.

 

If that type of technology was available, surely Kerry Prior would have won a few Cy Youngs by now.

 

 

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1900202_1889488,00.html

[UK1679666180]

For once, I'd like to see the Cubs be patient will a high ceiling position prospect. Hopefully, Vitters can con't to hit and maybe finish the year at Daytona with the poss. of starting '10 in the FSL or maybe SL.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

We'd probably be better off trotting out Ron with his two prosthesis than calling up Vitters. And before anyone suggests Jake Fox again...I'm pretty sure Ron in his current condition could play third better than Jake.

[Backtobanks]

We'd probably be better off trotting out Ron with his two prosthesis than calling up Vitters. And before anyone suggests Jake Fox again...I'm pretty sure Ron in his current condition could play third better than Jake.

 

But Fox could outhit and outrun him lol.

[Outshined_One]

Yes... that would be outrageous. I think Jake Fox falls into the same category. It's silly to think one of these guys is gonna get called up and suddenly carry our offense. At the very least, we need to be looking at big-league solutions to our offensive struggles. Additionally, as others have said, there's too much potential downside to bringing someone up early.

 

With that said... I'm going to see Vitters play in Peoria on Monday. I'll certainly be paying extra attention to him and doing a little scouting of my own, as I haven't seen him yet in person.

 

I remember the first time I saw Pujols play in person (again, with Peoria, when they were a St. Louis affiliate). He came up to bat, they announced him, and I was just sitting there laughing out loud. At the time, I was not familiar with him. I was like, "are they serious?". Then he cranked one about 500 feet to almost dead center, and I stopped laughing. I did my research and found out who the guy was, and not long after that, I saw him on Sportscenter and then watched him take over the league.

 

Keep an eye on Vitters' swing. It's unbelievably quick and short.

[jiml60]

At first glance I figured the Cubs would ruin him. But, comparing him to a couple super young players the Marlins brought up Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria at age 19 makes me thing about it a little more.

 

I figured Miguel and Edgar were destroying double A or triple A by age 19 and thats why they were up. But, here is a post from another board.

 

"Vitters hit .328 in low A ball at the age of 18, his first season. Renteria hit .253 in A ball at the age of 18, the end of his third season. Cabrera hit .268 at the age of 18 in his first season. In Cabrera's second season, age 19 at A+ ball he hit .274 with 9 bombs in 124 games, Renteria hit .289 in 135 games with 7 bombs in AA ball. Vitters is currently hitting .357 with 8 bombs in only 37 games at age 19 so he is on pace to hit more homeruns than Cabrera did at 19.

But what i was trying to say is that those two were called up for necessity. Renteria replaced a weak Alex Arias who never hit better than .277, he didn't hit home runs or steal bases so in 96 renteria was called up and replaced him and the next year they won the world series. He was called up at 20 and was the marlins #1 prospect at the time.

Cabrera was hitting well in AA ball when he was called up midway through the 2003 season to help out with todd holandsworth who wasn't hitting well. And Cabrera helped the team and they won the world series. Cabrera was called up when he was 20 and was the Marlins #1 prospect at the time.

Vitters is hitting well in A ball and has showed the same power that Cabrera was called up for. Vitters is 19, going to be 20 in August and is currently the #1 prospect for the Cubs and we need help right now, so why no give him a shot, and if he doesn't work out right away, then put him back in the minors and take their time with him. "

 

How does Vitters at this age compare with minor league statistics to other young guys who were called up early like Andruw Jones, Justin Upton, BJ Upton, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, etc.

 

Im sure a couple were in double A or triple A before being brought up. IIRC, Pujols was destroying the minors as well.

 

Pujols has never been young.

[Outshined_One]

Pujols has never been young.

 

Hey, lay off the insults of the guy. You can't speak ill of someone who joined Teddy Roosevelt in the taking of San Juan Hill!

[sharkfan50]

It wouldn't be that outrageous if Ramirez wasn't locked up for another 1 or 2. Even if Vitters came up and did well, he'd still be forced to go down for another season or 2. Josh can only play 1 position at this point and that position is locked up by their best player for a couple more seasons.

 

So as mentioned many times, you basically start the clock on Vitters for 40 games and barring another major injury to Ramirez, the clock ticks with Josh while he's in the Minors for another season or 2. Just won't happen.

[TruffleShuffle]

well vitters hit a home run today; anyone have a change of heart?

[cubswin2009]

well vitters hit a home run today; anyone have a change of heart?

I'd like to see him get called up to AA soon.

[fivepercent]

We'd probably be better off trotting out Ron with his two prosthesis than calling up Vitters. And before anyone suggests Jake Fox again...I'm pretty sure Ron in his current condition could play third better than Jake.

 

But Fox could outhit and outrun him lol.

 

If Fox is really that bad in the field, I want to see it. He must be the worst fielder in the history of professional baseball. I think I could take the comedy in terrible fielding over the lack of hitting at the moment.

[CUBZ99]

We'd probably be better off trotting out Ron with his two prosthesis than calling up Vitters. And before anyone suggests Jake Fox again...I'm pretty sure Ron in his current condition could play third better than Jake.

 

But Fox could outhit and outrun him lol.

 

If Fox is really that bad in the field, I want to see it. He must be the worst fielder in the history of professional baseball. I think I could take the comedy in terrible fielding over the lack of hitting at the moment.

 

:-)) I'm almost with you, but being that he is the best hitting in the PCL atm and the Cubs are still unwilling to give him a shot says a great deal about his defense.

[Guest]

well vitters hit a home run today; anyone have a change of heart?

I'd like to see him get called up to AA soon.

 

Why skip high-A?

[Little Slide Rooter]

well vitters hit a home run today; anyone have a change of heart?

I'd like to see him get called up to AA soon.

 

Why skip high-A?

 

Because Daytona may never play another game.