Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-4-2009

[bubblesdachimp]

Is Castro top 50 top 75? Seriously he has put up better numbers than andrus did and he is younger... And andrus was so high...

 

 

I am glad we promoted him.. Gotta challenge a kid. I revise my top two. Cashner Castro.

[Outshined_One]

Is Castro top 50 top 75? Seriously he has put up better numbers than andrus did and he is younger... And andrus was so high...

 

 

I am glad we promoted him.. Gotta challenge a kid. I revise my top two. Cashner Castro.

 

If Castro puts up numbers at Tennessee comparable to what he did in Daytona, he'd probably be in the Top 75-Top 50 range. There are still a handful of questions about him, but he's gone from relative unknown/sleeper in this system to one of the better SS prospects in the game. That's quite impressive.

[Guest]

The Trib[/url]"]Vitters watch: Top prospect Josh Vitters suffered a left hand injury that has put him out of action at Class A Daytona since July 28. It's the same hand problem that limited Vitters to 65 games last year.

[Outshined_One]

The Trib[/url]"]Vitters watch: Top prospect Josh Vitters suffered a left hand injury that has put him out of action at Class A Daytona since July 28. It's the same hand problem that limited Vitters to 65 games last year.

 

Grooooooooooooooooooan. That's the one thing that's kept me from getting too excited about Vitters.

[CyHawk_Cub]

The Trib[/url]"]Vitters watch: Top prospect Josh Vitters suffered a left hand injury that has put him out of action at Class A Daytona since July 28. It's the same hand problem that limited Vitters to 65 games last year.

 

Grooooooooooooooooooan. That's the one thing that's kept me from getting too excited about Vitters.

 

Ugh... When it comes to hitters, I don't think there's such a thing as a "minor" hand injury.

[UK1679666180]

I'll have my reports up at some point today from last night's game in Beloit, that game was a killer to sit all the way thru.

 

I'm finally glad I got to see Huseby.

[Guest]

The Trib[/url]"]Vitters watch: Top prospect Josh Vitters suffered a left hand injury that has put him out of action at Class A Daytona since July 28. It's the same hand problem that limited Vitters to 65 games last year.

That's bad.

[UK1679666180]

Velo reports fron last night...

 

Archer:

FB: 87-93 sat 91/92

CB: 80-83

CH: 80-83

 

No one really centered the ball off of him as he mainly worked off his FB and later used his curve and change, he still threw 80% or so FB. He has 2 pitches right now that are ML avg. with his FB/CB and his change-up will likely get there.

 

Cabrera:

FB 90-96 sat 93

Slurve 80-83

Slider 86-87

 

Buchter:

FB: 88-91

CB: 75-77

 

Hamren

FB: 87-91

SL: 82

 

Huseby

FB: 86-90 sat 88

Slurve: 76-80

 

DJ was quicker than what I had seen the 1st night, he's at least ML avg. as far as a runner. He does have soft hands and playable arm strength. He stays inside the ball pretty well and will at least hit for avg.

 

Jackson hit an 81 MPH slider that was over the heart of the plate and pulled it about 340, he does have a nice swing. He's got above avg. arm strength but isn't as accurate as someone like Burke. He has a leg kick similar to Soriano, so it'll interesting that when he struggles it'll likely be a timing issue where he'll go thru stretches when he struggles to make contact and will either be behind the ball or out in front.

 

Perez has the strongest arm, but is a liability in the OF and while he has the most raw power on the team, doesn't have the approach or the ability to hit the breaking ball to save him.

 

Burke struggled last night getting out in front of some pitches, it looked like his timing was off just a bit.

 

I was really impressed with Huseby, despite the lack of velo.

 

He is really depective, the way he hides the ball, it makes that ball look like it is jumping on the batter. As I mentioned, he has plus slider/slurve that he can throw in any count and he has exceptional command/control.

[Old Style]

The Trib[/url]"]Vitters watch: Top prospect Josh Vitters suffered a left hand injury that has put him out of action at Class A Daytona since July 28. It's the same hand problem that limited Vitters to 65 games last year.

That's bad.

+1

 

I am torn on the Raley signing. I think it is great for the Cubs, but I wouldn't have been disappointed to see him stay in school another year. I am a Texas A&M alumnus and he will be missed in College Station. Hopefully he will progress through the system and I can see him pitch at Wrigley in the not too distant future.

[Guest]

Velo reports fron last night...

 

Archer:

FB: 87-93 sat 91/92

CB: 80-83

CH: 80-83

 

No one really centered the ball off of him as he mainly worked off his FB and later used his curve and change, he still threw 80% or so FB. He has 2 pitches right now that are ML avg. with his FB/CB and his change-up will likely get there.

 

Cabrera:

FB 90-96 sat 93

Slurve 80-83

Slider 86-87

 

Buchter:

FB: 88-91

CB: 75-77

 

Hamren

FB: 87-91

SL: 82

 

Huseby

FB: 86-90 sat 88

Slurve: 76-80

 

DJ was quicker than what I had seen the 1st night, he's at least ML avg. as far as a runner. He does have soft hands and playable arm strength. He stays inside the ball pretty well and will at least hit for avg.

 

Jackson hit an 81 MPH slider that was over the heart of the plate and pulled it about 340, he does have a nice swing. He's got above avg. arm strength but isn't as accurate as someone like Burke. He has a leg kick similar to Soriano, so it'll interesting that when he struggles it'll likely be a timing issue where he'll go thru stretches when he struggles to make contact and will either be behind the ball or out in front.

 

Perez has the strongest arm, but is a liability in the OF and while he has the most raw power on the team, doesn't have the approach or the ability to hit the breaking ball to save him.

 

Burke struggled last night getting out in front of some pitches, it looked like his timing was off just a bit.

 

I was really impressed with Huseby, despite the lack of velo.

 

He is really depective, the way he hides the ball, it makes that ball look like it is jumping on the batter. As I mentioned, he has plus slider/slurve that he can throw in any count and he has exceptional command/control.

 

Thanks, UK. Did you see Huseby throw his cutter?

 

I didn't realize Cabrera threw harder than Archer and I was disappointed to see the lower velo on Archer.

[UK1679666180]

He didn't throw it last night as the FB I seen had tail at (86-90), I would say he threw around 65% FB and 35% slider.

 

Cabrera touched 96 once and 95 a couple of times on the same gun that had Archer (87-93), Cabrera hit those velos after giving up the GS, so I'm sure he was pissed at the time and overthrew.

[Guest]

He didn't throw it last night as the FB I seen had tail at (86-90), I would say he threw around 65% FB and 35% slider.

 

Cabrera touched 96 once and 95 a couple of times on the same gun that had Archer (87-93), Cabrera hit those velos after giving up the GS, so I'm sure he was pissed at the time and overthrew.

 

Makes sense. Main disappointment with Archer is that he threw harder the last time you went (and I've read he throws 92-96 a few times).

 

I've heard the Cubs envision Huseby as a late-inning/closer type. Do you think he has that potential? Any chance he could start?

 

Are you going to anymore games?

[UK1679666180]

I've seen Archer a few times now for about 15IP and he hasn't been really above 93 in any outing, he might've touched 94, but my 1st report on him, I remember someone surprised at how low the velo was. It's still a ML FB velo-wise cause he sits 91.

 

I think Huseby can be, but I'm going on small sample as this was the 1st time I've seen him. He didn't show a 3rd pitch so I would skeptical off the bat. But, he has tools to be successful given his deception, command/control, and the slider to be success regardless of whether it's starting or relieving. His slider is such that it's equally as nasty to LH'ers as righties.

 

I won't be there and the only time I might see them again is if they play KC in the playoffs.

[UK1679666180]

I did forget to mention that Archer's CB looked much better this time, prob. went from avg. to a plus pitch, IMO.

[Guest]

Oswaldo Martinez pitched in the Mexican League Playoffs: link

 

3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HBP, 4-5 GO-FO.