2009 Arizona Fall League

[Rob]

Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, CS, K: Castro is tied for the league lead with a .423 batting average (22-for-52), but his overall line of .423/.462/.462 shows that there are precious few secondary skills.

 

 

I really don't know what else you could ask for from a 19 year old SS.

 

I wouldn't pay much attention to KG hating on Cubs prospects. When he has something nice to say about our system, that'll be news.

[Guest]

A guy at TCR just mentioned Cashner was scratched today and is listed as unable to compete in the prospect game on Sunday as well. Any word on if he's hurt or if the Cubs may be shutting him down a little early possibly due to the amount of innings he threw this year?

 

His scheduled start is Thursday, not today according to today's AFL Game Notes.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=6889

 

Well, BA says Cashner is unavailable to participate in the Rising Stars game. He better not be hurt.

[davell]

Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, CS, K: Castro is tied for the league lead with a .423 batting average (22-for-52), but his overall line of .423/.462/.462 shows that there are precious few secondary skills.

 

 

I really don't know what else you could ask for from a 19 year old SS.

 

I wouldn't pay much attention to KG hating on Cubs prospects. When he has something nice to say about our system, that'll be news.

 

 

Isn't Goldstein a big Vitters fan? At least I thought he was for some reason.......Maybe even called him a top 20 or 30 prospect earlier in the year. I could be wrong though.

[davell]

A guy at TCR just mentioned Cashner was scratched today and is listed as unable to compete in the prospect game on Sunday as well. Any word on if he's hurt or if the Cubs may be shutting him down a little early possibly due to the amount of innings he threw this year?

 

His scheduled start is Thursday, not today according to today's AFL Game Notes.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=6889

 

Well, BA says Cashner is unavailable to participate in the Rising Stars game. He better not be hurt.

 

 

Hopefully it's because he's scheduled to pitch Thursday, which would make him unavailable for Sunday anyway......

[davell]

AZ Phil said earlier today that he fully expects Castillo, Parker, and Gaub to all be added to the 40 man this offseason. He said that if Dolis and Camp are not added, they could definitely be picked in the Rule 5 draft.

[toonsterwu]

With the Cubs seemingly wanting to "challenge" younger players at this point, it's what made me think about it......I'm also fairly sure AZ Phil mentioned Vitters as someone who could start at either place next year. I tend to agree that he's not ready, but it's not going to shock me if he's rushed either.

 

It's possible, but the Cubs, while aggressive with some guys, have been fairly, for lack of a better word, careful (not the best word choice but can't think of anything else right now) with Vitters in not trying to force too much.

[Guest]

Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, CS, K: Castro is tied for the league lead with a .423 batting average (22-for-52), but his overall line of .423/.462/.462 shows that there are precious few secondary skills.

 

 

I really don't know what else you could ask for from a 19 year old SS.

 

I wouldn't pay much attention to KG hating on Cubs prospects. When he has something nice to say about our system, that'll be news.

 

 

Isn't Goldstein a big Vitters fan? At least I thought he was for some reason.......Maybe even called him a top 20 or 30 prospect earlier in the year. I could be wrong though.

 

Yes, KG is a big Vitters fan. And, of late, he's been saying Castro is pushing Vitters.

 

I never got the impression he was biased against Cubs prospects.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I actually asked Dierkes on the MLBTR chat how far he thought Castro was from making Theriot trade bait, and he said about a year.

[jersey cubs fan]

With the Cubs seemingly wanting to "challenge" younger players at this point, it's what made me think about it......I'm also fairly sure AZ Phil mentioned Vitters as someone who could start at either place next year. I tend to agree that he's not ready, but it's not going to shock me if he's rushed either.

 

It's possible, but the Cubs, while aggressive with some guys, have been fairly, for lack of a better word, careful (not the best word choice but can't think of anything else right now) with Vitters in not trying to force too much.

 

How so? He's young, and after one great month, one bad month and one good weekend, they promoted him to Daytona. Careful would have been keeping him in low-A all season.

[biittner77]

AZ Phil said earlier today that he fully expects Castillo, Parker, and Gaub to all be added to the 40 man this offseason. He said that if Dolis and Camp are not added, they could definitely be picked in the Rule 5 draft.

 

I could see Dolis but Camp strikes me more as a role player/ bench guy. Those guys are valuable but is it really worth it for a team to try to hide him on the 25 man for a season?

[TruffleShuffle]

boring day today, none of our boys are in the lineup for mesa. just found this from, of all people, bruce levine:

 

Chicago Cubs prospect Starlin Castro injured his right hand sliding into third base on a triple during Tuesday's game in Peoria, Ariz.

 

Castro, who is leading the Arizona Fall League in hitting with a .425 batting average, tried to take batting practice Wednesday before the Mesa Solar Sox game in Peoria. He wasn't able to perform any baseball functions with the hand.

 

The Cubs' young shortstop said he jammed the index finger on his right hand. He said it's not a big deal, and he expects to play tomorrow in Mesa.

 

The entire Cubs organization, in Arizona for their annual meetings, will be in attendance at Hohokam Park to watch Castro and the other young Cubs players on Thursday.

[Tryptamine]

That would be really depressing if he's hurt now. It's been a while since I've been so excited about a prospect.

[TruffleShuffle]

That would be really depressing if he's hurt now. It's been a while since I've been so excited about a prospect.

 

he did bat once after hitting the triple, but if i recall correctly he struck out looking at three pitches. today was probably scheduled to be an "off day" for him since he'd played in the last two games. doesn't sound like a big deal but and hopefully it doesn't keep him out long; i'd really like to see him in that televised game.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I know its a small sample size, but I cant help but notice that Donnie Veal is lighting up the AFL with a .71 ERA/.71 WHIP and 12 Ks in 12+IP

[Guest]

Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, 3B, HR (1), R, RBI, K: Castro is clearly a reader of the daily updates, as the day I complain about a lack of secondary skills, he goes deep in the fourth and later adds a triple.

Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (AFL), 3-for-4: Vitters still hits everything, but unfortunately swings at everything as well. The hand injury that bothered him in second half of the regular season still seems to be sapping him of power.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/minorleagueupdate/

[Guest]

boring day today, none of our boys are in the lineup for mesa.

 

Mike Brenly is in there and he hit a HR.

[TruffleShuffle]

boring day today, none of our boys are in the lineup for mesa.

 

Mike Brenly is in there and he hit a HR.

 

oh ok i didn't even look for him at DH. you never know, he could be a backup in the majors if he's good defensively and not hopelessly inept at the plate.

[Rob]

I hadn't ever bothered to look at Brenly's final line from Peoria this season. I had recalled him doing fairly well in random box scores, but what I saw surprised me.

 

.265/.307/.354

 

I'm rooting for him, but he's got a long ways to go.

[Guest]

11/4: Mesa won 8-5 Box Score

 

DH M. Brenly 1/4, R, HR (1), 2 RBI, K

 

OVERALL:

 

Mike Brenly 1/4, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 K

Welington Castillo 5/14, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 E, 1 PB - .357/.438/.571/1.009

Starlin Castro 24/56, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 4/6 SB, 1 E - .429/.467/.554/1.020

Josh Vitters 18/50, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 7 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .360/.385/.460/.845

Andrew Cashner 9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 11-10 GO-FO, 3.72 ERA

John Gaub 6 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 4-4 GO-FO, 12.00 ERA

Blake Parker 8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 7-11 GO-FO, 3.38 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 9 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 9-8 GO-FO, 2.00 ERA

[Guest]

I hadn't ever bothered to look at Brenly's final line from Peoria this season. I had recalled him doing fairly well in random box scores, but what I saw surprised me.

 

.265/.307/.354

 

I'm rooting for him, but he's got a long ways to go.

 

The scouting reports have been pretty good in regards to his defense so that would be his calling card if he makes it as a big league backup.

[TruffleShuffle]

more guys playing today... so far:

 

castro:

ground ball single to lf on 2-0 count

sac fly to cf on 1-1 count

fly out to cf on 3-2 count (9 pitch ab)

 

brenly:

ground ball single to cf on 1-2 count

fly out to cf on 1-2 count

 

cashner: 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, HBP, 4 GO/4 FO, 49 pitches/35 strikes.

 

all the hits were singles - "ground ball, fly ball, ground ball, sharp ground ball, line drive" (according to gameday). no radar today, unfortunately. james russell is on in relief of cashner.

[Guest]

11/5: Mesa won 8-1 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 2/4, RBI, K

C M. Brenly 2/4, R

SP A. Cashner 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 4-4 GO-FO, 49-35 pitches-strikes

RP J. Russell 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-1 GO-FO

RP J. Gaub 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GO-FO

RP B. Parker 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Mike Brenly 3/8, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 K

Welington Castillo 5/14, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 E, 1 PB - .357/.438/.571/1.009

Starlin Castro 26/60, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 4/6 SB, 1 E - .433/.462/.550/1.012

Josh Vitters 18/50, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 7 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .360/.385/.460/.845

Andrew Cashner 13.2 IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 11 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 15-14 GO-FO, 2.63 ERA

John Gaub 7 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 4-6 GO-FO, 10.29 ERA

Blake Parker 9 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 7-13 GO-FO, 4.00 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 10 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 11-9 GO-FO, 1.80 ERA

[Guest]

More convincing than ever

 

Andrew Cashner, RHP, Cubs (AFL: Mesa)

Yesterday's stats: 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

 

After giving up three runs over two innings in his first start for the Solar Sox, Cashner has given up just one in his last three—a span of 11 2/3 innings. The 2008 first-round pick has been sitting at 93-97 mph with his fastball, to go with his plus to plus-plus slider and, arguably more importantly, he's been throwing a ton of strikes, including 35 of 49 pitches on Thursday. The debates as to his future being a reliever or starter still goes on, but more and more are ending up on the side of the latter.

 

Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, K: He's now at .433 (26-for-60), including 8-for-17 in his last four games. Some scouts say that of the three big Cubs prospects in Arizona (Castro, Cashner, Vitters), this is the guy they prefer.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/minorleagueupdate/

[Keener98]

Vitters strained a pectoral muscle in BP Weds, and probably wont play in the Rising Stars game.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-06-cubs-josh-vitters-nov06,0,3420877.story

[bannor10]

Josh Vitters 18/40, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 7 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .360/.385/.460/.845

 

Isn't 18/40 a .450 batting avg...Maybe its been to long since my last math class...Or there is a typo in the number of at bats