BA's Florida State League Top 20

[Outshined_One]

Jon (Peoria): What did you make of Vitters' dramatic statistical dropoff from the MWL to the FSL? I know he's only 20 and was young for his league where it's easy to get worn down in the hot weather, but do you think he'll ever show the ability to work counts and not swing at everything that's anywhere close to the zone?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: The hope at this point is he becomes more patient, but he'll never be a very patient hitter. That's part of his problem it seems as he makes weak contact on pitcher's pitches instead of working counts to get a better pitch he can drive.

[CUBZ99]

not JAYPERS (not ILL): Why the lack of pitchers in the top 20?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: I touched on this above, but the problem was almost all of the best pitchers in the FSL were promoted out of the league just a start or two before they would have qualified. Zach Stewart and Andrew Cashner would have ranked right behind Drabek on this list and Jay Jackson, Brad Holt, Mauricio Robles and Chris Carpenter would have all made the Top 20 as well. Add those six pitchers to the Top 20 and it would have been a pitcher-heavy list.

 

cashner right behind drabek.... interesting... Maybe in the top 100 we have castro vitters cashner lee and both jacksons?

 

Very interesting comments. Presumably Castro would have still ranked ahead of Cashner. Still good to see all of the love for the Cubs system. Potential of 4 top 20 prospects in the DSL is not bad.

[davell]

not JAYPERS (not ILL): Why the lack of pitchers in the top 20?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: I touched on this above, but the problem was almost all of the best pitchers in the FSL were promoted out of the league just a start or two before they would have qualified. Zach Stewart and Andrew Cashner would have ranked right behind Drabek on this list and Jay Jackson, Brad Holt, Mauricio Robles and Chris Carpenter would have all made the Top 20 as well. Add those six pitchers to the Top 20 and it would have been a pitcher-heavy list.

 

cashner right behind drabek.... interesting... Maybe in the top 100 we have castro vitters cashner lee and both jacksons?

 

 

I deon't think we'll be THAT lucky personally. I figure Jay Jackson has the lowest chances of anyone you named. I guess we'll see when the Southern League rankings come out tomorrow though. I like Jackson alot, but it doesn't seem like he's been on the radar for alot of publications, so maybe we're all higher on him than anyone else. Which is fine, he can be a solid mid rotation guy and not be a top 100 prospect. AZ Phil mentioned he could see him in our rotation at some point next year actually.

 

Castro and Vitters are locks. It certainly seems like Lee will make it, considering he was the top prospect of his league. Callis talked glowingly about Brett Jackson too, making it seem like he's got an excellent chance as well. And considering past comments on Cashner, you've got to figure he's got a very good chance as well. If we actually got 5 guys in there, it'd be phenomenal, if you ask me.

[toonsterwu]

Didn't get around to seeing the chat comments until now. It'll make the top 100 interesting ... Cashner seems like he would've ranked really high in the FSL, and Jackson's 11th ranking in a loaded Southern League was surprising. Makes me think we might actually have 6 in the top 100 ... which would be a bit surprising, but that said, we'll have to see how they end up sorting it out when they meet to hammer out the lists as a group.

 

As for the FSL rankings, I guess I was mildly surprised Vitters got in at 14th. I was thinking he would get on the back end as an upside nod. The back 10 for the FSL looks ... interesting. Gutierrez at 11 surprised me. I prefer Tyler Robertson and David Bromberg over him. Gindl surprised me, as well as Peterson.

 

That said, with the way the lists are shaking out, I'm more confident that our team ranking may be in the teens. Granted, doesn't mean much unless they develop.

[Guest]

Jon (Peoria): What did you make of Vitters' dramatic statistical dropoff from the MWL to the FSL? I know he's only 20 and was young for his league where it's easy to get worn down in the hot weather, but do you think he'll ever show the ability to work counts and not swing at everything that's anywhere close to the zone?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: The hope at this point is he becomes more patient, but he'll never be a very patient hitter. That's part of his problem it seems as he makes weak contact on pitcher's pitches instead of working counts to get a better pitch he can drive.

Hopefully, that is something that the Cubs and him will work on.