Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-13-10

[Rob]

 

The problem with fitting Chad Tracy into the roster is ... well how do you do it? The only swap that makes sense for me is Mike Fontenot, but I'm not sure Fontenot has options left. If you move Baker down, then you have Tracy/Colvin/Fontenot off the bench, leaving you a bit shorthanded on righty bench bats.

 

I'm actually not against Fontenot going down, I'm just not sure I see the Cubs doing that. Something has to budge at some point. Tyler Colvin really needs regular ABs and should be the one to go down, but then they would need a backup CF in the bigs (unless they opt for Kosuke as the backup CF, and start utilizing Baker some in the OF, at least until Nady is ready).

 

Im more for Fontenot being traded. the Castro/Theriot MI makes him irrelevant, because hes really not a backup shortstop, and aside from a lefty bat off the bench, theres really not much use for him. I agree that Colvin, who I believe will be our RF once Kosukes contract is up could benefit from regular ABs in Iowa as well. Also, Nady isnt 100%, and it shows. As far as Im concerned, 1 of Fontenot or Baker could be traded and call up Tracy. In addition, either DL Nady or send Colvin to Iowa for his own good and call up Darwin Barney as a backup SS, as Ive heard hes pretty good defensively, although his offensive ceiling is somewhere between Andres Blanco and present day Omar Vizquel.

 

I'm more about trading Theriot than Fontenot.

[Outshined_One]

O_O, not that it makes a huge difference, but I've been under the impression that McNutt is a power curve guy rather than a slider guy.

 

You might be right, although I haven't been able to find the definitive answer after some digging. Callis referred to it as a power breaking ball in the Cubs' Top 10 prospect chat and the various Andrew Cashner comparisons implied he worked with a slider rather than a curve.

[Rob]

O_O, not that it makes a huge difference, but I've been under the impression that McNutt is a power curve guy rather than a slider guy.

 

You might be right, although I haven't been able to find the definitive answer after some digging. Callis referred to it as a power breaking ball in the Cubs' Top 10 prospect chat and the various Andrew Cashner comparisons implied he worked with a slider rather than a curve.

 

I seem to recall Wilken referring to it as a curve at the cubs convention this year, but I could be off.

[Outshined_One]

Oh FFS the I-Cubs used Jay Jackson out of the bullpen again.

 

Please don't tell me this is part of some brilliant plan to call him up to the majors as a reliever.

[toonsterwu]

Oh FFS the I-Cubs used Jay Jackson out of the bullpen again.

 

Please don't tell me this is part of some brilliant plan to call him up to the majors as a reliever.

 

I think it's headed that route. I know they used the "he needed work" excuse for the other pen outing, but I don't really buy that. I think they want to see what he can bring out of the pen.

 

As noted before, don't like it, but if this means Cashner gets an extra month before getting the call-up, then okay. I like Jackson a lot as a starter, and I feel confident enough that he can probably go to the pen and go back to the rotation if a spot opens up.

 

As an aside, I found it mildly interesting that Oneri wants Bour to be more aggressive. Bour seems like a combo of Ryan Keedy and Rebel Ridling offensively. Wonder if he can go play in the OF a bit. Too bad he can't be like his brother and play some catcher. Definitely has done enough in the early goings to catch some attention. Now, it's an issue of whether or not that raw power can be put to use.

[Guest]

Oh FFS the I-Cubs used Jay Jackson out of the bullpen again.

 

Please don't tell me this is part of some brilliant plan to call him up to the majors as a reliever.

 

Yeah, he's in the pen.

 

Rotation is now Diamond-Coleman-Atkins-Mathes-Cashner. Pretty disappointing.

[Drew Doughty]

there is not one exciting player in the i-cubs lineup. jackson looked meh out of the pen, everything was hit hard off of him. got a couple of swings and misses on his offspeed pitch. schlitter was pretty decent though.

 

it was dollar beer night... a very uniquely vegas/southern crowd. highlighted by a guy i used to go to HS with but don't talk to at all spilling a beer on his friend's little boy.

[Guest]

At Extended: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/05/13/dubois-always-big-hit-extended-spring-training

[Little Slide Rooter]

Oh FFS the I-Cubs used Jay Jackson out of the bullpen again.

 

Please don't tell me this is part of some brilliant plan to call him up to the majors as a reliever.

 

This must be it. Theres no other reason to put one of your 2 best pitching prospects in the pen to move Mitch [expletive] Atkins into the rotation and even if they really wanted Atkins in the rotation for some reaon, they could just move Crash Davis to the pen.

[davell]

It doesn't surprise me to see the desperation of the Cubs falling down on someone. Looks like Jay is going to take the brunt of it this year. As long as he gets a legit shot next year at a rotation spot, I'm fine with it, I guess.

[biittner77]

It doesn't surprise me to see the desperation of the Cubs falling down on someone. Looks like Jay is going to take the brunt of it this year. As long as he gets a legit shot next year at a rotation spot, I'm fine with it, I guess.

 

I think this could give him an edge. If he's able to get people out he'll be in much better position to claim a rotation spot next spring. I would liken this to the Smardj situation with the important difference being that JJax has shown that he can get people out.

 

I'd be much more concerned if they were moving Cashner to the BP.