Down on the Farm segment at Cubs Convention

[davell]

Found comments from a guy who was there. Lots of interesting stuff here. Some major league stuff on youngsters in here as well.

 

Quade was asked if Cashner would be in the rotation this upcoming year and he answered excitedly "YES!" Then he caught himself and mentioned he'd be competing with the other guys. This is cool though, at least Quade sees him as a starter. About all we can ask for here.

 

Hayden Simpson was bedridden for 3 months with mono. He's at Camp Colvin now and won't be pushed too hard at the beginning of the year. Probably means EXST, followed by a late assignment to Peoria. If it really drags, could see Boise even.

 

LeMahieu has put on 20 pounds of muscle this offseason and it shows. Tim Buss runs the camp and there are 38 players at Fitch Park right now, with the results(starting with Colvin last year obviously) getting around, there are more players and agents asking about this and wanting to get involved.

 

Darwin Barney has put on 18 pounds. Supposedly looks better, but not as noticeable as LeMahieu. Michael Brenly has lost 20 pounds on some sort of chicken breast diet.

 

Colvin hasa checked in at 220. Doesn't look quite as ripped as last year, but still has a month to go, so he's got time. Very polished when asked questions evidently.

 

Trey McNutt has been invited to big league camp this spring. First time this has been mentioned anyway.

 

Questions on Vitters meshed together and this is what was discerned from the guy writing all of this down(did seem very knowledgable, FWIW too) Vitters problems are mostly mental. Still is taking a HS approach to baseball, instead of adjusting to the minor leagues. Still, kind of in a shell around his teammates as well.

 

Scott Maine credited Maddux with his promotion from Tennessee to Iowa and then to Chicago last year. Mostly had to do with throwing certain pitches in certain situations and Maine listened to him.

 

Mark Riggins said Jay Jackson was under consideration last year for a callup a couple of times and said he WOULD be called up this year. No dropoff or injury last year, it was "just baseball" according to Riggins.

 

When asked questions, Chris Carpenter was very candid and thoughtful. Jackson evidently kind of copied Carpenter's answers, but would then make changes by the end of his response. Clearly wasn't as comfortable as Carpenter anyway.

 

 

Jackson looked much better than LeMahieu though, who gave very quick, short answers and just didn't seem comfortable at all. Didn't help he came on right after Darwin Barney, who's excellent at this kind of thing.

 

Jackson was introduced as a swing man who can either start or relieve. Riggins said Jackson's secondary pitches were all a bit more established than Cashner's when he was moved to the pen. When he's brought up, it will most likely be to fill a need, rather than prepare him for a certain role.

 

Vine Line said that LeMahieu will be playing 2B, SS, and 3B, "whatever his body grows into". But it appeared to this guy the Cubs want him at 3B, due to the added bulk and learning to pull pitches, they just need to talk DJ into it. Seems like conjecture from the original writer here, but one we can probably all see coming, all the same.

 

Leaning towards 3rd Base with Lake as well evidently. Nothing else mentioned with him that seemed to be from the Cubs anyway. Originally reminded this guy of Jose Hernandez and seems to think that the comparisons are getting closer actually.

 

No word on Szczur. Cubs are in touch and don't expect a decision to be made on him for another month. Wilken says he can play a solid CF, steal bases and hit.

 

Wilken thinks Reggie Golden should move quickly through the system. Says he has lots of power.

 

A couple of comments implied that they seem to think of Ryan Flaherty as a potential reserve than as a atarter in the majors.

 

Wilken predicted that wooden bats will dramatically change college baseball this season and said he expects .280 hitters going in the early rounds of the draft, with much lower home run totals.

 

Fleita made a comment about players needing to get pushed out of their comfort zones on occasion and sometimes they get worse before they get better.

 

Wilken admitted that Hendry told him to take lefty bats in 2009 if there was someone close to the same value in that draft. No idea if that is still being enforced now.

 

Cubs consider Twins and Braves the premiere organizations for drafting and building players. Thinks Cincy has done an excellent job of late with drafting, same with Tampa, but wonders how they'll do without all the high picks. Also thinks Texas has done very well.

 

Wilken said the Cubs will make EXTRA EFFORTS INTERNATIONALLY this upcoming year, to try and replace some of what was lst in the Garza deal. Excellent news here.

 

Wilken's thumbnail sketch of 2011 draft. Lots of strong right handed pitching, lots of catchers, not a lot of middle infielders, some solid corner guys. He projected 2 or 3 "good" rounds, followed by decent depth.

 

That's about it, but thanks to whoever it was that gave us a very detailed account of this.

[Sammy Sofa]

Thanks for this. Good stuff.

[tfarks]

Lots of good stuff here.

 

Quade was asked if Cashner would be in the rotation this upcoming year and he answered excitedly "YES!" Then he caught himself and mentioned he'd be competing with the other guys. This is cool though, at least Quade sees him as a starter. About all we can ask for here..

 

Quade is becoming one of my favorite people ever.

 

Wilken said the Cubs will make EXTRA EFFORTS INTERNATIONALLY this upcoming year, to try and replace some of what was lst in the Garza deal. Excellent news here.

 

Wilken's thumbnail sketch of 2011 draft. Lots of strong right handed pitching, lots of catchers, not a lot of middle infielders, some solid corner guys. He projected 2 or 3 "good" rounds, followed by decent depth.

 

That's about it, but thanks to whoever it was that gave us a very detailed account of this.

 

I'm not quite sure what good rounds means exactly but it doesn't sound like they'll be overslotting much. More international free agents would cover this, so hopefully they follow through with that. Glad to see they will take a year off from a heavy middle infield draft, perhaps make a considerable imporvement with power in the system.

[craig]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

http://www.wgnradio.com/sports/baseball/cubs/convention2011/

 

WGN radio has many of the convention sessions recorded. I have listened to some of them, and they are pretty interesting.

 

One of the sessions ws with Fleita and Wilken. Wilken is really not at all a smooth talker, and the impression is really negative at first. But I think when he starts talking more specifically, and about baseball and baseball players, then he doesn't sound as bad.

 

A question as asked about some guys to watch for who aren't close, and Fleita mentioned four names:

1. Marwin Gonzalez, who's still like 21.

2. Reggie Golden, can really swing the bat, good chance that he'll be able to start right out in A-ball. (For a HR guy who had almost no rookie-league AB's skip right up to Peoria, that would be pretty interesting.)

3. Ruby Silva, a LH CFer from Cuba that they signed this winter. Silva was a Cuban-league rookie in 2007, and his team won the Cuban championship in the 08-09 season. So he must be in his lower 20's.

4. Cabeza, a catcher that they signed just recently.

 

I thought this was interesting, since Silva and Cabeza are NOT names that are on your list of significant signings or dollars spent. But yet these are two winter signees who were mentioned, of all the kids in A-and-under that Fleita could have talked about, he found these to be significant enough to mention. Not sure how many dollars that were involved, but I imagine you might want to put those two on your list of international signees to remember and watch for.

[davell]

I don't think Wilken would say one way or the other, if he IS planning to spend alot of money on the draft. It could cause other teams to change their strategy as well. I hate saying it, but I don't think we'll truly know what our draft plans are until we're probably 10-15 picks into the draft. As much as I want them to go ahead and say we're committed to the draft and will spend tons of money on it, I totally understand if they lay low and just show us.

 

As for the comment about 2-3 good rounds, I kind of take that as their are that many 1st round talents available this year, which kind of seems to be the case, according to most. If the Cubs can get 2-3 1st round talents out of this draft, and add some typical "Cub" type overslots after that, I guess I'll have to consider it a success.

[davell]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

http://www.wgnradio.com/sports/baseball/cubs/convention2011/

 

WGN radio has many of the convention sessions recorded. I have listened to some of them, and they are pretty interesting.

 

One of the sessions ws with Fleita and Wilken. Wilken is really not at all a smooth talker, and the impression is really negative at first. But I think when he starts talking more specifically, and about baseball and baseball players, then he doesn't sound as bad.

 

A question as asked about some guys to watch for who aren't close, and Fleita mentioned four names:

1. Marwin Gonzalez, who's still like 21.

2. Reggie Golden, can really swing the bat, good chance that he'll be able to start right out in A-ball. (For a HR guy who had almost no rookie-league AB's skip right up to Peoria, that would be pretty interesting.)

3. Ruby Silva, a LH CFer from Cuba that they signed this winter. Silva was a Cuban-league rookie in 2007, and his team won the Cuban championship in the 08-09 season. So he must be in his lower 20's.

4. Cabeza, a catcher that they signed just recently.

 

I thought this was interesting, since Silva and Cabeza are NOT names that are on your list of significant signings or dollars spent. But yet these are two winter signees who were mentioned, of all the kids in A-and-under that Fleita could have talked about, he found these to be significant enough to mention. Not sure how many dollars that were involved, but I imagine you might want to put those two on your list of international signees to remember and watch for.

 

 

Good find. I missed this segment somehow, as far as stuff to listen to and it's the one that interests me the most.

 

I don't really disagree with how the Cubs approach Latin America. I want to see some big names signed, but trying to project 16 year olds is one of the hardest things possible to do most likely. I think it's kind of a "Moneyball" type approach in signing quantity over alleged quality. May be smart to do, but since we're not a small amrket team, I want to see some of the larger names signed as well.

 

Listening to it right now, I'm guessing that Silva and Cabeza are going to start in Peoria......Wilken also said he'd rather have a position player than a pitcher, if it's worth it. But, he's basically a best available type guy.

[Guest]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

Hey, Mark Peel.

[davell]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

Hey, Mark Peel.

 

 

Who's Mark Peel?

[Guest]

Thanks for the info and links, davell and craig.

 

Sounds like Wilken's opinions on the 2011 draft mesh with what the media (BA, etc. are saying). Quade's comment on Cashner is promising.

[toonsterwu]

I'm still a bit fascinated by Marwin Gonzalez. He's a very good athlete who seems to, imo, be learning the nuances to baseball. His versatility is also nice.

 

I mean, I'm not thinking breakout type season for him, but he still catches my eye. Granted, the cubs have given him plenty of AB's, so at some point, you gotta bust out or you won't go up.

[craig]

I agree that Gonzalez has a chance to be a major leaguer. If you can catcher ball, as he apparently can, and you can hit the ball (he has very low K-rate), who knows. He's young enough that perhaps he'll still grow into some more punch, ala Chirinos. To be a useful utility type player doesn't require that much slugging. I also think that when eventually some of these very young guys repeat a level, you sometimes see some jump. And his winter league showed some progress.

 

If he repeats at AA, I wouldn't be at all shocked to see him hit .280 with 8-10 HR's, which wouldn't be bad for a 22-year-old low-K infielder.

[TruffleShuffle]

i have a hard time that someone spent 3 months in bed because of mono.

[Guest]

Quade is becoming one of my favorite people ever.

 

Me too. Here is to hoping he can survive for a while with a losing record. He says all the right things, and I have to think they will translate into the right actions. I just don't know if the talent is there.

 

He's about 180 degrees from Sanburg, and I'm happy they chose him.

[Splendid Splinter]

i have a hard time that someone spent 3 months in bed because of mono.

 

 

Have you ever had mono? Mono usually take about 10 weeks to recover... I would know cuz I had it twice in one year 3 years ago (my doctor from 2nd time doesn't think it was separate, but I came back too early from the first time- HAD to cuz I had school and that it still lingered with me until it broke out again a couple months later. The 2nd time didn't matter cuz I lost my hearing around that time and was getting cochlear implants after my mono so I wasn't going to school). The 2nd time it took me a little over 3 months to recover from mono and I literally did nothing in that time.

[KingCubsFan]

Wilken's thumbnail sketch of 2011 draft. Lots of strong right handed pitching, lots of catchers, not a lot of middle infielders, some solid corner guys. He projected 2 or 3 "good" rounds, followed by decent depth

So is Wilken going to sit this one out, then?

[Outshined_One]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

Hey, Mark Peel.

 

 

Who's Mark Peel?

 

Used to be a regular around here who went by mlpeel. Really knowledgeable guy with prospects.

[TruffleShuffle]

i have a hard time that someone spent 3 months in bed because of mono.

 

 

Have you ever had mono?

 

no and maybe i'm taking the term bedridden too literally, but not being able to do much because you're sick is different than being confined to a bed.

[Splendid Splinter]

i have a hard time that someone spent 3 months in bed because of mono.

 

 

Have you ever had mono?

 

no and maybe i'm taking the term bedridden too literally, but not being able to do much because you're sick is different than being confined to a bed.

 

 

Yeah... the 2nd time around I was probably in bed the entire time for like 2-3 weeks (beside going to bathroom or getting food/drink/etc...). After that time I was able to move around the house a little bit, but then you get so tired that you either laid in bed or the couch the rest of the day. Then about 2 months later, you felt good enough that you can go hang out with friends or walk around the house all day and not get tired, but you still couldn't do like any activity or lift stuff up yet. I pretty much did nothing anyway just to make sure I got over it completely. It took me about 3 months that I was able to do stuff/activities, but even then you wouldn't do much cuz you got tired super quick (when you basically became lazy for 3 months straight, you lose a lot of energy and fitness that it takes awhile to get it all back). First time around... I only went about 6 weeks until I went back to school and did everything else.

 

At least that's how it was for me. It's different for everybody as well so I wouldn't know how it was for Simpson, but I know what he went through. Hopefully, he's back at full strength and ready to do great this season in the minors.

[NCCubFan]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

Hey, Mark Peel.

 

 

Who's Mark Peel?

 

Used to be a regular around here who went by mlpeel. Really knowledgeable guy with prospects.

He in fact was co-founder of the site along with Tim. His interests were primarily in the minor league system and he had a newsletter devoted to the system hosted here.

[wvcbxl]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787

 

Those comments I think were taken from a lengthy post in miles's blog.

 

Hey, Mark Peel.

 

 

Who's Mark Peel?

 

Used to be a regular around here who went by mlpeel. Really knowledgeable guy with prospects.

He in fact was co-founder of the site along with Tim. His interests were primarily in the minor league system and he had a newsletter devoted to the system hosted here.

 

Click on "members" - his name is on the first page.

In red. 8-)

[craig]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2011/01/2011cubscon3.php

 

Another account of the convention, with the most detailed account of the Down on the Farm Segment.

 

DaveII, you will particular appreciate the following note:

 

"Tom Ricketts told Tim Wilken he will be given a significant increase of funds to spend on the 2011 draft."

 

I also found the following interesting, and toonster will too:

'Tim Wilken pointed out that is the reason he stresses athleticism in the draft and amateur signings. It is called "Projection Scouting." When LeMahieu was drafted he checked in at 6'4" and 195 pounds. D.J. is up to 220. Wilken pointed out guys are going to get bigger and stronger. "Projection will come to fruition," according to Wilken.'

[Cubs Fan Dan]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2011/01/2011cubscon3.php

 

Another account of the convention, with the most detailed account of the Down on the Farm Segment.

 

DaveII, you will particular appreciate the following note:

 

"Tom Ricketts told Tim Wilken he will be given a significant increase of funds to spend on the 2011 draft."

 

I also found the following interesting, and toonster will too:

'Tim Wilken pointed out that is the reason he stresses athleticism in the draft and amateur signings. It is called "Projection Scouting." When LeMahieu was drafted he checked in at 6'4" and 195 pounds. D.J. is up to 220. Wilken pointed out guys are going to get bigger and stronger. "Projection will come to fruition," according to Wilken.'

 

If DJ can get to a point where he can steadily hit between 15-20 Homers he could be a very solid major league player, he seems to be a very good hitter for average.

[davell]

Craig, thanks for posting that. Just made my day.

 

 

 

By the way, reading through some of AZPhil's comments(and since projection scouting was just brought up) am I the only one who didn't know Ryan Flaherty was 6'5 and weighs 230 pounds or does this surprise most people as well?

 

 

As far as LeMahieu goes, when we have a thread on "breakout" guys for 2011, I think he's going to be one of my top choices. I just wish like hell he could stick at 2B, the value could be so much better there.

[StarlinOnYou]

"LeMahieu has put on 20 pounds of muscle this offseason and it shows."

 

20 lbs of muscle in the off-season? Yeah, that is totally feasible.

[dew1679666265]

i have a hard time that someone spent 3 months in bed because of mono.

 

 

Have you ever had mono?

 

no and maybe i'm taking the term bedridden too literally, but not being able to do much because you're sick is different than being confined to a bed.

 

Splendid Splinter's right here, mono's a beast. When I had it, I was too weak to leave bed for about 2 weeks and then was incredibly fatigued when I started going back to school for the next couple of weeks.

 

I would doubt Simpson was truly bedridden for 3 months, but I could easily see him being unable to do anything baseball related (or physical activity related) for 3 months.