AZ Phil's roster projections

[davell]

Iowa

 

P BERG CARIDAD CARPENTER COLEMAN DIAMOND GAUB J JACKSON MAINE MATEO RUSSELL STEVENS SOMMERS

 

C CASTILLO CLEVENGER

 

IF CAMP LAHAIR MOORE OJEDA SCALES(INACTIVE PLAYER COACH) SMITH THOMAS

 

OF ADDUCI CAMPANA SNYDER WRIGHT

 

 

Tennessee

 

P BELIVEAU BUCHTER CABRERA CALES DOLIS HARRIS MCNUTT MORRIS RALEY RUSIN SHAFER SMIT

 

C BRENLY ROBINSON LALLI(INACTIVE PLAYER COACH)

 

IF FLAHERTY GONZALEZ LEMAHIEU RIDLING SAMSON VITTERS

 

OF BURGESS CRAWFORD B JACKSON SPENCER

 

 

Daytona

 

P ANTIGUA Y GONZALEZ JUNG LOPEZ KURCZ LEVERTON LORICK RHEE SEARLE O MARTINEZ STRUCK WALLACH WHITENACK

 

C FLORES GUEVARA

 

IF BOUR CERDA LAKE MOTA ROHAN WATKINS

 

OF BURKE FITZGERALD HA PEREZ

 

 

Peoria

 

P BATISTA GREATHOUSE HICKS KIM KIRK LOOSEN M PEREZ REED RHODERICK ROSSCUP SERRANO SIMPSON WELLS

 

C GIBBS NOBLE

 

1F ALCANTARA CUNEO R JONES LEPAGE MAY SOTO

 

OF GOLDEN MORELLI SILVA SZCZUR

 

 

Some interesting notes from him on some of these positions: Doesn't think there's a spot open in Iowa for Cales to start the year even though he finished up there last season and pitched in the AFL. He says the fact he didn't get a NRI is why he's the guy he put down to Tennessee. But he did say Gaub could be pushed down possibly as well.

 

Signing Augie Ojeda and trading Hak Ju Lee is why he has Lake remaining in Daytona instead of getting promoted. If Ojeda is the everyday SS in AAA, it pushes Gonzalez back to AA. Since Lee won't be in Daytona, it makes some sense to keep the still young Lake there.

 

He doesn't have Cabeza anywhere, but he does have Silva in Peoria. Other than these very few things, I think the rest of it appears to be very accurate.

 

Looking at these teams, I'd say Iowa will have quite a bit of shuffling back and forth with the Cubs as far as pitching goes. Castillo, M Smith, and possibly Campana(as Sam Fuld part 2) appear to be the only options for promotion as far as hitters go.

 

Tennessee is loaded. McNutt, Rusin, Raley, Cabrera and either Dolis or Morris in the rotation is strong. Having B Jackson, Vitters, LeMahieu, Flaherty, and Burgess all in the same lineup is also by FAR our best hitting team.

 

Daytona's pitching looks pretty solid with Lopez, Rhee, Antigua, Jung, Struck, and Wallach all in there. Do they use any piggybacks? Or possibly go with a 6 man rotation? Because I don't want any of these guys to be put in the pen just yet anyway. On the hitting side, you've got Cerda, Lake, Watkins, and Ha. There are a few others that probably will have sp;od year's but I'm not thinking of them as anything more than organizational guys(exept Burke if he crushes it and moves to Tenn and plays well) Al in all though, a pretty weak lineup if you ask me.

 

 

Peoria is very intriguing, but some of these guys could move quickly to Daytona as well. The pitching has Greathouse, Kim, Kirk, Reed, Simpson, and Wells. The hitting has Gibbs, Alcantara, Golden, Szczur, and Silva.

[Guest]

I'd be real interested in hearing why James Russell is pitching in Iowa when he threw 50 effective innings out of the MLB pen, and there's not another lefty close to taking his spot(especially since he has Gaub, Maine, and Sommer in Iowa too). There's your spot for Cales.

[davell]

I'd be real interested in hearing why James Russell is pitching in Iowa when he threw 50 effective innings out of the MLB pen, and there's not another lefty close to taking his spot(especially since he has Gaub, Maine, and Sommer in Iowa too). There's your spot for Cales.

 

 

Yeah, it looks like he only went with an 11 man staff for the majors, with Z, Demp, Garza, Cashner, Silva, Grabow, Marshall, Marmol, Wood, Samardzija, and Wells. So yeah, another spot will be open for both the majors and for Cales too in Iowa almost definitely.

[Illini Iceman]

I'd be real interested in hearing why James Russell is pitching in Iowa when he threw 50 effective innings out of the MLB pen, and there's not another lefty close to taking his spot(especially since he has Gaub, Maine, and Sommer in Iowa too). There's your spot for Cales.

 

 

Yeah, it looks like he only went with an 11 man staff for the majors, with Z, Demp, Garza, Cashner, Silva, Grabow, Marshall, Marmol, Wood, Samardzija, and Wells. So yeah, another spot will be open for both the majors and for Cales too in Iowa almost definitely.

 

If they keep 12 the additional pitcher could very well be Wellemeyer. The other lefty to take his spot would seem to be a healthy Grabow. With Grabow and Marshall they would have two lefties in the bullpen and don't really specifically need Russell just because he is left handed. All the talk of him getting a shot at the rotation in ST makes me wonder if they won't try him out as a starter in AAA if he doesn't make the big league team.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Iowa

 

C CASTILLO CLEVENGER

 

So does the big league backup C end up being Max Ramirez, or Koyie Hill?

[ScrubMD]

If these are accurate, Tennessee and Peoria are going to be extremely fun to follow.

[jacey]

Maybe Clevenger plays some 1B at Iowa and Ramirez and Castillo handle catching duties.

[Illini Iceman]

Maybe Clevenger plays some 1B at Iowa and Ramirez and Castillo handle catching duties.

 

I don't think Ramirez has options. If he doesn't make the team he is probably gone. I wouldn't be surprised if the wind up keeping him around on the big league team if he shows he can play some corner infield in spring training. It is always nice to have an extra catcher on the roster and with Baker being able to play some outfield and first base they will have some flexibility.

[rsmoler]

Some interesting names missing from AZ Phil's rosters:

Reed Johnson/Fernando Perez (whichever doesn't make the Cubs roster)

Max Ramirez/Koyie Hill (whichever doesn't make the Cubs roster)

Braden Looper

JR Mathis (didn't he re-up)

Trinidad Pollin

Scott Rice

Chris Robinson

Austin Bibens-Dirkx

Hung-Wen Chen

Craig Muschko

Alex Maestri

Blake Parker

Marco Carillo

Jake Muyco

Chris Siefgried

Mike Perconte

Alvaro Ramirez

Wes Darvil

Yaniel Cabeza

Ronny Morla

 

I didn't notice that any of these players left the organization, although I could be mistaken.

[toonsterwu]

Morla was picked by the Mets in Rule 5. I forgot what level ... AAA level perhaps.