News from Fitch

[toonsterwu]

didn't realize this until now, but did David Cales get sent back to AA Tennessee?

 

In my mind, Muyco should be cut from that Iowa squad, and maybe a guy that's just released overall, but I have a hard time seeing that happen and reconciling that with the fact that he got a AFL spot. Sure seems like they will keep him around.

[craig]

That's a relatively uninteresting Iowa roster, if in fact those are the 30 names from which the actual roster will be selected. Sometimes these reports form Phil aren't exactly accurate, so I won't be surprised if Carpenter is actually back with Iowa after all.

 

His alleged send-down was the biggest surprise to me. If that roster is correct, basically Campana would be the only guy who made it up from AA last year. The other 29 guys were either already on Iowa last year (Coleman, Jackson), or else are just journeymen.

 

It may be that they want to mostly keep Iowa for journeymen AAA- types, and keep the younger rising guys at AA. Or maybe they figure to try to collect a lot of good prospects at AA, make that a very competitive team, and perhaps some of the teammates and friends from that team will be able to stay together in the majors for a long time as well, rather than spending all year with Scales and Chris Robinson and JR MAtthes and the like.

 

Peoria and Daytona are really, really thin on OFers, seems to me. Wilken would do well to find some OFers in this draft.

 

AA looks like the jazzy team. If Carpenter is there, I still figure he'll pitch relief. Rotation would have who, Rusin, Raley, Dolis, McNutt, and Cabrera? That's the most gifted and intriguing of the rotations. Vitters, Lemahieu, Flaherty, and Jackson would seem to give it the most interesting collection of position players, too.

 

I suppose they could have kept the whole lot there at AA, but perhaps wanted to move Jackson into CF, and to leave Campana there would have been a CF pinch, so they moved Campana up for that reason?

[toonsterwu]

There was a poster over at TCR who claimed that information from Fitch was that Carpenter was going to be in Iowa's pen. We'll have to wait and see. If Carpenter is in the pen, I don't see any reason for him to be in AA, IMO. IMO, if he's in AA, it's to work on his changeup some more. Otherwise, his fastball/slider is close enough to being big league ready for pen duty, IMO.

[Rob]

There was a poster over at TCR who claimed that information from Fitch was that Carpenter was going to be in Iowa's pen. We'll have to wait and see. If Carpenter is in the pen, I don't see any reason for him to be in AA, IMO. IMO, if he's in AA, it's to work on his changeup some more. Otherwise, his fastball/slider is close enough to being big league ready for pen duty, IMO.

 

Even if he is ultimately pen-bound, I'd like to see him get some time in the Tennessee rotation to work on the changeup if only to give him a workable pitch to use against lefties.

[davell]

There was a poster over at TCR who claimed that information from Fitch was that Carpenter was going to be in Iowa's pen. We'll have to wait and see. If Carpenter is in the pen, I don't see any reason for him to be in AA, IMO. IMO, if he's in AA, it's to work on his changeup some more. Otherwise, his fastball/slider is close enough to being big league ready for pen duty, IMO.

 

Even if he is ultimately pen-bound, I'd like to see him get some time in the Tennessee rotation to work on the changeup if only to give him a workable pitch to use against lefties.

 

 

I agree, but I'm not expecting it. He was used strictly as a reliever in the AFL and same thing so far this spring. Doubt they'll try anything with him, since he hasn't been stretched out.

[craig]

There was a poster over at TCR who claimed that information from Fitch was that Carpenter was going to be in Iowa's pen. We'll have to wait and see. If Carpenter is in the pen, I don't see any reason for him to be in AA, IMO. IMO, if he's in AA, it's to work on his changeup some more. Otherwise, his fastball/slider is close enough to being big league ready for pen duty, IMO.

 

Thanks, that might make more sense.

 

My guess is that neither his fastball nor his slider are very big-league ready yet, he doesn't seem to have very good command of either of them, and I'm not sure how consistently he's been able to throw hard. I've never been a huge Carpenter guy, since he's never been especially effective, his control isn't good, and he's not much of a K-guy either.

 

I'd also prefer to see him starting, just to get in more work.

 

But ultimately I think that his career will depend less on his changeup than on his fastball/slider. His command is too shaky for me to even dream of him someday controlling all three pitches. But if he could command his main two, or at least one of those two, that might be enough to give a useful career in relief.

[toonsterwu]

In terms of velocity, someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but Carpenter, to the best of my recollection, was always a guy who could hit mid-90's as a starter. Thus, I'm not sure the velocity spike in the pen is anything that unusual, as most guys that go there can get that spike. One issue that I did bring up in the fall was that, in the pen, he seems to go with the 4-seamer more, and what made his fastball so good was the sink he got on it.

 

As for command, he has had issues with the breaking ball at times (was a guy who went with the curve in the past, switched to the slider in our system). I don't recall any significant issues with his fastball command - he got nasty movement on it, but I don't recall him ever being too wild off the fastball.

[davell]

According to AZPhil, Daytona's roster has been set and here it is.....

 

P-Belliveau, Ebinger, Kurcz, Harris, Latham, Lorick, Rhee, Rhoderick, Rosscup, Searle, Struck, Wallach, and Whitenack

 

C Brenly, Noble

 

IF- Baur, Cerda, Lake, Watkins, Macias, Opitz

 

OF- Ha, Burgess, Crawford, Perez

 

Also, Cubs released Chris Siegfried and Alexander Maestri today.

 

 

As far as Daytona's roster goes, some good guys to watch, obviously, but repeating guys abound here. Burgess? Maybe he's out of shape or something else going on? He was killing it in AA at the end of last year for the Nats. Rhee? Totally understand and we're probably not rushing him at all here, he's got time and hopefully he's much better this time around with a full season under his belt after TJS. Lake? Same thing as Rhee, other than I thought he kind of earned a promotion. That said, I've read a couple of guys thinking he may be a better prospect as a pitcher. Callis said he thought he could throw 95, if he were to be switched.

[TruffleShuffle]

beliveau is 24 and struck out 12.5 men per 9 innings in daytona last year, he should be in tennessee.

[Guest]

According to AZPhil, Daytona's roster has been set and here it is.....

 

P-Belliveau, Ebinger, Kurcz, Harris, Latham, Lorick, Rhee, Rhoderick, Rosscup, Searle, Struck, Wallach, and Whitenack

 

C Brenly, Noble

 

IF- Baur, Cerda, Lake, Watkins, Macias, Opitz

 

OF- Ha, Burgess, Crawford, Perez

 

Also, Cubs released Chris Siegfried and Alexander Maestri today.

 

 

As far as Daytona's roster goes, some good guys to watch, obviously, but repeating guys abound here. Burgess? Maybe he's out of shape or something else going on? He was killing it in AA at the end of last year for the Nats. Rhee? Totally understand and we're probably not rushing him at all here, he's got time and hopefully he's much better this time around with a full season under his belt after TJS. Lake? Same thing as Rhee, other than I thought he kind of earned a promotion. That said, I've read a couple of guys thinking he may be a better prospect as a pitcher. Callis said he thought he could throw 95, if he were to be switched.

 

A lot of the national guys view Lake as a bust/disappointment still and don't seem to value his improvement late last summer. I'm not sure Callis is right on Lake being a better pitcher than position player.

 

I'd guess the rotation will be: Whitenack, Struck, Wallach, Kurcz, Rhee w/ Searle as the 6th starter/swingman.

 

I agree with Truffle that Beliveau should be in Daytona. I imagine he'll be up rather quickly though.

[craig]

Belliveau is the only surprise. That's one weak lineup, but the rotation might be interesting.

 

We'd already heard that Burgess was going down, so that wasn't too surprising. In Phil's report from last Fri or whenever, Burgess K'd every AB.

 

Rhee wasn't very good last year, so he certainly wouldn't have merited a promotion, and I think Tenn with Raley-Rusin-Cabrera-McNutt-Dolis has a very nice rotation. Rhee would just be a reliever had he been promoted. Hopefully his arm will be a lot better this year.

 

Whitenack-Kurcz-Struck-Wallach, that could be an interesting front four. Could end up being not very good at all, but any of those four could emerge as pretty interesting. And if Rhee has improved some, he might get 5th spot and might be a prospect too.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/04/03/chiefs-d-cubs-rally-tie-wrap-minor-league-camp

 

Everything else has already been talked about in that link but if you look at the box score, amongst the starting pitchers, Austin Kirk had a good outing but Aaron Kurcz had a really poor outing. Rhee was very strong in his 3 innings of relief following Kurcz. Also, Szczur is hurt with a leg injury but is close to returning. He's been out a week and might have to sit out the first few Peoria games.

[toonsterwu]

Is it certain that Ebinger isn't in the rotation? I wouldn't mind seeing him in the rotation there. I don't know how his breaking ball is right now, as the reviews were mixed last year, but a lefty with a solid fastball/changeup combination is mildly intriguing (makes me somewhat think of James Russell right out of Texas). He has solid control, is fairly efficient.

 

I understand Lake in A+. Sort of a, prove it again type move, and I'm fine with that.

 

Jordan Latham - sure feels like it has to be make or break for him. I thought he might be in the last cuts, because after the demotion last year, it sure didn't look good. Still ... maybe he puts it together. If the slider is sharp, he could put together a solid year.

 

Shame Maestri never put it together. There were moments when he looked quite promising, but he's getting old now, so it's time to move on.

 

Mildly surprised Siegfried got cut, but there's enough pen lefties in the system.

 

A bit surprised Rosscup is in A+. Must have had a good spring.

 

The lineup looks bad, but it was somewhat expected, as the lower levels, in terms of positional talent, is a bit shaky right now. 2012 draft has to fill some holes there, or some kids have to emerge.

[davell]

Read on chicagocubsonline.com that Frank Batista and John Urich are on this squad as well.

[craig]

Dave, it wouldn't shock if Ebinger was starting, that's a point. He'll turn 23 soon, so seems more likely to be a reliever. But they've got four lefties on the roster (Ebinger, Rosscup, Belliveau, and Lorick), so perhaps they want to have a lefty start or piggyback.

 

For righty rotation guys, I see Kurcz, Whitenack, Struck, Wallach, Rhee, and Searle all as possibilities. But who knows how they'll actually use them. And early when the pitch counts are so short they might be piggy-backing 8-10 guys, and sort that out as April goes on.

 

I think Whitenack is really the only guys who's 100% sure to be rotation. Kurcz probably, since he was starting and getting stretched yesterday (even if ineffectively). But it's not like Wallach, or 30-something round Struck, or 30-something-round Ebinger, or soft-tossing Rhee,

 

One other surprise I wanted to mention: I'm pretty surprised that Harman, the 22-year old lefty from Clemson, didn't make Daytona. Perhaps they figured Daytona is fairly packed with who-knows-if-they've-got-much-but-we'll-give-them-innings prospects, and that getting him 100+ innings will be easier starting at Peoria?

[craig]

Tenn speculation, by me: McNutt-Cabrera-Raley-Rusin-Dolis.

 

Are there any questions about that? I suppose injury could be possible. I know some of you want Carpenter starting. And I suppose either or Rusin or Dolis could be reallocated to the pen, perhaps even Cabrera, in preparation for a major-league role.

 

But that seems as safe of a minor-league rotation to predict as is almost ever possible. (Now watch me miss on two of them.)

 

That's also a very interesting batch, IMO.

 

I'll be curious to see how Flaherty gets used this spring. I'm assuming Lem-Gonzalez-Vitters are the primary 2B/SS/3B. Will Flaherty play mostly 1B? OF? Or will he just rotate through each of the positions as guys get days off or DH rather than field?

[Guest]

Tenn speculation, by me: McNutt-Cabrera-Raley-Rusin-Dolis.

 

Are there any questions about that? I suppose injury could be possible. I know some of you want Carpenter starting. And I suppose either or Rusin or Dolis could be reallocated to the pen, perhaps even Cabrera, in preparation for a major-league role.

 

But that seems as safe of a minor-league rotation to predict as is almost ever possible. (Now watch me miss on two of them.)

 

That's also a very interesting batch, IMO.

 

I'll be curious to see how Flaherty gets used this spring. I'm assuming Lem-Gonzalez-Vitters are the primary 2B/SS/3B. Will Flaherty play mostly 1B? OF? Or will he just rotate through each of the positions as guys get days off or DH rather than field?

 

I think you nailed the Tennessee rotation. It's probably the most interesting rotation with prospects (Peoria would be second) but there doesn't seem to be much drama on who will make the rotation.

 

I think you're right that Flaherty will move around like a utility guy but I don't think Marwin Gonzalez is going to be a day-in, day-out starter at SS like Josh Vitters will be at 3B so that should give Flaherty more time at 2B with LeMahieu at SS than I think you're expecting.

[KingCubsFan]

Szczur, Lopez and Simpson are on Peoria. Gibbs and Silva as well. Overall, that offense is going to struggle.

[craig]

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=443

Looks like it might be the real thing for Peoria.

 

Will be interesting to see who starts/piggy-backs of those pitchers. Simpson/Greathouse/Kirk/Antigua/Beeler/Lopez seem the most interesting.

 

 

Jeffry Antigua P L 6' 1" 170 6/23/90

Cameron Greathouse P L 6' 2" 230 7/29/90

Austin Kirk P L 6' 1" 200 5/22/90

Hayden Simpson P R 6' 0" 170 5/20/89

Dallas Beeler P R 6' 5" 205 6/12/89

Robinson Lopez P R 6' 2" 190 3/2/91

Eduardo Figueroa P R 6' 1" 185 11/30/88

Yohan Gonzalez P R 6' 4" 210 4/15/90

Marcus Hatley P R 6' 5" 220 3/26/88

Graham Hicks P L 6' 5" 170 2/9/90

Eric Jokisch P L 6' 2" 185 7/29/89

Juan Yasser Serrano P R 5' 10" 220 3/3/88

Bryce Shafer P R 6' 0" 180 11/14/88

 

 

Name Pos Bat Ht Wt DOB

Sergio Burruel C L 5' 11" 210 7/22/91

Micah Gibbs C S 5' 11" 223 7/27/88

Arismendy Alcantara SS S 5' 10" 160 10/29/91

Richard Jones 1B L 6' 0" 215 1/31/88

Pierre LePage 2B R 5' 8" 168 2/23/89

Elliot Soto SS R 5' 9" 160 8/21/89

Smaily Borges OF R 6' 3" 210 1/28/84

D.J. Fitzgerald LF R 6' 0" 190 12/20/88

Anthony Giansanti OF R 5' 10" 190 9/28/88

Greg Rohan OF R 6' 0" 205 5/11/86

Rubi Silva OF L 5' 11" 180 6/25/89

Matthew Szczur OF R 6' 1" 195 7/20/89

[craig]

Szczur, Lopez and Simpson are on Peoria. Gibbs and Silva as well. Overall, that offense is going to struggle.

 

Yeah, it could struggle. But who knows, it could be pretty good, too. Silva and Szczur might be good. (A- should seem relatively low compared to the Cuban league that Silva played in as a younger guy).

 

rohan and Fitzgerald might be pretty good repeat A- hitters, even if they aren't much of prospects. Not sure it's a real star-studded lineup, but in A- Rohan, Fitz, LePage, Jones, and Gibbs might end up being reasonably productive, and if the more talented prospects Silva, Szczur, and Alcantara can hit, it might be a reasonably productive offense relative to the league.

[wvcbxl]

Shame Maestri never put it together. There were moments when he looked quite promising, but he's getting old now, so it's time to move on.

 

Indeed - I was kinda already expecting this move this time last year.

The Cubs did make sure they had another Italian in the system before cutting ties though. 8-)

[Guest]

I wonder who'll play 3B amongst that group. And I thought Su-Min Jung was ticketed to repeat at Peoria. Did he not make Peoria's roster and is ticketed for extended ST, did AZ Phil miss him at Daytona or is he hurt?

[Guest]

If Ben Wells, Austin Reed, Jin-Yeong Kim and Luis Liria all make it to Boise, that might be the best Boise rotation since the days of Dontrelle, Guzman, Nolasco, etc.

[CUBZ99]

Any word on how Simpson has been performing so far? I'm assuming that he is doing fairly well, based upon being assigned to Peoria to start the season. But maybe that is being too presumptuous.

[Guest]

Iowa's rotation is set and neither Jay Jackson or Chris Carpenter will be starting:

 

On the mound, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, J.R. Mathes, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, and Roberto Coello will form the starting rotation.

 

In fact, I didn't see Jay Jackson on the Iowa roster period.