Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-22-11

[KingCubsFan]

It's possible DeVoss could fly through the system, but with the depth of CF talent, I could see them further exploring him playing 2nd base, and I think he'd probably go a bit slower if coming up as a 2nd baseman. Hard to speculate without knowing who will be in charge of player development.

I'd also like to see him keep his average over .300 in Boise, considering he's coming from college. Otherwise, I'm afraid he may be another Dwayne Bacon.

[GrantJones7]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]Famous for winning the 2010 International Power Showcase at Chase Field in Phoenix with a towering 508-ft HR, the 18-year old lefty swinging Vogelbach--who gave up a chance to play college ball at the University of Florida when he signed with the Cubs last week--flied out to the warning track in right-centerfield in his first pro AB, struck out swinging (and looked bad doing it) his second time up, popped out to left in his 3rd AB, and grounded an opposite-field single through the 5.5 hole in his final AB in the bottom of the 9th. He reminds me a bit of ex-KC Royals 1B Bob Hamelin.

 

Both Cubs 2011 25th round pick Rock Shoulders ($294K signing bonus = "4th round money") and Vogelbach ($1.6M signing bonus) were in the lineup (Shoulders played 1B), hitting 3-4. Like Vogelbach, Shoulders also went 1-4, ripping a single down the LF line in the 7th. Shoulders is bottom-heavy and can barely run, stopping at 1st base on what should have been an easy double. The switch-hitting Shoulders led Florida JUCO in HR this season, and clearly has plus-power from both sides of the plate (his rope-single down the LF line today was hit RH).

 

While Vogelbach and Shoulders will probably be competing with each other for playing time at 1B as they work their way up through the Cubs system in coming years, it is conceivable that Shoulders could (if he can get into better physical shape) eventually end-up at another position (he was a catcher in HS, and has the arm to play 3B). He has the body-type normally associated with a catcher.

 

I'd be curious about Shoulders at C if it wasn't for the fact that we just signed several guys. Still, an intriguing idea, but I imagine they'd let him work at first for now. Really don't see him at 3rd. That's like Charles Thomas at 3rd, and Thomas was pretty bad, IIRC, when he dabbled at 3rd.

Charles Thomas wanted to play 3rd and hit. But he sucked there and was sent back to Mesa and basicly said, well pitch or we are releasing you. and hes been pretty good as a pitcher.