BA & BP's Cubs Top Prospect Lists

[Cubswin11]

Reggie Golden #9???? I know he's a toolsy, boom or bust guy but doesn't that seem to high for him? Isn't he more of a mid-high teens guy? But I guess there are usually 10-20 guys every year where an argument can be made that any of them can be put into a teams 7-10 ranked players in a system and I guess Golden falls in that category.

[Guest]

Cates at #5 is ballsy. I agree with sneakypower that he's undervalued here but that's much higher than I'd dream to rate him.

[sneakypower]

in an exercise in masochism, i was looking at Law's top 100 and noticed a trend with a lot of the names:

 

Taijuan Walker (24), Castellanos (37), Zach Lee (41), Yelich (48), Zack Cox (66), Gary Brown (68), Jenkins (74), Olt (75), Aaron Sanchez (96)

 

might have missed more, but obviously the theme is first-rounders picked after Simpson in the '10 draft (along with Brentz, Syndergaard, Ranaudo, Wojciechowski, etc., who show up high on other prospect lists) were all first rounders picked after Hayden Simpson

 

which isn't to say in hindsight it was obvious any of these guys were good, rather that there were obviously a lot of much more intelligent choices at that spot than a guy who was universally considered a non-entity; it was terrible arrogance that has backfired in a predictable way

 

10. Matt Szczur, CF

 

No wonder he thinks this organization is so bad if he has a guy he despises at 10.

iirc, he also (rightfully) called Vitters, whom he placed 8th, a "non-prospect" last summer

[nick23]

in an exercise in masochism, i was looking at Law's top 100 and noticed a trend with a lot of the names:

 

Taijuan Walker (24), Castellanos (37), Zach Lee (41), Yelich (48), Zack Cox (66), Gary Brown (68), Jenkins (74), Olt (75), Aaron Sanchez (96)

 

might have missed more, but obviously the theme is first-rounders picked after Simpson in the '10 draft (along with Brentz, Syndergaard, Ranaudo, Wojciechowski, etc., who show up high on other prospect lists) were all first rounders picked after Hayden Simpson

 

which isn't to say in hindsight it was obvious any of these guys were good, rather that there were obviously a lot of much more intelligent choices at that spot than a guy who was universally considered a non-entity; it was terrible arrogance that has backfired in a predictable way

 

10. Matt Szczur, CF

 

No wonder he thinks this organization is so bad if he has a guy he despises at 10.

iirc, he also (rightfully) called Vitters, whom he placed 8th, a "non-prospect" last summer

Seeing that list and how Simpson has worked out so far it's almost a fierable selection. What an awful awful draft pick.

[Proven Veteran]

ESPN's top 100 by Keith Law (Insider)

 

Notables:

1. Mike Trout, LAA

2. Bryce Harper, WAS

3. Matt Moore, TB

4. Manny Machado, BAL

5. Shelby Miller, STL

36. Anthony Rizzo, CHC

89. Brett Jackson, CHC

95. Javier Baez, CHC

 

EDIT: He didn't rank Darvish or the Cubans.

 

I think Hak-Ju Lee at 12 is notable as well.

[bukie]

True, that's the one former Cub prospect in the top 100. I was mostly going for top 5 overall and the Cubs.

[Guest]

Lee would struggle to break the Top 50 on Law's list if he had Chicago next to his name.

[davell]

Lee would struggle to break the Top 50 on Law's list if he had Chicago next to his name.

 

I think that'll change now. If he held anything against us(and I think he did too) it was Hendry's total aversion to sabermetrics. He's liked our moves this offseason and is definitely upbeat about Theo, so I kind of expect more benefit of the doubt from him now personally. Even if Theo drafts a Szczur type guy. I know this kind of stuff isn't supposed to play into things, but for some reason, I always thought Law had in for Hendry. Could be wrong though.

[squally1313]

True, that's the one former Cub prospect in the top 100. I was mostly going for top 5 overall and the Cubs.

 

Archer came in at around 63, I believe.

[bukie]

True, that's the one former Cub prospect in the top 100. I was mostly going for top 5 overall and the Cubs.

 

Archer came in at around 63, I believe.

Okay, okay, but other than Lee and Archer, what have the Romans done for us?

[nick23]

Ryan (Dallas)

 

 

Thoughts on one of the most debated guys from the 2011 draft: Dan Vogelbach?

 

Klaw (1:51 PM)

 

 

Heavy D? Maybe if he gets to AA and is still productive and conditioned enough to play, we can talk.

[nick23]

Darren (LA)

 

 

Junior Lake good enough to be in Cubs top 10 within a year?

 

Klaw (1:58 PM)

 

 

Only if someone teaches him how to play baseball.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Damn.

[illiniguy]

So Law dropped San Diego because he said they lost top 25 prospect Anthony Rizzo, yet now Rizzo is rated lower than that. Hmmmm... What changed in a day Keith?

[KingCubsFan]

So Law dropped San Diego because he said they lost top 25 prospect Anthony Rizzo, yet now Rizzo is rated lower than that. Hmmmm... What changed in a day Keith?

Not to mention he's somehow behind Francisco Lindor now. And the fact that Lee is even in the same vicinity as Profar is laughable.

[RynoRules]

Law is probably part subject matter expert, part entertainer. He likely tailors his rankings and opinions to generate conversation. That said, I find his tweets amusing.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Along with the early success, I think Concepcion is more phsically talented than he might be given credit for. I mean the least big name young Cuban lefty was 6'5 with great athleticism and a 100 MPH. Not an easy act to follow, amirite?

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Law is probably part subject matter expert, part entertainer. He likely tailors his rankings and opinions to generate conversation. That said, I find his tweets amusing.

 

I like Law alot. Not an idiot writer at all....Probably my favorite of the big outlet guys.

 

There's dumb things like his love for Hak Ju Lee, but like you say he seems like part eneterainer so it just seems as part of the show.

[davell]

Goldstein's top 101 has Brett at 44, Baez at 66, and Rizzo at 75. Cespedes would be 20 and Soler 39.

[Guest]

Goldstein's top 101 has Brett at 44, Baez at 66, and Rizzo at 75. Cespedes would be 20 and Soler 39.

 

I don't understand Jackson being so far ahead of Rizzo at all.

[jersey cubs fan]

So Law dropped San Diego because he said they lost top 25 prospect Anthony Rizzo, yet now Rizzo is rated lower than that. Hmmmm... What changed in a day Keith?

 

He didn't drop San Diego, they are rated #1 on his list. He did refer to top 25 when mentioning Rizzo, but he had him rated 38 last year and 36 this year, so it's tough to say what that was all about.

[Guest]

Goldstein's top 101 has Brett at 44, Baez at 66, and Rizzo at 75. Cespedes would be 20 and Soler 39.

 

His top 101 is free: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16020

 

Also:

 

Q: Where would Gerardo Concepcion rank?

A: Concepcion has signed with the Cubs, so he is eligible for this list, but he's not a Top 101 prospect for me.

[Guest]

Goldstein's top 101 has Brett at 44, Baez at 66, and Rizzo at 75. Cespedes would be 20 and Soler 39.

 

I don't understand Jackson being so far ahead of Rizzo at all.

 

@Kevin_Goldstein 1B prospect rule; not a Szczur fan. RT @SteveJB54: @Kevin_Goldstein Why so low on Rizzo? How far off the list would Szczur be?

 

Also:

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Again, not at all. RT @NickKappel: @Kevin_Goldstein Was Matt Szczur close to making top 101?

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Not ready yet. RT @keithsmw: @Kevin_Goldstein If you're the Cubs do you let Jackson spend a full season in Iowa or bring him up now?

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Baez not a SS in majors. RT @cubsncards: @Kevin_Goldstein If Baez starts at SS for the Cubs does that put Starlin at 2b or on another team?

[Guest]

Goldstein's top 101 has Brett at 44, Baez at 66, and Rizzo at 75. Cespedes would be 20 and Soler 39.

 

I don't understand Jackson being so far ahead of Rizzo at all.

 

@Kevin_Goldstein 1B prospect rule; not a Szczur fan. RT @SteveJB54: @Kevin_Goldstein Why so low on Rizzo? How far off the list would Szczur be?

 

Also:

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Again, not at all. RT @NickKappel: @Kevin_Goldstein Was Matt Szczur close to making top 101?

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Not ready yet. RT @keithsmw: @Kevin_Goldstein If you're the Cubs do you let Jackson spend a full season in Iowa or bring him up now?

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Baez not a SS in majors. RT @cubsncards: @Kevin_Goldstein If Baez starts at SS for the Cubs does that put Starlin at 2b or on another team?

The scouts seem really down on Baez's ability to handle short.

[Cubswin11]

Goldstein's top 101 has Brett at 44, Baez at 66, and Rizzo at 75. Cespedes would be 20 and Soler 39.

 

I don't understand Jackson being so far ahead of Rizzo at all.

 

@Kevin_Goldstein 1B prospect rule; not a Szczur fan. RT @SteveJB54: @Kevin_Goldstein Why so low on Rizzo? How far off the list would Szczur be?

 

Also:

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Again, not at all. RT @NickKappel: @Kevin_Goldstein Was Matt Szczur close to making top 101?

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Not ready yet. RT @keithsmw: @Kevin_Goldstein If you're the Cubs do you let Jackson spend a full season in Iowa or bring him up now?

 

@Kevin_Goldstein Baez not a SS in majors. RT @cubsncards: @Kevin_Goldstein If Baez starts at SS for the Cubs does that put Starlin at 2b or on another team?

The scouts seem really down on Baez's ability to handle short.

What's the 1B prospect rule? Just that he doesn't value 1B prospects as much as other position prospects because there are usually an abundance of them available on the FA market that can be slightly above replacement level?

 

And I agree on the Baez at SS thing. I haven't seen anyone, anywhere, even say that he might stay there it's always he's def moving off that position. I know his bat will be a factor in determining where he moves to, but out of 2B, 3B, LF/RF what is the most likely position he gets tried out at first when he moves off of SS?

 

I also think it's worth noting he has Rizzo as his #2 rated 1B, only 2 spots behind Singleton of the Astros and Baez is only rated one spot behind HJ Lee.