CONFIRMED: CUBS GET SOLER!!! 9yrs/30 mill

[A New Era]

1) Offense

2) Pitching

3) ????????

4) Profit

 

#3 is probably something really big like intangibles.

 

3) aggressively running the bases.

 

3) Productive outs.

 

Collect underpants.

 

3) no more bad players with naked pictures of the GM forcing him to keep said players on the team.

[Sammy Sofa]

1) Offense

2) Pitching

3) ????????

4) Profit

 

#3 is probably something really big like intangibles.

 

3) aggressively running the bases.

 

3) Productive outs.

 

Collect underpants.

 

HEY, THAT REFERS TO THAT JOKE THAT THAT OTHER FELLOW WAS REFERRING TO.

[Magnetic Curses]

1) Offense

2) Pitching

3) ????????

4) Profit

 

#3 is probably something really big like intangibles.

 

3) aggressively running the bases.

 

3) Productive outs.

 

Collect underpants.

 

we get it, reading is boring

[ctcf]

Tidbit from this morning's Bleacher Nation article:

 

Kevin Goldstein at BP ranked the Cubs’ farm system the 20th best (or 11th worst, I guess) in baseball. He did say on the radio last night that (1) the Cubs remain the “overwhelming favorite” to sign Jorge Soler, and (2) if they do, they’ll move up to somewhere in the middle of the pack.

[Brett]

Tidbit from this morning's Bleacher Nation article:

 

Kevin Goldstein at BP ranked the Cubs’ farm system the 20th best (or 11th worst, I guess) in baseball. He did say on the radio last night that (1) the Cubs remain the “overwhelming favorite” to sign Jorge Soler, and (2) if they do, they’ll move up to somewhere in the middle of the pack.

 

That was from his appearance on WGN Radio last night, for what it's worth.

[Clem Fandango]

How bad were we likely before the addition of Rizzo and Concepcion?

[davell]

For those who don't really follow the minors closely, prospect rankings vary quite a bit. Baseball America has us as the 12th best system. Law has us around 20, if I remember correctly. But, the key is everyone thinks we have a system on the rise.

[Guest]

For those who don't really follow the minors closely, prospect rankings vary quite a bit. Baseball America has us as the 12th best system. Law has us around 20, if I remember correctly. But, the key is everyone thinks we have a system on the rise.

On the rise or regression to the mean? I see a lot of mediocre.

[davell]

For those who don't really follow the minors closely, prospect rankings vary quite a bit. Baseball America has us as the 12th best system. Law has us around 20, if I remember correctly. But, the key is everyone thinks we have a system on the rise.

On the rise or regression to the mean? I see a lot of mediocre.

We have lots of high upside guys in the lower levels. Baez, Vogelbach, Maples, Candelario, Hernandez, Golden, Wells, all have the ability to show up on top 100 lists. Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year. We've added Concepcion, it's certainly possible we'll add Soler, we'll probably sell off a few more vets between now and this time next year, and we've got 4 top 70 picks in the draft, including number 6. The system is definitely on the way up.

[jersey cubs fan]

Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year.

 

I don't know why you would make that assumption. All four of them could easily see their prospect status drop fairly significantly this year. Vitters probably needs to take a step forward just to tread water

[Little Slide Rooter]

For those who don't really follow the minors closely, prospect rankings vary quite a bit. Baseball America has us as the 12th best system. Law has us around 20, if I remember correctly. But, the key is everyone thinks we have a system on the rise.

On the rise or regression to the mean? I see a lot of mediocre.

We have lots of high upside guys in the lower levels. Baez, Vogelbach, Maples, Candelario, Hernandez, Golden, Wells, all have the ability to show up on top 100 lists. Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year. We've added Concepcion, it's certainly possible we'll add Soler, we'll probably sell off a few more vets between now and this time next year, and we've got 4 top 70 picks in the draft, including number 6. The system is definitely on the way up.

 

Nobody can deny that we have a lot of exciting guys to watch at the lower levels. However, there are no sure things in the minor leagues, even at the upper levels and with guys as young as the group that our farm system is relying the heaviest upon, you never know how many of them will even make it to AA.

[NewUserName]

For those who don't really follow the minors closely, prospect rankings vary quite a bit. Baseball America has us as the 12th best system. Law has us around 20, if I remember correctly. But, the key is everyone thinks we have a system on the rise.

On the rise or regression to the mean? I see a lot of mediocre.

We have lots of high upside guys in the lower levels. Baez, Vogelbach, Maples, Candelario, Hernandez, Golden, Wells, all have the ability to show up on top 100 lists. Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year. We've added Concepcion, it's certainly possible we'll add Soler, we'll probably sell off a few more vets between now and this time next year, and we've got 4 top 70 picks in the draft, including number 6. The system is definitely on the way up.

 

Nobody can deny that we have a lot of exciting guys to watch at the lower levels. However, there are no sure things in the minor leagues, even at the upper levels and with guys as young as the group that our farm system is relying the heaviest upon, you never know how many of them will even make it to AA.

 

yes, so the best thing is to have as many prospects as possible to hedge your bets. Which seems to be the direction that the Cubs are going right now.

[davell]

Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year.

 

I don't know why you would make that assumption. All four of them could easily see their prospect status drop fairly significantly this year. Vitters probably needs to take a step forward just to tread water

By retaining status. I meant they will all still BE prospects, unlike Brett or Rizzo, who probably lose their eligibility. In each case, it is possible for them to take a step forward, but my guess is only Szczur and McNutt are in our top 10 next year. However, that doesn't mean Lake or Vitters don't help upgrade the overall grading of the system. They add depth at worst, ay best they both still have high ceilings.

[jersey cubs fan]

Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year.

 

I don't know why you would make that assumption. All four of them could easily see their prospect status drop fairly significantly this year. Vitters probably needs to take a step forward just to tread water

By retaining status. I meant they will all still BE prospects, unlike Brett or Rizzo, who probably lose their eligibility. In each case, it is possible for them to take a step forward, but my guess is only Szczur and McNutt are in our top 10 next year. However, that doesn't mean Lake or Vitters don't help upgrade the overall grading of the system. They add depth at worst, ay best they both still have high ceilings.

 

That's a very confusing statement. If all you mean by "retaining status" is that they will still be prospects then it doesn't make much sense to say or they can improve on it. They can all take steps back this year. Still qualifying as a prospect is fairly meaningless.

[davell]

I should have clarified better in my original post, which was to show the system IS on the rise, not standing pat. Of course, those players could take a step back and I should have mentioned that as well, but whatever those 4 guys do, it's not why this system is rising. The system is rising because of the possible addition of Soler, lots of high upside guys in the lower levels, multiple early picks, and the probable trades of some more vets for more prospects.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year.

 

I don't know why you would make that assumption. All four of them could easily see their prospect status drop fairly significantly this year. Vitters probably needs to take a step forward just to tread water

By retaining status. I meant they will all still BE prospects, unlike Brett or Rizzo, who probably lose their eligibility. In each case, it is possible for them to take a step forward, but my guess is only Szczur and McNutt are in our top 10 next year. However, that doesn't mean Lake or Vitters don't help upgrade the overall grading of the system. They add depth at worst, ay best they both still have high ceilings.

 

That's a very confusing statement. If all you mean by "retaining status" is that they will still be prospects then it doesn't make much sense to say or they can improve on it. They can all take steps back this year. Still qualifying as a prospect is fairly meaningless.

 

I think what he means is that they all have the chance to move up the ladder. Of course there's always the chance that any one of them could take a step back as well.

 

As for Vitters, I think that his days as a "prospet" are very much numbered. I say this because if he shows enough improvement, he'll likely be in the big leagues by 2012 if not September, however if he regresses or doesn't improve enough he'll move closer to non-prospect status. He certainly has age on his side, but one can only spend so many years in the minors before they team starts to accept the fact that the power and dicipline may not happen. It sure would be nice to see him get that OPS back over .800 and the PCL is certainly the place to do it.

[C.C.]

I've been gone for a while so what the hell is going on with his?

[Derwood]

I've been gone for a while so what the hell is going on with his?

 

72%

[C.C.]

I've been gone for a while so what the hell is going on with his?

 

72%

 

Not bad, not bad.

 

I was thinking more like 23%, so this makes me very happy. Thanks for the update.

[El Duderino]

what exactly IS going on with this?

[mookie]

a whole lot of nuffin

[Little Slide Rooter]

Last I heard, Hoyer denied any deal being in place. That was sometime last week.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

what exactly IS going on with this?

 

Still waiting for MLB to approve his free agency.

[ctcf]

what exactly IS going on with this?

 

Still waiting for MLB to approve his free agency.

 

I thought he was still waiting to be granted official residency.

[Guest]

Szczur, McNutt, Vitters, and Lake all will likely retain their status or possibly improve on it, by this time next year.

 

I don't know why you would make that assumption. All four of them could easily see their prospect status drop fairly significantly this year. Vitters probably needs to take a step forward just to tread water

By retaining status. I meant they will all still BE prospects, unlike Brett or Rizzo, who probably lose their eligibility. In each case, it is possible for them to take a step forward, but my guess is only Szczur and McNutt are in our top 10 next year. However, that doesn't mean Lake or Vitters don't help upgrade the overall grading of the system. They add depth at worst, ay best they both still have high ceilings.

Who really cares about how the minors are graded or what a player's perceived ceiling is? It's meaningless claptrap. They have no track record of producing talent outside of pitching. I love the change in leadership and I'm cautiously optimistic about the long term, but the near term looks bleak. I'm really hoping that they somehow either develop or draft hitters with plate discipline, b/c they don't have much of any and this spring training hasn't shown me anything.