Where do guys start the season? Hitters Edition

[toonsterwu]

Well, new update from AzPhil on the rosters was certainly fascinating (comparing 3/12 and 3/16 updates by AzPhil). The most intriguing thing was having Baez/Vogelbach/Candelario/Shoulders/Lockhart at Peoria, along with Jeffrey Baez and Carlos Penalver in Boise/Mesa. I'm mildly curious at the movement of guys like Soto/Soccorro/Zapenas as it relates to how that impacts more critical prospects in the pipeline (since all three were moved down).

 

As for Szczur, I'll be curious if he gets shifted down again. My guess would be yes, with Brett Jackson's impending move to Iowa likely kicking Jae-Hoon Ha down a notch, but it's possible they don't view Ha that highly in CF.

[davell]

I guess it shouldn't be all that surprising that Malave isn't here, but I guess we have Rosario, Marre, and Mineo all in Boise/Mesa. On the other hand, easily the biggest surprise of any of these lists is Luis Acosta. I guess he must really have an advanced bat. Since he missed Instructs with an injury, I didn't think he had a shot of making it here without a season in the DSL.

[toonsterwu]

Seems as good a place as any ... asked AzPhil some questions, on the hitters side, this stood out -

 

Luis Acosta is a bit stiff at SS. In fact he looks now (at age 17) what Junior Lake looks like at age 21. I find it VERY hard to believe that Acosta will remain at SS. I would think 3B or RF would be his more likely ultimate defensive destination. He is a beast offensively, though. Loads of power.

 

There's a tiny part of me that's disappointed that he looks like a solid bet to move off short (I mean ... at his age, looking like Junior Lake at 21 ... there's a snarky comment somewhere that I'll avoid). That said, adding another power talent to the organization is a plus, giving us a lot more pieces to hope on in developing our own stars internally.

[davell]

Definitely possible that Acosta could be who AZPhil was referencing the tall Latin American OF who put on a power display. It could be a guy like Helsin Martinez, who still hasn't signed anywhere either.

[toonsterwu]

I have my doubts that Acosta is the guy AzPhil was referring to. It sounds like Acosta didn't get in until around the 15th/16th, and AzPhil's comments came on the 11th or 12th off the top. Also, AzPhil has Acosta listed as an IF for now.

[ctcf]

Wait is that actually set to be the Peoria lineup?

[Guest]

Wait is that actually set to be the Peoria lineup?

 

No. It's what they're playing with right now.

[Bear Cub]

I believe Arizona Phil was talking about Balaguert.

[davell]

I believe Arizona Phil was talking about Balaguert.

He's mentioned him before by name though, which is why I didn't think it was him. Plus, Balaguert isn't a power guy supposedly.

[davell]

Law and Goldstein both get asked tons of Junior Lake questions and neither like him at all. After getting asked another one, I asked Law if we should be excited about Candelario, since he saw him play today. His answer was "Yes. He's pretty interesting." This may be the most praise I've seen Law give a Cub prospect ever.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Seems as good a place as any ... asked AzPhil some questions, on the hitters side, this stood out -

 

Luis Acosta is a bit stiff at SS. In fact he looks now (at age 17) what Junior Lake looks like at age 21. I find it VERY hard to believe that Acosta will remain at SS. I would think 3B or RF would be his more likely ultimate defensive destination. He is a beast offensively, though. Loads of power.

 

There's a tiny part of me that's disappointed that he looks like a solid bet to move off short (I mean ... at his age, looking like Junior Lake at 21 ... there's a snarky comment somewhere that I'll avoid). That said, adding another power talent to the organization is a plus, giving us a lot more pieces to hope on in developing our own stars internally.

 

 

IIRC alot of people really liked Acosta's bat last year and he wasn't signed for his defensive prowess in the slightest. I think generally speaking most IFAs who aren't in their country's pro leagues already will be listed as SS, C, 2B, or CF...It helps their agents in negotiations, even if it's just a tad for most.

 

Any word on Jeffry Baez? Is he even interesting (tools wise) or do I just like his stats? He's just 18 for the season this year.

[Guest]

Some other tweets from Keith Law:

 

@keithlaw Javier Baez just hit a long bomb out to right here at Fitch Park

 

@keithlaw He is. Overmatched today. "@sdcubs3: @keithlaw I am interested if Vogelbache is playing and your impressions of him."

[toonsterwu]

AzPhil notes a ton of movement, and then posts updated minor league rosters in the comments.

 

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/25/ryan-dempster-day-fitch-park

 

Of note -

 

- Baez, Vogelbach, Rosario, Candelario, Amaya, and others down to Boise/Mesa. (I'm guessing Shoulders was sent down as well, but AzPhil listed him in both places).

- Golden and Chen to Peoria.

- DeVoss, Andreoli, Lopez to Peoria.

- Ha to Tennessee, Szczur to Daytona.

 

Honestly, I'm at the stage of just waiting to see how things play out. It feels like they do want young guys down in XST for a bit, perhaps, as craig noted last time (I think), to establish the new "Cubs Way". I do like the CF movement - it's not as if Chen was a guy that screamed a level jump, and it's not as if Szczur/Ha did enough last year to warrant another bump up. This keeps everyone in CF for the near future, so we'll see how Ha plays in CF.

[KingCubsFan]

AzPhil notes a ton of movement, and then posts updated minor league rosters in the comments.

 

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/25/ryan-dempster-day-fitch-park

 

Of note -

 

- Baez, Vogelbach, Rosario, Candelario, Amaya, and others down to Boise/Mesa. (I'm guessing Shoulders was sent down as well, but AzPhil listed him in both places).

- Golden and Chen to Peoria.

- DeVoss, Andreoli, Lopez to Peoria.

- Ha to Tennessee, Szczur to Daytona.

 

Honestly, I'm at the stage of just waiting to see how things play out. It feels like they do want young guys down in XST for a bit, perhaps, as craig noted last time (I think), to establish the new "Cubs Way". I do like the CF movement - it's not as if Chen was a guy that screamed a level jump, and it's not as if Szczur/Ha did enough last year to warrant another bump up. This keeps everyone in CF for the near future, so we'll see how Ha plays in CF.

Peoria just went from the most intriguing team in the organization to a typical, boring Peoria Chiefs team.

[toonsterwu]

It's not as exciting, but there's still, as of now, intriguing pieces, and I think we all are thinking that some of the XST folks will see Peoria this year. But leaving those guys aside, Marco Hernandez is still there, along with Reggie Golden and Pin-Chieh Chen. There's still some intrigue with Dustin Geiger, and then there are likely to be several arms that hold interest.

[ctcf]

Well that's a little disappointing.

[Guest]

And we'll see if a few guys get bumped up to Peoria in, say, May or June like Josh Vitters was a few years ago (before he got hurt and ended up playing at Boise that season).

[toonsterwu]

AzPhil had two interesting posts in the comments section. First, I asked how Penalver looked. He responded:

 

Penalver

How has he looked defensively? What's your expectations offensively?

 

=============================

 

TOONSTER: I've seen quite a bit of Carlos Penalver, last year at Instructs and this year at Minor League Camp.

 

He isn't the spectacular, acrobatic, sometimes out-of-control SS that is Arismendy Alcantara. He is a more traditional SS along the lines of an Elliot Soto. He certainly has the tools to play shortstop (range, arm, and DP turn), but for some reason he has been (and continues to be) VERY shaky defensively. Maybe he is trying to do too much, or maybe he is just plain nervous. (He's only 17). But whatever the cause, he doesn't play with the confidence of guys like Marco Hernandez or Gioskar Amaya (for example).

 

Offensively he has mostly an opposite-field stroke and he doesn't have HR power. He does have some speed, but he's not what I would call fast. So he's going to have to be a solid-plus defender to make it up the ladder.

 

I can't help but be a bit disappointed in the response.

 

___

 

He also notes a bunch of injury stuff, such as that Ha, LePage, Cuneo, Balaguert may not start the season, which could save a spot for someone, however temporarily.

[Brian]

Darn, Im going to Beloit to see the Cheifs next weekend and was hoping for at least one of Baez or Vogelbach.

[Guest]

Darn, Im going to Beloit to see the Cheifs next weekend and was hoping for at least one of Baez or Vogelbach.

Just enjoy Marco.

[Wrigley Rat]

Each position listed in order: Chicago, Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, Peoria

 

Catcher:

Soto, Clevenger

Castillo, Lalli

Noble, Brenly

Gibbs, Giansanti

Lopez, Contreras, Burruel

 

Infielders:

LaHair, Barney, Castro, Stewart, DeWitt, Baker

Rizzo, Cardenas, Amezaga, Vitters, Gonzalez, Tolbert/(Ryan Flaherty if returned)

Ridling, Watkins, Lake, M. Smith, Bour, Mota/(Marwin Gonzalez if returned)

R. Jones, Torreyes, Soto, Cerda, Barroso, Rohan

Hoilman, DeVoss, Alcantara, M. Hernandez, Darvill, Geiger

 

Outfielders:

Soriano, Byrd, DeJesus, R. Johnson, Mather

Sappelt, B. Jackson, Campana, Adduci

Wright, Easterling, Burgess, N. Perez

Bonne, Szczur, R. Silva, A. Abreu

Andreoli, P.C. Chen, Golden, X. Batista

 

DL (some may be released):

M. Mateo - 60 Day

B. Scales, J. Apodaca, Berg, Gaub, Chen

Crawford, Ha, Whitenack, Cales, Schlitter, Samson

Negrin, Maldonado, Rosscup, Macias, Berlind, (Flores on Suspended List)

LePage, Fitzgerald, Cuneo, Balaguert, Harrington

[toonsterwu]

Massive updates from AzPhil in the comments section of http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/30/gordon-triple-ignites-dodgers-hohokam.

 

I'm a bit disappointed that Ridling was shifted down, but it is somewhat understandable if the intent is to get him regular AB's, as Rizzo has first at Iowa.

 

Alcantara got promoted to Daytona, which seems to suggest that Marco Hernandez has the shortstop job (they bumped Zapenas up to Peoria, but I don't see Zapenas blocking Marco).

[craig]

Massive updates from AzPhil in the comments section of http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/30/gordon-triple-ignites-dodgers-hohokam.

 

I'm a bit disappointed that Ridling was shifted down, but it is somewhat understandable if the intent is to get him regular AB's, as Rizzo has first at Iowa.

 

Alcantara got promoted to Daytona, which seems to suggest that Marco Hernandez has the shortstop job (they bumped Zapenas up to Peoria, but I don't see Zapenas blocking Marco).

 

Agree, that sets up Hernandez as the clear regular SS at Peoria.

 

For Ridling, I think he may end up playing a lot of LF for Tennessee. Which he could have also done at Iowa. But given the Soriano situation, if he played enough LF and played well enough to look OK defensively in left, that seems to be a position of opportunity in the organization. At some point Soriano won't be in left, so if Ridling established himself as a decent fielder and really was hitting like a major leaguer, he might have a much better chance there than he'll ever get at 1B?

[toonsterwu]

So, curious, now that we have a general idea of where most of the guys will start the season, have there been any, for lack of a better term, changed expectations? For example, many of us thought that some of the Baez/Vogelbach and Co. would start in Peoria. If they go to XST and stay in Boise to start the year, is that a disappointment, and to what extent?

 

As a side note, nothing that we didn't anticipate, while passing through Baltimore, was listening to 105.7 and Roch Kubatko came on to talk about the Orioles. He noted that the Cubs front office was disappointed (I think he might've used pissed) when he was picked (not surprising, but did the Cubs expect different?). Also notes that the Cubs would take him back in a heartbeat (but with his strong spring, Ryan should make the squad ... although I thought he would get a decent amount of starts (say 2-3 times a week), but unless they put him at 2nd, he might be just utilized off the bench).

[davell]

I'm not changing my expectations for anyone, because I really think everyone is being held back, out of how we're handling things now. Every comment on Baez has been super positive, so I think it's just our process now.