Where do guys start the season? Hitters Edition

[toonsterwu]

In a comment response in the same thread, AzPhil noted some new moves.

 

Soto to AA due to Lake being injured.

 

Rohan disappeared. Not that I really, truly cared all that much about Rohan, but this is surprising to me, since he came off a good season. If he was released, that's a separate thing, but AzPhil makes it sound like it's possible that Rohan left on his own accord out of frustration in being demoted to Daytona.

 

Jair Bogaerts has arrived at Fitch and AzPhil says he looks a bit like Rock Shoulders.

[Named After Maddux]

Brad Zapenas is starting at Daytona this year. I'm a little surprised, but he may be seeing the ball better this spring. He had LASIK surgery in the offseason.

[javy knows my name]

Jair Bogaerts has arrived at Fitch and AzPhil says he looks a bit like Rock Shoulders.

 

Too bad he doesn't like more like Taiwan Easterling

[toonsterwu]

Whoa ... AzPhil notes Marquez Smith got released. Not shocking, but a bit surprising. That said, there was going to be some surprise releases in the upper levels. I had simply thought it would be a guy like Jim Adducci (who AzPhil notes was demoted to AA), or someone of that ilk.

[Guest]

Whoa ... AzPhil notes Marquez Smith got released. Not shocking, but a bit surprising. That said, there was going to be some surprise releases in the upper levels. I had simply thought it would be a guy like Jim Adducci (who AzPhil notes was demoted to AA), or someone of that ilk.

With Rizzo + Vitters, there wasn't going to much corner IF playing time available for Smith.

[toonsterwu]

Yeah, I get the release, as he had plateaued, hadn't shown an ability to handle other positions (although I'm not sure how hard they tried after he was out of shape, um, was that 2 years ago) and there was no need to send him back to AA. He's a guy with a decent approach, decent pop, the type of guy who could see time in the bigs, but needs the situation/opportunity to work in his favor, and with Aramis ahead, Vitters behind, and then the injury-plagued season last year, it's not shocking, particularly with Cardenas as a young guy who could be a util type option. I think it's a tad surprising only because some of the slated bench guys aren't all that intriguing, and I would've been curious about Marquez picking up other gloves, but I can understand the release.

[Bear Cub]

Probably the next Casey McGehee before he is done.

[Bear Cub]

Wesley Darvill has tweeted that he is heading for Peoria.

[SouthSideRyan]

Probably the next Casey McGehee before he is done.

 

What did Marquez ever do to you?

[toonsterwu]

Wesley Darvill has tweeted that he is heading for Peoria.

 

probably the domino effect from whatever occurred with Rohan with Zapenas moving up.

 

Guessing it's close to a make or break year for Darvill. Always been a bit intrigued with him, but with middle infield options behind him coming, he really needs to step it up.

[craig]

Peoria Chiefs roster

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120401&content_id=27830444&vkey=pr_t443&fext=.jsp&sid=t443

[UK1679666180]

Peoria Chiefs roster

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120401&content_id=27830444&vkey=pr_t443&fext=.jsp&sid=t443

 

I'll be there when they're in Beloit for at least 2 of the games. Not a strong group but interesting nonetheless.

[KingCubsFan]

Wesley Darvill has tweeted that he is heading for Peoria.

 

probably the domino effect from whatever occurred with Rohan with Zapenas moving up.

 

Guessing it's close to a make or break year for Darvill. Always been a bit intrigued with him, but with middle infield options behind him coming, he really needs to step it up.

Is he going to play 3B mostly? With Hernandez and DeVoss, I can't see him getting much playing time at SS and 2B.

 

Edit: And what happened to Dustin Geiger?

Edited April 2, 2012 by KingCubsFan

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

That Chiefs team should be fun to follow. Hernandez, Wells, and Chen are probably my favorites.

[davell]

I'll add Golden, Easterling, Burke, and Rosario to that list.

[Guest]

@BoiseHawksRadio: '11 Boise Hawk Tony Zych on Daytona Cubs roster, along with Kirk, Figueroa, Loosen, Jokisch, Suarez, Gibbs, Szczur, Noble, Rohan, and Jones

[Guest]

Daytona has listed their tentative roster, but it's only in downloadable-Word format off their web site.

 

http://www.daytonacubs.com

[toonsterwu]

Well, looks like Greg Rohan is still around. At the very least, he should help the D-Cubs lineup be a bit more productive, which will be a nice thing to see, I guess, on a thin prospect squad.

[Guest]

Looks like we'll hear what the Peoria rotation is tomorrow:

 

@peoriachiefs The guys are here, all headshot photos and video has been taken. The rotation is set, we will tweet it tmw after the pitchers have been told

 

If I took a guess, I'd say Cruz, Liria, Rosario, Wang and Wells with Burke, Jensen and Reed as piggy-backers.

[toonsterwu]

That's possible. It wouldn't surprise me if Burke is in the rotation if he's throwing as well as some suggest. I mean, one could make the case that, if he is truly the arm that can go mid-90's on the fastball with a good breaking ball and decent change, then his ceiling might be higher than most of the guys in Peoria, if not all (on the pitching side).

 

Also, don't forget about Francescon as a possibility for the rotation/piggyback.

 

Much as I'd like to see Jensen developed as a starter, it wouldn't surprise me if they fast-tracked him as a pen arm.

[Guest]

Good call on Francescon.

 

@peoriachiefs: The Chiefs Opening Day starter Thursday night in Beloit will be RHP Michael Jensen. RH PJ Francescon starts Friday and RH Jose Rosario Sat.

[KingCubsFan]

Good call on Francescon.

 

@peoriachiefs: The Chiefs Opening Day starter Thursday night in Beloit will be RHP Michael Jensen. RH PJ Francescon starts Friday and RH Jose Rosario Sat.

I think Liria would have to be the fourth. The fifth is a tough call.

[Named After Maddux]

I'm really hoping Wells is 5th. I remember his stamina was an issue and they were trying to stretch him out. I'm hoping for big things with him this year.

[KingCubsFan]

I'm really hoping Wells is 5th. I remember his stamina was an issue and they were trying to stretch him out. I'm hoping for big things with him this year.

Forgot Wells was on the roster. He should definitely be in there.

[toonsterwu]

I guess this thread has sort of morphed into an all-encompassing one for hitters and pitchers.

 

Anyhow, I'm a bit surprised that Jensen/Francescon/Rosario is the order to start. Granted, it doesn't mean a ton, just probably that these guys caught their eyes more for now. That leaves Wells/Wang/Liria/Burke/Cruz/Reed (I guess we can't completely rule out anyone from starting ... but I'd be disappointed if Weismann/Lorick/McKirahan/Shafer ate up a starting/piggyback slot). Of the remaining 9, though ... who is closing? I doubt Lorick/McKirahan are in the mix to close. My guess is Weismann, but I wouldn't completely rule out Liria. I've been pushing Liria as potentially a breakout starter, and I'd be disappointed if they gave up on his starting potential this quick, but if they don't feel his control can be harnessed enough, maybe they push him to the pen and let him rip off mid-upper 90's fastballs with his good slider?

 

If it's Weismann as the closer (and that's probably the safe bet, as he was the closer at Clemson), and assuming Lorick/McKirahan/Shafer don't bump one of the above 5, I think Wells should definitely be considered a "rotation" guy because of his youth/sinker/frame. I'd go with Liria ahead of the other 4, but that would leave 4 lefties (Cruz/Burke/McKirahan/Lorick) in "piggyback"/pen roles, so my guess is that either Burke or Cruz would grab one spot. I'd give Burke the spot, because he stands a better chance (along with Francescon and maybe Jensen) of being pushed up early (assuming they perform), and that would open a 2nd half/post-shifts rotation spot for Wang/Liria/Reed/Cruz or a XST guy like Arias. But that's me.

 

Will be curious what Kopitzke and and Villone choose to do. I'm also still curious if Kopitzke is held in as high a regard as he was a few years ago as a coaching talent.