Where do guys start the season? Pitching Edition

[Named After Maddux]

Concepcion showed up at Fitch and was put at Tennessee to start out.

 

Ok that sounds like when all is said and done he will have a good shot at ending up in Daytona when camp breaks. Also likely considering the similar climate in Daytona verses Peoria come April.

[davell]

AZPhil confirmed Maples IS hurt, but hasn't found out what's wrong. Could be a blister or could be something more serious.

[Guest]

Concepcion showed up at Fitch and was put at Tennessee to start out.

 

Ok that sounds like when all is said and done he will have a good shot at ending up in Daytona when camp breaks. Also likely considering the similar climate in Daytona verses Peoria come April.

 

Plus, he'll likely have a few fellow countrymen for teammates in Del Valle and Silva.

[craig]

Concepcion showed up at Fitch and was put at Tennessee to start out.

 

Ok that sounds like when all is said and done he will have a good shot at ending up in Daytona when camp breaks. Also likely considering the similar climate in Daytona verses Peoria come April.

 

Plus, he'll likely have a few fellow countrymen for teammates in Del Valle and Silva.

 

Add Del valle to the injured list.

 

We'll see with Concepcion's assignment level. Earlier I'd assumed he'd just go to XST (for instruction), or Peoria (to get the extra options year). But as you say, if they really are putting with the Tennessee group, combined with the Daytona weather and the Cuban camaraderie, Daytona does seem pretty plausible.

 

It may be that they aren't at all concerned about the options factor. Hoyer said he's 20, (I'd been under the impression he was 19...), and repeatedly alluded to how advanced he is. So they may not be worried that it's going to take him five years to develop. Three years to work things through in the minors may be plenty, and if he's not ready to stick four years out, one more year probably won't matter anyway?

 

They probably aren't giving him $6 million and a big-league contract with the view that he won't be ready within 4 years.

 

Personally, given his late start, and given that I think they have some mechanical issues they want to adjust, I'd perhaps keep him in XST till May. By that time Peoria will be warm enough, and I'd maybe ship him there. If he looks great there, move him on up. But if he's struggling, or the mechanical adjustments or breaking-ball adjustments aren't taking quickly, maybe I'd leave him in Peoria to get that extra option year, just in case.

[Guest]

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up staying in Mesa a little while given how late he showed up. All we have right now is a 1-day snapshot of him working out with the Tennessee group, that doesn't mean he sticks with Daytona/Tennessee.

 

Previously, I had always assumed he'd debut with Daytona given the Cuban teammates (Jed Hoyer alluded to how hard it can be to assimilate culturally a few times in the video interview) and the mild April Florida weather. But I had thought this when I thought he'd be in camp a bit earlier.

[Named After Maddux]

AZPhil confirmed Maples IS hurt, but hasn't found out what's wrong. Could be a blister or could be something more serious.

 

Eh I was worried we were going to get a message like this. Here's hoping it's something minor. Something to consider, even Spring Trainings for more experienced plays can cause you to tweak something by trying a bit too hard too fast. Wishful thinking, but I really hope it's not anything arm/elbow/shoulder related.

[davell]

I remember reading a fluff piece on Maples over the winter talking about his regimin and what all he was doing. I was impressed and thought he was really going to come in ready. Hopefully this is something trivial.

[CUBZ99]

Looks like Beliveau and Gaub will be in AAA to start the season.

[Guest]

Looks like Beliveau and Gaub will be in AAA to start the season.

Along with Cabrera:

 

MESA, AZ – The Chicago Cubs today sent seven players to minor league camp, reducing their spring roster from 55 to 48 players.

 

Right-handed pitcher Alberto Cabrera, left-handed pitchers Jeff Beliveau and John Gaub, and infielder Josh Vitters were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Infielder Junior Lake and outfielder Matt Szczur were optioned to Double-A Tennessee.

 

Catcher Jason Jaramillo, a non-roster invitee, was assigned to minor league camp.

 

Chicago’s spring roster of 48 players consists of 22 pitchers (six non-roster invitees), five catchers (two non-roster invitees), 12 infielders (five non-roster invitees) and nine outfielders (three non-roster invitees).

[toonsterwu]

Concepcion to Daytona seems to be the big pitching update from the latest AzPhil roster update, although off the top, looks like Charles Thomas was shifted to Peoria and that's one that intrigues me a tiny bit.

[Guest]

Moved down from the Daytona squad to the Peoria squad prior to the game, Cubs 2010 #1 draft pick RHP Hayden Simpson got the start for Peoria on Fitch Park Field #2, throwing 2-2/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (three singles and two triples) before reaching his pre-planned pitch limit. He struck out two and did not isdsue any walks. His curve ball and change-up were fairly effective, but his fastball was hit hard by several of the Silver Hawks hitters.

 

Meanwhile over on Field #3, RHP A. J. Morris got the start for the Daytona Cubs and threw one shutout inning. That might not seem like much, but is is significant because Morris missed the entire 2011 season rehabbing from post-2010 shoulder surgery.

 

Full recap of both Daytona and Peoria's minor league games at Fitch here: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/17/rawhide-keeps-them-doggies-movin-fitch-park

[craig]

In the comments, responding to a toonster Q, Phil said that Acosta looks very stiff at SS and won't stay, compares him to what Lake looks like now, but said that he is a beast offensively with big-time power.

[KingCubsFan]

Moved down from the Daytona squad to the Peoria squad prior to the game, Cubs 2010 #1 draft pick RHP Hayden Simpson got the start for Peoria on Fitch Park Field #2, throwing 2-2/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (three singles and two triples) before reaching his pre-planned pitch limit. He struck out two and did not isdsue any walks. His curve ball and change-up were fairly effective, but his fastball was hit hard by several of the Silver Hawks hitters.

 

Meanwhile over on Field #3, RHP A. J. Morris got the start for the Daytona Cubs and threw one shutout inning. That might not seem like much, but is is significant because Morris missed the entire 2011 season rehabbing from post-2010 shoulder surgery.

 

Full recap of both Daytona and Peoria's minor league games at Fitch here: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/17/rawhide-keeps-them-doggies-movin-fitch-park

Peoria trailed 6-2 going into the bottom of the 8th, but after Jeimer Candelario drew a lead-off walk, Dan Vogelbach crushed his home run over the RF fence

 

Hope I read this a lot this season.

[toonsterwu]

Was having a quick discussion with AzPhil on Francescon. I thought PJ's changeup was solid to flashes plus, but AzPhil makes it sound like a legitimate plus pitch. The exchange:

 

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2012/03/19/lahair-ball-day-fitch-park#new

 

AzPhil - Thoughts on Francescon? Seems like a nice sleeper candidate who gets dropped to the side in discussions about the system. Still can't believe we got him for that cheap. Are we looking at more of a Matt Loosen-esque (albeit, shorter and smaller) type of righty starter, 91-93 on the fastball, decent breaking ball (slider?), solid change, or do you think he has the potential to be a bit more? Or might he be better off in the pen? Seems like he could move fast as a pen arm, but I haven't gotten the feeling that he would really jump as a pen arm and be a possible late inning Derek Lowe-type. Would really prefer to see him stay as a starter, and it would seem like Daytona would be an ideal place for him to start this year - Tennessee would seem like an awfully hard push from the get-go.

 

Oh, how did Austin Reed look? Was never as high as others were on him 2 years ago, but seems like he gets a bit over-looked now. Can really pound out the grounders, and I would love to see him as a piggyback option in Peoria, but it seems he's slated for XST. Can he swim upstream?

 

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

 

TOONSTER: P. J. Francescon is an interesting guy. I would say he is a major league prospect, although not a Top 15. He reminds me a LOT of Michael Wuertz (and I hope I'm not damning him with faint praise when I say that). He has a REALLY good change-up (better than solid, it's a swing & miss strikeout pitch), and he mixes that with a fastball that he he can spot wherever he wants to put it. Because hitters have to look for the change, his fastball is "sneaky fast," AND, he throws it for strikes. His breaking ball is OK (I guess), but it's nothing special.

 

Austin Reed still has significant command issues. He went Ball-3 on three of the four hitters he faced today. He got away with it today, but you can't do that and have much long-term success. He was assigned to the Boise/Mesa squad very early in Minor League Camp, so the Cubs apparently still view him as a raw talent who has a ways to go.

[Guest]

JJ Cooper in BA:

 

While Baez and Voglebach appear ticketed for low Class A, righthander Dillon Maples, a 14th-round pick out of a Southern Pines, N.C. high school who signed last August for $2.5 million, is not going to be joining them anytime soon.

 

The Cubs want Maples to work in extended spring training on improving his direction to the plate, cleaning up his delivery and becoming more consistent with his release point. He's been slowed by a minor arm problem that has kept him off the mound for part of spring training as well, which helped ensure he'll stay back in camp when the full season clubs head out.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/prospect-pulse/2012/2613130.html

[toonsterwu]

Looking at AzPhil's latest minor league rosters (I'm too lazy to really double-check it against his last update right now), I see Spencer was shifted down to Daytona.

 

I didn't notice anything else notable off the top, outside of the recent major league cuts sent to Iowa. Looks like there's going to be high potential of a lot of slashing in the upper levels of older guys. Won't be surprised if some guys that hold some mild intrigue get cut in the final days.

[toonsterwu]

AzPhil made a post about some injury news, nothing surprising. Berg, Gaub, Cales, Whitenack, Negrin, Rosscup, Fitzgerald, Greathouse, Mitchell, Peralta, Elias, Maltos-Garcia, Urban, Maples all won't be ready for the start of the year.

[jersey cubs fan]

AzPhil made a post about some injury news, nothing surprising. Berg, Gaub, Cales, Whitenack, Negrin, Rosscup, Fitzgerald, Greathouse, Mitchell, Peralta, Elias, Maltos-Garcia, Urban, Maples all won't be ready for the start of the year.

 

Maples not being healthy is common knowledge? What's the issue?

[craig]

AzPhil made a post about some injury news, nothing surprising. Berg, Gaub, Cales, Whitenack, Negrin, Rosscup, Fitzgerald, Greathouse, Mitchell, Peralta, Elias, Maltos-Garcia, Urban, Maples all won't be ready for the start of the year.

 

Maples not being healthy is common knowledge? What's the issue?

 

BA had the following:

 

While Baez and Voglebach appear ticketed for low Class A, righthander Dillon Maples, a 14th-round pick out of a Southern Pines, N.C. high school who signed last August for $2.5 million, is not going to be joining them anytime soon. The Cubs want Maples to work in extended spring training on improving his direction to the plate, cleaning up his delivery and becoming more consistent with his release point. He's been slowed by a minor arm problem that has kept him off the mound for part of spring training as well, which helped ensure he'll stay back in camp when the full season clubs head out..

[davell]

Pretty sure I read that they're working on Maples delivery and that's why he's not pitching in games yet. If I'm wrong, whatever it was I read definitely did NOT throw up any red flags.

[jersey cubs fan]

for me any big money prospect who is not pitching in camp and is unable to start the season with a team is a red flag

[davell]

That's what I had evidently read as well, but for some reason, I didn't see the part about minor arm problem. Yeah, I'm concerned too.

[KingCubsFan]

Cam Greathouse was released

[Wrigley Rat]

Typed in order of system: Chicago, Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, Peoria

 

Starters:

Dempster, Garza, Samardzija, Volstad, Maholm

Wells, Coleman, Wood, J. Jackson, Rusin

Raley, Struck, McNutt, Rhee, Searle

Jokisch, Beeler, Del Valle, Loosen, Kirk

Cates, Concepcion, Liria, Rosario, Wang

 

Relievers:

Lopez, FA pickup or Castillo, Russell, Corpas, Dolis, Wood, Marmol

Cabrera, Carrillo, Beliveau, Maine, Camp, Caridad, Parker

Serrano, Harris, Weathers, Antigua, Rhoderick, Hatley, Batista

Wallach, Figueroa, Lorick, Francescon, Harman, Suarez, Zych

Simpson, Spencer, McKirahan, Jung, Shafer, Burke, Morris

[toonsterwu]

for me any big money prospect who is not pitching in camp and is unable to start the season with a team is a red flag

 

I agree it's a red flag, but I'm not too troubled that they want to keep him back at XST to start. First off, there's been all sorts of speculation by folks that they want the "new class" ingrained in the "Cubs Way". That isn't that important to me in general, but okay, keeping these kids there a month or so and getting them to focus on ... uh ... something that you want them to ... not the worst idea with kids.

 

But with Maples, it was always known that the had some mechanical kinks to work out. I'd rather tackle it early with such a young arm, than send a kid up, at which point, it becomes slightly harder to work on adjustments due to a need to perform in game situations on a regular basis. I mean, a guy like Nick Struck (who has some of the same mechanical issues that Maples has, to my naked eye) is just sort of stuck now - he has to perform, but he has little time/opportunity to fix mechanical concerns. For every Roy Halladay out there (guy that was sent back down and came back up), there's a ton more misses (stating the obvious).

 

Now, if Maples is there all the way until Boise, I may be be a tad disappointed. I'd like to see him in Peoria at some point early, and then have him finish at Peoria (since he'd be piggybacking, I tend to think they could find a way to manage the workload well enough there).