Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-19-12

[illiniguy]

Watching him tonight, he's doing well, but it looks like pitchers are rearing back and throwing just a little harder, trying just a little more, and I wonder if he's just hitting more mistakes?

He's mashing in a pitchers league at 19.

[ctcf]

Soler is batting 5th, behind Vogelbach.

[Guest]

baez is by far our no. 1 guy right now, right? I mean, is anyone even close?

 

Possibly Soler/Almora once they start playing. As of now? No, not even close. I'd say BJax is still #2, despite his issues.

 

Jackson? No way.

 

Baez

Almora

Soler

Candelario

Jackson

[Guest]

yeah, i've been defending brett most of the year, but even I've lost a lot of hope at this point

 

I'm just not comfortable putting Almora/Soler above him when they've never played a pro game, not that it would take either particularly long to eclipse him. Of those who actually have playing time, I'm still not sure who in this system I'd put ahead of BJax.

 

Wait - what are a few rookie league at bats going to tell you ad make you move them up your rankings?

[ctcf]

baez is by far our no. 1 guy right now, right? I mean, is anyone even close?

 

Possibly Soler/Almora once they start playing. As of now? No, not even close. I'd say BJax is still #2, despite his issues.

 

Jackson? No way.

 

Baez

Almora

Soler

Candelario

Jackson

 

I'm probably fine with Almora and Soler being ahead, but I don't know about Candelario.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

No upside, non prospect, slappy ass Matt Szczur is 3-3, with a triple and a steal.

 

Might get his SLG all the way up to those lofty .400 heights.

[imb]

just read the first page and remembered it's happy soler day. hot daaaaaaaamn.

[Guest]

Some quotes from McLeod on what lies ahead for Soler

 

Jason McLeod, the head of scouting and player development, hopes to see Soler at a minor-league affiliate later this summer and possibly play in the Arizona Fall League (if not, it will be instructional league).

 

“I don’t anticipate him being down there very long,” McLeod said. “I think he’ll let us know where he’s ready to go.”

 

The Cubs had targeted Soler since the beginning of last offseason, with several high-level executives scouting him in the Dominican Republic around Thanksgiving. This was one last talent grab before the new labor deal restricted spending on the international market.

 

The process of establishing residency and resolving immigration issues took months. The Cubs didn’t formally announce their deal with Soler until June 30, beating the deadline set by the collective bargaining agreement.

 

“It’s just good to get him back in game action,” McLeod said. “When we saw him last November, he had been playing a lot and performing incredibly well against all kinds of different pitching. So we’ve taken it a little slow in terms of seeing live batting practice and wanting to get him as close to ready as we can.

 

“We didn’t want to just throw him right in there because he hadn’t played in a game in five, six months.”

 

 

Also, a little on Almora and Almora/Soler... looks like Almora will start Monday.

The Cubs believe No. 6 overall pick Albert Almora, a bilingual high school outfielder from South Florida, could help smooth the transition. Almora’s family is of Cuban descent. McLeod indicated that Almora and Soler had actually met before and became friendly during the 2010 World Junior Championships in Canada.

 

Almora, who agreed to a $3.9 million bonus last week, is in the middle of his “mini spring training” in Arizona and is expected to play his first game on Monday. Soler and Almora could go down as pivotal moves in the first year of the Epstein administration.

 

“When we signed Albert,” McLeod said, “he was actually really excited because he knew Soler was in Mesa (and wanted) to see him again. He actually asked if he could room with him, but (Soler) already had a roommate down there.”

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/cubs-talk/The-Jorge-Soler-Watch-begins-now?blockID=743161&feedID=9399

 

I was actually wondering if Almora was Cuban, but I had heard he wasn't. So, not sure if that's accurate, not that it matters much.

[davell]

Sniped again. Damnit.

[rawaction]

OK, who do I need to follow on Twitter to update me on Soler?

[ctcf]

OK, who do I need to follow on Twitter to update me on Soler?

 

Sounds like Keith Law and Jesse Sanchez are at the game tonight.

[Guest]

 

Soler on deck. Almora watching from the stands.

[davell]

Blackburn gave up 2 hits, a walk, and a run in the 1st.

[rawaction]

 

Soler on deck. Almora watching from the stands.

 

Was just posting that pic. Thanks CT for the heads up.

[rawaction]

Blackburn gives up just a single in the 2nd.

 

2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

[Guest]

Gotta say, it will be pretty cool seeing these guys reach the majors after having followed them this early, assuming they make it. This'll be a first for me.

[Guest]

6-3 groundout in Soler's first at bat.

[Vinestal]

Soler grounded out to SS his first ab

[utkcub]

Jorge Soler grounds out, shortstop Roberto Velasquez to first baseman Kristian Brito.

[rawaction]

Soler groundout to SS.

[ctcf]

Bust

[Guest]

But how did he LOOK grounding out??!

 

EDIT - ha

 

Jesse Sanchez ‏@JesseSanchezMLB

Soler grounds out to shortstop in first pro at-bat. Routine play. Hustles & long strides down the line but easily out. #Cubs

[davell]

But how did he LOOK grounding out??!

Threw the bat at the pitcher, grabbed his nuts, and let out a Ric Flair Whooooooooo.

[Vinestal]

But how did he LOOK grounding out??!

Threw the bat at the pitcher, grabbed his nuts, and let out a Ric Flair Whooooooooo.

Rofl

[Wrigley Rat]

No Vitters in the lineup today - traded?