Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters called up!

[Sammy Sofa]

It's about evaluating both at the ML level and getting to work with them personally on an every day basis. There's not much to gain at this point from keeping them in Iowa, especially Jackson.

 

Fair enough.

[USSoccer]

The Jackson move I like. The Vitters one, I'm not sure about, but he's at least shown the mental toughness to rebound after initially struggling post-promotion. Maybe they want to get that out of the way.

 

In either case, two more reasons to be very interested over the last 2 months.

[haubrich91]

RT @CarrieMuskat: Brett Jackson & Josh Vitters headed to LA. It's not a mirage. We'll send pix when they get here. #Cubs

 

Like raw said, nobody of note has confirmed this yet.

 

Lol this is awesome.

[NOLA]

Pretty much all of my awareness of the minors comes from here, but it seems like the general consensus is that Jackson has hit a speedbump in terms of his patience at the plate. I'm assuming that bringing him up now starts the clock sooner than if he were just called up in September...so why would they do this?

 

Theo/Hoyer have said all along that it will take a full year to evaluate the organization. Maybe this is a part of that process, seeing what these guys really could be before the offseason.

[Sammy Sofa]

So Jackson to CF and DeJesus back to RF?

[davell]

Pretty much all of my awareness of the minors comes from here, but it seems like the general consensus is that Jackson has hit a speedbump in terms of his patience at the plate. I'm assuming that bringing him up now starts the clock sooner than if he were just called up in September...so why would they do this?

Spitballing here, but 60 games is a pretty solid amount of time to take a look at guys. I have no clue whether the FO thinks either of these guys is a longterm fixture or not with us. But Sveum, Rawson, McKay and whoever else we've got helping them for this period is most definitely a plus. It may give us enough time to see whether we feel comfortable going into next season with either penciled in as a starter. If they play well, it also increases their value possibly. In case we want to deal either over the offseason. And before someone mentions that it could HURT their value, my take is Brett and his K's have damaged his enough already this year and Vitters strong season hasn't been enough yet, to truly help his.

[Guest]

Pretty much all of my awareness of the minors comes from here, but it seems like the general consensus is that Jackson has hit a speedbump in terms of his patience at the plate. I'm assuming that bringing him up now starts the clock sooner than if he were just called up in September...so why would they do this?

 

Jackson has almost 700 PAs at AAA now, so we have a pretty good barometer of him as a AAA player. Like you mention, he has some big contact problems, but from what I can gather, these are not problems that are necessarily "fixed" by playing lesser competition. Giving him an extended trial at the MLB level gives the front office a decent sample to see how his odd AAA performance translates, and makes offseason decision making easier with that knowledge.

 

As for the service time, Jackson should either prove that he belongs from Day 1 of 2013(in which case this callup has no impact), or that he definitely needs more minor league instruction(signalling a need for another MLB OF), which means there'd be no problem keeping him down until June/July next year(like Rizzo) to negate any impact of a callup this year.

[haubrich91]

Jordan Bernfield talking on WGN Radio right now. Confirming the reports, citing "incredible sources". Doesn't have any names for demotion/trade/etc. Credits @miCubs for finding information first.

[Rizzo Smash]

]RT @CSNMooney: #Cubs promoting Jackson and Vitters, expect to see them today at Dodger Stadium.

Edited August 5, 2012 by Rizzo Smash

[KaiserCesar]

Pretty much all of my awareness of the minors comes from here, but it seems like the general consensus is that Jackson has hit a speedbump in terms of his patience at the plate. I'm assuming that bringing him up now starts the clock sooner than if he were just called up in September...so why would they do this?

 

While starting the service time clock sooner, you are also starting the process of major league development. This indicates that the FO believes the best way to develop Vitters/Jackson here on out will be by playing in the majors.

 

It also gives almost twice the evaluation time going into the 2013 offseason. Both these guys fit in at positions that are pretty wide open going into next year, so I don't think the importance of evaluation can be overlooked.

[Sammy Sofa]

Thanks for the answers; I am now properly excited for this.

[Tyrant]

I don't mind this. They might as well get a jump on evaluating the guys first-hand. Jackson has had a lot of time at AAA, so there's not much to be gained by staying there.

 

Also a thought (however random) that maybe they want to showcase Vitters better for a trade in the offseason.

[El Duderino]

I don't mind this. They might as well get a jump on evaluating the guys first-hand. Jackson has had a lot of time at AAA, so there's not much to be gained by staying there.

 

Also a thought (however random) that maybe they want to showcase Vitters better for a trade in the offseason.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if both end up being traded.

[KaiserCesar]

There's probably only 2 guys who would be a surprise to me if traded, Castro and Samardzija.

 

EDIT: Also Rizzo, making 3

Edited August 5, 2012 by KaiserCesar

[KaiserCesar]

Edited August 5, 2012 by KaiserCesar

[rawaction]

There's probably only 2 guys who would be a surprise to me if traded, Castro and Samardzija.

 

Rizzo. Rizzo would surprise me more than Castro.

[Clem Fandango]

There's probably only 2 guys who would be a surprise to me if traded, Castro and Samardzija.

 

Not Rizzo?

 

EDIT: Caught it late

[davell]

There's probably only 2 guys who would be a surprise to me if traded, Castro and Samardzija.

Barrage sniped that time.

Edited August 5, 2012 by davell

[Clem Fandango]

I thought I read somewhere in the minor league forums from a quote of an article (correct me if I'm wrong) Hasn't one of the primary reasons Brett K's so much because he has a poor ability at recognizing a 2-strike pitch, but he's so patient he often finds himself in 2-strike counts trying to work it full? Didn't someone say he has TOO MUCH plate patience for his own good, because he has trouble hitting a 2-strike pitch? I thought I read that somewhere, or am I making that up?

[squally1313]

DeJesus

Castro

Rizzo

Sori

Vitters

Castillo

Jackson

Barney

 

May not be very good (yet), but so much more exciting than this time last year. Especially considering our lineup on 8/5/11 had DeWitt, Colvin, and Koyie Hill in it.

[PrimeTime]

Castro,Rizzo,Jackson,and Vitters. The nucleus is beginning to form for the future. Now we just need some damn pitching.

[KaiserCesar]

I feel like Castillo could also end up being more valuable than either Vitters or Jackson. It's an interesting and young lineup now with a couple of old corner OF's who happen to be good at baseball.

[davell]

Yeah, Castillo doesn't get enough play. I fully expect him to be ,250/,310/,430ish for us. Which is solid, cheap production at a spot where half the teams around tge league can't get that.

[Theo]

Brett Jackson is going to be humiliated against big league pitching, don't see the point unless mgnt wants to confirm this and move on from him

[Guest]

DeJesus

Castro

Rizzo

Sori

Vitters

Castillo

Jackson

Barney

 

May not be very good (yet), but so much more exciting than this time last year. Especially considering our lineup on 8/5/11 had DeWitt, Colvin, and Koyie Hill in it.

 

Is this today's lineup?