Random Cubs Musings: Minor League Edition

[craig]

First day of minor league camp: http://www.thecubreporter.com/03062014/2014-cubs-minor-league-camp-rosters#more

 

Thanks, cal. kind of fun to see all those names and rosters, I forget about a lot of them. Not sure how much Phil can tell from one day in camp with 160 guys. But his "limited activity" list was not extensive. I usually expect some surprises, but Phil's preliminary list didn't really have many.

 

Looks like a lot of Venezuelans missing. Not surprising, but I wonder if/when they'll be able to come over, if at all, this spring.

[Guest]

I just hope we all know to only look to AZ Phil for his reporting of objective information and not for his scouting opinion on anything. That was clear when he said Prior looked like 2003 Prior in his 2007 workouts...and then 2 weeks later in spring training he was being clocked in the mid 80s.

 

After we had signed all those players, that was the worst [expletive] tease ever. Can you imagine 2003 Prior on the 07-08 Cubs?

[Guest]

Second day of minor league camp (Friday): http://www.thecubreporter.com/03062014/2014-cubs-minor-league-camp-rosters#comments

 

16 pitchers threw "live" BP at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park this morning, including Corey Black, Zach Cates, Hunter Cervenka, Gerardo Concepcion, Josh Davis, Scott Frazier, Trevor Graham, Corbin Hoffner, Michael Jensen, Austin Kirk, Erick Leal, Matt Loosen, and Andrew McKirahan (one "inning" each - about 25-30 pitches), and Juan Carlos Paniagua, Tayler Scott, and Daury Torrez (two "innings" a piece - about 50 pitches total). All of the pitchers who threw were able to complete their outings without mishap, and Paniagua's stuff (slider/fastball combo) was absolutely filthy.

 

Today: http://www.thecubreporter.com/comment/220016#comment-220016

 

Pierce Johnson was shut down (though it can't be surgery bad if he's still doing PFPs). :(

 

RHP Pierce Johnson (Tennessee) and RHP Brad Renner (KC) have been shut-down and are restricted to "Limited Activity Only." (That is, they are cleared to participate in Pitchers Fielding Practice only). 

 

So Johnson and Renner join pitchers Josh Conway, Jesus Castillo, Barret Loux, Ryan McNeil, and Trey McNutt, Infielders Zak Blair, Stephen Bruno, and Tim Saunders, and outfielder Jae-Hoon Ha on the "Limited Activity Only" list (which is essentially the Minor League Camp Disabled/Rehab Group).

[davell]

Oh come the [expletive] on. Please be OK, Pierce.

[Cubswin11]

Hopefully it's like blisters or something minor

[davell]

 

Hamstring issue for Pierce. May miss his opening start.

[Guest]

 

Hamstring issue for Pierce. May miss his opening start.

 

I'll take it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm surprised Johnson has made it this far without any arm problems, given the questions surrounding him at the draft.

[Guest]

Yay!

[Guest]

Corey Black ‏@CblackCHC 21m

Another day in the books here in Mesa az. Got a meeting and a doc appointment then back to the apartment.

 

Pierce Johnson ‏@Flowbro33 4m

@CblackCHC thanks I was wondering about that

 

Corey Black ‏@CblackCHC 3m

@Flowbro33 sorry top 100

 

Pierce Johnson ‏@Flowbro33 2m

@CblackCHC that's textbook to you soriano

 

 

lol

[Guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/26136309-573/cubs-prospect-pierce-johnson-suffers-setback.html

 

Right-hander Pierce Johnson, the Cubs’ second-ranked pitching prospect, has been sidelined from workouts for much of the past week because of hamstring “tightness,” but the Cubs don’t consider it serious enough to have a lingering effect into the season.

 

Jason McLeod, the Cubs’ senior vice president for scouting and player development, said it could push Johnson’s season debut at Class AA Tennessee back by maybe a week.

 

“It might be one skipped start,” he said, “but it shouldn’t be a situation where he’s left back here in Arizona.”

[Guest]

Soler will be starting at Tennessee's camp. Szczur, Alcantara and Watkins will be in Iowa.

 

I kmagine that's where they'll break in April.

[davell]

Soler will be starting at Tennessee. Szczur, Alcantara and Watkins will be in Iowa.

 

If past years are any indication, just because Soler has been assigned there, I still think there's a decent chance he gets pushed back to Daytona for a short stint.

[Guest]

I think he goes straight to Tennessee. They indicated that they were just about to promote him last year and he has had a chance to play in the AFL and now in big league camp (in regard to needing to get settled back in after the injury).

 

 

Where was Almora assigned?

 

Ultimately, I'm expecting Daytona but holding out hope for Tennessee.

[Guest]

Soler will be starting at Tennessee. Szczur, Alcantara and Watkins will be in Iowa.

 

If past years are any indication, just because Soler has been assigned there, I still think there's a decent chance he gets pushed back to Daytona for a short stint.

 

Not too many guys get reassigned from the major league camp and then get reassigned again. When you consider he was less than two weeks from promotion, I don't see it.

[Guest]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 4m

One last tidbit: Lots of love for Jacob Hanneman. Athletic, fast, and Cubs think he could develop some power. Think he could be a steal.

 

Hope so.

[craig]

Nice to read some positive buzz on Hanneman. Hope he reinforces that with his play this year.

[wekim81]

Soler will be starting at Tennessee's camp. Szczur, Alcantara and Watkins will be in Iowa.

 

I kmagine that's where they'll break in April.

I dont get the Szczur to AAA thing Raisin. I think he could use a bit more time in AA, and it seems the OF is set in Iowa with Kalish/Vitters/Jackson.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Soler will be starting at Tennessee's camp. Szczur, Alcantara and Watkins will be in Iowa.

 

I kmagine that's where they'll break in April.

I dont get the Szczur to AAA thing Raisin. I think he could use a bit more time in AA, and it seems the OF is set in Iowa with Kalish/Vitters/Jackson.

 

Kalish seems like he's making the MLB team.

[Guest]

There's gonna be 13 position players. Castillo, Kottaras, Rizzo, Castro, Sweeney, Schierholtz, and Ruggiano are dead locks. That's 7. Valbuena, Barney, and Lake are near-locks, that's 10. That leaves Olt, Bonifacio, Murphy, Kalish, and Roberts for 3 spots, and one of them probably needs to be an outfielder. Bonifacio could maybe be shoe-horned in as the 5th OF to get him some ABs if you want Olt and Murphy to make the team, but there's a decent shot Kalish pushes his way onto the roster too.

[Guest]

There's gonna be 13 position players. Castillo, Kottaras, Rizzo, Castro, Sweeney, Schierholtz, and Ruggiano are dead locks. That's 7. Valbuena, Barney, and Lake are near-locks, that's 10. That leaves Olt, Bonifacio, Murphy, Kalish, and Roberts for 3 spots, and one of them probably needs to be an outfielder. Bonifacio could maybe be shoe-horned in as the 5th OF to get him some ABs if you want Olt and Murphy to make the team, but there's a decent shot Kalish pushes his way onto the roster too.

 

Olt, Bonifacio, and Kalish please.

 

I don't care that much between Kalish and Murphy but that's my preference.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Roberts is probably the easiest cut out of that final five.

 

So basically three spots for Olt, Bonifacio, Kalish, Murphy if everyone is still healthy in two weeks.

[Guest]

Roberts is probably the easiest cut out of that final five.

 

So basically three spots for Olt, Bonifacio, Kalish, Murphy if everyone is still healthy in two weeks.

 

I dunno, considering the additions of Olt and Bonifacio, Murphy's role is marginalized quite a bit. As a 25th man where you might value flexibility more, I could see Roberts and his plate discipline winning out over Murphy's 2013 success. Both are pretty similar platoon bats.

[Guest]

Yeah but he looks like such a [expletive] douche though.

[wekim81]

Soler will be starting at Tennessee's camp. Szczur, Alcantara and Watkins will be in Iowa.

 

I kmagine that's where they'll break in April.

I dont get the Szczur to AAA thing Raisin. I think he could use a bit more time in AA, and it seems the OF is set in Iowa with Kalish/Vitters/Jackson.

 

Kalish seems like he's making the MLB team.

Fair. If that's the case then the Szczur to AAA stuff makes sense.