Random Cubs Musings: Minor League Edition

[jumbo]

2014

Ramirez

Olt

Schlitter

Wada

Alcantara (maybe)

Vizcaino (maybe)

Rivero (double maybe)

 

If Wada is going to pitch for the Cubs, he'll need to be on the MLB roster before September. Alcantara could be promoted, but he's also very young and not without things to work on at AAA. Vizcaino and Rivero will probably be ready, but at the current rate I'm not sure if they'll have the opportunity with the way the pen is constructed at the moment plus Parker at Iowa.

 

2015

All maybes from 2014

Baez

Bryant

Hendricks

Soler (doubtful)

Bruno (doubtful)

 

A half dozen guys, 3 top 100 players and a former top 100 SP prospect back as a reliever. WAVES

 

2016 (incomplete)

Soler

Edwards

Johnson

Bruno

Pineyro*

Black*

Schwarber (maybe)

 

I asterisk Pineyro and Black because of the high level of doubt they'll be MLB regulars

 

These lists will end up shorter and less impressive in magnitude in practice(especially 2016), but even then it underscores the difference from the last few years.

 

2011

Uh, Campana?

Rizzo (in San Diego)

 

2012

Castillo

Clevenger

Dolis?

Rusin?

 

2013

Lake

Parker

Grimm (in Texas)

 

 

So a mid 2015 lineup could have the dream infield

Castillo

Rizzo

Baez

Castro

Bryant/Valbuena

Lake

Alcantara

RF/Bryant

 

And by 2016

Schwarber

Rizzo

Baez

Castro

Bryant/Valbuena

Soler

Alcantara

RF/Bryant

 

Bah - too many possibilities, but it would really be great to have Schwarber stick at C

[Guest]

BA's draft report for Kris Bryant coming out of high school in 2010:

 

[Little Slide Rooter]

Anybody know what's going on with McNutt? He's not on any roster. If you enter his name in MiLB player search, he comes up with Iowa and listed as active, but he's not on the roster on the Iowa page. Even if on the DL, I'd think he'd be listed somewhere.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

i'm sure he's hurt in some way. it's not like he's much of a prospect either way.

[Brian]

Jen-Ho Tseng pitching from Saturday

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cug8GsCTzak

 

Strike out pitch - high heat

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRJ7tTZTGyE

 

entire at-bat versus Jaycob Brugman who was the #3 hitter

[Little Slide Rooter]

In today's edition of fringe prospects that nobody really cares about, we discuss Bijan Rademacher and why he remains at A+ five days past his 23rd birthday. Though the smart money's on him turning into a pumpkin at the next level, there's also the chance that he proves to be more than just a guy who can adequately handle the pitching of men 1-3 years his junior. Sadly, this is more then can be said for most of our minor league outfielders. Though the reward would be a modest one, the risk is non existent.

[wekim81]

apologies if this is elsewhere but it looks like Hankins and Candelario are essentially flipping spots. Jeimer back to KC to try and get his offense going.

[weis21]

When should we expect Brett Jackson to be released?

[jersey cubs fan]

When should we expect Brett Jackson to be released?

 

I'm guessing they still need the bodies to man the OF.

[Cubswin11]

apologies if this is elsewhere but it looks like Hankins and Candelario are essentially flipping spots. Jeimer back to KC to try and get his offense going.

Damn, I was expecting big things out of Jeimer this year

[Cubswin11]

When should we expect Brett Jackson to be released?

Probably if/when we need to clear a spot on the 40-man.

[jersey cubs fan]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 1m

Class-A Daytona infielder Jeimer Candelario transferred to Class-A Kane County.

[Guest]

Hendricks, the Cubs' 14th-ranked prospect, took a perfect game into the sixth and went 7 2/3 innings, striking out six and yielding a run on three hits. The Dartmouth product improved to 8-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.55 in the Pacific Coast League.

 

"You're looking at a guy that takes the ball every time out and pounds the bottom of the strike zone. And he sinks it and cuts it really well," Pevey said. "He's got four quality pitches and he's starting to step on the heater. He's throwing between 15 and 18 fastballs at 95 mph just about every start now."

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140621&content_id=80810708&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

 

It'd be nice if he is even only 50% exaggerating.

[Guest]

Hendricks, the Cubs' 14th-ranked prospect, took a perfect game into the sixth and went 7 2/3 innings, striking out six and yielding a run on three hits. The Dartmouth product improved to 8-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.55 in the Pacific Coast League.

 

"You're looking at a guy that takes the ball every time out and pounds the bottom of the strike zone. And he sinks it and cuts it really well," Pevey said. "He's got four quality pitches and he's starting to step on the heater. He's throwing between 15 and 18 fastballs at 95 mph just about every start now."

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140621&content_id=80810708&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

 

It'd be nice if he is even only 50% exaggerating.

So 10-12 fastballs at 62 mph?

[Tyrant]

Hendricks, the Cubs' 14th-ranked prospect, took a perfect game into the sixth and went 7 2/3 innings, striking out six and yielding a run on three hits. The Dartmouth product improved to 8-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.55 in the Pacific Coast League.

 

"You're looking at a guy that takes the ball every time out and pounds the bottom of the strike zone. And he sinks it and cuts it really well," Pevey said. "He's got four quality pitches and he's starting to step on the heater. He's throwing between 15 and 18 fastballs at 95 mph just about every start now."

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140621&content_id=80810708&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

 

It'd be nice if he is even only 50% exaggerating.

So 10-12 fastballs at 62 mph?

 

Those are just eephi.

[Guest]

Good read - Jason McLeod Fan Graphs interview: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jason-mcleod-on-scouting-and-player-development/

[Sammy Sofa]

Thanks; that's a cool read.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2011 http://sbn.to/dRJgCy

 

Makes me appreciate the current system that much more.

[NOLA]

Good read - Jason McLeod Fan Graphs interview: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jason-mcleod-on-scouting-and-player-development/

Good stuff.

[Guest]

Matt Clapp ‏@TheBlogfines 18m

Alcantara's PCL ranks: XBH (1st), TB (3rd), R (2nd), H (11th), 2B (T-4), 3B (1st), HR (T-28th), SB (6th), SLG (7th), AVG (29th), OPS (15th).

[Guest]

Itto (PR): How much Albert Almora have fallen from the prospects list based on his recent struggles?

 

Matt Eddy: Outside of Kris Bryant’s heroics, it’s really been a rough year for a Cubs farm system that appeared to have impact talent and depth in the preseason. Righties C.J. Edwards and PIerce Johnson have been injured, and so has right fielder Jorge Soler. Meanwhile, Javier Baez and Albert Almora have given flat performances with terrible SO/BB ratios. As to Almora’s rebound potential … he’s obviously not this bad, but he’s not a tools monster, so I wouldn’t expect a miracle in the second half. He could regroup in the offseason and come back strong in 2015, but he’s always been more skill than raw ability.

 

Tim (Sarasota): Hello Matt, Despite all the hype around Javier Baez isn't Alcantara the logical call up to take over for Darwin Barney? What are the chances that Alcantara can stay at the cornerstone with Baez moving to 3rd and Bryant to LF

 

Matt Eddy: Yes, Alcantara is more big league-ready than Baez right now, plus he’s already on the 40-man roster. If you’re wagering money, then Alcantara is the smart play. I wouldn’t necessarily give up on Bryant at third base. He’s a better athlete than generally given credit for, and that combined with some of Baez’s over-aggressiveness could mean a shift to LF for him instead of Bryant.

[Guest]

[Guest]

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO 3m

Javier Baez went 1-for-3, 2B, BB Wednesday and is hitting .344/.488/.500/.988, 5 2B, 10 BB, 9 K in last 10 games #Cubs

[davell]

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO 3m

Javier Baez went 1-for-3, 2B, BB Wednesday and is hitting .344/.488/.500/.988, 5 2B, 10 BB, 9 K in last 10 games #Cubs

And as good as that is, it's dwarfed by Alcantara and KB's last 10.

[Guest]

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO 3m

Javier Baez went 1-for-3, 2B, BB Wednesday and is hitting .344/.488/.500/.988, 5 2B, 10 BB, 9 K in last 10 games #Cubs

And as good as that is, it's dwarfed by Alcantara and KB's last 10.

 

Yeah, but I wasn't nearly as worried about them a few weeks ago.

 

Well, Alcantara in part because I didn't care as much (not that I don't care).