Who is the #14 Prospect for the Cubs? (run-off)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

This is a tie-breaking run-off vote between Paul Blackburn and Rob Zastryzny for the Cubs #14 prospect. Feel free to post your rationale below. The loser of the run-off vote will be the #15 prospect. We will have a concurrent poll for #16.

 

The results so far:

 

1. Javier Baez

2. Kris Bryant

3. Albert Almora

4. Jorge Soler

5. CJ Edwards

6. Arismendy Alcantara

7. Pierce Johnson

8. Daniel Vogelbach

9. Christian Villanueva

10. Jeimer Candelario

11. Mike Olt

12. Kyle Hendricks

13. Arodys Vizcaino

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Zastryzny.

[wekim81]

They're close. Zastryzny is a level higher, has better command and is left-handed, so i'll go with him.

[rawaction]

They're close. Zastryzny is a level higher, has better command and is left-handed, so i'll go with him.

 

CHURCH!

[craig]

I voted Z, but could pretty much flip a coin. I perceive Blackburn to have a higher ceiling, but a lesser chance of ever racking up 60 big-league starts.

 

Z's older, and might move much faster. But even in his case I think he still has a great deal of adjusting and recalibrating left.

*Getting the cutter refined and strategically integrated into his regular pitch sequence will be a big factor.

*Refining his breaking ball, and actually deciding what is best for him is also an unfinished issue. Where his breaking ball(s) were and where they will end up on the slider/slurve/curve continuum may be adjusted considerably.

*And his change was another unfinished pitch.

 

I won't be surprised if his pitch distribution in April is very different from what he settles into by July and September.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Damn, we're going to have to have a duel with champions for each pitcher.

[Guest]

I do not understand why you would vote for Blackburn

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Well, BP listed them both as "on the rise" guys, so just some food for thought:

 

RHP Paul Blackburn: A supplemental first round pick in 2012, the athletic righty moved up to short-season Boise in 2013, making 12 starts with uneven results; the fastball has the potential to develop into a true plus-plus offering, but the command was well below average at times and the secondary arsenal was inconsistent. But several sources really liked what they saw from the 20-year-old, and a step forward in fastball command could allow the plus potential curve to miss more bats. The ceiling could go as high as a no. 2/3 starter, and at this time next season, we should be talking about Blackburn as a no-brainer top 10 prospect in the system. Based on ceiling, he has a legit case for inclusion on this year’s list.

 

LHP Rob Zastryzny: A second round pick in the 2013 draft, Zastryzny has a chance to move quickly through the minors and quickly up the rankings queue in 2014. After a long amateur workload, the 21-year-old lefty’s stuff was a little soft in his professional debut, but a fresh arm should offer up a commandable fastball in the 90-91 range—spiking in the mid-90s on occasion—with a good changeup and slider combination. The profile is a more a no. 3/4 starter, but Zastryzny has the pitchability and arsenal depth to reach his potential.

[CubsWin]

Well, BP listed them both as "on the rise" guys, so just some food for thought:

 

RHP Paul Blackburn: A supplemental first round pick in 2012, the athletic righty moved up to short-season Boise in 2013, making 12 starts with uneven results; the fastball has the potential to develop into a true plus-plus offering, but the command was well below average at times and the secondary arsenal was inconsistent. But several sources really liked what they saw from the 20-year-old, and a step forward in fastball command could allow the plus potential curve to miss more bats. The ceiling could go as high as a no. 2/3 starter, and at this time next season, we should be talking about Blackburn as a no-brainer top 10 prospect in the system. Based on ceiling, he has a legit case for inclusion on this year’s list.

 

LHP Rob Zastryzny: A second round pick in the 2013 draft, Zastryzny has a chance to move quickly through the minors and quickly up the rankings queue in 2014. After a long amateur workload, the 21-year-old lefty’s stuff was a little soft in his professional debut, but a fresh arm should offer up a commandable fastball in the 90-91 range—spiking in the mid-90s on occasion—with a good changeup and slider combination. The profile is a more a no. 3/4 starter, but Zastryzny has the pitchability and arsenal depth to reach his potential.

Zastryzny is closer but I don't consider him a safer bet than Blackburn. Blackburn's ceiling is higher and his athleticism and pitchability tell me he's got a good shot and making it.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Really? I don't think there's any question Zastryzny is safer and has a higher floor than Blackburn. Tons of college innings in a solid conference.

 

And pitchability is still a question with Blackburn given his age and the competition he's faced.

[toonsterwu]

Probably a good idea that I missed this, as I would've brought it to a tie with a vote for Z. That said, I could go either way. I do really want to see Blackburn hold the plus velocity before really falling for him. Maybe that will make me late on the bandwagon.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

damnit toonster, I wanted to see a duel.