If Szczur and Olt are for real..

[davell]

As far as Olt goes, I'm thinking he's got an actual chance to turn into a long term piece for us. Doubt he'll start, but as a power bat off the bench, filling in at 1B/3B/LF/RF.

 

Szczur? Great spring training, but think 25th man is about what his upside is.

[Pushfrog98]

Szczur is a sure thing HoFer. If they send him to the minors, it will be a terrible day for MLB.

[d_money]

I dont know based on spring training at least Szczur has performed better

 

Maybe stop thinking jobs should be determined by ST numbers.

As Bryant quickly learned.

[sontensei]

Szczur is a sure thing HoFer. If they send him to the minors, it will be a terrible day for MLB.

 

slow down buddy, im not saying that, but just cuz a guy isnt ranked a top 100 prospect dont mean he cant be a sleeper to be a regular. not saying dude is gonna be a superstar or anything here.

 

http://www.pinstripealley.com/yankees-editorials-opinions-analysis/2015/2/21/8079805/baseball-top-players-not-prospects-best-regulars

[RynoRules]

We have a lot of trading chips at the deadline.

 

Honestly based on Spring Training Performance, I dont know why Szczur isnt going to start in LF over Coglan he has been a pleasant surprise.

 

I remember once upon a time Olt was regarded as a premium prospect, but I've not heard much about Szczur is this one of those totally unexpected situations?

 

I'm no huge fan of Coghlan but starting Szczur over him is crazy talk.

 

I'm no huge fan of Szczur, but I'm not sure it is.

 

If Szczur can put up numbers for a few weeks in Iowa, then I'll rethink my statement.

 

I really hate Chris Coghlan.

 

Coghlan's Law: the more you dislike him, the better he plays...

[sneakypower]

that's the Arrieta Principle

[Guest]

that's the Arrieta Principle

I think you're missing the reference to Cocktail

[toonsterwu]

Szczur is a sure thing HoFer. If they send him to the minors, it will be a terrible day for MLB.

 

slow down buddy, im not saying that, but just cuz a guy isnt ranked a top 100 prospect dont mean he cant be a sleeper to be a regular. not saying dude is gonna be a superstar or anything here.

 

http://www.pinstripealley.com/yankees-editorials-opinions-analysis/2015/2/21/8079805/baseball-top-players-not-prospects-best-regulars

 

I don't think you need to squint that hard to imagine, if things go positively, that Matt Szczur could be a Brett Gardner-esque useful regular, superb depth piece on a great time. After all, when they drafted him, the hope was that, because he was relatively raw to baseball as a full-time sport, that his raw athletic tools would eventually help him tap into some power, making him a guy who could potentially slash a decent average, get on-base, and have enough pop, while, due to his quickness, having potentially solid defensive chops in CF. (It was somewhat similar to the hopes for Hanneman).

 

I also don't think people would have a real problem with Coghlan being benched eventually. While Coghlan had a nice pedigree when he came up, he had too many down years in b/w to really expect too much at this stage. It'd be nice if he could, but eh. His versatility, though, is a nice help, as you could realistically play him short term at 6 spots (off the top, don't recall if he has any emergency catching skills ... I rule out SS unless as an emergency as I don't think he has said quickness to be even passable ... still not impossible I guess).

 

I think the reason some people are reacting the way they are, with some sarcastic comments, is more due to an aspect of your 2nd statement - based on spring training. As great as Szczur's ST has been ... to give him a full regular job based on spring training would be ... a gutsy call. It's possible you are right and Szczur is simply tapping into his skills now, but I think people are showing reasonable caution on expectations at this time.

 

Look, the ideal scenario is we have so much depth, we can stash them around, let the high ceiling guys develop, or move them for key assets. Szczur's value will probably never be huge (you can find a Szczur-ish guy in most systems ... it's part of the reason why I found the Spangenberg love several years ago ridiculous), but Olt could be a nice trade asset if he hits for a passable average (.240-.260), shows pop, and shows a solid glove at 3rd. It would give a lot of flexibility. Here's hoping you are right and they are "for real".

 

In all honesty, if Szczur became ... say Sam Fuld ... I'd be pleased enough.

[TruffleShuffle]

We have a lot of trading chips at the deadline.

 

Honestly based on Spring Training Performance, I dont know why Szczur isnt going to start in LF over Coglan he has been a pleasant surprise.

 

I remember once upon a time Olt was regarded as a premium prospect, but I've not heard much about Szczur is this one of those totally unexpected situations?

Szczur was BA's #64 prospect in '12 after a 10 HR season, but has hit just 8 in the three seasons since

 

the (faint?) hope is basically that his swing was badly broken before and he's discovered something mechanically that works much better for him

 

the good news with szczur is that he's a good baserunner and can play above-average defense in CF and certainly in the corner OF spots, so if he can hit the occasional home run and show a decent hit tool, he'd be a really solid reserve outfielder with the outside chance at being more than that.

[sneakypower]

I don't think you need to squint that hard to imagine, if things go positively, that Matt Szczur could be a Brett Gardner-esque useful regular, superb depth piece on a great time

that's actually a great upside comp, given that Gardner had 9 HR in 391 minor league games and didn't carve out a role until age 26

 

minor leagues

Gardner: 93 XBH (9 HR) in 1764 PA

Szczur: 136 XBH (18 HR) in 2137 PA

 

but in his last 4 full MLB seasons, Gardner's hit 37 HR...Marvin Benard is another guy who grew into useful in-game power in his mid-late 20s, so it's not completely unprecedented

[sweetpeteman]

Honest thought: Send Szczur to AAA and let him start. See if the adjustment he made makes a long-term difference. If he shows that he can put up good numbers, then start thinking about letting him try to have center next year instead of signing Fowler or somebody else.

 

If he had done this last year, I'd say screw it, let him be in center and see what happens. But not this year.

[Guest]

Rewarding Szczur with the backup OF job to start is fine. He'll get a few starts against LHP, and then he can go to Iowa and prove the adjustment is for real when Denorfia is healthy.

[jumbo]

His versatility, though, is a nice help, as you could realistically play him short term at 6 spots (off the top, don't recall if he has any emergency catching skills ... I rule out SS unless as an emergency as I don't think he has said quickness to be even passable ... still not impossible I guess).

 

I never realized that Coghlan could play anywhere but LF. I looked up his fielding at BR and apparently he's played a lot of 2B and some 3B in the minors. Almost none at MLB, though. Given that he's below average in LF makes it hard to believe he'd be better anywhere else on the diamond. But yeah, 15th inning, go ahead and stick him at 2B.

[sontensei]

Interesting Article

 

http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115939590/phil-rogers-talent-flowing-through-entire-cubs-pipeline

[NonProfitCow]

Interesting Article

 

http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115939590/phil-rogers-talent-flowing-through-entire-cubs-pipeline

Don't fall for it. It's Phil Rogers.

[Pushfrog98]

Szczur is a sure thing HoFer. If they send him to the minors, it will be a terrible day for MLB.

 

slow down buddy, im not saying that, but just cuz a guy isnt ranked a top 100 prospect dont mean he cant be a sleeper to be a regular. not saying dude is gonna be a superstar or anything here.

 

http://www.pinstripealley.com/yankees-editorials-opinions-analysis/2015/2/21/8079805/baseball-top-players-not-prospects-best-regulars

Sorry, my post was what I think the mlbpa will say if he's sent down.

[Little Slide Rooter]

 

but I've not heard much about Szczur is this one of those totally unexpected situations?

 

According to a beloved and well respected analyst, he could be something of a poor man's Juan Pierre.