rotoworld top 150 prospects

[reggiemiller rules]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/story.asp?sport=MLB&storyid=14274

 

Here is a list of top 150 prospects, highest cubs is Pie at 18. Cubs have 7 on the list but most of those are in the last 50 including Hill. Cards have 3 pitchers on the list with Reyes in at 37 and Wainright at 61.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Thanks for the link, but over the years rotoworld hasn't been the most reliable source for predicting the value of prospects. Also, they continue to be off on most of their ETA's.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

For the lazy:

 

Cubs:

 

18. Felix Pie

80. Sean Marshall

98. Brian Dopirak

100. Rich Hill

118. Angel Guzman

125. Ryan Harvey

137. Eric Patterson

148. Sean Gallagher

 

Matt Murton would have ranked around 140 had he not been called up.

 

The third Cardinal on the list is RHP Chris Lambert at 116.

 

Interesting read, I can see where they come from but I still disagree with some of their rankings (overall and with the Cubs).

[reggiemiller rules]

I dont know much about the minor leagues or prospects, but with all the talk in the proposed trade for Dunn. I would have thought that Hill was ranked higher then 100.

[CubinNY]

OML, check out the numbers Dimitri's "little" brother put up in the Southern League :shock:

 

Will Tampa find some way to screw him up?

 

How would it be if the Cubs had Tampa's young talent?

 

Upton, Crawford, Young, Kazmir, Bankston

[UK1679666180]

Despite Lamar's odd catering to Lou in TB as far as veterans, he has the ability to build a farm system and has done that, they need time. They have the management that will increase their payroll in the next couple of years beyond its current level (25 mil). They're just in a tough division where patience hasn't been a virtue.

[chicubs]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

 

No he's not.

[Outshined_One]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

 

He's the top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system right now, imo.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

 

He's the top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system right now, imo.

 

Agreed.

[TruffleShuffle]

E-Patt is about 136 spots too low.

[rawaction]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

 

He's the top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system right now, imo.

 

Agreed.

 

Yep. Big fan of his. He'll have a productive ML career.

[TruffleShuffle]

I would trade practically the entire Cubs minor league system for Delmon Young. That dude is gonna be a perennial all star within the next 3 years.

[UK1679666180]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

 

He's the top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system right now, imo.

 

Agreed.

 

Yep. Big fan of his. He'll have a productive ML career.

 

If he can make it to the majors in the next couple years, what does that tell you about Swoope?

 

Nic Jackson, Dubois, Brendan Harris all within the last 3 years to the majors... Possible candidate in Marshall. That's an amazing ratio for such a short span since the creation of the draft in '65.

[chicubs]

Sean Marshall is way way too high.

 

He's the top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system right now, imo.

 

Agreed.

 

We'll see...

[Outshined_One]

We'll see...

 

So, who would you rank over Marshall? What is it about Marshall that you are not sold on regarding his prospect status?

[chicubs]

We'll see...

 

So, who would you rank over Marshall? What is it about Marshall that you are not sold on regarding his prospect status?

 

I know some of my complaints may not be entirely fair, but oh well,

 

Age - already 23 (only just reaching AA) and has a major surgery - probably ends up like every other cubs pitching prospect and blows out his shoulder/arm multiple times. Yah, I guess 23 isnt that old (isnt Hill something like that), but usually our really really good pitching prospects rise quickly through the system.

 

Outpitch and third pitch - Really havent heard that his curveball ius amazing like someone like Hills. I guess its not vitally important to have a completely devastating pitch, but it seems to make a more attractive prospect. Also, doesnt seem to have a nice third option yet. Kinda like Welly in that way.

 

No full year of minior league experience yet - well, 14 starts in the high. Hasnt proved much yet, really at a high level.

 

All in all, I guess hes a pretty good prospect. I probably jumped the gun, but I just really dont see how he seperates himself from the other cubs pitching prospects.

[VVMattVV]

We'll see...

 

So, who would you rank over Marshall? What is it about Marshall that you are not sold on regarding his prospect status?

 

I know some of my complaints may not be entirely fair, but oh well,

 

Age - already 23 (only just reaching AA) and has a major surgery - probably ends up like every other cubs pitching prospect and blows out his shoulder/arm multiple times. Yah, I guess 23 isnt that old (isnt Hill something like that), but usually our really really good pitching prospects rise quickly through the system.

 

Hill is 25. I don't think anyone is saying Marshall is necessarily a "really really good pitching prospect" like say a Prior or that his ceiling is as high as someone say Pawelek, but his control has been a nice attribute and his success at AA this year has been nice. I think he's seen as being a guy who can contribute as a 4th/5th starter behind Prior/Z/Wood. Definitely the top pitching prospect for me as well.

 

Its nice that the higher upside prospects like Pawelek, Hill, and Marshall are all lefties as well. If some of them make the majors as a starter, maybe the others left out of the rotation could be turned into an effective reliever.

[UK1679666180]

Tearing a tendon in his middle finger is not considered a major surgery, that is only injury I can think of him having so far, it is 100% and isn't considered a potential problem long-term like a shoulder injury.

 

He has one the better curves in the system, it is a big breaker similar to that of Zito.

[Outshined_One]

The problem is, any of the guys who have a legit ace upside in the Cubs' system is either a long way away (Pawelek) or has had to deal with injury issues (Guzman). Essentially, that leaves the Cubs with a ton of guys who have ceilings of 2/3/4 starters, although there are some intriguing candidates to break out in the future. However, for now, the depth in the Cubs' system has much improved because of these guys.

 

From this group, Marshall has been the most impressive in the times he's been healthy. His finger issue is bothersome (and I really do wonder what he was put on the DL for recently), but he has not suffered any ill effects from it with regards to his performance. He also did a really good job flying through the Cubs' system last season when he started out in Low A and posted an obscene 51:4 K:BB in 49 IP. He double jumped to AA last season and had some struggles, then was shut down with his finger problem before he could adjust.

 

He's returned to form this season and seems to have gotten himself back on track. A lefty who throws a sinker in the 88-92 range and can dial it up to the mid-90s is always helpful, but combine that with a plus curve, a developing slider, and a change that should end up being an above average pitch when all is said and done. He still has to fill out his frame at 6'5 180 pounds, so he could well become even stronger given time.

 

He might be a quality #2 in the average ML rotation when all is said and done. That kind of prospect is always welcome is any system, imo.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Just fwi, Ron said that Marshall's change is a very nasty pitch and one of the better ones in the system (along with Connolly). He also said that it is his bread and butter pitch. He said that he also throws a slider but not as much as the curve and change.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

We'll see...

 

So, who would you rank over Marshall? What is it about Marshall that you are not sold on regarding his prospect status?

 

I know some of my complaints may not be entirely fair, but oh well,

 

Age - already 23 (only just reaching AA) and has a major surgery - probably ends up like every other cubs pitching prospect and blows out his shoulder/arm multiple times. Yah, I guess 23 isnt that old (isnt Hill something like that), but usually our really really good pitching prospects rise quickly through the system.

 

Outpitch and third pitch - Really havent heard that his curveball ius amazing like someone like Hills. I guess its not vitally important to have a completely devastating pitch, but it seems to make a more attractive prospect. Also, doesnt seem to have a nice third option yet. Kinda like Welly in that way.

 

No full year of minior league experience yet - well, 14 starts in the high. Hasnt proved much yet, really at a high level.

 

All in all, I guess hes a pretty good prospect. I probably jumped the gun, but I just really dont see how he seperates himself from the other cubs pitching prospects.

 

Actually, Sean is still 22 (turns 23 soon though, in the end of August). Turning 23 at AA isn't bad, especially for a prospect drafted out of college. Marshall has risen through the system quicker than Hill (his closest competitor for the ranking as the top Cubs prospect) - he was drafted two Junes ago and he's already in AA. You're wrong on Marshall's pitches - he has 3 plus pitches already to Hill's two. His curve isn't as good as Hill's, but Marshall's curve is still a good out pitch. And, according to Ron Potesta, Marshall's changeup has improved quite a bit - so much so that it has dropped his curve to his #3 pitch. He doesn't have a devastating out pitch like Hill, but he has two above average out pitches. He doesn't have a full year of experience, but last year was his first full year in the system, so it's not as big a warning sign. His injury last year was just a tendon problem in his finger, nothing too major. I consider AA a high level and think he's proving quite a bit there.

 

The reason I think of him higher than Hill is that he has better control, three above average pitches, gives up fewer HRs (especially thanks to that sinker) and is younger than Hill.

 

Outshined, Sean apparentally has "minor shoulder tendonitis." :?

[Milli1306]

I would trade practically the entire Cubs minor league system for Delmon Young. That dude is gonna be a perennial all star within the next 3 years.

 

I figured that Delmon would be every bit as slow as Dmitri from the first look I got of him, but how wrong was I? He's shown good speed on the basepaths and could be a legit 30-30 guy within a couple years. The Devil Rays have some impressive young talent, BJ Upton, Delmon, Jonny Gomes, Bankston (1B right?), Joey Gathright, Carl Crawford, Scott Kazmir...etc., it could be interesting to watch and see if they manage to screw it all up by not having enough pitching. That said, is BJ Upton destined to be the most physically talented DH ever? I mean really, the guy has been horrendous in the field.

[rawaction]

I would trade practically the entire Cubs minor league system for Delmon Young. That dude is gonna be a perennial all star within the next 3 years.

 

I figured that Delmon would be every bit as slow as Dmitri from the first look I got of him, but how wrong was I? He's shown good speed on the basepaths and could be a legit 30-30 guy within a couple years. The Devil Rays have some impressive young talent, BJ Upton, Delmon, Jonny Gomes, Bankston (1B right?), Joey Gathright, Carl Crawford, Scott Kazmir...etc., it could be interesting to watch and see if they manage to screw it all up by not having enough pitching. That said, is BJ Upton destined to be the most physically talented DH ever? I mean really, the guy has been horrendous in the field.

 

Delmon could be a 30-30 his rookie year if TB lets him run. He probably won't run all that much as a middle of the order hitter.

 

Tampa could start 2006 with this lineup:

 

LF-Crawford

CF-Baldelli (don't forget about him)

RF- Young

3b- Huff

1b- Gomes

SS- Lugo

2B- Cantu

C- Hall

DH- Upton

 

That's not too bad. I would probably try to trick somebody into trading a bunch for Crawford, because he's fast.

[The Hawk]

I'd move Upton to CF if I were the Rays. Maybe let Baldelli DH and play CF until they get his trade value up and try to get some pitching for him.