BA: Kevin Goldstein Prospects Chat

[Laura]

There were a few Cubs prospects mentioned in the 7/29 Chat Wrap

 

Q: Mark L. Peel from Arlington Heights, IL asks:

KG, Luis Montanez began the year as a yaffer (Yet Another Failed First-Rounder), but has turned it around like he's already sold movie rights to his career: he played in Peoria well enough to earn a replacement spot in the Futures Game, and is off to a solid start in Double A. In the games I've seen, I was impressed with his play in left field. He hits a lot of doubles; a goodly proportion of them go to or off the wall, so some of them may leave the yard as he continues to mature. Assuming his bat holds up in West Tennessee, what do you think the Cubs have in Montanez?

 

A: Kevin Goldstein: Good afternoon everybody. Being in Chicago, and having the Cubs game on TV, it just seems like a natural to kick off the chat with a Mark Peel question. Montanez has certainly regained prospect status, but just barely. If you take his entire career into consideration, you are talking about a corner outfielder in his SIXTH year of professional baseball who finally reached Double-A. So while he's certainly turned some sort of corner, I'm still a long way away from seeing him as an every day major league player.

 

Q: JP from Durham, NC asks:

Brandon Sing of the Southern League Diamond Jaxx is having his second straight great season. First is he a legit prospect? Would you agree he is most likely trade bait with DLee playing for the big club?

 

A: Kevin Goldstein: Sing is having another good year at Double-A, hitting over .300 with power and a whole lot of walks. However, he's 24 and a first baseman and has a whole lots of strikeouts, so I don't think he's the kind of propsect who is going to be worth a lot on the trade market.

 

Q: Greg Tabeek from Ft Lauderdale asks:

Hey just curious as to thoughts as to why Sean Gallagher who has been pitching lights out in the Midwest Lg hasn't been promoted as has some other 19 yr olds. Will he be ranked in next years Top Prospects for the Cubbies...txs

 

A: Kevin Goldstein: Well, he's only 19, and there's no need to rush him, so I wouldn't thke any of that as a knock against him. Gallagher started out the year lights out like you say, but he's been scuffling of late, with a 5.84 ERA in his five starts this month.

 

Q: Mike from Corpus Christi, Texas asks:

Are the Cubs going to give Jermaine Van Buren a shot at the big league bullpen... or is he potentially part of a trade?

 

A: Kevin Goldstein: Wether they will or not . . . I have no idea. But I certainly think he deserves a look.

 

Q: john from miami asks:

What is the deal with Brian Dopirak this year? Is it playing in the FSL or was last season just a fluke?

 

A: Kevin Goldstein: Maybe a little of both. FAR too early to give up on him.

 

Q: Jamie from Chicago, IL asks:

Does Matt Murton project to hit homers at all or is he going to be mainly a hitter for average?

 

A: Kevin Goldstein: More of an average hitter to me, but there is some juice in his bat.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

I think he could have chosen another word to use than juice...

[imb]

Yeah. "He looks like more of an average hitter to me, but there is some cream on his bat".