Test Time: Name the Cub positional Player

[cubbieinexile]

Okay folks here is a challenge for you. Name positional players from the Cubs farm systems that have managed to get 2000 or more PA at the major league level in the last 15 years or so. The obvious ones of course would be Joe Carter, Shawon Dunston,Rafael Palmeiro, and Mark Grace. But those guys were from the Dallas Green and mid 80's regime. Can anyone name some players that were not from that 80's era? They don't have to have played for the Cubs only merely drafted by the Cubs with a bonus for actually being developed by them.

 

I couldn't think of any so I throw it out to the experts.

 

 

Note Corey would be one of the answers.

[AC036198]

This would be a great question to stump Pat and Ron with.

[YearofDaCubs]

Eric Hinske will be there by the end of the year.

[YearofDaCubs]

Doug Glanville.

[somechick]

Doug Glanville

[AAApittsburgh]

Girardi

[1908]

Dave Martinez (6480 PA)

Damon Berryhill (2208)

Dwight Smith (1987)

Joe Girardi (4435)

Rich Wilkins (2435)

Derrick May (2386)

Doug Glanville (4282)

Corey Patterson (2253)

 

All these players made thier MLB debuts with the Cubs. Not sure if all were drafted by the Cubs.

[cubbieinexile]

Hinske is already there.

 

Its kind of scary to think that he might very well be the best positional player the Cubs have developed in the last 15 years or so. Well him and Corey.

 

Who has the worst record over the last 15 years in terms of developing players?

 

Definitely nots:

LA

Houston

St. Louis

Philadelphia

Seattle

Yankees

Atlanta

Montreal

Boston

Cleveland

Minnesota

Oakland

Toronto

Kansas City

White Sox

Anaheim

[somechick]

Eric Hinske will be there by the end of the year.

 

Hinske is already there. He has a little under 2000 AB, but over 200 BB's so his PA are over 2000.

 

ETA: dangit...would people stop posting what i am right before me...

[cubbieinexile]

Dave Martinez (6480 PA)

Damon Berryhill (2208)

Dwight Smith (1987)

Joe Girardi (4435)

Rich Wilkins (2435)

Derrick May (2386)

Doug Glanville (4282)

Corey Patterson (2253)

 

All these players made thier MLB debuts with the Cubs. Not sure if all were drafted by the Cubs.

 

 

Girardi is a mid 80's pick up. Same with Damon, Dwight, Rick, and Derrick.

[rocket]

I was thinking Maddux might be an answer, but he only has around 1600.

[1908]

Girardi is a mid 80's pick up. Same with Damon, Dwight, Rick, and Derrick.

Derrick and Wilkins made their MLB debut in the past 15 years. I listed the other two because you mentioned Grace, Dunston, Carter, etc.

[YearofDaCubs]

Shawon Dunston.

[cubbieinexile]

Glanville fits the mold he was drafted in 1991. So now it is three players.

 

I'm doing a year by year look and so far I have spotted Brant Brown and Kevin Orie as the leading PA getters that are below 2000 PA.

[snoodmonger]

Some of these go back about 20 yrs:

 

Surprisingly, 3 catchers: Rick wilkins, Joe Girardi, Damon Berryhill

 

Also: Derrick May, Dave Martinez, Darrin jackson

 

Very close: Alex Arias, Dwight Smith

 

 

Oops, I'm prety late with this info. I did include Alex Arias though. (1977 PA)

Edited September 1, 2005 by snoodmonger

[cubbieinexile]

ALright I just got done looking at the Cubs draft picks from 1990 and on and only the three above got over 2000 AB with the next closest getting about 1100 PA. You have to go back to 1987 to start finding draft picks that were getting significant playing time in the majors. That year it was Alex Arias, and 1986 was probably the last year the Cubs had a good draft in terms of positional players. So in terms of drafting the Cubs have not cut it since losing Dallas Green. It would certainly be interesting to find players not drafted by the Cubs but picked up and developed somewhat by them. You know a minor leaguer that got traded for and then a year or two later he was up and playing. Or a rule V guy or some guy that the Cubs traded for played several years in the Cubs minor league system and then they traded away. Anybody really that shows the cubs have some sort of ability of actually finding or developing major league talent from minor league players.

[1908]

Anybody really that shows the cubs have some sort of ability of actually finding or developing major league talent from minor league players.

Why are you excluding pitchers?

[cubbieinexile]

I am excluding pitchers because I am interested in positional players. The Cubs inability to find talent at the draft and minor league level is something that severely hurts their chances of winning. The Cubs haven't developed a major league talent since Mark Grace. The Cubs best positional players have been a joke and because of that it has forced them to spend assets to rectify this flaw. Plus it does not bode well for the future youngsters either. A poor track record with no discernible change in the way of doing things means it is likely for our future positional players to flop as well.

[Tim]

Choi is over 1000 PA's.

[1908]

I am excluding pitchers because I am interested in positional players.

Fair enough.

 

The Cubs inability to find talent at the draft and minor league level is something that severely hurts their chances of winning.

Doesn't pitching count as talent?

 

The Cubs haven't developed a major league talent since Mark Grace. The Cubs best positional players have been a joke and because of that it has forced them to spend assets to rectify this flaw. Plus it does not bode well for the future youngsters either. A poor track record with no discernible change in the way of doing things means it is likely for our future positional players to flop as well.

They've been able to trade a number of these "joke" positional players for very productive players, though. They should get some credit for that, right?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Miguel Cairo is close, debuted with Toronto.

[biittner77]

Rey Sanchez (almost 5,000 ABs)

 

and Jose Vizcaino (over 5,000 ABs)

[series65cubsfan]

How about Brooks Keishneik? (sp) pitches and plays outfield.

[snoodmonger]

Rey Sanchez (almost 5,000 ABs) and Jose Vizcaino (over 5,000 ABs)

 

They were not drafted by the Cubs.

 

 

Miguel Cairo is close, debuted with Toronto.

 

Neither was he.

 

 

How about Brooks Keishneik? (sp) pitches and plays outfield.

 

Not very close.

[NewUserName]

The problem might also be that if a rookie is brought up by the Cubs and he doesnt flash instant rookie of the year stuff he is pretty much put on the scrap heap in about 3 weeks. The most critical part of a players development is his first year of major league baseball. It is great if he is on a winning team and can bat low in the lineup and be surrounded by veteren players to pick him up when needed. This rarely ever could be mistaken as the Cubs. Cub rookies get brought up and are either sat or have unrealistic expectations put on them.

 

I have come up with some all-star caliber players who the Cubs probably would have thrown on the scrap heap because they were not very good rookies who are now very valuable players. Derek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Morgan Ensberg, Craig Biggio, Brady Clark, Brian Giles, Marcus Giles, Miguel Cabrera, JIm Thome, Richie Sexton, Omar Visquel, Paul Konerko, Tori Hunter, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Tejada, Beltran, Sheffield, Chipper, Bernie Williams, Jason Varitek, Johny Damon, Trot Nixon, Edgar Renteria, Jorge Posada, Carl Crawford. I am sure some are not the best examples and I probably have missed someother good examples. The point being is that MOST of the time rookies are not that good. If you let them play though they do get better and develop. Since the Cubs are easily the worst team in baseball at playing young position players( this isnt just Dusty it has been going on for years) and probably have close to the worst record in baseball over the last 20 years. You would think that someone would wisen up in this organization. Of course the fans keep coming out to support the Jeromy Burnitzes and the Neifi Perezes of the World. The thing that the Cubs seem most scared to do is just go ahead and go with youth. Yes it might not go well for a couple of years but as opposed to bringing in veterens who are getting paid high end for declining value and struggling to stay around 500. Then once every 6 years or so we hit the jackpot and make it to the playoffs but are completely outmatched by teams that have been built through their own minor league system.