BA Top 20 Prospects: Pacific Coast League

[Outshined_One]

No surprise as to who's ranked #1.

 

Linky

 

Cubs on the list:

 

#14 - Rich Hill

#16 - Ronny Cedeno

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Once again, on Rich's FB:

 

Not that it would do them much good, but hitters can't sit on his curveball because he also has a 90-91 mph fastball.

 

Also:

One PCL manager said he couldn't believe the Cubs played Neifi Perez regularly instead of Cedeno, whose left hand was broken by a pitch in September.

[Outshined_One]

Quick reports on both:

 

Rich Hill

 

-Pretty much the same report as listed in the SL report.

-Reportedly working on a cutter and a changeup, though.

 

Ronny Cedeno

 

-Offensive slump from the past two years can be attributed to the Cubs pushing him hard.

-Good bat speed and pop.

-Improving his strike zone judgment.

-Is something of a stolen base threat.

-Excellent defensively.

-One PCL manager was appalled that Neifi was starting over Cedeno in Chicago.

[reggiemiller rules]

Is there anyway that someone with a subscription can post the report on Reyes for us Cardinals fans. Thank u very much.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Is there anyway that someone with a subscription can post the report on Reyes for us Cardinals fans. Thank u very much.

 

Can't give the full report so I'll do a little blurb:

 

Best prospect in the Cards system, he throws a 92-93 mph FB and tops out at 95. His changeup sinks and has improved this season, his slider is effective. He had the best command amongst PCL pitchers according to the managers. The major concern is health - has been injured for five consecutive seasons (3 at USC, then 2 in the Cards system).

[seanhopper]

<<-One PCL manager was appalled that Neifi was starting over Cedeno in Chicago.>>

 

Hendry--please find out who this PCL manager is and hire him. A manager from AAA knows more than Baker.

[mhuber92211]

what is interesting about these lists are the number of Cub prospects on them and snubbed. For those that say that our farm system i snot where it was, i understand but to call it week i would take exception to.

[Tim]

what is interesting about these lists are the number of Cub prospects on them and snubbed. For those that say that our farm system i snot where it was, i understand but to call it week i would take exception to.

Our system is very deep, but lacks the punch at the top.

[rawaction]

Yeah, a lot of potentially solid major leaguers (Pie, Hill, Nolasco, Cedeno, Pinto, Gallagher, Patterson, Marshall, etc)......but the only 2 guys that have superstar potential are Pie and Pawelek. Pie's gonna be a work in progress for a while (but still should be a solid contributor when he's up) and Pawelek is at least 4 years away.

 

I'd say the Cubs have one of the top 3 systems in terms of depth. But they are far down in having elite players, especially position players. Of course, the Cubs had their share in the early part of this century with Patterson, Choi, Zambrano, Prior.

[Tim]

Yeah, a lot of potentially solid major leaguers (Pie, Hill, Nolasco, Cedeno, Pinto, Gallagher, Patterson, Marshall, etc)......but the only 2 guys that have superstar potential are Pie and Pawelek. Pie's gonna be a work in progress for a while (but still should be a solid contributor when he's up) and Pawelek is at least 4 years away.

 

I'd say the Cubs have one of the top 3 systems in terms of depth. But they are far down in having elite players, especially position players. Of course, the Cubs had their share in the early part of this century with Patterson, Choi, Zambrano, Prior.

Harvey has superstar potential, but has a LONG way to go to get there.

[rawaction]

Yeah, a lot of potentially solid major leaguers (Pie, Hill, Nolasco, Cedeno, Pinto, Gallagher, Patterson, Marshall, etc)......but the only 2 guys that have superstar potential are Pie and Pawelek. Pie's gonna be a work in progress for a while (but still should be a solid contributor when he's up) and Pawelek is at least 4 years away.

 

I'd say the Cubs have one of the top 3 systems in terms of depth. But they are far down in having elite players, especially position players. Of course, the Cubs had their share in the early part of this century with Patterson, Choi, Zambrano, Prior.

Harvey has superstar potential, but has a LONG way to go to get there.

 

Completely forgot about Harvey.

[RyCubsFan]

Yeah, a lot of potentially solid major leaguers (Pie, Hill, Nolasco, Cedeno, Pinto, Gallagher, Patterson, Marshall, etc)......but the only 2 guys that have superstar potential are Pie and Pawelek. Pie's gonna be a work in progress for a while (but still should be a solid contributor when he's up) and Pawelek is at least 4 years away.

 

I'd say the Cubs have one of the top 3 systems in terms of depth. But they are far down in having elite players, especially position players. Of course, the Cubs had their share in the early part of this century with Patterson, Choi, Zambrano, Prior.

Harvey has superstar potential, but has a LONG way to go to get there.

 

Completely forgot about Harvey.

 

Call me optimistic, but I'd add Guzman to the list of Pie, Pawelek, and Harvey. He's still young enough to develop into a star if the healthy issues are behind him.

 

And I do believe the following, while not superstars, could each be an allstar at some point in their career if they were to fully reach their potential: Pinto, Hill, Gallagher, Dopirak, Murton, EPatt...

[Tim]

I don't think Gallagher really has that kind of potential. I could be wrong, but my impression of why he did so well in A-ball this year is that he's really advanced, not that his stuff is overwhelming.

[CubinNY]

I don't think Gallagher really has that kind of potential. I could be wrong, but my impression of why he did so well in A-ball this year is that he's really advanced, not that his stuff is overwhelming.

 

et tu Tim?

[Tim]

I don't think Gallagher really has that kind of potential. I could be wrong, but my impression of why he did so well in A-ball this year is that he's really advanced, not that his stuff is overwhelming.

 

et tu Tim?

What can I say?

 

Of course, it doesn't help that I haven't seen him pitch. Unless the reports (and performance) are glowing from all directions, I'm generally unwilling to assume that a player is headed for all-star performances in the future until I've seen his stuff firsthand. Especially when guys are 12th round draft picks, they simply need to prove everyone wrong and tend not to get the benefit of the doubt.

 

I hope to see him pitch next spring (or maybe next summer if he can reach West Tenn) and then I might change my mind.

[RyCubsFan]

I don't think Gallagher really has that kind of potential. I could be wrong, but my impression of why he did so well in A-ball this year is that he's really advanced, not that his stuff is overwhelming.

 

But he's so young. I'm thinking the man can add velocity yet...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't think Gallagher really has that kind of potential. I could be wrong, but my impression of why he did so well in A-ball this year is that he's really advanced, not that his stuff is overwhelming.

 

But he's so young. I'm thinking the man can add velocity yet...

 

Guys who normally add velocity are guys who need to fill in as they grow older - Gallagher has already "filled in."

[Outshined_One]

Chat excerpts:

 

Q: Steve from Des Moines asks:

Hi Jim! How close was Jermaine Van Buren to making this list? Were there any other Iowa Cubs worth mentioning? Thanks for your time!

A:

 

Jim Callis: In general, it's tough for a guy who projects as setup man to make a Top 20, especially in a 16-team league. But people did think Van Buren had a chance to be a good setup man in the majors, thanks to his slider and low-90s fastball. He also throws a curveball and changeup and is fearless. Rich Hill and Ronny Cedeno made the Top 20, and the I-Cubs didn't have anyone else who was very close.

 

Q: James from Guthrie OK asks:

Hi How much more does Ben Johnson, Ronny Cedeno, Josh Barfield, and Jeff Mathis have to prove before their big league teams give them an everyday chance? Correct me if I am wrong but I think Johnson is now in San Diego's line up for the post season.

A:

 

Jim Callis: ...Cedeno really should start for the Cubs next year, though who knows what Dusty Baker will do there. I'd play him at shortstop over Neifi Perez, and there's also talk he could wind up at second...

 

Q: Phil McHugh from Frederick, MD asks:

Do you see Rich Hill or Ronny Cedeno having much of an impact in the major leagues? It seems to me Cedeno didn't do much of anything until this year, and I wonder if he can be even a solid starter, let alone an all-star. Hill does have a great curve, but I don't see him ever having an ERA under 4.50 at the major league level. Am I wrong? I hope so.

A:

 

Jim Callis: I think they both have the chance to be regulars, Hill as a starter and Cedeno as an everyday guy in the lineup. Cedeno was rushed too quickly by the Cubs and it led to two awful years with the bat, but he finally starter to recover in 2004. He might not be an all-star, but he can hit for average with some pop and play very good defense. Hill always had great stuff and very little command or control. The light switched on for him this year (at least it did in the minors), and if he can maintain his newfound control he could be pretty good.

 

Q: Steve from Des Moines asks:

Do you see Bobby Brownlie still having any type of major league career, and if so in what capacity?

A:

 

Jim Callis: It's looking more and more like Brownlie might have to be a big league reliever. His curveball is good but not as great as it was in college, and his fastball is down in the 88-89 mph range now. His stuff just isn't what it was at Rutgers.

 

Q: John from Des Moines asks:

What about Matt Murton? Would he have made the cut had he qualified?

A:

 

Jim Callis: Murton had only nine games at Iowa. But assuming he performed like he did in Double-A and the majors, he would have fit in the 10-12 range.

 

Q: Al from Boston asks:

General prospect question: I've heard about several prospects who don't have "the same stuff" as they did in college. What are the explanations for this? How does a prospect lose stuff, other than through injury.

A:

 

Jim Callis: Jay from Madison also just asked a similar question. I think one of the big reasons is that as amateurs, starting pitchers usually work once a weak. As pros, they go every fifth day, and some guys just don't adapt as well. In Brownlie's case, he had biceps tendinitis as a Rutgers junior, so that could have contributed as well. And I think it's also the general nature of pitching--it's hard to predict and this just happens sometimes.

 

Q: Jay from Madison asks:

Who would you rather have for next year. Felix or Prior. Who do you think will have the better career?

A:

 

Jim Callis: Oh man . . . give me Prior for 2006 but give me King Felix for his career. But like any big league club, I'd be happy with either one of them. Thanks for all the great questions. Chris Kline will be here tomorrow with our final Top 20 chat -- on the International League.

[mhuber92211]

So no one still thinks that Dope has superstar potential?

[Tim]

So no one still thinks that Dope has superstar potential?

I didn't say that. I'm still a big believer in his potential.

[rawaction]

So no one still thinks that Dope has superstar potential?

I didn't say that. I'm still a big believer in his potential.

 

It depends on if you think Richie Sexson is a star. Dope is at best gonna be a less athletic Sexson. Sexson's a former All-Star and a very good player, but I don't think of him as a superstar.

[imb]

man, that top ten list is outstanding.

[mhuber92211]

So no one still thinks that Dope has superstar potential?

I didn't say that. I'm still a big believer in his potential.

 

It depends on if you think Richie Sexson is a star. Dope is at best gonna be a less athletic Sexson. Sexson's a former All-Star and a very good player, but I don't think of him as a superstar.

 

Just curious about how much his lackluster season cost him in the eyes of some of the prospect watchers here. Sexon is probably a good comparison and I wouldn't mind that at all.

[Outshined_One]

Just curious about how much his lackluster season cost him in the eyes of some of the prospect watchers here. Sexon is probably a good comparison and I wouldn't mind that at all.

 

He's still in my Top 10, although now towards the bottom of it. If he repeats Daytona next season, he'd still be age appropriate and would be fast-tracked if he shows any sign of improvements. Some top prospects struggle; it's a fact of life. Hopefully he can get himself together next season and post good numbers in Daytona and/or West Tenn.

[RyCubsFan]

Just curious about how much his lackluster season cost him in the eyes of some of the prospect watchers here. Sexon is probably a good comparison and I wouldn't mind that at all.

 

He's still in my Top 10, although now towards the bottom of it. If he repeats Daytona next season, he'd still be age appropriate and would be fast-tracked if he shows any sign of improvements. Some top prospects struggle; it's a fact of life. Hopefully he can get himself together next season and post good numbers in Daytona and/or West Tenn.

 

I hope that he's promoted. The best thing for him imo is to be out of the FSL league and working with Von Joshua.