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toonsterwu

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Everything posted by toonsterwu

  1. toonsterwu
    That's a surprise ... I hope some of these signings coming of late (Shoulders, Andreoli, Marra) doesn't indicate that some of the higher profile targets aren't signing (and thus, more money being spread around). Doesn't seem like that's the indication (since all the Maples talk is still 50/50).
  2. toonsterwu
    TT, nice stuff. The thought was that Geiger would eventually have to move to a corner OF or 1st base role if he managed to slowly work his way up the ladder. Easterling's probably somewhere from 5'8" to 5'10". His NFL prospects would've been as a slot receiver. He's not tall, but he's physically built. Of course, that brings into question if his body is maxed out. That said, there's also the counter-discussion point that football bodies are different than the needs for baseball, so what he may need to do is re-adjust his workouts more for baseball. Just speculating. Kirk at 84-87, topping 88 is about as bad as I've heard him at all year. Wonder if he's wearing down?
  3. toonsterwu
    nice. It's good to add a crop of high ceiling arms behind the guys in the low levels right now. With Scott/Jensen and others, there's some quality potential. Obviously, the hope is to land Maples.
  4. toonsterwu
    smith played 2b, which is a little odd... don't remember him playing much there the past couple of years. hernandez ended 2/4 with a walk, i'm pretty high on him. doesn't strike out much and also has a low error total considering that he's 18 and playing shortstop. The Cubs have dabbled with Marquez as a utility type in the past, but according to Bruce Miles in his blog when I asked him once, Marquez was in such bad shape last year that they couldn't move him to MI. IMO, for Marquez to make it to the big, he needs to be passable at other spots, and be Jeff Baker-ish. Hernandez is really looking good. Granted, just Rookie league, but it's quite promising. Considering we lost Castro/Lee, the fact that we still have good, young shortstop talent is nice to see, and Penalver, by most accounts, may have a higher ceiling than Marco.
  5. toonsterwu
    I'm still mildly intrigued with Alcantara. That said, he needs to make massive improvements at the plate to be a legitimately intriguing prospect. There are some folks that believe Rubi Silva might really take off in 2012, figuring that a combination of cultural adjustment and the MWL has hampered him this year. He's actually been on a nice little roll of late.
  6. toonsterwu
    I think Clevenger is likely a backup backstop ... but if the right opportunity presented itself, I don't see why he couldn't be a starting backstop in the pros. The biggest issue that led to him being profiled as a backup backstop for the last couple years was the fact that his defensive receiving work was only viewed as average, and couple that with an average-ish arm, he seemed like a backup backstop. I think most have thought that, offensively, he could probably do enough in the bigs with his contact ability. That said, all the reviews on Clevenger's work behind the dish this year has been markedly better. If he's an above average defensive guy who has enough to above average offense for the position, well, there are starting backstops in the bigs that don't have that combination.
  7. toonsterwu
    I don't think anyone's claiming that Rock is going to be a stud, but he offers legitimate upside at an area we have big needs at. Namely, he offers impact power potential. I mean, he's going to be a top 10 power ceiling guy in our system right off the bat. He's got a good, fluid swing, gets good bat speed. There's a lot to like. Doesn't mean he's going to be a stud, but this isn't like other 20th-25th round first basemen of recent past (Ridling/Bour/Cuneo). Shoulders has significantly better upside. But the most important thing is what T-T noted - it shows that the org is being serious about developing through the system. Whether or not these are the right guys, only time will tell, but the fact that they are trying marks a big difference from the previous ownership regime.
  8. toonsterwu
    Considering the run environment at Iowa, Struck is actually performing well above my expectations given the aggressive promotions. fairly impressed with how Struck has done. He really has had only one bad outing in AAA, and that game saw a couple errors and balls finding holes, IIRC. Considering his secondary stuff still needs a lot of refinement, seeing him do this well is a pleasant surprise.
  9. toonsterwu
    I was simply trying to find a soft-tossing lefty in the org in recent years to compare him to. As I said, I didn't really think there was a good comp to make, as he isn't really Marshall-like, and he didn't have the nasty curve of Rich Hill.
  10. toonsterwu
    Was Abreu anything special at any point? There must be some reason they chose him in the Kosuke trade. They picked Abreu IMO because of his athleticism. He was rated to have the best outfield arm in the Indians organization last year. He has 6 triples and 19 SB already this year so his speed must be plus. He has some pop in his bat (13 HR this year). He's got some tools-the problem is that he either has to improve his strikeout rate or improve his power significantly to be successful at higher levels (and it will probably have to be the strikeout rate first). So I take it he's not some super high ceiling guy that the Indians gave up on early like Archer? Super-high ceiling? I don't know how you are defining what that is, but Abreu does have a high ceiling. It's just, and I haven't seen him as a Cub, that with Kinston, for all his tools, he hacked far too often. IIRC, the Indians were working with him on something with his swing, but I don't recall at the moment. That, though, doesn't excuse poor zone judgement. Here's hoping he's found some mix to turn things around.
  11. toonsterwu
    Was wondering what Jacquez's latest tweet was about (Some of the best things in life are worth waiting for), and I guess Callis' comment somewhat acknowledges that.
  12. toonsterwu
    Lost amidst this discussion on Rusin is that Alberto Cabrera came through with a good outing. He still shows a very good slider at times, and his fastball/slider combination should play well out of the pen. If the velocity inches back up to the mid-90's out of the pen, he's a guy who could very well slot into a late inning situation if the opportunity is presented.
  13. toonsterwu
    Chance? Sure. Role? Unknown. He is what he is, a polished lefty that throws strikes. He'll be in Iowa, and he's more than a JR Mathes type, so there's a chance he sees the bigs, particularly if the rotation slots line up. Pen lefty situation looks solid enough that I doubt he'd get called up for pen duty unless they wanted a long man type. More of a Ted Lilly type ceiling kind of guy? Probably a bit too optimistic. Lilly, at his peak, was roughly a guy who was around 90. Rusin's peak velo is probably 90, and he sits more mid-upper 80's. I can't really think of a recent Cub I would compare Rusin to. Maybe the Sean Marshall of the last few years, prior to picking up velo in 2010. He's not as good as Marshall, but prior to the velo bump, Marshall was a guy who sat mid-upper 80's, with a solid array of secondary pitches. Marshall had better stuff, Rusin had a bit better control. That isn't the greatest comp, though, due to the huge difference in frames. If you wanted to argue that he was a better JR Mathes, that's possible. Rusin is what he is, a guy who doesn't have a great pitch, but can throw 3-4 pitches for strikes.
  14. toonsterwu
    Struck/Beeler don't fit into that bunch. Sure, they could be back of the rotation options when all is said and done, but their ceiling is more mid-rotation as they ahve better quality stuff than Rusin/Raley/Coleman.
  15. toonsterwu
    Apparently 25th round talent + HOF name = 4th/5th round money IIRC, Shoulders was looked at as a top 10-15 round type of talent.
  16. toonsterwu
    Chance? Sure. Role? Unknown. He is what he is, a polished lefty that throws strikes. He'll be in Iowa, and he's more than a JR Mathes type, so there's a chance he sees the bigs, particularly if the rotation slots line up. Pen lefty situation looks solid enough that I doubt he'd get called up for pen duty unless they wanted a long man type.
  17. toonsterwu
    I think I'd be quite surprised if the Cubs could splurge on Shoulders, and I have my doubts that they won't sign Vogelbach. I wonder if the Cubs go with, say, 30-35 signess instead of the usual 25-30 or whatever the average number was.
  18. toonsterwu
    I think the first question probably answers why, at least, partially, that his K rate is up. It's interesting too, as I had thought for awhile that he had junked a breaking ball, but it seems like he was just trying to figure out both of them.
  19. toonsterwu
    I would argue that catcher was a need in the system. Now, this much? Perhaps not. That said, Clevenger/Castillo were both in the upper levels. After that? Things are rather questionable. The best of the lot is ... Luis Flores? If so, I'm taking a wait and see on the bat. Micah Gibbs bat is still a huge question. Brenly, Burruel, Noble, and others don't look that enticing right now. Clevenger and Castillo will move on at some point, so getting guys to fill the lower levels now was a smart move. Did I expect all the draft picks and international signees? No. But it isn't bad thing. Furthermore, you note pitching, and yet, at the lower levels, there's a decent amount of good talent competing for PT. Certainly, you can never have enough intriguing arms, but it's not like we are thin in the lower levels, which is where most of the draft picks would go.
  20. toonsterwu
    It's quite exciting that Struck is more than holding his own in AAA. The promotions this year have seemed borderline reckless, but the kid is showing well. Here's hoping his secondary pitches develop. Marwin Gonzalez looks better defensively than I thought. Jae-Hoon Ha's making contact. I'm still not sold that his approach is good enough, but he's improving. Ryan Flaherty looks ... frustrated? That was an awful strikeout, with a pitch that looked to be at least a good foot outside of the strike zone.
  21. toonsterwu
    Largely because his bat has collapsed badly. Earlier this season, his bat looked golden. He was combining his contact ability with more power. The old holes in his swing seemed largely gone. Since that hot month? Have heard his bat has looked awfully bad, taking some bad swings at times. Saw a few games of late, wasn't too impressive. An intriguing guy if he can find anything close to what he showed in May, but otherwise, just another minor league corner guy.
  22. toonsterwu
    The offensive decline that I am referencing is his declining OBP and SLG numbers through each month, not his batting average. I hadn't read Piliere's scouting report on Lee before. That's honestly the first time since his Boise days that I recall people using plus-plus on Lee's speed. Even when he was in Peoria, some folks I talked to who covered the league said it was more plus than plus-plus. And Edit: Nvm. Had this whole thing written, but you believe what you believe, and based off what I've been told, I believe what I believe and don't believe that he is a top 10 overall prospect
  23. toonsterwu
    Whoa ... Marra signed? That was a bit unexpected, considering Rosario was in the fold and so was Lopez. Add in the raw guys in Arizona already ... I'm surprised. Pleased, and happy, but this was almost a luxury signing.
  24. toonsterwu
    BeerHere - I don't think anyone is really expecting anything on our big three (Baez, Vogelbach, and Maples) until late, if they sign. Particularly Maples, who would require a significant overslot that the commissioner's office likely will force the announcement to be delayed. As a total side note, much as I'm huge on Ben Wells, if Maples is legitimately throwing mid-90's now, and not just sporadically touching it, I'd probably rank him ahead of Wells since reports suggest his secondary stuff is more polished.
  25. toonsterwu
    onion - I'm not debating Lee's talent. Much as I've never been high on him, at the end of my post, I said I thought BA's ranking at midseason, in the 20's, was fair. That's a very good and talented player, and I've seen him play enough, since his Boise days, to believe that he will make it up to the bigs. I just don't see as a top 10 prospect UNLESS there is a higher level of production to match the tools. Certainly, it is debatable what that level of production needs to be, but for me, I don't think what he's done is enough to justify top 10 status, particularly not with what I'm hearing out of FSL folks.
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