tspain

If you are on the bandwagon, please go put your Top 10 Prospects List on the Thread here that says "Revised Top 10". I want to see Coleman listed by more than just me on that thread. I am glad to see others who are on the bandwagon. Great to know. Pastor Tom Spain

It is time some others jumped on the Coleman bandwagon. I have him rated as the 4th best prospect in our system in the Revised Top 10 subject in here, while others do not even have him in our Top 10. He is going to prove me right, wait and see. Or just jump on the bandwagon now and enjoy the ride. Yes, he is worth jumping on the bandwagon for, he is going to be a very good pitcher for the Cubs. May not have the "stuff" some of the studs have, but he knows how to pitch, much like someone called Maddux knew how to pitch. Learned it from watching his dad, Joe Coleman, pitch for years. The kid is going to be good, so come on and join me on the Coleman bandwagon. Pastor Tom Spain

I like top 10 lists, but I also like to put in guys that I think will make the big leagues, and not just guys who have the talent. So my list is: 1. Vitters 2. Jackson 3. Castro 4. Coleman 5. Parker 6. Samardzija 7. Cashner 8. Cales 9. Carpenter 10. Lee Guys just missing would be Rhee, as I saw him pitch and really like him and hope he comes back healthy, Clevenger, who I think will play in the majors as a back up catcher if not a starter, Samson, who will play in the bigs if only as a back up infielder but maybe a starter, Lake, who has the talent if he can put it all together, and Searle, if he can put it all together certainly has the ability. I just hope Brett Jackson will make the list someday.

From Baseball America Prospect Handbook of 2007-Cubs Top 30 Prospects Catchers Soto (ranked #2) Donaldson (ranked #7) W. Castillo (ranked #16) Clevenger (ranked #29) First Base none Second Base Thomas (ranked #9) Patterson (ranked #12) Short Stop Barney (ranked #24) Third Base Vitters (ranked #1) Lansford (ranked #28) Left Field Fox (ranked #19) Center Field Fuld (ranked #18) Right Field Colvin (ranked #3) Burke (ranked #13) Right Handed Starting Pitchers Gallagher (ranked #5) Samardija (ranked #8) Hart (ranked #10) Huseby (ranked # 14) Rhee (ranked #16) Hernandez (ranked #17) Suarez (ranked #20) Acosta (ranked #21) Holliman (ranked #27) Left Handed Starting Pitchers Veal (ranked #4) Russell (ranked #22) Right Handed Relievers Ceda (ranked #4) Petrick (ranked #11) Maestri (ranked #23) Ascanio (ranked #25) Roquet (ranked #26) Lakey (ranked #30) Left Handed Relievers none This, of course, was done before the 2008 draft. And many things could have changed with this list when it comes out this winter. Some of these guys have moved on to other teams. To say the least, we have very little depth in our minor leagues position wise.

1. Josh Vitters 2. Jeff Samardzija 3. Chris Carpenter 4. Andrew Cashner 5. Jose Ceda 6. Dan McDaniel 7. Jonathan Nagel 8. Casey Coleman 9. Welington Castillo 10. Tyler Colvin McDaniel should be there cause of 92-93 mph, will be good as develops off speed pitches, as he did this past season. Pitched real well. Casey Coleman, son of 20 game winner Joe Coleman, only begin pitching in 2008, was a short stop in '07. 94 mph, and knows how to pitch. Nagel can be very good, is coming back from injury and surgery, but the Cubs picked a good one. He has a chance to be a real good starting pitcher for the Cubs. 11. Jay Jackson 12. Aaron Schafer 13. Luis Bautista 14. Rocky Roquet 15. Hak Lee Jay Jackson come a long way in a half season, all the way to Daytona and pitched in the playoffs. Can be a real steal in the 9th round. Schafer can be good if velocity returns, if it does he will move up this list. Until then, I rate him low. Bautista, I am not sure about. Catcher maybe, or a corner man. Depends on bat, which was very good at Peoria. Guy to keep an eye on. Roquet throws 94, can be a very good reliever, just needs time, as does Ceda and Cashner. Lee may be good, hard to rate him high since he has yet to even play over here yet. Here's hoping he is going to be a great short stop for us. Suarez and Castro are the two who just missed my list. Pastor Tom Spain

CR: I agree the 2006 draft comes down to those 4 players. And the sad thing to me it, the 2007 draft comes down to how one player does, Josh Vitters. How sad is that!!! Pastor Tom Spain

Tim Wilken asked that we wait 5-7 years to judge the 2006 draft. I want to take a look two and a half years after the draft and see what we can find now. I think we shall find it was not a good draft for the Cubs. Jeff Sarmarg has already made it to the Big Leagues, so we will not be shut out. That is one good thing. How good he will be is anyone's guess. He has some nasty stuff to be sure, but was hit hard the latter part of the season. Did the league catch up with him? Or will he continue to improve and become a great pitcher? Tyler Colvin has really stuggled. Came on this year in the 2nd half to give us some hope. Cubs seemed to think he could be a cf but now the thinking is he will be a lf. Not good is he can only play lf. Who else can we pen any hopes on? There are a few: Lansford-can he put it together and play 3b in the big leagues? Muldowney-can he be a starting lhp or reliever? Rundle-will he ever live up to the promise that made the Cubs give him a huge bonus to sign out of H.S.? Huseby-same as Rundle above, and can he find any control of his pitches? Kopach-can he bounce back from arm troubles and reach the big leagues? Rosa-can he cut down on the K's and E's and make the big leagues? Sampson-reports say Cubs really like this kid, can he play in the big leagues, did ok at Peoris this year. A year and a half show we may get very little out of the 2006 draft. Too bad we drafted Colvin, and good thing Samarg signed instead of playing football. Hope some of the others can put things together and make it to the bigs. None of the guys from the draft were on any of Baseball America's Top 20 Prospects Lists, although they said Jeff Samarg would have been in the Pacific Coast League had he been there long enough. Pastor Tom Spain

Sorry guys, I thought I was right, but you are right, as I went back in my book and checked my facts. We did draft Josh Hamilton in Dec. 2006, and traded him to the Reds for $50,000. Not last Dec, but Dec. 06. I stand corrected. Still I stand by my statement that we could have had Josh Hamilton in RF instead of $40 million spent on Fukudome, and that fact is true. Pastor Tom Spain

In the Rule 5 Draft last December, we wanted Tim Lahay really bad, so bad we got Tampa Bay to take him for us, and then made a trade with them to get him. Why did we not just take Josh Hamilton instead? Anyone check out his numbers this year in Texas? What if Hendry had taken Josh Hamilton and put him in RF last December. I know there would have been some outcries at the time, but none now. We could have had Hamilton and saved the $40 million spent on Fukudome. So while I love Jim Hendry and believe he has done a good job, I have a hard time voting for him as the Exec of the Year. Now if we had Hamilton and his numbers in RF, I would vote for Jim right now. Pastor Tom Spain

I propose a sticky that has each of our minor league teams home page listed so we can just click and go to their home page. Cause I don't have them in my favorites and keep forgetting what they are. Pastor Tom Spain

Craig, I didn't think Latham looked very good. Of course, giving a home run to the first man, might make you walk the next two, then the error followed. But his stuff did not impress me. I was real impressed by Parker however. His stuff looked real good. I would say he has good stuff. That he is having a good year for good reason, with good stuff, and I expect good things from him in the future. I have Rhee and Parker down as good guys to watch in coming years. I was going back to Burlington this evening, but didn't get to go. Would have been nice to see Krier. I really wanted to see Chen last night but couldn't go then either. Maybe I can get to Peoria soon, it is only 80 miles up there. Burlington is about 60 miles up. Not much difference. Pastor Tom Spain

Can't give you a pitch count on Rhee, but only 1 base on balls, with several strike outs. They had to be hacking cause he was always around the plate. All his pitches that missed the zone were borderline pitches. No wild stuff at all. His breaking balls were just as good as his fastball. And got strike outs. As you can tell, I was impressed, and excited, by what I saw of Rhee. Pastor Tom Spain

From our trip to Burlington to watch the Peoria Chiefs last night: Rhee pitched 6 innings and I was greatly impressed. I talked to a Scout of the Florida Marlins after his 6 innings and asked him what his radar gun showed on Rhee. He told me Rhee was 90-91 all night, and hit 92 in the 6th inning. Gave up his only run in the 2nd inning. Single to left with a runner on 2nd. I thought no way he scores as Guyer had the ball before he got to third base. But Guyer's throw rolled to the plate and the run scored. The Scout said "you got to like him cause he throws strikes". Great control. Very good for an 18 year old. Donaldson looked like a catcher. From what I had read, maybe he could catch, or have to move to first base. Well, he can catch. Now, if only he can get the bat going. Looked good at the plate last night with a couple hits. Gian Guzman hit a triple. The man can fly. Was batting only .198 but I can see why they like him. Clifford Anderson played a great right field. Ran down several warning track shots. But struck out again, and hit into a double play. Just don't see him having the bat to get to the majors. The defense was outstanding. The hitting could certainly be better, although they scored 5 runs in the game. Latham come into the game and faced 4 batters, a homer, 2 walks and a error. Blake Parker come in with bases loaded and none out, and got a rbi ground out to first, and then a double play grounder getting the runner from 3rd in a rundown and then the batter trying to reach 2nd. Parker was impressive too. Chiefs won, and looked good doing it. Rhee is a keeper. Pastor Tom Spain

I am going to Burlington this evening to watch the Peoria Chiefs. So glad to see Rhee is pitching. Can't wait to see what he has in the way of stuff, and pitches. Here's to hoping the rain holds off so the game can be played. Wish the line up was loaded with prospects, but I look forward to seeing Smith and Rosa and Donaldson. Will post my thoughts from the game. Pastor Tom Spain

Hey, I can be a great fan, which I am, and not like Barry Bonds and want him on my team. He broke the rules, and should be in jail, and not playing ball, imo. And I am entitled to my opinion. And yes, I feel that strongly about it. Ask anyone who knows me if I am a Cubs fan of long standing, if I can name every player in the majors and minors, if I live and breathe Cubs. I have since the 1960's. Back to Kessinger, Beckert, Williams, Santo, Banks, and Hundley played so well together, and Fergie Jenkins was impossible to beat. Now we have another fine team, and I want to win this time. But not with the help of Barry Bonds. That is my opinon. Pastor Tom Spain

How many were willing to trade for Bedard and Roberts last year if it cost Rich Hill and Felix Pie and maybe Gallagher? If we could have traded for Tim Lincumen and Aaron Rowand last winter but had to give up a boat load such as 6 players like Rich Hill, Carlos Marmol, Sean Gallagher, Felix Pie, then add Pawalek and Rhee. Would you have made that deal last winter? No one saw Hill's problems coming. Probably can't get much him right now. But it sure would be nice to have another #1 starter like Bedard or Lincumen. If we need anything, I would love another #1 starter to go with Big Z. in the short series called the play offs. It is not enough to make the playoffs this year. We have to win it all. I would trade everyone in the minors to win this year. I would not trade Geo Soto however. No way. He is untouchable. And if the Cubs sign Barry Bonds, I will no longer be a Cubs fan. That will be the final straw for me. And I have been with the Cubs since the 1960's. Pastor Tom Spain

Trade Carlos Zambrano and Felix Pie to Boston for Clay Buckholz and Jacoby Ellsbury. Then trade Ellsbury and Gallagher and maybe another minor league player or two to Baltimore for Bedard and Roberts. We get Boston's top 2 minor league prospects. We get rid of our #1 starter who has faltered the past couple years from where he used to be when he was lights out. The first half of '07 was really scary. 7+ ERA. Trade Big Z while we can, or if we still can. We get 2 starting pitchers, young starters, who have fine stuff. Clay pitched a no-hitter last year for Boston. Ellsbury would be a fine piece for Baltimore to use to re-build. Roberts is a guy Hendry wants so bad, although I would just as soon keep Derosa at 2b. I am sure these thoughts will get scorned, but I throw them out just the same. Let me have it now. Pastor Tom

Meph: There is one down side to signing Kenny Lofton for one year, he will cost us a nice draft pick next June. He is not worth it. I am very happy Hendry has not given away any draft picks so far this offseason, and I sure hope he keeps it that way all winter. Sure hurt us on '06 when we didn't have a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round pick. Last year we seemingly had a very good draft with all our picks. So far, we have an extra 1st round pick next June. Let's keep it that way. Pastor Tom Spain

Koroda has chosen the L.A. Dodgers according to ESPN.

Cubs Top 10 Prospects-or Top 20 Baseball America will soon be out with their Top 10, so we should do ours before they do theirs. Arizona Phil did his first, but here is my Top 10: 1. Soto 2. Colvin 3. Vitters 4. Ceda 5. Veal 6. Huseby 7. Donaldson 8. Thomas 9. Gallagher 10. Roquet Next 10 would look like: 11. Petrick 12. Hart 13. Fuld 14. Maestri 15. Castillo 16. Atkins 17. Holliman 18. Hernandez 19. Cabrera 20. Burke The next 10: 21. Samardzija 22. Pawalek 23. Reynolds 24. Rundle 25. Rhee 26. Muldowney 27. Patterson 28. Perez 29. Martinez 30. Fox

Yeah, Todd Walker for Jose Ceda was good. And Michael Barrett for Kyler Burke was good too, cause everyone knew we had to move Barrett. Or how about Freddie Bynum for Kevin Hart. Pretty shrewd moves in my opinion. I hated trading Jerry Blevins for Jason Kendall, and trading Renshaw for Traschel, but Jim has made some really good moves too. Jim is far from being the worst GM. Pastor Tom Spain

Hey: Thanks for the listings. Lots of work on your part. I do appreciate it. Shows a couple things: 1. Cubs are busy in other parts of the world 2. Hope it is not just quantity, but quality as well. Some of these guys I am following and have high hopes for, others I have not heard of yet. But I hope I hear of them in the future, and they make it to Wrigley Field as a star player. Thanks again. Pastor Tom Spain

Sorry, I was thinking about Perez and put down Cabrera. That was my bad. Maybe you can help me with Perez instead. Cabrera is a fine pitcher instead of a catcher. I wanted to know if there was any site that listed all of the Cubs signees from foreign lands. A list of all of them from past and present. I have not been able to find one. I read Arizona Phil's writings about our minor leaguers and get real excited about them. And some of them I have no idea when get come into our system. Such as these 2 catchers. I had no idea Castillo had been signed 3 years ago. Arizona Phil seems to be real high on both of them, comparing them to the Molina brothers. Now that is pretty high praise for a catcher if you ask me. Thanks for your help. Pastor Tom

Can anyone point me to a place that lists all the Cubs foreign player signings? Also want to know when we signed catchers Welington Castillo and Cabrera. Pastor Tom Spain

Thank your very much for your reply. I try to keep up with it every year but somehow fall behind it seems.