Donzo

So, the rumors about Lange stepping in a bear trap last night are true I guess...

Not really... It's a case by case basis, each player should be judged in a vacuum. Ademan has shown he' wasn't physically ready for high A, that's clear. That's all there really is judge here, except he seems to handling the issue. That bodes well for him. If he was physically mature and had the issues he's having, then there would be a problem.

"Universal"?--- So, his 2017 Eugene numbers don't count? For me the only thing 2018 says about ademan is that as an underdeveloped 19 yr old he wasn't ready for high A baseball where the average player is 3.4 years older and much more developed.

Well, you’re just acknowledging then ignoring Ademan’s age differential with respect to his results. So, this is gonna be a useless conversation… Just one FWI, his age differential is closer to a few years than a “few months”.

It was actually the opposite of worthless. I was comparing two underaged aged teenagers going against older competition. To this point, Hoerner and Adman had similar results in that situation. Who said Ademan’s season wasn’t a disappointment? I think it’s safe to say everyone following Ademan hoped he did better the first 2/3 of his season at high A. Spinning that narrative wasn’t helpful to your contention. Also, for what we know, to ignore Ademan’s age different for high-A is imprudent.

I don't see how his play as an 18 yr old at Eugene doesn't project to higher levels. He's not physically developed yet and the Cubs are OK with him taking his lumps in high A. I think this says a lot about his mental toughness. If you don't like young developing players that are over matched against older developing players, then you don't like Hoerner either. I think he had a sub .600 .OPS as a freshman, and that was with an aluminum bat.

Well, at 18, he was .244 .269 .378 .647 in SB... What do you think he'd do as 20 year old? This year, his .OBP has already jumped in High A. Next year in low A, I'd guess his .OBP would be over .400.

To be fair, Hoerner is older than Ademan... I think almost a year and a half older. For perspective, if Ademan played in SB next year, I'd bet he'd put up some fantastic numbers. But, yeah, Hoerner is ripping through the lower levels of the system. A year from now, I'm sure he'll be in Tennessee. And, I wouldn't be surprised if he was in Iowa by the end of 2019.

Interesting day as far as starting pitches go.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?cid=&lid=&org=112&sc=&sid=milb&t=affiliate&ymd=20180714 Hudson with another good game! With Little alternating good/bad games, this was suppose to be a bad game... It was a rough outing, but one of his better "Bad day" games- 8-)

Another day, another hit & walk for Hoerner, Something I realized today is Hoerner and Ademan are probably gonna be in the same spot next year... I imagine both of them both starting in MB next year and both of them looking at early promotions to Tennessee. These things work themselves out, it'll be interesting.

Yeah, that's been him all year. Huge disappointment. The game he left early in June, then missed some time, he was hitting 95mph. He wasn't hitting 90mph with the Cubs last year, so there's progress... His development is a process, the Cubs have him working on lots of stuff. Top end speed on his 4-seamer is not one of the things they're concentrating on.

Lot of love for Amaya, that's great... I still have Alzolay ahead of Amaya. Alzolay is much more advanced, as he should be. Amaya has only hit in 3/5th's of a season in low A and Alzolay's ceiling is just as high as Amaya's.

He's interesting- lot of HR's and a bunch of SB's this year... Just too over aged for prospect status for me, but who knows.

So, not 1998 Sammy Sosa AAA OPS, but a 2018 Addison Russell AAA OPS- got it..... He'll still be able to get on base in the majors.

"Well scratch him off, then!" At least he's not dead. Done... TY! I don't keep up with system like I use to, I just put the list together off the top of my head.

Thanks, and yeah, I imagine there will be a lot of variety with a top prospect list. I think the top four, in some order, will be very similar. After that, it's pretty subjective. If De La Cruz is topping out at 92, then that torpedoes his prospect status.

I got the idea from the game thread from 7/3... I graduated Bote and Caratini, that should be considered when thinking about the overall strength of the system. 1. Azaloy- I think clearly the #1 prospect. Has all the tools to be top of rotation starter and as long as he’s healthy, he could be starting early next year in the majors if needed. 2. Ademan- A little overmatched the first half in High A, but that’s not a surprise. He needs to do better the 2nd half and is off to a good start. 3. Amaya- The Cubs minor league breakout player the first half of the season. His defense was always there, now his offense is as good as his D. 4. Hoerner- I didn’t love the pick, but the Cubs know how to pick college bats in the 1st round. It’s very early, but he showing everything that he was advertised to be. 5. Lange- He’s been mostly good, looks like a pro. Besides a great curve, pretty average everywhere else. Don’t know if his ceiling is very high as a starter. 6. Pereda- Good all around catching prospect, having a solid year… Cubs have become very good at developing catchers. 7. Little- Having a strange year with alternating between god and bad starts. The Cubs are coaching him hard, so inconstancy is OK. His ceiling is high, could be a good starter or excellent reliever. 8. De La Cruz- Well, I’m not going penalize him too much for the 80-game suspension. He’s big, has plus stuff and had some real good games at AA. 9. Marquez- Big young lefty with excellent stuff. He could be in the top 5 at the end of the year, or off the list. 10. Underwood- Sure looks the part coming off the bus and already had a decent start in the majors. I think fans have been hypercritical of him. He’s still young enough and has made progress with his issues (K’s and BB’s). 11. Maples- The Cubs Wild Thing. In two years he could be closing in the majors or pitching in the independent leagues. Can say this for him, when your 100mph 4-seamer is your 2nd best pitch, you’re going to get a lot of chances to prove yourself. 12. Hudson- Another pitcher I think the fans have been hypercritical of. He was a project when drafted and that’s how it’s played out. He’s still young (he’s younger today than Lange was when the Cubs drafted him last year) and is holding his own in High A. If he still looks like a baby deer/giraffe at the end of next year rather than a power pitcher, then I’ll put him on the back burner. 13. Zagunis- The guy has a 1.1000 OPS at AAA and will get on base in the majors. 14. Rucker- Has solid stuff and good control. Should have some type of major league career. 15. Mekes- Very interesting prospect. Very dominating in the minors. Will it play out in the majors? I imagine he’ll be pitching for the Cubs in September and I’m looking forward to watching him. The reports of him hitting 95mph in Iowa are encouraging. 16. Hatch- Has been solid, but K’s are down, BB’s are up and still doesn’t have an out pitch. 17. Short- He’s OK, I don’t think he’s as good as Bote. 18. Clifton- Excellent in AA after an awful year there in 2017. Solid in AAA. 19. Thompson- He’s Lange Jr. and has probably pitched better than Lange since the 2017 draft, he’s already in AA. I think he could be a very good reliever. 20. Steele- I liked him a lot before TJS. Glad to see he’s pitching already this year. Going to go with five four more, all young guys. The 2nd round pick from June and the top four three international signings the past two years. 21. Brennen Davis- Big young OF with all the tools. Looking the part early in Arizona, but hasn't played lately. 22. Richard Gallardo- The #1 international pitcher from 2018, #6 overall. He only signed for a $1M bonus, so he wasn’t expensive. Big young lefty that projects as a power pitcher; gotta like that. 23. Jose Lopez- Ranked as the #17 international al prospects, but signed for $1.5M, the Cubs biggest bonus the past two years. A fast-little CF, only 16. 24.Florencio Serrano- One of two players to sign for $1.2M in 2017, the Cubs biggest bonus. Already hitting 95mph on his fast ball. OOPS!- 8-) 25. Luis Verdugo- The other player to sign for $1.2M in 2017. A SS prospect whose played against older plyers and has done well.

A lot of good stuff... Little with an excellent start, he's had few of those now... Ademan hitting .300 over the last ten games. I expect his 2nd half should be much better than his 1st half. I predict his OPS will be .150 points higher the 2nd half.

A Hoerner HR and a another decent start for Hudson... Good night.

I was gonna post a top 20 here, but I'll start a separate stand alone thread. I don't see those type of lists threads here anymore, so if it's inappropriate, let me know.

TY! It is hard to play baseball with a messed up pinky.

No Hoerner again, he hasn't played since 7/1... No word on an injury, I wonder what's up?!?

Yep... And through 4, Underwood and Clifton are dealin', too.

Nice starting pitching today, all four are still prospects... Exciting to see the 2017 1st rounders pop tonight. Probably Little's best game as a Cub.