Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects and 2014 Projection

[Jntg4]

First the Top 10:
1. RHP Chris Archer
2. OF Brett Jackson
3. RHP Trey McNutt
4. SS Hak-Ju Lee
5. 3B Josh Vitters
6. RHP Chris Carpenter
7. OF Matt Szczur (pronunciation?)
8. RHP Hayden Simpson
9. RHP Rafael Dolis
10. OF Brandon Guyer

Now, the 2014 Projection:
C Geovany Soto
1B Tyler Colvin
2B Starlin Castro
3B Josh Vitters
SS Hak-Ju Lee
LF Brandon Guyer
CF Matt Szczur
RF Brett Jackson
ACE Andrew Cashner
SP2 Chris Archer
SP3 Trey McNutt
SP4 Carlos Zambrano
SP5 Ryan Dempster
CL Carlos Marmol

Best Tools:
Hitter for Average: D.J. LeMahieu
Power Hitter: Brett Jackson
Strike-Zone Discipline: Matt Cerda
Fastest Baserunner: Matt Szczur
Athlete: Matt Szczur
Fastball: Chris Archer
Curveball: Trey McNutt
Slider: Chris Archer
Changeup: Chris Rusin
Control: Chris Rusin
Defensive Catcher: Robinson Chirinos
Defensive Infielder: Darwin Barney (still qualifies as a prospect)
Infield Arm: Junior Lake
Defensive Outfielder: Brandon Guyer
Outfield Arm: Kyler Burke

Article:

After the Ricketts family completed its $845 million purchase of the Cubs and related assets in October 2009, the team unveiled its marketing campaign for 2010: "Year One."

Unfortunately, Year One was a lot like the previous 101. Chicago still is seeking its first World Series championship since 1908 and first appearance since 1945, and the big league club is trending in the wrong direction.

The Cubs won 97 games and a second straight National League Central title in 2008, then dropped to 83 victories in 2009 and 75 a year ago. That's not exactly what the Ricketts family thought it was getting with a $146.6 million Opening Day payroll that trailed only the Yankees and Red Sox among major league teams.

Chicago still is paying the price for overaggressive spending, first when it was rebuilding following a 96-loss season in 2006, then when it was trying to get over the hump after getting swept out of the playoffs the next two years. The Cubs signed Ryan Dempster, Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano to long-term deals totaling $404.5 million during that period, and they owe those five players $77.5 million for 2011 alone.

There were some silver linings during a disappointing 2010 season. Chicago promoted several prospects to Wrigley Field, and they acquitted themselves well. Starlin Castro nearly made the team out of spring training and came up for good May 7, homering in his first at-bat and driving in six runs in his first game. He became just the third shortstop age 20 or younger to hit .300 while qualifying for the batting title, joining Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan and Alex Rodriguez.

Andrew Cashner made tremendous progress as a starter in the minors before getting summoned to the big league bullpen at the end of May. He held his own with a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider, and he'll move into the rotation for 2011. Casey Coleman, Tyler Colvin and Scott Maine also made successful major league debuts and claimed jobs for the upcoming seasons. Chicago used 10 rookies in an Aug. 18 game against the Padres, including a major league-record six rookie pitchers.

The Cubs responded well to an unanticipated managerial change, playing their best ball after Lou Piniella abruptly resigned Aug. 23 to take care of his ailing mother. They went 51-74 under Piniella and 24-13 under former third-base coach Mike Quade. Quade instilled a greater sense of accountability, including benching Castro for two games for concentration lapses, and had "interim" removed from his job title after the season.

Life was better down on the farm than it was at Wrigley Field. Righthanders Chris Archer and Trey McNutt went a combined 25-4, while outfielder Brett Jackson pounded Double-A pitching in his first full pro season, establishing themselves as the best prospects in the system. Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee had the best regular-season records in their leagues, and both Class A affiliates had winning marks, with legitimate talent driving all those victories. One pro scout who covered the Cubs opined that they had more future big leaguers than any other organization.

Link: BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Rankings: Organization Top 10 Prospects: Chicago Cubs Top 10 Prospects


Thoughts/Disagreements?

 

[Captain Obvious]

Why the hell would we still have Z in 2014? And Demp is like 35 now... I don't agree with those two.

 

[Jntg4]

Ya, I was disagreeing with that too.

 

[waldo7239117]

I just hope Szcur stays in baseball and does not pick football. He sounds like the real thing. He was drafted later than he should have been because he was a 2 sport athlete and has/was always leaning toward football. But I hope he picks baseball.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I just hope Szcur stays in baseball and does not pick football. He sounds like the real thing. He was drafted later than he should have been because he was a 2 sport athlete and has/was always leaning toward football. But I hope he picks football.

I can't help it....

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[waldo7239117]

I made a mistake on my post, I edited it. The quote of my post my CO is not right.

 

[Jntg4]

lol, waldo. Bulls, Bears, Cubs, just never keep them them straight. lol.

Back on-topic, I think Golden should have been 10th and Simpson not on the list.

 

[waldo7239117]

I never know what thread I'm in, lol. I just post what's on my mind.

 

[Jntg4]

Or what is off your mind, but is seeping in.

Or some shit like that.

 

[House of Carlos]

I think the Cubs will make a big push to keep Sczur

 

[USCChiFan]

Szczur chose football I believe and he'll probably get drafted

 

[waldo7239117]

Szczur chose football I believe and he'll probably get drafted

He's expected to be a mid round draft selection which sucks.

 

[Jntg4]

So, we lose 3 top prospects for Garza, and another to football.

 

[Captain Obvious]

So, we lose 3 top prospects for Garza, and another to football.

Wouldn't exactly call Chirinos a top prospect...

 

[Jntg4]

Wouldn't exactly call Chirinos a top prospect...

IK, I posted that when I thought 4 players would be in the deal.

 

[Captain Obvious]

IK, I posted that when I thought 4 players would be in the deal.

So even when it was 4, it was still Arch, Chirinos, and 2 C levels... not exactly top specs either...

 

[Jntg4]

So even when it was 4, it was still Arch, Chirinos, and 2 C levels... not exactly top specs either...

Wasn't it Lee, Chirinos, Carpenter, and another?

 

[waldo7239117]

Wasn't it Lee, Chirinos, Carpenter, and another?

And either Archer or McNutt.

 

[Jntg4]

And either Archer or McNutt.

Ya, that's 3 then.

 

[Captain Obvious]

No, it was never Lee, Chirinos, Carp, and Arch or McNutt, Waldo. It was Lee, Chir, 2 C's. Then it was Lee, Chir, Carp or JJax and a C. Then it was Lee, Chir, and Arch or McNutt.