Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

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beckdawg

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From cubsden
Kyle Schwarber is absolutely on fire. He went 5 for 7 in the two game with 2 HRs, a double and 5 RBI. Schwarber is hitting .308/.411/.571 with 8 HRs in 162 PAs at Daytona. His overall numbers this year in 282 PAs is .352/.442/.648 with 16 HRs. Wow. I didn't think it was possible to surpass Bryant's debut season, but Schwarber may have done just that. Bryant hit .336/.390/.688 with 9 HRs albeit in fewer (146) PAs. We should see Schwarber in Tennessee next year.

Not saying.... i'm just sayin'
 

JZsportsfan

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Pretty thrilled that the Cubs plan on having Schwarber play catcher a lot moving forward. His bat at that position could be insane
 

SilenceS

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Eric W (NYC)

After a rough start in Daytona Schwarber is now 311/404/583 there with a total line of 350/436/650. That's fine if you want to ignore the Boise/Kane County numbers but just the Daytona numbers are similar to what Bryant put up last year. Do you think he may be an even better hitter than you thought coming into the draft?

Klaw (3:08 PM)

No, I don't. Tiny samples at levels for which he's too old/experienced.


Klaw (3:08 PM)

By the way, you can't just toss out Kris Bryant's name unless you have a sense of how many other players of that age/experience have performed similarly at those levels. You can't cherrypick one guy.






Brian (Chicago)

If a 17-year-old like Gleyber Torres holds his own (let's say performs a little better than league average) in a domestic league, do you think he starts to warrant strong consideration for "Top 100" lists, or do you think it's not worth trying to project someone who is that far away from the majors?

Klaw (3:13 PM)

I tend to be pretty conservative with super-young guys like that, and "a little better than league average" wouldn't be enough to launch him into a top 100 list unless he was already that caliber of player based on scouting reports (which Torres wasn't, yet).





Patrick (New York)

Re: Schwarber, is AA the first time we can start to change the pre-draft assessment of him?

Klaw (3:16 PM)

You can change your assessment of him any time you want. I do not like to overreact to any college player's first summer of pro ball, good or bad.






Ryan (Rosemont)

Thing is, if Schwarber was terrible in A-AA, we know you'd be all: "Yeah, I wasn't a fan of the pick". So what's the difference?

Klaw (3:24 PM)

No, you don't "know" that, because I wouldn't. The first summer doesn't tell us a whole lot either way.






Matt (IL)

Why are you so down on Schwarber? Theo et al who have proven to be the smartest front office in the league rated him the best hitter in the draft. He is easily in the top 3-5 bats in minors.

Klaw (3:31 PM)

Appeal to authority. And no, he's not, not "easily" and not "hardly."






addoeh (chicago)

Re: Schwarber. Are Cubs fans really worried that they might be running out of prospects to call up next year?

Klaw (3:36 PM)

I think I've been too kind to their best prospects so the fans are just working further down the list to find someone new to complain about. And for the record, I rated Schwarber as a back-of-the-first round guy who probably ended up an everyday 1b or maybe LF.
.





John (San Jose)

Wow, feisty group of Cubs fans today. Not sure why we're all so enraged over you basically saying nothing - good or bad - about Schwarber. In any case, Addison Russell - 12 bombs in under 200 ABs at Tennessee. SSS or are we possibly seeing a step up in power?

Klaw (3:39 PM)

I think we're seeing a step up in power, maybe a 20+ HR guy in the majors.





Scrapper (Chicago)

Would you agree that Soler is a much more sure thing compared to Baez, who has the upside of an MVP but who could also be consumed by his strikeouts?

Klaw (3:46 PM)

Yes, but Baez always ranked higher for me because of positional value.






Matt (IL)

Are you really not going to rank Schwarber in your top 50? Will end up being as ridiculous as to when you didn't rank Puig

Klaw (3:55 PM)

As ridiculous as when I didn't rank Brett Jackson in my top 50?








John (San Jose)

I heard some comments that Bryant was surprising people with his defense at 3rd, but others are still saying he'd destined for the OF. What are your thoughts after his first full season? Can he stick at 3rd?

Klaw (3:58 PM)

I'd give him a chance to stick at 3b. Better athlete than he gets credit for.





Jack (Toronto)

Re: the Schwarber thing. I think most Cubs fans just disagree with your Conforto > Schwarber stance. Which seemed to me (based on your comments to be largely positional concerns for Schwarber). In terms of their bats, do you still like Conforto more?

Klaw (3:59 PM)

Yes. Schwarber has more power, Conforto has a better swing for contact and better eye. I believe I said even before the draft that if Schwarber could really catch he's a much better prospect, but I have him about a 10% chance to catch, and the vast majority of scouts I talked to didn't believe he would stay back there.





Dale (KY)

Klaw, I am a Cubs fan, and I don't really care what you think about Schwarber......right now. As you say, small sample size and all. I would like your opinion on Billy McKinney and Rivero/Vizcaino.

Klaw (4:00 PM)

Love McKinney's swing, LF only for me but hits, gets on base, should develop at least average power. Rivero/Vizcaino both power relievers when healthy.





Dale (KY)

Do you assign any extra value to prospects who hit left handed (McKinney), especially if they can play every day?

Klaw (4:04 PM)

No. Often they have real platoon issues that take years to get past, so I don't agree that they're any more valuable.







AJ (Tulsa)

As a Cub fan let me make sure I have this clear. You think Schwarber was a late first round pick, has a very slim chance to stick at catcher and you are an idiot who knows nothing. Theo over drafted him because he could sign him for under slot and then proceeded to draft guys who he could pay over slot, Schwarber wasn't a top 10 talent, but he's the most brilliant man on the planet. So you both agree he was over drafted. Where do you rank Schwarber as a prospect? Fringe top 100 seems about right to me, somewhere between 75-125.

Klaw (4:14 PM)

You realize if I rank him 101 I'll be branded the biggest idiot ever? He's not a top 50 guy for me if he can't catch.
 

CSF77

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Hard to say. It is early with Kyle and if he ends up as a LF with limited range, then his bat will have to be in the 30 HR range with a .280 + BA to justify it.

Right now he looks like a close to .400 OBA type but it is a we will see thing. I would rather have McKinny in LF and Schwarber behind the dish 1/2 of the time. That would be the best case scenario.

Something like VS RH Schwarber catching and McKinney in LF. Then vs LH Schwarber in LF and Caratini behind the dish. That is a acceptable platoon that keeps Schwarber's knees healthier longer.
 

beckdawg

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Hard to say. It is early with Kyle and if he ends up as a LF with limited range, then his bat will have to be in the 30 HR range with a .280 + BA to justify it.

Right now he looks like a close to .400 OBA type but it is a we will see thing. I would rather have McKinny in LF and Schwarber behind the dish 1/2 of the time. That would be the best case scenario.

Something like VS RH Schwarber catching and McKinney in LF. Then vs LH Schwarber in LF and Caratini behind the dish. That is a acceptable platoon that keeps Schwarber's knees healthier longer.

Between Soler/Alcantara/Almora you're going to have two good defensive outfielders opposite LF so his defensive impact isn't as big of a deal.
 

CSF77

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Even in that article it is not a sure thing that he will end up a catcher. His value is the best as a catcher and Theo is doing the right thing IMO.

His bat is advanced enough to promote fast but his catching skills need to mature which would delay any type of promotion.

My opinion is if he is so-so behind the dish and a plus hitter it make little sense to waste years on so-so potential.
 

CSF77

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http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/ar...tebook_id=92097228&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc

ST. LOUIS -- Cubs fans eager to see Kris Bryant in the same lineup as Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro will have to wait.

General manager Jed Hoyer repeated Friday that Bryant, No. 1 on MLB.com's Top 20 Cubs prospects list, will finish his season at Triple-A Iowa and not be one of the players added when big league rosters expand on Monday.

Hoyer would not say which players will be added. Iowa has four regular-season games remaining and has a chance to make the playoffs.

Bryant, 22, batted .355 with 22 home runs and 20 doubles at Double-A Tennessee, and was batting .300 with 21 homers and 14 doubles in 66 games at Iowa entering Friday. The second player taken overall in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, Bryant is not on the Cubs' 40-man roster.

"He's not on the roster, so right away [if he was called up] that would knock off another player off the roster," Hoyer said Friday. "We're going to be really tight with the roster, and we know that. We feel in his first full season, he's going to get 140 plus games, he's played exceptionally well -- nothing has changed on that front [as far as calling him up]."

The fact that Bryant has done so well in his first year of professional baseball has made Cubs fans giddy about the prospect of seeing the third baseman at Wrigley Field.

"The most impressive thing about his season has been the consistency," Hoyer said. "The slumps have been really quick. He deserves a lot of credit for being able to make adjustments quickly. I think he's very level-headed as a person. He doesn't get too down.

"We've never wavered on [the decision to leave him in the Minors]. We feel it's the right thing for him -- first full season, not on the roster -- and we'll enjoy the guys we have up here now."

Are the Cubs hesitating to avoid starting the clock on Bryant's service time? Hoyer said that wasn't a factor.

"That's not the reason or a concern," he said.



He is so full of shit. They could have cut Vitters off of the 40 man. No one would bother to pick him up.

Chicago Cubs 40-Man Roster
Chicago Cubs 40-man Roster
# Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
49 Jake Arrieta R-R 6'4" 225 Mar 6, 1986
32 Dallas Beeler * R-R 6'5" 210 Jun 12, 1989
22 Felix Doubront L-L 6'2" 225 Oct 23, 1987
11 Kyuji Fujikawa L-R 6'0" 190 Jul 21, 1980
52 Justin Grimm R-R 6'3" 210 Aug 16, 1988
28 Kyle Hendricks R-R 6'3" 190 Dec 7, 1989
36 Edwin Jackson Disabled List 15-day DL * R-R 6'3" 210 Sep 9, 1983
55 James McDonald Disabled List 60-day DL ** L-R 6'5" 205 Oct 19, 1984
50 Blake Parker * R-R 6'3" 225 Jun 19, 1985
54 Neil Ramirez R-R 6'4" 190 May 25, 1989
56 Hector Rondon R-R 6'3" 180 Feb 26, 1988
59 Zac Rosscup R-L 6'2" 205 Jun 9, 1988
18 Chris Rusin * L-L 6'2" 195 Oct 22, 1986
63 Brian Schlitter * R-R 6'5" 235 Dec 21, 1985
19 Dan Straily * R-R 6'2" 215 Dec 1, 1988
46 Pedro Strop R-R 6'1" 220 Jun 13, 1985
38 Jacob Turner R-R 6'5" 215 May 21, 1991
33 Carlos Villanueva R-R 6'2" 215 Nov 28, 1983
47 Arodys Vizcaino * R-R 6'0" 190 Nov 13, 1990
67 Tsuyoshi Wada L-L 5'11" 180 Feb 21, 1981
37 Travis Wood R-L 5'11" 175 Feb 6, 1987
53 Wesley Wright R-L 5'11" 185 Jan 28, 1985
# Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
12 John Baker L-R 6'1" 215 Jan 20, 1981
5 Welington Castillo R-R 5'10" 210 Apr 24, 1987
# Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
7 Arismendy Alcantara S-R 5'10" 170 Oct 29, 1991
9 Javier Baez R-R 6'0" 190 Dec 1, 1992
13 Starlin Castro R-R 6'0" 190 Mar 24, 1990
30 Mike Olt * R-R 6'2" 210 Aug 27, 1988
44 Anthony Rizzo L-L 6'3" 240 Aug 8, 1989
4 Chris Valaika R-R 5'11" 205 Aug 14, 1985
24 Luis Valbuena L-R 5'10" 200 Nov 30, 1985
61 Christian Villanueva * R-R 5'11" 210 Jun 19, 1991
27 Josh Vitters * R-R 6'2" 200 Aug 27, 1989
45 Logan Watkins L-R 5'11" 195 Aug 29, 1989
# Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
8 Chris Coghlan L-R 6'0" 195 Jun 18, 1985
21 Junior Lake * R-R 6'3" 215 Mar 27, 1990
20 Justin Ruggiano Disabled List 15-day DL * R-R 6'1" 210 Apr 12, 1982
68 Jorge Soler R-R 6'4" 215 Feb 25, 1992
6 Ryan Sweeney Disabled List 15-day DL * L-L 6'4" 225 Feb 20, 1985
41 Matt Szczur R-R 6'1" 195 Jul 20, 1989
* Not on Active Roster
** Not on 40-Man Roster
 

chibears55

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iowa season will be over after today as they don't make the playoff, so Bryant is basically done until ST in February....
 

TL1961

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We had Baez, Bryant and Soler at Iowa and they didn't make the playoffs?
 

JP Hochbaum

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Baez was striking out at a 30% clip in AAA and Bryant is at 29%. We see how Baez is struggling in the majors 44% K rate, would we want two guys at one time doing that? Bryant still needs work as does Baez, but Baez seems to be correcting himself already as he does at every level after 100 at bats or so.

Plus they want to keep a few slots open on the 40-man in order to get guys in the offseason that need to be added on.
 

brett05

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Baez was striking out at a 30% clip in AAA and Bryant is at 29%. We see how Baez is struggling in the majors 44% K rate, would we want two guys at one time doing that? Bryant still needs work as does Baez, but Baez seems to be correcting himself already as he does at every level after 100 at bats or so.

Plus they want to keep a few slots open on the 40-man in order to get guys in the offseason that need to be added on.
How is Baez correcting? ??
 

beckdawg

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Hi at bats, in general, are getting better. It's not showing up in stats yet, but from watching almost every at bat of his he is laying off more bad pitches.

Opinions vary but what I saw last night was not "better." He was ending swings on his knees many times.
 

JP Hochbaum

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Opinions vary but what I saw last night was not "better." He was ending swings on his knees many times.

Well he seems to be rolling over on outside pitches more often and hitting them to short.
 

CSF77

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Baez was striking out at a 30% clip in AAA and Bryant is at 29%. We see how Baez is struggling in the majors 44% K rate, would we want two guys at one time doing that? Bryant still needs work as does Baez, but Baez seems to be correcting himself already as he does at every level after 100 at bats or so.

Plus they want to keep a few slots open on the 40-man in order to get guys in the offseason that need to be added on.

They are losing Carlos Villanueva as it is. Remove Vitters that is 2 spots open. They are expecting to add a SP and a bat. No issues here.

I don't have a list of rule 5's so that may become a issue but too be honest are any coming up worth making a spot?
 

CSF77

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http://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3518

CUBS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN DECEMBER 2014 RULE 5 DRAFT (last updated 8-14-2014):
Gilberto Abreu, RHP
Gioskar Amaya, INF
John Andreoli, OF
Delbis Arcila, OF
Jeffrey Baez, OF
Frank Batista, RHP
Zach Cates, RHP
Hunter Cervenka, LHP
Pin-Chieh Chen, OF
Gerardo Concepcion, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs)
Willson Contreras, C
Blake Cooper, RHP
Wes Darvill, INF
Taylor Davis, C
Alberto Diaz, LHP
C. J. Edwards, RHP
Kevin Encarnacion, OF
P. J. Francescon, RHP
Victor Garcia, LHP
Dustin Geiger, INF
Anthony Giansanti, OF
Jae-Hoon Ha, OF
Marco Hernandez, INF
Michael Jensen, RHP
Eric Jokisch, LHP
Austin Kirk, LHP
Matt Loosen, RHP
Rafael Lopez, C
Jeff Lorick, LHP
Barret Loux, RHP
Dillon Maples, RHP
Andrew McKirahan, LHP
Trey McNutt, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs)
Alberto Mineo, C
Yoanner Negrin, RHP
Carlos Penalver, INF
Felix Pena, RHP
Ivan Pineyro, RHP
Austin Reed, RHP
Tayler Scott, RHP
Rock Shoulders, 1B
Rubi Silva, OF
Brian Smith, LHP
Elliot Soto, INF
Antonio Valerio, C
Yao-Lin Wang, RHP
Ben Wells, RHP
Tony Zych, RHP
 

CSF77

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CHICAGO -- The Cubs recalled right-handed pitcher Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa, and will add about six more players once the Minor League team's regular season ends on Monday.

Iowa did not make the playoffs, and plays its final regular-season game on Monday against Oklahoma City.

Parker has been called up every month except June this season. In 10 games, he has given up nine earned runs on 14 hits and four walks over 13 1/3 innings.

Manager Rick Renteria would not say who specifically will be added on Tuesday.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp...tebook_id=92538148&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc
 
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