Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[Parade_Rain]

Presumably you play one of them in LF. It might be over kill but having two corner OFs with strong arms isn't a "bad" thing. Also, I don't really think he's looking at it from roster creation standpoint. He's solely looking at Bryant the player not Bryant the player within the fit of the cubs.

Got it. Thanks. It just seemed odd.

 

[SilenceS]

Got it. Thanks. It just seemed odd.

People were saying right when they had questions about Soler. Bryant would be a LF on the current club if moved to the OF. Soler is a more complete package out there. Better speed and about the same arm. Its why I dont think the Cubs are in any rush to trade anyone. Bryant could end up like Braun and go to left in a year. I mean an IF of Castro, Baez, Russell, and Rizzo would be sick defensively. That 3 guys with SS range with all strong arms and a smooth fielding first baseman. They would be exciting to watch on D.

 

[JZsportsfan]

Russell says he wants to play where the front office tells him. Not a significant quote but it is cool to hear guys like this who just want to play the game, and be on the best team possible. There are a lot of players out there that would let their ego get in the way.

 

[brett05]

Russell says he wants to play where the front office tells him. Not a significant quote but it is cool to hear guys like this who just want to play the game, and be on the best team possible. There are a lot of players out there that would let their ego get in the way.

There are???????

 

[chibears55]

Russell says he wants to play where the front office tells him. Not a significant quote but it is cool to hear guys like this who just want to play the game, and be on the best team possible. There are a lot of players out there that would let their ego get in the way.

As a 20 YO still in AA, he better say hed play where FO wants him to or he wont see the Major League for awhile

 

[CSF77]

People were saying right when they had questions about Soler. Bryant would be a LF on the current club if moved to the OF. Soler is a more complete package out there. Better speed and about the same arm. Its why I dont think the Cubs are in any rush to trade anyone. Bryant could end up like Braun and go to left in a year. I mean an IF of Castro, Baez, Russell, and Rizzo would be sick defensively. That 3 guys with SS range with all strong arms and a smooth fielding first baseman. They would be exciting to watch on D.

Add to it a SS in CF and 2 plus arms at the corner OF. Makes sense to me.

 

[beckdawg]

Also from kiley mcdaniels the scouting guy for fangraphs.

12:42
Comment From Andrew
What do you do if your the Cubs and Baez and Russell both pan out?
12:42
Kiley McDaniel: STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT

12:43
Kiley McDaniel: Also, Russell is a really good def SS and Baez is probably a 3B. Starlin Castro is the one you worry abo—WAIT WHY AM I ENCOURAGING THIS

I guess if he sees Bryant as a OF and Baez as a 3B. Not sure I follow the logic on Castro.

12:53
Comment From Steve
Thoughts on Almora’s season? You were super high on him in his draft year and ever since.

12:53
Kiley McDaniel: Still coming back from hamate injury and adjusting his approach since he can’t hit every pitch thrown at him now. Still high on him, it might just take a little longer.

12:55
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Pierce Johnson still have #2-3 upside?
12:56
Kiley McDaniel: Eh more #3 upside but realistically won’t get there.

 

[dabynsky]

Here is some stuff from the top 20 chat about the Midwest League (Cubs only prospect on list was Duane Underwood) that relates to an earlier argument about Tseng and ranking in publications:

James (Chicago): What led to placing Underwood over Tseng, and what kind of ceiling could these guys have?

J.J. Cooper: Underwood has way more stuff. Tseng was consistently 88-90 without really a plus pitch. He locates well and baffled a lot of hitters, but what he showed this year was more back-end of the rotation stuff. Underwood at his best is 93-96 mph with a hammer curveball. There’s more upside to that assortment of pitches.

Tony (Kane County): Soooo…….. I have followed the Cougars all year and it seemed to me that Tseng was considered a much better prospect than Underwood. Some saying he would get Top 100 consideration(without ultimately making it). So what gives. I understand 16 team league etc but Underwood over Tseng??

J.J. Cooper: In the long-term what does Tseng end up being? He’s going to have to add velo and sharpen his secondary stuff to have a plus pitch, which he doesn’t really have right now. Underwood may have 2 plus pitches with his fastball and breaking ball. Yes, Underwood is much riskier than Tseng, but the upside is also significantly higher.

 

[SilenceS]

This is what people don't get. They see stat lines which tells a very small part of a prospect. Sabers go so far. Don't get me wrong sabers are good but the eye has more say with prospects.


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[beckdawg]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/kris-bryants-very-earliest-2015-projection/

 

[SilenceS]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/kris-bryants-very-earliest-2015-projection/

I dont disagree with it, but his contact has to come up.

 

[beckdawg]

I dont disagree with it, but his contact has to come up.

I was surprised how optimistic it was. Generally these type of projections are super conservative yet this is saying it thinks he's going to be as good as some major league players off the bat.

 

[beckdawg]

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/10/bryant-tops-baseball-americas-pcl-list-baez-ranks-3rd/

People be gushing over Bryant man...

 

[SilenceS]

Bryant needs to be more aggressive at the plate. Im pretty sure the Cubs have been working with him on that. It is one thing to be patient, but he is overly patient. He really waits for the perfect pitch for him to handle. The problem with that is in the majors. You get those type of pitches far less then in the minors. I dont want him changing his approach or anything. I just hope he is learning all the pitches he can handle. He does that and his K rate wont be as high.

 

[brett05]

Is Bryant getting called on 3rd strikes a lot?

 

[SilenceS]

Is Bryant getting called on 3rd strikes a lot?

He works a lot of counts and will get to two strikes a lot. He will allow hittable balls to go past him looking for a better pitch. In the majors, you may not get a better pitch. I dont know if he is being called out a lot but 67% contact rate isnt good. He is swinging and missing with 2 strikes. Its not a huge problem. Its just something the Cubs and other are aware of from what I read a couple of months ago.

If Baez and Bryant morphed into one player, we would have the greatest player ever! :cubstroll2:

 

[brett05]

SilenceS, Bryant already has Baez beat in everything outside of a slight power edge to Baez perhaps. Morphing the two would only lower Bryant across the baord.

I know of an elite hitter that took a lot of hittable balls. He went into Cooperstown this year. May have heard of him. Not saying Bryant will be him but pointing out that taking pitches is not a bad thing.

 

[SilenceS]

SilenceS, Bryant already has Baez beat in everything outside of a slight power edge to Baez perhaps. Morphing the two would only lower Bryant across the baord.

I know of an elite hitter that took a lot of hittable balls. He went into Cooperstown this year. May have heard of him. Not saying Bryant will be him but pointing out that taking pitches is not a bad thing.

A 30% plus K rate isnt going to get him to Cooperstown. Also, Baez is the superior athlete to Bryant. Bryant walks more then Baez. I dont know where your across the board came from except of not knowing the two players.

 

[brett05]

A 30% plus K rate isnt going to get him to Cooperstown. Also, Baez is the superior athlete to Bryant. Bryant walks more then Baez. I dont know where your across the board came from except of not knowing the two players.

Reggie has a bad K rate. He's in the HOF.

Deion Sanders was more athletic than any player. He was not a good ball player.

What is it baseball wise that Bryant as a hitter not do? Even as a Fielder the "experts" say he's above average at 3b?

 

[CSF77]

Bryant is a better hitter. He takes more walks than Baez ever did. HR's are a wash. SO's should be a wash. But it is the BB% that make Bryant a better MLB hitter than Baez.

Not to mention Baez needs to mature as a hitter. Right now every swing is a HR swing. He is getting killed due to this approach at the plate.