Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[SilenceS]

Anybody else starting to like Dustin Geiger? He seems to just keep hitting. Seems to have plenty of Pop, but looks to be just a first baseman now. They wanted him at third, but doesnt seem likely.

 

[SilenceS]

Almora left with a nose bleed that would not stop. People said he passed out on the field, but the team is denying that.

 

[theberserkfury]

Almora left with a nose bleed that would not stop. People said he passed out on the field, but the team is denying that.

Yikes... that sounds kinda scary... hope he's all right.

 

[CSF77]

Anybody else starting to like Dustin Geiger? He seems to just keep hitting. Seems to have plenty of Pop, but looks to be just a first baseman now. They wanted him at third, but doesnt seem likely.

His best chance is doing what Vitters did and move to a OF corner spot. 1B is a reach for him.

He could become another Jeff Baker type if he can man the corners/1B/3B. 1B he needs to be a 30 HR guy year in and out to justify it.

 

[CSF77]

LOL.

So It's a good idea that a Cubs top prospect who isn't good or used to playing in the cold sits out games in the cold...because God knows he'll never have to deal with them again playing for the Cubs.

Does anyone here think before they type?

Look at his history:

HS in Fla.
Drafted went to Boise in the late summer
next year held back in Azl played later in Azl league. End of year at Peoria
Starts in Fla later year in Tenn because Fla weather in the summer causes too many rain outs. (went to boot camp there in the summer)


So ya this is the first tour in a cold spring state.

Do you even think before typing? And ya his production has been crap up until he hit the DL.

PS: It wouldn't surprise me if he gets held back until Sept at this rate. He is not even on the 40 man. His slow start and DL stint is delaying any adjustment time. He has never played in that weather. Trust me watching the games on stream the field conditions are crap and most fans are wearing gloves to the games still.

I hope for the best but I wouldn't mark a date on the calendar at this point for his call up. He is not ready still.

 

[DewsSox79]

He really was not effective in the cold anyways. Might be a good thing for him to sit out the weather some anyways.

.154/.214/.423 line tells the tale.

The guy who has been carrying the team: Josh Vitters..wow

.303/.378/.545 Very happy that he is putting together a strong start.

Chris Valaika .296/.406/.481 and Arismendy Alcantara .278/.300/.417 have been the best SS/2B combo so far. Baez was not.

3B: Christian Villanueva .212/.289/.364 under powered for 3B. He may get pushed back to a reserve role with Chris taking over 3B when Baez gets back.

I've mentioned this before. Baez has never played in the cold and he has looked like crap this year. He is getting out played by scrubs and it is a good thing for him to DL right now.

wait...what? i guess this future hofr will be benched every year in april on the cubs because ya know its like coldzz and teh stuffzz.


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[CSF77]

wait...what? i guess this future hofr will be benched every year in april on the cubs because ya know its like coldzz and teh stuffzz.


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Nice to see an objective HOF suggestion for a player who has never played a MLB game. Then bash a guy who has on another thread over OPS+ and trashing his abity to hit the ball.

Keep up the good work sport

 

[FirstTimer]

Look at his history:

HS in Fla.
Drafted went to Boise in the late summer
next year held back in Azl played later in Azl league. End of year at Peoria
Starts in Fla later year in Tenn because Fla weather in the summer causes too many rain outs. (went to boot camp there in the summer)


So ya this is the first tour in a cold spring state.

Do you even think before typing? And ya his production has been crap up until he hit the DL.

PS: It wouldn't surprise me if he gets held back until Sept at this rate. He is not even on the 40 man. His slow start and DL stint is delaying any adjustment time. He has never played in that weather. Trust me watching the games on stream the field conditions are crap and most fans are wearing gloves to the games still.

I hope for the best but I wouldn't mark a date on the calendar at this point for his call up. He is not ready still.

Oh great. It's never cold in Chicago in September!

How does not allowing Baez to play in the cold acclimate him to playing better in the cold?!!?

A brain. Do you have one?

 

[JosMin]

Kyle Hendricks bounced back after a shaky first start to throw seven innings of one-run ball -- struck out five, only walked one. His command and control have both been sound. I'm excited at the prospect of him getting a shot sometime later this summer. Kind of reminds me of Travis Wood in the sense that he likes to stay around the strike zone and force guys to swing the bat.

 

[chibears55]

@BleacherNationCubs pitching prospect Jen-Ho Tseng with a ridiculously good outing today for @KCCougars: 5.1IP 0R 6H 0BB 6K. #arm

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[DewsSox79]

Nice to see an objective HOF suggestion for a player who has never played a MLB game. Then bash a guy who has on another thread over OPS+ and trashing his abity to hit the ball.

Keep up the good work sport

wow. did you see my posts?


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[nwfisch]

[video=youtube;CZq35oee0lI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZq35oee0lI[/video]

Through 13 games, the Kane County Cougars' 10-3 record is the best start to a season since 2008

 

[JosMin]

Alcantara and Vitters both with multi-hit games for Iowa. Hendricks Ks 9 in seven innings and snags the W.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_04_16_nozaaa_iowaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb&sid=t451

Alcantara has definitely struck out more since his call-up to AAA. Still putting the ball in play and using his speed.

 

[beckdawg]

Alcantara and Vitters both with multi-hit games for Iowa. Hendricks Ks 9 in seven innings and snags the W.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_04_16_nozaaa_iowaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb&sid=t451

Alcantara has definitely struck out more since his call-up to AAA. Still putting the ball in play and using his speed.

I'm hoping Schierholtz can build some value to return a halfway decent player in a trade and that Vitters soon can take over for him. Might have to play Lake in RF and him in LF for defensive reasons but I really am curious to see Vitters over an extended period. Maybe he's a forever 4A guy but he has crushed AAA pitching the past 3 years and he's still just 24. Even if he just turns into an average OF he's still got some pretty decent value towards the team.

 

[JosMin]

I'm hoping Schierholtz can build some value to return a halfway decent player in a trade and that Vitters soon can take over for him. Might have to play Lake in RF and him in LF for defensive reasons but I really am curious to see Vitters over an extended period. Maybe he's a forever 4A guy but he has crushed AAA pitching the past 3 years and he's still just 24. Even if he just turns into an average OF he's still got some pretty decent value towards the team.

One of the platoon outfielders will get dealt and Vitters will get a shot, I'd almost guarantee it. He's played all 11 games in left field. If the Cubs could somehow could package Barney's corpse with either Schierholtz or Ruggiano to a team looking for bench depth, a scenario could open up where Bonifacio could turn into the supersub like Mark DeRosa during the '07/'08 years, Vitters settles in left, Lake in center and Alcantara at second. I truly feel like he (Alcantara) would get called up before Baez.

 

[TL1961]

@BleacherNationCubs pitching prospect Jen-Ho Tseng with a ridiculously good outing today for @KCCougars: 5.1IP 0R 6H 0BB 6K. #arm

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6 hits in 5.1 IP is "a ridiculously good game"?

The bar keeps getting lowered.

 

[beckdawg]

One of the platoon outfielders will get dealt and Vitters will get a shot, I'd almost guarantee it. He's played all 11 games in left field. If the Cubs could somehow could package Barney's corpse with either Schierholtz or Ruggiano to a team looking for bench depth, a scenario could open up where Bonifacio could turn into the supersub like Mark DeRosa during the '07/'08 years, Vitters settles in left, Lake in center and Alcantara at second. I truly feel like he (Alcantara) would get called up before Baez.

I don't think you even need to make it that difficult with Bonifacio. Just start him in CF full time, Lake in RF and Vitters/possible platoon mate in LF. Then deal with the prospects coming up in the infield. Bonifacio realistically could start in CF for the cubs until whenever Almora is ready for a full time shot which could be in 2-3 year. Then at that point maybe you consider him more of a super sub type.

 

[chibears55]

6 hits in 5.1 IP is "a ridiculously good game"?

The bar keeps getting lowered.

For a 19 YO kid making his first pro starts in the states ?
Yes..
did you overlook the 0 runs 0 walks and 6 Ks ?

 

[Parade_Rain]

Very good or outstanding would have been better choices, IMHO. Ridiculous should be reserved for efforts along the line of repeated kickoffs returned for TD's.

 

[CSF77]

Quote Originally Posted by JosMin View Post

One of the platoon outfielders will get dealt and Vitters will get a shot, I'd almost guarantee it. He's played all 11 games in left field. If the Cubs could somehow could package Barney's corpse with either Schierholtz or Ruggiano to a team looking for bench depth, a scenario could open up where Bonifacio could turn into the supersub like Mark DeRosa during the '07/'08 years, Vitters settles in left, Lake in center and Alcantara at second. I truly feel like he (Alcantara) would get called up before Baez.

Quote Originally Posted by Beckgawg View Post

I don't think you even need to make it that difficult with Bonifacio. Just start him in CF full time, Lake in RF and Vitters/possible platoon mate in LF. Then deal with the prospects coming up in the infield. Bonifacio realistically could start in CF for the cubs until whenever Almora is ready for a full time shot which could be in 2-3 year. Then at that point maybe you consider him more of a super sub type.

Vitters:
12 for 41..293 BA/.537 SLG 2 HR's. *4 BB 10% rate. I can't argue his value to the team now in LF.

Current Cubs OF:

Schierholtz 12 for 48 .250/.313 SLG 1 BB
Lake 10 for 38 .263/.526 SLG 2 BB
Sweeney 5 for 29 .172/.207 SLG *3 BB 10% BB rate
Kalish 4 for 25 .160/.280 SLG *3 BB little over a 10% BB


I would give the current OF around 100 AB's each before making any decisions.

ok the main problem the Cubs have is a lack of a 2nd LH power hitter behind Rizzo. They have bubble gummed a LH hitting corps with Valbuena, Schierholtz, Sweeney, Kalish but not are worth a crap.

Yes Vitters would be a upgrade to the current hitters but the true lacking is a LH hitting upgrade to Schierholtz. I do not see a answer in the system outside of moving Rizzo to LF and Vogelbach at 1B to be honest. But that solution is 2 years out.

So seeing there is not visual solution and the best hitting prospects upwelling are RH and Vitters is RH..he would be a temp solution at best and would get pushed out.


If they were smart...lol they should use some of their prospects to get a legit LH hitting power hitter that they would have long term control over. I was thinking Granderson last off season would have been an ideal solution but they chose to gamble on Tanaka.

Alcantara IMO would have to become more of a power threat to become a solution going forward. I do not see him cracking the SS/2B combo of Castro/Baez. But if he changed his game towards power (ie beefcake in the gym) and converted himself over to CF he would become a prime solution as a power hitting S/H. Kinda try to model his game towards Beltrain.

I still for-see Bryant in RF and Lake at LF. Vitters may crack LF over Lake still. Neither are outstanding solutions at this point.