Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[Boobaby1]

I feel like this has been argued ad nauseum... but if Soriano helps us be a 70 win team instead of a 65 win team, how is that substantially better than finding out if Lake or Black are legitimate pieces? Blah blah lottery tickets, but unless there was a dramatic shift in how this team is spending money, Soriano makes an inconsequential improvement in a lost season...

The Soriano trade is just symptomatic of the larger issue that they're not trying to win now... I can get behind complaining about that... but arguing about Soriano's merits to this team as presently constructed? Seems pretty pointless to me.

Well this has been gone over and over again, but Soriano is better than what we currently have. If you disagree, then fine.

As bad as people say Soriano is, he is a lifetime .272 Avg. and a .321 OBP player. Nate Schierholtz is a lifetime .263 Avg .311 OBP player. If you think Schierholtz or Lake are an upgrade and part of the future, then fine.

The object is to put the better players at each position when you can. If you disagree, than fine.

Lake could have played CF if he needed AB's, and Bonafacio could have played 2B with Valbuena spelling everyone in the infield. If you disagree, then fine.

If you think it's okay to simply toss 20 million out the window to find out if rookies or utility players who could play every day anyways is a proper way to run a team and hope that an A ball pitcher can make it to the bigs one day, then fine, I'm cool with that too.

I think it's better to increase wins at the major league level each and every year. If you disagree, then fine.

I want to see upgrades at all positions rather than downgrades because you don't win with downgrading players. If you disagree, then fine.

 

[theberserkfury]

Well this has been gone over and over again, but Soriano is better than what we currently have. If you disagree, then fine.

As bad as people say Soriano is, he is a lifetime .272 Avg. and a .321 OBP player. Nate Schierholtz is a lifetime .263 Avg .311 OBP player. If you think Schierholtz or Lake are an upgrade and part of the future, then fine.

The object is to put the better players at each position when you can. If you disagree, than fine.

Lake could have played CF if he needed AB's, and Bonafacio could have played 2B with Valbuena spelling everyone in the infield. If you disagree, then fine.

If you think it's okay to simply toss 20 million out the window to find out if rookies or utility players who could play every day anyways is a proper way to run a team and hope that an A ball pitcher can make it to the bigs one day, then fine, I'm cool with that too.

I think it's better to increase wins at the major league level each and every year. If you disagree, then fine.

I want to see upgrades at all positions rather than downgrades because you don't win with downgrading players. If you disagree, then fine.

That was pretty reasonably polite, Boo... I appreciate that.

I don't think Soriano is/was bad... I actually like him quite a bit. Yeah, I think he's probably better than what we have right now, but I don't think he would really be making much of a difference.

I think Lake could be part of the future... not saying he is or will be, but he's shown enough flashes to keep me interested. Don't care about Schierholtz.

Yeah, I agree that the object is to put better plays at each position when possible... but if Soriano was the only real change being made, I don't see that as being very significant. Sure the team would be marginally better, but unless there were going to be other significant additions, I don't think it would really matter.

Lake should be playing every day, Bonifacio should be at 2B every day and Valbuena should be spelling everyone... no disagreement there.

I'm not saying that's the proper way to run a team... but that is nevertheless the way it's being run. I don't see any reason to get myself worked up over something I can't change or control so I'll just get excited about the possibility that Lake turns into a useful player and that Black does the same.

The team would be better off with Soriano... but not enough to make a real difference in the outcome of this season. Since he isn't in his early 30s and wouldn't be on the team beyond this year anyway, I just don't see his absence really mattering at all. To me, Black in AA has the potential (no one freak out, I'm not saying he's going to succeed) to provide more value to the major league team in a couple years (and beyond) than Soriano would this year.

I think we just see things differently though... fair enough.

 

[theberserkfury]

Not sure if Arrieta knows anything about judging talent... but this still seems interesting... about Bryant and Black.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-minors-cubs-spt-0425-20140425,0,4500067.story

 

[beckdawg]

Lake should be playing every day, Bonifacio should be at 2B every day and Valbuena should be spelling everyone... no disagreement there.

See, I'd be playing Bonifacio in CF and Valbuena at 2B. That being said, my personal issue is I felt given Soriano's start to last year it's difficult to say he's what his career average is. He's picked it up with the Yankees and again started slow but is playing better now. Given the the cubs run differential having his production might have made a difference. So, I could be wrong there.

What probably should have been done is to play Lake in RF, Bonifacio in CF and then had they kept Soriano in LF. If not, they should have found a more suitable replacement. Defending Kalish and Sweeney is pretty difficult. I honestly can live with them gambling on a player like Bonifacio because he's shown the ability in the past to be a very productive player. He's obviously inconsistent which is why he's available. If you're going to gamble on a guy make it someone like that. I thought Kalish would have been fine if he started in AAA and had to earn his way up. Same can honestly be said for Sweeney too though I really hope they signed him to be more of a bench player than a starter. If you did something like that you could have Valbuena and Barney split time until the prospects eventually come up and then you get another useful piece(hopefully).

 

[theberserkfury]

See, I'd be playing Bonifacio in CF and Valbuena at 2B. That being said, my personal issue is I felt given Soriano's start to last year it's difficult to say he's what his career average is. He's picked it up with the Yankees and again started slow but is playing better now. Given the the cubs run differential having his production might have made a difference. So, I could be wrong there.

I have no issue with that either... I just don't ever wanna see Barney in the lineup...

 

[beckdawg]

This is from cubs den

In the wake of the Edwards injury and the Cubs general lack of pitching prospects, it should be noted that Mark Appel-- in Class A -- and has really struggled. In fact, he is being sent down to extended spring training to work out his issues.

"It's a little unsettling and the results aren't what we expect, " said Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, "His stuff wasn't as crisp as it normally was."

Sure seems like a lot of high profile guys are either going down to injury or having issues with stuff. I suppose that's the life of a pitcher.

 

[Uman85]

This is from cubs den



Sure seems like a lot of high profile guys are either going down to injury or having issues with stuff. I suppose that's the life of a pitcher.

It's an epidemic this year. So many TJ surgeries and the month of April isn't even finished. Thankfully Edwards avoided anything serious and hopefully the rest will get him back on track this year.

 

[theberserkfury]

It's an epidemic this year. So many TJ surgeries and the month of April isn't even finished. Thankfully Edwards avoided anything serious and hopefully the rest will get him back on track this year.

What was his diagnosis? I only heard he was going in for an MRI...

 

[Uman85]

What was his diagnosis? I only heard he was going in for an MRI...

Just fatigue and inflammation. He has to rest for two weeks before resuming a throwing regimen.

 

[nwfisch]

What was his diagnosis? I only heard he was going in for an MRI...

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-shutting-down-top-prospect-edwards-few-weeks

The organization’s top pitching prospect got an MRI on Friday that revealed fatigue and inflammation, but also showed his right shoulder to be structurally sound.

 

[beckdawg]

I'm still a bit worried about Edwards until he's good to go. Seems like they often find nothing and then later it turns into something. Shoulders seem to be especially nasty as they are harder to over come than elbows anymore.

 

[SilenceS]

Shoulder injuries are worse then arms. It is unsettling but I have always counted on him being a bullpen guy over a startr.

 

[Boobaby1]

That was pretty reasonably polite, Boo... I appreciate that.

I don't think Soriano is/was bad... I actually like him quite a bit. Yeah, I think he's probably better than what we have right now, but I don't think he would really be making much of a difference.

I think Lake could be part of the future... not saying he is or will be, but he's shown enough flashes to keep me interested. Don't care about Schierholtz.

Yeah, I agree that the object is to put better plays at each position when possible... but if Soriano was the only real change being made, I don't see that as being very significant. Sure the team would be marginally better, but unless there were going to be other significant additions, I don't think it would really matter.

Lake should be playing every day, Bonifacio should be at 2B every day and Valbuena should be spelling everyone... no disagreement there.

I'm not saying that's the proper way to run a team... but that is nevertheless the way it's being run. I don't see any reason to get myself worked up over something I can't change or control so I'll just get excited about the possibility that Lake turns into a useful player and that Black does the same.

The team would be better off with Soriano... but not enough to make a real difference in the outcome of this season. Since he isn't in his early 30s and wouldn't be on the team beyond this year anyway, I just don't see his absence really mattering at all. To me, Black in AA has the potential (no one freak out, I'm not saying he's going to succeed) to provide more value to the major league team in a couple years (and beyond) than Soriano would this year.

I think we just see things differently though... fair enough.

Let me clarify one thing. I never said that Soriano would be a difference maker. I am simply stating in my opinion that he is better than what we have in LF. Nelson Cruz would have been better in RF.

To have an outfield of Soriano, Bonafacio, and Cruz to me would have been upgrades at all 3 positions. Couple that with the way the starting pitching has done and I think you could see the Cubs in 2nd or 3rd place at worst.

They are paying most of Soriano's salary anyways, so by adding Cruz and Bonafacio to the payroll which is half of what Tanaka would have received, this Cubs team could be looking completely different right now. If nothing else, having Rizzo, Soriano, Cruz, Castro, and Olt in the middle of the line-up following table setters Bonafacio and Valbuena?.......Just sayin'.

 

[CSF77]

Back to prospects:

#1: Baez .167/.216/.354 2 HR 6 RBI
#2: Bryant .310/.449/.577 4 HR 10 RBI
#3: Almora .284/.299/.405 1 HR 10 RBI
#4 Edwards DL
#5: Soler DL
#6: Alcantara: .263/.275/.513 2 HR 12 RBI
#7 Johnson: 0-1 6.75 ERA 2.00 WHIP
#8 Vizcaino: 1.29 ERA 1.29 WHIP 1 Save
#9 Candelario: .179/.295/.299 1 HR 6 RBI
#10 Vogelbach: .233/.317/.329 2 HR 11 RBI


Best performers to date:

Tsuyoshi Wada: 3-1 .68 ERA .65 WHIP. Putting up over 9k/9 only 3 BB. Not sure why they don't promote him.
Hendricks 3-1 3.65 ERA 1.01 WHIP. around a 9/9 SO He looks like he will be a decent replacement for Hammel later year.
Jokisch 1-1 3.65 ERA 1.09 WHIP He might become a decent 2nd LH arm in the rotation next year. Better than Rusin.

Hitting at Iowa:
Chris Valaika .350/.443/.500 1 HR 11 RBI

All are not on the 40 man.

One guy that is interesting is Corey Black from the Sori trade.

Starting at Tenn. 1-1 2.65 ERA 1.12 WHIP He has 12 BB in 17 IP but has only given up 7 hits in that time. 16 SO's. If he gets better control of the strike zone as the year goes along he may be a lurker.

 

[dabynsky]

Back to prospects:

#1: Baez .167/.216/.354 2 HR 6 RBI
#2: Bryant .310/.449/.577 4 HR 10 RBI
#3: Almora .284/.299/.405 1 HR 10 RBI
#4 Edwards DL
#5: Soler DL
#6: Alcantara: .263/.275/.513 2 HR 12 RBI
#7 Johnson: 0-1 6.75 ERA 2.00 WHIP
#8 Vizcaino: 1.29 ERA 1.29 WHIP 1 Save
#9 Candelario: .179/.295/.299 1 HR 6 RBI
#10 Vogelbach: .233/.317/.329 2 HR 11 RBI


Best performers to date:

Tsuyoshi Wada: 3-1 .68 ERA .65 WHIP. Putting up over 9k/9 only 3 BB. Not sure why they don't promote him.
Hendricks 3-1 3.65 ERA 1.01 WHIP. around a 9/9 SO He looks like he will be a decent replacement for Hammel later year.
Jokisch 1-1 3.65 ERA 1.09 WHIP He might become a decent 2nd LH arm in the rotation next year. Better than Rusin.

Hitting at Iowa:
Chris Valaika .350/.443/.500 1 HR 11 RBI

All are not on the 40 man.

One guy that is interesting is Corey Black from the Sori trade.

Starting at Tenn. 1-1 2.65 ERA 1.12 WHIP He has 12 BB in 17 IP but has only given up 7 hits in that time. 16 SO's. If he gets better control of the strike zone as the year goes along he may be a lurker.

Interestingly Wada only threw 55 pitches his last time out. He was cruising and he was lifted early.

 

[dabynsky]

Remember when the Cubs clearly passed on the better player in the 2012 amateur draft. That clearly better player is in XST after putting up a sizzling 6.23 ERA in high A ball. I mean it is just terrible that the Cubs drafted two players younger than him and are performing at equal or higher levels of the minor leagues right now.

 

[chibears55]

Remember when the Cubs clearly passed on the better player in the 2012 amateur draft. That clearly better player is in XST after putting up a sizzling 6.23 ERA in high A ball. I mean it is just terrible that the Cubs drafted two players younger than him and are performing at equal or higher levels of the minor leagues right now.

Amazing how we haven't heard all the whining lately about how the cubs missed out on drafting him ....

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using Tapatalk

 

[SilenceS]

Eh, yall are taking it to far. It isnt because he sucked. Its because he is not use to the throwing program the Astros had him on. He was used to going every 7 days at Stanford and then he went to the Astros who are using a every 4 day tandem program. Then, they tried to move him to every 5th day. He had appendicitis surgery in January and it seem like the Astros rushed him a bit. I know it take awhile to get your full strength back after that surgery. I had it done to me and you are weak for awhile.

 

[nwfisch]

Remember when the Cubs clearly passed on the better player in the 2012 amateur draft.

I remember when the Cubs had their worst two season stretch under Theo Baseball in 2012 and 2013.

Good times, good times.

 

[beckdawg]

Tsuyoshi Wada: 3-1 .68 ERA .65 WHIP. Putting up over 9k/9 only 3 BB. Not sure why they don't promote him.
Hendricks 3-1 3.65 ERA 1.01 WHIP. around a 9/9 SO He looks like he will be a decent replacement for Hammel later year.
Jokisch 1-1 3.65 ERA 1.09 WHIP He might become a decent 2nd LH arm in the rotation next year. Better than Rusin.

I think Hendricks will be one of those guys who seemingly have no reason being as good as he may be. He's got such good control that I feel he'll stay in games by throwing strikes without over powering stuff. I also don't get why Wada hasn't gotten a shot. It's not like Villenueva has played well and Wada is like 31 IIRC. If they're going to try and showcase anyone for potential trades seems like he should be seeing MLB starts.