Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

[SilenceS]

Rizzo deserves it more this year. Better OBA/SLG.

Position wise, I argue maybe not. They both are deserving but the Cubs being bad means only one is getting the nod.

 

[SilenceS]

Coco Supercrab (Hustledown Estates): Does this recent buzz about Alcantra's positional versatility suggest the organization is considering other candidates for long term 2B? Baez?

Mauricio Rubio: I think it suggests that they want to maximize Alcantara's value while keeping their options open on the infield. Your assumption isn't necessarily incorrect, Alcantara's flexibility does open up 2B for a guy like Baez, but I think it has a lot more to do with Alcantara than anything...
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RobWillerMLB (Plainfield): What's the ceiling on Jen Ho Tseng?

Mauricio Rubio: 3 Starter, and a pretty damn good one. He's got a lot of polish for 19 and he's shown at least a surface understanding of pitch sequencing. Command is pretty good too and if the change comes around he can be really fun. I like him a lot. Curve is really good when it's on.






Brian (MI): Arismendy Alcantara - What could we be looking at here. A .280/.320/.430 guy with 15/15 potential?

Mauricio Rubio: Maybe a little more slug, but that's in the ballpark of what I was thinking. He's got surprising power due in large part to his big boy wrists.






Carl Monday (The 4th Floor): Kyle Schwarber. Bigger beast in the batters box or the sack?

Mauricio Rubio: Probs the sack.

Sahadev Sharma interviewed him yesterday, he wolfed down three burgs. It was apparently impressive.

 

[Boobaby1]

Position wise, I argue maybe not. They both are deserving but the Cubs being bad means only one is getting the nod.

If the records were better, I'd love to see the pitching get some All-Star recognition because the ERA's are there. Wouldn't hurt for the trade value either if any were voted in.

 

[brett05]

Your not, whys that? Haney is worse defensively then Castro and there numbers are right on par.

The system works agsinst him this time around

 

[TL1961]

Don't know where you are lost

I am lost on your suggestion that a player's power numbers would drop if moved out of the 4th spot in the order.

If moved to leadoff, SOME players might adjust their approach somewhat, focusing more on OBP, and thus sacrificing SOME power. But Castro, as with so very many guys the Cubs have brought up over the years, won't adjust his approach.

If moved to the 8th spot, a player may see fewer good pitches, and his numbers may suffer some, even if his approach was the same. But there is no reason to consider that scenario. There is no way he is ever being moved to the 8th spot.

Batting 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, even 6th....why on Earth would his power numbers make a significant change? RBI's may, due to opportunity. But that isn't a refeletion of his power numbers.

 

[TL1961]

If the records were better, I'd love to see the pitching get some All-Star recognition because the ERA's are there. Wouldn't hurt for the trade value either if any were voted in.

GM's and scouts aren't using an AS game appearance as a factor in their evaluations.

 

[chibears55]

Position wise, I argue maybe not. They both are deserving but the Cubs being bad means only one is getting the nod.

I think they both go unless they choose to take arrieta then they probably only take 1 position player, my guess rizzo who becoming more the face of the cubs now

 

[beckdawg]

Tulow is going to be the SS starter. Hanley has marginally better offensive numbers(more steals better OBP, lower average). He's probably got more name recognition and plays in LA. I'd say he's in too. After that it's a crap shoot. Not sure if they roll with 3 SS or not without looking. Jhonny Peralta is better defensively than Castro has more homers and plays for a team in competition. Jimmy Rollins is within range homer has more stolen bases and is better defensively. Ian Desmond is probably in consideration as well. Really any of those 3 could deservingly go.

As for Rizzo, if he doesn't go he frankly got snubbed. There's better name recognition in front of him but leads NL 1B in homers and is 5th in OBP and has been 5th best in UZR/150. It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't go given the cubs have been pretty crappy and he's young. But I'd say he deserves to go more than Castro and Castro would be a deserving player if he went.

 

[dabynsky]

Tulow is going to be the SS starter. Hanley has marginally better offensive numbers(more steals better OBP, lower average). He's probably got more name recognition and plays in LA. I'd say he's in too. After that it's a crap shoot. Not sure if they roll with 3 SS or not without looking. Jhonny Peralta is better defensively than Castro has more homers and plays for a team in competition. Jimmy Rollins is within range homer has more stolen bases and is better defensively. Ian Desmond is probably in consideration as well. Really any of those 3 could deservingly go.

As for Rizzo, if he doesn't go he frankly got snubbed. There's better name recognition in front of him but leads NL 1B in homers and is 5th in OBP and has been 5th best in UZR/150. It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't go given the cubs have been pretty crappy and he's young. But I'd say he deserves to go more than Castro and Castro would be a deserving player if he went.

Yeah I am guessing the Cubs get snubbed on position players and that one of the starters Shark, Hammel or Arrieta get in since that is in the hands of the manager. Rizzo on the balot for the fan vote would be my guess.

 

[brett05]

I am lost on your suggestion that a player's power numbers would drop if moved out of the 4th spot in the order.

If moved to leadoff, SOME players might adjust their approach somewhat, focusing more on OBP, and thus sacrificing SOME power. But Castro, as with so very many guys the Cubs have brought up over the years, won't adjust his approach.

If moved to the 8th spot, a player may see fewer good pitches, and his numbers may suffer some, even if his approach was the same. But there is no reason to consider that scenario. There is no way he is ever being moved to the 8th spot.

Batting 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, even 6th....why on Earth would his power numbers make a significant change? RBI's may, due to opportunity. But that isn't a refeletion of his power numbers.

He's a six/seven guy. Your iwn writings talk about the change. He's now had three approaches in three years. That says it all to change. I've been right on Castro his entire career. Ill let that be my guide

 

[SilenceS]

He's a six/seven guy. Your iwn writings talk about the change. He's now had three approaches in three years. That says it all to change. I've been right on Castro his entire career. Ill let that be my guide

You have been right? So, you predicted he would have a bounce back year and already surpass his homerun and RBI total before the break?

 

[chibears55]

You have been right? So, you predicted he would have a bounce back year and already surpass his homerun and RBI total before the break?

Think he predicted castro would be better then alexei ramirez despite ramirez hot start..

 

[SilenceS]

Think he predicted castro would be better then alexei ramirez despite ramirez hot start..

Na, it was the opposite. No gm would take Castro over Alexei this year. I like Brett, but he puts on his hater glasses hard when it comes to Castro.

 

[TL1961]

Tulow is going to be the SS starter. Hanley has marginally better offensive numbers(more steals better OBP, lower average). He's probably got more name recognition and plays in LA. I'd say he's in too. After that it's a crap shoot. Not sure if they roll with 3 SS or not without looking. Jhonny Peralta is better defensively than Castro has more homers and plays for a team in competition. Jimmy Rollins is within range homer has more stolen bases and is better defensively. Ian Desmond is probably in consideration as well. Really any of those 3 could deservingly go.

As for Rizzo, if he doesn't go he frankly got snubbed. There's better name recognition in front of him but leads NL 1B in homers and is 5th in OBP and has been 5th best in UZR/150. It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't go given the cubs have been pretty crappy and he's young. But I'd say he deserves to go more than Castro and Castro would be a deserving player if he went.

Jhonny Peralta is not better defensively, hasn't had as good an offensive year, and plays for a team closer to last than first. The Cards' position in the standings doesn't earn Peralta a spot. He is not a good SS and isn't worthy of All Start consideration.

And unless a guy is on pace to steal 100, "more stolen bases" means next to nothing. Rollins going based on stolen base numbers? No.

Hanley is likely. But market means little, as the backups are chosen by the manager.

 

[TL1961]

He's a six/seven guy. Your iwn writings talk about the change. He's now had three approaches in three years. That says it all to change. I've been right on Castro his entire career. Ill let that be my guide

The coaches tried to get him to change his batting. I am talking about whether Castro will walk to the plate and say to himself "I need to be sure to make contact here, there's a man on third and nobody out." He won't.

 

[brett05]

The coaches tried to get him to change his batting. I am talking about whether Castro will walk to the plate and say to himself "I need to be sure to make contact here, there's a man on third and nobody out." He won't.

Well see

 

[beckdawg]

Jhonny Peralta is not better defensively, hasn't had as good an offensive year, and plays for a team closer to last than first. The Cards' position in the standings doesn't earn Peralta a spot. He is not a good SS and isn't worthy of All Start consideration.

And unless a guy is on pace to steal 100, "more stolen bases" means next to nothing. Rollins going based on stolen base numbers? No.

Hanley is likely. But market means little, as the backups are chosen by the manager.

Any defensive metric you want to look at will disagree with you but whatever. I can't be arsed to argue the point. As for Castro vs Rollins, .288/.334/.470 vs .252/.333/.385. Castro has a better average but their on base is similar. Castro obviously has more power. However at 11 vs 8 it's not *that* pronounced. And as I said Rollins gives you 16 stolen bases compared to 3 and far superior defense(8th in UZR/150 vs 23rd). The overall package is better and there's more name recognition there with Rollins.

I mean look I said Castro was deserving but that doesn't mean Peralta and Rollins aren't. Additionally, if managers are playing to win this game for the WS advantage, you can make the argument for Andrelton Simmons and Zack Cozart besides Peralta as they are the top 3 defensive shortstops in UZR/150 and given they will be coming off the bench anyways having a third guy who's a superior defender after Tulow and likely Hanley go out would be smart.

 

[brett05]

Na, it was the opposite. No gm would take Castro over Alexei this year. I like Brett, but he puts on his hater glasses hard when it comes to Castro.

For one year??? Come on now

I don't hate Castro. Had him for a signing and he was great at our shop.

 

[SilenceS]

For one year??? Come on now

I don't hate Castro. Had him for a signing and he was great at our shop.

If we talking longevity? Every Gm would take him. We talking this year they would still take him. You know it. One day, you will be a Castro fan. Bank on it my friend.c

 

[SilenceS]

d

Any defensive metric you want to look at will disagree with you but whatever. I can't be arsed to argue the point. As for Castro vs Rollins, .288/.334/.470 vs .252/.333/.385. Castro has a better average but their on base is similar. Castro obviously has more power. However at 11 vs 8 it's not *that* pronounced. And as I said Rollins gives you 16 stolen bases compared to 3 and far superior defense(8th in UZR/150 vs 23rd). The overall package is better and there's more name recognition there with Rollins.

I mean look I said Castro was deserving but that doesn't mean Peralta and Rollins aren't. Additionally, if managers are playing to win this game for the WS advantage, you can make the argument for Andrelton Simmons and Zack Cozart besides Peralta as they are the top 3 defensive shortstops in UZR/150 and given they will be coming off the bench anyways having a third guy who's a superior defender after Tulow and likely Hanley go out would be smart.

So, I have a question for you? I respect you but you are very much a numbers guy over seeing how they play. You are a sabers guy. More than me. I reaspect and understand sabers but I always am all about the eye test. You always talking about stolen bases. Stolen bases is not something saber guys like. Unless, you are great at stealing bases you are looking a 30 percent fail rate. Sabers was originally against any stolen bases. It was all about getting on base. So, m question is most people completely ignore Soriano as a hall of famer but you add in Stolen bases there have been very few that have achieved his numbers across the line. I mean Tim Raines isnt in. So, I feel like its a pick and choose. Dont think I am coming after you? I just think you pick and choose your favorites. Lets be real you have never really cared for Castro. O get your point but fo0r being a sabers guy you ignore some things with him. I just want to know why. If you dont like him, I am perfectly ok with that just getting your perspective. Trust me, I have my favorites too.