Down On The Farm:Cubs Minors Discussion Thread

[Jntg4]

Chicago Cubs report: "Anthony Rizzo left tonight's game with right wrist soreness. He is currently listed as day-to-day."

 

[Rice Cube]

He'll probably be okay.

 

[Rice Cube]

I-Cubs win. Is there an official article yet?

 

[Rice Cube]

Anthony Rizzo pulled from game with sore wrist | HardballTalk

 

[Rice Cube]

More clarification:

Cubs: Anthony Rizzo rumors untrue - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

 

[daddies3angels]

Twitter was fun for about 15 min last nite. Alot of speculation lol

 

[dabynsky]

That is what we have to go on right now, but as I keep pointing out. Soon...Soon....

 

[daddies3angels]

That is what we have to go on right now, but as I keep pointing out. Soon...Soon....

maybe. They now have reason to keep him down in the wrist. Those can be scary injuries as we know

 

[Jntg4]

Rizzo Watch: ETA: 26 Days

 

[Jntg4]

per Peoria twitter

Its official, Chiefs add 2011 #Cubs 1st round pick Javier Baez. Marco Hernandez to Mesa to make room on roster. The Official Site of Minor League Baseball | MiLB.com Homepage...

 

[dabynsky]

Too bad Peoria doesn't play at a team that does MiLB.tv anytime soon. I am really looking forward to the start of Boise's season because all their home games are on MiLB.tv. Looking forward to watching Vogelbach.

 

[Jntg4]

So, with the draft a week away and new faces surely coming onto the list, what changes would you recommend to this list?
1. Jackson
2. Rizzo
3. Baez
4. McNutt
5. Szczur
6. Maples
7. Vitters
8. Vogelbach
9. Candelario
10. Dolis
11. Castillo
12. Lake
13. Rhee

I know now that I am moving Rizzo, Vitters, and Lake all up at least one spot (before draft players added).

 

[dabynsky]

Well I think clearly Rizzo is the top prospect which is kind of what I thought heading into this year anyway. Jackson is still in the top 2 as far as I am concerned given his level. Baez should still be three. McNutt, Szczur need to be dropped. Robert Whitenack is starting to throw again and he is guy that might make a move into the top 10 prior to the draft picks. Honestly beyond Baez I think the rest of the guys are pretty interchangeable at this point until guys clearly take a step forward or back.

 

[Jntg4]

Dropped how much would you think? Szczur is just starting to rebound the last few weeks, got a .132 up to a 267.

 

[dabynsky]

Dropped how much would you think? Szczur is just starting to rebound the last few weeks, got a .132 up to a 267.

Not a ton, but again as I said I think it is just nitpicking because the guys in the system 5-15 are really pretty interchangeable at this point since they all have various pluses and negatives. That is really the strength of the system is that the Cubs have a "deep" system. They lack the impact guys at the top, but I think it was Callis that said the Cubs might have the best system in terms of prospects 10-30. I could be off in the quote, but I remember someone essentially saying what those of us who follow the Cubs know that there are a lot of interesting guys in the system. We just don't have that many clear bluechip guys. Hopefully that changes as the guys in the low minors move up in the system and establish themselves as legitimate top tier prospects.

I'll admit I haven't paid as much attention to Daytona as the other clubs so I missed the rebound in his performance, but he still has yet to have sustained success at that level. I think the recent performance by Vitters has leapfrogged him ahead of those guys given that he appears like he can handle 3B defensively and it appears like he is over his usual struggles adjusting to the level that he seems to go through with every promotion.

 

[nwfisch]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuWbkVsV7rM]Tim Mcgraw - Down on The Farm with Lyrics (Greatest Hits) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Jntg4]

I'm all for moving Vitters up all the way to 4th, CNM and I are higher on him than most.

 

[dabynsky]

I'm not that high on Vitters, but production at AAA is more impressive than production at high A. The paitence that Vitters showed early on seems to have been just an early season thing, but the power production going up is very encouraging. The biggest thing that has changed my opinion on Vitters is the fact that he looks like he could play 3B. Last year he was beyond terrible at the hot corner, but he has been decent this year. That makes a huge difference in terms of what kind of bat he needs to be a viable big league regular.

 

[Jntg4]

Oh, so Iowa is on MiLB.TV and you have seen him first (or second I guess) hand then as opposed to radio stream?

 

[Rice Cube]

I think if Vitters can improve his defense (I'm not sure if he was so bad that they never considered trying him at 2B or what) and grows into enough power to stick at 3B or any corner for that matter, I'll be happy with an average MLB contributor. That's what you hope for with most prospects is that they are serviceable. If he becomes an All-Star or HOFer, so be it, but that's a bit overboard