Down On The Farm:Cubs Minors Discussion Thread

[waldo7239117]

What about Cardenas at second?

Defense behind, I'd rather go with Vitters. Cardenas looks to be a bench player at best, he's struggling in Triple A. Cardenas isn't a good defender too, so just go with Vitters. I don't know when if Vitters has ever played 2B either. If I'm Theo, I'm switching Cardenas to 3B ang giving Vitters playing time in Triple A at 2B

 

[Uman85]

MLB Prospect Watch: Making the Comparison - Brett Jackson

Pretty good outlook on Jackson. Worth the read.

 

[dabynsky]

4-8-12
AA-Southern League
(3-1 T-1st North)Tennessee Smokies 7 at (1-3 T-4th North)Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) 4
The Smokies scored 7 runs in two innings to beat the Lookout for a third time in thier five game series. Smokies starter Dae-Eun Rhee earned a no decision going 5.2 IP giving up 4 R (3 ER). The Lookouts got on the board first with an unearned run due to a 3B Matt Cerda fielding error in the fifth. The Smokies put 4 runs on the board in the 6th, but the Lookouts would tie the game in the bottom of the inning with 3 of their own. The Smokies scored 3 more runs to close the scoring out in the 7th. Rhee was relieved in the sixth by Ryan Searle who pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless ball. Kevin Rhoderick earned the save with a scoreless ninth. The Smokies offensive was evenly spread out but 1B Justin Bour went 2 for 4 with a run and 2 RBI. 3B Matt Cerda made up for his fielding error with a two RBI triple, and Logan Watkins went 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored. CF Jae-Hoon Ha went for 1 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
AAA-Pacific Coast League
(2-2 T-2nd American South)Round Rock Express (TEX) 7 at (2-2 T-2nd American North)Iowa Cubs 2
Jay Jackson gave up the big inning in his first start for Iowa. Jackson was cruising in the early innings with a slim 1-0 lead, but ran into trouble in the fifth inning. Jackson was unable to finish the inning and yield a lead which was expanded to 5-1 in the next inning with Ryan Rowland-Smith pitching. Iowa earned that 1-0 lead due to a leadoff groundball double by Tony Campana in the third inning. Campana hit the ball past the drawn in 3B weakly that died in the LF grass. Campana would score on a sac fly by new I-Cub SS Luis Valbuena. Anthony Rizzo would tie the game with an eighth inning homerun he pulled deep into right field. The I-Cubs won on a double by Brett Jackson that hit the ground of the warning track softly on in right center.
Scouting Reports (Iowa Cubs):
SP Jay Jackson-Jackson’s fastball was consistently in the high 80s. He rushed it up to 91 during the fifth inning while he was laboring. Jackson also throws a slider. He recorded 9 straight outs from the end of the 1st to the middle of the 4th. The third time through the order he walked the bases loaded and gave up a bases clearing double. Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up another hit to allow the inherited runner to score. The big inning was Jackson’s problem last year, and his stuff was far from overwhelming.
RP Jeff Beliveau-Beliveau was impressive in his two innings of relief. He got four strikeouts mainly by elevating his fastball. He used a cutter that runs in on right handed batters.
LF Tony Campana-Hit a soft single to start the game. The ball was trapped by the centerfield Julio Bourbon. He stole second base, but a good throw would have had him. The throw drifted into the basepath and Campana knocked the ball out with his head first slide. Campana had a “double” that was hit past a drawn in 3B. He slid into second base for good measure. In another at bat he worked a 3-0 count and was able to drive a fastball solidly up the middle for a single. He had a successful sacrifice bunt at the end of the game, but he popped up the first attempt at a bunt however.
CF Brett Jackson-Jackson had two solid base hits. He worked the count deep throughout the night, and showed good situational hitting with a groundout that advanced Campana in the third inning. He did strikeout on a called strike on an outside pitch with a 2-2 count. Jackson made a good defensive play in centerfield on a deep drive. He played the ball perfectly off the wall and with a strong throw held the batter to a single.
SS Luis Valbuena-Valbuena looked comfortable at SS. He made two plays moving to his left. One was a routine play where he made a low throw to Rizzo that he dug out, and the other was nice reaction play on a sinking line drive. A hard hit ball got past him to his right, and he made a routine play moving to his right smoothly. Valbuena had a strong double to drive in the first run of the game.
1B Anthony Rizzo-Rizzo was getting tied up with the inside fastball the entire game. He popped up on an inside pitch in his first at bat. He also hit a hard chopper to the first baseman. He expanded his strikezone on the strikeout with a curveball in the dirt. His homerun was a deep drive off a fastball that caught too much of the plate.
3B Josh Vitters-Made a nice ranging play to his right and had a strong across the diamond in the game. Vitters makes a lot of contact, and his approach does appear to be improving at the plate. He fouls off a lot of pitches. He twice had his knees buckled by breaking balls from a right handed reliever but got a solid single off a 3-2 pitch

 

[dabynsky]

What about Cardenas at second?

Cardenas defense at second has been a lot better than what I was led to believe. I haven't seen him make any amazing plays yet, but he has been steady. 3B looks like he is definitely weaker at, at least arm wise.

Defense behind, I'd rather go with Vitters. Cardenas looks to be a bench player at best, he's struggling in Triple A. Cardenas isn't a good defender too, so just go with Vitters. I don't know when if Vitters has ever played 2B either. If I'm Theo, I'm switching Cardenas to 3B ang giving Vitters playing time in Triple A at 2B

Cardenas has been hitting the ball awfully hard down in triple A. He hasn't always been getting the base hits, but he has a good approach at the plate and a little pop.

As far as Vitters goes, he has never played 2B as a pro. He has played a few games at 1B but the vast majority has been at 3B. He made an error yesterday that I have yet to get to in watching games, but prior to that he has been good at 3B.

 

[waldo7239117]

Cardenas defense at second has been a lot better than what I was led to believe. I haven't seen him make any amazing plays yet, but he has been steady. 3B looks like he is definitely weaker at, at least arm wise.


Cardenas has been hitting the ball awfully hard down in triple A. He hasn't always been getting the base hits, but he has a good approach at the plate and a little pop.

As far as Vitters goes, he has never played 2B as a pro. He has played a few games at 1B but the vast majority has been at 3B. He made an error yesterday that I have yet to get to in watching games, but prior to that he has been good at 3B.

I know he hasn't played 2B, but I think he should get playing time at 2B. I know he's plaed 1B, but that's all Rizzo's. I like what I've seen from Stewar and think they should keep hom there. I did think about Stewart playing 2B and Vitters play 3B, but Stewart is a better defender.

I like Cardenas, but I think Barney would produce more as of now, I would take him as utility over DeWitt, tho.

 

[dabynsky]

I know he hasn't played 2B, but I think he should get playing time at 2B. I know he's plaed 1B, but that's all Rizzo's. I like what I've seen from Stewar and think they should keep hom there. I did think about Stewart playing 2B and Vitters play 3B, but Stewart is a better defender.

I like Cardenas, but I think Barney would produce more as of now, I would take him as utility over DeWitt, tho.

I thought you asked if he played 2B. That was what your previous post seemed to indicate though it was hard to tell given the wording.

Cardenas bat is probably going to be better than Barney's given his approach and power. That doesn't mean that Cardenas really ought to be more than a utility guy, but that is really what Barney ought to be as well.

 

[DewsSox79]

I thought you asked if he played 2B. That was what your previous post seemed to indicate though it was hard to tell given the wording.

Cardenas bat is probably going to be better than Barney's given his approach and power. That doesn't mean that Cardenas really ought to be more than a utility guy, but that is really what Barney ought to be as well.

barney hit a homer yesterday.

 

[dabynsky]

barney hit a homer yesterday.

Campana hit a double Sunday. Miracles do happen.

 

[waldo7239117]

I thought you asked if he played 2B. That was what your previous post seemed to indicate though it was hard to tell given the wording.

Cardenas bat is probably going to be better than Barney's given his approach and power. That doesn't mean that Cardenas really ought to be more than a utility guy, but that is really what Barney ought to be as well.

I was sayin' they should work Vitters at 2B, give him playing time and see how he does. A platoon of Barney and Cardenas may be good for now until they sign or a player gets called up that will play full-time. Cardenas bats lefty and bote rplayers will bat 8th in the line-up.

 

[waldo7239117]

Campana hit a double Sunday. Miracles do happen.

Was it actually a gap double? Down the line double and a bloop - speed double does not count.

 

[dabynsky]

Was watching the Smokies game from Saturday this morning and they had Oneri Fleita on the broadcast. Most of it was fluff about Fleita's past, involvement with the Latin American program the Cubs run, and working with Theo. However there were two things he talked about that I think were interesting:
1. Geraldo Concepcion-He was asked about where he would start he first stated Daytona but after a pause added or Peoria. Could be reading too much into the comment but it appears the first thought is once he is done with XST to send him to Daytona. Also Fleita talked about the advantage the Cubs have had in recruiting Cuban players given the number of players they've signed in the past couple of seasons. The Cubs have really positioned themselves well for the new CBA in terms of Cuba with the amount of Cuban players in the system and the new Dominican facility.

2. Matthew Spencer-I didn't know anything about this guy when Fleita was asked about him. I looked up his statistics and I know why since he was is a 26 OF that never hit much. What is interesting about him is that he is another OF that is being transitioned into a pitcher. He has been shut down right now due to tendonitis, but Fleita says he is a left hander who can hit mid 90s and has a curveball with some potential. Any southpaw that can throw that hard is interesting.

Again just a couple of interesting tidbits that Fleita mentioned in an interview that probably isn't being reported widely.

 

[Rice Cube]

Forgot if this was posted before:

Service Time Considerations For Top Prospects: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Brett Jackson could be called up in May sometime, Rizzo probably closer to July. I highly doubt the Cubs (with their relatively deep pockets) care about Super Two so that's what I would expect.

 

[dabynsky]

Yeah May seems about right for Jackson though it will present in interesting scenario if all 3 OFs on the big league roster are hitting. They all we need playing time to build up the opportunity to trade them away. If Byrd is still in a tailspin then a platoon in CF seems possible starting in May.

 

[dabynsky]

Actually while I am thinking about, Iowa has had some interesting lineup construction the entire season. Campana-Brett Jackson have hit 1-2 pretty much every game. Vitters has been hitting eighth most games and Rizzo has hit cleanup every game. The 3 spot has been a rotating spot that has had a bunch of different non-prospects hitting there. Seems like the I-Cubs are getting Jackson and Rizzo ready for their respective spots in the order. I think I am going to write about Vitters here because in watching the I-Cubs he has been the most suprising guy so far.

 

[Rice Cube]

This I-Cubs game is nuts.

Iowa vs. Round Rock - April 15, 2012 | MiLB.com Gameday | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball

Had a good chance to go up in the top of the 12th, but couldn't cash in.

 

[Rice Cube]

A short article on Super Two status and part of the reason you aren't seeing guys like Rizzo and Jackson called up right now...

How Much Is Super Two Status Worth?: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

 

[dabynsky]

A short article on Super Two status and part of the reason you aren't seeing guys like Rizzo and Jackson called up right now...

How Much Is Super Two Status Worth?: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

If Rizzo is brought up this year he almost certainly will be Super Two. The article mentions upping the amount of Super 2 players. I forgot if that was included in the new CBA or not. If so that could mean Jackson might be staying down even longer.

 

[poodski]

I'd like to see them do away with the super two.

I understand the reasoning behind it, but teams now a days are just holding back players so they don't qualify. Kind of defeats the purpose.

 

[Rice Cube]

If Rizzo is brought up this year he almost certainly will be Super Two. The article mentions upping the amount of Super 2 players. I forgot if that was included in the new CBA or not. If so that could mean Jackson might be staying down even longer.

I'm of the mind that the Cubs (as a large market team with funds to match) don't care so much about Super Two as they do about that extra year of control. So they'll just bring up Rizzo and Jackson whenever spots open up.

 

[Rice Cube]

4/17 Cubs to pick 6th in Draft

The Cubs will have the sixth pick in the First-Year Player Draft, to be held June 4. They also will have the 43rd and 56th selections in the sandwich round as compensation for Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena, respectively. The Draft will have 40 rounds this year and not 50, and will span three days. The first round and compensation round will be held on June 4, and the Draft will resume on June 5 with rounds No. 2-15. June 6 will cover rounds No. 16-40.