IST: Soler v Reds

[chibears55]

Don't want to get into this discussion again but I'd like to point out you just can't change some people. Case in point, Castro. Simply put, my worry is that for better or worse this is the player he is. It's one thing to say player <x> does skill <y> poorly and that's something he need to work on. For example, Rizzo vs left handed pitching last season. But when you're talking about changing a players approach to hitting it seems like a bigger deal. Not trying to say I know all there is to know about hitting but that's just my opinion.

Castro was told to stop being aggressive and take more pitches.

All im saying with Baez is not to stop being aggressive but to tone it down with 2 strikes...

He goes into next season still swinging from his heels with 2 strikes, he gonna find himself in Iowa sitting next to Olt before July, because there no way he gonna survive at the major league level chasing high fastballs and breaking pitches away with a big swing....

 

[chibears55]

Rizzo hurt with lower back tightness

 

[CSF77]

CINCINNATI -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo left Tuesday's 3-0 victory over the Reds in the eighth inning with lower back tightness.

Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a home run, his 30th of the season. He is the seventh left-handed batter in Cubs history to hit at least 30 homers in a season. The last to do so was Fred McGriff, who hit 30 in 2002.

Chris Valaika replaced Rizzo at first base.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp...tebook_id=91618352&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc

 

[JZsportsfan]

Castro should work with Baez this winter. Seems like a perfect match to help him

Alcantara has been picking it up the past few days, hope he is starting to make adjustments and gets back into a groove. I want to see the Cubs finish strong and gain some momentum moving into the winter and next season

Saw the Cubs are 46-45 since May 17. That's with a lot of dead weight on the roster in Barney, Lake, Olt, Jackson, and Sweeny. Team has really come a far way this season. Excited for Sept call-ups to see Soler, and also hoping to see a new and improved Mike Olt.

 

[SilenceS]

The most impressive thing from Castro this year in my opinion. He looks like he is so much more control of the zone. His swinging at pitches outside the zone is the lowest of his career. I would not have a good feeling when Castro use to get two strikes and now he looks comfortable. He will take pitches still and work a count even if he is behind in the count. That comes with maturity. The way Castro gets funky is in his stance. He gets unbalanced and it looks like it slows his bat down. When he went through that slump around the all star break and after. He was missing pitches he was hitting with authority earlier in the season. He was getting funky with his mechanics. He has been really hot since about a week before Baez came up. Castro is still progressing and learning. He has cut down the mental mistakes a ton this year. He still hasnt reached his peak power years and I believe Castro best days are still ahead. The guy has 3 different coaches and hitting coaches since he came up. I def. think that slowed his progression. Also, I read that him and Sveum didnt necessarily like each other.

As for Baez, this is what the Cubs called him up for. This is what they had to show him for him to do work in the off season. AAA was not going to show him how different the majors are. Its going to come with maturity and age, but this is why I have faith he will put it together. He can hit the ball the other way with power. He has already had what 3 opposite field home runs. He has plenty of plate coverage to hit the outside pitch and to hit it with authority. When he was hot, he was going more to right center. Its what him and Manny worked on when Manny got there. That was a big key to his K rate dropping in AAA. Another thing, Baez actually has pretty decent pitch recognition for his age. He isnt like Lake that had no idea if the pitcher was throwing a fastball or a slider. He can recognize the pitch. You can see how he can lay off the outside slider to some degree. Pitchers have been getting him by changing his eye sight. High and low pitches and the outside low corner pitch seem to the scouting report on him. Now, he has to work on adjusting to that. This is why the Cubs called him up. This is why they didnt wait until almost September. I highly doubt the Cubs are making any kind of judgements on him right now. They just want him to know what work needs to be done. Baez has always risen to the challenge and lets see where it goes. In todays league, Baez power is becoming a bigger and bigger asset. Lets give him more then 3 weeks.

 

[SilenceS]

The Alcantara HR tonight was pretty impressive and pretty fluky. He hit one where the ball was like at his chin. You are not going to hit many out like that, but impressive quickness with the bat to hit that ball the way he did though.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I disagree that he is recognizing pitches. Last night he got stumped on a deuce right down the heart of the plate. He strikes out swinging on 4 seamers way up and out of the zone. He is guessing wrong regularly, IMHO. Agreed that this is why they brought him up now. There isn't any reason not to be patient with him.

 

[SilenceS]

I disagree that he is recognizing pitches. Last night he got stumped on a deuce right down the heart of the plate. He strikes out swinging on 4 seamers way up and out of the zone. He is guessing wrong regularly, IMHO. Agreed that this is why they brought him up now. There isn't any reason not to be patient with him.

Changing his eye sight. Of course, he isnt going to recognize every pitch. What I was saying is he isnt like Lake and can decipher a fastball from a breaking ball. He does guess. He commits to pitches way before he should. You know who did the same thing last year? Rizzo. Rizzo has cut that down a lot this year. Last year he would swing just to swing because he was guessing the pitch. Baez does the same. I kind of think that comes from scouting reports. They get that all stuck in their head and forget just to see ball, hit ball. Rizzo has seemed to stop guessing that pitch and is more looking for location to zone in on. Like I said, that comes with time and maturity. Also, you saw frustration out of Baez yesterday. That is good and bad depending on what he does with it. Good if he controls it and uses it to get better. Bad if he gets worked up and just keeps trying to swing his way out of it.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Changing his eye sight. Of course, he isnt going to recognize every pitch. What I was saying is he isnt like Lake and can decipher a fastball from a breaking ball. He does guess. He commits to pitches way before he should. You know who did the same thing last year? Rizzo. Rizzo has cut that down a lot this year. Last year he would swing just to swing because he was guessing the pitch. Baez does the same. I kind of think that comes from scouting reports. They get that all stuck in their head and forget just to see ball, hit ball. Rizzo has seemed to stop guessing that pitch and is more looking for location to zone in on. Like I said, that comes with time and maturity. Also, you saw frustration out of Baez yesterday. That is good and bad depending on what he does with it. Good if he controls it and uses it to get better. Bad if he gets worked up and just keeps trying to swing his way out of it.

I disagree. Thinking the deuce was a FB out of the gate and letting a pitcher go up the ladder 2 straight pitches doesn't indicate changing eye levels. I get what you're saying and see some of the eye level things, but I can't agree that he is recognizing pitches well yet.

 

[SilenceS]

I disagree. Thinking the deuce was a FB out of the gate and letting a pitcher go up the ladder 2 straight pitches doesn't indicate changing eye levels. I get what you're saying and see some of the eye level things, but I can't agree that he is recognizing pitches well yet.

No problem. I said recognizing for his age. I dont mean well overall, but I meant for his age but it makes no difference. I get your opinion.

 

[brett05]

I disagree that he is recognizing pitches. Last night he got stumped on a deuce right down the heart of the plate. He strikes out swinging on 4 seamers way up and out of the zone. He is guessing wrong regularly, IMHO. Agreed that this is why they brought him up now. There isn't any reason not to be patient with him.

I agree. The whole point was for him to take his lumps and then take what he saw, watch video after video and work with the coaches to make adjustments.

Stepping on soap box...

I think they aren't worried abut production for Baez unlike they were with Rizzo. Baez has shown the ability to learn and make adjustments in the minors and the hope is he'll do that now. With Rizzo, he recovered from cancer and yes I believe it had a factor. They wanted to give Rizzo every chance to succeed in life first and baseball second.

I have no idea how Baez will handle it nor at what point given his age you would call Baez a less than stellar prospect. But what they are doing I agree with. And I think they should be doing the same with Bryant too but that's another story.

 

[SilenceS]

I agree. The whole point was for him to take his lumps and then take what he saw, watch video after video and work with the coaches to make adjustments.

Stepping on soap box...

I think they aren't worried abut production for Baez unlike they were with Rizzo. Baez has shown the ability to learn and make adjustments in the minors and the hope is he'll do that now. With Rizzo, he recovered from cancer and yes I believe it had a factor. They wanted to give Rizzo every chance to succeed in life first and baseball second.

I have no idea how Baez will handle it nor at what point given his age you would call Baez a less than stellar prospect. But what they are doing I agree with. And I think they should be doing the same with Bryant too but that's another story.

Bryant is two reasons. 1. They dont want to start his clock until next year. 2. His K rate wasnt going down at all. Now, he has been dropping it but the Cubs still want that year of control. He could come up 3 weeks after the start of next season and the Cubs gain a whole year

 

[brett05]

Bryant is two reasons. 1. They dont want to start his clock until next year. 2. His K rate wasnt going down at all. Now, he has been dropping it but the Cubs still want that year of control. He could come up 3 weeks after the start of next season and the Cubs gain a whole year

But both reasons to me are bogus. The cubs don't have to worry about the clock. I'd almost argue no team does, but whateves. Bryant's K rate has been high. That said so has every single facet of his game and that overcomes the high K rate for me.

 

[CSF77]

But both reasons to me are bogus. The cubs don't have to worry about the clock. I'd almost argue no team does, but whateves. Bryant's K rate has been high. That said so has every single facet of his game and that overcomes the high K rate for me.

I agree. As much has been made about his SO rate he has still hit .301 at Iowa.

Some stats:
AA: 248 AB .355/.458/.702 77 SO, 43 BB 22 HR
AAA: 226 AB .301/.420/.642 80 SO 41 BB 21 HR

Looking at the surface from the jump his SO's increased and his BA went down. That is expected vs better pitching. BB and HR the same. So his approach has not changed.

Him hitting .280 is not a reach with 40 HR power after he adapts. Sure he will SO 150+ but he will walk 100+ also.

 

[SilenceS]

He just got it done the past couple of weeks. He was around 35percent. Now it's a touch under 30. Unless that goes down to 25% I see no way he bats .280. His babip is not sustainable in the makors


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SilenceS]

But both reasons to me are bogus. The cubs don't have to worry about the clock. I'd almost argue no team does, but whateves. Bryant's K rate has been high. That said so has every single facet of his game and that overcomes the high K rate for me.

All teams play the control game. The cubs are no different. It's buisness no matter how much money your organization has.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CSF77]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/chc...md=20140827&content_id=91678308&vkey=news_chc

There's a good amount of subjectivity regarding baseball prospects. With the evaluation of talent being in the eye of the beholder, finding consensus is often difficult. Even Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLBPipeline.com don't always see eye to eye. They discuss their viewpoints regularly in a feature called Pipeline Perspectives. Submit a topic for them to debate.

Monday is a big day, and not just because it's Labor Day. Monday is Sept. 1, the day that all 30 teams can expand their rosters and an influx of prospects can flock to the big leagues. For contending teams, a late contribution from a September callup can be the jolt of electricity needed to put them over the top. For teams looking to the future, the final month of the season can provide an audition of sorts, allowing young players the opportunity to show what they can do.

With less than a week before callup day, it made perfect sense for Pipeline Perspectives to discuss potential additions. The precise question Jim and I are pondering: Which prospect would we most like to see get called up in September?

This isn't a debate over who we think will get called up, but rather the prospect we would really want to see compete at this level, regardless of whether it will realistically happen. I'm taking the obvious choice of Kris Bryant, while Jim is going "off the board" with an intriguing pick, Julio Urias of the Dodgers.

Why is Bryant, the Cubs' No. 1 prospect (and No. 3 on the Top 100 list), the obvious choice? There are a few reasons. He's at the top of the Cubs' Minor League system, in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Bryant is performing well there, continuing to hit for average and power, just like he did in the first half of his first full pro season in Double-A. The Cubs are clearly giving many of their top prospects a chance to show what they can do, with Javier Baez and Arismendy Alcantara being joined by Jorge Soler.

Those are simply the reasons why Bryant should get called up. There are some rationales for why he shouldn't. Bryant is not on the 40-man roster and technically doesn't have to be added until 2017. Yes, it's true that Baez wasn't on the roster, either, but this is his third full season of pro ball. It may seem difficult to believe, given how successful he's been, but Bryant is finishing up just his first full pro season. As of Tuesday, he had 713 plate appearances (Baez had 1,350 when he was brought up). These are the reasons why Bryant likely won't see Chicago in 2014.

But let me reiterate that this is a discussion on who we would like to see come up. Again, Bryant is the obvious choice, one that Jim won't even try to dispute. Who wouldn't want to see Bryant take his hacks for a month against big league pitching? He's only leading the Minor Leagues in home runs, slugging percentage and OPS, while sitting in second in RBIs and on-base percentage. Did I mention that Bryant is hitting a combined .306 and has 15 steals in 18 attempts to boot? Granted, no one wants to see him get to Wrigley to watch him run, but it was worth pointing out that he's a more complete player than some people think, with his gaudy power numbers overshadowing his overall game.

Sure, Bryant swings and misses a bunch (154 strikeouts), but that's part of the fun. He's far from a three true outcomes type (though he does have 84 walks) and he's shown an ability to make adjustments every time he moves up a level. Watching Bryant do so against the best the National League has to throw at him would be a lot of fun. Seeing if he could get to 50 home runs in a season while doing it only would add to the excitement. It's not far-fetched that Bryant could get there. Remember last year, between college, his pro debut and the Arizona Fall League, he hit 46 homers in 775 at-bats. Bryant currently has 43 in just 470. What would he do with another month of at-bats? You do the math.

The Cubs are in the NL Central cellar, but they've become a much more interesting team to watch since Baez joined them. If Bryant could hit every day in that lineup with him, Alcantara and Soler, they might be the most entertaining last-place team in baseball, and one no contender would want to face down the stretch.

Bryant's arrival is going to happen sooner rather than later, even if it's Opening Day 2015. I'd just rather see it now and get a head start on the future.

 

[CSF77]

I have to agree with Mayo. Not to mention it becomes a big sales pitch towards getting Lester to come over. Not to mention I'd like to see them screw with some play off agenda's next month.

Over all worth it and it would just point out how cheap the Ricketts are if they play the wait til week 2 game as happened to Springer.

 

[brett05]

All teams play the control game. The cubs are no different. It's buisness no matter how much money your organization has.


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At times, but there is no reason to with Bryant. Most teams don;t do it solely.

 

[zack54attack]

Baez's K's are frustrating, but I'd rather have him up learning now than mashing the ball in AAA and struggle when he comes up next season.