Farm System

[jstraw]

I think Castro will be fine moving over to 2B if that's what needs to happen.

It will take eight visits to the infield by the bench coach to remind him he's supposed to stand somewhere new...then he'll be fine.

[funkster]

And that can all change after another good draft + trading Shark for 1-2 decent pitching prospects. As bad as 2014 is shaping up to be, that's all there is left to look forward to.

It can also change if any of the power arms we stocked up on over the last few drafts emerge.

[vitaminB]

 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rok" data-cid="214473" data-time="1391010766">
<div>
I think Castro will be fine moving over to 2B if that's what needs to happen.

It will take eight visits to the infield by the bench coach to remind him he's supposed to stand somewhere new...then he'll be fine.

 

</div>
</blockquote>
 

They can just lure him over there with a pile of sunflower seeds.

[rok]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rok" data-cid="214473" data-time="1391010766">

I think Castro will be fine moving over to 2B if that's what needs to happen.

It will take eight visits to the infield by the bench coach to remind him he's supposed to stand somewhere new...then he'll be fine.</blockquote>
Eh, his defense actually improved dramatically over the 2nd half of the season. Not saying that he is cured from ever making another mental error (who is?), but I think 2B would be a fairly easy transition for him. The double pumps would hurt him less too.

[BT]

 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rok" data-cid="214473" data-time="1391010766">
<div>
I think Castro will be fine moving over to 2B if that's what needs to happen.

It will take eight visits to the infield by the bench coach to remind him he's supposed to stand somewhere new...then he'll be fine.

 

</div>
</blockquote>
Every single prognostication I've seen for Castro is bullish on him. He might not be the superstar we thought he'd be, but everything from scouts to software says he will come back (maybe not all the way) from 2013. Don't expect him to drive the offense, but it's not insane to expect him to stop weighing it down.

[jstraw]

What will change?

[CFOrfan]

I've seen a lot of predictions about Castro getting to 20 HR this season with a solid BA and usually low OBP. I just don't see it. I've never been a big Castro supporter, but I don't see him as bad as last season OR as good at his rookie year.

[rok]

I expect him to deliver his career averages:


.280/.320 with a boost in slugging to .450 with about 15 HR. Book it.

[1060Ivy]

The folks over at Baseball Think Factory have developed their ZiPS projections for all ESPN's Keith Law's top prospects and  7 Cubs prospects rank in ZiPS projections top 100. 

 

ZiPS projections seems to have more love for Cubs prospects than Keith Law.   According to ZiPS projections, Cubs prospects ranked consistently higher than Law's with Baez topping the ZiPS projections.

 

Here's what the article had to say regarding Javier,

"Baez's 2013 performance in the minors at .248/.293/.472, and while that OBP is slightly on the low side, that's a phenomenal offensive season for a 20-year-old shortstop. ZiPS compares Baez to names such as Cal Ripken, Alex Rodriguez, Tony Batista, and Danny Tartabull."

 

Regarding one of the largest discrepancies between ZiPS and Law was noted with Cubs Alcantara. Here's Alcantara's projections,

"ZiPS sees Alcantara regularly hitting in the .260s with 15-20 home runs a year, but with hitters like Michael Young, Barry Larkin, and Robin Yount high up in his offensive comp list, there's the possibility that he's even better."

 

 

In addition to Baez and Alcantara being ranked higher, here are other Cubs prospects in their Top 100 and how they compare to Law's ranking

Baez ZiPS rank 1st vs Law's ranking of 7

Bryant ZiPS rank came in 9th vs Law's ranking of 15

Alcantara ZiPS rank came in 13th vs Law's ranking of 71

Almora ZiPS rank came in 24th vs Law's ranking of 28

Soler ZiPS rank came in 40th vs Law's ranking of 26

Edwards ZiPS rank came in 53rd vs Law's ranking of 67

Vogelbach ZiPS rank came in 97th vs Law's ranking of NA

 

So what's this all mean?  Don't know how much you want to read into the projections for prospects but it does bode well and it's nice that ZiPS seems to like the Cubs prospects more than Law.  Overall, my takeaway is that ZiPS supports that the Cubs have a great set of prospects. 

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/i...spects-mlb

 

Noticed that John at Cubs Den had a similar write up on ZiPS projections for Cubs prospects so for more ...

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/...her-notes/

[rok]

I don't know what it all means, but I do know that if those projections are what we have to look forward to, Baez in particular, I'm gonna be pissed. And it will be another long decade of losing.

[funkster]

A comparison to Alex Rodriguez when he was a shortstop makes you mad?

[CFOrfan]

Yeah, Cal Ripken? I'll take a Cal Ripken at SS for 15 years.

 

And Alcantara comparing to Larkin/Yount/Young? Even if he was a Young, he had a very, very good career. Hell, I'd be happy if Baez had a Michael Young-type career.

[rok]

A comparison to Alex Rodriguez when he was a shortstop makes you mad?

No, just the numbers they threw up there. Sub .300 OBP and sub .250 BA? Barf...

[1060Ivy]

 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="funkster" data-cid="214616" data-time="1391625239">
A comparison to Alex Rodriguez when he was a shortstop makes you mad?

No, just the numbers they threw up there. Sub .300 OBP and sub .250 BA? Barf...
 


</blockquote>
 

It's a matter of expectations.  That stat line - .248/.293/.472 - for someone that fans have touted as one of the foundations for club - "? where's the OBP? what's that BA?" - but that stat line for a 20 year, SS in the MLB is outstanding assuming that he can continues to improve while already being basically a the top 20 slugging % in the MLB.  Prospects take time even if they make it into the majors.

[rok]

I suppose, but the context definitely matters. If he is making decent contact and hitting with power (like Rizzo year 2) then I will take it, but if he's striking out a lot and mostly swinging for the fences (ie Corey Patterson) then I'll be concerned.