2010 Minor League Roundup

[bmadison]

Lee won't be making it. Calis had said so in a chat a while back. That said, BA whacks off over Archer and he'll be a top 25-40ish guy for sure. I think Brett winds up in the top 50 and McNutt is somewhere near the top 50 himself. The Cubs have the 8th best farm system in baseball, according to BA. According to at least one scout, the Cubs have more future major leaguers than any other team in baseball in their system.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=124835:date=Jan 4 2011, 03:43 PM:name=bmadison)-->QUOTE (bmadison @ Jan 4 2011, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->According to at least one scout, the Cubs have more future major leaguers than any other team in baseball in their system.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably more of an indictment of our mediocre at best 25 man roster than anything, but I hope that scout is correct.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=124837:date=Jan 4 2011, 03:45 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 4 2011, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=124835:date=Jan 4 2011, 03:43 PM:name=bmadison)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bmadison @ Jan 4 2011, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->According to at least one scout, the Cubs have more future major leaguers than any other team in baseball in their system.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably more of an indictment of our mediocre at best 25 man roster than anything, but I hope that scout is correct.
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As long as the Orioles are a franchise, our minor leaguers will always have a future home.

[bmadison]

<!--quoteo(post=124837:date=Jan 4 2011, 04:45 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 4 2011, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=124835:date=Jan 4 2011, 03:43 PM:name=bmadison)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bmadison @ Jan 4 2011, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->According to at least one scout, the Cubs have more future major leaguers than any other team in baseball in their system.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably more of an indictment of our mediocre at best 25 man roster than anything, but I hope that scout is correct.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


No, it's the Wilken approach used to perfection is what it is. He takes guys who are athletic enough to play spots up the middle. He also doesn't take toolsy, high-upside guys for the most part. Less risk involved also means less high end guys, but the Cubs will have plenty of 3-5 starter types, tons of relief prospects(some back end guys too, not just middle relief) and plenty of position players who could start for small market teams or be solid semi-regular players for the Cubs or solid backups. Of course, the Cubs have some potential regulars too, but that's what the scout meant: Overall major league players, not just top end guys obviously.

If Ricketts actually DOES open his pocketbook and allows Wilken the ability the spend 10 mill on this upcoming draft, then the strategy will change and there will be more risks taken, which possibly could give the Cubs plenty of rewards in the process. It'd be nice to have a high profile guys in our system again.

[rok]

Hopefully this doesn't turn into Shark Part 2.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Outfielder Matt Szczur has verbally agreed to a deal worth $1.5MM with the Cubs, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. Tony Pauline first reported the deal (on Twitter).

Szczur, 21, was the Cubs' fifth round pick in the 2010 draft. He agreed to a $100K signing bonus at the time and hit .347/.414/.465 in 116 A-ball plate appearances after signing. Szczur then returned to Villanova for his senior football season, and this new contract buys him away from a potential NFL career.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=127120:date=Jan 18 2011, 09:03 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 18 2011, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hopefully this doesn't turn into Shark Part 2.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Outfielder Matt Szczur has verbally agreed to a deal worth $1.5MM with the Cubs, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. Tony Pauline first reported the deal (on Twitter).

Szczur, 21, was the Cubs' fifth round pick in the 2010 draft. He agreed to a $100K signing bonus at the time and hit .347/.414/.465 in 116 A-ball plate appearances after signing. Szczur then returned to Villanova for his senior football season, and this new contract buys him away from a potential NFL career.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Szczur is thought of as a more polished ball-player than Samardzija was at the time; Samardzija was a high upside guy. Szczur is, too, but maybe a little less risk (and obviously a lot less money at risk).

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=127120:date=Jan 18 2011, 08:03 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 18 2011, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hopefully this doesn't turn into Shark Part 2.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Outfielder Matt Szczur has verbally agreed to a deal worth $1.5MM with the Cubs, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. Tony Pauline first reported the deal (on Twitter).

Szczur, 21, was the Cubs' fifth round pick in the 2010 draft. He agreed to a $100K signing bonus at the time and hit .347/.414/.465 in 116 A-ball plate appearances after signing. Szczur then returned to Villanova for his senior football season, and this new contract buys him away from a potential NFL career.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You refer, of course, to the spelling issue?

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=127120:date=Jan 18 2011, 06:03 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 18 2011, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hopefully this doesn't turn into Shark Part 2.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Outfielder Matt Szczur has verbally agreed to a deal worth $1.5MM with the Cubs, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. Tony Pauline first reported the deal (on Twitter).

Szczur, 21, was the Cubs' fifth round pick in the 2010 draft. He agreed to a $100K signing bonus at the time and hit .347/.414/.465 in 116 A-ball plate appearances after signing. Szczur then returned to Villanova for his senior football season, and this new contract buys him away from a potential NFL career.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Shark? Naw. This is the Scorpion!

[Scarey]

If anyone's curious, I believe his name is pronounced the same as Caesar.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=127189:date=Jan 19 2011, 08:25 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Jan 19 2011, 08:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If anyone's curious, I believe his name is pronounced the same as Caesar.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I would have gone with Scissor. The possibilities could have been endless.

[bmadison]

Szczur is most definitely a project. But, the ball jumps off his bat, he has plus speed, and he has the ability to play all 3 OF spots. It's going to take quite a while for all of this to come to fruition, but you couldn't ask for a better "character" guy either. His upside is a high OBP speed guy with 15ish homer power that's a top of the order hitter. I've seen Carl Crawford comps for him from some.

[bmadison]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/308271-...oes-matt-szczur

By the way, for those that may not know what kind of person Szczur is, read this and you'll find out.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=127287:date=Jan 19 2011, 02:14 PM:name=bmadison)-->QUOTE (bmadison @ Jan 19 2011, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->http://bleacherreport.com/articles/308271-...oes-matt-szczur

By the way, for those that may not know what kind of person Szczur is, read this and you'll find out.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
His name is still missing some vowels.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

<!--quoteo(post=127161:date=Jan 18 2011, 10:48 PM:name=Destined)-->QUOTE (Destined @ Jan 18 2011, 10:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=127120:date=Jan 18 2011, 06:03 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Jan 18 2011, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hopefully this doesn't turn into Shark Part 2.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Outfielder Matt Szczur has verbally agreed to a deal worth $1.5MM with the Cubs, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. Tony Pauline first reported the deal (on Twitter).

Szczur, 21, was the Cubs' fifth round pick in the 2010 draft. He agreed to a $100K signing bonus at the time and hit .347/.414/.465 in 116 A-ball plate appearances after signing. Szczur then returned to Villanova for his senior football season, and this new contract buys him away from a potential NFL career.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Shark? Naw. This is the Scorpion!
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Like I pointed out on another thread, Szchur--with PROPER Polish pronunciation here (sayeth the Polack kettle who was taught by his family to pronounce his own name very, very wrong)--means "rat."

[Giff]

For those that are interested, the Kane County Cougars have a ticket package that gets you tickets to 10 (I think) Peoria Chiefs games when they come to Kane County. I think I'm gonna take advantage.