Our farm system

[savant]

Vitters recurring hand/wrist issue is really starting to concern me. It will be interesting to see what he does in the AFL. Scarey, I think Vitters is better suited to remain in the infield because his only true negative is a total lack of foot speed.

I still really like Flaherty, he got off to a poor start but ended up with really good numbers in A ball. Even if he ends up being a super sub type that can play some short with a quality left-handed power bat, he has a pretty decent amount of value.

Castro had the best year of anyone in our minor leagues this year, while being pushed to levels well past his age. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Chicago at some time next year. Lee had a tremendous year coming off of the TJS, and is also going to be pushed hard through the system. Never in my time as a Cub fan have we ever had two plus prospects at short. We also have LeMahieu, Barney and Lake, each of whom would have been considered our best shortstop prospect in almost every other year I can remember.

Brett Jackson got a lot of shit for being a late first round pick, but he killed the ball after signing. Everything I have seen on his defense is that he will not only project as centerfielder, but he will be above average. KB, I saw in another thread that you wee worried about his plate discipline, but that is not his problem. He has always taken a lot of walks, he just swings and misses more than you would like to see from the typical top of the order hitter. If he keeps developing the power and can keep his k rate around 25% he is going to be a stud. Colvin gets a tremendous amount of shit for being a reach in a horrendous draft class, but if you look at his age appropriate numbers in AA after he got healthy this year it is hard to squabble to much with the pick. Kyler Burke had the second best year of anyone in our minor leagues, although he was very much age appropriate for the league it was his third season in the league. I would really like to see him pushed next year, ideally all the way to AA, let's see if he really learned something this year.

Pitching wise, we have several very interesting prospects. Cashner, Carpenter, and Jackson all have the potential to be top shelf starters. Archer, Coleman, and Rhee all have some issues but show the ability to be major league contributors as starters. Caridad, Gaub, Stevens, Parker, and Maestri all appear to have the ability to be major league bullpen guys.

In my opinion Wilken has done a tremendous job in a very short period of time of returning our system to respectability. Tom, I know you say you don't care about the minor leauges but the next time a Roy Halladay comes on the market I don't want to hear that we can't be involved in the trade discussions because we don't have the prospects to get a trade done. Having a strong farm team is necessary to have a strong major league team.


My top ten list
Drum roll please


Castro
Vitters
Lee
Cashner
B. Jackson
J. Jackson
Capenter
Burke
Flaherty
Colvin

LeMaheiu, Coleman, Rhea, Thomas, Raley and Watkins would all normally be good enough to make a Cubs top ten prospect list.

[Scarey]

Fuck yeah Savant, we need more prospect talk around here.

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=65628:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:20 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 6 2009, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuck yeah Savant, we need more prospect talk around here.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No.

[savant]

<!--quoteo(post=65637:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:25 PM:name=PcB)-->QUOTE (PcB @ Oct 6 2009, 04:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65628:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:20 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 6 2009, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuck yeah Savant, we need more prospect talk around here.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Come on into my rape tunnel yoot.

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=65638:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:26 PM:name=savant)-->QUOTE (savant @ Oct 6 2009, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65637:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:25 PM:name=PcB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PcB @ Oct 6 2009, 04:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65628:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:20 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 6 2009, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuck yeah Savant, we need more prospect talk around here.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Come on into my rape tunnel yoot.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You want me to crawl into your asshole?

[savant]

If I say yes, will you?

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=65643:date=Oct 6 2009, 04:29 PM:name=savant)-->QUOTE (savant @ Oct 6 2009, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If I say yes, will you?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'll get my diving suit and give it a go.

[Coach]

<!--quoteo(post=65623:date=Oct 6 2009, 05:13 PM:name=savant)-->QUOTE (savant @ Oct 6 2009, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Vitters recurring hand/wrist issue is really starting to concern me. It will be interesting to see what he does in the AFL. Scarey, I think Vitters is better suited to remain in the infield because his only true negative is a total lack of foot speed.

I still really like Flaherty, he got off to a poor start but ended up with really good numbers in A ball. Even if he ends up being a super sub type that can play some short with a quality left-handed power bat, he has a pretty decent amount of value.

Castro had the best year of anyone in our minor leagues this year, while being pushed to levels well past his age. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Chicago at some time next year. Lee had a tremendous year coming off of the TJS, and is also going to be pushed hard through the system. Never in my time as a Cub fan have we ever had two plus prospects at short. We also have LeMahieu, Barney and Lake, each of whom would have been considered our best shortstop prospect in almost every other year I can remember.

Brett Jackson got a lot of shit for being a late first round pick, but he killed the ball after signing. Everything I have seen on his defense is that he will not only project as centerfielder, but he will be above average. KB, I saw in another thread that you wee worried about his plate discipline, but that is not his problem. He has always taken a lot of walks, he just swings and misses more than you would like to see from the typical top of the order hitter. If he keeps developing the power and can keep his k rate around 25% he is going to be a stud. Colvin gets a tremendous amount of shit for being a reach in a horrendous draft class, but if you look at his age appropriate numbers in AA after he got healthy this year it is hard to squabble to much with the pick. Kyler Burke had the second best year of anyone in our minor leagues, although he was very much age appropriate for the league it was his third season in the league. I would really like to see him pushed next year, ideally all the way to AA, let's see if he really learned something this year.

Pitching wise, we have several very interesting prospects. Cashner, Carpenter, and Jackson all have the potential to be top shelf starters. Archer, Coleman, and Rhee all have some issues but show the ability to be major league contributors as starters. Caridad, Gaub, Stevens, Parker, and Maestri all appear to have the ability to be major league bullpen guys.

In my opinion Wilken has done a tremendous job in a very short period of time of returning our system to respectability. Tom, I know you say you don't care about the minor leauges but the next time a Roy Halladay comes on the market I don't want to hear that we can't be involved in the trade discussions because we don't have the prospects to get a trade done. Having a strong farm team is necessary to have a strong major league team.


My top ten list
Drum roll please


Castro
Vitters
Lee
Cashner
B. Jackson
J. Jackson
Capenter
Burke
Flaherty
Colvin

LeMaheiu, Coleman, Rhea, Thomas, Raley and Watkins would all normally be good enough to make a Cubs top ten prospect list.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree with most of this except for the Colvin part.

My top ten:
Vitters
Castro
Cashner
J Jackson
Lee
Carpenter
Flaherty
Burke
Coleman
B Jackson


Brett Jackson could definitely jump up in the mid part with a solid full season. i really like LeMaeiu's potental after his CWS showing.

[Ace]

It's totally unsupported, and probably irrational, but I can't help the fear that Castro is older than we think.

He came out of relative nowhere, has succeeded at levels VERY high for his age, and at least 25% of prospects out of the Dominican Republic have issues with their birth certificates.

Again - I am not saying this is the case with Castro. I'm just saying it is a concern that comes out of a good place: he seems too good to be true.

[Coach]

<!--quoteo(post=65687:date=Oct 6 2009, 07:50 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Oct 6 2009, 07:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's totally unsupported, and probably irrational, but I can't help the fear that Castro is older than we think.

He came out of relative nowhere, has succeeded at levels VERY high for his age, and at least 25% of prospects out of the Dominican Republic have issues with their birth certificates.

Again - I am not saying this is the case with Castro. I'm just saying it is a concern that comes out of a good place: he seems too good to be true.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
While that may be true, it is much harder to lie about one's age these days.
MLB has really cracked down on it, as evidence by a few guys being suspended this year after signing.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=65687:date=Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's totally unsupported, and probably irrational, but I can't help the fear that Castro is older than we think.

He came out of relative nowhere, has succeeded at levels VERY high for his age, and at least 25% of prospects out of the Dominican Republic have issues with their birth certificates.

Again - I am not saying this is the case with Castro. I'm just saying it is a concern that comes out of a good place: he seems too good to be true.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Even if he is 21 instead of 19, I'm still pretty happy with where he's at. His value isn't nearly as high if that were somehow true, but he'd still be a solid SS prospect.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=65735:date=Oct 6 2009, 11:03 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 6 2009, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65687:date=Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's totally unsupported, and probably irrational, but I can't help the fear that Castro is older than we think.

He came out of relative nowhere, has succeeded at levels VERY high for his age, and at least 25% of prospects out of the Dominican Republic have issues with their birth certificates.

Again - I am not saying this is the case with Castro. I'm just saying it is a concern that comes out of a good place: he seems too good to be true.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Even if he is 21 instead of 19, I'm still pretty happy with where he's at. His value isn't nearly as high if that were somehow true, but he'd still be a solid SS prospect.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What if he's 41?

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=65752:date=Oct 7 2009, 08:08 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Oct 7 2009, 08:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65735:date=Oct 6 2009, 11:03 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 6 2009, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65687:date=Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's totally unsupported, and probably irrational, but I can't help the fear that Castro is older than we think.

He came out of relative nowhere, has succeeded at levels VERY high for his age, and at least 25% of prospects out of the Dominican Republic have issues with their birth certificates.

Again - I am not saying this is the case with Castro. I'm just saying it is a concern that comes out of a good place: he seems too good to be true.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Even if he is 21 instead of 19, I'm still pretty happy with where he's at. His value isn't nearly as high if that were somehow true, but he'd still be a solid SS prospect.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What if he's 41?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If that were the case, then I'd like to know how a 16 year old boy was mistaken for a 38 year old man by scouts.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=65758:date=Oct 7 2009, 08:46 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 7 2009, 08:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65752:date=Oct 7 2009, 08:08 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Oct 7 2009, 08:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65735:date=Oct 6 2009, 11:03 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 6 2009, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=65687:date=Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Oct 6 2009, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's totally unsupported, and probably irrational, but I can't help the fear that Castro is older than we think.

He came out of relative nowhere, has succeeded at levels VERY high for his age, and at least 25% of prospects out of the Dominican Republic have issues with their birth certificates.

Again - I am not saying this is the case with Castro. I'm just saying it is a concern that comes out of a good place: he seems too good to be true.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Even if he is 21 instead of 19, I'm still pretty happy with where he's at. His value isn't nearly as high if that were somehow true, but he'd still be a solid SS prospect.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What if he's 41?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If that were the case, then I'd like to know how a 16 year old boy was mistaken for a 38 year old man by scouts.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Or vice versa.

[Butcher]

Maybe he waxes.