BA Cubs Top 10

by rdf8585 on Jan 12, 2009 12:25 PM EST Comment 14 comments

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267407.html

1.     Josh Vitters, 3b
2.     Jeff Samardzija, rhp
3.     Andrew Cashner, rhp
4.     Dae-Eun Rhee, rhp
5.     Wellington Castillo, c
6.     Kevin Hart, rhp
7.     Starlin Castillo, ss/2b
8.     Ryan Flaherty, ss
9.     Jay Jackson, rhp
10.     Hak-Ju Lee, ss

Other lists for comparison sake -

Sickels' list: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/11/29/675375/chicago-cubs-top-20-prospe

Goldstein's list: http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8296

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Harden

Rich Harden as the number 4 starter in 2012!!!

Behind Zambrano, Samardzija, and Cashner.

I know Harden’s health is a question, but so is Zambrano’s. BA usually places established players before prospects. Neither is a can’t miss prospect either. This is probably the most ridiculous thing that I have seen in one of these projections.

by NMUWildcat027 on Jan 12, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

COME ON!

You can’t begin to compare Harden’s reliability to Zambrano’s. Zambrano has made 30+ starts every year from 03-08.
Harden has made 30+ starts ONCE.
Harden’s career high in innings would almost tied for Zambranos career LOW in innings since he became a fulltime starter.

You can’t honestly compare the two.

Plus, BA has freely admitted that the 2012 lineup/rotation projections are meaningless “just for fun” exercises designed to give you a snapshot of what COULD happen with the organizations current players.

by nms on Jan 12, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Come on?

I was not comparing their past injuries, I was comparing their health questions.

Harden has his history working against him. Zambrano has his current condition working against him. He looked down right awful at the end of the year last year, and I truly think there is something wrong. I will take the guy who was injury prone and showed dominance in overcoming the injury over the guy who I think is injured right now. No injury for a pitcher is minor and until Zambrano shows he is done with whatever it was that was bothering him, I would rather have Harden.

by NMUWildcat027 on Jan 12, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree for the most part

With Harden, he’s either the #2 starter in that rotation… or not on the team at all.

by guru4u on Jan 12, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd call him the #1 (or not on the team/on the DL)

If he’s fully healthy, Rich Harden is basically the best pitcher in baseball. The problem is, he’s fully healthy for 10 starts a season if you’re lucky.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 12, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Zambrano and Harden

Their health concerns are not even in the same ballpark.

by aCone419 on Jan 12, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cubs

Well, this is sort of it (the last one) for the major organizations that put out team prospect lists. I can buy the top 10. They messed up Starlin’s last name. With the Cubs, I think after the top 2, you can really order it in any way and be probably okay.

I like the fact that Starlin was listed that high. I wasn’t sure if it was just hyperbole from Tim Wilken for a system guy so it’s nice seeing this. I like the fact that Jay Jackson is getting more recognition.

I’m not a huge fan of the projected lineup aspect in general (reality is, the chances for most organizations to fill holes from just internal options is a bit unlikely). Two things I don’t agree with:

Tyler Colvin in RF in 2012. This isn’t a statement on what Colvin is now or the future. Rather it’s this – if he’s bad, then he isn’t making it. If he’s good … well RF is locked up until 2011 with Bradley (notwithstanding the fact that Colvin has an average at best RF arm). If Colvin is good, he’ll most likely be utilized as a trade asset to fill our holes in 2009 and 2010 (and he’s starting 2009 delayed a bit, due to TJ).

Andrew Cashner in the rotation. Nope, just don’t see that.

I think, while the Cubs organization is going to be ranked rather low, that the team is headed in the right direction, albeit slowly. There’s more upside seeping into the lower levels, and I’m fairly happy about the pitching from this past draft. They’ve made moves to stack the lower levels with some lefty arms as well, which is always nice considering the Cubs pen options from the left side in 2009 may start with Sean Marshall and Neal Cotts, which isn’t exactly top level pen lefties.
_______________________________________
Some other lists:

My List: http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/1/1/705921/my-cubs-top-50-prospects-1

MiLB season review: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/season_in_review.jsp?c_id=chc

I don’t know who runs GROTA, but they have a list as well: http://www.goatriders.org/taxonomy/term/155

Scout.com has a Top 20 list, but the only way is to be a member (or google and view cached – if this breaks any rules, feel free to delete).

by toonsterwu on Jan 12, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I also don't buy Harden for 2012

because, well, I just don’t see us signing him to an extension. It feels like another veteran arm will be added, and I think the front office will push for Samardzija to get a rotation shot before settling him in the pen, and I think that shot will come at least in 2010.

by toonsterwu on Jan 12, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They don't project FA movement.

by aCone419 on Jan 12, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i understand that

i was just trying to acknowledge that while i understand the ridiculousness of the projections (which they’ve admitted before), that I don’t see some of those projections happening in general, that is, colvin in rf, harden and cashner as sp in 2012.

by toonsterwu on Jan 12, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Colvin RF thing

Is just a shot at the lousy OF depth the Cubs’ minor league system has.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Jan 12, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs