John Sickels' Take on the Cubs Farm.....

by PopeFlick on Feb 1, 2007 12:59 AM CST Comment 17 comments

I got my copy of "The Baseball Prospect Book 2007" by the esteemed Mr. Sickels. Lots to read, but here's his breakdown of the Cubs.

Atkins C+
Avery C
Ceda C
Cherry C
Clevenger C
Coats C
Colvin B-
Fox C+
Gallagher B
Harben C+
Harvey C
Holliman C
Huseby C
Lansford C
Layden C
Mateo C+
Moore C+
Muldowney C
Papelbon C
Patterson B+
Pawalek B
Pie B+
Pignatello C
Rapada C
Rayborn C
Robinson C
Ryu B-
Samardzija B-
Shaver C
Soto C
Taylor C
Theriot C+
Veal B+

Al - if this violates TOS over copyright, then please delete.

I'm happy to see that he likes Samardzija, because anything above a C needs to be earned by John.

Quotes:

Theriot - "It's a fluke folks....NOT a guy....who will...hit .300+ if you give him enough playing time for his luck to run out."

Ryu (who he termed a major league a-hole over the osprey incident in his 2005 edition) "he has lost some velocity....but it looks faster at times because of the contrast with his curve, change-up and slider....reports indicate he's grown up emotionally."

Samardzija - "The Cubs drafted him, then used some of the money saved by not having 2nd, 3rd and 4th picks to pay....raw for a college pitcher....plus a general lack of polish...could be excellent....could be the pitching version of Joe Borchard."

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I think he's a little too high on Samardzija......

but everyone seems to be. He's just not in the same class as Veal and Gallagher right now, I just don't see how he's just a step below them.

RAMIREZ!! PRIOR!!

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Feb 1, 2007 1:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think B- is probably correct.

C prospects are ones that have a chance to contribute at the major league level but aren't going to be stars. Samardzija has the chance to be a little better than that so B- is about right until he proves himself. In Sickel's ratings there is a big difference between B+ and B- so it's not that Samardzija is just a step below Veal. Gallagher is a little tougher. I've seen numerous opinions on his ceiling. B seems about right.

by rlpete on Feb 1, 2007 8:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No...

... that's not a copyright violatoin; remember, John is also a SB Nation blogger. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

Obligatory link to Minor League Ball

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 1, 2007 7:58 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I knew that....

....but as someone who is patently against the napster culture (as a intellectual property owner myself) I wouldn't want him to come here and see any portion of his book reprinted if he does not wish so. That must be resepcted.

It's actually prolly good advertising but some don't feel that way.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

by PopeFlick on Feb 1, 2007 10:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice wordplay

"patently against"

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 1, 2007 4:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And...

for those that were hoping the Cubs could trade Dopriak last season as part of a deal to get a quality major leaguer, Sickels doesn't even rate him in the top 30.

by rlpete on Feb 1, 2007 8:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yet another reason...

... to trade prospects when it's appropriate to do so, when their value is highest.

I mean, some people here think Rocky Cherry might become a decent ML reliever. Why? He's pitched exactly two games above AA and he will be 28 in August. What in his record would indicate that he could succeed in the majors? Usually, someone at that age who's going to make it would have at least had a callup or two.

Jim Hendry tends to overvalue his prospects.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 1, 2007 9:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why is the Cubs' farm system always bad?

The last time the Cub system was consistently productive was the 80's. What goes wrong? No matter who they hire to run it--it just never works. The system was hyped quite a bit in the early 2000's--not just by the Cubs themselves, but by supposed outside experts. As bad as Tampa Bay is, they have a crop of young players that the Cubs haven't matched in 20 years.

by BillV on Feb 1, 2007 9:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs