Nate Samson - Traded emails with BA

by toonsterwu on Aug 9, 2008 1:26 AM CDT

I send in occasional questions to BA because Jim Callis does a superb job of responding to people, for which I am grateful for. I thought this might be interesting. I was tempted to do a pure "minor league discussion thread" but it would have to be constantly updated to stay up top, so I didn't know about that, and I figured Josh would have first rights to doing something like that.

I don't know what SB Nation's rules are in regards to private correspondance. I imagine email that I send out can be posted. Now, I didn't ask Jim Callis for permission to post his reply, but it is quick and short right now. If this is something SB Nation does not allow, then please delete this, and my sincerest apologies.

So, why send an email about Nate Samson? .308/.368/.375 in the MWL for a 20 year old (almost 21). That's awfully good. 17 doubles - a bit of pop in the bat, which, admittedly, isn't that important. 42/30 K/BB is fine. Another thing - he plays shortstop. What's the problem? Can he stick at short?

Again, this isn't the most interesting discussion, but I figured I'd share.

My email:

"To whom it may concern:

Sorry, another question on Cubs A ball prospects if you have time. Could I get some quick thoughts on Nate Samson of the Cubs in Peoria? His bat has played well this year, and it seems like there's a bit more power that might develop as he moves forward (not much, a bit more), along with the fact that his frame could probably get bigger. That said, like Jovan Rosa, he seems like a guy that might move to the other side of the diamond, and in this case, 2nd base. Is there hope for his glove to stick at short? Can his bat play enough at 2nd? Is it fair to say that he might be somewhat similar to recent Cubs draft pick Ryan Flaherty? How does he compare? I am hopeful that either Nate or Ryan can stick at short because 2nd is arguably the deepest position in this somewhat thin system. Thank you.

Sincerely
Tony Wu"

Jim Callis' response (again, please delete if this is inappropriate as I did not ask for permission in the original email):

"Tony:

All that is fair. Not sure either guy is a SS. Maybe they stick there, but you'd probably be looking for a better defender if either was your big league SS.

--Jim Callis"

This is both a really positive, and really negative, reply. Samson getting compared to Flaherty shows good development and scouting within the system. It shows that the system has more value. Samson and his defensive flaws? Big problem, and if Ryan and Nate end up at 2nd ... that's a shame as we have enough 2nd base options in the system, and 2nd base is a position that can be found. Right now, our top shortstop guy is probably Darwin Barney, and right now, the outlook isn't so bright there, showing some defensive flaws despite his athleticism, along with showing the offensive concerns people had. Other than that, the next guy that might show some ability at short, if you don't count Nate and Ryan, is in AZL, whether it's Starlin Castro (not sure yet if the bat will play well enough) or Junior Lake (feels, and this is just based on a gut feel) like another 2nd baseman. There's Lee Hak-Ju in Korea, but to be fair, he's a kid, so expectations shouldn't be high. There's a couple DSL guys, but they are all raw right now.

C/2nd are, relatively, strong areas in the system right now. 1st/3rd have upside, but not depth. SS is a big hole. OF is somewhat in the middle, mild intrigue. Everyone's hoping the pitching heavy draft this past year will restock a system that had gotten a bit thin on that front.

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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Comments

FWIW

People here like me appreciate the heck out of post like this from yourself and Josh. I’m too lazy to keep up with our minors on a consistent basis. So this kinda post interest me in the highest degree. thanks again josh and u for doing this for myself.

from the mouth of Uecker:

"Am I the only one who’s glad it’s only a 4-game series? If was a 9-game series, I think the Cubs would win them all."

by cubsluver22 on Aug 9, 2008 8:26 AM CDT reply actions

Ditto!

As much as I hate to acknowledge VEB, they have a pretty sweet thing going over there with “future red birds.” Anyway we could get that going with a couple of knowledgeable volunteers? If so, my only request is that we as fans maintain a realistic outlook with reasonable expectations about the value of our farm system. I see comments over there for example suggesting that a guy hitting .300 in A ball is the next coming of Ted Williams. While I am an optimist, stuff like that pisses me off!

by fanofthegame on Aug 9, 2008 9:18 AM CDT reply actions

You might be on to

something here. Under my favorites I have all the Cubs minor league teams. Generally once or twice a week I check a game story and the stats.

Having said that. What Josh does is very nice. But what you have done here, is take it to the next level. Might be interesting to have a post with comments from managers, players and the like on one prospect.

You can break it out to each position. Take maybe the two top prospects (any level) and focus in on them. I guess it all depends on how hard someone would want to work on this. Any volunteers?

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 9, 2008 12:36 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks for the replies

I think starting a minor league thread would be nice, even if it is simply just fan discussion. We’d have to work hard at keeping it up top, though, because if I understand SB rules correctly, after a certain number of days not posting, it drops.

I was thinking of posting my revised top 50 with quick comments, along with a depth chart. I’ll try to get to that at some point this weekend, with the idea that it is meant to spur discussion (and not me saying my view is right, as it is all perspectives). Anyhow, I’ll be away for a bit this afternoon, so if someone wants to start a thread, that’d be cool.

I really feel that, with Nate Spears, Nate Samson, and Ryan Flaherty, you have three guys that should be graded somewhat similarly, with Spears having success at a higher level (and his success at the end of last year in AA should be a sign that the performance this year is relatively “real”), Flaherty perhaps with the highest upside, but both Nate and Ryan likely having to move to 2nd. If that happens, add in Josh Harrison, Tony Thomas, Dwayne Kemp, and Junior Lake, amongst others, and we are loaded at 2nd base from AAA on down next year. It’s nice to be deep somewhere, although you’d prefer it to be at another position.

by toonsterwu on Aug 9, 2008 12:56 PM CDT reply actions

So many 2B prospects...

does it indicate an organizational weakness in evaluating SS defensive potential? Does make one wonder.

by jbau on Aug 9, 2008 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

it's a hard position

that’s the truth of it – it’s a hard position to assess.

Let’s be clear, though – while people quesiton if Flaherty and Samson can stick, it doesn’t mean they can’t. Could they end up providing Ryan Theriot like defense at the position? It’s not impossible.

by toonsterwu on Aug 10, 2008 1:39 AM CDT up reply actions

are 2B prospects really all that hard to come by?

it’s pretty much the weakest position on most teams, right? relatively “easy” to play defensively but still not expected to hit for power?

the pink hat guy is my father

by joeschmitt on Aug 10, 2008 4:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Shortstop is a hole in the system, but it's not the biggest problem in the world

Ryan Theriot should be Cub shortstop for a few more years. After that if there aren’t in house options then the big revenue Cubs obviously engineer a trade or go the free agency route for A.) “stopgaps” or B.) a pricier longer-term solution.

by MDBNIU on Aug 9, 2008 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

certainly, you could always do that

and go on the market, but it would be nice to develop internally, because shortstop prospects are highly valued, so even if you have one already, you can still go out.

by toonsterwu on Aug 10, 2008 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions

maybe the Cubs will have a Hanley or a Jose fall in their laps

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Aug 10, 2008 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

thanks for the post

one question: what do you mean by

17 doubles – a bit of pop in the bat, which, admittedly, isn’t that important.

(emphasis added).

power isn’t important??!

the pink hat guy is my father

by joeschmitt on Aug 10, 2008 4:40 AM CDT reply actions

all i meant

was that, for a middle infielder, particularly if he can stick at short, power isn’t the biggest thing. It’d be a luxury more than a necessity (that is, to have a middle infielder with power). Could’ve probably phrased that better.

by toonsterwu on Aug 10, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions