BA Southern League Top 20

Jay Jackson checks in at 11, which is great news because this league has a lot of big name prospects.

about 1 month ago nji232 12 comments 3 recs |

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which was interesting in that, they suggested he had a plus curve, average slider. In the grand scheme of things, not that big a deal, but I was under the impression, along with when I saw him this year, that it was still a plus slider, developing/potential plus curve.

I am still a bigger fan of Jay Jackson than Cashner. Cashner has more upside, due to frame and fastball, but Jackson, IMO, as of the end of the year, was closer to making an impact in the bigs, and has more of an arsenal right now to buy that he can stick as a starter. I still believe he has TOR potential (keyword being potential).

There is a chance, though, of Jay struggling in the PCL if he is there next year, as his flyball rate in the SL could be a problem for him in the PCL.

BA’s top 10 for the Cubs will be tremendously fascinating. Jackson checked in at 11 for the SL, Cashner would’ve ranked high in the FSL, they loved Brett Jackson in the MWL comments, perhaps moreso than Vitters, and Lee was the top prospect in the NWL (though comments on him suggest to me that his hype might be getting ahead of things by a bit right now, which is par for the course with raw, high potential young talents. His statistics, as inconsistent as forecasters as minor league stats are, also indicate that.) One thing to keep in mind is that the process with which they do the league lists, the top 10’s for each team, and the top 100 are different, but the league lists make me think there’s a decent chance of 6 Cubs in the top 100, and I didn’t think there was remotely a chance of that prior to seeing their league lists (again, just referencing BA right now).

For me personally, I still think I’m going to rank the top 7

1. Starlin Castro
2. Josh Vitters
3. Jay Jackson (still debating moving him ahead of Vitters)
4. Andrew Cashner
5. Chris Carpenter
6. Brett Jackson
7. Hak-ju Lee

Still sorting out the last 3, but the plus reports from the esteemed AzPhil on Dae-Eun Rhee in instructs has me leaning to sticking with Rhee in the top 10, along with Kyler Burke.

As I said early this year, the bashing of the Cubs system by Cubs fans should end this year. We have a real solid system. Elite? No, but real solid. There’s good diversity of talent, good up the middle talent. Still need more pieces, but very pleased with where things stand. Of course, guys have to develop for it to matter.

by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

AzPhil's reports have me feeling good about Rhee

seems like he will be a potential front line starter down the line. Personally I would put Jackson in front of Vitters, and might argue Cashner too. I just feel like Vitters’ flaw is going to kill him in the end.

Kind of funny how our minor leagues have improved over the past season

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Oct 8, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

based on the reports last year, prior to surgery

Rhee was arguably our most talented arm, with some suggesting he had 3 plus pitches and showed good control of them at the age. AzPhil has repeatedly indicated that he isn’t throwing his split-change yet, but assuming that comes back, I could easily see Rhee as a top 5, if not top 3 prospect, assuming he can regain his form from last year. I imagine he’ll start in Peoria again, where he’s likely to be joined by at least 1 countryman (Hak-ju Lee), and perhaps more (Jung and Ha perhaps, although I wonder if Ha goes XST/Boise again, that said, far down the road).

by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why was Gordon Beckham on the list

its seems he isn’t really a prospect anymore as he played most of the season with the Sox

"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko

by DTJchris on Oct 8, 2009 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

GB

won’t be a prospect next year, but this year, he was and he had enough AB’s in the SL to qualify, and that’s what they go by.

by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cashner vs. Jackson in chat

Raisin of NSBB, who posts here as well, asked Ben Badler, the guy who did the list for BA. Without quoting it directly, as it’s paid content, Badler said Jackson has much better all around stuff and maintains his velocity better late, and thus got the easy edge for him over Cashner.

by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 1:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Josh Vitters

I’ve got to think he’s going to see some time in Tennessee this season. I can understand completely why the Cubs don’t want to rush him. He’s someone I hope to see play in person in early July, when the Smokies make their first trip to Pringles Park in Jackson.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Oct 8, 2009 1:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2010 - Next Season for Vitters

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Oct 8, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

provided he shows some improvement

I’ve got to think that they’ll ponder give him a look in AA. I expect him to start in Daytona, though.

by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Carpenter

What is the scouting report on Carpenter? I’ve heard little about his stuff, but he seems to get a good bit of attention in the rankings. What kind of ceiling does he have? Does he look more like a rotation or bullpen guy? How soon can we see a Chris Carpenter v. Chris Carpenter matchup? That would be sweet.

by Bradsbeard on Oct 12, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll bet Chris Carpenter is injured for that matchup

im sure toonsterwu can give you a much better scouting report than I can

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Oct 12, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i can't provide anything that can't be found

I was unable to catch Chris in action this summer, as the scheduling didn’t work out (and it didn’t work out for most of my plans to see some minor leagues this summer). What he has is an excellent fastball with good life that can run it in the mid 90’s. He has a plus breaking ball and a change that seems to be classified as average right now. I haven’t heard of any serious mechanical issues. The control has improved a bit, although it still needs more work.

The biggest thing on Carpenter is health. Due to his surgery in college, that’ll be a question until … well, until it’s not. Simply making it through healthy for a year, not missing much time, was a nice start. He’ll probably never be an elite control guy, but if he can improve that a bit more, and develop the change, he has good potential as a starting pitcher. That said, if durability becomes an issue, or if the change fails to develop some more, then he may be better suited as a power arm out of the pen. Much as I like all three arms at the top of the Cubs system right now, the betting money is still against all three making it as starters. Carpenter had an excellent run this year, and while his AA sample size is too small to read too much into, there was a noticeable drop in the K rate in those 7 games. Again, SSS, but something to look at.

Right now, I’d lean towards a power pen arm with Carpenter, with the caveat that, like Jackson and Cashner, he’s moved very fast and that if he develops this offseason some of the stuff noted, then I might change my mind. Like Cashner, Carpenter has to work deeper as well, and part of that comes with being more economical with his pitches. Don’t read this as a knock on Carpenter – I am very high on him, but I figure I might as well offer an opinion.

by toonsterwu on Oct 13, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs