Cubs Minor League Wrap -- July 15

n/t

Yes, happened when Cashner came up, I believe. it happened as an emergency situation, they needed another guy at the start of the year due to Mateo’s injury. His future is still in the pen where the high 80’s fastball and the plus curve could work quite well. Take the splits this year with a grain of salt.

Jackson and Campana seem legit but don’t count out Guyer just yet and I still think we shouldn’t completely forget about Colvin or Burke either. Burke is still just 21 and Colvin is playing better in AA.

He pretty much has only one plus tool: he’s really fast.

Considering how much teams like to have pinch runner types on their rosters, he has a decent chance of making the bigs as a 4th or 5th OF/pinch runner type. Don’t expect anything more out of him, though.

n/t

Depends on how you view the ability of everyone else to stick at their current positions. The Cubs haven’t drafted many DH/1B types in recent years, but I’m guessing that’s because they figure they can move someone from C or 3B to 1B if needed.

Marquez Smith at 3rd, he’s better than Rosa. Also don’t be surprised if Vitters moves to first eventually, he is below average in the field and probably will never be more than average.

Has had a disappointing season. When he’s on, that’s a a beautiful swing, but it’s been a mess this year. Anyhow, his future is more at first base. Also, Castillo should be higher on that list. He’s still the best defensive player and that will get him a shot. Cerda’s a big unknown. At 2nd base, hard to put Watkins at the top when he is so far away. I’d probably sitll top the list with Flaherty.

I’ll put my minor league post up in a few days with something similar on my take of the “depth chart”. 1st base is a weakness, but it’s not one you really worry about. 3rd is really weak. The way I look at our major weakness in our system, though, is to say that we lack power hitting prospects and not by position. Btw, OF ranking, I’d go Guyer first, then Jackson, then a cluster.

You really should stick Darwin Barney in a depth chart at shortstop.

Yeah, I’d add Smith to 3B. I’d move Lake to SS and add Darwin Barney at SS and Nate Samson to 2B.

Colvin is quickly falling off of any pecking order I have.

C – Clevenger has a chance to challenge for the role. He doesn’t have the great upside, and he’ll never be great defensively, but he’s solid and consistent.

SS – The depth at shortstop is okay, with a but, though. Lee is a big boy for the position, so let’s see how he fills in, and Ryan Flaherty and Junior Lake’s future may be at other spots.

P – I’ve made the case before, but I love our pitching depth. I believe this year’s pitching depth is our best since 2003, and for those that forget, we were considered to have one of the top systems back then, and definitely one of the top pitching systems. Now, we’re talking value here, and I don’t think we are that good yet, but there’s a lot of promise. Still some holes – would like to see more power arms, and we could use lefty starters. Still many guys that need to polish up or develop another pitch to really step forward: Casey Coleman, Dan McDaniel, Ryan Searle, Justin Bristow, Jon Nagel, and others all fit into that mix. But it’s a strong collection of righty SP talent, and a solid collection of pen guys.

I imagine that Robinson, Clevenger, and even Castillo are all on speed dial if something should happen during a game. I figured that this would be what the Cubs do – hold Jake Fox as the backup and see how long you can stick while exploring the trade market, which the Cubs have been rumored heavily with. I think they’ve said to themselves that Fox can finish off a game for them if Hill gets hurt. Robinson’s offense was likely PCL inflated and Clevenger, while someone I like, really needs more time. I guess it’s fair to ask who the third catcher is right now, in case Lou wants to use Jake as a pinch hitter, and I would have no clue.

This allows Sam Fuld to get PT, which is the more important move at this juncture, as he could fit a critical role for what the team needs. Granted, if Fuld doesn’t get PT, then you sort of wonder what the purporse is. That said, the Cubs probably don’t want to make a 40 man move if they don’t have to, particularly since Hendry seems to be sticking his nose in a lot of places, including Lugo.

long run, 2nd base seems likely, as the power doesnt’ seem there for 3rd (and here’s hoping 3rd isn’t a consideration). That said, he hasn’t been bad enough at SS to move him fully off it, so I imagine the split time will continue next year, perhaps with Junior Lake still.