Cubs' farm system starting to bear fruit

This is a decent article talking about the Cubs having more players on the Baseball America Top 100 Prospect list than any team in baseball except the Tampa Bay Rays.

What is interesting is that at the bottom of the page there is a mystery line up with absolutely no description of it anywhere in the article. I'm posting it here just in case the Sun-Times changes it. You'll notice a certain first basemen on it as well as some strange comment regarding the LF's contract. Enjoy!

CUBBIE SWAGGER

C Geovany Soto 2001, 11th round

1B Adrian Gonzalez 2012, free agent

2B Ryan Theriot 2001, third round

SS Starlin Castro 2006, signed from Dominican Republic

3B Josh Vitters 2007, first round, third overall

LF Alfonso Soriano two more years on contract

CF Brett Jackson 2009, first round, 31st overall

RF Tyler Colvin 2006, first round, 13th overall

IN TRAVEL

almost 2 years ago HoSs. 33 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

i highly doubt theriot will be in chicago in 2012

by jesus christos on Feb 28, 2010 12:46 AM CST reply actions

No Ramirez?

I doubt Ramirez is gone and Theriot is here.

2010 is OUR year.

by Unique on Feb 28, 2010 9:07 AM CST reply actions

Right.

That’s pure speculation. Most likely, Ramirez is playing 1B then, and a 2B added by trade/free agency.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 28, 2010 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

How impossible is it

that Adrian Gonzalez could become a Cub? I’d be OK with keeping Ramirez at 3b for a few more years and having Vitters as one of the key trade components.

I think the Cub organization has what it takes to get him even if it doesn’t include Castro. Of course, that depends on what SD thinks of Cub prospects.

by jerry morales rules on Feb 28, 2010 10:49 AM CST up reply actions

It's not impossible, but...

… I don’t think the Cubs need him. Perhaps best to spend the $ elsewhere.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 28, 2010 10:53 AM CST up reply actions

26 year old left handed bats that hit 40 home runs in petco

Are not exactly every day occurances. I would personally much prefer seeing Gonzalez starting at 1st than Soriano or Ramirez – especially since we have no 1B prospects in our farm, yet we can cover corner outfield spots or 3B if needed.

by bdlugz on Feb 28, 2010 11:21 AM CST up reply actions

agreed

Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 28, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, I kind of think that a guy like Gonzalez

should be a priority for the Cubs based on who the Cubs have in the system and the lack of true left handed power.

by jerry morales rules on Feb 28, 2010 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

for the Cubs to make an Adrian deal, though

and again, I’m actually for the idea of exploring a Gonzalez trade in the winter if he’s available, but for them to make this deal, an arm is going to have to emerge this winter, or someone from the big 3 has to establish themselves enough. I’m not sure Jay, Andrew, or Chris have enough right now that other teams couldn’t/wouldn’t offer a better pitching prospect. The problem becomes, if these guys establish themselves as solid big league starters (or up their value that much), it’s going to be awfully hard to part with them for someone like Adrian, particularly when more would be needed.

That said, a lot of it’s for something that might not even happen next offseason.

by toonsterwu on Feb 28, 2010 4:41 PM CST up reply actions

Very true

I don’t think that there is any pressure right now on SD to deal him as his contract for this year is $4.75 and next year they have a $5.5 club option. I think the Padres need to look at when they feel they will get the bet deal, before this year’s trade deadline, next off-season, or next year’s trade deadline. My personal belief is that they would get more suitors in an offseason and that could be a good factor in the Cubs favor.

Yes, the prospects need to excel as well. Hopefully they will for this reason and of course many more. I do think it’s not likely that the Cubs end up with him, but hopefully they will be aggressive if/when the time arrives.

by jerry morales rules on Feb 28, 2010 6:27 PM CST up reply actions

i don't know if you got part my post, so i wanted to clarify

don’t think my comments were that clear, but my point was, if any of the three big arms establish themselves as big league starters, I would rather hold onto them than dealing for Adrian because a solid, cheap starter would fill a key hole for us in the coming years.

ideally, someone emerges and gathers a crapload of value, someone like Justin Bristow or Trey McNutt.

by toonsterwu on Feb 28, 2010 9:44 PM CST up reply actions

Four more on my list of

‘please have a good year so we can deal your butt’.

Casey Coleman, Junior Lake, Michael Brenly, Nate Samson, Tony Thomas, and Robinson Chirinos.

by timh815 on Mar 1, 2010 7:42 AM CST up reply actions

You do realize that is six names not four?

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Mar 1, 2010 9:32 AM CST up reply actions

Not until you mentioned it,

but my mind was multi-tasking while sleepy. You are correct.

by timh815 on Mar 1, 2010 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

I didn't get that on the first go-around

From my persepective, I guess it all depends on what you mean by “big league starters”. If that’s a 1, 2, or 3, I would agree, but 4 or 5, no. You can buy that kind of arm on the open market if you want to pretty easily. They are always available. Garland went for $5.5 this year for example.

Left handed power bats don’t come around all too often.

by jerry morales rules on Mar 1, 2010 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

Gues which

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Feb 28, 2010 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry

Guess which baseball park most enhanced LH hittering last year? Correct answer is Wrigley. He would be a beast in Chicago. We would have to outbid Kenny Williams for him so it would be costly.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Feb 28, 2010 8:44 PM CST up reply actions

I can almost guarantee you

he’ll be traded to the Red Sox before the Cubs. They seem dead set on acquiring him whenever he becomes available.

"The country is full of good coaches. What it takes to win is a bunch of interested players." -Don Coryell, ex-San Diego Chargers Coach

by propheteer on Feb 28, 2010 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

One other thing

I am assuming that there is absolutely no way that Gonzalez will see free agency. He will be traded by SD and any team that gets him will sign him to a multi-year deal.

by jerry morales rules on Feb 28, 2010 10:53 AM CST up reply actions

probably

If he gets traded in-season this year, a strong possibility, the Cubs won’t be involved, barring some odd or unfortunate situation. If he gets traded next offseason … then there’s a chance that the Cubs could use some of their developing chips and go after him. Thing is, he wants market value, and we don’t know what type of owners Ricketts and Co. are in regards to handing out big deals just yet. Boston is still the most likely location, with the Hoyer-Epstein connection, and more importantly, both teams likely being a good fit for each other.

by toonsterwu on Feb 28, 2010 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

If that makes V-Mart available............

…………then I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Cubbie blue either.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra

by tville on Feb 28, 2010 8:25 PM CST up reply actions

I say forget Ramirez at 1B

His stats are great at 3B, at 1B in a few years he could be putting up Konerko 2009 numbers.

Any chance Ramirez could pull a Moreland and move to RF? That could be some nice power production in RF after Fukudome’s four years.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Feb 28, 2010 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

At what age do you want Ramirez to move to RF?

by rlpete on Mar 1, 2010 6:40 AM CST up reply actions

Ramirez in right field?

Yuck. No.

2010 is OUR year.

by Unique on Mar 2, 2010 10:27 PM CST up reply actions

If that makes V-Mart available............

…………then I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Cubbie blue either.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra

by tville on Feb 28, 2010 8:24 PM CST reply actions

Ooopps........

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra

by tville on Feb 28, 2010 8:25 PM CST up reply actions

Why?

In a couple years he won’t have a position other than DH.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Mar 1, 2010 7:26 AM CST up reply actions

Exactly.

Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.

by Ryno Runner on Mar 1, 2010 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

He' still catching now, Al...........

…………but he is 31; I thought he was a couple of years younger.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra

by tville on Mar 1, 2010 7:38 AM CST reply actions

Looking again...

… he didn’t DH that much last year. But in a couple years, he might be better at 1B than C.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Mar 1, 2010 8:46 AM CST up reply actions

Is it just me, or isn't Left Fielder the easiest position player to develop?

Not to be insulting and I understand that the percentage of amateur baseball players who make it to MLB is extremely, extremely small.

But I find the list above to be astonishing because Alfonso Soriano’s name must be there. First, because he has a supernova contract hanging over the Cubs. Second, because not only have the Cubs had difficulty in developing position players but they have not even been able to draft and develop what I think is the easiest position to develop – Left Fielder.

Your typical Left Fielder is primarily a big bat in your lineup and some look like they are just holding the spot until they can become a DH in the AL. You’re not looking at an outfielder with the range of a center fielder or the strong arm of a right fielder.

Have the Cubs avoided drafting Left Fielders and possibly missed some valuable talent?

I was going to consider First Base here. But First Basemen can be real great fielders and the ability to scoop a throw out of the dirt is not as easy as it seems.

"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver

by RiskyBusiness on Mar 1, 2010 1:43 PM CST reply actions

First and left field are far and away the easiest positions to develop

Because they require the least amount of defensive skill. This is why it is unfortunate how we’ve tied up LF with Soriano and have 2-3 players who may have little choice but to play first (Lee, Aramis, and Vitters) if we want to keep them in the Cubs plans.

by madcow256 on Mar 1, 2010 2:20 PM CST up reply actions