Cubs Minor League Wrap--April 12

Castro’s a guy who was, last year, considered to have better raw speed than game speed. Overall, despite some crazy reports on his speed (Jason churchill, IIRc, suggested 70 speed), most observers suggested above average raw speed. Castro had poor C-1st times, though (and that was one of the primary reasons people pointed to in suggesting that he might not stick at short … well, not the C-1st time in of itself, but using the catcher-1st time to suggest that he didn’t have the top athletic ability to stick defensively, my counter was always that he had good lateral mobility, which doesn’t show up in C-1st times. I should add that I’ve been careful in my comments on Castro – I think he should be solid defensively at short through the early parts of his career, and that, for him to be pushed off would require someone that was an elite defender. That said, could I see him have to move off short as he ages? Sure I can).

Another thing in projecting SB’s with Castro is that, if he adds power, the SB component of his game will likely lessen. I’d guess more 15 than 30.

He made an error that led to Dunedin’s first two runs. Yeah, I know, everyone makes errors. I don’t want his flaws to go unmentioned.

the rhee/dolis tandem again … rhee is currently pitching, but dolis should follow

I am not expecting a rapid Castro promotion.

Matheus can handle some short. Marwin Gonzalez can play some short. If LeMahieu gets bumped to AA, which I think could happen sooner than later, DJ and Ryan will probably get some time at short (if Castro has moved up). Samson could get shortstop time in AA if Castro moves up. If Castro moves up, they could slide Camp down (with Barney there as well).

There’s still Wes Darvill in XST and a few other guys. By the time enough moves get going, another draft class will likely have occurred, with some more pieces. And I don’t think the Cubs are going to cut bait on Lake yet since the scouts are still so intrigued with him, so if Lee moves up, Lake probably would go to Peoria and play short.

I’m also not a huge believer that Watkins will move up at short.

Short of it is, I don’t think it’s a big issue yet/. I doubt they make a rapid movement (something within the next week) and I think they’ll give Lee more time in Peoria before moving him up.

Leverton’s in XST. AzPhil posted about him over at TCR.

McDaniel’s release is disappointing, but I’m glad the Cubs tried him as a starter. They waited to make that decision (to release him), so it probably wasn’t easy. His stuff as a starter in Daytona wasn’t as good as it was in Boise as a pen arm. He did have a solid 1st half before struggling in the 2nd half, but the Cubs, who were high on him entering the year, sort of, for lack of a better term, lost some love. I will always wonder if the back problems were a key cause in his stuff not being as good or sharp. They were higher on Muschko than McDaniel. I sort of wish they had hung on to him, but it’s alright. There was some talk that he had issues getting loose as a pen arm, and if he wasn’t going to make it as a starter in Daytona, then that might of been a consideration.