MLB.com top 100 prospects 2012 list

its that time for mlb.com to rank the top prospects in the league, aka its our time to shine right? Right? That's what Theo does right? We have all these new prospects that he acquired right? The readers here love these prospects right? So much hope for the future right? Well the cubs have 3 prospects in the MLB top 100 list. Jackson is the highest at 33, Rizzo is next at 37, and last is Starlin Castro excuse me its actually his replacement a 2011 1st round draft pick Javier Baez at 62 (thanks Jim for your forward thinking). Not making the list? Everyone else we acquired this offseason and apparently LaHair! he doesn't qualify, much to the dismay of many of you, because you know a 30 year old in the minor leagues isn't a prospect anymore buuuuuuuuuut he'll be our opening day starter at first base WOOP WOOP.

4 months ago TillChicagoWins 64 comments 1 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Will this fanshot

Be as awesome and popular as your last one?

They have two liter bottles now? To think I spent all that time demanding a liter!

by Say Ramrod on Jan 26, 2012 2:15 AM CST reply actions 2 recs

I don't know about popular

But awesome is a fine adjective to apply to it.

This post fills my heart with blood.

[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."

by NobodySpecial on Jan 26, 2012 6:14 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs

So much green in the other thread

This one isn’t getting nearly as much love.

They have two liter bottles now? To think I spent all that time demanding a liter!

by Say Ramrod on Jan 26, 2012 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

I don't get it either

I also cannot believe how incompetant Theo has been. I can’t understand how he hasn’t been able to trade all of our super talented players with highly desirable contracts into guys like Trout, Harper, or Montero!!!

Come on…what did you really expect so far? People don’t trade highly regarded prospects for overpaid average production. If you really expected him to come in and have the farm system turned around completely in a couple months, you’re crazy.

by Crash1207 on Jan 26, 2012 7:06 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

wat

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jan 26, 2012 7:26 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

FYI

There are 30 MLB teams. There are 100 players on this list. Therefore simple math tells me each team should have three or in a few cases four players on this list, on average. So the Cubs are right where they should be in that regard. Let’s wait and see where they are in a few years under Theo/Jed.

Harry Caray: Marshall is going back to LA to get cocaine for his injured foot.
Steve Stone: Harry, that’s Novocaine.

by Julio Zuleta's Voodoo on Jan 26, 2012 8:32 AM CST via mobile reply actions 4 recs

Found myself thinking the exact same thing last night...

…as I rolled through Twitter and saw every MLB team promoting this article. I didn’t do the math, but three seemed to be the average — with a few teams having four to six.

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

and the white sox having

Zero brings the average up for the rest of the league.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Jan 29, 2012 7:45 AM CST up reply actions

uh oh

Just wee-un.

by jesus christos on Jan 29, 2012 11:16 AM CST up reply actions

Which is also ridiculous of this list.

The Sox have an absolutely awful farm system, but Nester Molina and Addison Reed both deserve to be in the top 100 prospects. The issue for them is their #3 prospect is around #250…

by bdlugz on Jan 29, 2012 12:25 PM CST up reply actions

Well, if you think of it that way, a completely "average" team

should have one player in the middle of the first tier of thirty prospects (# 15), a second in the middle of the next tier of thirty players from 31-60 (# 45), and a third in the middle of the next tier from 61-90 (# 75).

Based on these numbers, we’re currently below average in terms of the super-elite prospects, as our highest ranked guy comes in at 33, past the point where you’d expect every team to have had at least one guy. But of course this also has a lot to do with timing. If you’d go back to 2010, most lists had Starlin Castro as either a top-15 or top-20 prospect, depending on whose list you used.

Also interesting that Hak Ju Lee is # 46 and Archer is # 74.

by Orval Overall on Jan 27, 2012 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

Archer doesn't deserve to be on that list right now...

I really don’t like a lot of people on it. Kelly at 50 is also a joke. This guy puts way too much stock in “former hyped prospect” and not enough on actual results or abilities.

by bdlugz on Jan 27, 2012 1:58 PM CST up reply actions

Wow

It feels like the Padres, Red Sox, A’s, and Rays make up at least half of this list. I.Am.Jealous. Shouldn’t it follow that if we get the Padres GM, we get his prospects? That’s fair, right?

by Bigp2287 on Jan 26, 2012 8:41 AM CST reply actions

Other Teams Exist to Serve the Cubs' Needs.....

by ClarkFan on Jan 26, 2012 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Some people just like to see their name on the internets.

It validates their existence.

We need the derecommend button.

John Grabow - Who will pay you $4.8 million in 2012?

by rlpete on Jan 26, 2012 8:52 AM CST reply actions 5 recs

Wow, so I haven't been hanging out here much in the offseason

But I take it this guy has become some sort of nuisance?

by Orval Overall on Jan 27, 2012 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

Hard to say...

I mean he only created the greatest fanshot ever.

Seriously, I left a comment nearly three weeks after it was originally put up and nearly two weeks after the last comment and it was still green’d.

People just need to realize that obvious troll is obvious.

They have two liter bottles now? To think I spent all that time demanding a liter!

by Say Ramrod on Jan 28, 2012 1:19 AM CST up reply actions

Why don't we just rename this post OH NO, OH NO Part II and get it over with?

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option." - Dale Sveum

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 26, 2012 8:53 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

Theo should obviously be fired

I mean, the Cubs haven’t won a single World Series since hiring him.

What a bust.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jan 26, 2012 8:54 AM CST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

You say right an awefully lot of times

Plus, having 3 in the top 100, 2 of whom we are likely to see this year is awefully exciting to most of us. Nothing wrong with having one of the premier 1B prospects in the game. On a side note, #80 Brody Colvin RHP for the Phillies, any relation to Tyler?

~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will

by unretrofied93 on Jan 26, 2012 8:59 AM CST reply actions

Right!

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option." - Dale Sveum

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 26, 2012 9:02 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Right....

by ClarkFan on Jan 26, 2012 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

How long can you tread water?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 26, 2012 8:15 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I guess we should be grateful...

…he didn’t go with “AMIRITE?!!!”

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Am I right or am I right? Or am I right? Am I right?

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option." - Dale Sveum

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 26, 2012 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

NED RYERSON!!!!

by ubercubsfan on Jan 26, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Needle-nose Ned

Ned the head

Excuse me, do these effectively hide my thunder?

by jasperthepilot on Jan 26, 2012 1:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs

BING!

by ubercubsfan on Jan 26, 2012 4:17 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Wow, this list is surprisingly terrible.

I literally cannot get past Banuelos at #13. #13??? Seriously? MLB would take him over Skaggs, Walker, Hultzen, etc? Ugh. They even say in his future profile he’s a #2/3 type pitcher if he can find his control.

I like him just fine, and think he’s got some great stuff, but he’s not a top 15 prospect by any measure except Yankee fans.

I won’t even comment on how awesome this post actually was.

by bdlugz on Jan 26, 2012 9:17 AM CST reply actions 2 recs

re: Baneulos

I’m probably in the minority, but I’m not that aghast at Banuelos at 13. This isn’t to say that he isn’t high, just that I don’t think it’s that ridiculous. I mean, Banuelos could potentially have 3 plus pitches, and not even a personal favorite, Danny Hultzen, has that type of ceiling. I’d probably put him more in the 20’s (it’s been years since I bothered thinking about doing an actual top 100ish type list, so I can’t say for certain), but if you buy

a) That his control problems resulted from adjusting to his newfound velocity
b) That his breaking ball can become more consistent

then … I’m just not as aghast over Banuelos there as many seem to be. High yes, but I always thought the 40’s (as many on Sickels were suggesting) seemed a bit low for a guy with his type of ceiling. Risk is definitely there, though.

Cubs players seem slotted fairly well, though. I really like BJax over Rizzo – I had thought I would be in the minority this offseason having BJax over Rizzo, but looks like many lists are leaning that way. Baez seems fairly slotted, and I really didn’t expect anyone else in the top 100 for this list (I do expect Szczur in the BA list).

by toonsterwu on Jan 26, 2012 10:10 PM CST up reply actions

I don't see his ceiling as anything more than a #3, maybe borderline 2 though.

And that’s assuming that his stuff gets under control. I feel like there’s always another excuse for his issues. I understand he’s a 21 year old left in AAA, but I just don’t see him having 3 plus pitches – I don’t believe in his curve enough to call it anything more than average at this point.

He’s got a great change up, which is rare at his age, and that will help him, but I do see him as a future #3 for the Yankees if he stays there. And there’s nothing at all wrong with that, I’d love to see more guys that are likely #3… possible #2s in the Cubs future, but I just can’t put him above about 5 other lefties out there. I think early-mid 30s is a fair position for him.

by bdlugz on Jan 27, 2012 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

Question...

What does any of this have to do with Epstein?

by Damen Jackson on Jan 26, 2012 9:27 AM CST reply actions 2 recs

you're right - this is more Horshak territory

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 26, 2012 8:17 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

You heard about Epstein's untimely passing, right?

I half-expected to log on to BCB today and see that someone posted a Fanshot entitled “Epstein Dead.”

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 27, 2012 10:53 AM CST up reply actions

no, I didn't. That's too bad.

p.s. there’s a “note from his mother” joke somewhere inside me that I’m trying to suppress out of basic decency and respect…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 27, 2012 11:15 AM CST up reply actions

Jane, you ignorant slut.

(Funny reference, not to be confused with actual name calling)

The new regime took over after the draft, so there are few ways they could have accumulated prospects to crack this list (trades and amateur signings). Let’s take a look at the prospects TheoJed acquired:

Rizzo (in the Cashner trade)
Cates (in the Cashner trade)
Sappelt (in the Marshall trade)
Torreyes (in the Marshall trade)
Weathers (in the Colvin/DJL trade)

All of those guys, save Rizzo, were secondary pieces in trades. Cates and Torreyes are very young and have upside. Sappelt’s more of a complementary piece IIRC, and Weathers is a former No. 1 pick who could benefit from a change of scenery. Other than these guys, and a few lower-level signings, when else could TheoJed have acquired young talent in the three-plus months they’ve been in Chicago?

Also, the Cubs have acquired a lot of young, cost-controlled guys who have already performed well (at least at various points) at the big-league level — and probably wouldn’t qualify for this list. If Wood, Stewart and Volstad could still be considered prospects, the Cubs could possibly have more guys in the top 100.

So, let’s recap. Since TheoJed took over, they’ve dealt Colvin, DJL, Cashner, Kyung-Min Na, Marshall and Zambrano for Stewart, Weathers, Rizzo, Cates, TWood, Sappelt, Torreyes and Volstad.

And you’re honest bitching that TheoJed haven’t done enough?

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 9:33 AM CST reply actions 6 recs

There's something beautiful about the fact...

that you read the OP and decided that the Voice Of Reason approach was the way to go. It’s a testament to the human capacity for hope.

I mean, I think you’re wasting your time; but it’s nice that you tried.

by Limey Cub Fan Jay on Jan 26, 2012 4:30 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Ha. Thanks.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 27, 2012 8:11 AM CST up reply actions

I love how I read that with Dan Aykroyd's voice.

In Theo and Jed I Trust

by KJ24 on Jan 30, 2012 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

The internet is a wonderful thing.

by Grockcubs on Jan 26, 2012 10:08 AM CST reply actions

C+ prospects don't make top 100's

That’s what the Cubs have a lot of. They have a lot more depth than anything. The fact that we have 3 top 100 prospects says a lot for the team after the Garza trade. I notice Archer and Lee made the list for the Rays. Lee might be the biggest loss in that trade now that he’s shown he might be able to handle a bat at the ML level.

by subtle on Jan 26, 2012 10:08 AM CST reply actions

I miss Lee

Reason being I was hoping that he would take Derek’s old number so my jersey wills still be relevant.

by Don't Fear the Reaper on Jan 26, 2012 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

ZIPS (Dan) projects Lee to have a better season than Brignac

if he were in the majors. That’s how far Brignac has fallen.

by cubzfan on Jan 26, 2012 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

Here's to hoping Bryce Harper falls flat on his face

~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will

by unretrofied93 on Jan 26, 2012 10:44 AM CST reply actions

Really?

Why?

by Damen Jackson on Jan 26, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe doing so would convince him to shave that ridiculous moustache?

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

There's one reason

Along with I can’t stand the cocky little prick. Although I’m excited to see if he’s “the next coming”, I more or less just want someone to knock him into line for being as arrogant as he is. Granted, if I had his skill set I’d probably be cartwheeling around the bases instead of heckling the pitcher I knocked one off of.

~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will

by unretrofied93 on Jan 26, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions