Will System Advancements Change With New Regime?

by timh815 on Jan 9, 2012 7:47 PM CST

First off, don't expect answers from me on this topic. Any answers will come below in the comments section. I don't know what the Boston thought process was on moving players through the system. An argument can be made that some of the aggressive movement in the Cubs system in the past has been due to nothing stopping it at levels above. I think the term has been 'solid mass rises in a vacuum' or somesuch.

Pitching.

The Cubs have usually been rather aggressive at moving pitchers mid-season. Quite a bit of this has had to do with 'limited chips'. If two arms in Chicago and one in Iowa go down, three arms have to move up from somewhere. This led to a meteoric rise for Trey McNutt in 2010, and a pre-injury call-up for Robert Whitenack last season. I remember having heard that Tampa tends to leave prospects at a level for a whole season. I'm guessing they advance non-prospects on injury concerns?

I would enjoy knowing that a guy in Peoria would stay there the whole year if effective. Then, move him to Daytona patiently. It doesn't always go that way, but with Theo calling the shots, we will find out how things will (or won't) change.

Hitters

Obviously, if you're raking at a level, the temptation is to call a hitter closer to the bigs. This makes more sense than with hitters than pitchers, as a hitter should be challenged when he is in the batter's box in the minors. My question more revolves around kids coming from the DSL. Historically, we have let them adjust in Arizona for a year before the call-up to Boise or Peoria (which we haven't done). With hitters, I'm ambivalent on leaving them in Arizona then Boise for a year apiece. I'm not certain they get better training there than in games. But if their fielding or base running basics need work, by all means, Arizona.

If a kid is capable otherwise, and mulching Arizona pitching, get him to Boise, says I. It seems the key is to get kids to the Midwest League as soon as they are ready. If they need the added instruction, then by all means, leave them in Arizona. However, playing three game serieses in Tri-City or Quad City seem better ways to show off your game than an exhibition in front of seventeen fans on a 'big draw' date.

I think it's safe to say Theo will bring in big time talent after the June draft. Do you think/want the players to be aggressively advanced, or more conservatively paced? More importantly, what is Theo's history in Boston on the topic? Like I warned, more questions than answers. I still think he might add an affiliate in the future. Keep in mind, though, we had only ten hitters for a Boise series in Vancouver last year. We need our (DSL/2011 Draft) talent to advance quickly to make that even worth discussing.

Poll

In regards to aggressively advancing players mid-season, are you more in favor of?

Aggressive with major prospects.

5 votes

Patient with everyone.

7 votes

Promote the hitters, not the pitchers, at mid-season.

4 votes

Promote the pitchers, not the hitters, at mid-season.

0 votes

In Theo we trust.

22 votes

What? No draft news?

2 votes

Have we traded Garza yet?

8 votes

48 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would say there shouldn't be hard and fast rules.

It should depend a lot on the individual case.

That said, one generalization I would draw is that I would think it would generally be a good idea to leave HS draftees or young international signees at one level for a year as they learn the grind of a full season. On the flip side, although most college kids still need to learn the grind, they would generally seem more apt to handle a mid-year promotion.

I would also add that while the Cubs were often aggressive on in-season promotions, I often felt like they were too conservative with the beginning season placements, particularly when it came to whether a guy should start in XST / short-season A ball or go straight to full-season A ball.

It sure seemed like many (not all, obviously) of our college draftees would sit in Boise through the end of their draft year or at most go to Peoria. Meanwhile, it seems many other teams send some of their more advanced college prospects straight to A ball, even high A at times.

And maybe this is my failing (or selective) memory, but it sure seems like almost all of our high HS draftees would spend the calendar year following their draft year in XST then Boise, rather than heading to Peoria or Daytona.

"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 9, 2012 8:56 PM CST reply actions

The short answer to your question is "yes"

But I have no idea how it’s going to change. The CBA is necessarily going to change things because high draft picks are going to be available to play in Boise now.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 9, 2012 11:06 PM CST reply actions

Valid point.

Those 30 days will make a big difference.

10-25-2011. Theo Epstein joins the Cubs. Now, the fun begins.

by timh815 on Jan 10, 2012 1:30 AM CST up reply actions

Wade Boggs played two full years in A, AA and AAA,

and except for his first year in A ball, he hit over .300 each year.

Dave Martinez IIRC hit like .340 in the Carolina League and was the youngest player in the league. The next best hitter hit something like .305. The following year Martinez was in Wrigley field getting the bat knocked out of hands by Major League pitchers. Martinez recovered and had a decent career, but I have always felt that had the Cubs been patient with him, he would have had a much better career.

by Bad Dogs on Jan 10, 2012 1:55 PM CST reply actions

It all just depends on ARL and dominance, to me.

If a guy is 20 and tearing up the FSL in Daytona, I still might keep him there the whole year. If a guy is 22 and tearing up the FSL, he needs to be promoted. If a guy is 20 and doing very well, but not OPSing, say, .900 or better, leave him there.

by RynoRooter on Jan 12, 2012 10:20 AM CST reply actions