It's that time of the year, so Fangraphs released their version of the top Cubs prospects list right behind Baseball Prospectus' list from a few days ago. In case you are wondering, I'm sure OV will have our own top Cubs prospects list just as soon as the search teams find DJ and we can chain him back up to his computer again.
But let's not steal Fangraphs' thunder right now, since I expect some other site to steal its thunder within a day or two anyway.
The Fangraphs Top 15 are (rank from BP):
- Javier Baez (2)
- Albert Almora (1)
- Jorge Soler (3)
- Dillon Maples (10)
- Dan Vogelbach (5)
- Arodys Vizcaino (4)
- Brett Jackson (6)
- Matt Szczur (NR)
- Christian Villanueva (9)
- Josh Vitters (NR)
- Marco Hernandez (NR)
- Jeimer Candelario (NR)
- Junior Lake (NR)
- Duane Underwood (8)
- Trey Martin (NR)
So there are a couple of interesting choices here. First, Dillon Maples is awfully high for a kid who pitched a total of 10+ innings for the organization last year. They love his potential:
As a pitcher, the scout said the North Carolina native is a “horse of a kid” with a plus fastball that can touch 95-97 mph with a plus 12-to-6 “wipeout” curveball. “It’s as good a breaking ball as I’ve seen… while scouting,” he added. “He has a chance to throw three plus pitches.” … The scout said Maples has the ceiling of a top-of-the-rotation starter. “He’s a very focus kid.”
So that's nice to hear about an organization as weak in the pitching department as the Cubs are. But at 20 years old, and only 10 innings last year, he's nowhere close to joining the rotation any time soon.
The other ranking that really stuck out to me was Josh Vitters even being included in this list. I think we pretty much found out that he is who we all feared he was, namely, not good enough to play in the majors. What's interesting is that Fangraphs seems to agree:
The third overall selection of the 2007 amateur draft, Vitters has been a disappointment during the first six seasons of his pro career. Although he’s always hit for a high average, his overly-aggressive approach will not allow him to hit for average in the majors.
He doesn’t have much power, and there are also questions about his ability to stick at the hot corner. The Pacific Coast League helped Vitters produce fairly solid offensive numbers but the bottom fell out when he reached the majors and he struck out more than 33% of the time. When I watched the young third baseman he took a four-pitch walk but none of the pitches were close to the strike zone.
The bolding is mine, but that's an awful lot of dumping on a guy you just ranked as the Cubs' #10 prospect. That does not speak well of anybody ranked below Vitters.
I also found it interesting and somewhat encouraging that three of the top six (Almora, Soler, and Vizcaino) were brought in by Theo and Jed, while the remaining three were part of Hendry's last draft so they didn't get much of any instruction in the Hendry-led see-fastball, hit-fastball approach that preceded Theo's Cubs Way of working the count and grinding out at-bats. So maybe we'll see a higher percentage of these guys work out over time. I don't know, I'm grasping at straws for positives here, people.
Liriano would be a good pickup for the Cubs.
Part of the reason there area few guys from Hendry’s last draft is that they went bananas signing amateur talent that year. They had one of the top 2 or 3 drafts in 2011. It was a good start on rebuilding the organization, but it still has a long way to go.
I was also surprised to see Vitters on the list, but I’m not at all sure what methodology Fangraphs uses, if any.
Rice Cube wrote:
Sanchez is pretty good. And it’s not like he’s asking for $100m a year (dying laughing). IIRC it was 7/100.
Glad someone other than me is finally highlighting the far too many negatives that Josh Vitters has to overcome to even be a useful big league player.
@ Berselius:
I thought I read 6/90 earlier and I thought that seemed about right without looking too closely.
Sanchez will be 29 next year, and has averaged just under 200 innings and 4 fWAR over the past three seasons.
@ Berselius:
I figured the age and production were probably worth some investment but the size of the contract requested was still a bit surprising. Nice to see a bit of perspective though.
The Reds are apparently looking to trade for a closer
@ Berselius:
I heard Carlos Marmol is available…
We’ll give them Marmol for Sean Marshall? (dying laughing)
We need to start writing the ridiculous headlines that Rant Sports does.
Cubs should trade for Stephen Strasburg
Improving chances to win 2013 World Series, Cubs acquire former all-star
Cubs could win 95 games next year
What does Starlin Castro and Babe Ruth have in common
Sexy Cubs wives who may have lesbian sex
@ Mish:
As much as I like Marshall, I’d rather not have his contract when Marmol’s is up after next year.
mb21 wrote:
I keep clicking on this and nothing happens. Where is the fucking link?
@ mb21:
(dying laughing) I was being facetious.
On a related topic, what the fuck is Rant Sports?
Aisle424 wrote:
http://www.whatthefuckisrantsports.com
@ Berselius:
Work blocked the link
@ Aisle424:
Some stupid blog (did GBTS start that one too?) I’ll see their headlines on the yardbarker widget on the sidebar and it’s just ridiculous.
Rant Sports is basically trying to become Bleacher Report (I unfortunately typed Bleacher Nation first, sorry Brett).
@ WaLi:
Try routing through here:
http://www.workblockedthelink.com
My hate-hate relationship with my Blackberry is coming to a close. Now what to get for $100 or less? (Probably will stay with ATnT)
Hmmm
I don’t think you should have filmed yourself at work, B:
You nerds will probably enjoy this article on what Nate Silver did and didn’t do:
http://scientopia.org/blogs/goodmath/2012/11/09/debunking-two-nate-silver-myths/
@ mobile SVB:
I have a flip phone. It does texting and phone calls. And it cost me $0.
@ mobile SVB:
The Nokia Lumia 920 is supposed to be pretty good and just came out. It’s a new Windows phone. I haven’t used it, but it’s $100.
mobile SVB wrote:
I think you should consider the OV phone:
@ Aisle424:
(dying laughing)
Josh. I do data etc on my phone so the flip doesn’t work.
Figured Android was better than Windows bc I use Google for everything. And don’t own a PC. Only Mac.
@ SVB:
You “do” data, do you? You datasexuals disgust me!
I don’t know, I think this thing does data. I have no idea. Point is, you can get by with a cheaper phone if you don’t need all the bells and whistles.
@ SVB:
I think the iPhone 4s is $99 now.
@ SVB:
In all seriousness, I like Android phones and I currently have the Motorola Pro because it has the Android OS along with a physical Blackberry-type keyboard, which I LOVE. But apparently I’m in a minority because they don’t make it anymore and I’ll have to find a new phone when this one is upgradeable in March.
So David Petraeus had an affair.
mb21: 0 fucks given
Media: millions of fucks given
Deadspin has some sweet shots of the Carrier Classic.
http://deadspin.com/5959361/the-carrier-classic-is-back-and-its-still-gorgeous
I’m kind of curious as to how much the carrier actually ebbs and flows in the water and whether that messes with the players’ timing and shots. But it’s still cool.
Heads up…random reports cropping up that the Cubs won the bidding for Ryu.
Rice Cube wrote:
“False.” -Jon Heyman
@ Rice Cube:
False. Maybe.
@ mb21:
I don’t care about the affair either (that’s between him and his wife). I think he resigned because she was threatening blackmail and he thought it was better to step down then let himself be compromised or appear to be compromised, as head of the CIA. It was probably the only real choice he had, if that’s the case. If he deals with it privately, it could look bad to an external investigator. If that’s true, then yeah. But I agree that no one should lose their job over a private matter like that.
@ josh:
In some places it used to be illegal. I don’t know if it still is. That’s kind of funny to me to think about, but there are still throwbacks to that moral = legal thing, and many of them would use Patreaus against the president or something. I mean, I can see why he did it, but I’d prefer it was no big deal.
Neither the Cubs nor the Rangers won the Ryu bid.
Dodgers?
I hate the blind bid
Not so much I hate the blind bid, I hate the Cubs losing
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/30678/johnny-cueto-was-jobbed
Can’t believe Cueto isn’t a CYA finalist.
@ mb21:
It’s really bad for a commissioned officer, albeit a retired one. It’s also something that can cause a person to lose his security clearance. Were he in another line of work, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Were he still on active duty, he could actually be punished for adultery. Though I suspect the media circus is more due to the fact that they only recognize the names Petraeus and McChrystal as far as the top brass goes.
@ josh:
Article 134 of the UCMJ, for one. I’m not sure if civilian officers of the government are subject to something similar though.
@ Perkins:
It’d be kind of hilarious if the head of CIA lost his security clearance. Kind of Pink Pantherish, maybe.
@ Perkins:
I didn’t think about that, b/c he’s CIA now, but that’s a good point.
@ josh:
Yeah I don’t think that happens at this point since he came clean, but anything that can be used as blackmail (drugs, debt, extramarital affairs, closeted homosexuality) can destroy a person’s chances of obtaining or maintaining a clearance as high as his (at least TS-SCI).
@ Perkins:
Same argument as the secret service guys and the hookers in Colombia, right?
If Petraeus was single with an active dating routine (but not one he was paying for, as above), then there wouldn’t be any issue, right?
Considering that this is codified in the UMCJ, it’s even dumber for a guy like Petraeus to go there, I’d think. He should have just divorced his wife or worked it out, but that’s easy to say from a million miles away.
@ SVB:
Yeah, similar to the guys in Colombia. That was compounded by the fact that they worked for the White House, and having hookers around that level of sensitive information is a pretty terrible idea.
And yeah, if he were single and dated a lot of women that wouldn’t be a big deal. It’s all about the potential for blackmail.
@ josh:
It seems like a very strange situation to me. You’d think that the CIA would VASTLY be more interested at keeping this in house. And given how paranoid the CIA is (or at least, used to be) you’d think that they would have found known about it first anyway.
(dying laughing), stolen from Brett’s blog
@ Berselius:
my guess is that obama wanted him out.
@ Berselius:
The Dodgers are spending money like drunken sailors at a strip club. You’d think they’d run out at some point but then they dig into their couch cushions and find an extra $25MM to throw at some Korean guy. If they throw even more $$ at Hamilton, Greinke and Anibal Sanchez and actually get them then they’re officially in IDGAF mode. Win NAO!
@ Perkins:
I think it’s something that should be investigated, but the media doesn’t have to cover it like it’s the biggest thing to ever happen to this country. That’s what irritates me about it.
@ Berselius:
I’d be surprised if they didn’t know. I’d be equally surprised if the White House didn’t know. I don’t care one damn bit, but this coming to light a few days after the election probably isn’t a coincidence.
A recent story of philanthropy I enjoyed…
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/10/picture-of-the-day-cc-sabathia-doing-his-part-following-hurricane-sandy/
Happy Saturday, folks.
If it’s true that you can’t live without me, then why weren’t you dead when i first met you?
@ mb21:
This
@ mb21:
That’s definitely true.
It looks like what happened was that the biographer was being investigated for something else, and then the FBI found out about the Petraeus stuff.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/11/08/4399621/hardin-county-gop-official-wants.html
I had no idea Mish lived in Texas.
From the article:
Shiner Bock ———> Decent grocery store beer.
@ josh:
Yeah, Shiner’s a great all-purpose beer. Pretty much everyone has it on tap here.
@ Berselius:
Never had it before.
@ Aisle424:
There is something called a Quantum Pro by Motorola now that seems to be an Android slider. Maybe that is your next phone.
In the end, I got a Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro. Considering the number of times I have dropped my phone, been caught in the rain, do dusty fieldwork, etc. the beefed up case seemed worth some sacrifice in the other stuff (I think the camera is 5 Mpix instead of 8, big whup). It’s so much better than my Blackberry that I don’t even know what I’m missing by not going higher end.
Happy Veterans Day.
@ SVB:
Yeah. I’ve considered that too. I don’t know if I like the feel of the keyboard that slides from the side. I keep hoping some new design will be available soon to choose from.
The Cubs have become the most boring team in baseball. (dying laughing) There ain’t shit to write about.
@ mb21:
There’s always Cast Iron Cutting Board: The Boardgame to talk about
@ mb21:
You could do what Phil Rogers does and make up your own news…
@aisle424 – i have a droid4. i hate it for no specific reason. it’s my first smartphone and i expect it to behave like a real computer, which of course it doesn’t, so that’s probably why. anyway, my point is, i also enjoy having a physical keyboard, which this phone has, but i think you and i are a dying breed. i hate touchscreens with a passion but they are pretty much the only choice.
re: petraeus – i think this is a huge deal. if e.g. china found out about his affair before the media did, they could have potentially blackmailed the shit out of him. he put himself in a very vulnerable position and shoudl absolutely be fired. i don’t give a fuck about a guy’s personal life but in this instance it could have a very real impact on my own life.
@ Rice Cube:
does phil rogers ever remind you of jackie harvey from the onion?
ITEM! cubs right fielder alonsi soriano has been spotted hangin out with derek “the big hurt” jeter! could a trade to THE BIG APPLE be in the cards for alonsi????
@ EnricoPallazzo:
Which guy was the one who said Paul Byrd was a slugger? (dying laughing)
@ mb21:
You could write about how Toronto picked up Justin Germano and cut Scott Maine, and how we were hurt by the first move but should take advantage of re-signing one who got away.
Or not.
@ Aisle424:
If you type with one hand or finger I can see where a top sliding phone is better. For me, my typing is already better with the horizontal touch screen. Having the haptic noise on helps make up for the lack up tactile response.
But you and Pinetar probably ought to work om the phone with the screen on one side and the keyboard on the other. With those excellent grades you got in HS typing class, I’m sure you’d adjust to the in no time.
Pretty sure Paul Byrd was Phil Rogers
…I don’t even.
Taking requests on anything silly you want Belichick to throw.
@ WaLi:
I saw those discussions but never really participated since I don’t give a shit about cutting boards and pots and pans and shit.
However, I noticed the other day that we have one glass, one wood, and one plastic cutting board, each. We also have one cast iron pan. COOLSTORYYYYY
You should have him throw Alvin. Or Paul Sullivan. He probably could throw Sullivan.
@ GBTS:
I see what you did there.
@ GBTS:
Can you get him and Piniella to throw a base back and forth to each other?
http://www.platoonadvantage.com/2012-articles/november/important-dates-you-need-to-know.html
@ Suburban kid:
That glass cutting board is wreaking havoc on your knives.
@ Rice Cube:
Somehow she’s related to Catherine the Great, right?
@ mb21:
(dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
Also, Dr. Cube, congrats in getting your research noticed:
@ SVB:
For some reason it’s still not showing up on Pubmed…
Did I just hear Cutler got a concussion? Fuck
@ Rice Cube:
Pubmed has a 1024 page limit. They are trying to get scientists to edit out the chaff better.
@ SVB:
I knew I should’ve put all the extraneous crap into the supplement.
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah, no one likes to read SAS output, much less publish it.
Happy birthday, Sammy Sosa
Phil Jackson ——–> blindsided
Just finished rewatching Freaks And Geeks after introducing it to my wife. What a great show. That last scene is fantastic.
@ WaLi:
“Kim Kelly is my friend” is probably my favorite episode
(dying laughing), in Brett’s links post this morning he had a followup article on the ASU stuff saying that Kenney and the ASU AD spent nearly an entire session arguing over the location of a hot dog stand (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
@ Berselius:
I wonder how long the trough argument must have been.
@ Bottleasmoke:
I think 6′ is about the optimal length for a trough
@ WaLi:
@ Bottleasmoke:
They should certainly be long enough for the average drunk gentleman to be able to comfortably lie down in them for a nap.
@ mikeakaleroy:
I just hope they stay away from the Kendall county fairgrounds. They didn’t even bother with a trough, you just piss on the wall and it trickles down to a small drain along the bottom.
@ Berselius:
Nice….they could at least plant some bushes or trees to make folk feel more at home.
You think Chase Headley would come cheaper than Justin Upton if they were both avail?
I’m not too sure than Headley isn’t a perennial All-Star away from Petco
@ jtsunami:
No, he’d be a lot more expensive than Upton. He’s already playing at all-star level and he has 2 years of arbitration left. Probably expect somewhere between 8 and 10 WAR from over the next 2 years and he’ll be paid about $20 million.
Not only would Headley cost more in terms of talent, he’s probably the better ballplayer moving forward.
@ jtsunami:
@ mb21:
I agree. Their window to trade for Headley was last off-season. There is no way now.
New shit: http://www.obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/have-the-cubs-hit-rock-bottom-yet.html