Official Minor League News Thread

Fukudome1 · Post #321 » by **Fukudome1** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:11 am

i think that lou likes the player that theriot is. and likes having him in the lineup and at ss

Post #322 » by **GYBE** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:55 pm

Goldstein at BP ranked our system higher than I thought he would.

8. Chicago Cubs
Last Year’s Ranking: 26
Why They Are Here: As bad a year as the Cubs had at the big-league level, that's how good a year they had down on the farm, as 2008 draftees stepped forward, international signees shined, and plenty of others stepped forward. Throw in a first-round draft steal in Brett Jackson, and things are looking very, very up.
Where They Will Be Next Year: Chances are good that all of these players should still be eligible next year, and while I don't see the true star potential in Starlin Castro that others do, it's reasonable to expect good performances from Josh Vitters and Hak-Ju Lee. The aging big-league team needs help now, but this might take awhile.

That's a pretty massive jump.

SportsWorld · Post #323 » by **SportsWorld** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:09 pm

Pretty crazy that he doesn't see the star potential in Castro yet ranks us in the top 10. Not sure about that. I'd put us middle of the pack or just below middle of the pack.

superli · Post #324 » by **superli** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:51 am

Don't Spam

-SW

Posey H8er · Post #325 » by **Posey H8er** » Tue Apr 6, 2010 12:31 am

How soon until we hear news of Samardzija being optioned to Iowa?

SportsWorld · Post #326 » by **SportsWorld** » Tue Apr 6, 2010 12:46 am

I hope he gets traded to the Bears.

Posey H8er · Post #327 » by **Posey H8er** » Thu Apr 8, 2010 1:33 am

The Iowa Cubs had an exhibition game cancelled due to rain vs the University of Iowa today, their actual season starts tomorrow at home versus Nashville.

Starlin Castro is on the Tennessee Smokies roster. How long until he makes the move up?

Posey H8er · Post #328 » by **Posey H8er** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 12:10 am

Lilly to make a start in Peoria on Monday-
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/po ... -in-peoria

Great news.

The Sheik · Post #329 » by **The Sheik** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:58 pm

Castro watch:

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS
.357 42 5 15 2 3 0 10 2 7 4 1 .378 .548 .925

The Sheik · Post #330 » by **The Sheik** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:01 pm

The right thing is being done with Castro. If he continues to play well at AA you make a mid June move to AAA and call him up in Sept. Let him get plenty of starts and ABs and he could be starting next season.

SportsWorld · Post #331 » by **SportsWorld** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:53 pm

If we're still struggling on the offensive end in mid-May after his arbitration clock ends, then I'd call him up and play him full-time. If he struggles out of the gate, don't worry and keep playing him. We don't need another Felix Pie situation where we get impatient with one of our young guys and kill his confidence.

The Sheik · Post #332 » by **The Sheik** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:10 am

#Cubs SS Hak-Ju Lee (HUGE fan) stole four bases tonight; also 11 hits in last six games.

http://twitter.com/Kevin_Goldstein/status/12496387919

I salivate over a Lee, Castro middle infield.

Posey H8er · Post #333 » by **Posey H8er** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:58 am

The Sheik wrote:
#Cubs SS Hak-Ju Lee (HUGE fan) stole four bases tonight; also 11 hits in last six games.

http://twitter.com/Kevin_Goldstein/status/12496387919

I salivate over a Lee, Castro middle infield.

Two stud players built up from Cubs organization, I would love that. If all goes well hopefully Castro is starting next season and Lee the following.

SportsWorld · Post #334 » by **SportsWorld** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:48 am

Just call them all up now. I'm sure they can hit better than the current overpaid losers we have.

The Sheik · Post #335 » by **The Sheik** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:22 am

From 4/19:

Jay Jackson completely dominated Nashville tonight. He retired the first 13 batters before allowing a single in the fifth inning. He then retired the next six before giving up another single. That baserunner was promptly erased by a double play. He then gave up a walk in the eighth inning. Jackson went eight innings and allowed only those two hits and one walk. He struck out four. He threw 86 pitches, of which 64 were strikes.

Cashner went seven innings tonight and only allowed one unearned run. He also only allowed two measly singles. Cashner walked two and struck out five. Fifty-one of Cashner's eighty-six pitches were for strikes.

Shorstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 4. He's now hitting .370 on the young season. (Of course, his OBP is "only" .388.)

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 3 for 4 with a three-run triple in game one.

Third baseman Josh Vitters was 1 for 2 with a double and a walk. He also scored a run.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/4/1 ... p-april-19

Last night:

Starlin Castro was 2 for 4 with a double and his first home run of the season. Castro scored twice and had two RBI.

WAYSA · Post #336 » by **WAYSA** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:03 pm

1. Castro
2. Cashner
3. Jay Jackson
4. Brett Jackson
5. Vitters

My rankings of those 5.

The Sheik · Post #337 » by **The Sheik** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:16 am

Starlin Castro went 4-7 yesterday in double-header action. Castro is now batting .404 with a .426 OBP and a .649 SLG.

Vitters went 3-4 with two home runs and three rbi.

Brett Jackson was 1 for 3 with two walks and a run scored.

The Sheik · Post #338 » by **The Sheik** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:19 am

WAYSA wrote:1. Castro
2. Cashner
3. Jay Jackson
4. Brett Jackson
5. Vitters

My rankings of those 5.

I think everyone is greatly underestimating Vitters and overrating Cashner. Vitters is likely two-four years away from the majors, but he could be Ryan Braun-esque.

The Sheik · Post #339 » by **The Sheik** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 3:28 pm

Starlin Castro went 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. Castro had three RBI and scored three times.

Post #340 » by **GYBE** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:54 pm

Couple points from from the past week.

The Cubs are baseball's leader when it comes to identifying and signing talent from the Pacific Rim, and Lee is their biggest prize so far. A outstanding defensive shortstop with an outstanding arm and plus-plus speed, one scout called him “The Korean Jose Reyes,” and that speed was on display Monday night as he fell one short of the team record for stolen bases in a game. The 19-year-old is still years away, but there's already whispers that if everything works out, he's good enough to force uber-prospect Starlin Castro to slide over to second base.

And going into last night's game, Cashner has 25 k's in 17.1 IP. Plus, he's hitting 96 in the 6th inning.