THT Essentials:
 And here's the full roster.  Plus our Statistical Definitions Most Recent Comments
Making a run for—or from—the money (7)
Auction magic: Let others do your bidding (1) My Razzball team (6) Waiver Wire: NL, Week 22 (4) Waiver Wire: AL, Week 22 (1) Monthly Archives
September, 2010
August, 2010 July, 2010 June, 2010 May, 2010 April, 2010 March, 2010 February, 2010 January, 2010 December, 2009 November, 2009 October, 2009 September, 2009 August, 2009 July, 2009 June, 2009 May, 2009 April, 2009 March, 2009 February, 2009 January, 2009 December, 2008 November, 2008 October, 2008 September, 2008 August, 2008 July, 2008 June, 2008 May, 2008 April, 2008 March, 2008 February, 2008 January, 2008 December, 2007 November, 2007 October, 2007 September, 2007 August, 2007 July, 2007 June, 2007 May, 2007 Dish Satellite TV
Quality sports programming from a satellite industry leader. Gear up for baseball season with Chicago White Sox tickets and New York Yankees tickets. LA Angels tickets, Houston Astros tickets, and Atlanta Braves tickets are hot sellers! You can get Boston Red Sox tickets, San Diego Padres tickets or Chicago Cubs tickets for your favorite baseball fan. Coast to Coast Tickets has the best MLB tickets like Minnesota Twins tickets, LA Dodgers tickets, Milwaukee Brewers tickets, New York Met tickets and St. Louis Cardinals tickets.  All content on this site (including text, graphs, and any other original works), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License. |
Most Recent Posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010Top 10 prospects for 2010: Chicago Cubs and St. Louis CardinalsPosted by Matt Hagen at 6:00amChicago Cubs1. Starlin Castro: Castro has a full tool shed to work with, including quick wrists that aren't hitting for much power now but should support average power as his body fills out. At just 19 years old, his plate discipline is a long way off, but he's slick and consistent with his glove already and projects as a defensive asset at shortstop. 2. Josh Vitters: It's tough to know what to make of Vitters at this point. His plate discipline has been hugely disappointing and his overall performance the definition of inconsistent. But he's just 20 years old and a good defender, and you could make the argument that his all-around bat projects a plus asset, including more home run power than I originally thought. 3. Brett Jackson: I was not a believer in Jackson's upside heading into the 2009 draft, but the initial numbers show more power and sneakier speed than I was expecting. 4. Jay Jackson: Jackson's fastball/slider combination is above average but not overwhelming. A third pitch would be a nice touch, but his stellar endurance will make sure that whatever repertoire he settles on will be put to use as a member of the starting rotation. 5. Hak-Ju Lee: The $1.15 million dollar signing bonus Chicago gave Lee in 2008 is looking like a strong investment in the early going. Lee has the ability to be great defensively, his speed is elite, and his bat looks fairly advanced for a 19-year-old. 6. Kyler Burke: Burke has a solid mix of skills, and he put everything together to tear up the Class-A Midwest League in 2009. He has a lot more to prove, as he was a bit on the old side for A-ball, but his career is off to a nice start. 7.Andrew Cashner: Cashner has a slick fastball/slider combination, but it seems better suited out of the bullpen at this point. Giving the bullpen idea further legs, his command comes and goes and his endurance is questionable to say the least. If I were a betting man, I would say his future lies as Chicago's setup man. 8. Chris Archer: Archer's control needs work, but he has a potent fastball/curveball combination and has produced a successful Midwest League season. 9. Chris Carpenter: I was a big fan of Carpenter heading into the 2008 draft, but his post-draft numbers were a turn-off. 2009 was an uneven but successful season, raising his stock as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter. 10. Ryan Flaherty: Considering that Flaherty turned 23 years old halfway through 2009, his Single-A season didn't do much for me. He showed more power than expected, which I want to see more evidence of against better competition, but the rest of his offense was ho-hum. St. Louis Cardinals1. Shelby Miller: Miller was a steal at No. 19 overall in the 2009 draft. His fastball has projection, his curveball could quickly turn into a plus offering, his mechanics are top-notch for a high schooler, his frame is athletic, and his endurance is enviable. It's hard to find faults. 2. Lance Lynn: Lynn has an intimidating presence on the mound, but he's not a big swing-and-miss kind of guy. He has a strong four-pitch mix and solid sinking action in everything he throws. He has a good chance to be a mid-rotation starter. 3. Jaime Garcia: The Tommy John surgery appears to have been a success, and Garcia hasn't missed a beat. He never had an overpowering fastball to begin with, but the sinking action remains. His groundball rate and plus curveball could turn him into a mid-rotation mainstay. 4. David Freese: Freese appears to be in line for St. Louis' starting gig at third base in 2010. The organization's confidence in him raises his stock. He won't be anything special, but with his average plate discipline and potentially above-average power, his bat should play at third base. 5. Allen Craig: Craig's position may have finally been settled as left field, and he has a strong enough bat to stick there. With his poor plate discipline I have to question his overall upside, but a .270 batting average with 20-25 home runs seems plausible. 6. Robert Stock: I think Stock has a future behind the plate. His defense will develop, and his arm is as good as it gets. On offense, there is a lot to question, but his raw power is for real, as evidenced by his Appy League debut. 7. Anthony Ferrara: Ferrara joined the Cardinals organization with an injury history, but it appears to be behind him. He has a nice three-pitch mix and has good projected endurance. There is a lot to like in his live left arm, but a lot to prove. 8. Daryl Jones: Jones is an athletic outfielder with average contact skills and plate discipline. I've been a big supporter of his for a while, but his power has yet to develop. Without power he doesn't have a major league future. 9. Pete Kozma: It may be impossible for some to comprehend, but I think we have reached a point where Kozma is actually underrated. He provides a solid glove at shortstop, some workable plate discipline and contact skills, and some sneaky instincts on the base paths. He's not a star in the making and will never live up to the first-round expectations, but a long career as a serviceable shortstop or utility infielder could be in his future. 10. Eduardo Sanchez: Sanchez's stuff is good, but it does get a bit overrated. What separates him from the other relief prospects is his at times sharp, but inconsistent, command. Yet, at just 20 years old, his control will get even better.
Greg Simons said...
I posted my last note after reading through the Cubs prospects. I noticed you did a much better job of citing positioning in your Cardinals commentary. Posted 01/14 at 08:58 AM
Nigel Mellish said...
I think Stock has a future behind the plate. His will develop, His what will develop? Not being snarky, just really want to know Posted 01/14 at 05:44 PM
Blakeo said...
Josh Vitters hit 18 homeruns, 19 doubles and 3 triples in 458 at bats last season between two minor league teams. Vitters had 65 strikeouts and 12 walks. He is 20 years old. IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS A POWERFUL BAT, YOU THINK? Back in 1971, a young 21 year old named Michael Jack Schmidt, in 237 at bats, hit a grand total of 8 homeruns, 1 triple and 7 doubles. OH, he struck out 66 times! I GUESS JOSH VITTERS HAS AN UP-HILL CLIMB TO MAKE IT BIG IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES! Posted 01/15 at 07:33 PM
Ron Sheasby said...
1. Starlin Castro SS Posted 01/16 at 07:19 AM
Ron Sheasby said...
1. Starlin Castro SS Posted 01/16 at 07:19 AM
Ron Sheasby said...
1. Starlin Castro SS Posted 01/16 at 07:19 AM
Ron Sheasby said...
For what it’s worth, probably nothing, here’s my top ten Cubs list. As to the Cardinals, DKDC—don’t know, don’t care…. 1. Starlin Castro SS If Jim has the fire of his father, he could do better than all of the others. Ron Sheasby Posted 01/16 at 07:23 AM
Greg Simons said...
Ummm… Thanks, Ron Sheasby. Thanks, Ron Sheasby. Thanks, Ron Sheasby. Thanks, Ron Sheasby. Though after the second identical post, I stopped caring. Posted 01/16 at 08:32 AM
Page 1 of 1
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Next Post: Waiver Wire Offseason: NL>> <<Previous Post: A can-do attitude |
A suggestion for these lists, Matt. How about listing a position for each player so we don’t have to click through to find it for players we aren’t familiar with?
And to get greedy, maybe even the level(s) they played at last year or are projected to start the year at this year? Thanks.