Minor League Preview – Rookie and Short Season-A Ball Good Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the first of a three part installment previewing the 2014 minor league season. A brief overall look at the system will precede the team summaries. Please note that the previews are based on current roster assignments and anticipated Spring Training success. All assignments, both as to position and level, are subject to change pending the completion of Spring Training. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 10/10/13
Position Analysis The CCO’s off-season series of articles to summarize and project how the Cubs’ minor league system stacks up on a position by position basis continues today. Second base was first on the list followed by third base, shortstop and first base. Today, the CCO focuses on a position that may be the weakest in the entire organization: Catcher. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/22/13
The minor league season is coming down to the wire as Tennessee had a winning streak snapped but reduced their magic number in the Southern League. Daytona continues to maintain a five game lead in the Florida State League with fourteen games left to play. Boise and the AZL Cubs are fighting for their playoff lives, as they are two and three games out of first place respectively. The DSL Cubs are clinging to a two game lead with four games on the schedule, while Iowa can only play out the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/15/13
It was moving day for many of the Cubs’ prospects, as Kris Bryant and Dan Vogelbach now call Daytona home. Reliever Armando Rivero is now in Tennessee, while nomadic lefty Jeffry Antigua has returned to Iowa. Cael Brockmeyer is back in Boise and Trevor Gretzky has made his way to Kane County. Meanwhile, Javier Baez just keeps on hitting and working counts in Tennessee. Baez is 18-for-43 with six doubles, one home run, 13 RBI, three walks and nine strikeouts in last 10 games … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 03/11/13
Minor League Preview – Rookie and Short Season-A Ball Good Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the first of a three part installment previewing the 2013 minor league season. A brief overall look at the system will precede the team summaries. We will be using a new format, discussing each level’s strengths, weaknesses, and things to look for this season. Please note that the previews are based on current roster assignments and anticipated Spring Training success. All assignments, both as … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 11/26/12
The list of Cubs' prospects and players participating in the winter leagues grew last week. Counting the recently completed Arizona Fall League, the Cubs now have 43 players participating in winter ball. Pitchers Rafael Dolis and Ryan Searle, catcher Neftali Rosario and recently signed Johermyn Chavez and Alberto Gonzalez were added to rosters over the last seven days. Infielder Luis Valbuena and right-handed pitcher Esmailin Caridad had a good week as both players picked up their game in the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 03/12/12
Minor League Preview - Rookie and Short-Season A-Ball Good Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the first of a three-part installment previewing the 2012 minor league season. With a Dominican Summer League team making the playoffs in 2011, a 2011 rookie team narrowly missing the playoffs, and the most celebrated draft class for the Cubs in recent memory; the 2012 rookie and Short Season-A teams figure to garner more attention than ever. Here's how both teams look for the up-coming season. … [Read more...]
Minor League Ball’s Top Cubs Prospects for 2012
The CCO's look at the Cubs' farm system this off-season continues with Minor League Ball's ranking of the Cubs' top prospects. Minor League Ball released their list soon after the Anthony Rizzo-Andrew Cashner trade was announced and also includes what the Cubs received from the Reds in the Sean Marshall deal. John Sickels pointed out that even before the Marshall and Cashner trades, the Cubs' system had some good things happening and he thought the system as a whole was underrated. Sickels … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/26/11
With the minor league season well in the rearview mirror and only three games remaining on the Cubs' schedule, it is time to take a look at each position throughout the Cubs' minor league system. For the most part, the Cubs system had a good year and saw several players take steps forward in their development. First up in a series of articles, are the infielders and catchers in the Cubs' minor league system. Position Analysis - Infield and Catcher … [Read more...]
Recap of the Cubs 2011 First-Year Player Draft
The 2011 MLB First-Year player draft took place last week and the Cubs selected players in all 50 rounds. The Cubs made Javier Baez their first round pick with the ninth overall selection in the draft. In all, Tim Wilken and his staff selected 29 college players and 21 high school players ... 29 pitchers (five left-handers and 21 right-handers), 10 infielders, 11 outfielders and three catchers. Here is look back at Cubs drafts of the past, the current state of the Cubs system, along with depth … [Read more...]