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#Post#: 2619--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: Robb
Date: April 21, 2011, 12:57 pm
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Didn't one of the ESPN guys gush over Jackson as the best hitter
in the draft? For some reason I thought it was Harold Reynolds.
#Post#: 2620--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: StrikeZone
Date: April 21, 2011, 12:59 pm
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I believe I correctly predicted the Brett Jackson pick and I
disliked it.
My reasons for disliking it were that he didn't have great
numbers at Cal for a college hitter with a metal bat and he
swung and missed quite a lot.
After the draft, I saw a lot of video on Jackson and I liked
what I saw. His swing was pretty similar to Will Clark's and I
thought it probably had some potential for power down the road.
Also, once Jackson signed and started playing in the minors, he
produced pretty good numbers.
So, I became a believer and I think he's going to be a good
Major Leaguer.
I still have no faith in Josh Vitters. As I've often said, I
just don't like when a hitter has recurring hand/wrist injuries.
Plus, his defense is suspect. His hack away approach hasn't
really improved and the Cubs have shown no track record of
success handling hitters with these issues.
#Post#: 2621--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: Robb
Date: April 21, 2011, 1:02 pm
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Josh Vitters reminds me too much of David Kelton
#Post#: 2642--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: craig
Date: April 21, 2011, 3:39 pm
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I'm on the Vitters bandwagon for the moment. I reserve the
right to jump off whenever I want. And I have to admit that
with prospects, I'm very what-have-you-done lately. That sounds
fickle, but I think it makes a lot of sense since prospects can
change pretty quickly.
What I do know is that Vitters has a widely regarded excellent
swing, a very pretty swing. And when he's swinging right and
approaching things right, he's an excellent contact hitter. And
I know that he's got real power potential.
I also know that for the moment, he's 21 years old and he's
opened this season with 43 AB small sample in which he's hitting
.326, OBP'ing at .383, slugging, and OPS'ing at .964. Those are
some really good numbers for a 21-year-old in AA. And he's got
a 3BB/3K line.
In common with Kelton is that they are 3B with pretty swings and
some power potential. Kelton really had only one noteworthy
season, also at AA and also at age 21, where he hit .312 with a
.927 OPS, not much worse than Vitters is doing. And Kelton
sustained that for 224 AB rather than the tiny 43AB sample of
Vitters.
But, we KNOW that Kelton could never reproduce that, and until
he proves otherwise I hope/believe that Vitters can.
Second, even in that flukishly good 2-month season that Kelton
had, he was still whiffing 25% of his AB, unlike Vitters who's
currently at 7%. So I think the red flag that Kelton had
trouble hitting the ball, breaking balls in particular, was
evident. Whereas there is no such red flag for Vitters.
I didn't rank Vitters super high this winter, maybe 7th or so on
my list, after he hit .223 in AA last summer. And I know he's
always been a hot-and-cold guy who hasn't fallen into his first
big slump this year, and I know he will sooner or later. But
I'm pretty optimistic that he's got the talents to be a good
average/power hitter. And as short as this April has been, I'm
pretty fired up about what he's done during these two weeks and
it's clearly elevated my hopes for him.
#Post#: 2644--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: Deeg
Date: April 21, 2011, 3:52 pm
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Vitters has a pretty steady track record of stinking it up at
every level and then impressing when he repeats it, so this
should come as no surprise to anyone.
In truth, his numbers are good for a 21 year-old at AA. So I
suppose there's still hope - though I won't believe until he
shows he can consistently draw a few walks. I'm also not
convinced he can stick at 3B, and he doesn't figure to produce
enough offense to be of value as a 1B. At least with Jackson
his glove has never been in question, and he's always showed a
lot of patience. The Cubs have never seemed to value guys like
that much, which is why Jackson is exciting and I hated to see
Hak dealt. Vitters, to me, is a one-trick pony - he doesn't
figure to be a positive in any way except with his bat. He's
not a base stealer, his defense is going to be average at the
very best, and he's not going to be an OBP guy. That's a
razor-thin margin for error.
#Post#: 2653--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: Chris27
Date: April 21, 2011, 4:35 pm
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On the subject of Jackson leading off...
"I'm really learning to love leading off," said Jackson, who
usually batted second after being promoted to Double-A midway
through last season. "I like making things happen, and with the
way this team can knock the ball around, anytime you get on base
there is a good chance you'll be able to come around and score."
Batting first with the Smokies is also good training for what
might eventually be Jackson's role once he reaches the Major
Leagues.
"There is no true leadoff hitter in Chicago right now, so this
could benefit my future with the Cubs," Jackson said. "I'm
really enjoying batting first. Hopefully, the experience will
pay off now and later.
HTML http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110418&content_id=17943004&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
#Post#: 2658--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: craig
Date: April 21, 2011, 4:53 pm
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--- Quote from: Deeg link ---
>
> Vitters ... numbers are good for a 21 year-old at AA. So I
suppose there's still hope - though I won't believe until he
shows he can consistently draw a few walks. ..... Vitters, to
me, is a one-trick pony - he doesn't figure to be a positive in
any way except with his bat. He's not a base stealer, his
defense is going to be average at the very best, and he's not
going to be an OBP guy. That's a razor-thin margin for error.
>
--- End Quote ---
That's a two-trick pony in my book. Average and power. And
those are the two most important tricks a baseball
position-playing pony can have.
I also think that when a guy has the contact gift to the tune of
3 K's/43 AB, the margin may not be as razor thin.
#Post#: 2659--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: Cactus
Date: April 21, 2011, 5:05 pm
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John Gaub is quietly off to a fairly decent start for Iowa.
15 Ks in 8.1 innings but a few too many walks (6)
HTML http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=t451&t=p_pbp&pid=453304
#Post#: 2715--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: davep
Date: April 21, 2011, 7:54 pm
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ArizonaPhil on the EXT Cubs
While the Cubs pitchers allowed only three hits, they did walk
nine (three scored), hit a batter, and threw two wild pitches.
Also, the Angels stole seven bases (no CS), and the Cubs infield
defense was not exactly air-tight, committing three throwing
errors
No wonder he likes to go to those games. The quality there is
obviously the same as the big league club.
By the way - the "throw and catch" catcher Cabaza threw out zero
runners in 5 tries.
#Post#: 2717--------------------------------------------------
Re: On the Farm
DIR By: davep
Date: April 21, 2011, 7:56 pm
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I keep getting excited about the great start Jackson and some of
the others have had until I remember that Luis Montanez in
hitting over 400 in Iowa
By the way, in his first start of the season, Jay Jackson has
allowed no runs in three innings.
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