Cubs' 2006 Minors success bodes well for '07

While Cubs fans were bemoaning the state of their Major League team in 2006, five of the six farm teams had winning records -- with the Class A Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League and the short-season Boise Hawks in the Northwest League both making it to the playoffs.

For now, Chicago fans can travel the two hours to Peoria to see some familiar faces as well as some who are sure to be familiar before long. Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will make his professional managerial debut with the Chiefs, while outfielder Tyler Colvin (first round 2006) and southpaw Mark Pawelek (first round 2005) are expected to anchor the team on the field.

Starting pitching has been both the organization's biggest strength and its biggest Achilles' heel the last few years. While an alarming number of top pitching prospects missed significant time with injuries, there was also enough depth to allow the Cubs to deal young arms for established stars and still see the Major League emergence of rookies such as Rich Hill, Sean Marshall and Angel Guzman.

Of that group, Hill is probably the only one to have solidified a slot in the 2007 rotation (along with Carlos Zambrano, Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly), leaving Guzman and Marshall to battle it out for No. 5 with Mark Prior and Wade Miller. Juan Mateo and Carlos Marmol remain darkhorses.

"If we have to make those tough decisions, it means we have serious depth," said farm director Oneri Fleita, "so we can do the seasoning in (Triple-A) Iowa."

The even better news is that there's more help on the way, including perhaps the two best pitching prospects the system has seen in years: left-hander Donald Veal and right-hander Jeff Samardzija.

Scouting director Tim Wilken, who came aboard last year, should continue to fill the coffers. He brings more than a quarter-century of success, primarily with the Toronto Blue Jays and more recently the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Climbing the Ladder

Triple-A Iowa

Felix Pie, OF
Pie (pronounced pee-YAY) couldn't have been too happy when newly signed superstar Alfonso Soriano announced plans to play center field for the Cubs this season. But at just 22, Pie also knows he's hardly dying on the ivy vines just yet.

Long considered the Cubs' top offensive prospect, he's a multi-tooled talent with outstanding defensive ability, speed, a quick bat and athleticism. He missed the second half of 2005 with an ankle injury, so '06 was just his Triple-A debut even if it seems he's been on the radar forever. That debut was impressive as he hit .283 with 15 home runs, 57 RBIs and 17 steals in 141 games.

He'll get some playing time at Spring Training if for no other reason than to let new manager Lou Piniella get a good look at his center fielder of the future, whether that comes now, if Soriano doesn't work out, or a little further down the road. Though a natural center fielder, he could move to a corner with his strong arm. A gap hitter with power, he hit over .300 the second half of the '06 season.

"We'll go in there to Spring Training and play and let the best man win the job," Fleita said. "I don't think any set lineup has been written. We love Felix Pie and when he's ready he'll tell us and show us."
Video: Pie hits a leadoff homer in May
Video: Pie rips an RBI double in July

2006 Organizational Record
LEVEL AAA AA A (Adv) A SS R	LEAGUE PCL SL FSL MWL NWL AZL	TEAM Iowa West Tenn Daytona Peoria Boise Cubs TOTAL:	W 76 75 71 75 44 21 362	L 68 65 66 64 32 34 329	PCT .528 .536 .518 .540 .579 .382 .524

Angel Guzman, RHP
Guzman is one of a very promising quartet of pitchers, along with Sean Marshall, Juan Mateo and Carlos Marmol. All saw some Major League time in 2006 and have options remaining, so any or all of the four could start the year back at Iowa -- or in Chicago.

Of that group, the Cubs still think that a healthy Guzman has the most upside. Once their indisputable top pitching prospect, Guzman has endured shoulder and arm woes that have slowed his ascent. Now 25, he made both his Triple-A and Major League debut last year, posting a 7.39 ERA in 56 Major League innings and a 4.04 ERA at Iowa.

"This winter his stuff has been reported to be back where it was a few years ago," Fleita said. "His curveball is back, his arm slot is back down in the right place and the results were good."
Video: Guzman records his eighth strikeout against Oklahoma

Others to watch: 2B Eric Patterson projects as the Cubs' second baseman of the future, but with veteran Mark DeRosa in town, E-Pat should spend most of the year at Iowa. He's one of the most legitimate stolen-base threats in the system (43 in '05, 46 in '06) and comes off an Arizona Fall League campaign where he hit .345. ... 3B Scott Moore, acquired from the Tigers in the deal for Kyle Farnsworth, is a former first-rounder (2002) with plus power and good defensive ability targeted to be more of a solid utility guy. ... RHP Carlos Marmol may project as either a starter or reliever in the big leagues, but if he heads back to Iowa, it would be as a starter thanks to his stamina and durability. ... RHP Juan Mateo, almost lost in the Rule 5 Draft to St. Louis, posted a 5.32 ERA in 11 games with the Cubs and a 2.82 at Double-A West Tenn ... LHP Sean Marshall was a surprise addition to the Opening Day rotation in Chicago in 2006, but arm trouble kept him from maximizing his potential there as he finished with a 5.59 ERA in 24 games.
Video: Marshall rings up his seventh strikeout

Double-A Tennessee

Ryan Harvey, OF
The team's first pick in 2003 has great power, but he's been unable to bring the average up to meet it. He had a four-homer game at Daytona in late July, becoming the first player to achieve that feat in the Florida State League. But his development has been slower than expected -- or at least hoped. He hit 20 homers in the FSL and possesses a plus arm, though he also had 125 strikeouts.

"That (power) is a hard tool to teach and a hard one to develop," Fleita said. "Sometimes those guys with long arms and long levers take a little longer to develop and figure things out. He has impact-type tools, so we have a lot of hope for his promise."

Donald Veal, LHP
In his first full season, the second-round selection in 2005 has emerged as perhaps the top starting pitching prospect in the organization. Just 22, Veal led the organization in ERA (2.16) and strikeouts (174) between two Class A stops at Peoria and Daytona and limited hitters to a .175 average, best in the Minors.

He throws the best curveball in the system, a fastball in the low 90s, and he is working on a change-up. With an aggressive delivery and personality, he is fun to watch and his numbers improved following a midseason promotion. The Cubs hope to see the same development when they bump him up to the Southern League to start 2007.

"He's probably the best pitching prospect in the system," said Fleita. "All he needs to do is tweak his command. That will come with time, and then you'll see him quickly. He's a young lefty with tremendous stuff."

Others to watch: RHP Sean Gallagher throws a fastball in the low 90s, a curve, change-up and slider. The 12th rounder from 2004 was the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher in 2005 at Peoria and did nothing to lose that luster at Daytona in 2006, posting a 2.30 ERA in 13 outings before moving up to Double-A. There he kept it up with a 2.71 ERA in 15 more starts to finish with 171 strikeouts and an impressive 2.51 ERA combined. ... 1B Brian Dopirak, a second-round pick in 2002, also has tremendous power but lost most of 2006 to an ankle injury and was limited to just one homer in 52 games. He enjoyed his breakthrough season in 2004 at Class A Lansing, where he won Midwest League MVP honors by hitting .307 with 39 homers and 120 RBIs. ... OF Sam Fuld has hit an even .300 in two Minor League seasons.

Class A Advanced Daytona

Tyler Colvin, OF
Colvin's selection with the 13th overall pick in 2006 was something of a surprise, but he proved to be a great choice in his debut. The Clemson product batted .268 with 11 homers, 53 RBIs and 12 steals at short-season Boise, putting up solid numbers across the board.

A pure hitter with gap power and some speed, Colvin is just 21 and should add some bulk as his tools continue to develop. He's in big-league camp right now, and if he has a good spring, the Cubs would like to see him skip Peoria and go right to Daytona.

Jeff Samardzija, RHP
The Cubs were ecstatic to get the hard-throwing right-hander from Notre Dame with their fifth-round pick in '06 (their second choice overall). They had him at the top of their board but teams were wary because as the star wide receiver for the Fighting Irish, there were questions as to which sport he'd choose. But he signed with the Cubs for first-round money and after the Sugar Bowl, he committed to baseball. Voila, first-round talent in the fifth round.

Samardzija throws a sinking fastball consistently in the low 90s, but he can bump it up when needed and projects as a frontline starter (though some think he'd make an outstanding closer as well). He wasted no time getting his pro career started last summer, posting a 2.37 ERA in five games at Boise and a 3.27 ERA in two starts at Peoria before leaving to rejoin the football team.

"Everyone talks about what a great athlete he is, but he's a class young man whose work ethic is off the charts," enthused Fleita. "You hate to put a time frame on things, but this is a guy who is so athletic and whose aptitude is so tremendous. I foresee him spending the year where he's at, but I could see a September callup, and the next thing you know he's probably in the big leagues."

Others to watch: OF Jesus Valdes hit .302 with five homers and 61 RBIs in his first full season at Peoria. ... Three key pieces of the Peoria rotation all move up to Daytona as well: RHPs Mitch Atkins, Scott Taylor and Todd Blackford. Atkins, a seventh-rounder in 2004, was 13-4 with a 2.41 ERA and a .217 average against. Taylor posted a 3.39 ERA in 140 2/3 innings for the Chiefs. Blackford was 10-9 with a 5.37 ERA.

Class A Peoria

Dylan Johnston, SS
The Cubs are very high on their fourth-rounder from 2005, and they look for big things from a healthy Johnston this year. The left-handed hitter missed most of last season with thumb and ankle injuries -- hitting just .200 with 11 homers and eight RBIs in 58 games at Peoria -- but he's looking strong so far this spring.

"He really has some serious bat speed," said Fleita. "He runs well, has a plus-plus arm and has some kind of ability at shortstop."

Mark Pawelek, LHP
The Cubs have taken it easy with their young pitchers, moving them up one step at a time, and Pawelek has been no exception. In his debut in 2005 in the Arizona League, he dominated opposing hitters to the tune of a .170 average against. He then posted a 2.51 ERA at Boise in 2006, ranking among the tops in the organization.

This year he is ready to step out of the shadows, and pitching for Sandberg at Peoria should get him more attention from Cubs fans. He throws three solid pitches with his low-90s fastball, a curve and a change-up. As long as he can stay in shape, an issue when he came to camp in 2006, he should be one to watch.

Others to watch: RHP Chris Huseby, the team's 11th-round steal in 2006, has tremendous stuff, but 2005 Tommy John surgery limited him last season. ... 3B Josh Lansford, the club's sixth-round selection in 2006, "can really pick it," according to Fleita. The son of former Major Leaguer Carney Lansford also has a plus arm. ... RHP Billy Muldowney was the team's eighth-round pick in '06 out of Pittsburgh and brings an outstanding curveball to the Peoria rotation.

Under the Radar

Miguel Cuevas, RHP
Hard to imagine anyone who stands 6-foot-10 flying under the radar, but the Dominican-born hurler lasted until the 36th round before the Cubs drafted him out of junior college in Los Angeles. He's surprisingly coordinated for his size and throws in the mid-90s. He posted a 3.18 ERA in the Arizona League last year, striking out 20 while walking eight in 17 innings, and will start the season on the Peoria staff.

Jake Fox, C
The 2003 third-rounder was not protected on the Cubs' 40-man roster this past winter, despite hitting .288 with 21 homers between Daytona and West Tenn and leading the organization with 86 RBIs. A power-hitting catcher passed over in the Rule 5 Draft, Fox still very much bears watching as the Cubs would like to see him continue to hone his defense at Tennessee.

"Jake can hit and he's a little rusty behind the plate, but he's gotten better every year and that's what you look for," Fleita said. "He's handling pitchers much better. He'll always be an offensive guy, but with his work ethic I think he'll figure things out. This will be a big learning year for him, but we look for great things from him."

Ryan Norwood, 1B
The 2004 ninth-rounder out of East Carolina put up impressive numbers in his pro debut that summer, hitting .296 with nine homers and 53 RBIs at Boise. He missed all of 2005 on a freak play, however, suffering a severe ankle sprain while sliding to break up a double play in an exhibition game the day before the regular season. Upon his return to action at Peoria this year, he hit .307 to lead the organization in batting, adding 15 homers and 69 RBIs. He's headed to Daytona to start the year.

Jose Ceda, RHP
A big right-hander who just turned 20, Ceda was dealt to the Cubs during the '06 season from San Diego in the trade for Todd Walker, going from one Arizona League team to another. He really put it together after the move, posting an 0.75 ERA in five games and striking out 21 batters in 12 innings before moving up to Boise to finish the season, where he posted a 3.27 ERA in three starts. This year he will start at Peoria as part of a very intriguing pitching staff.

2006 Draft Recap

3B Josh Lansford (sixth round) has great bloodlines as the son of former Major Leaguer Carney Lansford and the brother of Athletics prospect Jared, a second-round pick in 2005. Drafted out of Cal Poly-SLO, his calling card is outstanding defense with a great arm, agility and range. He hit .255 with five homers and 35 RBIs in his debut at Boise. ... RHP Billy Muldowney (eighth) has great offspeed stuff and helped anchor the Hawks' staff with a 2.68 ERA in 11 games, striking out 42 in 43 2/3 innings. ... Keep an eye on RHP Chris Huseby (11th), who spent '06 coming off of Tommy John surgery. The 6-7, 220-pounder has high-round stuff, a lively fastball in the mid-90s and a power curveball. This could be the year he breaks through. ... OF Matt Camp (13th) led the Northwest League with 87 hits, batting .289 for Boise and leading the club with 22 steals. He could move to the infield. ...If LHP Jeremy Papelbon (19th) has a name that sounds familiar, it's because older brother Jonathan pitches for the Red Sox and his right-handed twin, Joshua, put up very twin-like stats in his own stint in short-season Lowell on the other side of the country. Jeremy's 1.83 ERA edged out his brother's 1.86 as both turned heads in relief. ... RHP Michael Cooper (26th) headed to Boise, where the 6-5, 235-pounder posted a 1.23 ERA with nine saves and limited Northwest League hitters to a .185 average.

Predictions

Organizational Player of the Year -- 2B Eric Patterson
"E-Pat" has done nothing but hit for high average and steal a load of bases since making his pro debut in 2005, and there is no reason to think that will change as he mans second base at Iowa this season. Since there is no apparent room for him at Wrigley this season due to the multimillion-dollar contract awarded erstwhile utility infielder Mark DeRosa, Patterson will probably get plenty of Minor League at-bats in 2007 to continue to pile up impressive numbers. Hopefully that will change in 2008.

Organizational Pitcher of the Year -- LHP Donald Veal
His stats between his two Class A stops in 2006 were, in a word, dazzling. This year the 21-year-old southpaw will move up a level to Double-A Tennessee, where he'll work on tweaking his command. With the depth of starting pitching in Chicago and Iowa, there will be no pressure to rush him, so look for another outstanding season from a future star.

Quotable

"These guys still have a lot of ability. They have good character and work hard and have the talent. They haven't given up on themselves and we certainly will not give up on them."
--Farm director Oneri Fleita on oft-injured pitching prospects Chadd Blasko, Luke Hagerty and Bobby Brownlie