Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Chicago (NL) Gangsters Minor Review

Chicago - Despite the fact that the Major League Gangsters are not simply rolling over, in fact they are playing some of their best ball recently. However, despite that we all know that this season is a lost season. But fret not Gangster followers, not all is bad down on the farm. Today we will go thru the list of the 10 best prospects in the Chicago system. Honestly it was tough ranking the top few, and you could make a case for some of them to be higher or lower on the list.
  • 10.
    Bernie Hernandez
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 22B/T: R/R
    Born: Jarabacoa, DO
    Position(s): P (ClA)
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - Hernandez is dominating in High A, and despite being 22, he should easily find himself in the Chicago 'pen in the next few years. Only projects as a middle man/setup guy.

  • 9.
    Gene Green
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 22B/T: R/R
    Born: Parkersburg, WV
    Position(s): P (ClA)
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    - "Mean" Gene Green was acquired earlier in the year from division rival Atlanta. He pitched well before the trade and has struggled since the move. However, he still projects to help the Chicago pen in a few years. Ceiling is as a setup man.

  • 8.
    Sammy Cedeno
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 19B/T: R/R
    Born: Castlewood, SD
    Position(s): P (SP4)
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - The Gangsters #1 pick in Season 3, he has pitched well at times but has a tendency to give up the long ball(19 HR's in 150 IP). In some systems he might be higher, but here he lands at #8, but could easily be a #2 on a Major League squad someday.

  • 7.
    Mule Nye
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 22B/T: R/R
    Born: New Augusta, MS
    Position(s): RF/1B/DH
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - Mule was a 1st round pick (#20 Overall), their inaugral pick, and has hit well enough to deserve a promotion to AAA. However, with the lack of hitting coach there he remains in AA. Could see a late season promotion before the end of the year straight to the Majors however.

  • 6.
    Deivi Chavez
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 21B/T: R/R
    Born: Santiago, DO
    Position(s): SS/IF/OF/DH
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    - Chavez was acquired from Atlanta earlier in the year. He has the potential to be a perrenial gold glover and can even handle the stick some. But lets not fool anyone, the real reason he's on the list is because of the glove. Hit well enough to earn a recent promotion to AA. Could be in the majors by the end of season 5.

  • 5.
    Randy Clemens
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 21B/T: L/L
    Born: Jennings, MO
    Position(s): 1B
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - Clemens has big time power (40 HR's in 419 AB's) and a good eye. Should easily reach the majors by the end of season 5. Will get an end of season promotion to AAA(if not the majors for a September callup) but with the AA team in the playoff hunt and a lack of hitting coach at AAA he will stay in AA till the games are over.

  • 4.
    Jose Puente
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 19B/T: R/R
    Born: Villa Altagracia, DO
    Position(s): P (SP3)
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - Puente was an international signing earlier this year and has not disappointed. Was recently promoted to High A, and should see the Majors sometime around Season 7.

  • 3.
    Dick Stewart
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 18B/T: L/L
    Born: Springfield, VT
    Position(s): LF/1B/DH
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - Stewart was the organizations 1st round pick this year (7th overall) and fell to Chicago due to signability issues. It took a while and they finally got him in camp, and boy are they glad they did. Despite only 103 AB's at Rookie level and 70 AB's at Low A, he has been promoted to High A. Combined in those 2 leagues he batted, .376, with a .476 OBP, .873 SLG, and 1.349 OPS, 19 HR's and 78 RBI's in 173 AB's total. Now we don't expect those #'s to continue, and he struggles more with right handers, but he could be in the majors by year 7 as well.

  • 1B & 1A
    T.J. Byrne
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 20B/T: R/R
    Born: Stevensville, MI
    Position(s): P (SP1)
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    James Pong
    Chicago
    Gangsters
    Age: 19B/T: S/R
    Born: Tokyo, JP
    Position(s): P (SP2)
    View Hardball Dynasty Profile
    - I had a hard time picking which of these 2 righthanders I'd rather have. They have similar #'s in the same league. Each has been dominant. Pong was an International signing last year in Season 3 and Byrne was a 1st round pick(#8 overall) in Season 2. Picking one over the other is pointless, as they should arrive in Chicago around the same time and help anchor the rotation for years to come.