--- In cubscoven@yahoogroups.com, "sfwab" <willbassett@...> wrote:
>
> There is another article on Tribune's web site hyping Josh Vitters. "Vitters
doesn't disappoint in AFL"
> Every time I read the articles hyping this guy, I feel my blood pressure go
up. The statistics and scouts both agree that the guy is a terrible defensive
3rd baseman at this point in his career, he seems to be hurt every time they get
around the writing a new hype article, and he's got very little plate
discipline....and he's proven this trend at the lofty heights of high A ball.
The best thing they can say about him is that he only strikes out once every 7
at bats...a number I expect to get significantly worse as he advances to levels
where pitchers have quality breaking balls they can throw somewhere near the
strike zone.
> This seems like yet another case of the Cubs hyping their wasted draft pick.
I wish they would just stop.
>


I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid, but I've got to disagree. Yes, his defense is
atrocious, and he will probably end up at 1b. But, his bat is for real. He's
probably the best hitting prospect the Cubs have had in their system in at least
a decade, possibly two. Read any of the non-biased publications like Baseball
America and everybody agrees the guy is going to hit. The question is of where
to play him.

I think it far to early to call him a wasted draft pick. Let's not forget that
the kid is only 19 years old. NINETEEN!!! He is going to be raw. I'm not
worried about it yet. Aramis Ramirez was a very poor fielder when he first came
up. He's now at least league average, and probably a bit above average.
Granted, Vitters is probably worse than Ramirez was, but the Cubs didn't draft
Vitters for his defense, they drafted him for his bat, which hasn't
disappointed.

As for his patience, I can't recall any 19 year old who had a great eye. That
is one of the last things to develop. The fact that he is able to make good
contact (only 63 K's in over 500 PA's this season) is a more telling skill than
the amount of walks. Pitch recognition will come with time. The ability to put
the bat on the ball is a much tougher skill to "learn". Also, and I know it is
a small sample size, but his BB-SO ratio actually IMPROVED when he progressed
from A to High-A.

Are the constant articles about Vitters a little obsessive? Possibly. But that
isn't his fault. To be honest, I WANT the media machine to prop up our
prospects. It may increase expectations, but it also increases their value.
Could he be the next Corey Patterson or Felix Pie? Of course. But the reason
he is getting hyped is because he is very good. I'd much rather have that than
the alternative.