Prospect Disappointments, Contact Importance, and Other Cubs Bullets

Dec 20, 2019

This is not a movie review: I am not a spoiler dude, so I can say only that I left TFA and TLJ somewhat annoyed by the many problems/annoyances I saw and couldn’t ignore. Didn’t feel the same way leaving TROS. Best of luck to folks avoiding spoilers this weekend.

A kinda weird, but certainly provocative topic from the MLB Pipeline crew: the biggest prospect disappointment (bust) of the decade for each organization. For the Cubs, the dubious honor goes to former outfielder Brett Jackson: “Jackson, the Cubs’ top Draft pick (No. 31 overall in 2009) hit the Top 100 list at No. 46 in 2011 and climbed to No. 33 in 2012 as an outfielder with an exciting power-speed combination. He made it to Chicago in 2012, but hit .175/.303/.342 in that stint and saw just seven more big league at-bats with the D-backs in 2014. He last played in 2015, logging 51 games in Triple-A with the Giants organization.”

To be sure, Jackson’s was indeed a very disappointing story for the Cubs – and I’m sure he was bummed, too, obviously – because he was so talented in all ways that should have made him, at least, a big league fourth outfielder. But the one piece of his game that was missing sapped all the rest: a simple inability to make consistent contact against advanced pitching. Jackson’s 63.8% contact rate in the big leagues was a whopping 16 percentage points below league average for that era, and he had the second worst contact rate in baseball his 2012 partial season with the Cubs. It wasn’t something I put enough stock into back in those days, but I pay much closer attention now.

So do the Cubs, by the way, which is why they have referenced a need to improve their contact rate going forward. Among Cubs regulars, the team had just three batters with a better-than-average contact rate: Anthony Rizzo (82.0%), Jason Heyward (79.7%), and Albert Almora (77.5%). Victor Caratini, Ben Zobrist, Nico Hoerner, Tony Kemp, and Jonathan Lucroy also managed the feat in limited duty. But everyone else was below average, and some were way below average – Willson Contreras, Javy Baez, and David Bote were all below 70%. Contact rate, in isolation, is absolutely not the end-all be-all of offensive performance, but if you want to diversify your lineup (remember the bananas?), you need to have more different kinds of hitters.

Circling back to Jackson, though, as the Cubs’ biggest prospect bust of the decade – seems like there should be some competition there from Addison Russell. Although Russell contributed meaningfully at the big league level, when you think about the trade that acquired him, about his standing as a top 10/15 prospect in baseball, and then about how he plummeted after his second season? I think there’s an argument there that Russell was more disappointing – because so much more was expected – and that’s before you even get into the domestic violence suspension. It’s also before you get into the serious and repeated on-field lapses that got him dumped back to AAA in his fourth season, and ultimately non-tendered for nothing. That’s not supposed to be the trajectory for top 10/15 prospects in the game.

The disappointment is all the more strong when you think about how basically every other top-tier Cubs prospect is either still on the team or wound up breaking out elsewhere. But I guess that’s also a compliment to the Cubs of this decade: while there were obvious struggles on the player development side in a number of ways, at least they never really *completely* failed to hit with their tip-top guys.

NBCS Chicago is running down the Cubs’ roster of the decade, and, hey, not everyone is from the championship team:

We're moving on to the outfield for our #Cubs All-Decade team. First up, a guy with a big hop and an even bigger smile… Alfonso Soriano!
More here: https://t.co/yboXx3UdMx pic.twitter.com/s31kg59jWz

— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) December 19, 2019

Will always be able to say this about the 2010s:

“Remember that decade where the Cubs had more World Series wins than the Yankees.” https://t.co/p7KXXYsvQM

— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) December 20, 2019

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

I recently stumbled onto this live cover of Linger by The Cranberries and I can't stop listening to it. Give it a go. I bet you like it. In case you missed it last night, Cody Bellinger exited last night's...

Michael Cerami

Apr 24, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Org Homer Party: 13 Homers for the Organization

The big league Cubs last night beat the Astros largely on the strength of the long ball, scoring six of their seven runs that way. Cody Bellinger kicked things off with a monster two-run shot, and Mike Tauchman followed with...

Brett Taylor

Apr 24, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Oh, Come On: Cody Bellinger Lifted Mid-Game with an Apparent Injury (UPDATE: X-Rays Negative)

The Cubs cannot catch a break this year, man. They've already dealt with injuries to Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, Drew Smyly, Julian Merryweather, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ (did I forget anyone?). And tonight, it seems maybe something...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 7, Astros 2 – April 23, 2024

Well there was one big thing not to like about tonight's game - Cody Bellinger was lifted with a right rib contusion after colliding with the outfield wall - and about a million things that were great. And since we...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Mike Tauchman Did it AGAIN – Second Oppo Homer of the Game!

Nothing like a little insurance late. Mike Tauchman, who already hit his first home run of the season earlier in this game, just hit his second home run in the 8th! Another opposite field blast for Tauchman, who's been hitting...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

James Triantos Homers TWICE for the Smokies

It really is a Cubs homer party up and down the system. In Chicago, Cody Bellinger and Mike Tauchman have gone deep. At Myrtle Beach, Christian Hernandez and Jefferson Encarnacion each homered. At South Bend, Yohendrick Pinango homered. And at...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Kevin Alcantara Led Off Tonight’s Game with a Bomb (UPDATE: And Then Did It Again!)

Kevin Alcantara wasted no time giving the Tennessee Smokies the lead on Tuesday night (or maybe he just wanted to be a spiritual part of the homer party going on at Wrigley Field). Facing off against the Rocket City Trash...

Elias Schuster

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Mike Tauchman’s First Homer of the Year Caps Off a 5-Run Cubs Ambush!

I don't like to use "ambush" lightly. But what would you call it when the Cubs put five balls in play over 100 MPH, including a single, a double, and two home runs en route to putting five runs on...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Ian Happ Hit Missed a Homer by a Foot, So Cody Bellinger Launched One into Space to Pick Him UP

Ian Happ was back in the Cubs lineup tonight after missing a few games with a sore hamstring. And in his first at-bat back, he sent one 412 feet to dead-center field for a VERY long double (Statcast says it...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Astros at Cubs (6:40 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs are back in action tonight for the first of three games against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. Here's a look at the Cubs lineup for Game 1. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, 2B...

Michael Cerami

Apr 23, 2024

Picks

Brewers vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Milwaukee Brewers (14-8) hope to avoid an upset as -116 favorites when they take on Andrew McCutchen (with homers in two straight contests) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-11). First pitch is at 6:40 PM ET Wednesday, live from PNC...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Rays vs. Tigers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Tampa Bay Rays (12-13) and Detroit Tigers (14-10) meet Wednesday at Tropicana Field, starting at 6:50 PM ET on BSSUN. The Rays are -121 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Tigers are favored against the spread of 1.5...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Dodgers vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Led by Shohei Ohtani (two-game homer streak), the Los Angeles Dodgers (14-11) are favorites versus the Washington Nationals (10-12) Wednesday at 6:45 PM ET. Bookmakers have named the Dodgers as -186 favorites for the game, which airs on SportsNet LA.Los...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Braves vs. Marlins Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Miami Marlins (6-19 look to avoid the sweep when they visit the Atlanta Braves (16-6) in the final game of a three-game set. Bookmakers have listed the Braves as -240 favorites, while the Marlins are +198 underdogs to pick...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Reds vs. Phillies Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Cincinnati Reds (13-10) and Philadelphia Phillies (15-9) meet Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, starting at 6:40 PM ET on BSOH. The Reds are -114 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Phillies are favored against the spread of...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Yankees vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The New York Yankees (16-8) are set to take on the Oakland Athletics (9-15) Wednesday at 7:05 PM ET, airing on Amazon Prime Video. The Yankees are listed as -228 favorites by oddsmakers, while the underdog Athletics have +187 odds...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Cubs vs. Astros Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

The Houston Astros (7-17) square off against the Chicago Cubs (14-9) on Wednesday at Wrigley Field after a three-game losing streak. The contest starts at 7:40 PM ET.The probable pitchers are Jameson Taillon (1-0) for the Cubs and Spencer Arrighetti...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Blue Jays vs. Royals Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

The Toronto Blue Jays (13-11) visit Kansas City to face the Kansas City Royals (14-10) at 7:40 PM ET on Wednesday.The Blue Jays will give the nod to Yariel Rodriguez and the Royals will counter with Alec Marsh (3-0, 3.22...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Twins vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

The Chicago White Sox (3-20) bring a five-game losing streak into a road contest against the Minnesota Twins (9-13) at 7:40 PM ET on Wednesday.The probable pitchers are Joe Ryan (0-1) for the Twins and Garrett Crochet (1-3) for the...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

Rangers vs. Mariners Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

The Seattle Mariners (12-11) play on Wednesday in Arlington against the Texas Rangers (12-12). First pitch is at 8:05 PM ET.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Rangers will send Jon Gray (0-1) to the mound, while Bryce Miller...

Data Skrive

Apr 24, 2024

Prospect Disappointments, Contact Importance, and Other Cubs Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular