People are VERY excited by Javy Baez's coronation to the majors.
He is on pace to hit 162 HR and 270 RBI.
That would be awwwwwwww . . . . not gonna happen.
Baez has the free swinging approach similar to Starlin Castro when he made his splashy debut.
Fans are cheering Epstein and Hoyer for bringing the excitement back to Cub nation.
Again, Baez may be part of the plan but technically he was not part of Epstein's plan.
Castillo, Castro, Alcantara and Baez appear to many to be part of the "core" players that the team will be built around. Epstein's concept of "core" players was made early in his duties here as a means of telling the world that he was going to conduct a long, slow minor league system rebuild and re-stock the club with new, quality prospects.
Castillo, Castro, Alcantara and Baez have something else in common: they were all signed during the Jim Hendry era of Cub baseball.
It is not to say that when he first arrived Epstein can't play the cards he was dealt.
But he cannot take credit for fully developing any of the potential star players.
Kyle Hendricks was a Rangers prospect.
Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop were Orioles prospects.
Anthony Rizzo was a Red Sox prospect and Padre minor leaguer.
Hector Rondon was an Indians prospect.
Chris Coghlan was a Marlins prospect.
Travis Wood was a Reds prospects.
Edwin Jackson was a journeyman pitcher; the same with many bullpen arms and utility players like Luis Valbuena, Justin Ruggiano.
Junior Lake and Chris Rusin were also Henry prospects.
Epstein and Hoyer have churned the Cubs major league roster. And there have been some promotions of Cub minor leaguers to the Bigs. But at the present moment, none of the Epstein-Hoyer scouted and signed players have reached the majors. So, at best, their talent evaluation grade is incomplete.
