Coaches often tell their players "act like you have been there before." It is a core principle of sportsmanship and maturity.
Junior Lake's show boating a home run when his team is down 6-2 was selfish bush league. It angered the Marlins players to the point that both benches cleared to vent.
Coaches cringe when a wide receiver catches a touchdown pass with 17 seconds to play, then does a victory dance in the end zone - - - when his team is still down by 28 points. Garbage points don't get celebrations.
The NFL ("No Fun League") has penalized excessive celebrations on the field because, frankly, it was getting extremely stupid and demeaning to the image of the sport. You can give off the swagger of a champion by catching your touchdown pass, and handing the ball to the back judge while you are walking off the field. What is a more powerful message to your opponent after scoring than "that's was no big deal."
Lake is getting an opportunity to play more with Jorge Soler's ankle injury. But Joe Maddon needs to keep his young players in check. Hot dogging, show boating and being unprofessional are elements that lead to bad habits in the clubhouse. A disciplinarian coach would have sat Lake for the rest of the game to send a clear message.
In hockey, Coach Q does that all the time. If one of his Blackhawk players screws up on the ice or does something stupid (like a bad penalty), he will sit the player for long stretches. That hurts the club because it means the other members of the team have to make up someone else's dumb mistakes. In the locker room, team leaders like Toews, can then police the roster and get everyone back on the same page. That is the maturity level that teams strive for when they want to win championships. The Blackhawks are a team solely focused on winning another Stanley Cup.
The Cubs are looking for maturity through leaders like Anthony Rizzo. But he seems to be a mild manner, quiet guy. But quiet guys, including Jon Lester, can lead by example. Maybe later on someone else, like Kris Bryant, will take the reigns and become the captain of the team.
Showing posts with label Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lake. Show all posts
June 4, 2015
August 25, 2014
HERALDED PROSPECTS
When rookie shortstop Gordon Beckham arrived on the South Side, he had a quick start which propelled him into the "can't miss" category. In 2009, he hit .270, 14 HR and 63 RBI with a 2.1 WAR. Sadly, that was his best major league season. He went to play second full time, and was a Gold Glove caliber defender.
But after 5.5 years with the Sox, Beckham batted only .244, 61 HR, 276 RBI and 5.9 WAR. The "can't miss" prospect with the confidence to be an All-Star turned into a "can't hit" major leaguer.
Beckham's case is not unusual. Less than six percent of all minor leaguers make it to the majors, and very few have All-Star caliber careers. Beckham is the latest example of how an accomplished minor league prospect can make an initial splash in the Show, but fail to have a good career.
So the White Sox traded Beckham to the Angels for a player to be named or cash.
Beckham lasted longer than the Cubs Brett Jackson, who was also traded this summer for nominal return. Jackson was a highly anticipated five tool centerfielder who could be a cornerstone player for the Cubs for a decade. His major league career lasted only 44 games.
Even today, highly regarded prospect Javy Baez is wowing the crowds with massive home runs. But Baez also is a strike out mess (being punched out more than 43 percent). In his first 17 games, Baez has hit 5 home runs, but struck out 30 times. He is only hitting .214. It is feast of famine. It is almost an exact repeat of Jackson's struggles.
Even players who have a good track record can begin to falter for no apparent reason. Travis Wood's last outing against the rain soaked Giants was termed "an Edwin start," a Cub term of art for a bad performance. Wood's performance has become to noticeably slide from his excellent 2013 season (4.4 WAR) to this year (negative 0.4 WAR).
Even the best prospects may only give a team a slight, one year jolt in performance. The lesson is clear: there is still a major leap from AAA to the majors. More than 90 percent of those prospects don't make a long term career out of their opportunity.
But after 5.5 years with the Sox, Beckham batted only .244, 61 HR, 276 RBI and 5.9 WAR. The "can't miss" prospect with the confidence to be an All-Star turned into a "can't hit" major leaguer.
Beckham's case is not unusual. Less than six percent of all minor leaguers make it to the majors, and very few have All-Star caliber careers. Beckham is the latest example of how an accomplished minor league prospect can make an initial splash in the Show, but fail to have a good career.
So the White Sox traded Beckham to the Angels for a player to be named or cash.
Beckham lasted longer than the Cubs Brett Jackson, who was also traded this summer for nominal return. Jackson was a highly anticipated five tool centerfielder who could be a cornerstone player for the Cubs for a decade. His major league career lasted only 44 games.
Even today, highly regarded prospect Javy Baez is wowing the crowds with massive home runs. But Baez also is a strike out mess (being punched out more than 43 percent). In his first 17 games, Baez has hit 5 home runs, but struck out 30 times. He is only hitting .214. It is feast of famine. It is almost an exact repeat of Jackson's struggles.
Even players who have a good track record can begin to falter for no apparent reason. Travis Wood's last outing against the rain soaked Giants was termed "an Edwin start," a Cub term of art for a bad performance. Wood's performance has become to noticeably slide from his excellent 2013 season (4.4 WAR) to this year (negative 0.4 WAR).
Even the best prospects may only give a team a slight, one year jolt in performance. The lesson is clear: there is still a major leap from AAA to the majors. More than 90 percent of those prospects don't make a long term career out of their opportunity.
April 6, 2014
CONCENTRATION FAIL
I have seen a player wear the wrong uniform number in a game, but not the wrong uniform.
Junior Lake made the fashion faux-paux during the Pittsburgh series. He came out wearing the wrong uniform.
How could that happen?
Why didn't anyone notice?
The clubhouse attendants get the lockers in order for the players. The equipment managers pack and unpack the uniforms and place them in the lockers. Everyone is supposed to be on the same page.
So how could Lake wear the wrong uniform?
A prank. The press reports afterward did not indicate Lake was made the butt of a brutal joke.
Did the equipment people put the wrong uniform in Lake's locker? Well, yes, Lake had to have access to it. There may have been two uniforms in his (and everyone else's) lockers.
Why didn't the players next to Lake tell him he was suiting up wrong?
And this gets to the inner circle of a baseball locker room. Fans hear from the press (and various former players) that the locker room is the players room. Team leaders have great control and influence over the culture and professionalism of this fraternity house. A good, tight, professional, no nonsense locker room is good - - - the Yankees have maintained one for decades.
So besides Lake dropping the ball on his uniform snafu, so did the unnamed leaders in the locker room. One can imagine that the Cubs locker room may be like the ante room of a funeral home - - - the players expect the worst this season after the brutality of the past three campaigns. So there may be a lack of focus during the pregame. Everyone may be just looking after his self (because of all the press about the youngsters on the way.)
Or maybe many of the Cubs are blind. (Which could solve the riddle of the horrible RISP problem.)
The Cubs did not need another example of being a baseball laughing stock. But in pure Cub fashion, this team seems to gravitate towards badness like a moth to a light bulb.
How could that happen?
Why didn't anyone notice?
The clubhouse attendants get the lockers in order for the players. The equipment managers pack and unpack the uniforms and place them in the lockers. Everyone is supposed to be on the same page.
So how could Lake wear the wrong uniform?
A prank. The press reports afterward did not indicate Lake was made the butt of a brutal joke.
Did the equipment people put the wrong uniform in Lake's locker? Well, yes, Lake had to have access to it. There may have been two uniforms in his (and everyone else's) lockers.
Why didn't the players next to Lake tell him he was suiting up wrong?
And this gets to the inner circle of a baseball locker room. Fans hear from the press (and various former players) that the locker room is the players room. Team leaders have great control and influence over the culture and professionalism of this fraternity house. A good, tight, professional, no nonsense locker room is good - - - the Yankees have maintained one for decades.
So besides Lake dropping the ball on his uniform snafu, so did the unnamed leaders in the locker room. One can imagine that the Cubs locker room may be like the ante room of a funeral home - - - the players expect the worst this season after the brutality of the past three campaigns. So there may be a lack of focus during the pregame. Everyone may be just looking after his self (because of all the press about the youngsters on the way.)
Or maybe many of the Cubs are blind. (Which could solve the riddle of the horrible RISP problem.)
The Cubs did not need another example of being a baseball laughing stock. But in pure Cub fashion, this team seems to gravitate towards badness like a moth to a light bulb.
November 14, 2013
HOT AIR STOVE
Last night, the winter hot stove rumor mill started to pump out a lot of heated gas.
It was reported that the rumor was the Cubs would trade Starlin Castro and Junior Lake to the Marlins for OF Giancarlo Stanton. Only in a Cubs dream. When the season ended, the Marlins were adamant that they were not going to trade Stanton.
Stanton, 24, is the Marlin franchise. Last season in 116 games, he hit 24 HR, 62 RBI, .249 BA and .365 OBP and 2.4 WAR. In his four year career, he has hit 117 HR, 294 RBI, .265 BA, .354 OBP, 14.8 WAR.
In comparison, Castro's 2013 WAR was negative 0.6 and Lake's 0.8. Castro's career WAR is only 7.4 over four seasons.
To make a trade make sense, the Cubs would have to add another starter with a WAR more than 2.2 per season (a commodity the Cubs do not have) plus additional prospects.
But this is silly trade speculation on the part of media, fans, and agents who want to stir the pot at the winter meetings so their clients names are in the newspapers as being seen as something valuable.
There is no question that Castro and/or Lake could be traded this off season. Really, no one on the Cub roster is untouchable. However, it would be a public relations disaster to trade away a "core" player for more prospects when management just told its season ticket holders that their plan is just about ready to come together with the core prospects.
It was reported that the rumor was the Cubs would trade Starlin Castro and Junior Lake to the Marlins for OF Giancarlo Stanton. Only in a Cubs dream. When the season ended, the Marlins were adamant that they were not going to trade Stanton.
Stanton, 24, is the Marlin franchise. Last season in 116 games, he hit 24 HR, 62 RBI, .249 BA and .365 OBP and 2.4 WAR. In his four year career, he has hit 117 HR, 294 RBI, .265 BA, .354 OBP, 14.8 WAR.
In comparison, Castro's 2013 WAR was negative 0.6 and Lake's 0.8. Castro's career WAR is only 7.4 over four seasons.
To make a trade make sense, the Cubs would have to add another starter with a WAR more than 2.2 per season (a commodity the Cubs do not have) plus additional prospects.
But this is silly trade speculation on the part of media, fans, and agents who want to stir the pot at the winter meetings so their clients names are in the newspapers as being seen as something valuable.
There is no question that Castro and/or Lake could be traded this off season. Really, no one on the Cub roster is untouchable. However, it would be a public relations disaster to trade away a "core" player for more prospects when management just told its season ticket holders that their plan is just about ready to come together with the core prospects.
July 22, 2013
ANOTHER ROCKY TIME
The Cubs lost the series to the Rockies. Sunday's game was another shut out on a key offensive stat: 0-for 9 with runners in scoring position (RISP). For the series, the Cubs were 1 for 25 RISP.
The one bright spot for the series was the debut of Junior Lake. He is a slightly bigger clone of Starlin Castro at the plate. He has a nervous hitch in his set up, but he has very quick bat speed through the zone. He came to the team and had an immediate spark of rookie energy, first by hitting a double on his first major league pitch, then stealing third base. He also got caught in a run down between home and third, but showed some baseball intelligence by extending the run down sufficiently so his team mate could take second. But in the last game, his wild throw from center field to home plate may have been the difference in the loss.
Lake wants to impress the front office in order to stay in the Show. He does have flashes of being a major league talent but he is still a raw talent learning a new position, center field.
Lake's debut also took away from some of the weekend Garza trade talk. Everyone expected that Garza would have been traded by Saturday night. Numerous reports had the Rangers having a tentative deal with the Cubs. But the traded was nixed because of an medical concern with one of the players coming back from the Rangers (probably Mike Olt who has had concussion/vision issues). Or, the worst case scenario is that the Rangers looked at Garza's medicals and determined that he is one hard slider away from the next DL stint. Either way, the rumored second team has not materialized to submit a package to the Cubs for Garza.
It was unthinkable at the All-Star break that Garza would make another start of the Cubs. But he is scheduled to throw tonight. All things point to Garza remaining a Cub for the next week. The front office tried to get teams to submit their "best" Garza offers, but maybe the market softened after Ricky Nolasco went to the Dodgers and Scott Feldman was traded to the Orioles. It would seem that the longer the Cubs wait to make a Garza deal, the less value Garza has a rental player.
The one bright spot for the series was the debut of Junior Lake. He is a slightly bigger clone of Starlin Castro at the plate. He has a nervous hitch in his set up, but he has very quick bat speed through the zone. He came to the team and had an immediate spark of rookie energy, first by hitting a double on his first major league pitch, then stealing third base. He also got caught in a run down between home and third, but showed some baseball intelligence by extending the run down sufficiently so his team mate could take second. But in the last game, his wild throw from center field to home plate may have been the difference in the loss.
Lake wants to impress the front office in order to stay in the Show. He does have flashes of being a major league talent but he is still a raw talent learning a new position, center field.
Lake's debut also took away from some of the weekend Garza trade talk. Everyone expected that Garza would have been traded by Saturday night. Numerous reports had the Rangers having a tentative deal with the Cubs. But the traded was nixed because of an medical concern with one of the players coming back from the Rangers (probably Mike Olt who has had concussion/vision issues). Or, the worst case scenario is that the Rangers looked at Garza's medicals and determined that he is one hard slider away from the next DL stint. Either way, the rumored second team has not materialized to submit a package to the Cubs for Garza.
It was unthinkable at the All-Star break that Garza would make another start of the Cubs. But he is scheduled to throw tonight. All things point to Garza remaining a Cub for the next week. The front office tried to get teams to submit their "best" Garza offers, but maybe the market softened after Ricky Nolasco went to the Dodgers and Scott Feldman was traded to the Orioles. It would seem that the longer the Cubs wait to make a Garza deal, the less value Garza has a rental player.
July 19, 2013
LAKE PROMOTION
Junior Lake is expected to be called up by the Cubs. He was one of the top prospects under the Hendry era.
Lake, 23, has been in the Cub system for seven years. His career minor league stats are:
619 GP, .271 BA, 47 HR, 260 RBI, 117 SB, .322 OBP.
He has a career fielding percentage of .926 which is well below average. He has played various positions including SS, 3B, 2B, 1B. This season he has played 3B then moved to the OF.
In Iowa this season, he has played 40 games. His stat line: .295 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 14 SB, .341 OBP.
How Lake fits into the short term and long term plans of the Cubs is unclear. He has worked his way out of the infield and into the outfield because of his defense. The Cubs have collected a hoard of journeymen outfielders, most who are on the disabled list or pushing through minor injuries. Lake's experience as an infielder could make him a utility bench player if he has the poise for that role.
But this call up is probably his one show case. Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters, higher touted prospects, had their moment to shine last season. They failed and new management seems to written both of them off.
If Lake can play a decent outfield, get on base and steal bases then he may have an expanded role for the rest of the season. It depends on whether the Cubs will clean house and trade players like Nate Schierholtz, David DeJesus, Alfonso Soriano or even Darwin Barney.
Others have suggested that Lake's call-up may be a show case to add him in a deadline deal as a "major league ready" prospect to get higher ceiling players from other clubs. But at the same time, Lake appears to be the only "ready" AAA prospect who may be cheap and valuable for the Cubs in 2014.
Lake, 23, has been in the Cub system for seven years. His career minor league stats are:
619 GP, .271 BA, 47 HR, 260 RBI, 117 SB, .322 OBP.
He has a career fielding percentage of .926 which is well below average. He has played various positions including SS, 3B, 2B, 1B. This season he has played 3B then moved to the OF.
In Iowa this season, he has played 40 games. His stat line: .295 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 14 SB, .341 OBP.
How Lake fits into the short term and long term plans of the Cubs is unclear. He has worked his way out of the infield and into the outfield because of his defense. The Cubs have collected a hoard of journeymen outfielders, most who are on the disabled list or pushing through minor injuries. Lake's experience as an infielder could make him a utility bench player if he has the poise for that role.
But this call up is probably his one show case. Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters, higher touted prospects, had their moment to shine last season. They failed and new management seems to written both of them off.
If Lake can play a decent outfield, get on base and steal bases then he may have an expanded role for the rest of the season. It depends on whether the Cubs will clean house and trade players like Nate Schierholtz, David DeJesus, Alfonso Soriano or even Darwin Barney.
Others have suggested that Lake's call-up may be a show case to add him in a deadline deal as a "major league ready" prospect to get higher ceiling players from other clubs. But at the same time, Lake appears to be the only "ready" AAA prospect who may be cheap and valuable for the Cubs in 2014.
March 13, 2013
ANOTHER OPINION
Jim Bowden writes a baseball column for ESPN. He comes from the perspective of being a former front office guy.
He wrote this week that the Cubs minor league system has been raising eyebrows in the past year. The organization jumped ten spots to sixth in the latest ESPN baseball prospect rankings.
Many scouts have been impressed by the batting shown by Javier Baez, Junior Lake and Jorge Soler. However, Bowden stated that:
all three have some “hit” tool issues. Odds are one of them never pans out and follows Corey Patterson and Felix Pie as Cubs prospects who failed to live up to the fans’ often unrealistic expectations.
However, Bowden praises one Cub prospect as "a slam dunk: center fielder Albert Almora. He was the Cubs’ first-round selection in last year’s draft and Bowden believes looks like a future All-Star.
Yes, there is a logical inconsistency in Bowden's statements regarding the young players. All prospects have a learning curve in order to improve their skills. It is highly unusual that a drafted player begins his professional career on a major league roster. That is why training and development is so critical in a baseball organization. Having the right teachers and right philosophy will create a steady stream of quality players (i.e. the Dodgers organization).
Baez, Lake, Soler and Almora are early in the careers. Almora has the least amount of pro experience so it is hard to judge that he will be better than the other three. Only Lake has a chance to reach AAA this year. His promotion may be more need based as the Cubs are devoid of third basemen at the higher levels.
I think the team's front office has higher expectations of Baez, Lake and Soler than the average Cub fan. Since so many scouts have positive reviews of the Cub prospects so far, it is unfair to make Patterson and Pie comparisons. (The opposite is true on another Cubs' vaulted prospect, Cuban pitcher Concepcion, whom many scouts ripped last season as a poor prospect in rookie-A ball). And some observers will question why with all the emphasis on pitching in the last draft, no pitcher has been labeled by other team scouts as a can't miss prospect.
Baseball player development is a hit and miss crap game. On average, one of ten prospects reach the majors. Maybe one in twenty become quality starters (2.5 + WAR). That means the Cubs have really a chance to have four players in their minor league system contribute to the major league roster in time. Apparently, the consensus is that those four are Baez, Lake, Soler and Almora.
He wrote this week that the Cubs minor league system has been raising eyebrows in the past year. The organization jumped ten spots to sixth in the latest ESPN baseball prospect rankings.
Many scouts have been impressed by the batting shown by Javier Baez, Junior Lake and Jorge Soler. However, Bowden stated that:
all three have some “hit” tool issues. Odds are one of them never pans out and follows Corey Patterson and Felix Pie as Cubs prospects who failed to live up to the fans’ often unrealistic expectations.
However, Bowden praises one Cub prospect as "a slam dunk: center fielder Albert Almora. He was the Cubs’ first-round selection in last year’s draft and Bowden believes looks like a future All-Star.
Yes, there is a logical inconsistency in Bowden's statements regarding the young players. All prospects have a learning curve in order to improve their skills. It is highly unusual that a drafted player begins his professional career on a major league roster. That is why training and development is so critical in a baseball organization. Having the right teachers and right philosophy will create a steady stream of quality players (i.e. the Dodgers organization).
Baez, Lake, Soler and Almora are early in the careers. Almora has the least amount of pro experience so it is hard to judge that he will be better than the other three. Only Lake has a chance to reach AAA this year. His promotion may be more need based as the Cubs are devoid of third basemen at the higher levels.
I think the team's front office has higher expectations of Baez, Lake and Soler than the average Cub fan. Since so many scouts have positive reviews of the Cub prospects so far, it is unfair to make Patterson and Pie comparisons. (The opposite is true on another Cubs' vaulted prospect, Cuban pitcher Concepcion, whom many scouts ripped last season as a poor prospect in rookie-A ball). And some observers will question why with all the emphasis on pitching in the last draft, no pitcher has been labeled by other team scouts as a can't miss prospect.
Baseball player development is a hit and miss crap game. On average, one of ten prospects reach the majors. Maybe one in twenty become quality starters (2.5 + WAR). That means the Cubs have really a chance to have four players in their minor league system contribute to the major league roster in time. Apparently, the consensus is that those four are Baez, Lake, Soler and Almora.
February 25, 2013
WHO'S ON THIRD?
Both Ian Stewart and Josh Vitters have gone down with lateral strains. Both are expected to be out at least two weeks. Vitters had been slated to start the season in AAA Iowa. Stewart was signed to win the third base job.
As the Cubs website reported:
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said injured third baseman Ian Stewart should have enough time to prepare for the regular season but that the team now will get a look at the other options on the roster.
Both Stewart and third baseman Josh Vitters are sidelined 10 to 14 days with strained left quads. Luis Valbuena, Junior Lake and Christian Villanueva will get most of the playing time at third now.
"It sounds like both [Stewart] and Vitters, at the earliest, will be on the field in two weeks, but realistically three weeks," Sveum said. "It's unfortunate for them. There will still be a fair enough amount of games left after that to get enough at-bats and evaluate."
The Cubs do face some decisions regarding Stewart. His $2 million contract is non-guaranteed, which is not unusual for an arbitration-level player, but there is a March 16 deadline. If the Cubs decide at that date that Stewart isn't ready, they can release him and will be obligated to pay one-sixth of his salary ($333,333). If he's released after that date and before the regular season opener, the Cubs would owe Stewart $500,000.
"The fact of the matter is, three weeks from now puts you basically at March 14, which puts you three weeks before Opening Day," Sveum said. "If he's capable and the leg is fine, it'll be a cram session, that's for sure."
Valbuena, 27, already has secured a spot on the 25-man roster and impressed Sveum with his defensive play. On Saturday, he hit a solo home run in the second inning, his second in as many days if you count Friday's intrasquad game. He batted .306 in Venezuela this winter, taking a more aggressive approach at the plate.
What if he was the Cubs' Opening Day starter at third?
"It's not my decision," Valbuena said. "I'd be so happy if I won that job. That's what I'm trying to do."
Lake, 22, who batted .279 at Double-A Tennessee last season, would be next in the pecking order.
"In the intrasquad games, he's done fine," Sveum said of Lake. "He hasn't been tested. There's some mechanical things. He's very tall and playing tall. He's got to play the position smaller. What I mean by that, he wants to stand straight up after he fields a ground ball, so there's some things we have to tweak.
"He's such a good athlete," Sveum said. "He's going to be one of those third basemen who's not going to look like Scott Rolen but the athleticism will allow him to do a lot of things at that position."
Villanueva, 21, played at Class A Daytona last year. There are no plans to move top prospect Javier Baez from short to third, Sveum said. Right now, it's wait and see.
"We really don't have a whole lot of other third basemen," Sveum said. "They both just went down."
In the last post, we commented on the Cubs lack of depth problem, especially at third base. The problem is now a full blown crisis. Valbuena is now the default starter. He brings little offense to the power position. Vitters stock is falling more than Apple. The idea of "rushing" Lake up the depth chart is a dangerous risk. First, he has only reached AA. Second, he is a shortstop. You would be coverting him to another position on short notice.
As odd as it sounds, the final decision may come down to money. The Cubs may want to cut their losses on Stewart and pay him the $333,333 for him to leave. That would open up a roster spot for a utility player like Brent Lillibridge, who would probably sign for the league veteran minimum.
As the Cubs website reported:
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said injured third baseman Ian Stewart should have enough time to prepare for the regular season but that the team now will get a look at the other options on the roster.
Both Stewart and third baseman Josh Vitters are sidelined 10 to 14 days with strained left quads. Luis Valbuena, Junior Lake and Christian Villanueva will get most of the playing time at third now.
"It sounds like both [Stewart] and Vitters, at the earliest, will be on the field in two weeks, but realistically three weeks," Sveum said. "It's unfortunate for them. There will still be a fair enough amount of games left after that to get enough at-bats and evaluate."
The Cubs do face some decisions regarding Stewart. His $2 million contract is non-guaranteed, which is not unusual for an arbitration-level player, but there is a March 16 deadline. If the Cubs decide at that date that Stewart isn't ready, they can release him and will be obligated to pay one-sixth of his salary ($333,333). If he's released after that date and before the regular season opener, the Cubs would owe Stewart $500,000.
"The fact of the matter is, three weeks from now puts you basically at March 14, which puts you three weeks before Opening Day," Sveum said. "If he's capable and the leg is fine, it'll be a cram session, that's for sure."
Valbuena, 27, already has secured a spot on the 25-man roster and impressed Sveum with his defensive play. On Saturday, he hit a solo home run in the second inning, his second in as many days if you count Friday's intrasquad game. He batted .306 in Venezuela this winter, taking a more aggressive approach at the plate.
What if he was the Cubs' Opening Day starter at third?
"It's not my decision," Valbuena said. "I'd be so happy if I won that job. That's what I'm trying to do."
Lake, 22, who batted .279 at Double-A Tennessee last season, would be next in the pecking order.
"In the intrasquad games, he's done fine," Sveum said of Lake. "He hasn't been tested. There's some mechanical things. He's very tall and playing tall. He's got to play the position smaller. What I mean by that, he wants to stand straight up after he fields a ground ball, so there's some things we have to tweak.
"He's such a good athlete," Sveum said. "He's going to be one of those third basemen who's not going to look like Scott Rolen but the athleticism will allow him to do a lot of things at that position."
Villanueva, 21, played at Class A Daytona last year. There are no plans to move top prospect Javier Baez from short to third, Sveum said. Right now, it's wait and see.
"We really don't have a whole lot of other third basemen," Sveum said. "They both just went down."
In the last post, we commented on the Cubs lack of depth problem, especially at third base. The problem is now a full blown crisis. Valbuena is now the default starter. He brings little offense to the power position. Vitters stock is falling more than Apple. The idea of "rushing" Lake up the depth chart is a dangerous risk. First, he has only reached AA. Second, he is a shortstop. You would be coverting him to another position on short notice.
As odd as it sounds, the final decision may come down to money. The Cubs may want to cut their losses on Stewart and pay him the $333,333 for him to leave. That would open up a roster spot for a utility player like Brent Lillibridge, who would probably sign for the league veteran minimum.
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