Celebrating my 100th post, Cubs Minor League Update

Wow! I cannot believe that I have posted 100 of these things. In less than 2 months! Check out my first post from December 10. 100 posts in 51 days.

The February issue of Vineline takes a look at the Cubs minor league system. Here's some of the awards they gave out:
Pitchers:
Best Command: (tie) Mitch Atkins, Hun-Wen Chen, and Casey Coleman.
Best Poise/Make-Up:Mitch Atkins
Best Athleticism: (tie) Hun-Wen Chen, Casey Coleman, and Jay Jackson
Best Mechanics: Coleman
Bast Durability: Atkins

Hitting:
Best Contact Hitter: Sam Fuld
Best Power Hitter: (tie) Jake Fox and Josh Vitters
Best Plate Discipline: Fuld
Best Clutch Hitter: (tie) Darwin Barney, Tyler Colvin, and Brandon Guyer
Best Situational Hitter: Nate Spears

Fielding:
Best Range:
C- Welington Castillo
1B- Micah Hoffpauir
2B- Tony Thomas
3B- Jonathan Mota
SS- Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney (tie)
OF- Sam Fuld
Best Arm Strength:
C- Castillo
1B Hoffpauir
2B- Marqin Gonzalez
3B- Josh Vitters
SS- Castro
OF- Kyler Burke
Best Throwing Accuracy:
C- Castillo
1B- Hoffpauir
2B- Josh Harrison and Nate Spears (tie)
3B- Vitters
SS- Nate Samson
OF- Burke
Best Footwork:
C- Castillo
1B- Hoffpauir
2B- Gonzalez
3B- Marquez Smith
SS- Castro and Barney (tie)
OF- Fuld

Running:
Best Raw Speed: Tony Campana
Best Base-Stealing ability: Campana
Best Home-To-First Time: Campana
Best Base running Instincts: Sam Fuld

Other Awards:
Best Heart/Work Ethic: Sam Fuld
Best Competitiveness: Darwin Barney, Fuld, and Brandon Guyer (tied)

Baseball American's Top 10 Cubs Prospects:
1. Josh Vitters
2. Jeff Samardzija
3. Andrew Cashner
4. Dae-Eun Rhee
5. Wellington Castillo
6. Kevin Hart
7. Stalin Castro
8. Ryan Flaherty
9. Jay Jackson
10. Hak-Ju Lee

Awards from Baseball America:
Best Hitter for Average - Josh Vitters
Best Power Hitter - Josh Vitters
Best Strike-Zone Discipline - Sam Fuld
Fastest Baserunner - Tony Campana
Best Athlete - Brandon Guyer
Best Fastball - Jeff Samardzija
Best Curveball - Casey Lambert
Best Slider - Andrew Cashner
Best Change-up - Dae-Eun Rhee
Best Control - Esmailin Caridad
Best Defensive Catcher - Luis Flores
Best Defensive Infielder - Darwin Barney
Best Infield Arm - Junior Lake
Best Defensive Outfielder - Sam Fuld
Best Outfield Arm - Kyler Burke

Scout.com Top 20 Cubs' Prospects:

1. Josh Vitter 3B
2. Jeff Samardizja P
3. Andrew Cashner P
4. Welington Castilo C
5. Jay Jackson P
6. Ryan Flaherty SS
7. Mitch Atkins P
8. Tyler Colvin OF
9. Kevin Hart P
10. Micah Hoffpauir 1B/OF
11. Esmalin Caridad P
12. Brandon Guyer OF
13. Marcos Mateo P
14. Javan Ross IF
15. James Russell P
16. Dan McDaniel P
17. Chris Carpenter P
18. Aaron Shafer P
19. Ryan Acosta P
20. Matt Cerda C

Baseball Prospectus Top 11 Prospects (amount of starts)
1. Vitters (5 starts)
2. Samardzija (4)
3. Jose Ceda (4)
4. Hak-Ju Lee (3)
5. Andrew Cashner (3)
6. Tyler Colvin (3)
7. Dae-Eun Rhee (3)
8. Ryan Flaherty (3)
9. Welington Castillo (2)
10. Donald Veal (now member of Pirates, 2)
11. Micah Hoffpauir (2)

Minor League Ball's Top 20 Cubs Prospects with letter grades.
1. Josh Vitters - Grade B+
2. Jeff Samardzija - Grade B
3. Ryan Flaherty - Grade B
4. Andrew Cashner - Grade B-
5. Hak-Ju Lee - Grade B-
6. Jay Jackson - Grade B-
7. Tyler Colvin - Grade C+
8. Welington Castillo - Grade C+
9. Dae-Eun Rhee - Grade C+
10. Aaron Shafer - Grade C+
11. Starlin Castro - Grade C+
12. Junior Lake - Grade C+
13. Dan McDaniel - Grade C+
14. Micah Hoffpauir - Grade C
15. Esmailin Caridad - Grade C
16. Donald Veal - Grade C (now w/ Pirates)
17. Josh Kroeger - Grade C
18. Tony Thomas - Grade C
19. Chris Carpenter - Grade C
20. Mitch Atkins - Grade C

So there you have it, the full 2009 Cubs Prospects Report.

"I don't care who wins, as long as it's the Cubs."