Chris Archer

[Bockstock]

If the Cubs have a strength in the minors scouting department it's picking out rough pitchers and turning them into true prospects.

Archer now has a sub-2 era between Daytona and Tennessee. He's wild sometimes, but seems to have the stuff that doesn't generate alot of hits or good contact to compensate for his wildness(5 HR in 120 IP this year), kind of like how Z used to be pitch.

I wouldn't hesitate to put him as the #2 prospect on the Cubs and he's got a good chance of being a top 100 prospect this year.

[LeeEila's/rant]

We have always been strong in developing usable pitchers. We can always use that to build from and trade what we are deep in for what we lack.

On the other hand , pitching seems to be strong all across baseball. It just happens to coincide with chemical testing. Will we see them shaving the mound again ?

[Bockstock]

I read on article (Fangraphs maybe?) that hitters are more aggressive than average this year, swinging at a higher % of pitches, higher % out of the strike zone, taking less walks, etc.