This year‘s prospect list season has been extremely slow to unfold. This week, things changed greatly as both MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus (BP) dropped something.

BP actually dropped theirs last week with their top 101. The Cubs placed three in that compendium as they had Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, and Matt Mervis all were in the top 90. After many delays, it looks like their top Cubs list will come out tomorrow.

Not to be out done, MLB Pipeline has been having a prospect extravaganza the past two weeks where they’ve listed the top 10 players, in each position in the minors and then on Thursday night, they drop their top 100 list. The Cubs placed three players in the top 100 in Pete Crow-Armstrong, Brennen Davis, and Kevin Alcântara.

As well, Pete Crow-Armstrong was named one of the top 10 outfielders in the minors. He came in at number seven, but he also won the best defender nod and was given an 80 grade for his defense, which is the best that you can get.

We have hit the halfway point in prospect last season. ESPN, MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and The Athletic still have to release their top Cubs list. But it looks like Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to be a unanimous pick for number one based on the prospect list standings so far. 

Transactions Keep Coming

Spring Training is just a couple weeks away, the Cubs are continuing to build up their depth that they can stash at Iowa. This week they added catcher Luis Torrens as well as pitchers Tyler Duffy and Jordan Holloway, who might have a shot at making the club out of spring training. In addition, relievers Manny Rodriguez and Anthony Kay both cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and were sent to Iowa in what’s getting to be a pretty crowded bullpen.

Videos of the Week

This first one comes from the South Bend Cubs as Brendan King interviewed pitcher Ethan Roberts. Ethan is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, very genuine and down to earth and he still has that small town vibe to him. Here he is talking about what it meant to debut in Chicago last year.

Video number two also comes from South Bend as Max Thoma chats with PCA about his first Cubs Convention.

Stat of the Week

Our very own Greg Huss dropped his own stat called BASH this week. There are four factors that are incorporated into it – Ballpark Factors, League Adjustments, Stolen Bases, and Run Values. The response has been overwhelmingly positive to the new metric. Click on the link to check it out!

Pics of the Week

Now that the Cubs Convention is over, many players began making their way to Arizona this week as players to get a head start on spring training in the 2023 season. I like this snapshot from John Antonoff, but I love the caption even more!

Coming up on North Side Bound

I’m still finding it hard to believe that the position ranking series is complete. That was a quick 10 weeks! The affiliate sneak peeks will continue this week as I look at Iowa’s bullpen options. The Five Series is still going for about another two weeks. Yohendrick Pinango will be out tomorrow and James Triantos will be out Wednesday. 

Cubs on Deck Podcast

Jams of the Week

The Cowboy Junkies “The Trinity Session” was my favorite album to mellow out to in the late 80s and early 90s. A mix of country, blues, and hill music, I just love everything about the ethereal LP that was recorded on one microphone. It is a classic mood album.