|
Top Prospect Alert Features |
Top Prospect Alert Baseball News Blog
Top Prospect Alert Fantasy Player Reports
Exclusive Prospect Interviews
Top Prospect Alert Original Stories
Prospect Photo Gallery
Top Prospect Alert Trivia
Top Prospect Alert Message Board
MLB Hat Store
Minor League Store
NFL Hat Store
NFL Team Apparel
NFL Player Jerseys
NCAA Hat Store
NBA Hat Store
NBA Player Jerseys
TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - Angel Guzman By Schuyler DombroskeTOP PROSPECT ALERT - ANGEL
GUZMAN
DOB: 12/14/81, Age: 21, Height: 6’2’’,
Weight: 180, Bats: R, Throws: R. Acquired: Cubs - Signed out of Venezuela
in 1999. 2001 Stats: (Rookie - Boise) 10-2, 2.23 ERA, 77 IP, 68 H, 2 HR,
19 BB, 63 K. 2002 Stats: (Low-A - Lansing) 5-2, 1.89 ERA, 62 IP,42 H, 3
HR, RHRH16 BB, 49 K; (High-A - Daytona) 6-2, 2.39 ERA, 94 IP, 99 H, 2 HR,
33 BB, 74 K.
Just five years after trotting
out Steve Trachsel, Kevin Foster, Terry Mulholland, Jeremi Gonzalez, Frank
Castillo, Kevin Tapani, Mark Clark, Miguel Batista, Amaury Telemaco, Dave
Swartzbaugh, and Rodney Myers for 162 starts, the Cubs received 121 starts
from pitchers with sub 3.75 ERAs (Kerry Wood, Matt Clement, Jon Lieber,
Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano), which absolutely qualifies as a complete
about-face. Lieber (the oldest by five years) has gone off to the
pinstriped graveyard, but there are plenty of alternatives in the system
for that fifth spot in coming seasons: one of them being Angel Guzman.
Guzman, in his first full season, looked very sharp in both the Midwest
League and the FSL in 2002. He works off a hard sinker (thrown in the
92-94 mph range) to set up an inconsistent (but at times devastating)
curve and a solid change. All three of his pitches are major league
caliber, but his curve has come and gone rather frequently so far in his
brief career. His control isn’t outstanding, but it ranged from very good
in Lansing to adequate at Daytona. As you’d expect from a sinker-ball
pitcher, he keeps the ball in the park extremely well, allowing only seven
homers in 233 IP since signing. After watching the “rocket-like” (pun
intended) ascent of Mark Prior through the system last year, hopes of a
similar move from Guzman have been fueled by his success at his first
three levels, but I think that train of thought is premature. Guzman’s
strikeout rate is good, but not dominant like Prior, Cruz, or Zambrano
illustrated. I would expect a much-slower move through the system from
Angel, but a similar final destination to the aforementioned
trio.
The Cubs, as discussed
last week, are in an enviable situation. They have a star that, if they
move quickly enough, can carry the rather young lineup, along with a
pitching staff that just plain throws BBs. Catcher might be a weak spot,
and the “closer” enjoys producing Maalox-moments rather than alleviating
them, but those are relatively minor concerns. In my opinion, the Cubs
have as good a shot as anyone at the NL Central title this year. Angel
Guzman has an opportunity to grab one of a few available jobs if he moves
along in a reasonable fashion, although Andy Sisco and Luke Hagerty are
going to push him from behind. Right now, Wood, Prior, Clement, Estes, and
Zambrano is the probable Opening Day rotation for Chicago, and the first
three there appear to be impregnable. Zambrano has the potential to be at
least as good as Guzman does, so you can’t say that his job is up for
grabs, which leaves Estes. Baker likes him, but Guzman might be able to
push him out by 2005. My best comparison for Guzman is Derek Lowe, whom
(despite his ’02) I view as a #2 or #3 starter. Coincidentally, that is
the type of role that I expect Guzman to eventually own for the Cubs,
behind Prior and Wood. Not a bad ceiling by any stretch, but perhaps not
quite as high as the hype has driven it at this point. Guzman should start
the season back at Daytona (as far as I’m concerned), but there is quite a
bit of talk about starting him at West Tennessee (AA), so I’d bet that’s
where he will open. Chicago by mid-2004 is a distinct possibility.
|
|
Top Prospect Alert is owned
by: © 1999 - 2004 All rights reserved to Top Prospect Alert.com. Do not copy without permission from the owners of Top Prospect Alert.com
| ||