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Friday, December 30 2005 @ 01:44 AM CST | Contributed by: Bob Sacamento |
Here is the second installment of Cub prospects' scouting report. With the first being Felix Pie.
Angel Guzman
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 lbs
Position: SP
B/T: R/R
DOB: 12/14/81
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
2005 season at Peoria (Low-A)
Appeared in 2 starts with a 0-1 record, going 6 1/3 IP giving up 10 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 hr, 0 bb, 7 K, 4.26 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, .345 BAA
2005 Arizona Fall League:
Appeared in 7 starts with a 1-2 record, going 30 2/3 IP, giving up 28 hits, 13 earned runs, 2 hrs, 12 bb, 28 K, 3.82 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .233 BAA
Angel Guzman has an amazing and talented right arm. He has four pitches that are considered by scouts to be so good they are all strikeout pitches. Guzman was ready for the Cubs 2003 rotation but was held aside in favor of Shawn Estes. Since then Angel has suffered various arm and shoulder ailments that cost him half of the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and nearly the entire 2005 season. Some many think that Angel is growing too old, but he just turned 24 a few weeks ago, so he still has his prospect status. He is another testament to the incredible job that Oneri Fleita is doing as the Cubs Farm Director and Director of Latin American Operations.
During the 2003 spring training, Angel Guzman was given one of the highest praises possible in the baseball community. When Barry Bonds, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, was asked which Cub pitcher, Prior, Zambrano, or Wood, was the hardest to hit, he said none of them. Yet instead Barry said Angel Guzman. And it's true, Guzman uses the same arm slot for his his two and four seem fastball as he does for his changeup and curveball.
Pitching: Angel Guzman possesses perhaps one of the best repitories of pitches in all of minor league ball. Not only does he have great location of his pitches, but he has four pitches that he can throw for strikes at any count to a hitter. His four seam fastball was topping out at 97 mph during the AFL, with average speeds of 93-96 mph. His two seam fastball topped out at 93 mph with average speeds of 89-91 mph. Factor in his offspeed stuff, changeup and curveball and he becomes deadly. During the AFL in 2005, he had good control of both especially during the early innings. It was later in his starts that he started to lose his control and his velocity would drop. But that is being related to his lack of pitching during the regular season.
Durability: Angel Guzman has been sort of the fragile man the last few years for the Cubs. He has never recorded more than 156 IP in 2002 between Lansing and Daytona as a 20 year old in 2002. Beyond that season, he's recorded just 143 1/3 during the regular season 2003-2005. He's suffered from various arm injuries from serious shoulder problems to forearm cramps. This season Guzman was having forearm issues early which caused the Cubs to shut him down. Instead of pitching, the Cubs had him lifting weights, and he gained 15 lbs of muscle during his rehab. Still as he entered the 5th or 6th inning, Angel lost the bite on his offspeed stuff and his control.
Defense: Guzman fields his position very well. His mound delivery allows for quick reaction to infield hits and bloopers. And with his stuff, he has already been accustomed to weak grounders in the infield.
Biggest Strength: Unlimited potential.
Just like Felix Pie, what makes Angel Guzman so enticing is his age and his unlimited abiity to use his assests. Angel just now turned 24, which is usually the age that most minor league pitchers get their first chance on the MLB level. But if you add in the factor that Guzman should have been starting in 2003 for 2/3 of MLB teams and that he would have been starting for most teams in 2005 season, he would still be one of the top young arms.
Biggest Weaknesses: Health and condition of his right arm.
In 1999, the Kansas City Royals signed Angel Guzman but released him due to serious arm troubles. The Cubs took their opportunity Guzman has shown when his right arm is healthy that he is a top arm not only on the farm club but in organization. But over the course of the last few seasons his fragile frame has not been able to handle an MLB load. That's why the Cubs' made Angel Guzman lift weighs more extensively during his rehab than most pitchers in his position. Guzman added 15 pounds of muscle this offseason. With his 2005 forearm problems, the thought was that'd be able to rebound quicker and more effiently than most pitchers with muscle addition. And his appearance in the Arizona Fall League, showed what he was capable of. Even with his average start going 75 pitches. The belief is that the Cubs organization purposefully withheld Angel Guzman during the 2005 season citing "forearm troubles" instead the organization had him add muscle buildup.
Keys to Success: Adjusting to longevity and dependency
Previously mentioned Guzman has never logged more an 160 IP or 25+ starts. He has never been the sole leader of a rotation. As long as the Cubs' don't rely upon him and take him as a guarentee, the club should be good.
In the AFL this winter, Guzman showed absolutely no signs of injury to his forearm or shoulder. His conditioning seemed off but not pitching for a year will do that to a pitcher. It became evident that around the 50 pitch mark Guzman's control started to fade and his breaking ball lost it's crispness.
MLB Comparison: Carlos Zambrano
There are not many arms in baseball today that can go the distance with 4 excellent pitches. The only player that comes to mind with Guzman's ability and potential is Carlos Zambrano. Zman has the MLB experience over Guzman but just a few years ago Carlos was pegged as a #5 starter at best or possible closer due to his questionable arm and dynamic stuff.
Bob’s Bottom Line: If the Cubs need one of their youngsters to make a few spot starts this season, Guzman will be the first callup from the minors. If Guzman stays healthy, there is no reason not to believe that he will be in the Cubs 2007 rotation (or someone else's rotation if trade), especially with the likely losses of Kerry Wood and Greg Maddux.
Next Scouting Report: Rich Hill
Here is the second installment of Cub prospects' scouting report. With the first being Felix Pie.
Angel Guzman
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 lbs
Position: SP
B/T: R/R
DOB: 12/14/81
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
2005 season at Peoria (Low-A)
Appeared in 2 starts with a 0-1 record, going 6 1/3 IP giving up 10 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 hr, 0 bb, 7 K, 4.26 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, .345 BAA
2005 Arizona Fall League:
Appeared in 7 starts with a 1-2 record, going 30 2/3 IP, giving up 28 hits, 13 earned runs, 2 hrs, 12 bb, 28 K, 3.82 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .233 BAA
Angel Guzman has an amazing and talented right arm. He has four pitches that are considered by scouts to be so good they are all strikeout pitches. Guzman was ready for the Cubs 2003 rotation but was held aside in favor of Shawn Estes. Since then Angel has suffered various arm and shoulder ailments that cost him half of the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and nearly the entire 2005 season. Some many think that Angel is growing too old, but he just turned 24 a few weeks ago, so he still has his prospect status. He is another testament to the incredible job that Oneri Fleita is doing as the Cubs Farm Director and Director of Latin American Operations.
During the 2003 spring training, Angel Guzman was given one of the highest praises possible in the baseball community. When Barry Bonds, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, was asked which Cub pitcher, Prior, Zambrano, or Wood, was the hardest to hit, he said none of them. Yet instead Barry said Angel Guzman. And it's true, Guzman uses the same arm slot for his his two and four seem fastball as he does for his changeup and curveball.
Pitching: Angel Guzman possesses perhaps one of the best repitories of pitches in all of minor league ball. Not only does he have great location of his pitches, but he has four pitches that he can throw for strikes at any count to a hitter. His four seam fastball was topping out at 97 mph during the AFL, with average speeds of 93-96 mph. His two seam fastball topped out at 93 mph with average speeds of 89-91 mph. Factor in his offspeed stuff, changeup and curveball and he becomes deadly. During the AFL in 2005, he had good control of both especially during the early innings. It was later in his starts that he started to lose his control and his velocity would drop. But that is being related to his lack of pitching during the regular season.
Durability: Angel Guzman has been sort of the fragile man the last few years for the Cubs. He has never recorded more than 156 IP in 2002 between Lansing and Daytona as a 20 year old in 2002. Beyond that season, he's recorded just 143 1/3 during the regular season 2003-2005. He's suffered from various arm injuries from serious shoulder problems to forearm cramps. This season Guzman was having forearm issues early which caused the Cubs to shut him down. Instead of pitching, the Cubs had him lifting weights, and he gained 15 lbs of muscle during his rehab. Still as he entered the 5th or 6th inning, Angel lost the bite on his offspeed stuff and his control.
Defense: Guzman fields his position very well. His mound delivery allows for quick reaction to infield hits and bloopers. And with his stuff, he has already been accustomed to weak grounders in the infield.
Biggest Strength: Unlimited potential.
Just like Felix Pie, what makes Angel Guzman so enticing is his age and his unlimited abiity to use his assests. Angel just now turned 24, which is usually the age that most minor league pitchers get their first chance on the MLB level. But if you add in the factor that Guzman should have been starting in 2003 for 2/3 of MLB teams and that he would have been starting for most teams in 2005 season, he would still be one of the top young arms.
Biggest Weaknesses: Health and condition of his right arm.
In 1999, the Kansas City Royals signed Angel Guzman but released him due to serious arm troubles. The Cubs took their opportunity Guzman has shown when his right arm is healthy that he is a top arm not only on the farm club but in organization. But over the course of the last few seasons his fragile frame has not been able to handle an MLB load. That's why the Cubs' made Angel Guzman lift weighs more extensively during his rehab than most pitchers in his position. Guzman added 15 pounds of muscle this offseason. With his 2005 forearm problems, the thought was that'd be able to rebound quicker and more effiently than most pitchers with muscle addition. And his appearance in the Arizona Fall League, showed what he was capable of. Even with his average start going 75 pitches. The belief is that the Cubs organization purposefully withheld Angel Guzman during the 2005 season citing "forearm troubles" instead the organization had him add muscle buildup.
Keys to Success: Adjusting to longevity and dependency
Previously mentioned Guzman has never logged more an 160 IP or 25+ starts. He has never been the sole leader of a rotation. As long as the Cubs' don't rely upon him and take him as a guarentee, the club should be good.
In the AFL this winter, Guzman showed absolutely no signs of injury to his forearm or shoulder. His conditioning seemed off but not pitching for a year will do that to a pitcher. It became evident that around the 50 pitch mark Guzman's control started to fade and his breaking ball lost it's crispness.
MLB Comparison: Carlos Zambrano
There are not many arms in baseball today that can go the distance with 4 excellent pitches. The only player that comes to mind with Guzman's ability and potential is Carlos Zambrano. Zman has the MLB experience over Guzman but just a few years ago Carlos was pegged as a #5 starter at best or possible closer due to his questionable arm and dynamic stuff.
Bob’s Bottom Line: If the Cubs need one of their youngsters to make a few spot starts this season, Guzman will be the first callup from the minors. If Guzman stays healthy, there is no reason not to believe that he will be in the Cubs 2007 rotation (or someone else's rotation if trade), especially with the likely losses of Kerry Wood and Greg Maddux.
Next Scouting Report: Rich Hill
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