Well put and I agree with your statement...

Vitters > Santo

And Vitters didn't crack the mid-season top 100 or make honorable mention. He seems to be forgotten. He's having a heck of a year. I can't wait to see him called up in September.

If Barney is traded I can see Vitters getting an early call up and the Cubs move Valbuena to 2b.

I can see Cardenas coming up.

I could see that too, but do they really want 2 guys, Cardenas and Valbuena playing that really project as nothing more than utility types?

I know they don't want to rush players but I think it would be worth it to give Vitters a look at 3b

Is Valbuena's glove better at 2B? The only thing is if we lost Barney, we'd downgrade defense at 2B and 3B. I would hope the offense would offset it though.

"And keep in mind that AA tends to be easier to hit in than AAA."

That is not even remotely close to true, especially when talking about the PCL. The PCL is one of the biggest hitters leagues in all of baseball. The PCL is the same league where Koyie Hill had an OPS over .800.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE Josh Vitters fan and have been for a long time. I have been one of the ones who has gone against the people who were calling him a bust 2 years ago. He is finally staying healthy and has made some huge strides in the area he needed to work on which was pitch selection. He is seeing more pitches, being more selective and it is not only allowing him to walk significantly more but also hit for more power. You are seeing less little dribblers off the end of the bat and more screaming line drives up the middle and it is great to see. I think he is going to be an above average player in this league with a couple years in his prime where he puts up monstrous numbers. I would love nothing more than to see an infield of Vitters-Castro-Watkins-Rizzo come the end of next year. But do NOT dismiss Castellanos, Castellanos is a potential MVP caliber player. Obviously there have been many of said prospects who have busted so time will only tell but the kid has star written all over him. The Tigers will end up trading VMart before they trade Castellanos IMO

"Is Valbuena's glove better at 2B?"

Significantly better at 2B then 3B. 2B is his natural position.

"The only thing is if we lost Barney, we'd downgrade defense at 2B and 3B. I would hope the offense would offset it though. "

3B would be a wash and it would be a slight downgrade at 2B. But the potential added offense that Vitters would provide over Barney would easily out weight that

I heard he's better at 2b, but still not a guy you'd label a good fielder, same with Cardenas.

When the Cubs signed these guys I recall the reports saying they were guys that have shown some promise with the bat at times, but were not good defensive players.

Ahhh didn't know Valbuena was a natural 2B. Ok well then, that changes the whole outlook I have. *Jumps on the bring up Vitters bandwagon*

Just based on the local rumblings and what Theo and Jed say, IMO, it doesn't seem like Vitters will be called up at all, not even in September. Sounds like they want a full year in AAA and end this season hopefully on a high note. Sounds like they're fearful of a Sept call up and a struggle that will carry over to winter ball or next year, where ever he plays.

Personally, if I were to bet on it, I bet on Vitters never coming up this year. IMO.

I don't know if they say that so the media doesn't hound them on ......hey when you gonna call up this guy.
I recall them also alluding to maybe not seeing Rizzo until Septmember this year.

Granted Vitters hasn't been dominated AAA like Rizzo did but you'd think they want to go into this winter with a better idea of what to expect from Vitters next year.

They can bring him up and play both until Vitters is ready in September. Then whoever played better, stays.

I don't know. I think all along, Jed had Rizzo pegged for a June call up after the extra year deadline.

I still don't think Vitters comes up this year. He's had a rocky rise since he was drafted. I think they'd go slow with him to keep that confidence up.

They can do that too, and that is probably what they would do if Barney is traded.
I was just saying, I'd rather see Vitters get an early look so they can see what they need to do with 3b this winter.

I'd imagine Stewart is brought back but put into a competition for 3b with others.

I can see them doing with Vitters next year what they did with Rizzo this year and saying he's not going to win the 3b job no matter how good he looks in spring and then end up calling him up a couple of months into the season if he continues to progress and forces a move like Rizzo did.

What I'd like to see though , is him up here now.

I also would not be <shocked to see him involved in a trade because I think Baez is the future at 3b and the OF is too crowded with high ceiling propscts for him to have a future out there with the team.

I think they did too with Rizzo, but they were alluding to the media that we might not see him until September so they didn't have to field the daily questions, so I said maybe that the case with what they've been alluding to with Vitters.
But you very well may be right, they don't want to seem to rush any prospects and I wouldn;t be surprised to see him not be called up.
But don't you think they'd atleast want to reward the guy for the progress he's made this year and get him some at bats.
If he fails in a Sept call up, it's not like it's the end of the world and a major set back.

We'll see. I wouldn't rule out a call up in September, but I just think they're gonna keep him in AAA all year.

I have not given up on our current 3rd baseman as he is improving each day. Seems when he gets the wood on the ball it is a screaming line drive. His fielding has also improved. He still has a lot of upside IMHO. I had never heard of him until he arrived and he started poorly but seems to improve each game. He want go quietly.

I am just not understanding this talk about Barney being traded. This guy is young and a proven major league 2nd baseman who leads the league in fielding. I would not even think about trading a guy who will likely be our 2nd baseman for the next 10 years. He won the game yesterday with a 2 run homer and as usual made some great plays at 2nd. He can also play SS as good as he can 2nd base if need be. No prospect for this young man. Only a proven young guy who is as good or better. Who would replace him? Vitters? Hardly as he cannot make it out of AAA and would never be a gold glove 2nd baseman. I wish people would stop trying to trade Barney. Probably because he is one of the few position guys other teams covet and who would become an immediate starter for them. I think our GM is not even thinking about trading Barney. A trade to just trade is a dumb thing to do. A trade to improve the team makes sense. A prospect is just that a guy who may be a real talent or one who stays in the minors.