Brendan Harris v. Mark Grudzielanek
Bryan Stroh has his top 10 Cubs prospects up at The Cub Reporter. He lists second baseman / third baseman Brendan Harris at #9, one of the few top positions prospects the Cubs have. Harris should be the starting second baseman at Iowa this year.
But here’s something interesting:
I actually expect Grudzielanek will have a higher OPS than that this year for the simple reason of Todd Walker’s existence on the roster. Walker should get the vast majority of at-bats against righthanded pitchers, against whom Grudzielanek struggles. Grudzielanek hits lefties quite well (914 OPS last year; 814 over the past three). But what PECOTA suggests is that Harris would actually be the better platoon partner. Of course, that wouldn’t be the safe move, and Harris’s development might be better served playing full-time at Iowa.
UPDATE (2/2/2004 10:35pm): Cubs Pundit notes that Dusty Baker has made comments suggesting we shouldn’t be too hasty in assuming Todd Walker will get the majority of at-bats at second base.