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 Other than saying...."He's the guy in the picture to the right," I figure you'll need a little bit of an explanation. While perusing through my Cubs websites this afternoon I came across this little nugget of information:
One of the most impressive pitchers has been hard-throwing right-hander Jose Ceda, acquired from San Diego in the 2006 Todd Walker trade,
who finished 2007 with 23 1/3 straight hitless innings for Class A
Peoria. He has caught Piniella's eye but isn't likely to catch much
big-league service time this year. ''Three innings at AA is as high as
he's pitched,'' Piniella said. ''That's asking a heck of a lot.''
Carlos Marmol, anyone? Lee Smith reincarnate? Let's take a closer look at who this Ceda guy is....
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For those of you who follow the Cubs really, really closely, you already know Jose Ceda came over to the Cubs in the Todd Walker trade. Yep, it was that long ago. At the time Ceda was a 19-year old hard throwing right hander who was blowing hitters away as you can tell by the quote from one of his former catchers in the Padres system:
"He throws pretty well," catcher Clint Naylor,
who has caught him in Peoria, said. "He has a bit of sting. He is quite
good. He has the best fastball - it is pretty straight but 98."
Well, 98 mph is good, but not when it's straight. Of course, this is when he was 19 years old and why would a club trade a 19-year old player when he can throw 98 mph??? I'm not sure. Especially when it's for a unreliable veteran infielder. Anyways, a word from Randy Smith, the former Padres director of International Scouting, who I believe is now the Cubs Asst. GM:
"Jose Ceda is a guy we signed basically in a rain storm throwing in the
Dominican inside the batting cage," Randy Smith, the Padres' director
of international scouting, said. "Last year he hit 99 a few times. It
doesn’t necessarily mean success but it sure is a nice way to start.
At this point this is starting to sound like a Disney movie. Was his father killed and he was forced to work in the coal mines to make enough money for his family to eat? Probably not. Nevertheless, it's a pretty good story thus far.
Ceda then came over to the Cubs and after initially being tried as a starter, converted to the bullpen. He kind of took a liking to it and the Padres are now kicking themselves for it:
The 21-year-old Ceda is 9-4 with a 2.60 earned-run average over three
minor-league seasons and has limited opposing hitters to a .157 average
in 156 innings. He enters 2008 with an incredible streak of 23 1/3
consecutive hitless innings over his final 15 appearances with Ryne Sandberg's Peoria Chiefs, dating back to July 19. Left-handers can't touch him, batting a combined .065 against Ceda in '07.
Read that again. No one has been able to get a hit off of him in his last 15 appearances. Since July 19th. That's a very long time, especially in Peoria where kids are swinging at everything.
Obviously, Ceda is very high on the Cubs Prospects list (#4 overall) and has become an 'untouchable' when it comes to trade talks. It's hard to say what is going to happen with Ceda in the long run because he does struggle with his control from time to time (31 walks in 46 innings at Peoria) and his fastball is straight (not a good thing). Still, he's an intriguing prospect who seems to be making waves this Spring and an eye should be kept on him when he's making those late inning appearances once the spring games begin.
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7 Comments
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2008 Cubs Preview
i'd say he's not too untouchable
He just to traded to Florida for Kevin 'Old' Gregg.
stupid trade by hendry. thought he was better than that i am very disappointed. could have resigned wood for a one year deal if he didnt want to spend the money, but instead he wants to give away a 21 year old prospect that can throw 99mph for kevin gregg? i mean come on
stupidest trade hendry ever made. thought he was better than that to give away a 21 year old prospect who can throw 99mph with solid numbers for kevin gregg? seriously? wood would have signed a one year deal to stay with the cubs if hendry was that concerned about the money. i just don't get it
agreed
why did the cubs not want to bring wood back?
who knows