He isn't.
Instead, I am bordering on brain-dead and probably need to start worrying about the onset of senility.
Why I referred to Aaron Shafer I have not a clue. I MEANT to point out that the #1 prospect in the Cub organization is young, lanky RHP Chris Archer.
Archer started the year in high Class A at Daytona in the FSL, and put up very good numbers: 72 IP, only 54 hits, 26 BB, 82 K, won 7, lost only once, good ERA 0f 2.86, good WHIP of 1.11. He moved up to be the ace of the staff at Double Tennessee: 68 IP, only 47 hits, 37 BB, 65 K, won 8, lost 2, excellent 1.85 ERA, WHIP a bit high for the Southern League at 1.24 (because of those 37 walks).
Control and command make him still a work in process, and he probably is a year or more away from Wrigley. He could stand to put on some weight/muscle, but at only 21 that usually comes with physical maturity.
The scouts say he will be the #1 starter for the Cubs eventually.
Shafter has a chance to make it to the majors, have a decent career in the bullpen--southpaws with good control who have at least two effective pitches even if they don't have overpowering stuff tend to hang around, and Shafer is the prototype lefty (despite his size).
Cub fans who anticipate Cashner becoming a key member of the starting rotation are in for disappointment IMO. He is no closer to having a second "out" pitch than he was when he was drafted. His pitches all come in at too much the same velocity, and major league hitters feast on that. As I said, his ERA is around six runs a game now, and the more hitters see of him, the higher it will climb. From what I see, he needs to go back to Iowa or Tennessee next year to get instruction from a top-quality pitching coach and to concentrate on mastering a change-up and a breaking pitch (preferably both), forget about wins & losses, acquire the means and learn to keep hitters off-balance & unable to sit on the fast ball.
So, yes, Cashner COULD have more upside than Shafer...but probably won't. But the prospect I meant to get excited about is Chris Archer.
MEA CULPA.
