First we need to make one thing clear: the Cubs will NOT field a team made up solely of prospects or “young guys.” This just doesn’t happen. It’s the reason why Luis Valbuena, Justin Ruggiano, and Chris Coghlan are still on the team.
It might work in video games, but in the real world you need a veteran presence. And besides, some of those prospects will wind up failing and never amounting to anything.
Which brings me to Junior Lake.
Junior got off to a nice start in May, hitting .273 with 4 HRs and 6 BBs. Since then, he’s hitting .182 with 1 BB (!) and 42 Ks.
His 2013 slash of .284/.332/.428 is but a distant memory.
Junior’s Special Sauce
At his best, Lake is a player with speed and power that can play multiple positions. There’s just something about watching a guy lay down a bunt and hustling to first that can also hit a towering home run that fills me with joy.
His minor league numbers and his tools make me think he could become a poor man’s Carlos Gomez (without all those steals) or a lesser-hyped Corey Patterson: a guy who just can’t stop striking out—therefore neutralizing his speed.
Either way, we’re not going to find out with him sitting on the bench (he’s 24 years old). As far as I see it, there are four different outcomes for Junior:
1. Back to AAA
Send him down the way you did Mike Olt so he can get some at bats, work on some things, and pick up some confidence. I know it’s easier said than done, but just tell him to stop swinging as hard as he can every single time AND work on controlling the zone. Maybe he figures some stuff out and comes back a better player.
2. Fourth Outfielder/Utility Guy
Gets a start here and there against lefties, comes in for defense, and provides some pop off the bench. Instead of having Travis Wood come in to run, Lake does it. He can play the infield as well. This is less exciting and obviously not as valuable, but this could be where he ends up if he can’t get back on track (or if the Cubs just don’t give him any ABs).
3. Traded
I don’t see this happening now since his trade value is so low, but you never know. Someone decides to take a flier on him (Detroit?) to see what he can do with some consistent playing time. If this does actually happen, I’m thinking it’ll be next year once the Cubs actually get him playing regularly (be it in the bigs or in the minors).
4. Injury Opens Up Playing Time
Someone gets hurt and Junior gets to play every day. You never know with baseball, so it’s nice to have the depth to cover any kind of injury, but this is kind of a boring answer both for Lake fans and for Lake himself. It means he maybe gets another shot at starting.
What’s the Rush?
Why worry about Junior Lake right now? Like I said, he’s young and there’s plenty of time to watch him mature and figure things out…right?
Kind of.
The Cubs’ window of respectability is slowly opening and the next prospect banging on the door is Jorge Soler, who will get RF all to himself, squeezing Lake out even further.
Why do I care? Because that damn combination of power, speed, and the willingness to bunt. Most guys that can hit home runs see bunting as beneath them, and I love Lake’s willingness to take the bunt single if he sees it there.
Besides, even though I know not every prospect is going to work out, I’m still not ready to give up on this one. Hell, I’m still hoping Josh Vitters might shock the world and turn into something.
By the way, if you want to read more on Lake, check out the SunTimes. @TonyAndracki23 wrote a nice piece on Junior Lake that came out last night asking a lot of the same questions I cover here.
The Stretch 