don't try the veal

Background: After Veal led minor league starters with a .175 opponent batting average and shared Chicago's minor league player of the year award with Rich Hill in 2006, he had trouble getting untracked last season. He went 0-4, 10.57 in his first four starts and battled his control and command throughout the year, leading the Double-A Southern League with 73 walks.

Strengths: Hitters don't see many pitchers like Veal, a big lefthander with quality stuff and an unorthodox delivery. He has a swing-and-miss fastball in the low 90s and he likes to work both corners with it. His curveball shows flashes of being a plus pitch, while his changeup is solid at times.

Weaknesses: Veal lacks consistency in most phases of his game. He has a tough time maintaining his delivery, which includes a big leg kick, and his high three-quarters arm slot. When he falls behind in the count, he'll short-arm the ball and try to aim it, making matters worse. He has trouble staying on top of his curveball, and some scouts wonder if he might need to go to a splitter. Too often in 2007, his fastball was his only reliable pitch.

The Future: He has a ceiling as a No. 2 starter, but Veal also could wind up as a reliever in the mold of Arthur Rhodes. The Cubs sent him to instructional league rather than to the Arizona Fall League so he could build up confidence against lesser hitters, and they'll probably send him back to Double-A to start 2008.