Article on Smokies Upcoming Season

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

It includes some speculation as to what players will be with the Smokies. I'm not sure how accurate these projections will be.

 

Tennessee Smokies manager Buddy Bailey should have triple-digit pitcher Jose Ceda as well as sluggers Ryan Harvey and Brian Dopirak on his Southern League roster when the Cubs' Class AA affiliate begins play April 3 at Birmingham. The home opener is April 9 against Jacksonville.

 

Top-10 prospects Jeff Samardzija and Donnie Veal, both of whom pitched for Tennessee last season, should be back as well as several others who led the Smokies into the playoffs.

 

A pair of rising prospects with familiar surnames - Josh Lansford, son former major leaguer Carney Lansford, and Jeremy Papelbon, whose brother Jonathan is the Boston Red Sox's closer - could be putting on a Smokies'

 

One other tidbit I found interesting....

 

Policy Change: Cubs' minor leaguers must wear their uniform pants below the knee as opposed to around the ankle, which has become more fashionable.

 

 

also, the article mentions the Smokies have changed their uniforms for 2008.

 

http://media.knoxnews.com/kns/content/img/photos/2008/01/24/0124smokies-uniform_t600.jpg

[Guest]

Man, Wellington Castillo skipping Daytona and going to Tennessee? Oneri hinted at that at Cubs convention and it's mentioned in the ITI link lower down in my post too. That seems crazy. Also surprised to hear Lansford might go up to AA but that's more plausible than Castillo skipping Daytona.

 

I know the Knoxville News-Sentinel said again that Veal would head to the pen (they're the only ones who've been saying it) but Oneri said he'd remain in the Tennessee rotation:

 

ITI[/url]"]“He’s going to have to iron out some of the mechanical flaws he’s got so he can get back on track and repeat his delivery,” Fleita said. “When you’ve got a left-handed arm like that, you don’t give up on those kinds of guys. You keep them in rotation and I think things will solve themselves here sooner than later.”

 

Ceda skipping Daytona will be interesting...his control problems might catch up to him a la Veal last season at AA.

[Jon]

I find it a little strange that the Cubs would implement a system-wide policy that minor leaguers must wear their socks up.

[biittner77]

I'm a little surprised that they viewed the prospects of Dopirak and Harvey with anything but sadness.

[badnews]

That article seems a little generous. Anyone who didn't know better would think we should be greatly excited about Dopirak, Lansford, Harvey, and Papelbon.

[karenmac]

Man, Wellington Castillo skipping Daytona and going to Tennessee? Oneri hinted at that at Cubs convention and it's mentioned in the ITI link lower down in my post too. That seems crazy. Also surprised to hear Lansford might go up to AA but that's more plausible than Castillo skipping Daytona.

 

This makes me wonder what they're going to do with Jake Muyco. (He *is* still in our system, right?!?) Not to take anything away from Welli, but Jake's presence behind the plate was much better than Welli's when they were in Peoria. Perhaps they both end up in TN? Jake's got issues with the bat, but I think his defense and game-calling makes up for that. Definitely interesting. Also says something about Mark Reed's future too. I wonder who does end up catching in Daytona. Hmmm...

[CubinNY]

That article seems a little generous. Anyone who didn't know better would think we should be greatly excited about Dopirak, Lansford, Harvey, and Papelbon.

I'll be excited to see them when they come to Jackson. But right now I'm excited to watch the caribbean playoffs in spanish and I don't understand spanish.

[Guest]

That article seems a little generous. Anyone who didn't know better would think we should be greatly excited about Dopirak, Lansford, Harvey, and Papelbon.

 

Of course the article is generous, it's the local Knoxville fish wrap. They want to encourage the fans to show up.

 

Karen, yeah, Muyco is still in the system. If Castillo skip to Tennessee (I still don't believe it), I would guess Clevenger will end stay at high-A.