KingKongvs.Godzilla

I'm not sure how to address this. - I'm we're not any more off than most organizations. Obviously there's room for improvements, but there's always room for improvement. - See above. - I understand the perception, and held it for the better part of a decade. I'm less worried than I was. This is as much a product of ownership as it is of employee incompetence, and I think Ricketts is willing to change these things. - Not sure about promotion philosophies at all, but overall I notice that they tend to take it slow with most guys. I like that. - What were the desired effects of Camp Colvin? How soon should they show up? I think all of the above are superfluous in their own way and stem from the big league club not winning, which with some smart moves can be fairly easily done given the amount of money the Cubs will have coming off the books over the next 2-3 years. I don't think the extension was given on past results so much as it was given on Ricketts' opinion of Fleita moving forward. His big problem seems to be that like Kenney he's from the old regime and therefore "part of the problem." That said, the old regime had it's successes, and not everyone working there was a lunkhead. Perhaps Fleita was one of those people.

I'm not ignoring it so much as disagreeing with it. Completely actually...Developing pitchers is a big positive, we have no idea what his philosophy is (OTOH we do know that he lacks that big exciting Harvard degree and a firm background in the numbers you're now obligated to have to work in baseball so surely he HATES numbers and intellect), and plenty of people will be "forced" on the GM who we already assume new GM will hate with a passion (from Zambrano to Soriano to everyone on the farm system who doesn't walk at the appropriate rate). I also disagree that new GM is obligated to feel that way too, or that he will. What's really being ignored is that very little is actually known about Fleita. Quick...name the last above average sp the Cubs have produced from the system. Randy Wells all of 2 years ago. Is that the barometer anyway? The whole bullpen's full of system guys, the only exception off the top of my head being Grabow. He was also in charge of their Latin America program when Starlin Castro was brought in for all of $50,000, and I'm pretty sure he's also big in the organization's Asia programs. There's alot of people in between Fleita and development anyway....I'm sure changes have been made in minor league coaching, and there's plenty more to come.

I'm not ignoring it so much as disagreeing with it. Completely actually...Developing pitchers is a big positive, we have no idea what his philosophy is (OTOH we do know that he lacks that big exciting Harvard degree and a firm background in the numbers you're now obligated to have to work in baseball so surely he HATES numbers and intellect), and plenty of people will be "forced" on the GM who we already assume new GM will hate with a passion (from Zambrano to Soriano to everyone on the farm system who doesn't walk at the appropriate rate). I also disagree that new GM is obligated to feel that way too, or that he will. What's really being ignored is that very little is actually known about Fleita.

I really doubt it's that serious to begin with, and you're working under the major assumption that the new GM will surely dislike Fleita (after all he worked with Hendry and still uses stone tools!). And it doesn't even come close to be begging that question, at all.

Just because he wants the organization to be more statistical doesn't mean everyone in the office will be touting big backgrounds in analysis. Even in the day of numbers and Ivy Leaguers running baseball teams there's room for people in baseball with a baseball background. In fact, some would even argue that the numbers are not even all that hard to learn, and despite not touting a major background in that area most guys in today's FOs can pick up on what they like to look at statistically. Surely you've noticed that nowadays any Dick, Tom, and Jerry can lean to the numbers side if they follow the game hard enough and that there's a gazillion different numbers to analyze players on. Numbers is one edge a FO can give itself. I see this as similar to the Mets keeping John Rico despite the FO overhaul last year. It's an organization keeping it's touted young FO guys while it still can. I'm not sure what the big deal.

Good move. Smart organizations try to keep young tapers, player of suit. I think were going to lose Wilken. Gut call, because I base it on nothing.

Any young lefty that can hit the 90's and throw a change up is instantly very interesting. In a year or two one of Cruz/Liria could be the Cubs' version of Martin Perez or Manny Banuelos if things break really well. Edit: Liria is a RH. Dammit.

Not to be a dick, but how is that a point? Who said anything about Figgins being the only type?

spending the money isn't the only thing that matters, they also have to identify the right talent and then develop it properly. the complete lack of patience that is rampant throughout the cubs' entire organization shows that something has been done wrong the last few years - either they're drafting the wrong players or not developing the players properly. or probably some of both. Patience is not the only aspect they should be worried about, and it's not the only prerequisite to have. 1/3 of the starting players the Cubs have developed themselves on the ML roster (Soto, Barney, Castro) knows how to take a walk. Another is one of the best offensive SSs in baseball despite not ideal patience. You'll also note that the best of the Cubs hitters and prospects have a tendency to not K...and if they do K they usually walk...except for Soriano...Otherwise Ramirez, Lee, Soto, Castro, Vitters, Barney, Jackson, DeVoss, LeMahieu, Flaherty, and from scouting reports Baez and Vogelbach...etc....All guys who are really good at making contact and if they're not great at that then they take walks (Lee, Soto, Jackson, Flaherty, whoever I'm forgetting). If they sign a Pujols/Fielder, then they're signing guys who walk a whole lot and don't really K a ton. I think the whole walks thing is overblown nowadays. It was a much larger problem under old ownership, but I'm less worried about it under Ricketts. He's shown a respect for the saber side of the game (first hire was Kaplan IIRC), and the system has far more interesting position prospects than they've had in a long time. So while we're not the foremost authority on producing ideally patient players, the Cubs have taken steps towards improving their position/hitter development if you're looking to see the steps. I assume most aren't and will only catch on once the ML team starts winning (which is the core of the many issues anyway). I like the contact aggressive approach to hitting the Cubs seem to be taking on...It's one every team wants anyway, and the only reason patience got so specifically emphasized in the first place is that for a while teams undervalued the crap out of it. Now everyone knows patience can be a very valuable aspect to a hitter's game. It's time to expand that idea, and alot of the best teams have already done that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNFloPq_WNY That man was the man. To dominate like he did in that division, that park, and in that era is unbelievable. The only flaw stacking him up historically is IP. It's the most dominant season in my lifetime along with Clemens' '97 with the Blue Jays, which doesn't get talked about enough as a historically great season.

No, they will be, this coming offseason. Have you bothered to consider that the Cubs are cutting back on payroll because that team fell apart and it's time to wait out those contracts (all coming off this year and within the next 2 years after)? Or that the Ricketts family hasn't even officially owned the Cubs for two years yet (IIRC, I might be a little off)? The payroll 1 year after the Ricketts bought the Cubs went down from approx $145MM+ to $125MM. Prior to the season Ricketts went cheap on starting pitching with Garza (expensive on minor league talent), cheap on 1B in Pena, and basically failed to address the teams major issues. Now there are rumors that payroll may go down again next year, and that Ricketts is going to shy away from any big contracts. Not exactly confidence inspiring stuff. For good reason as spending more money on that team, a team he had no real part in putting together anyway, would have been futile and obviously so. How should he have addressed the major team issues he ignored (I'm guessing SP and solid veteran 1B on one year deal don't count) fully last offseason?

No, they will be, this coming offseason. Have you bothered to consider that the Cubs are cutting back on payroll because that team fell apart and it's time to wait out those contracts (all coming off this year and within the next 2 years after)? Or that the Ricketts family hasn't even officially owned the Cubs for two years yet (IIRC, I might be a little off)?

no, he has been terrible. his whip is over 1.8. He's looked good throwing the ball. Results...eh, I'm not sure if I care too much. Not sure if you saw him with Detroit but he's significantly more clean and regular mechanically with the Red Sox than he was with them...and he's managed to stay healthy doing it...which is what I was going for when talking about him. I figured the Red Sox would make him a project when they took him on, and I like what they've done. He's going to be their Gorzellany, the difference being that they grabbed a healthy young power lefty instead of an injury ravaged power lefty for nothing. OTOH, Derek Holland looks awesome. The Rangers have or have had some of my favorite LHP talents in the league with him, Wilson, Lee last year, and Martin Perez the prospect.

I thought when they drafted Baez they kind of hinted they want to introduce Hanley Ramirez type athletes/players into the system. I thought when they drafted Vogelbach they kind of hinted they want to introduce Fielder type athletes/players into the system. I thought when they drafted Sczuzr they kind of hinted they want to introduce Pierre type athletes/players into the system. I thought when they drafted Maples they kind of hinted they want to introduce Halladay type athletes/players into the system. etc. That was useful and necessary. Juan Pierre?

I doubt anyone sees DeWitt as a potential starter. OTOH, a capable bench bat who can spot start at 3B, 2B, LF, and probably 1B (hopefully never to be found out) with some pop is still plenty useful...You need those kind of guys on teams too.

Alexander Santana. I have no idea who he is either, but CR threw out the name.

NY you've see. McNutt in the flesh? What'd you think?

Exactly why Bill Beane will be the next GM of Los Cachorros.

Also has time to get worse. If DeWitt were cut today he'd find a team pretty quickly too. Teams will take a young guy who's had solid value in the MLB and can spot start in multiple spots.

Also has time to get worse. If DeWitt were cut today he'd find a team pretty quickly too.

Scouting report on Victor Garcia, Santana, Paulino, and for the hell of it Cruz? Thanks in advance guys.

Of the past 3 class...I'm especially interested in Latin America since it seems that Rhee and Wang are pulling ahead of other Asian pitcher signings. SPs...guys like Cabrera and Dolis need not make the conversation.

I think DeWitt could get better as a utility player. Other utility guys like DeRosa and Baker only started not sucking in their late 20's/early 30's. Baker didn't even have a positive productive season until he was 27...If the Cubs get '08 or first half of '10 DeWitt then there's a pretty productive bench player there. 26 isn't exactly old either. It's not even in the unofficial prime of a hitter...27-32...and DeWitt might not even make half a million next year...I'd actually look to hand off Baker's role to him.

I see him as a potential Pennigton/Everett type at SS. A below average bat with a starting level glove. I think teams nowadays could find plenty of value in that.

Conor Jackson to the Red Sox.