KingKongvs.Godzilla

Secretly, we're all a little racist. It's why it'll never truly disappear until the aliens come and we realize we're all assholes.

Props to Goldstein for not bowing down for the Friedman hype. He's good, but he's basically a pup in the GM game. If I'm going after a successful GM who's done it with analysis and player development then it's Beane way in front of everyone else. He's someone who truly deserves a job this big.

Was thoroughly unimpressed with pretty much everyone I saw there this year. Same here. Looks like we'll have to wait for spring to see if someone can step up. McCullers is supposedly the best of the bunch and I don't think he's a top 5 draft pick.

Baez had a fielding error on his first attempt, I hear. I didn't actually follow so I'm not sure if it's actually true.

I'm turning around on Beane. I forgot about the "give me 50 million" quote, and therefore forgot that he's kind of a badass as GM's go. Plus he'd get to play with the big boys financially, and he's often said that with every team pretty much looking to do the same thing the big difference becomes money.

I read a Justin Verlander comp for Mark Appel in BA's latest issue (the tools one). Fingers crossed?

Well, 2nd to Crane Kenney. http://ready-up.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/rage.png

hahahhahahahahhaa it's so hard to believe this was true but it more or less was Yeah, it looks like a bad joke, but it was all too true. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-05-11/sports/0305110276_1_fishing-boat-fishing-show-cubs That article still makes me angry. The sad thing is that Bellhorn was one of the team's best OBP guys. Actually he had a small window where he was a pretty useful player. Gave the Cubs a 4 WAR season in 2002...

Vogelbach is a player. I have no doubts about this. He seems to have the approach and athleticism that fits the optimistic scouting reports about him. Anyone notice that a hitter like him happens to be drafted here the same year Prince Fielder hits the market? Heres some hope that hes good enough to be at the center of the Justin Upton trade of 2014. Schlect is another one with a solid approach in the making. The new regime will get credit for the solid approaches of these guys.

I'll throw in draft guys at the end of the season. Lake got on because he's 21, loaded with tools, put up an .834 OPS as a SS in the FSL with 21 XBHs in in 216 PA, got to AA, and looks to be finishing strong. Toonster, I think Carpenter falls into the category of Beliveau and Castillo, where they're very talented for what they're projected to be. He's got the potential to be a high end reliever, and in today's game that's a very valuable pitcher. He reminds me of Scott Williamson when he was with the Reds, but he might be able to close. As far as a weak top ten, maybe that's relative. I think that literally all 10 of those guys will make the big leagues.

Busch Light, Old Style, PBR and Keystone are all battling it out for dominance in the shallow gene pool market. You can go straight to hell for lumping PBR in there He forgot about the Beast, but he was right to lump PBR in there. The best [expletive] beer is still [expletive] beer. He also forgot Schlitz and High Life. And, of course, Natty Ice. Best of the best.

That would be awesome. On talent and not contract Burnett is a great buy low candidate. People have been mesmerized with Burnett's talent for years and he can never seem to completely put it together. I will say most of his best years have been in the NL. I'd take '08 and '09 Burnett definitely, and I'm sure he's another one who'd enjoy the AL East to NL Central move. I wouldn't acquire him in hopes that he takes The Leap, but rather that he goes back to his career norms. That's a pretty solid pitcher, and one that's handled the pressure of being a 2/3 on a WS winner. Really, I still like the arm. Hell, I like it better than when he was younger and threw harder. Back then I thought his arm was going to explode on every pitch, but mechanically he's much more sound. I've seen all of his starts with the Yankees and I just don't get what's been wrong...It's a whole bunch of things...pitch selection...he definitely gets too conscious of his mechanics (maybe a product of having crappy ones as a young pitcher)...command can go... On a side note...Why weren't the Cubs in on Andrew Miller? He's looked really good throwing the ball with all the changes the Red Sox have made. Considering that the Cubs managed to save a fastball/slider lefty in Gorz, why couldn't they take on a healthier, younger gamble in Miller? *Shakes fist*

I can agree with this. I do think Fielder to the Cubs is almost inevitable if the Cubs allow it to happen.

Just to throw out a top 10 list out of boredom...I think I'll do a top 30 early in the offseason: B. Jackson McNutt Vitters Szczur LeMahieu (How can you watch this guy play and hit and not be a fan? Arguably the most underrated talent in a system filling up on the stuff. Power will come IMO, and despite the dearth of walks I like the approach he shows at the plate. Won't come into himself as a player until he's in the 24-26 range. Athleticism and defense are also assets of his that gets underrated. I sound like a [expletive] fanboy.) Carpenter (could probably be flip flopped with LeMahieu) Ha Flaherty (Not as good offensively as this season suggests, but should be a useful player in the mold of a Mark DeRosa.) Lake Beliveau (High octane LHP bullpen arm with big K potential. Has actually improved his K/9 and BB/9 numbers moving up to AA this year. Very talented for what he is, if that makes sense and I hope it does.) Really, all these guys are trade bait. There's no must keep talent here, but that isn't to say there isn't a whole lot of talent looking to make noise. I like this year's top 10 better than last year's top 10 already, and I haven't even made it yet.

That's because they're too busy hitting on their sisters.

Prior's career path is just painful. More than anything the Cubs teams of the 2000's could have used a legit ace....He's the exact reason why the 2003 team ranks ahead of the '08 team to me as far as talent and WS potential goes. Oh well...maybe Mark Appel or someone lets the Cub give it the 'ol 2nd college try.

Vitters has walked a second time and Ha has walked also. The interesting that about that trio (Vitters, Ha, Lake) is that Vitters is the oldest and he turns 22 in a couple of days. IMO, Ha and Lake have to be considered better prospects at this point than Vitters, but they're all intriguing. I'd take Vitters over both as a prospect, but just barely. All three have very interesting, possibly underrated upsides.

That would be awesome. On talent and not contract Burnett is a great buy low candidate.

None of those guys are full time 1B for the Jays. Bautista and Snider are DH/COF, Thames is probably a bench guy and certainly not someone you pass on a big bat for, Gose is far away, Rasmus is a CF, and Lind is also not a guy you pass up an elite bat for. The thing that will hurt them is that crappy turf they play on, which could be killer on both of those 1Bs knees and is something that legitimately might cause them to balk. The other thing is that Toronto is located in Canada, which only exists because America can be really nice sometimes when it's beneficial. Werth is RF, Harper is RF/CF, Rendon is being tried at 2B and is a college 3B who supposedly has GG potential there....Morse is a former minor league SS who has played in RF, LF, 3B, and 1B at the big league level. Since he's one of the better hitters on team try him in LF where Laynce Nix has given them absolutely nothing because Mike Morse is not the kind of talent to block hitters like Fielder/Pujols. Both of these teams, specifically the Nats, IMO are far bigger threats for Pujols/Fielder than the Yankees will be this offseason. Not only will the Yankees be worried about their ace leaving, but the rest of the pitching staff after him is mediocre and they'll be on the prowl for some pitching. They have offense to spare, and a 190 million dollar 1B as it is. Also, I'd be absolutely stunned if Fielder or Pujols were to actually give up 1B everyday to DH. Both players are or could very well be on HOF paths, and the DH thing could really effect the way people look at them (even Pujols, if only slightly).

He, Ha, and Vitters are perfect 2012 breakout candidates, and I'd be shocked if TWO of the three didn't break out next year. OK that's excessive, but there's definitely a breakout player in that trio.

Well he's spent 6 years in the PCL so really it was almost bound to happen...

Old Style to Coors Light seems kind of lateral, no? Dogfish ftw.

When's the last time a young star like Wright got traded at the August deadline? It doesn't happen. I find this more interesting because it could mean that the Mets will be listening this offseason. Wright would give this franchise the white, intelligent, hardworking 3B it deserves! No but really, he'd do really well here.

Iirc he's a sinker/slider type. Can hit 94. Probably mixes in a curveball, changeup, and or cutter sometimes.

Jae Hoon-Ha lays out. Note that the pitcher throwing the pitch is Trey McNutt, arguably the toughest significant prospect in baseball to find any kind of video of on the internet at all. With this video the count is now up to one pitch of video on the internet.