Iceblink
-
Posts
1,032 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Joomla Posts 1
Chicago Cubs Videos
Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits
2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking
News
2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks
Guides & Resources
2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks
The Chicago Cubs Players Project
2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker
Blogs
Events
Forums
Store
Gallery
Everything posted by Iceblink
-
Neal Cotts for David Aardsma
Iceblink replied to JeffH's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
Those stats reflect him as a reliever. He might use more pitches as a starter. Most relievers get by with 2 good pitches. Sure...but it would seem to discount the changeup as a good pitch. I wouldn't think he scrap his best out pitch (which is how some posts have described his changeup) just because he's coming out of the pen. If it's effective at all, seems like he'd use it. -
Neal Cotts for David Aardsma
Iceblink replied to JeffH's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
So for all the talk about making him a starter, I find the ESPN insider stats interesting. According to their splits, Cotts threw 80% fastballs, 14% sliders, 4% changeups, and 3% curves (something must be rounded to get 101%). His numbers go 76/19/2 (fastball/slider/changeup) against lefties. By way of comparison, Rich Hill is listed as 70% fastballs, 25% curves, 1% sliders, 4% changes. That sounds pretty reasonable. Ohman is 50% fastballs, 47% sliders. There's probably a pretty good margin of error, especially with curves & sliders. I'd expect that it would be pretty decent with fastballs & changeups - and maybe some sliders get marked as changeups depending on the speed difference. If those stats are to be believed, Cotts is barely a two pitch pitcher when he's coming out of the pen, and his best pitch (the changeup, according to the earlier posts) was a total afterthought. Zambrano throws 70% fastballs, but his fastball is a different animal. If Cotts is really this much of a fastball pitcher, the prospects for the rotation would seem dim. -
Pick me some lottery numbers, too.
-
Cubs sign DeRosa for 3 yrs/$13M
Iceblink replied to Shilzzz's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
If money is no object - which it may not be - then I'm fine with the signing. He's an average player and not worth that money, and does nothing to help with the OBP needs of the team, but his bat had some significant life last year. We're overpaying for the career year, but Hendry is "savvy" like that. If money were even a little bit of an object, I would've been fine with Theriot, Cedeno, and Fontenot at 2b for a combined $1M or so. Meh, sideways move...but at least we got older, dude. -
I'm having Mike Hampton flashbacks.
-
The off-field stuff makes me not want him for $5M per year.
-
The hats are quite a bit like the Astros, just a little brighter red. Not bad, though. The 'D-backs' thing is a little too...not baseball-ish for me, but it's an improvement.
-
Free Agent Draft Pick Compensation Modified (title updated)
Iceblink replied to Tedward's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
Has there been any mention that they considered allowing for trading of the picks? I've never really heard a reason why they don't do that. -
I thought perhaps this thread was about Jacque. Color me relieved.
-
Off topic but if we can get those guys in your sig I will be very happy for once. Vincente Padilla is a punk and not someone I'd want near the team. "Punk" is a juvenille label to throw at someone, but it fits better than any other word I can think of.
-
Jason Stark said this morning on Mike & Mike that the Girardi interview went very well and "allayed any fears" the Cubs had about the Florida situation. However, he also said that the Cubs are very intrigued with Piniella, and that it's his job of choice. I think it's still Piniella in the lead. The paper this morning said that Piniella didn't get the grand tour that Girardi did. For what it's worth. My fingers are crossed that it's worth something.
-
On Mike & Mike this morning, Jason Stark said that Piniella's choice is the Cubs, and that the Cubs are "very intrigued" by him. He said Piniella has said the Cubs aren't that far away and that they could be next year's Tigers. What worries me about that is: 1) It would seem to vastly overestimate the quality of the club and might lead to plugging in so-so veterans because "we're not that far away." Who'll be next year's Todd Hollandsworth in LF? Maybe Todd Hollandsworth. 2) Sucking up to Hendry like that might just work.
-
Jason Stark said this morning on Mike & Mike that the Girardi interview went very well and "allayed any fears" the Cubs had about the Florida situation. However, he also said that the Cubs are very intrigued with Piniella, and that it's his job of choice. I think it's still Piniella in the lead.
-
I'm not one to put much creedence in Gammons' sources, but this does indeed sound Cubbish enough to buy.
-
Said he thought right now that the likely destinations were Girardi to Washington and Piniella to Chicago. He "heard" that the people in the Cubs front-office weren't really that interested in Girardi and were only entertaining it because of the local pressure, and that they were interested in Piniella.
-
Yes! Way to pull it out, guys. I thought Pittsburgh was going to show their true colors and pull out that third pick, but they choked on the last day. Thanks for playing along, everyone.
-
We've let Pittsburgh back in this race. I was worried about KC and that 10 game stretch of Minny and Detroit. They're 1-6 against them after losing 2 to the Angels. That's how you finish, folks.
-
Pittsburgh with 5 wins in a row. You'd think after so many years of perfecting this race, they'd know how to finish strong. Rich Hill tries to keep screwing us up tomorrow night.
-
We worked hard to pass Pittsburgh. We're trying to give the #3 pick back to them, but they don't appear to have the moxie to come get it. However, Pittsburgh now goes to LA and to SD. KC will shortly have 10 straight against Minny & Detroit. Tampa gets Baltimore (yay) and then 4 against the Yankees (boo), who'll hopefully get their division clinched ASAP (magic number : 4) and play rookies against Tampa. What's your predicted order with 2 weeks left? I think it'll stay like it is, though I'm worried about Pittsburgh catching us and taking back the #3 pick. KC could very well get slammed by Minny & Detroit and take over #1 again. Detroit has been crappy the last month or so, but it still seems like a long shot for KC to be anything better than 5-5 against those two.
-
I thought KC had the cakewalk schedule to win this (see the first post), but they've won 5 of 6, including 2 of 3 from Boston, and are trying to tank/win their 4th game in a row tonight. I thought they were serious about this, but they're trying to give it away. Check out KC's final 10 games. They're going to decide the AL Central race as well as this one. Tampa and Pittsburgh have the easier schedules in this race, too. The Cubs are going to have to find some ways to manufacturer losses. I'm sure they can. KC remaining: Seattle (3) LA Angels of Vladaheim (2) Detroit (3) at Minny (4) !!! at Detroit (3) !!!! Tampa Bay: at Toronto (3) Baltimore (3) Yankees (4) at Boston (2) at Cleveland (4) Cubs: Cinci (3) at Philadelphia (3) at Cinci (4) Milwaukee (2) Colorado (4) Pittsburgh: Mets (3) :( at LA Dodgers (3) :( at San Diego (3) :( Houston (3) Cinci (3)
-
Gonzo is a good guy, but no need to add aging players who'll likely be outproduced by a younger guy already on the roster. Maybe I shouldn't assume the next manager will play the aging, declining guy as readily as Dusty would, but I'm going to have to vote no until I see that actually not happen.
-
It's down to 2 games, folks. We can pull this thing out! Tampa Bay is finishing strong. They're a force to be unreckoned with.
-
That inning was hardly Dempster's fault. You're right...but the statement still stands. ;)
-
Hells yeah. I'm on the #1 pick BandWGN.
-
There's a reason it's free... Because they won't pay us to sit through it? Where's the justice?! :)
