RynoRules

Arguably the best stretch for this franchise since the end of the 03' regular season (weekend sweep of Pitt, including a double-header).

Stunning trade. Reyes won't be in CO for long. LAA perhaps? NYY? Baltimore? I may get killed for saying this, but I hope the Cubs at least check in on CarGo. I have no idea what it would take to get him, but Castro would be a place to start.

When you're relying on Clayton Richard, Dallas Beeler, and an injured Tsuyoshi Wada for the 5th spot, I think starting pitcher is clearly the biggest need. Plus, what real difference-maker is available as a bat + easily slots into the everyday lineup? Another starting pitcher provides a real impact, IMO. I'm not loyal to Fowler and would love to see Justin Upton here.

Am I crazy for thinking that - at least in the short term - the Cubs need a bat much more than another starter? Obviously having both is ideal...

"Seems a decent fellow, I hate to kill him."

Good point I'd bet he catches 5x times a week so long as he is hitting. And he will hit...

I wouldn't trade Schwarber for almost anyone, and certainly not Hamels or Paplebon.

Speculation re left-handed platoon partner for Fowler and adding a front-line SP: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-looking-for-starting-depth-lefty-outfield-bats.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29

I'd keep Fowler if he'd agree to a 2 yr deal with a mutual option for a 3rd. Mckinney will be here by then.

He's killing it already tonight

Crawford's first year he was under .900, wasn't he? I think there's plenty of room for improvement from Raanta. He almost stole the series vs Vancouver in 2011 his first year. He had one piss poor series in 2012 vs Phoenix. As Kyle has pointed out very well, it's too big a risk to be messing around with a goaltender who is NOT overpaid. He nearly neat Phx in 12' with Smith doing stuff he never did before or since.

Crawford is a good goalie. He's not elite or in the class of Rinne, Price, etc., and that's fine. He will be subject to bad games because he isn't Dominik Hasek, and that's also fine. His value will never be higher than it is now, but unless we are offered a return that includes several high picks and/or a high-ceiling young wing or d-man, I wouldn't trade him. He's a solid (if overpaid) goalie who comes through in the majority of tough spots. By my count, he gave up maybe one bad goal against the Lightning, and he was huge in Games 6 and 7 v. the Ducks. They don't grow on trees. Goners for sure, IMO: - Sharp - Bickell - Vermette Hopefully they find a way to bring Richards back on a deal similar to the one he got this year. At minimum he is very good in his own zone and is still a creative playmaker who looks great with Kane. Oduya will probably be back on a two year deal. There just aren't that many viable options on the FA market who will take the sort of deal he probably would to stay here. Plus they shouldn't be looking to turn-over too many blue liners in one off-season. I'd bring Desjardins back if possible, effectively as a Bickell replacement. He will be a lot cheaper.

Have to think Wada is teetering...just not sure who would replace him.

I really hope that Dewees can play CF up the ladder. The idea of him in LF is very unappetizing. He's not going to RF on a 35 arm, that's for sure. Has anyone ever developed a stronger OF arm through working on form? Mind you I'm not talking about going from 35 to 60; just maybe 35 to 40.

We sign and trade for our pitchers here, kids.

Yeah, I am not giving Fowler a 4 year contract unless he manages to maintain an .800-OPS for the season. He's about to be thirty and has seen his OPS+ dip below 100. He'll probably rebound some, but not by much.

Yeah, that looked a bit convenient.

Best SP signing this offseason to date, at least in terms of bang for the buck.

http://overthrow.sportsblog.com/posts/2608748/honey--you-got-real-ugly---lighting-edge-hawks-in-game-2.html

My new blog on the Thibs termination; more on The Mayor when we get to know him: http://sb.gg/ArKS

Players should sprint around the bases or they're not Playing the Game the Right Way. It didn't work out very well when Oscar Taveras tried to get home fast http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/r2d/images/2/2d/Game_of_Thrones.gif/revision/latest?cb=20150304024632

Not according to quote I saw from their Chief Compliance guy. It will be fun to see him under indictment while still in office. What a joke.

I think they are hoping Hoiberg will be like Kerr. He's white, has a nearly identical hair color and style, had similar game when he was in the pros, worked in the front office of an NBA team, runs a motion offense and managed to coach his players to quality defensive results. I am not in love with the hire, but I like it more than I would hiring a re-tread like Gentry or reaching again for someone with zero track record like Del Negro. So let's look on the brghtside of this. Hoiberg understands talent evaluation at both the pro and college levels, he coached at the pro (albeit briefly in Minny as an assistant) and college level, his players appear to worship him, and the results have been good. I am especially impressed by his record at Iowa St. For example, prior to 2013-14 he turned over more than half his roster... Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Chris Babb 2 G 6'5" 225 RS Senior Arlington, Texas Graduated Korie Lucious 13 G 5'11" 175 RS Senior Milwaukee, Wisconsin Graduated Will Clyburn 21 G 6'7" 205 RS Senior Detroit, Michigan Graduated Anthony Booker 22 F 6'9" 250 RS Senior St. Louis, Missouri Graduated Austin McBeth 12 G 6'1" 185 Senior Wayland, Iowa Graduated Tyrus McGee 25 G 6'2" 205 Senior Stringtown, Oklahoma Graduated Cameron Fowler 5 G 6'0" 165 Freshman Detroit, Michigan Transferred to Niagara Kerwin Okoro 11 G 6'5" 220 Freshman Bronx, New York Transferred to Rutgers ...and yet they finished 28-8 (11-7), beat UNC in the tourney, and made the Sweet 16. While none of the guys they lost were studs, a couple were important contributors (particularly Lucious and Clyburn). He brought in two freshman and continued to develop guys like Kane, Niang, and Ejim. The Big 12 is a very good conference and I don't see top-notch talent lining up to play in Ames. Yet Hoiberg's teams were top 3 or 4 in the conference each of the last 4 years and were part of the national picture. That tells me his schemes are adjusted to fit his talent and that he understands how to put his players in a position to be successful. That approach makes a lot of sense in the pros. We will see...

Lightning playoff run saves locals from shite music

TB's 4th line guys all seem to be playing between 9 (Morrow) and 14 (Boyle) minutes per game. Our 4th line is playing the same (Kruger-Boyle) or 3 - 4 minutes more per game. So our 4th line plays more, yes, but not that much more. Hopefully you're correct re the 3rd line. I think you are. Your comments about the defensemen are confusing. I can't understand why you'd rather have Runblad and Cumiskey over Carle and Sustr. Neither pairing is ideal, but TB's is better.