Laura

It wouldn't make much sense for Aramis *not* to use the opt-out clause as leverage to renegotiate the existing contract, given the year he's having. Guess it depends on whether he wants to stay or not.

Here's a half-hearted Gallagher pbp ... I'm heading out in a little while so not sure if I'll be doing anymore. 1st Inning Richar 2B 0-1 strike 0-2 strike swinging 1-2 ball low & in 2-2 ball low & in 3-2 ball low & in BB low & in Gil CF 0-1 outside corner 0-2 called K swinging high inside check swing Cota RF - hot hitter throw to 1B 1-0 low away Richar steals 2B 1-1 offspeed outside corner 2-1 breaking ball low & in 2-2 foul ball left side 2-2 pulled foul 1B side line drive single RF runners 1st & 3rd D'Antona 1B 0-1 called 0-2 check swing low & away 1-2 low & away 2-2 low & away 2-2 fouled straight back 3-2 breaking ball low rbi double runners 2b & 3b Murillo 3B 5-3 groundout, runners hold Reynolds LF 0-1 breaking ball called 1-1 in dirt 1-2 fouled straight back K called 1-0 Smokies end 1st: 1R, BB, 2H, 2K, 27 pitches 2nd inning Castillo C 1-0 low & away 1-1 single CF Gonzalez SS 0-1 0-2 foul groundball right side through hole runners 1st & 2nd Chico P 0-1 snap throw to 2B (runner gets back) 1-1 low away sac bunt 3-5 force throw to 1B not in time 1 out, runners 1st & 2B Richar 2B 1-0 WP, runners 1st & 3rd line drive out 6 unassisted leaping catch 2 outs, runners at corners Gil CF 4-6 end 2nd 0R, 2H, 12 pitches 3rd Inning Cota RF 0-1 outside corner 1-1 low & in 4-3 one out D'Antona 1B 0-1 breaking ball 0-2 pulled foul 1-2 low & away 2-2 low & away 3-2 low & away 3-2 pulled foul 3-2 fouled off low away foul popout, 3 unassisted two outs Murillo, A 3B 0-1 called 1-1 low & away 1-2 swinging 2-2 low & away K 92mph FB low & away end 3rd: 0r, 0h, 1K, 16 pitches

c'mon cubs

OH YEAH!

I wouldn't interpret the mlb.com paragraph as saying the Cubs were proposing an Aramis - Adenhart trade. :) I think it's disjointed and just indicates that there were some talks and both players were mentioned.

Station to station offense, boys, don't try to get fancy.

My ears are bleeding already.

Nick Adenhart at MiLB.com

Here's an ESPN link on the defection, which still seems pretty sketchy in terms of details. That's what I was thinking. No problem, I always like reading the Japanese discussions. :) Landing Gourriel could open up a lot of possibilities for 2B or playing him at 3B and moving Aramis. But I suppose the Cubs pursuing him is so unlikely that it's probably not worth wasting a whole of brainpower on.

Ryan Harvey article on the front page of MiLB.com (Direct Link).

Jeff Samardzija article in the Daily Herald.

Another picture. :) Smile http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/CXC102072814_lower.jpg

Interesting. My initial thought would be that it's the second option you pose. The pattern might reflect the type of position players that the Cubs tend to draft -- kids who can hit vs kids who demonstrate plate discipline (or high ceiling/toolsy but raw vs polished/advanced but lower ceiling). When they're on a hot streak, it's because they're relying on the same talent that got them drafted, which is hitting the ball. It's only when they aren't hitting that they might demonstrate more patience in terms of pitch selection. Maybe ... I could also see it somewhat reflecting player development priorities, especially in the lower minors. Managers aren't going to go for lefty/lefty matchups, for instance, and pitching schedules and whatever an individual pitcher needs to work on may dictate or take precedence over how individual hitters are pitched in game situations. Pitchers there are often working to refine their control. Add the DH into the mix and the intentional BB as well as the 'unintentional' "pitching around" a hot hitter isn't used strategically on a daily basis as much as it is in the upper minors and MLB. So where you might expect in the majors to see the BB rate go up for a red-hot hitter because pitchers are more cautious pitching to him, you might not see the same effect in the lower minors. I don't think, for instance, that Ryan Harvey would have been pitched in an MLB setting the way he was pitched last night in the 9th inning in the Daytona game after he had homered 3 times in the game already. (not to take anything away from a magnificent game by Harvey) But if you look at the team batting stats for the Midwest League (low-A), you see the Kane County Cougars (Oakland A's) leading the league in BBs and the Peoria Chiefs (Cubs) in last place. That would sure seem to reflect franchise influence on BB rates regardless of individual hot/cold streaks, whether that influence is due to drafting priorities or organizational coaching philosophy or both.

the answer: hendry is convinced that the cubs' problems this year were a direct result of injuries and injuries alone. he is prepared to bring back 7 of 8 positional starters next season (and more than likely prepared to allow dusty to start neifi at second a minimum of 100 times). although i could see him overpaying for soriano, who, when allowed to swing as he likes with clines returning as the batting coach, will have a large dip in OPS. expect no major changes, i'm afraid. hendry is married to this team: if it fails, he will perceive his philosophy as one of failure. he's not ready to do that yet. That's exactly why I fear the nothing. It would be just another signal that Hendry really does believe that the problems with the team are injury-related and that a tweak or two is all that's needed.

Nice job, Hendry.

Let's keep the discussion on Rich Hill vs each other, since this is the Rich Hill thread. :)

He and Dusty are very much alike in that way -- they are loyal to individuals above the team.

But compared to the rest of the rotation? All I heard after today's game was Dusty saying that he sure hoped Maddux would go deep into the game tomorrow. I agree that Maddux shouldn't be going deep into games anymore (and there was some talk of this in the game threads). He's not effective. It's part of the reason I think he should be dealt. But the fact that the rest of the rotation is not a lock to pitch many innings increases the temptation to extend Zambrano especially (since he is El Toro and indestructible) and Maddux (since -- especially compared to Z -- it seems like he's not pitching much at all). I'd love it if they went to a 6-man (even if they juggled it so Z would get every 5th start) after trading Maddux. I'm just saying that I won't be surprised if Hendry chooses not to trade Maddux. ETA: to be clear ... I think Maddux SHOULD be dealt and I'd like to see the Cubs go with a youth movement, though I'm also realistic in that I think it will be ugly to see at times. I'm just saying that I keep picking up hints of Hendry being reluctant to deal Maddux unless there's a good return. Maybe that's just posturing. Maybe that's job protection in his mind. But I think he might be serious when he says that.

From a serious perspective, because this does actually involve trading Maddux... I wonder if Hendry looks at a post-trading-Maddux rotation and sees Zambrano Prior (assuming he stays in the rotation) Marshall (assuming he returns from the DL and stays in the rotation) Marmol Hill Guzman (who is having issues with pitch counts in AAA, and -- though I'd love to say "pitch him the majors" I wonder if it might be better in the long run to at least let him get maybe 2 solid starts under the belt in AAA before promoting him) ...uh, Ryu? Jerome Williams? Rusch, though someone has to be a mopup pitcher and Novoa can't pitch 2 innings every single day ... and Hendry realizes that no one other than Z can be counted on to get to, much less past, the 5th inning on a consistent basis. Hopefully Prior will solidify his spot in his next couple of starts. Hendry may be reluctant to trade Maddux because the pitching rotation that's left could be a MASH unit. I don't see Maddux stealing starts from the minor leaguers; there have been starts-a-plenty given Wood's and Prior's health situations. I do see Hendry wanting to avoid 100 losses and thinking that, even though Maddux hasn't been pitching well, he does actually pitch every 5th day, and only he and Z are guaranteed to do so. I'm a Maddux fan, and I think he should be dealt. I would love it if he came back next year AS a pitching coach (or heck, even as manager). But I do see Hendry's concern over what would be left in terms of a pitching staff as impacting any potential deal. Hendry wants to keep his job and I suspect he wants to keep Dusty's job. (part of the reason both should have gotten the heave-ho, oh well).

Paging DJaxxFan!!!!!

If Harvey's season ended today, it would at least match Dopirak's FSL season. Faint praise, but Harvey does have a chance to improve on that from here on out. I know this is anecdotal, but I did see him play in Peoria fairly often last season. As I've said, when he gets locked in, seeing him hit is a thing of beauty. That's when you wonder why he can't do it more consistently. Hopefully he's figuring out something that will help him out at the plate long-term.

A deeper and more dastardly conspiracy that I've heard mentioned is that the Trib is planning to cut payroll (and expenses in general) given the debacle this year (why spend a lot of money and lose when you can spend less money and lose) and overall financial problems. Since payroll and losing don't seem to affect the attendance, there's no need to maintain the first and avoid the second. Hendry was already extended and they aren't going to fire him and eat the contract. So why not let him bumble about, preside over the payroll cutbacks, serve out his time and leave as a fall guy? Who cares who he hires as manager -- just let him know that whoever he hires he can't hire beyond his own tenure. Not saying I buy, just saying that I've heard it as a theory.