rawaction

I'd love to see 1992 Jordan, Pippen, and Drexler defensively against 2012 LeBron, Kobe, Durant. Lebron could guard any non-Jordan wing on the original Dream Team and do a decent job if he had to. But I agree, the 4-5 positions (counting Barkley as a 4) would be an epic ass whooping by the 92 squad, and they'd still have to worry about Jordan and Magic.

I'd rather Tolleson over Withrow if the goal is to get a bullpen guy back. Not sure the Dodgers would do that, though. I actually like Withrow better as a starter, as he throws 4 pitches, IIRC and has a pretty decent sinker with a solid K rate.

Szczur 2-4 with a pair of doubles tonight.

Don't understand why the Magic would want the Rockets involved at all. Why not just take Bynum, and cut out the middle man? Whether he signs an extension or not, Howard's probably not signing an extension in LA so you trade 6 months for 6 months. Worst case, you trade Bynum at the deadline or do a sign and trade and get even more this time next year. And a sign and trade would be preferable for Bynum as he'd get more money that way, being that he's not a player like Howard who's already getting a truckload of money.

The "all-offense" approach would be interesting. I don't know if it would work though. You look at teams like Texas and Colorado who have tried this approach and not won it all, but they've had success. Of course, now Texas is signing SPs left and right. I would be interested to see an all-offense approach is affected by park factors. Teams like Texas, Colorado, Yanks and Red Sox have great offenses, but do they really need so many superstar hitters in those parks? Is it worth it to them to spend or develop on top of the line pitching because their effectiveness will be diminished? Is it worth it for SD and SF to go all-in on hitters because their parks suppress offense? The Cubs would be an interesting team to do this with because their park can play both ways, to an extreme at times. But the sentiment is true. Hitting is more predictable and sustainable on a year-to-year basis.

Wait the Yankees have the most championships by far in MLB history. Hell, even recent history, they've won what 5 since the Jeter era? October has been wonderful for the Yankees since forever.

Yeah, that sucks a lot.

Almora wasn't in the original post commented on. I think that there's no way possible he's in high A next year. I'm using High A as a reference because no reason Baez shouldn't be there. And it's at least possible that Candelario and Soler are there, though I'd put it at 10% that Candelario is that high up next year. Soler, I'd put more 50/50 depending on if/when he gets in some games this year and how he performs.

It's his first taste of the minors, but still slightly disappointing. Not worried yet though. I don't know how. He's terrible. Not worried about him as much as I don't care because I've already written him off as a non-factor given his velocity and results.

For the record, I kinda like Courtney Lee.

2-2 and pushing that OPS back toward .900. Man, I'd love to see him, Candelerio, and Soler at the same level next year. I'd make a trip to Florida just to see a series. That would be nuts.

I believe I read Cabrera throws high 90s out of the pen (highest I've heard officially is 97), with a really good slider. His control hasn't been a problem out of the pen so far. He fits the mold of a great late inning reliever. Being on the 40-man, I'd guess he'd get at least a Sept callup and be given every shot to make the big league pen in 2013.

What with the damn grammar police in this thread?

Wait, so Meyer could potentially go in a trades for: a) Denard Span, b) Ben Revere or c) Matt Garza.

I actually think very little depends on what happens in the Garza/Dempster trade(s). Even if you get 3 potential top of the rotation arms for them that are ready next year (extreme best case scenario), they won't be T-O-R pitchers in 2013. If you get a quasi top of the rotation pitcher in free agency (Sanchez, Liriano, Marcum type) then that puts less pressure on what will be (presumably) rookies from the Garza/Dempster trade. I'm liking the thought of highest upside possible, regardless of how far they are from the majors approach, the more I think about it. The Cubs should have the money and finally should have the foresight to actually do something in free agency that helps the team next year. Extreme example, but I'd take Zach Lee's upside from the Dodgers and wait a year or 2 for him over Eovaldi who's in the majors now but never going to be more than a 3-4, just because the Cubs theoretically need someone to fill Garza and Dempster's spots next year. I'd rather get the most talent possible for both and if you have to spend on reclamation projects or throw a Raley in the rotation next year to fill the 5 spots, then do that.

I love him in a cold, dark tiny way.

I really like Soler's body (in a plutonic way). Very well developed for a 20-year old Latin player. Granted a 20-year old with pro experience in Cuba isn't the same as a 16-yo from the DR, but if he even gets a little bigger and stronger he's going to be Giancarlo Stanton. Physically reminds me of a young OLB getting drafted into the NFL.

I agree with the Liriano sentiment. I really think he could be a Theo/Hoyer type of signing. I don't think he would take a seriously long deal for a ton of money, despite having the talent that suggest he could. I'll even go out on a limb and say I think he could be had for a 2-3 year deal for no more than 10-12 per. If you can get him for 2/20 or 3/33, I think that's a no-brainer type of move. He's only 29 all of 2013. The stuff is still there. He's still striking out a man an inning, allowing less than a hit an inning, and keeping the ball in the park at a decent rate. The big issue with him has been throwing strikes. This to me would be like the Ted Lilly signing a few years ago, as I think Liriano can potentially have the most consistent 3 years of his career in the next 3 before he officially becomes "aging". I also don't think the Cubs commit big years and big money to any arms. I don't think they sign multiple arms either unless they are both really affordable steals. Lastly, I think that the FO believes that Samardzija can be a top of the rotation guy, so I'm guessing they are more apt to trade Garza than I had hoped. My crack at the rotation would be: 1. Liriano 2. Samardzija 3. High quality ML ready arm from Dempster/Garza trade (I think if they can get an Eovaldi type or ML ready starter for Dempster, the Cubs wouldn't hesitate to take a high upside package of arms further away from the majors for Garza) 4. Wood 5. Maholm/Rusin/Raley/Dempster trade arm/Garza trade arm

Greinke was ejected after 4 pitches yesterday. Word is that he might start today too. I'm assuming I can't get away with keeping him in my lineup and getting technically an 8th start, even though the 1st one was only 4 pitches. I put him on my bench to be safe, but if for any reason I can play him....I'll put him back in my lineup, but I don't I can.

Yeah, I don't see what's so wrong about Bobby Lu. I agree the D in front of him still needs help, but he's clearly a large step up from Crawford. At least until he falls apart in a big game and then he becomes Crawford. But I'll take it.

Did I miss the reason why Jackson has missed 2 straight games?

Rizzo is Dat Dude

Talk to a lot of scouts? Only when they're selling cookies. You know that girl scouts aren't the same as baseball scouts right? That was a half decent joke that you just ruined.

Lake could just be getting game one off since they're playing two. He's in the lineup for Game 2. Batting 3rd, playing 3rd. Baseball America has his gamelog, and it almost seems like his defensive position is scheduled. He's consistently done 4-5 games at SS, followed by back-to-back games at 3B, before going back to SS.

Citing Vitters' lack of ceiling is an odd way to knock him out of consideration. Every year, despite poor results, we kept hearing about his tremendous bat speed, swing, and potential to hit for both average and power if he could learn to be a bit more selective. Now that he's appearing to be a bit more selective, he actually is hitting for average and power, and his ceiling is lower. I could see if they just don't buy his recent production as a sign of long-term improvement, but I was under the impression there was never any doubt as to his ceiling. I'm still seeing potential for a guy that hits .300 (and therefore has a decent OBP with a bit more of a selective approach) and hits 25-30 HR as peak production. Given the number of 3B in baseball that can approach that right now, I think his ceiling is just fine. I don't know that I see 25-30 HR power, despite him possibly finishing this season in that range. I actually see Vitters' ceiling as a similar player to David Freese. If he can hit .290ish, get on base about 34% of the time and get his slugging into the high .400s (over .475) for a handful of years, I'll take that. I don't think his ceiling is that of a typical top 5 pick, anymore. He hasn't put it together for a full season (not entirely his fault) and I don't see his ceiling anywhere near a Wright, Longoria, Beltre top 3B in the league type.