sneakypower

lol, it's like you two have a text alert for this type of post

he was a kind of quad-A guy on the Rays for what seemed like for-ev-er http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/r0H6R7xRytk/hqdefault.jpg

He's a top 10 prospect for over half of MLB teams. after the year he's had? to me, he's Matt Dominguez; take that for what it's worth

on the Soler topic, it's funny (for me) to think these guys would balk at trading Clint Frazier for Soler but he'll come up and do Brian Jordan things and i guess everybody can act surprised about it when it happens

it's been assumed he's due for a visit with Dr. Andrews (edit: what raisin said)

you just hurt Ryan Dempster's feelings

Bryant: Developmental Update: Bryant continues to launch home runs, rack up strikeouts, rake at an eye-popping clip, and show a discerning eye at the plate. Through 371 plate appearances between Double A and Triple A, Bryant is slashing .357/.453/.717 and finds himself knocking on Wrigley’s door. He has proven himself without question to be the loudest bat in the minors and a potential impact mainstay in the middle of the Cubs order for the foreseeable future. –Nick Faleris Baez: Developmental Update: Baez has the best bat speed in the minors, and it’s not even close for me; a lethal weapon that could make him the premium power bat in the game. But his approach is below average, and he routinely puts himself in bad hitter’s counts and conditions. With more refinement, the ceiling is cathedral but the risk is still quite high despite the fact that the 21-year-old is more than holding his own at the Triple-A level. –Jason Parks Russell: Developmental Update: From a skill-set perspective, Addison Russell has the most well-rounded profile at the shortstop position in the minors, with above-average chops in the field (including double-plus hands), and impact potential with both the hit and power tools. Russell has lost half a season to injury, but could challenge for the top spot in the minors with a strong second half. The ultimate upside is a perennial all-star at a premium spot, and the future could start as early as 2015. –Jason Parks Al Contra: Developmental Update: I’ve always liked Alcantara, but I was too low on him coming into the season, despite a skill set that has three-way impact potential at the highest level (hit/glove/run). Now that the 22-year-old has taken his talents to Triple-A, and exceeded expectations at the plate and on base, the future first-division player has jumped the list and emerged as a top 20 prospect in the game. --Jason Parks Almora: Developmental Update: Almora’s had a rough start to his season. His lack of production in half a season at High-A as a 20-year-old shouldn’t obfuscate the tools he still has. Almora makes loud, consistent contact and plays a very good center field due to his ability to make early reads off the bat. The baseball IQ is high and it helps the other tools play up. He’s not the sexy name in the Cubs system, but don’t forget about him. –Mauricio Rubio

BA's midseason 50 2 Bryant 5 Russell 7 Baez 33 Al Contra no Almora, Soler

technically, positioning isn't a shift...Adams parks his ass on the foul line (i've seen this) and robs a double, but other fielders are playing mostly straight up

it's mostly defensive positioning (see: Matt Adams' UZR); Jose Oquendo should be an all-star

A little concerned and yes, the BABIP should temper the results a little bit. He's been more like an 1.100 OPS guy than a 1.200 OPS guy. I haven't seen North harp on his contact numbers so I just assumed they were in an acceptable range (unlike where Javy was with his historically low numbers a few weeks ago). 80% in July, but 65% overall at Iowa he'll K a lot, but who cares

i love Len's contempt for meatballs, best personified by his no-hitter trolling

i think he's probably just one of those idiots who substitutes OPS for SLG

lol that clears up nothing

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/cubs-athletics-trade-jeff-samardzija-jason-hammel-addison-russell-billy-mckinney/

under-25 MLB SS: Castro - .807 OPS Bogaerts - .688 Simmons - .661 Miller - .611 Segura - .599 i'll keep Castro, thank you

http://www.ivstatic.com/files/et/imagecache/636/files/slides/tidal-wave-636.jpg

McKinney over Eloy right now (Edwards, too)

Bryant RF, Baez 2B, Russel 3B, Alcantara CF. Alcantara CF, Russell 3B, Rizzo 1B, Bryant RF, Castro SS, Soler LF, Baez 2B, Castillo C This could conceivably happen by this time next year. Like for real. Not even best case scenario projections. [expletive] yeah! and with quality depth like Valbuena, Ruggiano, Lake

Bryant RF, Baez 2B, Russel 3B, Alcantara CF. Alcantara CF, Russell 3B, Rizzo 1B, Bryant RF, Castro SS, Soler LF, Baez 2B, Castillo C

lol wut

aye caramba

this post kind of proves my point, as i haven't mentioned any of the bolded in this argument, at all

well, more specifically, getting only 1 or 2 starters on offense and essentially zero pitching out of your farm system is the equivalent of having no farm system at all

he was highly thought of, mostly because he touched 100, but we didn't do him a lot of favors in his development i don't know if you recall the furor here when he was getting jerked around between starting & relieving (along with Jay Jackson) but lo & behold he gets a shoulder injury (6 months later) and we basically traded him as damaged goods