Exile on Waveland

I'm stuck at work. Too bad, I'd really like to watch. Especially as the Cubs pick so early.

I'd take Wieters. But my opinion on this is basically worth nothing.

Agree. I didn't mean to imply that his hothead nature would factor in my trade consideration.

He should be the backup right now. At this point I'm thinking they should go with Soto and Blanco in 2008 (but I'd love to see Blanco leave). Make your order like this: 9 Soriano 13.00 3 Lee 13.00 6 Rodriguez 25.00 5 Ramirez 14.00 7 Murton 0.75 8 Pie 0.35 4 Patterson 0.35 2 Soto 0.35 Give ARod 5/125 to get out of the Bronx. (very favorable compared to his 3/81 remaining that he can opt out of) So what you're saying is by not paying Zambrano $18 mil, Izturis $4 mil and Blanco $2 mil you have already paid for Arod. The only problem is convincing Arod not to follow the ring to somewhere like Boston where he could really stick it to the Yankees or the Angels where he could labor in obscurity, make his money and still have a shot at a ring. First, I love that lineup. Second, if/when ARod opts out, I think the Cubs would certainly be a team of interest to him. (Especially if Lou is still here).

This doesn't sound good. He needs innings, let him pitch. $10 million...

He's 18 and posted an .894 OPS at low-A as a 17-year old last season. Thank you. I think most people fail to understand how incredible that is. Scouting well and at least holding his own in leagues way too advanced for his age is a great combination. So Zambrano for Milledge and Martinez, with Milledge or Pie then going to the Marlins with Veal, Murton, and anyone else they want for Cabrera. entire cubs organization minus eric patterson for cabrera have you seen cabrera recently? dude is FAT 320/389/571 He's have to become so fat that he had his own gravitational pull before I'd turn someone down with those numbers. Cabrera and Fielder could play for the Bears. Two great hitters who can't play defense worth a lick. In 2018, they will both be great DHs. 2018?! Well, considering that's 11 years from now, I'll take either.

Eh, it was entertaining but that's about it in my book. These things happen. That said, Z is a hothead and I wouldn't be opposed to a trade, depending on the return. I just certainly wouldn't rush to trade someone because of a single incident (well, a single incident of this ilk). I do, and always have, worry a bit about Z's temperament, though.

While Ramirez certainly has had lapses in hustle in past season, I haven't seen any indications of that this season. I think he's hustled all year. I've been very happy for him, it seems to me he's matured as a player. For what it's worth (re: hustling). EDIT: While it likely goes without saying, I hope he's OK.

Having never seen him play and only going off second-hand scouting reports, I was worried Pie would turn into Corey Patterson redux. However, watching him play immediately changed my opinion. While there are similarities, Pie and Patterson have much, much different approaches at the plate -- even if it hasn't led to a bunch of walks or high OBP for Pie yet. While I'm not saying Pie will ever turn into a super high-OBP guy, he is more patient and has a more compact swing. Plus, for what it's worth, he seems to have a sanguine attitude.

Best of luck to Kerry. Easily one of my favorite Cubs of all-time. While he's never going to fulfill his amazing promise, I hope he can at least come back and put a positive coda to his career.

He's 18 and posted an .894 OPS at low-A as a 17-year old last season. Thank you. I think most people fail to understand how incredible that is. Scouting well and at least holding his own in leagues way too advanced for his age is a great combination. So Zambrano for Milledge and Martinez, with Milledge or Pie then going to the Marlins with Veal, Murton, and anyone else they want for Cabrera. entire cubs organization minus eric patterson for cabrera have you seen cabrera recently? dude is FAT 320/389/571 He's have to become so fat that he had his own gravitational pull before I'd turn someone down with those numbers.

Congrats to the Ducks. But it's hard watching the Cup go to California, much less when the loser's from Canada. Oh, the indignity.

Yep, .283 avg and a .285 OBP. Cub-like. *Well, both are slightly lower now.

First, congrats to Peoriachiefs, Sean and the rest of the Gallagher family. I'm very excited for this move as Gallagher has been one of my favorite minor leaguers since reading about after his acquisition. It's also indescribably cool that a Chicago Cub's player's father posts on NSBB. Second, why do I have a feeling we're going to be disappointed by the accompanying move?

I'd like to preface this by saying I think it's quite intuitive that an organization should draft the best players and build with both pitching and positional prospects. You need both to win. However, as I pondered this more, I believe the stockpiling pitching to trade or keep theory is counterintuitive for a big-market, high-payroll team like the Cubs. 1. A low budget team is likely to be forced into making sacrifices. This should never be the case for a team spending $100 million or so, or more, annually in player salaries. The Cubs should, and can, afford to field a team (and minor league system) that is both rich in pitching and hitting. 2. Pitching talent is in the most demand, while also having the least supply. Therefore, pitching is the most expensive asset currently in baseball. However, to be competitive, pitching is possibly the most important factor. Lower budget teams aren't able to sign big name pitchers in free agency, or at least not very often. To me, perhaps the best way to stay competitive with a lower payroll is by developing pitchers and filling your staff with inexpensive, rookie contract players. With the volatility of young arms, drafting pitchers in bulk may be the best way to achieve this end. Plus, demand being what it is, you can always trade young pitchers for hitters. The Cubs, on the other hand, can (and do) afford to pay big free agent contracts to pitchers (whether they spend the money wisely is another issue). They don't necessarily need rookie contract pitchers. Certainly, every team needs some cheap, productive players scattered about the roster like Murton, Hill, Guzman, Pie, etc. A high revenue team just doesn't necessarily need those players to be on its pitching staff. If the minor league system consistently supplied positional players to the parent club, then that club could focus on a few key positional players via trades or free agency, and still have money left over for pitchers. Again, I think the best way to draft is to spread your resources (prospects) around. Draft and develop pitching and positional prospects. I'm not advocating only drafting positional prospects or only acquiring pitchers via free agency. The Cubs should draft and develop for all facets of the game. But, if you're the Cubs and you have to focus on one, I'd choose hitters. They are more predictable and less prone to injury.

That's the problem. They spent a decade building the organization around the theory of stockpiling arms and then trading the surplus for bats when needed. And it's failed them miserably. They need to think of a way to start drafting and developing their own bats, and stop thinking pitching is the only thing. I was about to respond with something similar to this. The theory of stockpiling young pitchers (the most valuable baseball asset) is a sound one, I believe. However, the Cubs haven't kept them healthy nor have they traded many at their peak value. And, when they have, they got crap (see Pierre, Juan) in return. So, maybe, my problem isn't the theory itself, but the organization applying the theory. I do agree they've done a good job developing young arms, 2002 draft class notwithstanding, but you also must develop young positional players.

I say let him waste away.

Well, if pitching prospects are basically drafted to get injured, maybe the Cubs should focus on positional prospects. Much less risk involved. Plus, the Cubs have plenty of money to sign free agents to plug in pitching holes. If not, then the organization must trade more of the pitchers before they get hurt.

Yes, Jones went to Montreal in the Nomar/Murton trade. I should've said "except Jones." My bad.

Just read the article. Sad to see so many prospects fail to pan out. What's worse is a lot of those guys were highly thought of at one point and not even traded for productive players. They were just hung onto until they flamed out.

I'll pass. Talent or no, pass on guys like this. (see: Pacers, Indiana)

how about the frontier league? I think he's too old to play for the frontier league with their rules. But I'd love to boo him down here in Evansville. I could even give our pitchers a solid scouting report. Breaking stuff low and away = out every time. Ah, the good ole Otters.

Gamecast still has Hill starting in right. Surely not.

Me too. That's the most important move regarding Soriano that needs to happen. Soriano has a .350 OBP as a leadoff hitter this year, which is not problematic. It might not be ideal, but it's not terrible. However, he should clearly be playing right with Murton/Floyd in left.

There are so many things wrong with that. Gary Sheffield is a moron. Also, I've never heard the stereotype that Latino's were "easy to control". I thought the stereotype was passionate, fiery Latino's (like a Carlos Zambrano). So I don't really think Sheffield's idiotic, myopic, unfortunate stereotyping statements even hold true. If MLB management was racist and subscribed to common stereotypes, I don't believe they'd pick Latino's for "control". *I want to stress that I'm not supporting the above stereotype. Plus, it's clear that baseball isn't near as popular within the African-American population as basketball and football, for many reasons.