toonsterwu

Off the top, I think there's some mechanical concerns with Randall Delgado that has some folks thinking he'd be better off in the pen. I'll double check that. Edit: Quick glance and can't find anything online about it. I know there's some concern with Delgado that has people thinking he's better off in the pen. Can't think of what it is right now.

A) I'm not sure the Cubs organization is in the right situation to deal away a Brett Jackson for one of those arms. I'm not sure the organization is in a place where we can gamble away a possible everyday, above average starting CF that's cost-controlled. I'm not sure we have another upper level positional asset that would interest them in making such a deal. Teheran isn't going anywhere, and there's some concerns that Delgado and Vizcaino could both be headed for long term pen duty. I might have interest in a Brett Jackson for a Mike Minor type of swap, depending on what others moves were made and if we could get something tagged onto a deal. B) I think most guesses are that the Braves would like to deal Lowe if possible, and slot open a spot for Teheran, and ponder a Jurrjens swap to create a spot for Minor. I don't think they are pressed to make a Jurrjens deal/create a spot for Minor. I'd have some interest in Jurrjens for the right price (definitely wouldn't even ponder BJax on that one), but my guess is that they'll want to trade Jurrjens for a good return, with the idea that he's got, I think, 2 more cost-controlled years, and is a proven starting pitcher in the bigs that has had a solid workload. Those guys tend to go for higher than desired returns, even if their ability doesn't match up with the perception of their value. C) One thing I'm not totally against - pursuing Derek Lowe to stopgap for a year. Now, only way I'd consider that is if they ate a huge chunk of money (or took back enough salary to balance things out), and didn't give up a top prospect. I do wonder if the Braves would consider it provided they didn't have to eat the entire 15 million. That would offer them some flexibility and give Teheran/Minor a chance. If we get Lowe cheap enough, that could still allow the org to pursue another starter and still have enough money to ponder some upgrades in the field. That said, the danger of such a move is that they would view Lowe as perhaps a capable 2/3 starter and not pursue another solid starter.

Braves need Darwin Barney? And I'd be a tad surprised if Barney could have enough value to bring back a key starter. I'm not saying they wouldn't have interest in Barney, but Barney doesn't feel like the type of guy any team really NEEDS to have interest in/use. More importantly, they have a utility infielder in AAA (Diory Hernandez), a possible shortstop option in Tyler Pastornicky in AAA, along with a bevy of shortstop options in the lower levels. Pastornicky is close to ready, so I could see them bringing in a veteran to compete with Pastornicky in 2012.

If I'm the Braves, there's no chance in heck that I deal Mike Minor for Marlon Byrd. A potential cost-controlled mid-rotation lefty starter for Byrd? There's also growing concerns that perhaps Delgado and Vizcaino could both end up in the pen. I actually like Vizcaino as a starter.

I don't have a big problem with the comment, provided that it is done in the context of making the best decision possible for the franchise, and not over-reacting to mistakes in recent years. It's a thin line to draw. That said, fundamentally, I still find it hard for the team to be more than .500-ish team in 2012 that depends on some luck happening for a good season. There's a need for at least 2 middle of the order bats this offseason. We're likely breaking in a new CF. I still believe we need a better bat in the top two spots of the lineup to pair with Castro. I mean, legitimately, there's concerns with probably 5 spots in the everyday lineup, which doesn't included the yo-yoing production of Geovany Soto's major league career so far (I mean, there's arguably concerns in RF/LF/1st/3rd and arguably 2nd). The rotation needs a 2/3 type starter to go with Dempster to slot behind Garza, AND with Zambrano likely gone, will likely need an innings eater on the back end, and that's to allow, say, Wells/Coleman and other system options to battle for a spot. If they are concerned that committing too much to Prince Fielder in one offseason, when the club might not be ready to compete for a year or two, isn't in the best interest of the organization, perhaps due to concerns on Fielder's physique, then okay, I don't have a problem with that.

I don't think anyone really has a clear idea of what Suarez's ceiling is. I mean, it's high (ceiling that is), but he just hasn't done enough to get a good gauge.

I seem to recall it was more 90-92 and could get occasionally higher. Cooper's comments made it sound like he's sitting 94/95, but my guess is that he meant he's topping out 94/95. Definitely gets the antenna up, but the more positive comment is probably that his split/split-change/change is considered good.

Man, after JJ Cooper's comments yesterday, definitely going to be interesting to see how Dae-Eun Rhee performs the rest of the way. 94/95 with a good change? Dang.

I don't recall Jokisch's stuff right now off the top, but it's your typical end of the rotation, soft-tossing lefty type of stuff. I think some of us, at least, I am, are a bit hesitant to read into his numbers too much as he's a polished college lefty working in Low A.

Fastball has topped out around 93/94, and when he's sharp, the slider is fairly good. One of my favorite pen arms in the system, but more a setup type if all goes well (compared to a guy like Kurcz, who has closer potential).

Very little guy, maybe 5'10 88-91 fastball, little slider nothing much too impressive Smokies with a good win tonight, another quality start.. Anyone else think they might have a shot to take it home this year? depends on whose on the roster when they make their playoff run. Wouldn't surprise me if someone like Nick Struck was sent back down to bolster the roster. That said, the D-Cubs will make a playoff push as well.

I only saw one change-up-ish/splitter-ish type pitch this year when I caught him, so my guess is it's the same pitch that JJ is referencing. I can't recall if it looked as good as his Peoria days, though. I don't recall being too impressed with his breaking ball when I saw him. Chat ended. No new Cubs related posts. I honestly had sent in better questions than the ones he chose, IMO, so sorry about some of them.

If Rhee is really that good ... that's stunning. I'm assuming the changeup is the split-change that he was using before. That said, I still have my concerns about his durability as a starter. Could see him as a dominating late inning arm, though. Dang, had a Flaherty question that I had hoped would get answered (didn't like what I was seeing with his reads in a couple of his PCL games ... granted, easier said than done, and I like Flaherty), and a BJax one as well, but I doubt they get answered as he already took my other question with Flaherty in it, and there was an earlier BJax question.

oddly, the Chiang thing wasn't mine, unless I typed a question and forgot about it, which would be awfully strange. Granted, I rushed through about 40 questions, asking all sorts of things, up and down the system, figuring I'd get at least 1-2 Cubs questions answered. Having a long day, though (well, had a long day earlier), so maybe I typed it and forgot?

whoa, my questions are getting answered? Whoa ... Dae-Eun Rhee is plus stuff, 94/95? Dang ... I had heard more 90-92. Hmm ... I posted somewhere awhile back that I didn't like Struck's delivery. Guess that's something others have seen as well. There's a little hitch/windup there.

Yeah, he handles 3rd well. Problem is, you typically want a bit more power there, and even my slim hopes for slim power development are waning a bit. His bat plays a bit better at 2nd, but the reviews on him at 2nd are decidedly lukewarm.

He's making a joke in reference to Brett Jackson, I think, as I think BA mistakenly listed him as a Tigers player lost Hot Sheet (IIRC).

I like Easterling, and wish him well, but I don't love Easterling. That said, he's raw in baseball development, and there are tools to work with. I think Marwin Gonzalez, despite in AAA, would be on an emerging Cub Prospects list, and maybe near the top. He's really zoomed onto the radar, and his glove at short looks fairly ... solid.

Don't suspensions start at 50 games now? Flores didn't miss that much time. I know he missed some time. Just don't recall what for. It might have been a Cubs action and not MLB action, which probably would mean it's a personal issue and not a drug issue.

Is this the second time Flores has been suspended? Or was the previous issue some sort of personal issue? I seem to recall an issue early last year ... but can't recall what it was.

I saw him at roughly 86-89 earlier this year (roughly, I wasn't fixated on the gun near me) and had reports along those lines. I just wonder if the innings load is catching up. I don't recall his XST innings load last year, and am too lazy to search through AzPhil archives to really know.

I'm not too concerned with Flaherty's struggles in Iowa so far. I think he got frustrated early (as I saw him expand the zone quite a bit more than he ever did at the lower levels). PP is right - he will likely get pounded inside quite a bit, and with big league arms, he'll likely have his fair share of struggles. That said, he was never expected to be a high average guy. I think he can, if the right opportunity presents itself, be a starter on a 2nd tier squad ... but what his position will be is the big question. I thought the Cubs were slowly leaning towards Flaherty at 3rd and LeMahieu at 2nd, but of late, they've flipped things around a bit.

Yeah, I don't really see the Cubs shopping Soto this offseason for the reasons that O_O has stated. I get the feeling that the Cubs might be happier just playing out the year by year arbitrations with Soto, rather than signing him down.

nah, he probably won't be, but for most of the summer, the vibe seemed to suggest that the cubs weren't offering him enough to turn pro, so i wonder what changed (probably the Cubs increased, and if so, how much did they increase it by and was it reflective of other situations). Only a few more days to go, I guess.

I'd let Clevenger and Castillo battle it out (and Clevenger might have a shot to win that, as he's just ... steadier, but it feels like certain key organizational guys are high on Welington). I think the thing that has really moved Clevenger forward, in my opinion, is the fact that this year, his defensive work has largely been viewed as above average, whereas before, he was viewed more as a steady catcher behind the plate. There's catchers that are getting regular time in the bigs that have a far worse profile than Clevenger (above average receiving work, average arm, solid contact ability), and I am starting to wonder, if the right opportunity presented itself, if Clevenger would be a passable-decent starter in the bigs. I'd send the loser of Clevenger/Castillo to AAA, and perhaps bring back Chris Robinson. I'd let Flores/Brenly act as the duo in Tennessee.