toonsterwu

It's a trade that I think makes sense for both sides. For a win now team, the Tigers got a pitching upgrade and a solid utility option that can start for them at 2nd. Infante should be an upgrade there. They give up a pitching prospect with upside, but someone who had struggled greatly this year, a decent catching prospect, and more, but teams that win now gamble on this type of move, and enough people are down on Turner. Seems like a white flag type of move for the Marlins, which makes sense, considering the spot they are in. Turner's value is down, but I haven't heard much about diminished stuff, so for the Marlins, with Sanchez an impending FA, getting a pitcher with Turner's upside is a nice deal. I'm not huge on Brantly, but he's a decent catching prospect. All in all, seems like a deal that makes sense for both sides.

Ha ... Random Guess - I wouldn't be surprised if what BA terms as a changeup with occasional fade is able to make raw bats look foolish, which could explain why Rogers thought it was so good.

I tend to think that's the case as well. The Nationals are supposedly in it, but they aren't willing to give up anything interesting so ... what are they giving up? Filler? We don't need filler. We have filler.

I remember the ... interesting ... scouting report that Phil Rogers had on Carlos Martinez this spring. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-01/sports/ct-spt-0402-rogers-baseball--20120402_1_cuban-prospects-fitch-park-oneri-fleita/2 He still seems pretty excited about him: http://sulia.com/channel/baseball/f/e982cbd3-3779-44dc-9e72-14bdc94f77cf/?source=twitter

He's certainly performed well thus far and he was a 2nd rounder. I really know nothing about his scouting report. But his numbers are pretty strong. He's young. Just turned 20 a month ago and already in AA. Words like pitchability and strong character guy have been used to describe him. Great control while missing bats. 2.9 BB/9 and 10.6 K/9 with a WHIP of 1.08 in a little over 200 minor league innings. He owned the Sally League as a 18/19 year old and dominated the Carolina League as a 19/20 year old before being bumped to AA where he is holding his own. He's likely not a future TOR guy, but when paired with Olt and maybe another decent arm, it looks good on paper. He doesn't have a great fastball and gets by more on pitchability. I don't recall, off the top, any reports claiming a plus secondary pitch, but maybe I'm forgetting something. It's more like ... above average across the board, with a deep arsenal. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Buckel, and can understand the logic of him as the 2nd piece to Olt. He might have a higher floor than some of the other Rangers arms, but there's at least 1, if not 2 guys, I would rather gamble on, if given the option.

I'll never cheer/hope for losses, but let's just say that I'd be fine if we struggled down the stretch and improved our positioning for next year's draft. Next year's crop isn't looking that hot, off the top, and I'd like to be in the top, particularly because of the increased pool, but also because of the talent.

I largely feel that way, but the one hole I would loosely leave, and feel free to tell me if I'm off my rockers, is if they wanted to view their trades as some sort of combo package. A bit late for me to think clearly today, so let's just use an example to illustrate what I'm trying to say. Say they go into the trades saying we want x number of upper level guys to fill a/b/c roles, and then we can take some gambles. If Maholm is able to bring back, say, an upper level arm* that is ready to compete for a spot next year that they like (and hopefully a bit more ... I imagine Maholm would interest some small-mid market teams), then maybe this allows them to target more upside gambles in, say, a Garza trade. Maybe all this will sound ludicrous when I read it tomorrow. Of course, I starred that up there, because there is one quick counter-point to all this, which is that it is hard to imagine the Cubs getting better than a Brooks Raley/Chris Rusin type arm in the upper levels, and it's hard to imagine Maholm bringing back a big time low level upside gamble (meaning a better gamble than say, Chris Archer was when we traded for him), so the value in trading Maholm is blunted somewhat by that factor right there, unless they get better than I'm anticipating right now. If davell is right and we can get back a decent-solid prospect for Maholm, then of course you make the deal and figure things out for next year this winter/September.

The Nationals are in now apparently. Do the Nats have anything of value after the Gio trade? Alex Meyer. But I can't see them giving him up for a rental. Ross Detwiler? Meyer seems more realistic than Detwiler, who I doubt they move (not to say that I think they would give up Meyer, either). More realistically, they are probably trying to entice with a package of low level guys. The best arm they could toss out, after Meyer, is probably ... Robbie Ray? Can't think of another arm in that system, off the top, right now. It's hard to see a match here. The Dempster situation feels like it's the Dodgers, and that it's a matter of time.

The reports on Snider seem to suggest that he's being called to the big leagues in case the Lawrie situation doesn't improve. _____ What's with the Buckel intrigue? Is it more picking Buckel as a nice 2nd piece, or are people really that intrigued by Buckel? I just don't see that much to be excited about, but perhaps the logic is that, with Olt as the top piece, the chances of getting a different arm isn't as high?

Do you think that was real, or a gun fluke? Did Reed "look" that fast? Did he have several other mid-upper 90's clocks? Or eight 90-94's and then 100? The Rosario readings, sitting 91-94, didn't sound particularly out of line. Reed's still only 20. Blah stats (lots of walks, lots of HR's, lots of hits, WHIP 1.5). But if he's extremely fast, who knows with time. I'm guessing he has a 2 seamer and a 4 seamer? He had one he threw 91-93, and one that was consistently 94-96, hitting 97 a couple of times, and a low 80's off speed pitch. he really needed the K, and reared back. It did look like he put a little more into it than the times he'd throw 97. I don't know that the gun was the most accurate, but based on prior experience, it's fairly close. I wasn't in a position to go sit behind Wang, Cates, Antigua, and I think Jensen taking turns manning the gun. More notes... Easterling is fearless on the basepath, stealing 3rd, and getting caught stealing 2nd (bad jump, after 4 straight p/o attempts) Zapata placed a suicide squeeze perfectly down the 3B side in the no mans land between the P and 3B. Both Rosario and Reed had very wild throws to first on what would have been close pickoff attempts. Geiger K'd 3 times, and appeared to be very slow thru the box with his hands. But when he got his hit, he took a 91mph fb down, and pulled it just inside the 3B line. Suarez, as the closer... make or break time for Larry? Krist will probably get tomorrow off. He took a hard shot in the 10th on a play at the plate, and 2 pitches later, took a foul off the cup. He was woozy from the first hit, and really looked in discomfort after the second. The Chiefs lost the game, but the umpiring was definitely in favor of the home whitecaps. There were a couple of horrible calls ending chiefs rallies or starting whitecaps rallies. I had reports of Reed in the mid-upper 90's a few weeks back, so if it's off, it's not off by much. He seems to be going with the harder fastball more this year, but that's more based on anecdotal ... guesses. If he gets consistent, he has very good late inning potential. Had mixed reports on Geiger's swing last year, and the way you make it sound, he has more work to do. Should add - have a good time!

Rusin's control has really been disappointing this year. It'll be interesting to see what decisions are made in regards to the lefties that are Rule 5 eligible this winter. Getting a look at guys like Raley late in the year is thus important in that process. I think Rusin should get a look as well, to help us figure out who to keep. I know they're not super important prospects, but I don't like the idea of giving Rusin 3 September starts and then DFAing him and losing him for nothing come December. I wouldn't have a huge issue with it, if they deemed others as better bets to keep on the 40. Is it ideal/desirable ? No. But off the top, they have 5-6 soft-tossing lefties to consider for Rule 5 this winter (Kirk, Rosscup, Burke - who can walk, Rusin, Raley ... I thought I had a 6th, can't remember who it was, though). There's a bunch of pen righties to consider as well, and a guy like Starling Peralta could force them to protect him. As it was last year, going to be some interesting decisions on some borderline talent.

He seems to DH a lot, does he have a position? He's primarily a 2B with a few reps at SS but with Bruno a 2B/3B, Hernandez strictly a SS and Candelario strictly a 3B, they have to spread the DH around to get all 4 bats in the lineup. Another reason you don't want Vogelbach going to Boise - he'd take away ABs from one of those 4 or Shoulders. It's been a nice positive that Amaya has supposedly been steady as a 2nd baseman this year. I don't love his bat potential at 3rd. At 2nd, love it. One way to get Vogelbach up is to move Bruno up, thus having Amaya/Hernandez play the bulk of the time at 2nd/SS and allowing Vogelbach/Shoulders to 1st/DH. Bruno's ability to play multiple spots would still allow them to give Geiger regular AB's. I want to see Martin/Amaya/Hernandez/Candelario with regular defensive time at their current positions.

Rusin's control has really been disappointing this year. It'll be interesting to see what decisions are made in regards to the lefties that are Rule 5 eligible this winter. Getting a look at guys like Raley late in the year is thus important in that process. I think Rusin should get a look as well, to help us figure out who to keep.

Problem is ... Segura's not really a big offensive upgrade over Barney (as Raisin already noted). A bit better, perhaps, and he does offer more base running ability, but I really don't see the point of taking Segura back in this type of deal unless that is absolutely the best possible offer (I mean, if Dempster is amenable to a deal, you have to move him and collect assets. Heck, the way it sounds, Dempster might be open to coming back in the winter. I'd much rather take some high upside gambles than Segura. Torreyes will hit AA next year, and I think I'd take Torreyes over Segura. I like Dave Cameron, but this one seems wacky. I'd rather take a gamble on Ethan Martin or say, Angel Sanchez, from the Dodgers instead of Segura (would hope for better, just noting that there are a lot of options I'd prefer over Segura).

Thoughts running in my head as I see this - a) What did Jeffry Antigua do to piss off people? I mean, it's one thing to think that he might not be a capable starter in the upper levels ... but he's been capable in the lower levels. b) Yao-lin Wang is like ... their last resort guy. They didn't want him as the closer to start, but he settled into that role. Is this a one-off, or is he starting for the rest of the year? c) What's the domino effect? Is Michael Jensen hurt (because tomorrow was his day)? Hard to see Jensen getting moved up right now, but I guess that can't be ruled out. d) Guessing Liria goes to the closer role, unless they decide to try Austin Reed there? Yao-Lin Wang would actually be replacing Joe Zeller. Jensen's turn is Friday. ah, that makes a lot more sense. Must have clicked on the wrong day.

Thoughts running in my head as I see this - a) What did Jeffry Antigua do to piss off people? I mean, it's one thing to think that he might not be a capable starter in the upper levels ... but he's been capable in the lower levels. b) Yao-lin Wang is like ... their last resort guy. They didn't want him as the closer to start, but he settled into that role. Is this a one-off, or is he starting for the rest of the year? c) What's the domino effect? Is Michael Jensen hurt (because tomorrow was his day)? Hard to see Jensen getting moved up right now, but I guess that can't be ruled out. d) Guessing Liria goes to the closer role, unless they decide to try Austin Reed there?

I understood why he fell off the radar last year ... but I think people are almost missing the fact that he's having a fairly intriguing season as a starter. He might not stay a starter, but there's a lot to like about what he's done, and if the reports are to be believed, he's mentally stronger this year, which might've been a big issue in his past.

Ideally, you'd get Gould and a guy to gamble on, but tbh, I'd be fine with Gould alone. I'd hope for more, obviously, but Gould for a couple months of Dempster would seem fine. I think I'd be fine with Gould or Webster as individual returns for Dempster. Again, hope for more, but an intriguing upper level arm with mid-rotation potential for a couple months of Dempster seems solid to me. A notch below that group would be guys like Angel Sanchez, Aaron Miller, Ethan Martin, Chris Withrow. If they had positive scouting reports on these guys, I wouldn't be averse to taking a couple of them (well, I'm not all that enthused with Withrow, but I figured I'd throw him in there ... the other three I can see borderline ability as starters, Withrow I think is definitely a pen arm). Ethan Martin has sort of become the forgotten man, and while he hasn't had a great season, he's had an intriguing season where the stuff/ability to be a starter has occasionally shown through. He's had two months were the control was fine, and two months (April/June) where he walked too many (April was highlighted, though, by a 7 walk start). Not sure how I feel about Chris Reed. A part of me would lump him with Gould/Webster, but another part of me still wonders about him as a starter (and namely, what his ceiling as a starter is). If we get Lee, that'd be beautiful, but I doubt it.

I'm pretty sure defense is considered the best part of his game. If that's accurate and he keeps hitting like this, then the Cubs got a steal in the 13th round last year, even as an overslot guy. Post-draft last year, there was a lot of buzz about Trey Martin. The reports that I recall right now seemed to make it sound like it was debatable how much power he would eventually develop, due to his swing, but he was viewed as a potentially good defensive centerfielder.

I'd be plenty happy with Henry Owens as the key piece in a Dempster deal, but I'd hope we could get a solid 2nd piece, assuming the market for Dempster is as strong as suggested, considering how far away he is. Not a top prospect, but perhaps a lottery ticket (I guess, another lottery ticket in some respects, as Owens is still more hope than not), or a decent upper level piece.

Quite irrationally, I've thought he was "underrated" since he was drafted. was hoping he'd be in Peoria by now, so I could actually see him pitch. but he's sure had results this year. Considering how well he's pitched, I can't say I wouldn't be curious about him in Peoria, but considering his age, it's probably best to take it nice and easy with him. I guess I wouldn't be against him seeing Peoria late in the year. Tbh, I'd be very curious how his stuff looks in Boise right now. Too often, in the lower levels, there are conflicting reports on what pitcher's have (or what they purportedly have doesn't show up). Btw, did you manage to get video of Geiger? Just curious, because I think you mentioned it once.

Pugliese has put together a really nice start to the year. Not yet 20. I wonder if Szczur is not 100%, hence why they still have him in A+. He's been back two weeks now, and I'd like to see him in CF on a daily basis now, rather than still splitting time. I'd love to see him in AA soon and see how "real" the improvements are.

Considering how often it feels like he's striking out, I'm still mildly stunned that the percentage is "only" 33% for the season (which in some respects, makes his season all the more frustrating, since there were two stretches were he was striking out close to 50% of the time, meaning he was actually ... decent ... in some small stretches, as it pertains to K's.)

Rising: Houston, Boston, Oakland Falling: Tampa, Colorado, Washington, Angels No mention of the Cubs. Thanks. I guess Washington and Anaheim are falling due to graduations/trades (and in Washington's case, Rendon's injury). A's don't strike me as a big riser off the top (Strailly?), unless he's judging it to pre-winter trades that restocked the deck.

I'm very curious about Zach Britton's start tonight. Chris Tillman's start yesterday was awful, but ... there were some positives in his first two starts so far. Fastball velocity is back, in a major way, and the changeup for Tillman looked good at times (but fastball location was the big issue yesterday, along with Mark Reynolds error). I still have doubts the Orioles would put those two in a package together, but if they did, I'd listen. It's about the only non-Bundy/Machado package from the Orioles that could get my attention. As a random side note, I still think LaHair could fit there. Mark Reynolds is awful defensively at first.