BeerHere

I don't think the A's would deal Gonzalez without anyone they could put on the MLB roster, and I also picked them instead of going after someone like Danks/Floyd because I think the A's would value Jackson and Flaherty more than others. Maybe it takes McNutt, that's fine, Gonzalez is probably worth it. The example holds as long as it's not a piece from the MLB roster(especially with the pitching depth in this scenario). I realize he was a 5 WAR pitcher last season and 4 the season before, but does Gio's walk rate bother you at all? Re-post - still looking for feedback... 4.1 BB/9 in 2011 is same as 2010. The K's (8.8) and WHIP (1.37) are pretty good and the K/BB rate is over 2. I'd like to get him but not if the cost includes Brett Jackson. McNutt, Struck and one of Szczur/Lake is probably the most I would do.

Didn't see this discussed, according to Rogers, some picks can be traded http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-theo-scott-bud-20111123,0,6178570.story

Isn't Darvish going to be extremely expensive (posting fees plus salary)? He's young but the track record for Japanese imports outside of Ichiro isn't great. I would tend to think that Theo would be gun shy considering how badly he was burned by the Dice-K deal. The Cubs have already been linked to Darvish, so it seems that Theo isn't gun shy about him. Plus, as has been mentioned by others before, Theo didn't get burned by the Dice-K deal because he was a Japanese pitcher, he got burned because Dice-K got hurt. That same cautionary tale applies to all pitchers really, so it's a matter of if you like the guy that you're going after. Darvish has a lot going for him, from his age, to his build(he's 6-5, Dice-K is 6-0) to obviously his performance. Plus, the Dice-K precedent probably suppresses his likely posting fee from teams not wanting to assume so much risk with a pitcher. If you're convinced he'd be a bust, then substitute CJ Wilson in there for him, the total cost wouldn't be any more prohibitive. The Dice-K precedent may drag down the cost, but the qualities that you mentioned (age, build, performance) are likely to drive it up. Whoever lands Darvish is going to pay a hefty posting fee. He may be worth it alone but the Cubs have several holes and do not have unlimited funds. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the posting fee is in excess of $50M and that money may be better spent elsewhere. edited:

Scouting Japanese pitchers isn't different, but the method to obtain them is. The posting fee is substantial.

Poor analogy, but it's more like losing, and watching everyone else lose doing the same thing without knowing how many cards are left or the statistical probability of success to any degree. Darvish is is going to cost a substantial sum of money, enough that it is safe to say that it will will curtail spending in other areas. Given the risk and potential for failure, I would much rather see the money spent on Wilson, or Pujols or Fielder or Buehrle. I don't really know the impact but Darvish is a substantial risk to me given the cost and likelihood for success to justify the expense.

That may be but I can't think of any Japanese pitchers that have done well. Dice-K was an obvious flop. Irabu was a bust. Wang had one decent season and a bunch of meh. Kuroda? I guess my point is that Darvish will be very expensive. He may be so expensive as to exceed his value if the money could be put to better use elsewhere. I'm not against the Cubs being involved if it means the price is driven up or the Yankees etc.

Isn't Darvish going to be extremely expensive (posting fees plus salary)? He's young but the track record for Japanese imports outside of Ichiro isn't great. I would tend to think that Theo would be gun shy considering how badly he was burned by the Dice-K deal.

That is a good point but with the new CBA, the spending "caps" discourage a team from spending so a team with multiple picks would really have to curtail their spending later in the draft. I really don't like the new system.

Article spelled Frank Thomas wrong

1. worst - Jose Reyes 2. best - Edwin jackson

Poor guy. I guess he should be forgiven for allowing a pedophile to prey on kids in his locker room then. All is forgiven Joe. Take care of yourself.

Very well done Tim. I liked the item about Braun not entering the league as a selective hitter, but becoming one under Sveum. I sincerely hope that something similar to that can happen with Castro, Vitters, Castillo, Jackson. We need to make "Own the Zone" into the kind of gimmicky song that Cubs fans seem to love.

Changes take place in the 2013 season http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7246443/houston-astros-sale-approved-mlb

I like it but since the Stros are moving to the AL it kinda hurts the NL Central. The Stros were going to be brutal for a few years at least.

Garza and Castro are the only true untouchables. If we could get something worthwhile for Marshall, so be it. When they say build a competitive team for the future, I'm not sure if that means we can forget about any big ticket free agents this offseason or that they plan on rebuilding the farm system and will do what it takes for the right offer. If they plan on any big name free agents and competing in the next few years, Garza should not be on the table. I'd listen to offers for anyone, including Castro and Garza. Now it would take an incredible deal to get me to move on either, but... for the right price, anyone would be available. The deals would have to be not only long term solutions, but also at least include someone ML-ready or close, at least be ready by mid-season or 2013. But still, yeah I'd deal for the right price. 100% agree. When you're coming off a 71 win season and have a middle-of-the-road farm system no one is untouchable but some players would require a lot more to move.

Nor Rhee (I don't think DeVoss is a top 20 prospect in the system). Dolis definitely doesn't belong in the top 10. What don't you like about DeVoss? It's a small sample size at Boise but he still OPS'd .840. Given the lack of depth at the position I'm curious to see how he does at Peoria next year. Is he not the best 2B prospect in the system ceiling-wise?

Agreed. Pawelek still bothers me.

No DeVoss, Simpson or Ha

Three members of the 2011 draft class stepped into the top 10. Baez at #2, Maples at 5 and VogelBOMB at 10. I sincerely hope that Castillo replaces Hill in 2012.

Some interesting comments: Q: Plans for middle of the lineup? Q: What is the level of talent in the farm system now, and when can we expect it to bear fruit? Q: Any players you see at AAA or AA that you could see making the team in Spring?

For those that couldn't be on the call, here is a complete transcript: http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/11/11/a-complete-transcript-of-last-nights-theojedjason-conference-call/

The part about the janitor bothered me. He witnessed Sandusky forcibly restraining and molesting a 8-9 year old child, told his superiors who identified the perpetrator as Sandusky and they all watched him stalking kids in the parking lot. No one went to local police or even the campus police.

Idiots http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ndn-video-page,0,3091608.htmlstory?freewheel=90921&sitesection=sechicagotribune&VID=23545831 A friend who is a PSU alum via Facebook - "What do you want to bet that there is a Nebraska alum behind the timing of this?" Oh my.

Assuming that is true, yes I agree.

Is this true? Where are you getting this? Yikes. Apologies. I missed the quote post and need to layoff the caffeine.