Wrigley Rat

So I'm confused - I thought we had specific positions that we had to send to the AFL. We're sending 4 pitchers, 2 3B, and an OF? Is Vitters playing 1B or Flaherty playing 2B? They can't be expected to share the position right? IMO, Muyco is a poor choice and will be crushed in AZ - has he improved somehow recently and I didn't know it? Strange not to see more bubble players to be protected on the 40-man roster on this list. I think only Smit is a real possibility.

Sorry if posted elsewhere - Arizona Phil: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/08/30/azl-cubs-conclude-2010-season-victory

Tennessee: - Mark Reed assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Daytona: - Mario Mercedes assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Peoria: - Peoria Chiefs placed 1B Brandon May on the 7-Day disabled list. - OF Alvaro Ramirez assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. Boise: - Pin-Chieh Chen assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - Chad Noble assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - Brian "Cody" Shields assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - Boise Hawks activated RHP Tarlandas Mitchell from the 7-Day disabled list. - RHP Alvaro Sosa assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - RHP Dallas Beeler assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Did Boise's roster expand??? I realize that Arizona's season is over, but how many guys can Boise have on their roster? Maybe more moves to come...

Daytona: - Released: SS Matt Matulia. Boise: - Juan Yasser Serrano assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs called up Scott Maine from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed RHP Brian Schlitter on the 7-Day disabled list. Right shoulder injury. - LHP Luke Sommer assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Justin Berg to Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Craig Muschko on the 7-Day disabled list. - James Leverton assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. - Tennessee Smokies activated LHP Jeremy Papelbon from the 7-Day disabled list. Peoria: - Luis Liria assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs.

I'm glad Tyrelle Harris had an emergency start today: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 HR, 0.90 ERA I know he's been talked about a little, but Steve Clevenger has 12 hits in his last 4 games!

Doesn't he still have a year or two of eligibility remaining before he can be taken in the Rule 5 Draft? The Cubs are going to have a really tough time choosing people to put on the 40-man roster this offseason and will most likely lose a player or two. If we rostered Cales, someone would complain that Hendry doesn't know how to manage his roster! :)

Interesting Mesa note: As of the first four innings, all the Royals who have made outs (with the exception of two players) have struck out. (10 strikeouts in four innings pitched.)

You were right - Nick Struck's Daytona debut happened this afternoon:4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR

California Raisin inspired me to read Arizona Phil's site. Here are his quotes:

Interesting - I didn't realize that about Chirinos. Fortunately (or not), the Cubs will be loaded with "young players" next year. Maybe Chirinos could work with them in Chicago (along with Sandberg perhaps?)! Also, it might say something about Chirinos that if he can work with the younger players, maybe he is just a good leader. Maybe he understands the basics well and has a strong work ethic. These are things that the 2011 Cubs really need. Good info regarding Chris Robinson, Gibbs, and Burruel - thanks!!!

I like what you've said. I think Castillo still needs a little more time in the minors, while Chirinos looks close. No reason to pay $1 million on Koyie Hill when Chirinos could do a better offensive & defensive job for league minimum. The only difference is in regards to intangibles where Hill is seemingly quite strong (great clubhouse presence, leader, good handler of pitchers, etc.). IMO though, I feel though that Hill calls a bad game.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled Micah Hoffpauir from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed LHP J.R. Mathes on the 7-Day disabled list. Left elbow - Iowa Cubs placed C Chris Robinson on the 7-Day disabled list. - Chicago Cubs optioned Sam Fuld to Iowa Cubs. - Chicago Cubs optioned Welington Castillo to Iowa Cubs. Peoria: - Peoria Chiefs placed LHP Jeffry Antigua on the 7-Day disabled list. Left shoulder - Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Su-Min Jung on the 7-Day disabled list. Right shoulder - Daniel Keefe assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks.

Daytona's game is already suspended - Cabrera pitched a whole 2/3 of an inning!

Iowa: - Christopher Carpenter assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Tennessee: - Kenneth McNutt assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Peoria: - Austin Kirk assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. Mesa: - Juan Yasser Serrano assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks.

Honestly, if someone claimed him - I would let them. Not because he is terrible, but because it allows us more flexibility in payroll next year. I would rather go into 2011 with his money (and Lee's & Lilly's) going towards a LH power hitting 1B, get a #2 SP, improve the 8th inning guys in the bullpen, and have an infield of DeWitt and Castro and two FAs, than hope that ARam improves on his 2010 numbers at the age of 33 with injury problems. You have the opportunity to get more left-handed and could fix the lineup if Ramirez leaves. EXAMPLE ONLY: 1. SS - Castro (RH) 2. 2B/3B - FA/Trade (LH) 3. CF - Byrd (RH) 4. 1B - FA/Trade (LH) 5. LF - Soriano (RH) 6. RF - Colvin (LH) 7. C - Soto (RH) 8. 2B/3B - DeWitt (LH)

I hadn't seen this anywhere yet... Arizona Phil gave an update on Reggie Golden and Hayden Simpson: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/08/18/2010-rule-4-draft-deadline-update#comments

Peoria: - Jeffrey Lorick assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Chicago Cubs. - Robinson Lopez assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Chicago Cubs. Boise: - Steven Grife assigned to Boise Hawks from Peoria Chiefs. - Daniel Keefe assigned to Boise Hawks from Peoria Chiefs. Mesa: - RHP Esmailin Caridad assigned to AZL Cubs.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled OF Sam Fuld from Iowa Cubs. Mesa: - RHP Tarlandas Mitchell assigned to AZL Cubs.

Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed LHP Jeremy Papelbon on the 7-Day disabled list. - Tyrelle Harris assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Chicago Cubs.

I'm personally very happy to see what we got in return for an old Derrek Lee who has back problems, quite a bit still owed to him (even with money going to Atlanta), and grounds into more double plays than anyone should. I expected to have to pay all of his remaining salary for a nobody minor leaguer. Lorick is a lefty with nice numbers this year. Harris and Lopez seem to have nice upside. Remember what we got for Mark DeRosa! Nobody knew those guys either and they are now doing pretty well - especially Chris Archer. I don't expect these guys to be nearly as good, but hopefully one of them turns into a major leaguer or trade bait!!!

All excellent choices! (I always forget the required breakdown), but I would like to see the others come from this list: Trey McNutt, Hak-Ju Lee, Matt Spencer, Rebel Ridling, Ryan Flaherty, Junior Lake, Michael Brenly, Chris Rusin, Rafael Dolis, Jeff Beliveau, Aaron Shafer, Brandon Guyer, and Russ Canzler.

Not correct. It reduces club control by three years, not one. 1. HS picks get five years before they need to be rostered, college picks four. That was a change in 06; previously it had been 4 and 3, but now it's 5 and 4. 2. It's not when you sign, it's when you play. Having signed on Aug 16, Wells is not going to play in any official minor league games this 2010. So his options clock will begin in 2011. So without the contract clause, it would have been 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, then roster winter of 15, and have his first option year in 2016, when he would be 23. 3. I'm not sure I'm remembering right, or what the details are on Wells's alleged contract. From the Bryant Daily: "But it also includes an unusual provision that guarantees that in 2013, Wells will be included on the Cubs' 40-man roster. That means he'll go to spring training with the Major League club that spring with a chance to make the 25-man roster." Not sure what "in 2013" means. It certainly reads like he'll be rostered during all of the 2013 season, and spend spring training of 2013 with the Cubs. That would mean only two non-rostered years. But, perhaps it means he'll be rostered *after* 2013, he'll be on the roster in 2013 in front of the Rule 5 draft, and will actually spend the 2014 spring training roster with the cubs. That would be trimming only two rather than three years off of his pre-option clock. Which would certainly be no big deal. Most of my lifetime HS picks had 4 years before Rule 5. I've hardly noticed the difference since it's been expanded to 5. I doubt it would be a big deal for Wells to drop it to 3. But to drop it to two, when probably next year will be all short-season action anyway, that would be pretty fast. Thanks Craig - I would imagine that could mean Wells starts at Peoria next year so he get a full season of work (I would expect a rough year for him). He also should be part of Instructionals.

It doesn't sound like Wells' deal is too great - We would have to put him on the 40-man roster in 2014 to prevent him from being taken in the Rule 5 Draft anyway (right?), so this would just move him up one year. If it turns out that he doesn't look to be that good of a prospect, he can be released rather than take up a 40-man spot anyway.

So do any of these guys fit into a Top 30 Cubs Prospect List? I would imagine that Wells might be somewhere in there.