Wrigley Rat

I've never been all that excited about Robert Hernandez and never rated him as high as most on NSBB, but this season has been a solid one considering he was off for a long time. He has had a low WHIP and a strikeout per inning. He's been solid versus RHH, but needs to improved vs. LHH (maybe develop a new pitch or refine one he isn't currently using?). It'll be interesting to see if he goes to instructionals this fall and how he does next season in Peoria or Daytona (I hope Peoria, again). I'm not sure he's on my Top 30 list this year, but he's got to be in my "Honorable Mention" category! :) It is a nice fastball/changeup complement, but he should dominate Boise after the success he had at Peoria. I have no idea what to really think of him ... although I think he's probably a righty James Russell in some respects. Sounds like he could use a slider or splitter to keep hitters off-balance. I hope he turns out better than James Russell who I thought might become a LOOGY, but doesn't even seem to be on that path anymore! His change is impressive. And I agree that he should be doing well in Boise after 2 seasons at Peoria. He does struggle against lefties and the fly balls/HRs are an issue but his curve looked pretty good today (admittedly against short season competition). I wish Hernandez would get to Daytona already (he was slated to start the season in Daytona before he sprained his ankle and missed the first 2.5 months of the season). I'm not sure what he's gaining right now in Boise. Hopefully "confidence."

All this love for Alex Maestri? Wiki Current Stats: 3-1, 3.15 ERA, 39 G, 65.2 IP, 54 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 5 HR, 36 BB, 57 SO, 7 HBP, 12 WP 1.371 WHIP, 7.4 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 4.9 BB/9, 7.8 SO/9, 1.58 SO/BB - 24 years old at AA - Less than a strikeout per inning pitched - High WHIP - Stuff is fringe average - Wild: 36 BB, 7 HBP, 12 WP in 65.2 IP - Right-handed - Bad pedigree (not a high draft pick or a high signing bonus) - Had shoulder tendinitis that kept him out the last 2 months of 2008 (could recur) I don't think I would protect him on my 40-man, but if there were a bunch of slots available, maybe.

I've never been all that excited about Robert Hernandez and never rated him as high as most on NSBB, but this season has been a solid one considering he was off for a long time. He has had a low WHIP and a strikeout per inning. He's been solid versus RHH, but needs to improved vs. LHH (maybe develop a new pitch or refine one he isn't currently using?). It'll be interesting to see if he goes to instructionals this fall and how he does next season in Peoria or Daytona (I hope Peoria, again). I'm not sure he's on my Top 30 list this year, but he's got to be in my "Honorable Mention" category! :) It is a nice fastball/changeup complement, but he should dominate Boise after the success he had at Peoria. I have no idea what to really think of him ... although I think he's probably a righty James Russell in some respects. Sounds like he could use a slider or splitter to keep hitters off-balance. I hope he turns out better than James Russell who I thought might become a LOOGY, but doesn't even seem to be on that path anymore!

Three quality offerings (FB, curve, slider), possibly a fourth in the change. Athletic pitcher who didn't pitch full time in college and yet has made great strides in the year he's been in the system. He was fantastic through three levels this year and has had a solid season (too many walks though) at AA (first full pro season while only 21) despite a really poor start and a rough patch right before his demotion. He should be a 2 or 3 starter in my opinion. And here is what the Wiki has about him: http://cubsminors.wikispaces.com/JacksonJ

I've never been all that excited about Robert Hernandez and never rated him as high as most on NSBB, but this season has been a solid one considering he was off for a long time. He has had a low WHIP and a strikeout per inning. He's been solid versus RHH, but needs to improved vs. LHH (maybe develop a new pitch or refine one he isn't currently using?). It'll be interesting to see if he goes to instructionals this fall and how he does next season in Peoria or Daytona (I hope Peoria, again). I'm not sure he's on my Top 30 list this year, but he's got to be in my "Honorable Mention" category! :)

Chris Weimer got an AB yesterday for Mesa. Glad to hear he is healthy again. He's not a big-time prospect, but he has a good story & I'm rooting for him.

You need to send 4 pitchers and 3 position players to the AFL. If I had to guess - LHP Jeremy Papelbon RHP Blake Parker LHP JR Mathes RHP Alex Maestri 2B Tony Thomas OF Jim Adduci 3B Josh Vitters I forgot about that - thanks! Is Josh Vitters the one player who is at a low level that teams can send? I forget the exact rule, but I think it's an A-ball player of some sort. I think I would replace Parker and Mathes with two of Cashner, Schlitter, and Lambert. The other choices work for me.

I would make the following moves after the season: Release: - Jeff Baker (Out of options for 2010) - Bobby Scales - Koyie Hill (Maybe re-sign him later if necessary) - Jason Waddell - Neal Cotts - Aaron Miles (the Cubs need to pay for his 2010 salary) Let them become free agents: - Chad Fox - Kevin Gregg - Rich Harden - Reed Johnson Offer arbitration (they stay on the 40-man roster): - John Grabow - Mike Fontenot (will probably qualify for arbitration as a “Super Two”) - Angel Guzman - Aaron Heilman - Carlos Marmol - Sean Marshall - Ryan Theriot Add to the 40-man roster: - John Gaub, LHP - Blake Parker, RHP - Welington Castillo, C - Steve Clevenger, C-1B - Chris Robinson, C - Jayson Ruhlman, LHP Send to the Arizona Fall League & offer a spring training invitation (decide afterwords whether to add them to the 40-man roster or not): - Brad Snyder, OF (minor league free agent) - Nate Spears, INF (minor league free agent) - Matt Camp, IF-OF - Tyler Colvin, OF - James Adduci, OF - Jeremy Papelbon, LHP This is what I imagine my 40-man roster to look like prior to the Rule V Draft (38 players): Pitchers Mitch Atkins Justin Berg Ryan Dempster *John Gaub *Tom Gorzelanny *John Grabow Angel Guzman Aaron Heilman *Ted Lilly Carlos Marmol *Sean Marshall Marcos Mateo Blake Parker David Patton *Jayson Ruhlman Jeff Samardzija Jeff Stevens Randy Wells Carlos Zambrano Catchers Welington Castillo *Steve Clevenger Chris Robinson Geovany Soto Infielders Andres Blanco (until they sign a different backup SS) *Mike Fontenot Jake Fox *Micah Hoffpauir Derrek Lee Aramis Ramirez *Nate Spears Ryan Theriot Outfielders *James Adduci #Milton Bradley *Tyler Colvin, OF *Kosuke Fukudome *Sam Fuld *Brad Snyder Alfonso Soriano Players I would try to trade prior to the Rule V Draft to free up a few spots for free agents (some are contracts I want to move): Mitch Atkins Justin Berg Aaron Heilman Marcos Mateo Jeff Samardzija *Mike Fontenot Jake Fox *Nate Spears #Milton Bradley *Tyler Colvin, OF *Sam Fuld *Brad Snyder Alfonso Soriano

According to Arizona Phil, the following players are eligible to be selected in this winter's Rule V Draft. Who should be added to the 40-man roster? James Adduci, OF Todd Blackford, RHP Alberto Cabrera, RHP Matt Camp, IF-OF Russ Canzler, 1B Marco Carrillo, RHP Julio Castillo, RHP Welington Castillo, C Steve Clevenger, C-1B Tyler Colvin, OF Rafael Dolis, RHP Arturo Florentino, RHP John Gaub, LHP Robert Hernandez, RHP Dylan Johnston, RHP (ex-OF) Blake Lalli, C-1B Josh Lansford, RHP (ex-3B) Alessandro Maestri, RHP J. R. Mathes, LHP Mario Mercedes, C Matt Matulia, INF Jonathan Mota, IF-OF Billy Muldowney, RHP Jake Muyco, RHP Dionis Nunez, RHP Jeremy Papelbon, LHP Blake Parker, RHP Andres Quezada, RHP (ex-OF) Mark Reed, C Gregory Reinhard, RHP Chris Robinson, C Jayson Ruhlman, LHP Tomas Sanchez, RHP Miguel Sierra, RHP Alvaro Sosa, C

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/02/ortiz-still-looking-for-answers/

Shouldn't be a problem now: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/02/ortiz-still-looking-for-answers/

so instead of trading him to the cubs a year ago, they wait....sign him to an extension, then less than a year later they trade him to the cubs for a lesser package AND have to eat an enormous chunk of salary righhhttt I know - I've been thinking a lot about this website. I would imagine this is a ploy to get some traffic on the site. Hard to understand though because I have been checking this website for a few months and he has never done anything like this. I would imagine that this is all possible due to the Cubs not being able to add much salary, but I would imagine the Orioles would have insisted on a few blue chip prospects like Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter, or Jay Jackson. Why would they want Alex Maestri? He is eligible to be a Rule V Draft pick this offseason. Still, it's fun to imagine.

Not sure I believe it, but I would have definitely done that trade if I were the Cubs! Not so sure if I were the Orioles.

http://cubsrumorsandnews.blogspot.com/

Another nice day for Tyler Colvin: 3-for-3 with a double and a HR. Yesterday, he was 5-for-5. Austin Bibens-Dirkx (W, 3-1), 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 5 SO, 1 BB, 2 pickoffs, 2.36 ERA. Iowa won 14-0. They only gave up 1 hit. Russell, Berg, B.J. Ryan, Gaub, and Parker were the pitchers.

Siegfried to Daytona.

Siegfried to Daytona.

Antigua promoted to Peoria.

- Chirinos is repeating a level and is getting old - I wonder why he hasn't been promoted. I think the Cubs have realized that he is likely to walk this offseason (6 year minor league free agent). - Campana needs to hit the ball with more authority - he is a singles hitter who must get a lot of bunt hits. When he starts getting more doubles and triples, I will put my faith in him. - Glad to hear Simokaitis is gone - nothing personal, I just didn't see that happening at his age & he was wasting a roster spot better used for someone else. Austin Bibens-Dirkx would also be someone warranting a promotion (he is 24 years old). - Thanks for the notes!

Jacob Schmidt made his Cubs debut today in Mesa. He had been on the DL since signing. Brad Snyder has two more hits (so far) today in Mesa on a rehab start - I expect he will be back in Iowa soon.

Here is how we would have had to match the deal (just matching similar pitchers/draft position/readiness): (1) Andrew Cashner (Aaron Poreda) (2) Jeff Stevens (Adam Russell) (3) Jay Jackson (Dexter Carter) (4) Tom Gorzelanny (Clayton Richard) I wouldn't do that trade for Peavy in his condition with the money owed to him.

Some scouting information on Josh Harrison: http://cubsminors.wikispaces.com/HarrisonJ

I have no problem with that. Woody's not even been gone a full season; the equipment staff will keep no. 34 out of circulation for a few seasons like they did for Sammy's no. 21 and re-issue it again in 2011 or 2012. Grabow took it well - he laughed and said, "Some guy named Kerry Wood wore 34." He sounded like he respected their decision to keep 34 off limits for the time being. He is also happy to be coming to a winning team & was frustrated with the Pirates trading everyone away.

The Cubs should let him wear 34 if he wants. Fans loved Kerry Wood, but its not like he did anything to deserve to have his number retired. Grabow was on ESPN 1000 and said he will wear 43 this year. Cubs management won't allow him to wear 34.

Left-handed Mark DeRosa.