T2E

Pie note from BP: Also a bit on Valdez:

He was my #11.

Premium has that feature. Probably my favorite one too.

Kelton still has a chance to catch on as a backup corner guy, but he's fast running out of time to turn a career around that has gone downhill after is third base problems. Best of luck to him.

Like some others who already posted, I don't see this as that bad of a trade for the Marlins. Sure, they gave up a top of the rotation guy in Beckett, but if it's true that they dumped Lowell (who was horrendous in 05) and his 18m, then they have saved a ton of money. Add that to blue-chip prospect Hanley Ramirez and a very live young arm in Anibel Sanchez and the deal no longer looks so terrible.

I'd much rather have Murton out there; both defensively and with the bat.

Full Stats: Murton: 51 AB, .392/.456/.608, 5/8 BB/K Sing: 38 AB, .342/.409/.711, 5/9 BB/K Patterson: 50 AB, .300/.33/.420, 3/9 BB/K Coats: 17 AB, .294/.333/.353, 1/1 BB/K Guzman: 15.7 IP, 5.17 ERA, 16/7 K/BB Koronka: 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 10/4 K/BB

AskBA on Felix: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/columnists/askba.html Totally agree, the Cubs should look at Patterson and learn from their mistakes.

Walking Pujols in that situation would have been, in my opinion, a terrible baseball decision. I cannot see any sane manager walking the bases loaded in that situation, putting two runners in scoring position, no matter if Pujols is up or not. Seems like serious second guessing to me.

A continuation of the Royal's policy of moving every decent position prospect to first base.

Review of Guzman's injuries: 2000- Stress fracture in elbow- what caused the Cubs to be able to get him 2003- Slight labrum tear, arthoscopic surgery 2004- Misses beginning of the year, shut down due his shoulder acting up 2005- Misses most of the year due to forearm problems So that's four injuries, in six years, only two full seasons without problems. It's not that Guzman hasn't pitched three consecutive seasons without arm problems in the past three years, it's that he hasn't pitched ONE consecutive season without arm problems. I do not question that Guzman is in fact the "real deal," nor am I "not on his badwagon," but I have serious concerns about his health and I don't why seeing him pitch would change those concerns. I don't understand where this idea that Guzman in the pen would definitely would "screw him up." Clearly, there is a transition from the rotation to the pen, but it's not as though Guzman would be the first pitcher to make it. Lidge, Gagne, Smoltz, among others have all made the transition well. Of course I'd love to see Guzman return to full form and become a top of the line starter. And for that reason, I'd start the year with him in the rotation, but if he gets injured, I'd make the swtich to the bullpen.

Tell him I said to hurry up! :lol: Hmmmm.................tough choice............I'll need to take my time................... J/K, I'm ready to make my pick.

Notable prospect GB/FB: Gallagher 1.04 Marshall 1.67 Hill .92 Pawelek 1.54 Pinto 1.74 Nolasco 1.01 Marmol .94 Billek .77 Ryu 1.22 Petrick 2.00 Aardsma 1.44 Johnson 1.37 Weber 1.26 Van Buren 1.13 Veal 1.03 Leicester 1.39 Brownlie 1.21 Notes: - I hoped Gallagher would post a better GB/FB ratio. It's not bad but I wonder if he might have some problems w/the HR ball as he moves up. Combined with his .261 BABIP I expect his numbers to take a dip next year. - Will Hill ever be able to overcome his HR problems? - I hoped Nolasco, Billek and Marmol would do better.

BA has finally updated their player search. It includes GB/FB!!! for pitchers among other things. Very, very nice feature. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/Stats/2005playerfind.html

And not only in beisbolero jargon is he like utility, but his arm is educated and affluent.

I wonder if he's referring to José Luis Montenegro Luján of the Guerreros de Oaxaca. Bio: El tener jugadores con la versatilidad de Montenegro es sin lugar a dudas un gran descanso para cualquier timonel y esto es porque José además de dominar la receptoría, tiene la habilidad de jugar en cualquier posición dentro del cuadro, es lo que, en el argot beisbolero se conoce como utility. Defensivamente cuenta con un brazo bien educado, el cual hace que los corredores siempre estén alertas para no ser sorprendidos por uno de sus tiros. Su ofensiva ha ido en aumento poco a poco y ha demostrado que tiene poder en la muñecas al conectarle dos cuadrangulares en un juego a los Piratas de Campeche, cuando Guerreros visitó la ciudad amurallada el 21 de abril en la temporada pasada. Récords personales de por vida que puede alcanzar en su carrera en el 2005 - 200 Juegos jugados - 500 Turnos oficiales al bat - 100 Hits Translated: Having players with the versatility of Montenegro is without doubt a great rest for any helmsman and this is because Jose besides to dominate receptoría, has the ability to play in any position within the picture, is what, in the beisbolero jargon he is known like utility. Defensively it counts on an educated affluent arm, which causes that the runners always are alert not to be surprised by one of their shots. Its offensive has increased little by little and has demonstrated that it must be able in the wrists when connecting to him two quadrangular ones in a game to the Pirates of Logwood, when Soldiers the 21 visited the walled city of April in the last season. Personal records of by life that can reach in its race in the 2005 - 200 played Games - 500 official Turns to bat - 100 Hits.

LV Ware, the Cubs toolsy 20th rounder, is attending Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) JC. Because he's attending JC, the Cubs will get another season to evaluate and attempt to sign him. He's also playing for the Junior USA team.

Great news on Mueller and Ruhlman. Grahman and Ware are now the only top 20 picks left unsigned. Of those two, Ware is possible to be signed since he now attends Junior College.

Draft Analysis: Rounds 41-50 Round 41: Chris Rollins, Winslow Township High School, New Jersey, RHP Comments: Rollins is an athletic 6’4” 190 and played primarily shortstop until a Perfect Game showcase. At the showcase, Rollins flashed a high-80’s fastball that reached 90 MPH and potential on his breaking pitch. Since then his velocity has reached as high as the low-90’s (touching 93) and as low as the 86-88 MPH range. His arm is considered loose, and he generates very good arm speed. Rollins could add velocity in the future, but right now he is very raw on the mound. http://www.perfectgame.org/images/playerimages/05pred37.jpg http://www.perfectgame.org/ -- read the whole article --

Quotes from the chat: I was disappointed to see Lewis not make the list. He led the Mesa Cubs with a .322 average.

Cubs hitters ranked by VORP: Derrek Lee 92 Aramis Ramirez 47 Michael Barrett 29.3 Todd Walker 24.9 Jeromy Burnitz 19.4 Neifi Perez 14.3 Carlos Zambrano 8.3 Jerry Hairston 6.7 Matt Murton 5.9 Nomar Garciaparra 4.6 Greg Maddux 3.9 Jason Dubois 2.9 Ronny Cedeno 2.6 Mark Prior 2.5 Sergio Mitre 2.3 Ben Grieve 2.1 Richard Hill 0.9 Cliff Bartosh 0.9 Scott McClain 0.7 Glendon Rusch 0.4 Adam Greenberg 0.3 Mike Fontenot 0.3 Jerome Williams 0.3 Todd Wellemeyer 0.3 Henry Blanco 0.2 Kerry Wood 0.1 Michael Wuertz -0.1 Roberto Novoa -0.1 Jon Leicester -0.1 John Koronka -0.2 Todd Hollandsworth -0.3 Ryan Dempster -0.9 Enrique Wilson -1.8 Jody Gerut -2.2 Jose Macias -2.6 Matt Lawton -2.6 Corey Patterson -4.5 Neifi certainly isn't a great player, but he has not been awful, in fact, he has been better than a replacement player, which is what he was. And VORP does not include defense, where Neifi has been exceptional this year. The problem with this team is not Neifi. That said, I would disagree with bringing him back.

Pretty much looks like a Billy Beane guy to me. Does anyone know if he is still catching? I'm not that impressed considering that he's 25 and this is not his first try at Double-A. He was a signability pick from the start (don't listen to Lewis), and I don't ever see him becoming an everyday major league catcher.

Update: Fuld's now hitting .299 with an OBP of .375. 45/40 BB/K, 9.8 K/100 AB. He now leads the team with 30 doubles (4 triples). Harvey has 29 (2). Eric Patterson has 26 doubles (11 triples). I know some view triples as doubles + speed, so I listed both. He's had a great year. Now let's see him do it at an age appropriate level.

I regret to inform you that Kendrick is no longer in Rancho. He's up in Arkansas and doing quite well. Wood you will get to see.