Little Slide Rooter

That sounds an awful lot like "we're going to be outbid." Sounds like a polite alternative to "of course he's of interst to us; whaddaya think, I'm an idiot?."

Everyone goes through a season long cOlt streak every now and then, right?

And Abreu. If it makes you feel better, you can put someone else in place of Almora, because all he's doing otherwise is promoting two top prospects who are likely to be MLB ready at some point next year. Also, the Cardinals and Reds both have homegrown position players at 6 of 8 spots and at least 3 of 5 rotation spots. Tampa Bay has done pretty well with an almost entirely home grown team. It could be argued that the art of a homegrown team is so rare is because until the past few years, the teams producing the stars were unable to hang onto them long term and the big money teams simply preferred going out and getting them via trade and FA rather than bother waiting to produce an entirely farm grown team. Not to mention that assuming that we had that many home grown position players pan out, we could spend big on pitching.

I was thinking that as well. If nothing else, the Marlins would have to love Rizzo's ridiculously team friendly contract. My thinking is that it takes Rizzo, one of Soler/Almora, and proabably another of our top 10-20 as well as low level or expendable AA-AAAA piece with us getting something else in return. Maybe Turner? I do it without thinking twice. This gives us a potentially insane future of; 1B Abreu 2B Alcantara SS Castro 3B Baez LF Bryant CF Almora (if Soler traded instead) RF Stanton C Castillo Which could require multiple pants changes per game.

A lot of great stuff going on on the farm, but I really hope Almora's back soon. I know they said they expect him back after th minimum DL stint, but Soler wasn't supposed to need a DL stint. And I know it's a SSS and all, but hasn't Bryant done a good enough job of chewing up, spitting out, and flushing the kiddie league? Any chance he sees KC by the end of the season?

Kris Bryant seems to have shaken off that early rust; In Boise (14 games): .294/.352/.627/.990 Last 10: .371/.425/.743/.1.168 August: .438/.526/.938/1.464

well at least he got some work That's a relief. I just checked the box score and noticed that he only pitched 1 inning. Didn't know of the rain delay. Though this being Daytona, it is the default.

Javy.

It makes sense and goes along with what my theory's been for a while. We currently have a handful of young, cost effective, potential long term impact players on the big league level, notably at 1B, SS, a few starting pitchers, and maybe 1-2 relievers. We also have plenty of prospects scattered throughout the system. Several 3B, OF, and pitchers. While none of these are by any means sure things, as prospects rarely are, by mid-late 2014, they should have a pretty good idea of who will be ready to contribute by 2015. Then when the pre-2015 offseason roles around, they'll have a pretty good idea of what they have and what holes they need to fill; and they'll have a substantial chunk of change to fill those holes, as well as expendable prospects, again, depending on who pans out, to use as trade chips for big league talent. And between Soler, Baez, Olt, Alcantara, Hendricks, Arrieta, Cabrera, Grimm, Rosscup, Vitters, Ha, Jackson, Villanueva, Szczur, (obviously not all)we should have a lot of quality big league additions funneling in between now and this time in 2014, with Almora and Bryant being the only of our big impact guys I really can't see ready by then, as well as the Low A-A+pitchers. Also, Vogelbach, but I see his biggest contribution coming as a trade chip. Long story short; I could easily see a $75MM payroll in 2014, not because they can't afford more, but because they prefer to A. Save the money for 2015 and beyond and B. because they don't want to spend big on anyone they feel that they have a potentially equal or better alternative in the not too distant horizon.

[expletive]

4 game sweeps happen. 2 runs on 29 hits over the last 3; now that's a special kind of fail. I don't know if clutch hitting is really a thing, but if so, this would have to be the opposite.

If not for one magical October run, would Kenny Williams legacy be any better if not worse than that of Jim Hendry? The overall results including the mess he left behind are really not all that different.

At least someone who could factor in long term. Apparently, Olt's 0-a zillion wasn't good enough. Maybe Alcantara to Iowa?

I bet Dale even asked Borbon to put on a Starlin Castro mask before entering his office.

After going 6 scoreless with 1/8 BB/K, Jose Paulino up to 43 IP with 9/57 BB/K.

I'd also bet money that there have been at least 5 other game threads that have ended up degenerating into 3-5 pages ________ Fan putting on his Marvin the Paronoid Android impression while Nuts & Gum antagonizes him over it. Gotta love lost seasons.

Not sure how that works, but good to see.

If only he were whiter and Tony Campana, that bone headed baserunning would be grit.

Any intel on this Adbert Alzolay? Last night went 5 IP with 0/5 BB/K. Through 67 IP this season he has a 1.07 ERA, 0.88 WHIP 10/61 BB/K, through his last 10 games, 47.2 IP 5/51.

Remember Abner Abreu? The guy we got for Kosuke Fukudome? Well he's on the "developmental squad" for the Seibu Lions. If he ever makes the team, he'd join Esteban German, who was in our farm system for a not so hot minute. That would make 6 former Cubs minor leaguers playing in Japan along with LaHair, Hoffpauir, Murton, and Casey "BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER" McGehee. LaHair and Hoff seem to be really struggling there, but McGehee, and Murton, who's hitting .307 after a dissapointing 2012 following his legendary 2011. Also scattered throughout the Japanese league are Nyjer Morgan, Ryan Spillborghs, Randy Messenger, and Vincente Padilla, who looks more like the driver of a windowless van then ever.

While the Iowa lineup would be the baseball equivalent of a discount spare parts shop, a rotation of Arrieta/Grimm/Hendricks/Cabrera/Loux would make them very watchable. I doubt it would stack up that way, but if so.

Kyle Hendricks had a turbulent 4th inning, but escape giving up a single run. Been himself otherwise. 6 IP, 1 ER, 1/4 BB/K.

I was at D'arcy's Pint in Springfield and pretty much did the same thing. Wow, I've been there. Horseshoes! Those were the days. I remember all the talk being of the Cubs getting. Orlando Cabrera, which I was excited about due to our existing SS situation at the time.

Parks ranks the top prospects dealt at the deadline. Olt is #1, but after that you have to be a paid user. Capitalist swine. Anyone have the list?

DSL pitcher Pedro Araujo with 0/8 BB/K in 4IP, and 1/15 in 11 IP on the season.