Little Slide Rooter

Not sure what consequences they can take at this point. He's already buried in Iowa for the foreseeable future. All they can really do is cut him and eat the remainder of his salary.

I knew an opportunity for a good flame would lure Mojo to the minor league forum.

What might be the big flaw in the plan is if other teams outbid us for the "right guy(s)" or if some of our "can't miss" prospects flame out. It looks to be a smart plan assuming everything (or at least 90%) goes right, but leaves little room for error. My thinking is that when that time comes, not only will they be willing to bid more agressively, but once the Cubs start to shape up, more players will want to be Cubs. When the Cubs finally do win it all, everyone is going to want to be a part of it. I think that's a big part of the reason why a lot of free agents and trade candidates wanted to be Cubs when they were a ready made contender, possibly more so than Hendry throwing out incredibly player friendly contracts like youth groups do fliers at a 4th of July parade.

Then why would he be in the rotation? Or named Paniaqua?

If he does I wouldn't have a problem with Soler taking a trip to the opposing teams dugout again with a bat in hand. I would. The penalty would surely be a lot stiffer this time. Let the filler do the dirty work.

Because I'm Bored: The Cubs All Prospect Team: Lineup 1. Almora CF 2. Alcantara 2B 3. Baez SS 4. Bryant 3B 5. Soler LF 6. Vogelbach 1B 7. Lake RF (nobody else to put there) 8. Contreres C Rotation Johnson Paniaqua Hendricks Maples Pena Blackburn, Underwood, Z, Masek could come for any of 2-5, as could McNeil or Conway when healthy or Jensen when proof of his existence surfaces, but until then, it's thin Bullpen CL Vizcaino: would love him in the rotation at some point, but my guess is that if it is to happen, the latest injury set back will delay that Rosscup Cabrera DelValle Y.L. Wang Peralta? Zych? Bench Candelerio IF Torreyes IF Villanueva IF Szczur OF Ha OF/C Shoulders DH/1B/OF or Geiger DH/IB/3B

Judging by everything that this regime has done since they started, it seems clear to me that they are willing to spend on the right players. However, if the right players are either priced out or they simply miss out they're not just going to say oh well and blow the same wad on the next best option, although some might argue that that's what happened with Sanchez/Jackson. I do think that they will be serious bidders for Ellsbury, Choo, or maybe Pence. But this doesn't mean that we'll get one. And if we miss out, they're not going to simply move on to Corey Hart or Mike Morse and offer them similar money. This isn't to say that they wouldn't be options, but they simply aren't going to get in bidding wars for players that aren't exactly what they want. My guess that if they intend in offering Choo or Ellsbury X number of dollars, and they miss out they're more likely to divide that same dollar amount between several younger, lesser players that they like rather than 1 or 2 bigger ticket guys. While they never said that they have no intention of winning before 2015, that's when their master plan ideally comes to fruitation. Any big signings they make until then will be for guys that are likely to be in their prime by then. Again, hopefully by the 2015 offseason they'll have a pretty good idea which of the core prospects pan out, and thus they'll have a pretty good idea of where the holes remain. There's where they'll start pulling out the checkbook, be it for a front end starting pitcher or 2, a big bat, or whatever. And if they're paying 2-3MM for Sweenys and Feldmans up until that point rather than 10+MM for Harts and what have you, there will be hell of a lot of money to fill these holes. Especially when you take into consideration how little they're paying for Rizzo and Castro who figure to be 2 of the cornerstones. And when the Cubs are ready to contend, like last time every big ticket free agent will suddenly add the Cubs to their list of preferred teams.

I know that Baez, Almora, Soler, Alcantara, et al are by no means big league ready,but can't they just consolidate them at one level and have them play their games at Wrigley and send the Cubs to Schaumburg or wherever where they can be blocked out?

I find your inability to cope with this particular crappy Cub season (as compared to the many in the past) amusing. I'm coping just fine; I just have little interest in minor league baseball, so waiting for those guys to pan out doesn't exactly make watching the major league team any less gruesome. It should help alleviate the pain. Granted even the most blue chip of prospects is no sure thing, but it's been a long time since we've had a crop like we do now. Back in the early 00's when the last wave of the future was on its way, I probably didn't even know where to go to check a minor league box score, so it is exciting to have a new generation of potential stars after several years of potential role players to sprinkle in here and there. Kind of like having $17 in the bank account, but hey, your stocks are trending up.

I just hope that Javy can find it in his heart to return some of Soler's mojo to him.

Checking on this thread while following the Javy Game Thread is like going back and forth between Disney World and a loved one's funeral.

BREAKING NEWS: Javier Baez done snapped.

And Soler and Almora joining them in the OF. Certainly takes the edge off the house of despair that is the current Chicago Cubs.

Now we just need Kyle to hop off the Soler bandwagon until things even out, and then remain indifferent on both until they reach the bigs.

Javy Bomb!

Why not Torrez and Carlos A Rod? Is it an age issue? Back to DSL for them?

Clearly I said unless they're ready to count Bryant who's not yet in the fold. If 2013 draftees are included, Bryant's the obvious choice. If not, Alcantara would be the only option I could think due to age, position, and level. You may now return to your regularly scheduled LOL WSR psychobabble and random memes.

Jason Parks ‏@ProfessorParks 1h You can make a case for Buxton at #1. RT @ThatTonyG @MartinWayne93 @ProfessorParks @MartinWayne93 Where is Buxton going to be? Top 5? Also, ICYMI Jason Parks ‏@ProfessorParks 1h The #Cubs could have four prospects ranked in the top 20 in the game when the Baseball Prospectus mid-season top 50 is released. #could The 1st 3 are obvious. Alcantara would have to be the 4th, unless they're ready to count Bryant. My guess is that only Soler, Baez, and Almora make it with Alcantara on the honorable mention.

He's 21 years old. We should be trying him at multiple positions to increase his value to us.

I wonder if they would trade him. Maybe we could get him in a package with a few more of their top 20 for Garza and a spare part or two. Yankees are clearly in win 5 years ago mode, yet are still on top in the AL WC. However, their roster is built so that any or all of their starters could hit the DL if somebody looks at them the wrong way.

Not really. Yeah, Alcantara was coming off a breakout but injury shortened season. Szczur was still getting by on reputation at that point, and torched A+ before struggling in AA last year, and now he seems to be handling AA pretty well. But if Alcantara did manage a full season last year, I reckon he'd have been no doubt higher, if for no other reason than position. I wouldn't be surprised to see both in Iowa in the not too distant future.

Nice to see Candelerio pulling himself back into top 10 consideration. Over the past 10, he's at .390/.444/.551/1.005, pulling his season line to .276/.361/.398/.759.

I think I remember hearing the name, but at that time Amaya and Hernandez were the young SS prospects getting the most attention. But how much longer does Alcantara toy with AA, especially with the AAA starting SS job currently held down by Brent Lillibridge? The trouble is, as long as SS is his primary position, I'm not sure where he can go from there. Even if Castro's OPS continues to spiral into numbers that would make Koyie Hill blush, he's not going anywhere. May as we give Alcantara some more time at 2nd. Maybe a bit at 3rd.

Over the past 10 games, Soler: .211/.256/.316/.572 and Baez: .333/.432/.639/1.071. That probably has more to do with it that the stat itself.

He's like 2 months from WSR suggesting the Cubs take a flier on him. Yeah, he probably thinks that...oh wait. That's me. I just havn't given up hope just yet.