Little Slide Rooter

Shark went 5, with 2 H 4 BB 3 K. Color me cautiously intrigued.

If he keeps this up, he might. Easily. The only other decent 3B in the FA market will be Jorge Cantu. Carl Crawford is really the only premium position player FA for 2011, and Aramis could really cash in. The Angels or Phillies could be likely landing spots for him, as they were last time he opted out.

As I often posted, the Cubs are going into 2011 thinking they can compete and not go into a rebuilding mode. To me that means keeping Byrd to replace DLee's production. Assuming ARam stays and rebounds along with Byrd, Soriano, Soto, Castro, and Colvin forms a decent offensive nucleus depending on who they get to replace Lee @ 1B. They also need a starter to replace Lilly/Zambrano, but hopefully some of the young guys can step into that role. They certainly won't be the preseason favorites to win the NL Central, but they should have a decent shot depending on offseason moves. I really do think that the Cubs can compete next year. Its not going to be like '07-'09 where they were the hands down favorites. I still think that the Reds and Cards will be the favs, but not in the sense that they'll run away with the division. The Cubs could be right in it. Soriano, Byrd, Soto, Castro, and Colvin will be a good start. If Aramis stays, and he can produce, theres our big bopper. If he goes, I like to think that they'll add at least 1 more big bat with the Aramis, Lee, and Lilly money off the books. We should be able to piece together a solid rotation between, Z, Demp, Silva, Gorz, Wells, Cashner, Diamond, Jackson, or even Samardzjia. As for the rest of the division, the Brewers will likely be getting worse before they get better, and the Pirates and the Astros dont seem to show any signs that they'll be reversing their fates.

I didnt want to start a new thread for this, so I thought this was just as good a place as any. Its from fan graphs ranking the top 50m players as far as trade value goes. Geo is ranked #42, and I figured NSBB as a whole would get kick out of what they had to say about him. Almost as though one of us wrote the last part.

Ya think theres any team we could sucker into selling high? I know he has his NTC, but Im sure that at this point hed waive it to go to any team willing to promote him to the bigs.

Im not saying that I dont enjoy the wins, but its really kind of depressing thinking where this team could have been if Aramis had been producing all along. Just goes to show how important it is to have that big bopper in the heart of your lineup. Also, if we could have at least gone .500 vs. the Astros and Pirates, wed be right in the hunt right about now.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100715&content_id=12271424&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb Wow, I dont know much about Latos, but his numbers are damn good.

awesome game. when the fan weant after Howry. Howry just stood there. To this day, I dont know if it was because he knew he deserved a beat down or he knew he could annihalate that kid if he got close enough. Howry has the whole aryan super soldier look going for him if nothing else. And then Soriano saved the day in the bottom of the 9th. Memories.

I never know why they do that. Same goes in the previous inning after Soriano singled in the 12th run with 2 out and Manual pulled his pitcher. What was the point?

Its nit that we arent enjoying it, we just dont expect more like it. No, it really is like some people can't enjoy it at all. Yes, we get it: we're all Cubs fans here so we know how the season has been going. How many times does someone have to make some variation of "oh, it won't last?" YES, WE GET IT. This kind of game is very enjoyable,but in order for people to really get into this team, they'll need to go on a run of some kind, at least a 7-10 type. Even if the post season chances are slim to nil it would be nice to see these guys really get going, and that means more than the intermittant slug fest, as fun as it is to watch.

6 Cubs with multiple hits too.Not too shabby.

Its nit that we arent enjoying it, we just dont expect more like it. I will say this though, if Soriano and Byrd can stay productive, and guys like Soto, Castro, and Colvin can keep doing what they're doing this year in the future, and we can build around them, we could be contending again sooner than later. Im not saying it will be like it was in '07-'09 where we were the hands down favs, but we'll be right in the race.

But its gonna be different this time. Now why cant I find the little flying pig smiley?

Whoever these guys are that are playing against the Phillies, they seem pretty good at baseball.

Pretty good day for the Smokies so far. Campana 3-3 2B, 3B Brett 1-2 2B, BB Chirinos 2-2 2B, 3 RBI Tony Thomas 3-4 Canzler 1-2 In Daytona, McNutts given up 1 uneasrned run 2 H 4 K 0 BB through 4 IP Kyler Burkes 2-2 with a HR

Its never too early for spoiler ball.

That was quick.

Chris Archer mowing em down. 5 IP, 0 ER 3 H 2 BB 4 K. He has a PC of 86, so he might be done, but we'll see.

Holy [expletive], that was Nate Bump. Nate Bumps alive!

Diamond done for the game. 0H 0ER 2BB 2 K Funny to see Jay Gibbons on the PCL team. Wasnt he a super star in Japan, or am I thinking of someone else? Also, former Cubs minor leaguer Doug Deeds, who we got in some kind of trade at some point. I think he was already on the old side when we had him. Darwin Barney has one of the PCLs 2 hits and the soul RBI.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of going after guys like Upton and Gordon, the reason being Rudy Jaramillo. These are probably the types of players that Rudy would be the most helpful to. When it comes to vets like D Lee and Aramis, theyve been doing things they way they do them for so long, even if they do take Jaramillos coaching, it probably wont be easy for them to change what worked for them for so many years even if they wanted to. Younger guys like Upton and Gordon, on the other hand could be the clay that Rudy needs to work with. Look at the Rangers sluggers, Hamilton, CruzKinsler, and Young. Rudy got these guys when they were young. I know Hamilton was with Cincy for a bit and had some success, but Texas is where he hit his stride. Also, look at Marlon Byrd and Milton Bradley. They also experienced major league success in the past, but had their best years with Texas. maybe it was Arlington, but maybe it was Rudy. Geovany Soto is another example. Maybe his resurgence was due to getting back in shape, then again, maybe it was Rudy.

Probably just his social anxiety disorder [expletive] talking.

Nah. He's really young for AA and has had stretches of dominance at Peoria and Daytona. His status as a prospect took a hit this year, but to call him a bust would be quite premature. I think the kid needs some serious 1 on 1 time with a legit hitting coach. Im not saying send him to Iowa, but Von Joashua might be a guy who can help him out. Also, we have to remember how raw of a prospect he is. He essentially skipped an entire step, going from high school to the minor leagues, so while most guys his age are facing college pitching, hes facing professionals.

Pretty cool that all the Smokies got hits in the All Star game, Campana, Chirinos, Clevenger, and 43 year old Blake Lalli. No runs allowed by Sommers or Buchter either.

I really couldnt fault any team for being interested in signing Prior to a minor league deal and giving him a look. However, I think hes well past the point where he can pick and chose where he plays.