Clem Fandango

I've been thinking this, too. I know going the season we expected some progression with him, and we even got it early in the season when him, Castro, and Rizzo were all jiving together for a couple of weeks that first month, but since then he's been pretty abysmal at the plate. On May 1st his batting line was .300/.349/.525/.874 and since then he's been .207/.263/.314/.577. That's a whole lot of suck. Do they stay patent with him and try and let him put it together or try and grab someone in trade? The FA crop is pretty bad: John Buck Ryan Doumit Nick Hundley * Gerald Laird Russell Martin Jeff Mathis * Wil Nieves Miguel Olivo Ronny Paulino A.J. Pierzynski David Ross Geovany Soto Kurt Suzuki I've been wondering how attached Seattle is to Mike Zunino, though that was back when Seattle was a possible destination for Samardzija or Hammel. Not sure if we have anything that could pry him away that the Cubs would be willing to move (I wouldn't move one of our big prospects for him). But regardless of that idle speculation, I was curious what you, or others, might think would be a reasonable target to replace Castillo if they do intend to replace him. I think that might be one of the offseason storylines not a lot of people will expect and/or be excited about, but would be kind of an important decision. Also I imagine a lot of that depends on if they decide to let Schwarber stick at catcher long term, given the positive early reports on his ability there.

My guess would be Baker http://i.imgur.com/1mPoNSJ.gif

Brett did a write up on how much his numbers have jumped since the ASB...

Slump over

THE RICH GET RICHER!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Troy Tulowitzki placed on DL!

The good news is that 65.4% of that 67.4% is comprised of home runs

Milone isn't that good, not interested. Pomeranz I'm intrigued by because of the pedigree, but Milone is garbage. 4.43 FIP and 4.51 xFIP with a grotesque 5.7 K/9. Don't know that I'd give up Valbuena+ for him. Pomeranz I could see the appeal, like I said, but not Milone.

Who does this [expletive] 18 year old piece of [expletive] think he is wearing a different hat from his teammates? DOESN'T HE KNOW THERE'S NO FUN ALLOWED IN BASEBALL!?!?!?

I feel like he's permanently broken. Between the beaning and how bad he's been this year, I just don't think there's much left other than a good Twitter follow. His peripherals have been pretty damn good this year. 3.69 FIP 2.87 xFIP and a 1.5 fWAR despite having that ugly 4.63 ERA. That .347 BABIP isn't helping

I'd be happy if they went out and brought in both Masterson and Liriano. It'd be a very "if things go right" kind of situation, but if they were in the fold with the youth movement, that could be a very awesome team next year.

He's getting like $11 mil a season, we're sitting around $50 mil at the moment I believe, So we'd be around $40 mil if we ditched Jackson's salary all together. If we took half then we'd be near $45 million. Either way, with or without him, we've got a [expletive] load of money to play with

I realize you're being hyperbolic, but I don't think Baez's OBP is going to be the cataclysmic disaster you're implying it would be. I think he'll be closer to .350 than .300, personally. I suppose if he's a good enough hitter hell have a highish OBP from being pitched around and a high average, but a .260/.310/.450 type line is still a pretty likely outcome. If Javier Baez's likely outcome is as a .760 OPS hitter then let's not hesitate to move him for someone like Stanton ASAP. Maybe I'm optimistic, but I like to think Javy is perennially going to be above an .850 OPS when he settles in and adapts to big league pitching. At the very least an .800 OPS should be cake for a guy with his power. Castro, at the moment, has a .767 OPS. He's drawn 26 walks. He's a good bet for 15-20 homers. I think Javy has better patience than Castro, and he obviously has more power. A .760 OPS is basically another Starlin Castro, which is fine, Castro is a great player, but I don't think for a second they'll be matching up, OPS wise. I fully expect a player with 40 home run power to put up and OPS of .800 at the very least. If he's a .760 OPS guy I'll be very disappointed.

It's not unprecedented, though it was before the new CBA http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/barret-loux-to-be-granted-free-agency.html

Cubs sue "Billy Cub" http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Cubs-Sue-Unofficial-Billy-Cub-Characters-267740041.html

The Aiken news made me think about Barret Loux. Didn't realize he underwent TJS during spring training. Didn't he have shoulder issues, though, that scared the D-Backs off from signing him?

This was a good read on the Angels organization in general (but mostly their farm system and development) at the start of the year, and how they realize how awful they've truly been http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10470778/los-angeles-angels-try-anything-fix-worst-franchise-mlb-espn-magazine

I realize you're being hyperbolic, but I don't think Baez's OBP is going to be the cataclysmic disaster you're implying it would be. I think he'll be closer to .350 than .300, personally.

very probably not. calm the prospect hype just a tad. Said he *might*. Not committing to that at all

What's crazy to me is that in a few years if Rizzo continues to put up seasons like this where he's hitting 35+ homers a year and a ~.900+ OPS... he might be the fourth best bat on the team

Stanton hit a home run out toward center field that nearly hit their celebration monstrosity, but just missed it to the right and it went past it to hit the batter's eye http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/0/v34597371/sfmia-stantons-solo-blast-puts-marlins-on-board EDIT: 466 ft. according to hit tracker

I hate that the White Sox are always in on the Cuban players. With Ramirez, Viciedo, and Abreu on their major league squad, I imagine they are a desirable target for other Cubans entering the market, and it immediately gives them an advantage to entice them to sign with them.

He'll be the Ben Zobrist that Junior Lake has miserably failed to become

That Griffey SNES game was the best. If you use an emulator to play old SNES games, they actually created a Griffey Jr. Game Editor where you can create you own characters and customize rosters and such. Much like the Tecmo Super Bowl editor

http://i.imgur.com/BVzQk.gif Get on the train, davell. Actually if Soler stays healthy the rest of the year, I don't see it either.