Tryptamine

If Rosenthal has a better solution to the Cubs' need for a first basemen I'd love to hear it. Personally I'm not a fan of relying on the Lyle Overbays of the world until something falls in our laps.

This is one of the most annoying things that I encounter with the no Pujols/Fielder crowd. Elite talent gets long term/high dollar contracts. That's just the way it is. Combine that with the fact that Tex is locked up, Agon is locked up , Votto will be locked up, Howard is locked up and Cabrera is locked up long term. That doesn't leave the Cubs a whole lot of options if they want an impact bat at 1B.

Please don't mess this up Cubs. I need at least one thing in this organization to be happy about.

If the Cubs got a good offer I'd be all for moving Soto. The Cubs most likely aren't competing until 2013. By that time he's going to be 30 and making some decent money.

Way to perpetuate the Aramis is lazy myth Bob......

Quite frankly one of the dumber decisions I've seen. Quade has to be one truly stupid human being to pitch to the greatest hitter of our generation. If you intended to "pitch around him" then quit tempting fate and intentionally walk him.

I agree with this which is why I didn't understand the huge bonus. He can certainly improve, but he's already shown what he's capable of against advanced players and it wasn't anything all that special.

The rate will most likely be substantially lower and we really don't know the terms of the debt either. It's possible he went with an interest only type of loan that wouldn't impede baseball functions what so ever until the balloon payment kicks in. Either way, there's just too many possibilities to get overly concerned about it.

Good, but not great. His drafts have yet to produce elite talent. The top names from his drafts are, off the top of my head, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson, and Trey McNutt. All seem to have gotten consideration as Top 30 players at various points in their minor league careers, but that pretty much seems to be the ceiling. None of those guys have reached their respective ceilings yet, so perhaps they might break through. However, as things stand now, I don't think any of them will be superstars. Where I will give Wilken credit is that his drafts have produced depth. There are a ton of high floor guys in the Cubs' system who have a very good chance of contributing in the majors, but who might not have top shelf upside. In all honesty, if the Cubs clean house in the offseason, I wouldn't mind seeing Wilken go. He's been decent, but the Cubs could do better. I pretty much agree with all of this. I love the depth on the farm and I remember a quote on this board a while ago that another gm said the Cubs have the most future major leaguers. With that said, Wilken really needs to produce an elite prospect or two that could have major organizational impact. I think this is the draft that is going to make or break him. The Cubs absolutely cannot afford to flop on a draft as loaded as this one.

From the above article: The power was there? 54 vs 20 they're not even in the same realm.

The DBacks (7) and Indians (8) have also been scouting Springer. Given the players linked to the Cubs (Lindor, Starling, Gray, Meyer, Bundy and A. Bradley), I don't think Springer is their top choice. And you don't have to "almost try to mess up the first pick" despite taking a highly rated player. Any of the top guys could easily bust. I'm very aware many will bust; that's the nature of the MLB draft as opposed to the NBA or NFL. I only meant the initial pick, not what they end up being. I don't think the Cubs need to do any kind of reaching in the first round because someone is going to slip to them and they need to make that pick.

While not to the extreme of JeffH I can understand where he's coming from. With a draft this loaded, the Cubs would almost have to try to mess up the first pick. One of Bauer/Gray/Starling etc will be there and that makes it a no brainer. Going for an inexplicable reach in a draft like this would have me more than slightly pissed off.

Pena is going to get the Cubs a pretty nice piece at the deadline.

Grit on an unprecedented level. LaRussa is so jealous.

27? Kind of odd unless they think he'll be major league ready in the next year or two.

If Archie Bradley does fall, what can we expect as far as a bonus in comparison to Starling? I wouldn't be too upset if that frees up some more super slot money.

I don't think Cousins was trying to injure Posey, but I definitely think he made up his mind to blow him up as soon as it was apparent there was going to be a play. I just don't that's appropriate. And the way he hit him was excessive, even if the catcher had the plate blocked, which he didn't. So if he hadn't tried quite as hard to knock the ball loose, that would have been okay? Cousins is running full speed down the line and the only thing he can likely see clearly before he has to decide what he's going to do is that the throw beat him by a mile. Unless he knocks the ball loose or Posey kicks it, he's out. So he used his only option, and it turned out horribly because not only was Posey hurt, he didn't field it cleanly which meant the contact seems unnecessary. That said, Cousins shouldn't have that option available to him. We don't let guys stretching singles into doubles blow up middle infielders before getting a hand on the base, and the same should apply at the plate. However, if you go down that road you have to protect the runner's rights by aggressively calling interference on catchers who try to obstruct runners without the ball. I'm starting to lean this way. I know people love the collisions at the plate, but it's just too dangerous. Many times the catchers aren't even looking and their padding does very little to absorb any of the damage. I'm all for changing the rules on blocking the plate if it keeps catchers from getting absolutely blown up at the discretion of the runner.

Did Koyie Hill really just try to bunt for a hit?

Nope. Fleita said today he takes the guns out of the park when Simpson pitches. Doesn't want him worrying about it. Not entirely sure what to think about that. The meat head in me thinks that if Simpson is mentally weak enough to let a radar gun bother him that's worrisome. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/kevin-towers-used-to-mess-with-brad-penny-by-altering-the-radar-gun-readings-in-san-diego/ That's actually pretty clever and really funny.

I think it's a bad idea to have a gun anywhere near you when watching the Cubs.

I love the Cubs so much. Always good for a laugh.

Nope. Fleita said today he takes the guns out of the park when Simpson pitches. Doesn't want him worrying about it. Not entirely sure what to think about that. The meat head in me thinks that if Simpson is mentally weak enough to let a radar gun bother him that's worrisome.

I'd really prefer the Cubs stay away from Lindor and Meyer. Lindor doesn't have the type of impact bat the Cubs so desperately need and there are pitchers with upsides comparable to Meyer with nowhere near the risk.

Paul Sullivan says the Cubs traded Ryan Buchter which I don't mind in the least.

I wonder what the Giants would part with given the Posey situation. The Cubs more than likely aren't competing until 2013 so it seems like now would be a good time to inquire.