Tryptamine

Let me be the first to say, WTF Marquez Smith? Yet another HR tonight making that 6 in his last 11 games and an OPS that should climb over 1.000 after tonight.

He would replace Baker if I had it my way.

You still run into the problem that there are very few worthwhile catchers in free agency this year. Soto at 1B would also hurt Soto's value substantially since his bat is premium-level for a catcher, but only somewhat above average at 1B. Even if Castillo could hit at an average level for a catcher, I don't think that would help the offense. It's better to have an average 1B and an elite catcher than two average to slightly above average players at 1B and C. I'm really just looking for an excuse to get Chirinos some MLB at bats. :)

Really a pretty good night for the farm tonight; though I'm starting to wonder if Reggie Golden actually exists.

I definitely like the other options, but Rendon is the only one I think has franchise changing possibilities.

I have to wonder what happens if Wellington Castillo shows some MLB ability. Does Soto go to first since he's had some health issues? He could play the Vmart role and be the back up catcher/starting 1B with Hoffpauir backing up 1B.

I don't want to see Soriano anywhere near the infield. why? He was terrible at 2B and will be terrible at 1B. His defense in LF is certainly not good, but he has been better this year than he was in the past. With Soriano at 1B, Ramirez and Castro may combine for 50+ errors. so you're saying playing 2b is similar to playing 1b? tell me more As was covered in another thread, Sori's biggest strengths are his speed and his arm. His biggest weakness has been fielding line drives and balls into the corner. As a first baseman he doesn't use his speed or his arm and he exclusively deals in short hops and difficult picks. It's pretty much the worst position for a player with Sori's strengths/weaknesses.

Yeah, shocking the old washed up 1Ber who's OPSing .750 who has shown he's only willing to waive his no trade for a few teams for a 5 week rental didn't land us a huge haul. I never thought they would get much; my problem is that they sent money too. You don't send money if you're getting this type of return. Especially when you're apparently so strapped for cash you put together the type of draft the Cubs did.

I care because if the organization has money to piss away on trades like this with no particularly prominent prospect then they should have had the same money to spend on the draft but they didn't.

The Cubs don't believe in trying to acquire power bats. They're busy filling up the minors so no starter can go more than 2 innings.

Only one of them was a top 20 prospect going into this year. After looking at their numbers I'm seeing a whole lot of mediocrity. I also just noticed the Cubs are sending money. It would have been nice if they could have gotten one good prospect if they were going to fork over cash too.

1 run over the last 15 innings. That's almost as impressive as losing to a team that had an entire 3 hits yesterday.

He's old, he's had a down year, the Cubs aren't competing this year or next, he's a free agent next year, it saves the club 3 million dollars. would you like me to continue?

Hey! Now some respect for the all time leading home-run hitter from Canada I respected the curly mullet he adorned for about a decade.

A diving catch by 80 year old Matt Stairs to rob a run. If that doesn't say everything about this season......

Yup, keep nibbling. Enjoy your one and only start Coleman.

This one could get pretty ugly.

no the difference here is micro vs macro. If you choose to look at cumulative stats to tell you how clutch a player is then you are fooling yourself. A "clutch" situation vs. cardinals and the same situation vs the nationals is, inevitably not the same. Arguably there is nothing clutch about even a grandslam vs the nationals of the past 5 years. Nor is a clutch situation in the playoffs the same as in the regular season. if a player is a decent hitter than over a season or tenure with a team the law of averages weighs out in his favor but it hides the fact that there are possibly smaller trends that have occurred or are recurring. maybe against a team or a particular type of pitcher or key situation. I'm not trying to look at the bigger picture of what he has been as a player. for the most part he has been pretty good. I'm looking at the high pressure situations he has had as a cub. when the pressure was greatest for the team and for him as a run producer. The 07,08 playoffs are obvious, the 04 collapse too, this year he is no where to be found early now he starts hitting after the pressure is off, etc. I could drag this out for a long time but I'll just focus on the bolded. So there is nothing clutch about playing well against a team like the Nationals? Do those wins not count towards the playoff race? Beating the Cardinals is fantastic especially when they're fighting the Cubs for a playoff spot, but the games against the other teams are just as significant. Also, I have never in my life seen someone ever get mad at a player for batting .545 in a series. That's like being given a Lamborghini and crying that it's yellow and not red.

In what spot in the batting order does a player have that many sacrifices? Well if Sandberg is the manager I would imagine spots 1-9.

Because a couple didn't sign? Isn't that to be expected? DeJesus is a bummer because of what round he was picked, but other than him I'd say it's about par for the course. I think it's more a disappointment because of the promises of building from within. Unless there is a major investment into the international prospects, that statement feels like it was lip service.

Which is why I no longer get mad at Lou leaving the starters in for 115 pitches almost every night. He doesn't have much of a choice at this point.

Don't care what people say, Blake Dewitt was a good pick up.

I know it's only preseason, but this team looks absolutely awful. I'm starting to be very concerned about the Lion's game.

There is not one person on this team who can block. 6 sacks and two called back on penalities. Cutler is going to be dead by week 6.

ugh, not one of his better at bats.