CubsWin

Jason Hammel's name has officially surfaced in a trade rumor. This one to the Yankees. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-05-23/sports/ct-starting-cubs-spt-0524-20140524_1_cubs-starters-travis-wood-rotation Then there are the obligatory stories in the New York press the day after Hammel bests Tanaka... http://yanksgoyard.com/2014/05/22/jason-hammels-jeff-samardzija-ideal-fits-yankees/ http://nypost.com/2014/05/20/trip-to-chicago-gives-yanks-a-look-at-possible-trade-targets/ A Hammel trade with the Yankees does make a lot of sense. They have the need with injuries to three of the starters and are currently in 2nd place, 2 games back of Toronto. Hammel is healthy, pitching well and is familiar with and has had success in the AL East. I really have no idea what the Cubs could or should get for him. Because he is a FA signee, Hammel can't be traded until June 15th, that would enable the Cubs to ask for 2013 draftees in return who can't be traded until after June 5th. Ian Clarkin is a 19-year-old LHP who was taken with the 33rd overall pick last season. He's probably too much to ask for, but perhaps a package could be built around the two. If we go off of the Feldman model (a struggling starter and a talented reliever both in their mid-to-late 20s)), 26-year-old LHP Vidal Nuno and 26-year-old, 6'8" reliever Dellin Betances fit the bill. With the Yankees injuries to their rotation, the Yankees may need to keep Nuno, so maybe Betances (who would be a great get by himself in my opinion) and a minor leaguer like Rafael De Paula or Miguel Sulbaran. Again, I really don't know how to value Hammel and what to expect as far as a return. Your thoughts?

And now he's out after just 47 pitches. Anyone watching/listening to the game?

They'd be wasting them in the majors too Well played, sir. Well played.

Here's a BA game report on Freeland from April. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/game-report-evansvilles-kyle-freeland/

Pretty much. There's no superficial reason that explains a .500ish OPS with 37% Ks completely. Simple narratives are appealing more often than they are right, but it seems to me that this is just the first time in his life he's faced pitching that is both interested in and capable of executing repeated breaking balls in the dirt. At lower levels, guys are working on pitches and don't really care much about scouting reports. Plus they hang stuff a lot more. At AAA, you are starting to see more of the guys with experience and consistency, even if the actual stuff isn't good enough to come into the zone with against MLB hitting (which doesn't matter against Baez because they don't have to come into the zone). This sounds like a very cogent analysis mostly because its exactly what I was thinking. The problem is I'm not a scout nor have I been watching any of his games...

And even with that, Jason Parks would still rank Javy Baez higher in a prospect list due to his ceiling. On the flipside, he does think Baez's floor is of an up/down AAAA guy. https://twitter.com/ProfessorParks/status/465912385623302144 Give Parks 7 months and Baez will have a Mark Reynolds ceiling. Ha! wasn't he down on him before last year, too?

And even with that, Jason Parks would still rank Javy Baez higher in a prospect list due to his ceiling. On the flipside, he does think Baez's floor is of an up/down AAAA guy. https://twitter.com/ProfessorParks/status/465912385623302144

I'd like to congratulate everyone on not saying anything or even alluding to Rusin's no-hitter until it was final. Well played. Good form. I like the cut of your jib. Or maybe no one noticed...

Hey man, every little bit...

jesus kyle stop actually believing in javy you [expletive] Please, Kyle? You have a gift. Baez is hitting .149/.232/.311 and has struck out 31 times in 74 at bats. What more do you need to put in a bad word on his behalf? Think of the children! Do it for the kids, damn you!

That's the part I meant. You listed three that hit. We also got nothing from Fujikawa or Baker, appear to be getting nothing from Veras. Throw in Jackson, and as a percentage of FA dollars spent, we're getting a ton of busts. Gotcha. Yeah, there have been some misses. I don't put injuries on a front office, though. That stuff happens. So far on EJaxx and Veras, though, not good at all. I wouldn't say that's hurt the team very much, though. EJaxx has had an impact, but not as much as missing out on Tanaka has. The Veras impact is minimal.

If by this you mean not getting Sanchez and Tanaka, I couldn't agree more. The big league club would be in much better shape if they had those two guys locked up long term, but I can't really put that on the Cubs front office. Reportedly, the Tigers were Sanchez's first choice and upped their offer after the Cubs came in at 5 years/77.5 mill. Sanchez took it without giving the Cubs a chance to top it. And Tanaka wanted an opt out clause that would've made no sense for the Cubs plus the Yankees had endless pockets. At the very best, they targeted guys who have done quite well. At the very worst, they suck because they missed out on them and didn't do whatever it took to change their minds and get them. If you meant the FA pitchers they did get, then I agree with you on EJaxx. In a season and a month, he's been a below average starter and really bad when you consider what he's being paid. I'm sure Epstein and Co. are disappointed. But they've done well otherwise. Maholm, Feldman and so far Hammel have all worked out quite well. Maholm and Feldman were paid a combined 7.2 million approx. by the Cubs and were turned into Arrieta, Strop and Vizcaino, all of whom are controllable for several more seasons. At 31, who knows what Hammel might fetch, if he's traded at all.

We're 20th in fWAR by pitchers and our minor-league pitching is considered to be in the vicinity of average. They have committed some serious resources to it and it does seem to be helping, but we have such a very long way to go. Whiffing on their big FA investments pitching-wise is hurting. Indeed. They're not there yet. But my post wasn't asserting that their job was done just that the job they've done is showing needed improvement.

The impact of the new regime's improved scouting and development staff on the arms in their organization is becoming evident. Arrieta, Strop, Grimm, Ramirez, Edwards, Black were all acquired via trade last season with Hendricks, Vizcaino and Leal the year before. The Cubs gave up two months of Dempster, Garza and Feldman, a year and two months of Maholm and Soriano (while saving $5 million) with the only controllable player lost being Tony Campana to get those 9 guys. (Not to mention Mike Olt, Christian Villanueva and 18 year old Jesus Castillo.) Johnson, Blackburn and Underwood were all 2012 draft picks. Rivero and Tseng were signed as IFAs. Torrez was signed by the previous front office but largely developed by Epstein's new developmental squad/system.

Wondering that myself. It's not like he's a random 26 year old fringer mowing through AA. He was a high-ish profile international FA. I'm starting to enjoy the idea of Strop-Ramirez-Wright-Grimm-Rivero-Rondon-Vizcaino rockin out the pen in the near future. Me too. The first "wave" of pitching to reach Chicago appears to have all been relievers. Good, they needed them. There are even more power arms, though a bit more fringy, behind Vizcaino, Rivero and Ramirez. Cabrera and Hatley are pitching very well in AAA right now. Both have improved their ability to consistently throw strikes this season. The 2nd wave should have more possible starters in it with Hendricks, Johnson, Edwards and Black. Wave three is looking strong as well with Torrez, 20, Blackburn 20, Underwood 19 and Tseng 19 all pitching well in Low-A.

No room. Torrez is 20 (turns 21 on June 11th). Blackburn is 20 all season, Underwood is 19 (turns 20 in July 20th) and Tseng is 19 all season. All of these guys are doing well. Maybe if/when Skulina is promoted, but Leal (who is younger than any of the aforementioned pitchers) didn't see anytime at Boise last season so who knows. I would expect Maples makes it to KC before Leal does. He's currently rehabbing a rib/back injury in EXST. Not sure on his expected return date. Good problem to have.

Daytona rained out. I thought those weren't supposed to start until June. WTF

God, I hope so. get an all-star first half out of him and then trade his ass.

Is he someone worth knowing, or just a guy? From Cubs Den:

Zastryzny struggling mightily again tonight. 5 runs, all earned in less than an inning.

Personally, I don't mind anyone doom bonering or venting or whatever you want to call it. I just am more patient than that. I find it foolish, but have no problem with people doing it. That said, oy vey, what a thread... Back to truly being on topic, the D-Cubs game is under way and Almora just scored on a Bijan Rademacher double.

And just about every other team's plan that isn't spending over $150,000,000 in payroll. And then of course there's danger in going that route too, so...yeah, there's danger. No plan is guaranteed to work. Agreed.

That kid just got introduced to what it means to be a Cub fan. And all of us got reminded.

For those hoping for some help from the minor league ranks this season, here is a list of top ranked power hitting prospects from a fantasy perspective per ESPN's Christopher Crawford. http://insider.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/story/_/id/10792298/javier-baez-joey-gallo-top-power-hitting-prospects-minors-fantasy-baseball For 2014: 1. Javier Baez 2. Gregory Polanco 3. Maikel Franco 4. Jonathan Singleton 5. Kris Bryant Odd that George Springer who's already up with the 'stros wouldn't be mentioned. For the future (beyond 2014): 1. Joey Gallo 2. Miguel Sano 3. Jorge Alfaro 4. Jorge Soler 5. Carlos Correa

That was hilarious. :-)) :-)) :-)) :amen: