Sever82

Check the Bradley thread, posted a article on a rays blog saying that Iwamura is close to being traded somewhere that is not the dodgers or Cubs. Its a surprise team, some speculate the twins since they just cleared a space in their roster.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/11/rays-working-on-iwamura-deal.html From this article and MLBTraderumors.. you can forget about Iwamura coming to the cubs in a bradley deal. I wonder who that team is, my guess would be the Cardinals, not sure why but i have a feeling.

i never said that the majority of cubs fans are racist, that's absurd. my ideas are my ideas, i have no stats to back them up, i have no set of data, i have only my experience. you can't go down to the library and look this crap up. hah, the north side of chicago isn't exactly a haven of diversity. Ummmm yes it is, the Lakeview area is diverse, so is wrigleyville, so is buena park, so is uptown, shall i go on. I'm Latino and I've lived on the North Side of Chicago all my life. You didnt say the majority but to say Chicago Cubs fans are one of the most Racist Fan bases, is basically implying that the majority is racist. And yes, there is Data on Racism, check polls, check surveys, etc. Just because certain ball players complained about the fans being racist doesn't make it so, especially when the best player and probably one of the most loved cubs, is black (Derek Lee). It is your opinion but to label a general population as racist is unfair and dumb. You can say they're racist because its true and its true about almost all fan bases regardless of ethinicity, whether you're talking about Latino Fan bases, Black Fan bases, etc, no fan base is excluded from racism. But yet come on here and label the Cubs fan base as one of the tops when it comes to racism.

So you're in effect casually making a gross generalization of not just the entire Cubs fanbase, but the entire fanbases of two other major American cities. And wth no qualification other than your own opinion and your (unstated, but assumed) reaction from the media you've read/seen. gross generalization? that's a cop-out. anyone who says anything about anyone can be accused, it's a weak argument. and..... are you trying to piece together something here? because it kinda looks like you are and it kinda looks like you aren't. But your argument was pretty weak. What do you base your argument on? Its your own experience you base it off, you have no data or anything to back up your argument. Racism is everywhere period, no city, team, etc is safe from it or excluded from that list. Like i've said before in my posts, i dont doubt there is racism in wrigleyfield but I haven't seen much of it. I actually lived in wrigleyville last year and didnt experience any racism acts. Chicago is a very diverse city, so when you go to cubs game you see a huge mixture of fans. To call a city one of the tops in racism from your supposed experience is a pretty weak argument because its a small sample size. If I wanted to, I can come out and say that Brewers fans are one of the most racist because of the three brewers games i went to last year, i heard multiple racial slurs. But unlike you i'm not going to because that was a small set of people that might not represent the majority. You call yourself a cubs fan but as a cubs fan its pretty insulting for you to come on here and label the majority of cubs fans racist when you're making an assumption off basically nothing.

I've always Felt Shark is more of a bullpen arm and not a starter. Fans were going crazy over him when he first came up but nothing he has screams top prospect. I was hoping at one point that he was traded in that Peavy trade. Not to say they're the same but he reminds me of the situation the yankees have with Chamberlain. Joba is by no means the Ace that ESPN makes him out to be. I would even argue that if Shark was in NY he would've been as overhyped as Joba is. Chamberlains numbers as a starter dont compare to his numbers as a reliever and in my opinion he's the Yankees next closer instead of their next #3 starter. Shark ultimately will end up being a setup or middle reliever for the cubs. I dont think he'll be a closer because he doesn't have a WOW type of pitch.

Oh yeah definitely, i forgot about St. Louis. No wonder they have like no black players on their roster.

I still think we should try to trade Bradley and maybe Heilman for Wood.

I bet it happens a lot more in those places, actually. I think the Cubs players are just the only ones who complain about it. Are they really the only ones to complain about it? I can't remember anybody specific, but I thought there have been some complaints in those cities recently. Andruw Jones in Atlanta Complained

I still think he accused the racist fans of being racist. I don't think he accused all Cubs fans of it. Yeah I agree with that. But i'm also tired of how Bradley, Jones and Hawkins used it for sympathy towards them. Kind of an excuse of why they performed poorly or why their performance wasn't that good. I'm sorry as a minority racism happens all the time, if you're that weak that you let it affect you or if you're that pathetic that you use it as an excuse, than you choose the wrong profession. I've been to cubs games and i've seen fans talk trash to Soriano but yet until this past year, Soriano had some good seasons with the cubs and when he played bad, he didnt use the fans as an excuse. Derrick Lee is black and i'm sure he has heard or has received some hate mail but yet he goes out there and performs. thats kind of why sometimes i hate going to cubs games because you run into those stupid drunk fans that aren't fans but instead are going to game because they think its the "in" thing to do. I mean how many times do you see on tv the dumb fan who's wearing a cubs shirt on her cell phone not paying attn to the game whatsoever. Thats the most annoying thing ever when i'm at a cubs game.

I dont mind sites like Mlbtraderumors or Hot stove cubbies. I just get annoyed when sites like these put out a rumor out there and dont back it up. When they speculate but yet dont have any sources and are just putting a rumor out there to draw attention.

I dont doubt it, it just gets on my nerves that ESPN and a lot of the media outlets have recently made it seem like it only happens in Chicago. I'm pretty sure it happens in Boston, NY and other MLB cities. As much as people want to think everything is nice and sweet in wrigleyville its not. There are a lot of racist people around that area. I'm Latino and personally I haven't really experienced any racism in that area but I wouldn't be surprised if there there is a lot of racism towards black people in that area. Although Wrigleyville is mainly white and i would assume most of the racism is from White cubs fans, Latino, Indian, etc, can also be racist so i wouldn't exclude other ethnicities of being guilty. Like i said personally i haven't experienced the Racism in that area but i'm speaking from a different perspective. And I feel you can't really speak on this matter unless you can relate because sometimes a remark you feel is harmless, other will translate into racism. Just as an example of this, I was out with a group of friends and one my friend's friend kept calling Amigo all night or kept addressing me as compadre or amigo. I mean dude said it a friendly tone but I honestly took it as racist eventhough i'm pretty sure he didn't mean it in that way. I mean maybe some ethnicities are overly sensitive sometimes but you have also have understand why before saying someone is playing the race card or someone is looking too much into it.

I only find MLBTR useful when rumors are confirmed by other sites or sources. I dont care much for Dierkes Analysis or Chats. He usually states the obvious or throws in random thoughts. Pretty much he's just a blogger with a site.

i don't blame lou for this, but that's why managers should have absolutely zero input on the mlb draft. Just my opinon on Lou but I feel the opposite of what Olney said. I think Lou has no patience with young players and I feel he's a horrible manager when it comes to playing youngsters. I think he relies too much on veterans despite how bad they may be. I wouldn't be surprised if it was his decision to play Miles so much last year. I mean Fontenot was terrible but he wasn't as bad as Miles. If Castro is invited to spring straining and he's tearing it up and outplaying both Theriot and Baker. I can see Hendry going to Lou and pushing for Castro to compete for the spot. Then I could see Lou benching Castro at the first sign of a slump and never putting him back into the lineup. I think any sensible and smart manager would've played Fox and Hoffpauer over Bradley and Fonzy last year when both were struggling. So yeah i highly doubt Castro gets called up this year. I dont know why but i have a gut feeling Larussa and Duncan sit out this year, Lou retires and the cubs sign Larussa and Duncan. Or i can see Larussa sitting it out and Duncan signing with the cubs in anticipation that Larussa will be signed the following year. The way Duncan and Larussa are playing thing in St.Louis, make me feel that they dont want to be there and instead have their sights on a future opening which might be the cubs.

BK (Mpls) Klaw - love the write-ups from the AFL. What is the eta for Castro to be playing ss with the Cubs? Klaw (1:22 PM) 2011. He might be able to handle it in the middle of next year, Andrus-style, but I'd like to see where he is after a half-year in AA.

The ball comes off his bat like Soriano? Wow. :D) :beg: :beg: If he's as good as they are advertising and if Jaramillo is as good a coach as they say he is, I'm starting to feel the cubs should invite the kid to spring training and actually give him a shot at either Short or 2nd. I know a lot of you see him at 19yrs old and think he should stay in the minors but if he's excelling this well and playing this mature, i think it should be an option. Sorry but Theriot to me has poor range at short and isn't a shortstop but maybe a 2nd baseman.

WOW.. I am really intrigued by this kid... Han Ram the second if he fills out maybe? Which will make it all the more maddening when hes traded for a middle reliever in his mid 30's or a Steve Traschle-esque 5th starter at the 2010 deadline. The Cubs as an organization value Starlin Castro more than any other prospect in the system so that's not happening. Yeah i doubt they'll trade him, especially if their Scouting Director continued to tell them how special this kid is. Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't Hendry hesitant in trading Vitters? I mean if Castro was an outfield prospect, i would think he might have more of a chance of being traded but 3B and SS don't come around too often, so i would imagine it would take a lot to pry vitters or castro from the cubs.

and According to Jim Calls on his ESPN chat, he feels Veal is still a strong lefty reliever at best. Doesn't see him projecting as a starter because of his lack of control, doesn't think he'll ever get that solved.

that seems a little overboard; hanley showed better batting averages and power through the minors, gets deeper into counts and has a bigger/taller frame. But Han Ram didn't play this well at this age did he? I'm pretty sure at the end of the day Han Ram will display more power than Castro but if Castro develops his supposed potential, i would expect to steal more and hit for better average than Han Ram. i don't know why you'd expect that, hanley has a BA of .316 in the majors and won a batting title this year, and stole 51 bases his first two years. hanley has better speed and power potential and will probably hit for better average overall. saying that castro won't be as good offensively as the best-hitting shortstop in baseball is not really a huge slight. Ha ha very true. But it also not out of the realm of possibility that Castro can develop to be just as good as Hanley. I find this similar to the Derrick Rose and Chris Paul Comparison. If you ask an NBA fan if there is any possibility that Rose will be as good, they'll tell you NO way but if the player has the tools, why isn't it a possibility. This is all hype at this point but i sure hope the scouts and analysts are right on this kid. And I sure hope Hendry isn't dumb enough to trade him or Vitters for a player on the wrong side of 30.

that seems a little overboard; hanley showed better batting averages and power through the minors, gets deeper into counts and has a bigger/taller frame. But Han Ram didn't play this well at this age did he? I'm pretty sure at the end of the day Han Ram will display more power than Castro but if Castro develops his supposed potential, i would expect to steal more and hit for better average than Han Ram.

Just a hypothetical question but if the bluejays came to the cubs and said they were willing to trade Halladay for Wells, Vitters, Castro and Fuld, would you guys pull the trigger? I feel that as old as the cubs are getting and as depleted as their farm system is, they should hold onto whatever top prospects they have regardless of whether there's a chance those prospects wont blossom.

I dont think the Cubs will let Dlee walk without getting something in return. If the Cubs are out of it next year, i can see them trading both Ramirez and Lee since Ramirez has said that if they dont compete next year, he'll have to consider going elsewhere.

I dont know about you guys but i'm starting to feel like i'd rather trade Vitters than Castro. I think i would hold onto Castro at all cost. Found this article from last year very interesting, looks like his prediction so far is true: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081014&content_id=468878&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp Also, if Vitters and Castro continue to progress, shouldn't the cubs think about Trading DLee either this upcoming season or this offseason? I mean it would be a huge gamble to bet on Castro and Vitters being up in 2011 but if they do and you move Ramirez to First, that would be a nice infield.

Little tidbit from Bruce Levine's chat on ESPNChicago.com, I thought Castro's first name was Starlin: Brian Kaminski (Mokena, IL) Wondering your thoughts on the shortstop prospect Castro? Should we believe in the hype or is this another Cory Patterson, Felix Pie situation? Bruce Levine (1:08 PM) Winston Castro is considered a future top shortstop in Major League Baseball. Those sentiments are held by scouts in other organizations that I have talked to about the Cub minor-leaguer. Other teams have called the Cubs and already asked about the availability of Castro in different trade scenarios. He seems to be the real deal. As to making the majors at age 19, it is highly unlikely that the Cubs will bring him to the majors before he has refined some of his offensive skills. They have made that mistake in the past and it has burned them. I know Cubs.com said that he might compete for a job in spring training. I don't believe he is quite ready.

Not likely. He's probably staying in St. Louis and even if he doesn't, it'll be because LaRussa is no longer there. And in that case, he'll likely follow LaRussa wherever he goes. I dont know about that. I think Duncan will stay if Larussa stays but i think Duncan will explore his options if Larussa leaves. From what I've read he feels disrespected and betrayed in St.Louis by how they treated his son. I wouldn't be surprised if he became available but i also dont expect the Cubs to go after him. I'm little annoyed by it but the cubs have this unconditional love for Larry Rothchild. Speaking of St.Louis, I really feel bad for that organization, I mean i dont expect derosa to stay there and it doesn't look like Holliday will stay despite what he has said in the papers. It looks like he prefers to go to NY.

Would be nice if the cubs signed Duncan as the pitching coach as well.