Bryants Disco Ball

I'm really liking this trade because Russell has a chance to be a star and.....and I really don't think Jeff Samardzija is that great. (Ducks head).

I don't want to go too off topic, but I don't trust James Shields at all.

I was starting to cringe with each pitch. A no-hitter is a great accomplishment for the individual but really doesn't mean much to me. Having my pitcher healthy and not throwing 140 pitches does.

I'm in Kyle's sig line.

I feel like an idiot asking this, but do free agents like Soler and Cespedes have arbitration years after their contracts run out? When we signed Soler for nine years, we have him for nine years and no control after that? I assume that's the case.

It's taken forever to get here and the plan is still dumb, but Bryant, Baez, Alcantara, Hendricks, Rivero, Vizcaino is pretty sexy for a "first wave." I mean, not to start the whole conversation over, but if the first wave really does live up to the hype (and of course that's a big if) I'm not sure three seasons was really even close to "forever." Especially because if it's worth the hype, we are going to get the sustained success we have always wanted. But, again, everybody feels the way they do and that isn't changing.

Bryant 2-run shot, first pitch, no doubter.

Ken Rosenthal mentioned that trading Cashner would speed up rebuilding for the Padres. After loading up on prospects from trading Hammel, Shark, and whoever else, it might be interesting to check on what the Padres might want for Cashner. Cashner seems like a pretty good pitcher, but when you factor in the traditional time off because of injury and the fact that he isn't as good when outside of San Diego, and they'd probably want too much.

Oh, crap. I missed the conversion. Nice.

Jose Bautista then? Buatista was still an OK player when he was in Pit and on the Jays before he blew up. 2006 (first year he got more than 100 ML PA's): .235/.335/.420 16 HR 2007: .254/.339/.414 15 HR 2008: .238/.313/.405 15 HR 2009: .235/.349/.408 13 HR Olt isn't even sniffing those numbers Sure he is...if you pretend those were Bautista's month to month OPS numbers. You're a hard guy to please no matter what, though. You don't even like Rizzo.

Jose Bautista then? 23.5% K% at age 26 with the Pirates, Mike Olt is at 36.7% this year. And also, I'm not defending Olt in any way. I'm arguing against the thought that if you get a chance and blow it, you should be dropped.

Jose Bautista then? 23.5% K% at age 26 with the Pirates, Mike Olt is at 36.7% this year. The point more being I think he was thought to have blown his chance early on. And if nobody had given him another chance, he'd have been thought of like Olt years later.

And to be fair, a lot of people (here as well) wrote off Arrieta before this season.

Jose Bautista then?

I am arguing against the notion that Barney is [expletive] blocking Olt. Olt had his chance to whip his [expletive] out and do something with it but he blew it. Barney's sucking has nothing to do with Olt's [expletive]. Not saying Olt is good at all, but it's possible for guys to blow it early in their careers and, you know, get better. Again, not saying Olt is that guy, but it happens. A lot. Olt will be 26 in two months. And Jake Arrieta was 26 two years ago and people seem to have started to like him.

I am arguing against the notion that Barney is [expletive] blocking Olt. Olt had his chance to whip his [expletive] out and do something with it but he blew it. Barney's sucking has nothing to do with Olt's [expletive]. Not saying Olt is good at all, but it's possible for guys to blow it early in their careers and, you know, get better. Again, not saying Olt is that guy, but it happens. A lot. You know what happens even more often? Guys who aren't good enough wash out. Um, correct. Thanks?

I am arguing against the notion that Barney is [expletive] blocking Olt. Olt had his chance to whip his [expletive] out and do something with it but he blew it. Barney's sucking has nothing to do with Olt's [expletive]. Not saying Olt is good at all, but it's possible for guys to blow it early in their careers and, you know, get better. Again, not saying Olt is that guy, but it happens. A lot.

If Bryant keeps this up I don't see why they don't start trying him out in the OF soon, other than to delay his clock and keep him down to "work on his defense". Obviously you want to make room for Bryant at 3B if he can play it, but he's got a less than average chance at sticking there, but Villanueva's bat is nowhere near ready for MLB pitching so you don't want to call him up for the sake of making a spot for a guy who probably won't stick at 3B. I could see Villanueva being swapped with Olt to get Olt more work on his swing in the minors (with Manny who has helped him before) while giving Villanueva a cup of coffee to see what he can do (basically what Olt is doing now splitting time with Valbuena), and then bringing Bryant up to AAA to start getting reps in the OF. That way you don't sacrifice any of your 3B prospects and make the inevitable move on Bryant to the OF a reality which in turn makes Bryant a starter in 2015 sooner rather than later, which the Cubs could truly use, clock be damned. I don't see Bryant sticking at 3B, but you certainly don't move him off the position even 1% because of Villanueva or Olt. I agree, but my point (which I should've made more clear, admittedly) was more about moving him to fast track him to the majors vs. not wanting to mess with other inferior player development. But it seems obvious they're taking the control and cost route with Bryant. Personally I think they should just Longo him and call him up then buy out his first couple of years of FA on a big team friendly contract after he shows he's the hulk we all hope he is. Granted, that's easier said than done. Never say never, but I have a hard time believing the Cubs are going to be able to buy out his first couple years of free agency considering Boras is his agent.

Not only forgiven, but credited. I'd have picked a Rizzo walk-off in extras than a clean ninth.

I know this is just me, but I wouldn't have thought that was Manny in that picture for some reason.

The only problem is that if he DOES actually pitch well the rest of the year, there is no way he's only going to get a one or two year deal at $6 per. At least I wouldn't think so.

Yes, 100 percent agreed. I would very much enjoy seeing him traded and hope it's the actual outcome. All good points on the QO. I just don't really want to have him for multiple years when our front office up until now has done a great job of getting Hammel types for one year and cheap.

If another team isn't willing to give us something really nice for him, I wouldn't mind giving him a 2-3 year extension. If, and it's a big if, we both don't trade Hammel and he performs well for most of the year, instead of giving him two or three years at $8-10 million per or whatever, would it be better to just give him the qualifier and pay him 14 for one?

100 percent yes.

It was somewhat near the warning track, opposite way. It sounded good off the bat, so I got excited.....but it wasn't anywhere close. The RF appeared like he didn't know where it was for a second, so Javy might have been able to get a cheap double before the dude caught it. The first two pitches Javy swung and missed at, the first an offspeed pitch and the next a high fastball.