jumbo

*checks Kevin Encarnacion's KC numbers* [expletive], another summer of this [expletive]? I'm sure you found that he didn't do very well in those 16 games. And then didn't bother to check his numbers in Boise. And was then severely injured in a car crash and hasn't played since, making him an awful example. But I apologize for my interest in somebody who isn't marveled over in every thread. SCS, I'm sorry, but you don't get to feel righteously indignant on this one. The reason why people don't and shouldn't care about Roberto Caro as a prospect is because of his age relative to his level, that he is repeating this level for the third time...and the fact that he isn't good. You shouldn't be getting pissed about the response you've gotten. Don't chase this windmill. One can think a 17 year old in the VSL or DSL has a chance of being a decent prospect especially if he's performing well, sometimes an 18 year old if they're doing really well (late bloomers and all). Maaaybe a 19 year old if he's a pitcher and is dominant. And almost always a prospect worth following won't spend more than one season there. Some exceptions have occurred to that rule, but not many. But you just advocated for Roberto Caro who is 20 (will turn 21 in just over two months) which makes him 3 years older than most legit prospects in this league. He has spent 3 seasons at the same level and has never been promoted. His hit tool is lacking, hitting just .254 last year and just .279 this year. Lots of people can draw walks in these leagues because they face so many inexperienced pitchers who lack control, so K/BB ratios are almost always misleading and OBPs inflated. Advocating for him is like backing a 24 year old (who is about to 25) and his repeating Kane County for the third year in a row while only producing okay numbers. Thanks for explaining this so well. If you did this for all of his ridiculous posts I'd read every one. I think I only have three people set to ignore. Anyone care to guess whom else???

Len did say he thought the FO would clear a spot for AA by dealing Barney or Bonifacio. Said he would keep Barney over Bonifacio. Made the Wally Pipp comment in response to B&B claiming that having a baby leads to losing your job, which is just stupid pandering, obviously. Ultimately he thought that the team would make room for AA in the end, but also acted like Barney has been an offensive asset because of a hot streak before paternity leave.

kasper was on the radio and said he thought Alcantara would get sent down in favor of Barney.

I was telling my girlfriend the Cardinals fan the exact same thing last night. If he comes up and is good/great, every other team, especially the Cardinals and their play the game the right way BS, is going to hate him so much. Javy is our Yadi He's got the neck tattoo

Vitters donkey punched that grounder

Thank you for proofing it for me. I corrected Baker/Concepcion. I didn't include buyouts as I believe they are 2014 expenses. If Fujikawa's option is picked up I will add him. Just look at Cots

I'm somewhat sad. I was really looking forward to watching him here next season, but I'm glad Cubs was able to sign him. I didn't think they were able to give him the $$$ he wants. Are you in Lafayette/Purdue? I went there for my schoolin' Yep. Grew up 30 mins northwest from Lafayette (Earl Park if you're wondering). Went to Purdue for CGT then Arkansas for Architecture and now I'm back here. Awesome. My company manufactures architectural cladding systems - we did the Neil Armstrong Engineering building at Purdue and a bunch of others, too.

He does have a relatively big wallet

I'm somewhat sad. I was really looking forward to watching him here next season, but I'm glad Cubs was able to sign him. I didn't think they were able to give him the $$$ he wants. Are you in Lafayette/Purdue? I went there for my schoolin'

I can't believe that this isn't already common practice, but maybe I'm wrong.

My understanding was that we would sign 6 guys from the same agent who would give the top guy $1.25MM and split the rest amongst the scrubbs (like our 8th-10th round picks, for example). So I'm not sure there's any real need to dump cap space unless there aren't enough shady Latin American agents to pull this deal with (not likely). I can see trading the space for something valuable, but I don't think it's getting much value based on the Brewer's trades (not that I know [expletive] about the Brewer's farm, of course)

Someone needs to GIF the oder guy at 1:22 or so in that video...

I never recommend pulling out early. Better early than late. Early is good when you're being filmed

So a mid 2015 lineup could have the dream infield Castillo Rizzo Baez Castro Bryant/Valbuena Lake Alcantara RF/Bryant And by 2016 Schwarber Rizzo Baez Castro Bryant/Valbuena Soler Alcantara RF/Bryant Bah - too many possibilities, but it would really be great to have Schwarber stick at C

There was some chatter in another thread about the potential lineup that would include Schwarber, Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, et al. It made me wonder when everyone expects some of these guys to come up to the majors. Alcantara seems like he'll be up this year, before September, that is. Bryant will likely not be up until post-arb deadline 2015. Expecting Schwarber before 2016 would be unlikely, especially if he's at C instead of OF. Not really considering the rotating pen guys here...Also not really trying to predict September callups, but when a player will be up "for good" 2014 Alcantara Hendricks Wada Lopez Vizcaino 2015 Bryant Baez Johnson Edwards Rivero 2016 Schwarber Soler Bruno Black Pineyro Almora? 2017 Almora

you do understand that they go under-slot at this point so that they can go over-slot later in the draft, right? Yes, I do understand that. And no need to be passive-aggressive. if you want to call me an idiot for not liking this pick, just call me one. You're an idiot for your earlier comment

picked number 5th Glad I'm not the only one who caught that. my wife: picked number fifth! me: we can change it now

I was at a game for a corporate event, and it pretty much is a rooftop bar as is. There are about 35-40 seats/places to stand where you can actually see the game, and the rest of the crowd gets to watch on tv and listen to the crowd in the actual ballpark. I realize all the rooftops are not uniform in seats with views, but my experience is more bar than ball game.

I didn't notice it happening to the Blackhawks because hockey is irrelevant. Here's something you might like more than the Blackhawks then http://i26.tinypic.com/j0cy2b.jpg That got my attention

If that doesn't scream hipster I'm a monkey's uncle. The term Hipster gets thrown around too much -- that picture is an insult to hipsters. That's a straight douche. Show me the hipster douche

You're right on to post it. Following the daily box scores it's easy to see that the guy is consistently taking walks, stealing, hitting for average. Maybe he's had a bit of a hot start, but he has some room to regress if that was the case and still show better overall than Szczur The hype machine lies

Vitters in 2013 and 2014 so far: 17 BB, 32 K in 138 AB (12.3% BB/AB, 23.2% K/AB) Vitters before 2013: 98 BB, 304 K in 1897 AB (5.2% BB/AB, 16.0% K/AB) There's not a ton of PA the last couple seasons, but I could certainly start to believe that this is a hitter who is finally starting to understand the strike zone. Maybe not, but I'm pretty pleased with the last couple minor league campaigns. Obviously it doesn't matter if he can't make it translate into at least a part time role, but his contact tool only label should at least potentially include ability to take a BB. It may not be much of a sign, but it's something

Try Baez http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa597757&position=SS

We all would, but it's clear that he was not signing with the Cubs. It sure would be nice, though, to have him and Samardzija at the top of the rotation.

Yep. SSS and all, but I am doing my best not to get giddy about him and to a lesser degree Rizzo. Went to check out his fangraphs page. It looks like he's swinging more freely again (probably good) but he's also swinging and missing more freely (probably bad). His biggest drop in contact % is O-contact %, which maybe means he'll avoid some of the weaker contact that we saw from him last year. Also, SSS, 11 games, etc.