Outshined_One

Good, but not great. His drafts have yet to produce elite talent. The top names from his drafts are, off the top of my head, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson, and Trey McNutt. All seem to have gotten consideration as Top 30 players at various points in their minor league careers, but that pretty much seems to be the ceiling. None of those guys have reached their respective ceilings yet, so perhaps they might break through. However, as things stand now, I don't think any of them will be superstars. Where I will give Wilken credit is that his drafts have produced depth. There are a ton of high floor guys in the Cubs' system who have a very good chance of contributing in the majors, but who might not have top shelf upside. In all honesty, if the Cubs clean house in the offseason, I wouldn't mind seeing Wilken go. He's been decent, but the Cubs could do better.

It's mostly rumors and speculation until about the day before the draft. That's usually the time when teams publicly back off of signability guys and also when reports of offers and agreements start surfacing. Also, on the day before, the #1 overall team normally reaches some sort of an agreement with their expected selection. Things usually snowball from there.

Guys, guys, guys. I know CubsGM has been really lonely since the new account registrations were disabled and is trying to make up for lost time, but you're giving him too much, too fast. Let him ease back into things.

Box Scores Iowa lost 15-11 Box Score RF F. Perez 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (8), Assist (2B) 2B B. Scales 2/4, BB, R, 4 RBI, 2B (18), HR (4), K 3B M. Smith 1/5, K, E (3, fielding) LF/1B B. LaHair 2/5, 2 R, RBI, 2B (17), HR (13) C W. Castillo 2/5, R, RBI, HR (4), 3 K 1B S. Moore 2/4, R, RBI, 2B (8) PH C. Robinson 0/1 CF M. Camp 1/3, 2 BB, 2 R LF T. Wright 1/1 SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 4 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 6-2 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 1.2 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, WP, 3-1 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 0-3 GO-FO RP M. Mateo 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, WP, 0-1 GO-FO Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score CF B. Jackson 1/4, BB, CS (3) SS J. Lake 0/4, RBI, K 3B R. Flaherty 1/3, BB, 2B (13) LF M. Spencer 1/3, BB, Assist (2B) C S. Clevenger 0/4 1B R. Ridling 0/2, BB, R, K PH N. Samson 0/1 RF N. Perez 3/3, 2 R, RBI, 3B (1), HBP 2B M. Gonzalez 0/2, BB SP T. McNutt 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, WP, 2-3 GO-FO RP T. Harris 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-1 GO-FO RP K. Rhoderick 1 perfect, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP R. Dolis 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-0 GO-FO Daytona lost 10-1 Box Score CF E. Crawford 2/4, K, CS (4) 2B M. Cerda 0/2, BB RF JH Ha 0/4, K 1B J. Bour 2/3, 2B (17), E (6, throw) DH M. Burgess 0/3, BB, 2 K LF R. Silva 0/4, 3 K C C. Noble 0/1, BB, RBI SS/2B L. Watkins 0/3, 2 K SP A. Kurcz 2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, HBP, 1-1 GO-FO RP J. Antigua 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 6-0 GO-FO, E (1, throw) RP J. Latham .2 IP, 0 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, WP, 1-1 GO-FO RP M. Hatley 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 0-1 GO-FO RP F. Batista 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-1 GO-FO Peoria won 11-5 Box Score CF M. Szczur 4/6, 3 R, RBI, HR (3), SB (14) SS A. Alcantara 3/5, 2 R, SB (6), 2 CS (5), PO (1B) 1B R. Cuneo 3/4, 2 BB, 3 R, 4 RBI, HR (2) 3B G. Rohan 3/5, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2 K DH R. Jones 3/6, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (15) C M. Gibbs 3/4, 2 BB LF KM Na 0/4, 2 K SP D. Beeler 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, HBP, 8-1 GO-FO RP C. Harman 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1-1 GO-FO Both DSL Teams PPD OVERALL: 2-2

Fukudome's other big problem is that he is not arbitration-eligible as a Japanese player playing under his first major league contract, meaning whatever team that trades for him will not get any compensation through the draft if he bolts in the offseason.

That's a pretty good point in terms of fan interest. I'd be curious to see how the Cubs compare with other teams in terms of attendance figures, ratings, and the like over the past 5-10 years. It may be that baseball in general is going through a swoon, although the Cubs could be doing better or worse than other teams in those regards. Plus, while a lot of people bring up 2003, it seemed like there was comparable interest, if not better, in 2004, 2007, and 2008. In terms of my own interest, I'll catch a few innings here and there, and also check the scores when I miss games, but that's about it. Starlin Castro is the only healthy guy on the team I really care about. I'm following the minors, but this has been a lackluster year (by and large) due to injuries and trades. At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing the Cubs clean house in the offseason and attempt a youth movement in 2012.

I would have enjoyed seeing him get blamed. Me too, but it wouldn't have happened. The injury excuses would be out in full force. Everyone would give him a pass and would have raised an uproar if he got canned after this season. With Quade, I don't think many people would care if he gets fired in the offseason.

I really don't understand this kind of sentiment. Yes, I want the Ricketts to do what needs to be done, but it's not like they've let these stellar FA classes get by them in the time they've owned the team. Unless you were expecting them to command the FO to start trading the farm or blow even more bloated contracts on mid-level FA then there hasn't been much to do right now to dramatically change this team. And Wrigley is a dump that's literally falling apart. It's a huge part of the investment for anyone that owns the team and it needs a ton of upgrades and work sooner rather than later. I think this offseason will be the first real indicator of their level of commitment to the product on the field. In my opinion, the indicator will be what happens in the draft. Last year's draft ended up being somewhere in the middle of the road compared to other teams budget-wise, especially after the Cubs drove a dump truck full of money up to Matt Szczur's house. If the Cubs are willing to spend on their first round pick and also draft and sign guys who fall into later rounds because of signability concerns, that would tell me this team is going in the right direction.

Box Scores Iowa won 7-5 Box Score RF F. Perez 1/5, RBI, 2B (7), K 2B B. Scales 1/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, HR (3), K 3B M. Smith 2/5, 2 R, RBI, 2B (13), HR (5) 1B S. Moore 2/5, R, 3 RBI, HR (4), 2 K C W. Castillo 2/4, BB, R, 2 K LF T. Wright 0/4, BB SS J. Mota 1/4, RBI, 2B (7) CF M. Camp 0/2, 2 BB, R, K SP J. Jackson 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, WP, 11-3 GO-FO RP B. Parker 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2-0 GO-FO RP M. Mateo 0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HR RP E. Caridad 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K Tennessee won 7-3 Box Score CF B. Jackson 0/5, K SS J. Lake 1/5, R, SB (1) 3B J. Vitters 2/3, R, RBI RF N. Perez 1/2, RBI, K LF R. Ridling 1/4, R, K 1B S. Clevenger 1/4, R, 3 RBI, HR (4), K 2B M. Gonzalez 3/4, R RF/3B N. Samson 1/4, RBI, 2B (9), K, E (4, throw) C L. Flores 1/3, R, 2B (2), HBP PH M. Spencer 0/1, K SP C. Rusin 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 14-2 GO-FO RP R. Searle 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP K. Smit 1 perfect, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO RP C. Carpenter 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-1 GO-FO Daytona won 10-3 Box Score LF R. Silva 1/5, 2 R, K 2B M. Cerda 3/5, 2 RBI CF JH Ha 2/5, R, RBI 1B J. Bour 2/4, R, RBI, HR (14), 2 K, HBP RF M. Burgess 1/5, R, 3 RBI, HR (9), K, Assist (1B) C C. Noble 1/3, 2 BB, R, K SS L. Watkins 2/4, BB, R, K SP J. Lorick 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 10-3 GO-FO RP J. Serrano 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-3 GO-FO Peoria lost 4-3 Box Score CF M. Szczur 1/5, K SS E. Soto 0/4 1B R. Cuneo 2/3, BB, R, 2B (4) 3B G. Rohan 1/4, K DH R. Jones 1/4, R, RBI, HR (8), K C M. Gibbs 1/3, BB, R, RBI 2B A. Alcantara 2/3, BB LF KM Na 1/4, RBI, 2B (1), K SP A. Kirk 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HBP, 3-8 GO-FO RP R. Lopez 2 perfect, 2 K, 3-1 GO-FO RP B. Shafer 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, WP, 3-1 GO-FO, E (1, throw) DSL Cubs 1 won 11-10 in the 12th Box Score SS F. Sanchez 2/6, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (1), K, HBP RF J. Baez 3/6, BB, R, 3B (1), 2 K, Assist (1B) 1B G. Jimenez 1/4, BB, 2 RBI, 2 K RP J. De La Cruz 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 0 K, 0-2 GO-FO RP A. Colinas 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1-2 GO-FO DSL Cubs 2 won 8-3 Box Score 2B A. Gonzalez 2/6, R, RBI, 2B (1), 3B (1), 3 K, E (2, fielding) SS C. Penalver 0/2, 2 BB, HBP, E (2, throw) 3B J. Candelario 0/3, 2 BB, R, RBI C W. Petit 2/4, BB, 2 R, PB (1), E (1, throw) RF E. Mercedes 2/4, BB, R, K, SB (1) RP W. Telles 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, WP, HBP, 3-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 5-1

Box Scores Iowa won 7-2 Box Score Tennessee won 2-1 Box Score Daytona lost 7-0 Box Score Peoria lost 8-4 Box Score DSL Cubs 1 PPD DSL Cubs 2 won 9-8 Box Score OVERALL: 3-2

I don't think you can say Springer is anywhere close to an 'inexplicable reach" though. I mean, Hayden Simpson...Tyler Colvin...those were inexplicable reaches. Picking a guy at 9 who's projected to go around 14 isn't a reach. It's a preference. Plus, the Cubs damn well better do their homework on him, especially if he's got the potential to be one of the top guys in this draft. I like hearing the Cubs are, at the very least, doing their homework on him. I hope the Cubs are doing the same for all of the prospects projected to be available when they pick in the first round. If they think he's worth #9 and pick him, then great, and if not, oh well.

Sickels' latest mock: Also, I'd take Starling over Bauer. I think Starling's contact issues are overblown, although he does have work left to do. Bauer just bothers the hell out of me for so many reasons. He very well could be the best pitcher to come out of this draft, but I really have to wonder about his durability.

Box Scores Iowa won 8-6 Box Score RF F. Perez 1/5, R, K, SB (9) LF T. Colvin 1/5, 2 K 2B M. Smith 2/5, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B (12), K 1B B. LaHair 1/5, R, K C W. Castillo 1/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (3), 2 K 3B S. Moore 2/4, R, 2B (7), 2 K SS J. Mota 1/3, BB, R, 2 RBI, 3B (1) CF M. Camp 2/4, RBI, SB (2) DH C. Robinson 0/3, BB, RBI SP R. Ortiz 8 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR, 7-8 GO-FO RP B. Parker 0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB RP E. Caridad 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Tennessee lost 4-3 Box Score CF B. Jackson 0/4, 3 K 3B J. Vitters 0/4, K, 2 E (13, throw, fielding) 2B R. Flaherty 0/2, 2 BB, K LF M. Spencer 0/4, K 1B R. Ridling 0/4, 2 K RF N. Perez 2/4, R, 2B (5), K SS M. Gonzalez 1/2, BB PH S. Clevenger 0/1, K SP B. Raley 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 10-4 GO-FO RP K. Smit 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1-1 GO-FO RP K. Rhoderick 1 perfect, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO Daytona with the day off. Peoria lost 7-5 Box Score CF M. Szczur 2/4, BB, R, 2 RBI, 2B (10), HR (2) 2B P. LePage 0/5 3B G. Rohan 1/5, RBI, K 1B R. Jones 2/5, R, E (4, fielding) C M. Gibbs 2/4, BB DH R. Cuneo 4/5, RBI, 2 2B (2) SS A. Alcantara 2/5, 2 R, RBI, 2B (6), 3B (2), K SP C. Greathouse 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 6 K, WP, 2-0 GO-FO RP B. Shafer 2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-2 GO-FO RP R. Lopez 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GO-FO DSL Cubs 1 won 7-0 Box Score SS F. Sanchez 1/4, BB, R, K RF J. Baez 2/4, BB, R, 4 RBI, HR (1), K, E (1, throw) 1B G. Jimenez 0/3, BB, K C H. Suarez 0/1, 3 BB, R SP G. Abreu 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2-5 GO-FO RP Y. Morel 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 2-4 GO-FO DSL Cubs 2 won a rain-shortened game 4-1 Box Score SS C. Penalver 1/3, BB, SB (2) 3B J. Candelario 1/3, R C W. Petit 1/3, RBI, 2B (1), K 2B A. Gonzalez 2/2, BB, 2 RBI, SB (2), CS (1) RF E. Mercedes 0/3, K OVERALL: 3-2

And the march to turning this team into the I-Cubs continues!

Thunderstorms and a downpour just west of Wrigley right now.

I thought Tim Melville was the last to do that? Royals got him with a 4th round pick and a $1.5m bonus.

Box Scores Iowa lost 9-8 Box Score 2B B. Scales 0/4, RBI LF T. Colvin 2/4, BB, 3 R, RBI, 2B (5), 3B (2), E (2, throw) C S. Clevenger 3/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (3), PB (1) 1B B. LaHair 1/5, RBI, 3 K DH T. Wright 2/5, 2B (1), 2 K 3B S. Moore 1/5, K SS J. Mota 2/4, R, RBI, HR (3), K CF M. Camp 1/4, 2 R, 2B (7), K RF F. Perez 1/2, BB, R, RBI, 2B (6), E (3, fielding) SP A. Cabrera 4+ IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 3-4 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Stevens .2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 HR, 1-1 GO-FO RP J. Gaub .2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR, 2-0 GO-FO RP M. Mateo 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, HBP, 1-3 GO-FO Daytona won 6-4, its 11th in a row Box Score SS J. Lake 2/4, 2 R, SB (19), E (14, throw) 3B M. Cerda 0/4, 3 K LF E. Crawford 2/4, R, 2 RBI, 3B (4), 2 K, CS (3) 1B J. Bour 2/4, 2B (16), RBI, K, E (5, pickoff) RF M. Burgess 0/3, BB, R CF R. Silva 0/3, 2 K C C. Noble 2/4, 2 RBI, K, E (1, throw) 2B L. Watkins 1/4 SP B. Wallach 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HBP, 5-4 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, HBP, 2-2 GO-FO RP M. Hatley 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP F. Batista 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 3-0 GO-FO Peoria won 8-1 Box Score CF M. Szczur 1/5, R, RBI, HR (1) 2B P. LePage 2/3, 2 BB, R, 2 2B (12) 3B G. Rohan 1/4, BB 1B R. Cuneo 2/5, R, RBI, K C M. Gibbs 1/2, 3 BB, 2 R SS E. Soto 2/5, R DH D. Fitzgerald 0/5, 2 K LF KM Na 1/4, 2 K, PO (1B) SP G. Hicks 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR, HBP, 3-5 GO-FO RP SM Jung 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 9-1 GO-FO Tennessee and the DSL teams have the day off. OVERALL: 2-1

Finished with 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 9-6 GO-FO on 73 pitches. Nice.

Begins June 6th. Considering this game is not worth talking about, anyone want to make predictions on who the Cubs will take and how outraged everyone will be when they make that selection? I know you're kidding, but who could they conceivably pick that would cause outrage? Only scenario I can think of is Lindor with the Bubba and the Bradleys still on the table. I keep having visions of the Cubs picking someone like LHP Grayson Garvin out of Vandy with their first rounder. Nice guy, good potential, but he's not considered to be even a second round talent by most people. After Hayden Simpson last year, it's impossible to predict who the Cubs will take. I keep thinking that Dave Littlefield works for you guys now. This makes me smile. *Shakes ban hammer menacingly* :(

Begins June 6th. Considering this game is not worth talking about, anyone want to make predictions on who the Cubs will take and how outraged everyone will be when they make that selection? I know you're kidding, but who could they conceivably pick that would cause outrage? Only scenario I can think of is Lindor with the Bubba and the Bradleys still on the table. I keep having visions of the Cubs picking someone like LHP Grayson Garvin out of Vandy with their first rounder. Nice guy, good potential, but he's not considered to be even a second round talent by most people. After Hayden Simpson last year, it's impossible to predict who the Cubs will take.

Rendon, Cole, or Bundy?

Begins June 6th. Considering this game is not worth talking about, anyone want to make predictions on who the Cubs will take and how outraged everyone will be when they make that selection?

The lineup looks like one of those September 2006 nightmares Dusty loved to assemble.

Tough call. The Donovan Tate comparisons have been persistent recently, but I think with a full-time commitment to baseball and better coaching, Starling's contact problems might not be as much of an issue. Given his excellent tools across the board, his ceiling is higher than Bradley's, imo. That kind of ceiling is really hard for me to ignore. On the other hand, Bradley looks so much more polished to me. A guy with his stuff and mechanics could conceivably start next season in Daytona and move quickly, especially if his changeup develops as hoped. His fastball and curve are already good enough to make me think he could be a top-flight power reliever if he can't stick at starter for whatever reason. Bradley's stock has been on the rise recently. Given how he, Bundy, and Starling have been doing on draft boards lately, I'm beginning to wonder if any of those three will be available when the Cubs pick. If the following scenario plays out, who should the Cubs pick? 1. Pirates - Rendon 2. Mariners - Cole 3. Dbacks - Hultzen 4. Orioles - Bundy 5. Royals - Starling 6. Nationals - A. Bradley 7. Dbacks Comp. Pick - Signability Pick du Jour 8. Indians - J. Bradley I'm thinking the Cubs would go with Lindor there...which...egh. I'm sold on Lindor's ability to stick at SS, but there have been so many conflicting reports about his current power and power potential that I just can't buy into him as a quality selection for the Cubs at 9. Maybe Bauer or Gray?

He has Archie Bradley falling to us. With Starling gone but Lindor still available; I would love that. Non-Premium Mock Draft: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/mock-draft/2011/2611827.html Premium: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/mock-draft/2011/2611826.html Video of Bradley Love the mechanics, polish, and athleticism. I'm really warming up to Bradley.