Outshined_One

10/27 Ben Badler Chat

If it gives the Cubs a better chance of making the playoffs, I'm in favor.

Argh. I was hoping he'd stay since the middle infielders all praised him for the work he did with them.

Fair enough.

Why does it make sense to rank a Prior or a Strasburg compared to Golden, especially when those reports are supposedly worthless? How is this a serious question from somebody who pays as much attention to player development as you? All I want to know is what you think separates the firsthand reports for a lot of these guys (as you put it) and the firsthand reports for someone like Prior or Strasburg.

Why does it make sense to rank a Prior or a Strasburg compared to Golden, especially when those reports are supposedly worthless?

The only one who hasn't played yet is Hayden Simpson. Everyone else has logged substantial time with the short season teams and/or in Instructs. We have scouting reports and firsthand accounts from those stints, in addition to their numbers. Furthermore, in most cases, we have extensive reports and accounts of those players from their amateur days, which provide enough of a picture of our draftees that we know what we can reasonably expect from them. Besides, most of these prospects haven't even played in the majors yet. Why the heck should we rank these guys at all if they, too, haven't played yet?

Finally found an animated gif of McNabb's reaction to Gano's missed field goal. It's a hugeass file and the quality sucks, but it's funny. Link

Also, someone please tell me there's a Youtube clip or animated gif out there of McNabb's response to the Redskins' botched field goal. That was one of the few bright spots of this game.

One thing that went unmentioned in the broadcast (not going to wade through here to see if it was mentioned) was that one of Hall's INT was actually an incomplete pass. Looking at the DVR replay, Hall got the ball, fell to the ground, and the ball bounced up a bit when it touched the ground in his hands. It was yet another play Lovie should have challenged...but didn't. It's one thing if you waste challenges, but for heaven's sake, don't be a miser with them at the absolute worst possible time.

10/22 1B Vitters 0/4, K LF Flaherty 1/4

Harper got a two run double in his first AB, to boot. 10/21 1B Vitters 0/3, BB, R, K, E (2, pickoff) LF Flaherty 1/4, RBI, K, CS

I agree that he didn't deserve the racial slurs, but as for the vitriol he's been getting, he encouraged it. This was posted to his Twitter account. This guy's just doin it for teh lulz.

BA also posted their draft report cards today. In short... Best Hitter: Szczur Best Power Hitter: Golden (potential plus plus power) Fastest: Szczur Best Defense: Gibbs (best receiver in draft) and Elliot Soto Best FB: Simpson (who reportedly touched 96-97), Wells & Kurcz (both could dial up to 95, Wells might have more to come) Best Seconday Pitch: Greathouse (Curve), Wells (Slider), Reed (Changeup, advanced for his age) Best Debut: Szczur, Kurcz, and LePage Best Athlete: Szczur and Golden (five tool potential) Most Intriguing Background: Szczur, Bryan Harper (Bryce's brother), Santiago & Nielsen (both had dads in MLB) Closest to Majors: Simpson or Kurcz Best Late Round Pick: Kurcz, Reed, Geiger, Beeler One Who Got Away: DeJesus, Pinckard (Cubs apparently loved his speed more than his fb)

ESPN and LeBron can go [expletive] themselves. Again. Link 1 Link 2 The racist stuff is sad, but turning LeBron into a martyr because he receives tweets like this? That's just crap. If this guy can't understand how or why he deserves this, then he's one of the dumbest people in sports.

10/19 3B Vitters 2/5, R, RBI, CS 1B Flaherty 1/2, 3 BB, 2 R, E (3, fielding) SP Muyco 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 3-3 GO-FO RP Cales 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4-1 GO-FO 10/20 3B Vitters 2/3, BB, R, 2B LF Flaherty 0/4, K RP Smit 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 3-0 GO-FO RP Carpenter 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3-0 GO-FO

Oswalt gets the loss. Delicious.

Um...why is Roy Oswalt in for the Phillies?

Arizona Phil has the final numbers: Very small sample size, but it seems like he was a victim of bad luck. The peripherals are nice. Phil's not necessarily a sharp scout, but he usually has a pretty good eye for pitchers. Hitters...not so much so. I'm willing to buy what he says. Furthermore, I still have Simpson over Kim (by one spot!). However, as much credit as we give Wilken for the draft, it's worth noting that the Cubs have done a very good job of scouting and developing Pacific Rim players. What you said about the Cubs extensively doing their homework on Simpson is also true about the international scouts in the organization. As for what you said about Simpson and Wilken, I agree it is a good idea to take the Cubs' scouts judgments over what BA says. Wilken and company are entitled to deference, given their enormous body of experience. They clearly have a plan and execute it, regardless of what any other organization might think. However, I think we disagree as to the amount of deference that should be afforded them. I'm willing to be more constrained in that regard.

Mono represents a big enough question mark in my mind to knock Simpson down a notch simply because it can really cause trouble for a pitcher when it comes to recovery. It's not like he'll come back at 100% once the mono is out of his system; he still has to not only regain his weight, but also his former strength and stamina. There were already questions about Simpson's size and durability, so this sort of thing just nags at me. It's speculative on my part, but I could see Simpson needing to spend time at EXST next season in order to get back into shape. That would cut into his performance into 2011, considering he won't log as many innings and might also have trouble going deep into games. I grant you, he could be perfectly fine next year and it's all needless worrying on my part. Lots of athletes have overcome their bouts with mono and Simpson should, as well. However, 2011 might be a bit of a bumpy road for him depending on how his recovery goes. Also, for me, mono was one factor of many in why I ranked Simpson where I did (14). Had Simpson been a 3rd or 4th round pick (around where he was ranked pre-draft), I don't think anyone would have him in their Top 30s. I'm willing to give Tim Wilken credit, but I'm not going to buy into a guy just because Wilken picked him in the first round. Finally, the sheer lack of professional experience and data makes it hard for me to get a read on him, especially considering how Simpson's stuff varied over this past season. At least Jin-Yeong Kim got quality time at Instructs, you know? It just didn't feel right to rank him in the Top 10 to me. I'm rooting for the guy to break out and prove the doubters wrong. However, for now, I'm willing to be bearish on him.

As I remember, his changeup was supposedly good, but not great, when he was starting. It was mostly a matter of getting him reps, learning how and when to use it, etc. more than anything mechanical. What was worrisome about his move to the bullpen is that it seemed like his stuff had taken a step back from where it was in the minors. Hopefully he gets all of that ironed out next year, regardless of whether he's starting or in relief.

A transcript of every hockey game ever broadcast.

He was a relief pitcher for only one year as an amateur, which was his junior year at TCU. Prior to that, he was a starter in junior college and in high school.

I love the prominent roles Sergio Mitre and Clay Rapada took in this game.

This pleases me. Greatly. Anyone want to take odds on whether the Yankee jerkoff fans in the bleachers have left yet?