Outshined_One

Jonathan Mayo published his mock recently. Not much to argue with since Woj features a fastball-slider combo that's pretty effective, although he's got more work to do in terms of becoming a dependable rotation arm than Cashner did out of TCU. As for DeShields, I like him, although he might be a bit of a reach a 16. He could have four above average to plus tools (with a fringy arm), but he needs a good deal of polish. If the Cubs are thinking of nabbing a guy out of Georgia with baseball bloodlines, I also like Cam Bedrosian and Aaron Shipman as second round options.

Cerda was originally drafted as a catcher, but the Cubs seem to have given up on that. He's moved between 2B and 3B quite a bit this season. He hasn't played 1B at all this season to my knowledge, so I wouldn't worry about that. As for other Peoria players to keep an eye on, Baseball America had IF/OF Logan Watkins on their Cubs' Top 10 prospect list in the offseason. He's had some struggles at the plate this year, but he could end up being a 2B who hits for average and a bit of power. OF Jae-Hoon Ha got a substantial signing bonus from the Cubs out of Korea; I've heard good reports on his defense and his bat has been pretty good in the early going. With Peoria's pitchers, the top guy on the team right now is RHP Trey McNutt, who features a potential power arsenal with a plus breaking pitch. Other intriguing guys in the rotation include Su-Min Jung, a RHP who received a large bonus out of Korea, and LHP Jeff Antigua, who's still a work in progress, but young enough to dream on. The bullpen also features guys like Ronny Morla, James Leverton, Larry Suarez, and Jordan Latham, and Frank Batista, who all have some potential down the road as relief pitchers and have performed well to this point. On West Michigan, bar none their best prospect is RHP Jacob Turner, who received a massive signing bonus in last year's draft and has ace potential. There's not much else beyond him and Soto, from the looks of it. Any reports you can make would be welcome!

The 1985 St. Louis Cardinals make me disagree.

Box Scores Iowa lost 6-4 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/5, CS (2) SS D. Barney 0/4 3B C. Tracy 0/4, K 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/4, 2 R, 2B (11), E (4, fielding) RF B. Snyder 1/4, RBI LF J. Adduci 1/4, R C W. Castillo 1/3, BB, R, 2 RBI, 2B (7) 2B M. Camp 2/4, RBI PH B. Scales 0/1 PH B. LaHair 0/1 SP C. Coleman 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0/3 K/BB, 10-3 GO-FO RP J. Samardzija 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score CF T. Campana 3/4, R, RBI, K SS N. Samson 3/4, R, RBI LF T. Wright 1/4 1B M. Spencer 1/4 C S. Clevenger 0/4, R RF B. Guyer 2/4, PO (1B) 3B J. Vitters 0/3, BB 2B T. Thomas 1/4, K, CS (1) SP HW Chen 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 4/1 K/BB, WP, 10-6 GO-FO RP J. Muyco .1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB RP L. Sommer 1.2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO Daytona lost 1-0 in the 12th Box Score CF B. Jackson 2/5, 2B (9), 2 K, Ejected in 11th inning SS/3B DJ LeMahieu 0/4, BB, K 2B R. Flaherty 1/4, BB, K DH R. Ridling 0/4, 3 K, HBP, CS (3) RF K. Burke 0/5, 3 K 1B J. Opitz 0/5, 2 K PH/C M. Brenly 1/1 SP C. Rusin 6 scoreless, 4 H, 3/0 K/BB, 13-2 GO-FO RP C. Siegfried 1 scoreless, 1 H, 0-3 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 2.2 scoreless, 3 H, 3/1 K/BB, 2-3 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 1.1 perfect, 1-3 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, HR, 1-2 GO-FO Peoria lost 9-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/4, BB, R, 2 K 2B M. Cerda 3/5, R, 2 2B (8), K DH DJ Fitzgerald 2/5, RBI, K, SB (3) 1B J. Bour 2/4, BB, RBI RF JH Ha 1/5, 3 K LF N. Perez 0/1, K, Ejected in 2nd for arguing balls and strikes LF G. Rohan 2/3, BB, R C J. Mota 2/5, R, 2B (2), PB (5) 3B C. Thomas 1/3, BB, RBI, 2B (1) SP N. Struck 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 5/2 K/BB, WP, HBP, 1-4 GO-FO RP F. Batista 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3/0 K/BB, 2 HR, 5-2 GO-FO RP J. Leverton .1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1/0 K/BB DSL Cubs 1 won 10-3 Box Score DSL Cubs 2 won 10-6 Box Score OVERALL: 3-3

Intrigued, but iffy. He sounds like he has the tools to be a very good RF, possibly even a CF, but as a hitter, I'm a bit concerned with the reports about his pitch recognition and discipline. My impression is that he has more polish as a pitcher and a higher ceiling compared to the OF. Depending on who's available, I'd probably pass on Eibner if he refused to pitch. Bryce Brentz would be a better pick if the Cubs are searching for a corner OF, imo.

MOD #3

Because the odds of that continuing are most decidedly not in the Flyers' favor?

Box Scores Iowa won Game 1 of their DH 4-3 Box Score SS D. Barney 0/3, RBI CF S. Fuld 0/3, 2 Assists (2B, Home) LF J. Dubois 0/3, K 1B M. Hoffpauir 1/3, K C W. Castillo 1/3, 2B (6), E (3, pickoff) PR/LF J. Adduci 0/0, R RF B. Snyder 2/3, 2 R, RBI, HR (8) 2B B. Scales 1/2, R, RBI 3B M. Camp 1/3 PH C. Tracy 0/1 SP JR Mathes 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 9-2 GO-FO RP J. Gaub 1 scoreless, 2 H, 2/1 K/BB RP B. Schlitter 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO Iowa lost Game 2 of their DH 5-3 Box Score CF J. Adduci 0/3, K SS D. Barney 0/3 3B C. Tracy 0/3, K 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/3, R, 2B (10), K RF B. Snyder 1/3, R, K LF B. LaHair 1/3, R, 3 RBI, HR (5) C C. Robinson 1/2 2B M. Camp 0/2, E (7, fielding) PH J. Dubois 0/1, K SP T. Diamond 4 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 7/3 K/BB, 2 HR, WP, HBP, 1-3 GO-FO RP B. Parker 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 3-3 GO-FO Tennessee won 5-2 Box Score CF B. Guyer 0/5, 3 K 3B M. Smith 0/5, 4 K LF T. Wright 2/3, 2 BB, R, SB (3), Assist (Home) C R. Chirinos 0/4, BB, R, RBI RF M. Spencer 0/3, 2 BB, R, 2 K DH R. Canzler 4/5, 2 R SS M. Gonzalez 1/4, 3 RBI, 3B (1), K, SB (3), E (6, fielding) 2B T. Thomas 2/4, RBI, 2 K, 2 SB (4), E (8, fielding) SP C. Carpenter 6 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2/2 K/BB, 4-6 GO-FO RP J. Papelbon 3 scoreless, 0 H, 2/1 K/BB, 3-4 GO-FO Daytona won 6-3 Box Score CF B. Jackson 1/4, R, 3 K 3B DJ LeMahieu 0/3, RBI, K 1B R. Ridling 0/3, BB, R RF K. Burke 2/4, R, RBI, K, PO (1B) C M. Brenly 1/3, R, RBI, K SS J. Lake 0/2, BB, 2 E (19, fielding, throw) SP C. Archer 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 7-1 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 3/1 K/BB RP M. Perconte 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, HR, 4-0 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Peoria lost 10-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 2/5, 2 K CF L. Watkins 0/4, BB, R, 3 K 2B M. Cerda 4/4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3B (3) DH G. Rohan 1/4, BB, K 1B J. Bour 1/5, K LF DJ Fitzgerald 0/5, Assist (2B) RF JH Ha 2/4 3B C. Thomas 1/4, R, K SP R. Whitenack 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3/3 K/BB, 9-2 GO-FO RP L. Suarez .2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1/2 K/BB, WP, 0-1 GO-FO RP R. Morla 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1/2 K/BB, 2 WP, 1-1 GO-FO DSL Cubs 1 PPD DSL Cubs 2 PPD OVERALL: 3-2

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7844/jumpingbridge.jpg

Somewhere, Bruce Froemming smiles while Milt Pappas throws a chair at his TV.

I'll go ahead and predict a Jason Donald BB followed by a Trevor Crowe HR.

Done.

Gorzelanny has actually been one of the best pitchers on the Cubs this season. Moreover, he's only got a little over 2 years of ML service time, meaning he'll be cheap and under the Cubs' control for awhile. I like that the Cubs are willing to sell high on someone, but at the same time, we're talking about a guy who should bring back more than a decent setup man. So, here's an idea. Rather than trade Gorzelanny for a relief pitcher, why not move him into relief, and then move him back to starter next season if Lilly leaves town?

Some of the other mods will be handling this stuff for the next few days. Play nice.

Box Scores Iowa lost 5-3 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/3, R, BB, K SS D. Barney 1/4 3B C. Tracy 3/4, 2B (6), RBI RF B. Snyder 0/2, 2 BB, K, SB (6) SP T. Diamond 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, WP, 10-3 GO-FO RP J. Samardzija 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2-1 GO-FO RP A. Cashner 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO RP B. Parker 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 0-1 GO-FO Tennessee won 3-0 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/5, RBI, 2 K, CS (8) SS M. Gonzalez 1/5, R, 2 K LF-RF B. Guyer 0/5, 3 K 1B B. Lalli 2/3, RBI, BB, K RF M. Spencer 1/4, 2B (4) 3B J. Vitters 1/3, R, BB DH S. Clevenger 1/3, BB SP HW Chen 6.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 4-8 GO-FO RP D. Cales 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-1 GO-FO Daytona lost 5-4 Box Score CF B. Jackson 0/4, 3 K, HBP 2B DJ LeMahieu 2/5, PO 3B R. Flaherty 3/5 C M. Brenly 3/4, RBI, K, PB (3) RF S. Borges 1/4, R, HR (2), 3 RBI, 2 K SS J. Lake 1/3, K, HBP, PO SP C. Rusin 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 8-3 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1-4 GO-FO - 1.18 ERA, 9 BB/39 K in 38 innings Peoria lost 3-2 in 12 innings Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/4, R, BB, E (17, fielding) CF L. Watkins 0/2, 2 BB, 2 K 2B M. Cerda 0/4, RBI, K 1B G. Rohan 2/5 DH J. Bour 0/4, BB, 2 K RF JH Ha 1/4, HR (1), RBI SP N. Struck 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 4-8 GO-FO RP R. Morla 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 4-1 GO-FO RP L. Suarez 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1-1 GO-FO - 2.08 ERA, 8 BB/24 K in 21.2 innings DSL Cubs 1 won 7-4 on opening day Box Score CF O. Zapata 2/5, R, RBI, CS (1) - 17-years old SS G. Amaya 0/3, RBI, BB, 2 K, E (1, fielding) - 17-years old 1B G. Jimenez 1/4, R, SB (1) - 16-years old 2B Je. Rodriguez 3/3, R, RBI, E (1, missed catch) - 18-years old SP Y. Sanchez 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, WP, 4-9 GO-FO - 19-years old DSL Cubs 2 won 4-3 on opening day Box Score SS M. Hernandez 4/5, 2B (1), K - 17-years old 2B Gr. Gonzalez 2/4, R, RBI, SB (1) - 19-years old RF D. Arcila 1/4, K, outfield assist at second base - 17-years old 3B J. Altagracia 1/5, 2B (1), RBI, K - 17-years old C B. Inoa 1/4, 2B (1), BB, 2 K, 2 E (pickoff, throw) - 19-years old (His first name is Brain...not Brian, Brain.) CF Ed. Gonzalez 2/4, 2 R, 2B (1), RBI, K SP A. Paulino 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR, 5-1 GO-FO - 18-years old OVERALL: 3-3

Report on the Peoria game.

Plus, that deferred money can come back to haunt you. Cripes, the Rangers still owe Mickey Tettleton $1.4m.

BA's latest mock: They're beating this drum, but as much as I like this pick, it just leaves me scratching my head considering the Cubs usually don't draft high school players with high picks.

OM NOM NOM NOM!

Box Scores Iowa lost 6-5 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/4, BB, R, SB (5) SS D. Barney 3/5, K 3B C. Tracy 1/5, 2 R, 2B (5), K LF J. Dubois 1/3, 2 BB, R, RBI, K 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/2, K, Ejected in 4th 1B B. LaHair 0/2, BB, R, RBI, K RF B. Snyder 0/3, BB, K C C. Robinson 0/3, RBI, 2 K 2B M. Camp 0/2, BB, SB (5), HBP SP JR Mathes 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2/2 K/BB, HR, 11-1 GO-FO, E (2, throw) RP J. Gaub 2 scoreless, 1 H, 3/1 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO RP B. Schlitter 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3/0 K/BB, HR, 2-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 6-1 Box Score RF T. Thomas 0/4, 2 K, Assist (Home) 2B M. Smith 1/3, BB, K LF T. Wright 0/4, 3 K 1B R. Canzler 1/4, 2B (7), 3 K, 2 E (5, fielding, throw) 3B J. Vitters 0/4, K C S. Clevenger 1/4, RBI, 2B (7), K, E (2, throw) SS N. Samson 0/4, 2 K CF M. Gonzalez 1/3, K SP C. Carpenter 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3/3 K/BB, WP, 3-0 GO-FO RP A. Maestri 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 6-1 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP D. Cales 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2-1 GO-FO Daytona won 4-3 in the 10th Box Score CF B. Jackson 0/4, BB, K 3B DJ LeMahieu 2/5, RBI, K SS R. Flaherty 2/4, BB, 2 R, 2B (9) 1B R. Ridling 3/4, BB, 2 RBI, 2B (7) RF K. Burke 1/4, R, 2 K DH J. Opitz 1/4, 2B (6), K C M. Brenly 0/4, 2 K LF J. Valdez 1/3, R, K, SB (1), PO (2B), HBP SP C. Archer 6 scoreless, 1 H, 8/1 K/BB, 6-4 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 1.2 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO RP D. Patton .1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0-1 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 2-2 GO-FO Peoria won 10-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, 2 R, 2B (10), K 2B L. Watkins 0/4, R, K 3B M. Cerda 0/4, BB, R, RBI, K, E (8, throw) 1B J. Bour 2/5, R, 3 RBI, 2B (13), K LF DJ Fitzgerald 1/2, 2 BB, 2 R RF JH Ha 1/3, R, RBI DH C. Thomas 1/3, BB, R, 2 RBI, HR (2) SP R. Whitenack 5 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 8-2 GO-FO RP Y. Gonzalez 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1-2 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 scoreless, 0 H, 2/1 K/BB OVERALL: 2-2

...and is still working on a changeup...and has experience as a reliever with TCU...and would likely be behind Marmol, Marshall, and whoever in the rotation moves to the bullpen...hell, throw Grabow and Howry into that mix while you're at it... This team doesn't need yet another relief pitcher. The only problem with the bullpen is that we have a manager who is wholly incompetent in using it. I feel like we're back to the days when the Cubs needed to Dusty-proof the 25 man so he wouldn't lead off Lenny Harris every freaking day.

Now he knows our pain. Link

Eh, it's not that bad either. He'll be okay. Jeff Baker, on the other hand...yeah, that's bad.

These words make very little sense. I say we move John Gaub and Blake Parker to the rotation. We need to know what they can do as starters because these kids are young kids. I'd hate to know that they couldn't come up here because we had a need for our rotation.

Mathes can't be any worse than Grabow at this point.