Outshined_One

5 scoreless, 4 H, 6 Ks, 2 BBs He needs to cut down on the BBs, but his overall numbers are looking really good right now.

I'd be up for it, but it'd be a bit of a pain doing it after the draft. You never know who will and won't sign. Something brief would be workable.

McNutt with 4 Ks and 2 baserunners (1 BB, 1 H) through 2. Nice.

The Sosa trade was pretty bad, especially considering this organization did everything it could to railroad him out of town. Most people around here expected a better return than what we got for Sosa (remember, Fontenot wasn't well thought of at the time), but the problem was the Cubs pretty much shot themselves in the foot when they made it blindly obvious they were trying to trade him and distance themselves for him. Even worse, that whole fiasco handcuffed the Cubs in an offseason where (potentially) they could have pursued high quality replacements for Sosa (which included Beltran and JD Drew). Instead, they ended up with Jeromy Burnitz. Hendry also traded away potentially useful guys like Bill Mueller, Mark Bellhorn, and Felix Pie. Plus, Cruz and Wuertz weren't the only bullpen guys who got shipped off for scrap; there have been plenty of those trades during Hendry's tenure. If we're going to talk about his good trades, we also need to talk about his bad trades, imo.

Some injury news from Bruce Miles: -Mike Parisi to undergo elbow surgery -Marcos Mateo is waiting for results from an MRI on his right knee; Oneri Fleita did not sound optimistic about it -Brett Jackson has a minor foot injury and is day to day :(

Archer is getting the start for Daytona. Jackson is not in the lineup for either Daytona or Tennessee.

I have to assume that's common for most organizations, as much as I love guys like Parker and Cales. I'm unsure of that. In years past, namely when the farm system was bereft, it seemed like even the relief pitchers sucked. Every organization has filler arms and random guys they can call up to get shelled in blowouts. However, since 2006, it feels like the Cubs have drafted a decent number of guys who could be quality relief pitchers some day. It's an assertion that requires more research, I'll grant you that. However, the relief pitchers in this system seem a lot better than they did even 4 years ago.

Sammy Sosa for Dave Crouthers, Mike Fontenot, and Jerry Hairston Jr.!

That's pretty much what I was doing. Don't get me wrong, I think trades are important in evaluating a general manager's performance. They're not the be-all, end-all, but trades are an important part of building a successful franchise. Jim Hendry should be evaluated on his trades...but in reality, how good has he been at it? The Izturis and Pierre deals were two bad ones, but what about some of Hendry's other stink bombs? For example, Juan Cruz for Andy Pratt and Richard Lewis was pretty awful. Or, one of my personal favorites, Jake Renshaw, Rocky Cherry, and Scott Moore for Steve Trachsel was just dumb.

One thing I've noticed from Wilken's drafts is that the Cubs' system has a lot of relief pitchers who could contribute to major league bullpens. Here's a list of some of the relievers the Cubs have drafted since 2006 who could fit that bill: 2006: Jeff Samardzija (yeah, yeah, I know, I know), Chris Huseby, Blake Parker, Jeremy Papelbon, Jordan Latham 2007: Casey Lambert, James Russell, Dustin Sasser, Craig Muschko, Luke Sommer 2008: Aaron Shafer, James Leverton, Jeff Beliveau, David Cales It's hard to judge 2009's draft since a bunch of those draftees are currently getting starter workloads or are in EXST. Predicting their future is difficult, but all of those guys have performed well in the minors and, at the very least, have ceilings of effective middle relievers.

Wrigley Bound profiled pitchers and hitters the Cubs might target in the draft. I don't agree with everything the author says about the Cubs, but the profiles are well done and they should give you people a good idea of the kinds of players the Cubs will be looking at with the #16 pick. Primer Pitchers Hitters

How many awesome trades has Jim Hendry had? Off the top of my head, I can think of four or five that could qualify (Karros/Grudz, Ramirez/Lofton, Lee, Nomar, and Harden). Am I missing any?

Box Scores Iowa won 8-4 Box Score CF/LF J. Adduci 1/5, 2 R, 2B (5) SS D. Barney 1/5, 2 R DH C. Tracy 4/5, R, 3 RBI, 2 2B (3), K 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/4, RBI, K 3B M. Smith 0/3, 2 BB, R LF B. LaHair 3/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (6), HR (4), K, SB (2) CF S. Fuld 0/1 RF B. Snyder 1/4, 3B (2), 2 K, E (2, fielding) C W. Castillo 1/4, RBI 2B B. Scales 1/4, K SP T. Diamond 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 3-7 GO-FO RP J. Jackson 1.1 scoreless, 3 H, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Gaub .1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB RP B. Schlitter 2.1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-4 GO-FO Tennessee lost 5-3 Box Score CF T. Campana 2/4, BB, R SS M. Gonzalez 0/5, RBI, K, 2 E (3, throw x 2) LF T. Wright 2/5, R, RBI, 2B (9) RF M. Spencer 1/4, 2 K C R. Chirinos 0/4 3B J. Vitters 1/4, E (4, throw) 2B N. Samson 3/4, R SP HW Chen 7 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3/0 K/BB, 2 HR, HBP, 7-9 GO-FO, E (2, missed catch) RP D. Cales 2 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO Daytona lost 3-2 Box Score DH J. Opitz 1/4 2B R. Flaherty 2/4, RBI, 2 K 1B R. Ridling 0/4, K CF K. Burke 0/4, 2 K 3B DJ LeMahieu 1/4, SB (2) SS J. Lake 1/3, R, K, CS (5) SP C. Archer 5 scoreless, 1 H, 2/3 K/BB, HBP, 7-6 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 2 scoreless, 0 H, 2/1 K/BB, HBP, 1-2 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau .1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, HBP Peoria won 7-1 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/5, R 2B L. Watkins 1/5, R, RBI, K DH M. Cerda 3/5, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR (2) 3B G. Rohan 2/5, 2 K 1B J. Bour 1/4, R, RBI, HR (3) LF DJ Fitzgerald 1/4, RBI, 3 K RF R. Jones 1/4 CF F. Guzman 1/3, BB, 2 R, K, SB (3) SP K. McNutt 6 scoreless, 5 H, 7/2 K/BB, 5-6 GO-FO RP J. Nagel 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3/0 K/BB, WP, 4-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

Injury? Dead arm? No arms available in the bullpen?

Box Scores Iowa won 6-1 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/5, 2 K SS D. Barney 1/4, R, 2B (7), K DH C. Tracy 0/2, 2 BB, 2 R 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/4, R, 3 RBI, HR (5), 2 K 3B M. Smith 0/2, BB, R, RBI LF B. LaHair 0/4, K C C. Robinson 0/4 RF B. Snyder 2/4, R, RBI, K 2B M. Camp 1/4 SP A. Cashner 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 6-6 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 2 scoreless, 2 H, 2/0 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO RP B. Parker 1 perfect, 1-2 GO-FO Tennessee lost 6-5 in the 10th Box Score 2B T. Thomas 0/5, RBI, 2 K, E (7, missed catch) CF/LF T. Wright 1/5, R, 2B (8) LF R. Canzler 0/1, 3 BB PR/CF T. Campana 0/1 C R. Chirinos 2/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B (9), K RF M. Spencer 2/5, R, K 3B J. Vitters 2/4, R, 2 2B (3), E (3, throw) SS N. Samson 1/4, RBI, K PH M. Gonzalez 0/1 SP C. Carpenter 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2/2 K/BB, HBP, 8-6 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2/3 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO, E (1, pickoff) RP M. Mateo 0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER RP A. Maestri .2 scoreless, 1 H, 2-0 GO-FO Daytona won 10-6 Box Score 1B J. Opitz 1/3, BB, R, RBI SS R. Flaherty 0/3, BB, RBI, 2 K, E (1, throw) DH R. Ridling 1/5, RBI, K CF K. Burke 1/2, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (8), HBP, Assist (3B) 2B DJ LeMahieu 1/5, RBI, 2B (3), 2 K C M. Brenly 1/5, 2 R, RBI, 2B (2) RF N. Perez 2/5, 2 R, 2B (5), K SP R. Dolis 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3/4 K/BB, 4-3 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 4/0 K/BB Peoria lost 5-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/4, 2 K 2B L. Watkins 1/4, CS (4), PO (1B) 3B G. Rohan 0/4, R, K 1B J. Bour 1/4, R, E (4, pickoff) DH DJ Fitzgerald 3/3, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (2), HR (1), PO (1B) C J. Mota 1/3, BB, 2 K, PB (3) LF R. Jones 1/3, RBI, K CF J. Valdez 0/4, RBI, 2 K RF F. Guzman 0/3 PH M. Cerda 0/1, K SP N. Struck 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5/1 K/BB, 2 WP, HBP, 4-4 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

We need that kind of manager now! Lou Piniella looks lethargic and lets his players get away with all sorts of crap!!! I say we drag Earl Weaver out of retirement. He'll show this team how it's done!

Looks like an offensive war out in Las Vegas right now, with Iowa leading 15-10 in the 8th. Jay Jackson even logged an inning as a reliever. :-s I really hope he's not being groomed for a bullpen callup. That would just piss me off.

After losing Game 1 of their double header 13-3, Peoria is currently losing Game 2 8-0 in the 5th inning.

Can Z take over at manager?

Box Scores Iowa won 15-10 Box Score CF S. Fuld 3/5, BB, 3 R, RBI, 3B (2) SS D. Barney 3/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, K 3B C. Tracy 2/6, 2 R, RBI, E (1, fielding) 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/4, 2 BB, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2B (7), HR (4), K DH M. Smith 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (6), K LF B. Scales 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (11), K C W. Castillo 1/5, RBI, 2B (2), 2 K RF J. Adduci 1/5, R, 3 K 2B M. Camp 2/5, 2 R, RBI, E (5, fielding) SP JR Mathes 3.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 4-5 GO-FO RP J. Samardzija 1.2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 0-2 GO-FO RP J. Jackson 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB RP J. Gray .2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1/2 K/BB, HBP, 1-0 GO-FO RP B. Schlitter 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Gaub 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2-1 GO-FO Tennessee won 4-3 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/3 SS M. Gonzalez 1/4, R, RBI, K RF M. Spencer 1/3, BB, R, K, SB (1) C S. Clevenger 2/4, R, 2 RBI LF B. Guyer 0/4 3B J. Vitters 2/3, RBI, 2B (1), K, PO (2B) 2B T. Thomas 1/3, K PH/LF T. Wright 0/0, BB, R SP C. Muschko 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2/0 K/BB, HR, 8-11 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Daytona lost 2-0 Box Score 3B J. Opitz 0/4, K DH R. Flaherty 1/3, 2B (4), K 1B R. Ridling 1/3, K, SB (2) 2B DJ LeMahieu 1/3, K CF K. Burke 0/3, K C M. Brenly 1/3 PH/RF N. Perez 0/1, K SS J. Lake 0/3, K SP DE Rhee 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3/2 K/BB, Balk, 6-5 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau .2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 1.2 scoreless, 0 H, 1/2 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Peoria lost Game 1 of their DH 13-3 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, 2 K 2B L. Watkins 2/3, R, 2B (2) 3B M. Cerda 0/3, E (5, throw) DH G. Rohan 0/2, R, RBI 1B J. Bour 2/2, BB, R, 2 RBI, HR (1) C J. Mota 0/3, K LF R. Jones 1/3, K RF J. Valdez 0/3, K, CS (6) CF F. Guzman 0/2, BB, K SP R. Whitenack 4.2 IP, 12 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 3/0 K/BB, HR, 2 WP, HBP, 7-3 GO-FO RP R. Morla 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5/0 K/BB, HR, WP, 2-0 GO-FO Peoria lost Game 2 of their DH 11-2 Box Score SS HJ Lee 2/3, 2B (6), E (12, throw) DH L. Watkins 0/3, K 3B G. Rohan 0/3, RBI 1B J. Bour 0/3, K LF DJ Fitzgerald 1/3, R, 2 K RF R. Jones 1/3 CF J. Valdez 1/3, R, K SP J. Antigua 3 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 3/2 K/BB, 2 HR, WP, HBP, 2-2 GO-FO RP L. Suarez 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4/1 K/BB, HR, 1-0 GO-FO RP J. Leverton 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2/0 K/BB, HR, 3-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-3

Anyway to get his BABIP and LD%? Link

The real question is who are we sending to the 'pen? Andrew Cashner is probably the answer to both questions.

Fannnnnnnnntastic.

In previous versions of his mock draft, he's had: 4/14/2010 - Jesse Hahn, RHP, Virginia Tech 3/22/2010 - Jesse Hahn, RHP, Virginia Tech 1/15/2010 - Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss 10/5/2009 - Stetson Allie, RHP, St. Edwards HS (OH) His latest was posted today. That pick makes a ton of sense, too.

The worrying thing to me is that the Cubs supposedly have played the "easy" part of their schedule. My numbers might be a bit off, but as of today, the combined record of the Cubs' opponents is 116-133 (.465). It would be one thing if the Cubs had played a really difficult stretch against teams like the Cardinals, Phillies, Padres, and Giants...but the Cubs haven't played any of those teams yet. If this team can't post a winning record against teams like the Pirates and the Astros, they're in serious trouble.