Outshined_One

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.

Uggggggggggggggggggggggh... From BP: Don't do it, Jim.

Minor League Splits suggests that he's been unlucky, but even with his luck neutralized, his power numbers are pretty bad. I'm also a bit worried about his recent trend of racking up errors, although he made his fair share last season in Boise. Considering he's 19 years old and in Peoria, these sorts of bumps in the road are to be expected. He should have plenty of time to figure things out.

Box Scores Iowa PPD Tennessee lost 8-3 in the 10th Box Score CF T. Campana 0/5, K, Assist (1B) SS M. Gonzalez 1/5, R, K, SB (1) LF T. Wright 1/5, R C R. Chirinos 2/5, RBI, 2B (7), 2 K RF M. Spencer 0/2, BB, RBI 3B J. Vitters 1/4, K 2B T. Thomas 0/3, BB, 2 K PH B. Guyer 0/1 PH R. Canzler 0/0, BB PH N. Samson 0/1 SP M. Parisi 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0/1 K/BB, HR, 2-4 GO-FO RP D. Cales 3.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 7-1 GO-FO RP D. Sasser 1 perfect, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0/2 K/BB, HR, 3-3 GO-FO RP A. Maestri 1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 0/2 K/BB, HR, 2-1 GO-FO Daytona won 2-1 in the 10th Box Score CF B. Jackson 2/4, BB, 2 R, 2B (5), SB (6) 1B J. Opitz 1/5, K 3B R. Flaherty 3/4, 2 RBI, 2B (3), 3B (1), K DH R. Ridling 0/3, 2 BB, 2 K RF K. Burke 1/5 2B DJ LeMahieu 0/3 LF N. Perez 0/3, K SS J. Lake 0/4, 2 K, E (11, throw) SP B. Raley 5 scoreless, 4 H, 5/2 K/BB, HBP, 4-1 GO-FO, 2 pickoffs RP C. Rusin 3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4/0 K/BB, 4-1 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 2 perfect, 1-5 GO-FO Peoria PPD OVERALL: 1-1

Castro's looking okay, though. I'm just hoping Lou keeps playing him and letting him develop. He's up, we might as well see what he can do.

Ugly day for Peoria. Yeesh.

I really like Cox, but I don't see him making it to the Cubs. He should be a quality player at 2B or 3B, has pretty good tools across the board, should move fast through the minors, and reportedly will be easy to sign. He makes sense for the Cubs as an up the middle college player from a big school in a strong conference. However, in a year bereft of good college position players, Cox seems like a lock for the Top 10. Heck, the Pirates might consider snagging him at #2 overall if they want a repeat of last year's draft. On a related note, Jesse Hahn apparently has had forearm stiffness and shoulder issues. An MRI on his shoulder came back negative, but still, eek. I was thinking he could be a good choice for the Cubs in the first round...but not any more.

Box Scores Iowa won 6-1 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/5, R, RBI SS D. Barney 3/5, R, RBI, 2B (6), K 3B C. Tracy 4/5, 2B (1) 1B M. Hoffpauir 1/2, 2 BB, RBI LF B. LaHair 0/4, K C C. Robinson 0/4 RF J. Adduci 3/4, 2 R, 2B (4), CS (4) DH M. Smith 3/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (4), HR (1) 2B M. Camp 1/4, RBI, 2B (6) SP M. Atkins 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, HR, 6-7 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 2 scoreless, 0 H, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 1-4 GO-FO RP B. Parker 2 scoreless, 2 H, 1/0 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO Tennessee and Daytona with off days Peoria lost 15-6 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/4, BB, E (11, fielding) 2B L. Watkins 0/3, 2 BB, R, K 3B M. Cerda 1/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (4), E (4, throw) LF G. Rohan 1/3, 2 BB, 2 R, Assist (Home) 1B J. Bour 2/4, BB, R, K C J. Mota 0/4, BB, RBI, 2 K DH R. Jones 2/5, RBI CF J. Valdez 0/4, BB, 2 K RF F. Guzman 2/3, BB, R, K SP SM Jung 4 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 3/2 K/BB, HR, HBP, 5-3 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 0/1 K/BB, HR, 1-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 1-1

Box Scores Iowa lost 4-2 Box Score CF S. Fuld 2/3, 2 BB, R, RBI, 2B (2) SS D. Barney 1/5, RBI RF B. Snyder 0/4, K, Assist (2B) 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/3, BB 3B B. Scales 0/3, BB, K, 2 E (4, fielding, missed catch) DH B. LaHair 0/4, 2 K C W. Castillo 1/4, K LF J. Adduci 1/3, R, 2 K, SB (6) 2B M. Camp 0/2, 2 BB SP C. Coleman 7 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5/3 K/BB, HR, WP, HBP, 9-6 GO-FO RP M. Mateo 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO Tennessee won 6-5 in the 10th Box Score CF T. Campana 0/4 SS M. Gonzalez 1/4, 2 BB, R, RBI, HR (1), 2 K, E (1, fielding) LF T. Wright 2/4, 2 BB, RBI, PO (1B) C R. Chirinos 0/4, BB, R, K, PB (3) RF M. Spencer 2/5, R, K 3B R. Canzler 2/3, 2 BB, R, 2 RBI, HR (2), K, SB (1) 2B T. Thomas 1/3, RBI, K PH J. Opitz 0/1 2B N. Samson 2/2, 2 R SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7/1 K/BB, HBP, 8-3 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1 perfect, 0-2 GO-FO RP A. Maestri .1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 2 scoreless, 2 H, 2/1 K/BB, WP, 1-1 GO-FO Daytona won 4-1 Box Score CF B. Jackson 0/2, 2 BB 3B R. Flaherty 1/3, BB, 2 R, 2B (2) 1B R. Ridling 2/4, RBI, 2B (2), K, CS (1) RF K. Burke 1/4, R, 3B (2) SS DJ LeMahieu 2/4, 2 RBI, 2B (2) C M. Brenly 1/3, K DH N. Perez 0/3 SP C. Archer 5 scoreless, 2 H, 7/2 K/BB, 5-3 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO Peoria lost 5-0 Box Score CF J. Valdez 1/5, K SS L. Watkins 0/4, 2 K DH M. Cerda 0/4 3B G. Rohan 1/4, K 1B J. Bour 0/3, BB LF DJ Fitzgerald 3/4 RF F. Guzman 0/4, K SP J. Nagel .2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0/3 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP R. Searle 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5/5 K/BB, 8-2 GO-FO RP L. Suarez 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4/1 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

Bingo. This isn't a case involving a pitching prospect who is already pretty far along in his development and could benefit from work out of the major league pen in terms of saving his arm, exposing him to major league hitters, etc. Cashner is a harder case because he still has work to do on his third pitch and also because he has never had a full professional season where he's pitched more than 100 1/3 innings. Granted, he was a starter before going to TCU for his junior year, but his stuff wasn't nearly as good. If the Cubs have any intention of keeping Cashner as a SP, this season would not be a good time to break him in via the bullpen. If he pitches 150 innings this season, his change is a good pitch, and he's shown no signs of breaking down or exhaustion, fine, do it next season. Don't do it this season because this bullpen needs help.

Yep. Vitters also got booted up to Tennessee after a good, but not great, start to the season in Daytona along with Marwin Gonzalez. Flaherty got kicked down to Daytona after a lackluster start in Tennessee.

It's still a risk. If he spends a few months sitting too frequently, then gets sent down, burning an option, then that puts a little more urgency into the situation. The move in and of itself won't hurt his development, though. It's the handling of him after the move that could. That pretty much sums it up for me. Castro has the kind of game that should adapt well to the majors, but he still needs to make adjustments and improvements in order to become a successful every day regular. If he gets playing time and a long enough leash, he should be fine.

They were in the Knoxville area, which is about a four hour drive from Cincy. There should be a good chance of seeing him in tonight's lineup.

Anyone know if this will make Castro eligible for Super Two status?

Vitters is sporting a .291/.350/.445 line. Compared to last season, his Ks are up (22), but so are his BBs (8). Considering he's doing this in a league that's known for being pitcher-friendly, I'm happy to see his development coming along like this.

Box Scores Iowa won 4-2 Box Score CF S. Fuld 3/4, BB, R, 2B (1) SS D. Barney 0/4, K, HBP RF B. Snyder 0/4, K 1B M. Hoffpauir 3/3, BB, 2 RBI, 2B (6) DH C. Robinson 0/4, K LF B. LaHair 0/3, BB, 2 K C W. Castillo 0/3, BB, R, K, 2 PB (3) 3B B. Scales 0/3, BB, R, K 2B M. Camp 2/4, R, 2 RBI, 2B (5) SP T. Diamond 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5/5 K/BB, 6-3 GO-FO RP J. Samardzija 2 scoreless, 1 H, 3/1 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Gaub 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/2 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO RP B. Schlitter 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 6-1 Box Score CF T. Campana 3/4 SS M. Gonzalez 0/4 LF T. Wright 0/4 C R. Chirinos 0/4 RF M. Spencer 1/3, R, RBI, HR (3) PH S. Clevenger 0/1, K 3B J. Vitters 1/2, 2 E (throw x 2) 3B J. Opitz 0/1, E (4, fielding) 2B/RF T. Thomas 0/2, HBP SP HW Chen 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2/4 K/BB, WP, 4-8 GO-FO RP D. Sasser 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0/1 K/BB, WP, 2-2 GO-FO RP D. Cales 2 scoreless, 0 H, 2/1 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO Daytona lost 8-3 Box Score CF B. Jackson 3/4, R, CS (4) 3B R. Flaherty 1/4, R, RBI, 2B (1) 1B R. Ridling 1/4, K, SB (1) RF K. Burke 1/4, RBI, 2 K 2B DJ LeMahieu 0/4, K DH N. Perez 0/3, BB SS J. Lake 0/3, BB, K, CS (4) SP A. Cabrera 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 7/2 K/BB, HR, 4-2 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 3-1 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3/4 K/BB, Balk, 1-1 GO-FO Peoria won 10-5 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/3, 2 BB, HBP, 2 E (10, throw, fielding) 2B L. Watkins 2/5, BB, R, CS (3), E (4, fielding) 3B M. Cerda 1/3, 2 BB, 3 R, K LF G. Rohan 1/4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B (9), 2 K, 2 HBP 1B J. Bour 2/3, 2 BB, R C J. Mota 2/4, 4 RBI, 2B (1) DH DJ Fitzgerald 2/5, R, RBI, K, SB (2) RF R. Jones 1/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (7) CF J. Valdez 0/5, K SP K. McNutt 4+ IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 5/4 K/BB, 5-2 GO-FO RP R. Morla 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 2-2 GO-FO RP J. Leverton 2.1 scoreless, 2 H, 2/0 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/2 K/BB, WP, 1-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

What other dead weight? Besides, odds are Lou was gone once his contract was up after this year anyway if they didn't contend (ie - making it past the 1st round of the playoffs), so I doubt some epic tanking was necessary. Same goes for Hendry, too. At least an epic tanking would get us higher draft picks next June. True, though it's baseball, so it's not as imperative to get those spots. A tanking would generally just suck. If tanking nets the Cubs Anthony Rendon, it'd be worth the pain.

Tennessee is getting pounded 8-0 in the first game of their double header.

Peoria's recorded 6 errors so far and they're getting blown out 11-3 after 7 innings. Ugh.

Box Scores Iowa lost 2-1 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/2, BB, CS (1), HBP SS D. Barney 2/4, 2B (5), K RF J. Adduci 0/4, 2 K 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/3, BB, K 2B B. Scales 0/4, 2 K LF B. LaHair 1/2, BB, R, RBI, HR (3), K C C. Robinson 0/3, K SP J. Jackson 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, WP, 6-11 GO-FO RP E. Caridad 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 3-2 GO-FO Tennessee lost Game 1 of their DH 8-2 Box Score CF T. Campana 0/3 SS S. Castro 2/3, R, 3B (5) LF T. Wright 0/3, Assist (3B) 3B R. Canzler 0/3 RF M. Spencer 2/3, R, RBI, HR (2) 2B/CF T. Thomas 0/3, K, E (6, throw) C S. Clevenger 0/2 PH/2B N. Samson 0/1 SP C. Carpenter 3.2 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 6/2 K/BB, WP, 2-3 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 2.1 scoreless, 3 H, 1/0 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2-0 GO-FO Tennessee won Game 2 of their DH 5-0 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/3, BB, R, 2 K, SB (11) SS N. Samson 1/2, BB, R, RBI RF M. Spencer 1/2, BB, RBI, K LF T. Wright 1/2, BB, R, SB (2) 3B R. Flaherty 1/2, BB, R 2B/3B J. Opitz 1/3, R, 2 RBI, 2B (3), K 2B T. Thomas 0/1 SP A. Cashner 5.2 scoreless, 2 H, 8/3 K/BB, 8-1 GO-FO RP A. Maestri 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Daytona lost 4-1 Box Score CF B. Jackson 2/4, R, 2 K, 2 Assists (Home, 3B) RF K. Burke 1/4, K 1B R. Ridling 1/4 DH J. Vitters 1/3, BB 3B DJ LeMahieu 0/4, K C M. Brenly 1/4, K, PB (1) LF N. Perez 0/2, 2 K SS J. Lake 0/3, 2 K, E (10, throw) SP R. Dolis 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3/4 K/BB, 8-3 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 3-4 GO-FO Peoria lost 11-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/4, BB, K, 2 E (8, throw, fielding) RF J. Valdez 1/4, R, 2 K, HBP, 2 E (6, throw, fielding) 3B M. Cerda 1/5, R, 2 K DH G. Rohan 2/5, 2 K C J. Mota 2/4, 2 RBI LF DJ Fitzgerald 0/4, R 1B R. Jones 1/4, RBI, 2B (6), E (3, fielding) CF F. Guzman 1/2, 2 BB, R SP N. Struck 2.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0/4 K/BB, HR, 3-3 GO-FO RP J. Antigua 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5/0 K/BB, HR, 6-4 GO-FO OVERALL: 1-4

Jackson has a good deal more power than his current output has shown. I think he has a pretty good shot of being a 20-25 HR hitter in his prime. He profiles more as a middle of the order type. My guess is the Cubs are batting him at #2 to work on contact and pitch recognition, but I could be wrong. Castro could be a leadoff type, but I'm not a fan of the idea since he's fairly aggressive at the plate, won't draw many walks, and has enough power to make me think he could be a #2 hitter more than anything else. However, this could also be the work of their respective managers who are merely filling out lineup cards the way they think appropriate. It's hard to know without inside information.

Box Scores Iowa won 9-5 Box Score CF/LF J. Adduci 1/5, R, K SS D. Barney 3/5, 2 R, 2B (4), SB (2) RF B. Snyder 1/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (2), 2 K 1B M. Hoffpauir 1/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, 3B (1), K 2B B. Scales 1/2, 3 BB, 2 R, SB (3) LF B. LaHair 3/5, R, 6 RBI, 2B (5), HR (2), 2 K C W. Castillo 1/4, BB, 2 K 3B M. Camp 0/3, BB, SB (4), E (4, fielding) SP JR Mathes 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, HR, WP, 12-3 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 2 scoreless, 2 H, 4/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP B. Parker 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 2-1 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/4, 2B (5) SS S. Castro 3/5 LF T. Wright 0/4 C R. Chirinos 3/4 RF M. Spencer 2/3, RBI, 2B (2), K 2B T. Thomas 1/4, PO (1B) 3B R. Flaherty 0/2, BB PH S. Clevenger 0/1 3B J. Opitz 1/2 SP C. Muschko 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2/2 K/BB, 8-7 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB RP D. Cales 1 perfect, 1-2 GO-FO Daytona won 4-3 Box Score CF B. Jackson 1/3, 2 BB, R, SB (5) 3B M. Gonzalez 1/5, RBI, K RF K. Burke 0/5, 2 K 1B R. Ridling 1/5, R DH J. Vitters 2/4, R, 2B (8), K 2B DJ LeMahieu 1/4, RBI, K LF N. Perez 1/3, R, 2B (4), E (1, throw) C M. Brenly 3/4, RBI, 2B (1) SS J. Lake 0/3, BB, 2 K SP DE Rhee 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2/2 K/BB, HBP, 10-2 GO-FO RP C. Rusin 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3/0 K/BB, HR, 5-1 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 1 perfect, 2-1 GO-FO Peoria won 9-6 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (5), K, 2 E (6, fielding x 2) 2B L. Watkins 1/4, BB, R, K 3B M. Cerda 1/4, BB, R, 2B (3) LF G. Rohan 2/5, R, 2 RBI, K 1B J. Bour 1/3, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI DH DJ Fitzgerald 2/3, BB, R, K RF R. Jones 1/4, R, RBI, K CF J. Valdez 2/4, 2 K, SB (17), CS (5), Assist (3B) SP R. Whitenack 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3/2 K/BB, HR, 10-2 GO-FO RP R. Morla 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO OVERALL: 3-1

So, which player should we all get irrationally excited for this go-round, only to have the Cubs crush our hopes and pass on him?

Setting aside Nolasco's performance for a moment, I'm still pissed off at the fact that Nolasco, Mitre, and Pinto could have netted something better than Juan [expletive] Pierre at the time they were traded. None of those three were considered future aces, but all of them had value on the trade market beyond the return they got.