Outshined_One

Personally, chorizo is one of my favorite kinds of sausage. I like it about as much as good Italian sausage and better than most other types. Brown sugar and cumin are usually in it, plus it typically renders enough fat to make cooking with other foods easy (and delicious). It goes really well with spinach and makes for really tasty tacos/enchiladas, imo.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/3839/urfuq2.jpg Words fail me.

I figured this thread was in order given the fact that the trade deadline is coming up at 4 PM. There's going to be a flood of threads on everything from crazy rumors to the more realistic. There can be some centralized discussion here instead of 200 discussions spanning over 30 different threads. The questions remain: Who will be a Cub when all is said and done? Where's Soriano going to end up? Will guys like Jason Schmidt and Barry Zito be on the move? Can the Red Sox pull off a multi-team deal in their quest to acquire a starting pitcher? Are teams like the Reds, Yankees, and Rangers done dealing? What surprise trades will happen? Is there any hope for Hendry acquiring some one like Andy LaRoche or George Kottaras in exchange for Maddux? All this and more will be answered after the 4 PM deadline! Stay tuned. :D

Todd Walker's gotta be pleased with those rumors.

Box Scores Iowa lost 4-0 Box Score CF F. Pie 0/3, BB, 2 K 2B M. Fontenot 0/1, 3 BB, K, CS (4) 3B C. McGehee 1/4, 2 K RF M. Restovich 2/4, K 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/4, K SS B. Coats 1/3 C G. Soto 0/2, BB, K SP R. O'Malley 7 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1/3 K/BB, 14-6 GO-FO West Tenn won 5-2 Box Score CF C. Walker 0/4, 2 K 2B E. Patterson 0/3, RBI, K RF M. Negron 1/3, BB, R 1B B. Dopirak 0/3, 3 K 3B S. Moore 2/3, 2 R, RBI, HR (16) C J. Fox 1/3, R, 3 RBI, HR (3), K SP I. Pavlik 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER (both inherited), 3/2 K/BB, 5-13 GO-FO RP E. Campusano 2 scoreless, 1 H, 3/2 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO Daytona lost 4-0 Box Score SS J. Mota 2/4, 2 K 1B M. Craig 0/4, K RF R. Harvey 1/4, 2 K C J. Muyo 0/3 SP D. Veal 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6/3 K/BB, 7-4 GO-FO RP G. Johnson 2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 2-3 GO-FO Peoria lost 3-1 Box Score CF D. Gregg 0/3, BB, K C M. Reed 0/4 LF J. Valdez 0/4 1B R. Norwood 2/4 SS R. Chirinos 1/4 RF Y. Carter 0/3, BB, 2 K 2B A. Garcia 1/4, R, K SP W. Miller 4 scoreless, 3 H, 5/0 K/BB, 3-4 GO-FO RP J. Santo 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5/2 K/BB, 6-2 GO-FO RP M. Avery .2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Boise lost 1-0 Box Score CF M. Camp 0/3, BB, K PH DJ Lewis 0/1 LF T. Colvin 1/3, 2 K 1B R. Canzler 0/3, 2 K DH J. Lansford 1/3, K RF A. Joseph 0/3, K 2B S. Clevenger 0/3, K 3B E. Puello 0/3, K C M. Mercedes 0/3, K SP M. Pawelek 5 scoreless, 1 H, 4/1 K/BB, HBP, 5-5 GO-FO RP J. Pina 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 0-3 GO-FO Mesa won 8-2 Box Score 2B V. Heredia 3/5, 2 R, RBI, 2B (2), SB (18) CF D. Rundle 2/5, R, RBI, SB (1) DH C. Gilbert 2/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (3), K 3B M. Gonzalez 1/4, 2 RBI, 2 K, E (7, fielding) LF C. Andersen 1/3, BB, R, K SS F. Tirado 2/4, E (3, fielding) SP M. Carrillo 3 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 6-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-4

Clearly they think so given that they offered him as a part of a package for Tejada.

I'll take full credit for the LaRoche hype and dreaming around here. He's been on my wish list for awhile now and would be the perfect guy to take over for Ramirez next year (if Rammy opts out or is traded). I've been thinking out loud with him on these boards. :D However, I also know that the odds of it happening are really slim. Ah well, I can dream. :pig:

Bingo. He was supposed to be a first rounder coming out of HS, but was waylaid by TJS. Everyone figured he was going to college (UNC I think?), but the Angels nabbed him and threw a boatload of money his way. He's impressive and has a heck of a ceiling. I'd absolutely love to see him in this system.

Santana definitely would make any offseason problems involving the rotation easier to handle. If Hendry doesn't botch these trades, the Cubs could have a very good young team in place to compete in 2007 and beyond.

The Cubs getting a AAA pitcher and a AAA hitter for Maddux from LA? LaRoche and Miller plz.

Aybar + McPherson + Santana would be an intriguing deal for Ramirez, imo.

If there's a glut of starters and concern for the bullpen, why not piggyback some starters? Heck, if Guzman and Marshall are health concerns, wouldn't it make sense to tag team them in order to reduce their workload and give them much-needed experience all at once?

Box Scores Iowa won 12-11 Box Score CF F. Pie 1/6, RBI 2B M. Fontenot 2/4, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (26) LF/1B M. Restovich 2/5, R, 5 RBI, HR (18), K, Assist (2B) 3B C. McGehee 1/2, 3 BB, 2 R, K, E (8, fielding) RF C. Boats 1/4, BB, K C J. Reyes 0/1, 4 BB, 2 R PH M. Hoffpauir 1/1, RBI PH/LF L. Montanez 1/1, 2 R, RBI SP R. Wells 4 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1/3 K/BB, HR, 4-7 GO-FO RP W. Chavez 1 hitless/scoreless, 2/1 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO West Tenn lost 6-5 Box Score CF C. Walker 0/4, 2 K 2B E. Patterson 1/3, 2 BB, R, 2B (22), K, SB (36) 3B S. Moore 2/4, BB, R, RBI, E (17, fielding) 1B B. Dopirak 1/4, BB, R, 2 RBI, HR (1), 2 K LF M. Negron 0/2, 2 BB, R, 3 SB (7) C J. Fox 2/4, R, RBI PH R. Lewis 1/1 PH B. Sing 0/1 SP C. Shaver 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 6/0 K/BB, WP, 5-6 GO-FO RP L. Holdzkom 1 scoreless, 2 H, 2-1 GO-FO Daytona with an off day. Peoria lost 8-6 Box Score CF D. Gregg 1/4, BB, 2 R, K, SB (24) 2B R. Malone 1/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (11), K LF J. Valdez 3/5, RBI, 2B (20) 1B R. Norwood 1/5, RBI, K SS R. Chirinos 0/3, BB, R, K C M. Reed 1/3, BB, R, 2B (11), 2 K RF Y. Carter 2/4, 2 RBI, 2 2B (6), 2 K SP J. Yepez 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 4/2 K/BB, HR, 2 WP, 5-6 GO-FO Boise lost 7-1 Box Score CF M. Camp 0/4 3B J. Lansford 1/4, K, E (5, fielding) LF T. Colvni 0/4, R 1B R. Canzler 1/4, 2B (12), 2 K RF A. Joseph 1/4, 2B (10), RBI, E (1, fielding) DH DJ Lewis 0/4, 2 K 2B S. Clevenger 1/2, BB SS P. Lopez 1/3 SP M. Billek 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2/2 K/BB, 10-3 GO-FO Mesa with an off day. OVERALL: 1-3

We can match that, but it wouldn't be worthwhile. I really like Tejada and think he could still help this team for the near future, but if Angelos doesn't want to accept Aybar and Santana for him, the kind of package he would accept likely would decimate almost any farm system.

Elbert + LaRoche for Aramis plz.

You mean the way the Cardinals beat his brains in today? :D That outing just upped his trade vale enough to make dealing him worthwhile, imo. :D If Rammy is indeed going to opt out, I want Ryan Braun or Andy LaRoche for Maddux if at all possible.

Clearly, he decided to go after more than one heckler. ;) Also, in past games where the weather was like this (heat warning today!), typically players from the Cubs come out with hoses and use them on the fans in the bleachers. It's a surprisingly good way to cool down.

Neifi, Pagan, and Mabry? It's like some sort of dream come true!

Even better than Jay Bruce? Yikes!

Zambrano for Young, Dukes, and Upton? I...really don't know how I'd feel about that deal. Those three guys clearly have their share of makeup problems, but they are also three of the best positional prospects in baseball. Ideally, they could form a young core that could make this team an offensive powerhouse for years to come. If the organization can keep them out of trouble, they could all turn out to be spectacular. Man, I'd have a hard time walking away from that deal. Granted, the D-Rays would probably only trade Dukes for Zambrano, but since we're talking hypothetically, I don't see much harm in it.

If Jake Peavy didn't have that shoulder injury hanging over his head, I'd be all for a deal involving him. :D Anyone know what happened to Cesar Carrillo? I thought he contracted the dreaded Tommy John Disease, but can't find anything for certain. If his injury is something he can fully recover from in the next year, I'd be quite interested in having him in the organization.

So, Navin and I were having a discussion about some of the minor league guys and we noticed a pattern with a number of position players originating in the Cubs' system (Corey Patterson, Felix Pie, Ryan Harvey, Tyler Colvin). During times when they're slumping and putting up low averages & power numbers, their walk totals are typically above their career line. Yet, during hot streaks, their averages and power go through the roof while the number of walks they take decreases by a noticeable degree. Is this true of baseball in general? Or is it a result of the organizational philosophy in terms of the players they seek out and/or their coaching methods?

Fun day in the Cubs' system despite the 3-3 outcome!

Strange as it sounds, Harvey's pretty much putting up really similar to the numbers he did last season in Peoria, save for doubles, stolen bases, and caught stealing. There's part of me that worries about how much the Cubs have adjusted his game since last season. The numbers he put up were pretty good in the power department, but really frightening in the BB and K departments. I haven't seen much change in those areas of his game this season, based on the numbers and what I've been hearing. It's weird watching a lot of these guys in the Cubs' system. When they get hot, they hit the ball much better and take fewer walks. Colvin, Pie, and Harvey all come immediately to mind in that regard. Yet, while slumping, their walk numbers increase while their average and power numbers take a hit. I wonder if it's an organizational thing or just true of most guys in baseball...

Box Scores Iowa lost 6-4 Box Score CF F. Pie 1/5, RBI, K, Assist (3B) 2B M. Fontenot 1/5, R 3B C. McGehee 0/3, BB, K LF M. Restovich 2/4, R, 2B (21), 2 K 1B M. Hoffpauir 1/4, RBI C G. Soto 1/3, HBP RF B. Coats 1/3, R, RBI PH L. Montanez 1/1 SP J. Williams 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1/4 K/BB, HR, 9-6 GO-FO RP D. Aardsma .1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO, E (1, throw) RP C. Rapada 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO West Tenn won 5-4 Box Score CF C. Walker 1/4, BB, R, 2B (16), K 2B R. Lewis 2/4, R, 2B (12) 3B S. Moore 0/3, BB, 2 K 1B B. Dopirak 2/4, R, 3 RBI, 2 2B (11) RF B. Sing 1/4, RBI, 2B (6), 2 K PH E. Patterson 0/0, BB SP S. Gallagher 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5/3 K/BB, HR, WP, 9-3 GO-FO RP I. Pavlik 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO RP T. Atlee .2 hitless, 1 ER, 1/2 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO RP E. Campusano 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO Daytona lost 4-0 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/4, 3 K SS J. Mota 1/4 RF R. Harvey 1/4, 2B (18) C J. Muyco 2/3 SP B. Petrick 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 2 HBP, 9-5 GO-FO Peoria lost 11-2 Box Score CF D. Gregg 1/4, R, K 3B R. Malone 2/4, RBI, K LF J. Valdez 1/4 1B R. Norwood 0/3, K 2B R. Chirinos 0/1, BB, K, HBP DH A. Garcia 1/4, R, 3B (2), K RF Y. Carter 0/4, RBI, K, E (3, throw) SS K. Reynolds 0/3 SP T. Blackford 2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 4-1 GO-FO Boise lost 7-5 Box Score RF M. Camp 2/5, R, E (3, throw) CF T. Colvin 1/4, R, RBI, 2 K 3B J. Lansford 1/4 DH R. Canzler 1/4 LF DJ Lewis 2/4, R, 2 RBI, HR (3) 2B S. Clevenger 2/3, BB, 2 R, 2B (6), 3B (1), E (8, fielding) 1B E. Puello 1/4, RBI, 2 K, CS (1), E (5, fielding) PH M. Mercedes 0/1, RBI SP A. Francisco 4 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1/2 K/BB, 5-5 GO-FO RP J. Papelbon 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6/0 K/BB, HR, 1-2 GO-FO Mesa lost 2-1 Box Score LF W. Inoa 0/4, 4 K CF D. Rundle 2/4, R, RBI, 2B (2), HR (1) C C. Perez 1/4, K, Pickoff Throw (2B) 3B M. Gonzalez 1/4, 2 K 1B L. Murphy 0/3, 2 K SS F. Tirado 0/3, K 2B C. Valentin 1/3 SP G. Cuevas Novas 2 scoreless, 2 H, 2/0 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO RP A. Albuquerque 2 hitless/scoreless, 2/1 K/BB, 0-4 GO-FO RP B. Taylor 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3-2 GO-FO RP R. Hernandez 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0/1 K/BB, HR, 1-4 GO-FO OVERALL: 1-5