Outshined_One

See, I think it's fun and neat to watch; especially with guys playing for these teams who are relative unknowns. I really do enjoy watching baseball. But...I'm not going to get worked up over it. I'm not going to fly off the handle if certain players aren't in the lineup. If a certain player isn't performing well, I won't jump down his throat; especially considering this is essentially Spring Training. Since that's the case, I'm going to treat these games exactly like I would with Spring Training games.

If there ever was a time to defect, now would pretty much be it.

People are still taking this thing seriously? Wow. I knew it was a money grab and a worthless exhibition from the get-go. This is basically Spring Training; of course the players are showing up looking rusty and ill-prepared. Most of them didn't play much baseball during the offseason. It's a given that they would not play up to par.

Hey, it's in the 40s here today! This is summer for Wisconsin. :P

During the offseason, I keep forgetting how bad the ESPN announcers are. Then, the moment Spring Training starts, I am fully reminded.

Well... he was batting. Hopefully they'll talk about Lee now. Nope, A-Rod and Varitek talk. Yay.

Funny how the announcers aren't talking about DLee winning the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove last season, yet are talking about Teixera doing so...

3-6-3 DP. :D

I have worries with both Hill and Gooz... For Hill, it is very hard for me to find some one with whom he can easily be compared. Prior to last season, his success and control were inconsistent (although his 2004 in the hurricane-shortened Daytona season was decent when he got regular work). Seeing a guy go from bouncing pitches off the backstop with some degree of regularity to leading the minors in strikeouts during his stint there last season is unusual. If he can keep up that success in Spring Training and down in AAA while developing an average third pitch, then I'll feel better about him. Guzman, on the other hand, is as much of an injury concern as Miller and Wood. I haven't seen enough of him to know if it's because of mechanical flaws, a frail body, carelessness by doctors, or what. He might be healthy and back to form now...but will he get injured again? Can he really be relied upon to stay healthy at this point in his career? Also, considering he hasn't pitched regularly in quite some time, there's still plenty of rust for him to shake off. Rusch I'm not a huge fan of, but Maddux has at least been reasonably consistent during his time with the Cubs. It really is a wait and see thing for me in terms of deciding whether I'd rather have those two over the youngsters or not this season.

I like this 25 man roster quite a bit. If Sing continues to produce in Spring Training and Pagan shows enough speed for Dusty to keep him around as a PR and a guy to give Pierre a day off every now and again, this roster looks quite realistic. One thing I would worry about is if Dusty decides to go with a seven man bullpen out of Spring Training...again...

We have like what, 1 pick? The first rounder is reasonably high, but after that, there won't be any picks until the fifth round. Yay.

You also never know who the Cubs could snag in the draft this year. If they take some one who's really advanced for his age (Wes Hodges, for example), he could be in the majors by 2008. However, this is not a team on a limited budget. While it's nice to dream about some of those guys, the Cubs have the resources to make a run at some of the top position players in the game through free agency and trades. Of the prospects/young guys you listed, I think Murton, Pie, Cedeno, (and Patterson (in that order) are the most likely to start and produce in the majors come 2008. However, that's not a guarantee.

Actually, a number of small school players do not get combine invites.

I'm thinking about attending some Chiefs games when they head out to Beloit and near Appleton (Timber Rattlers) in April. Where are the announcers booths at those parks so I can come up and meet you? :D

Great photo Outshined! Yes I think that Sean will be on the fast track. But remember he is just 20 years old. I am higher on Sean than some others are (especially those "experts" at Baseball America). But then again they evaluate on one or two starts while I saw all of his 2005 pitches. Sharp curveball, good control and wasn't even allowed to throw his slider which coming out of high school was a big pitch for him. He learned a lot here in 2005 from Tom Pratt in terms of learning how to pitch and working the mental side. He will have a big 2006 somehwere (Daytona? West Tenn? Both?) and I think you'll see him in Wrigley soon and it will be well deserved and hard-earned. Why did the Cubs not let Gallagher throw his slider? Did they scrap it out of worries about his arm, or did they want him to develop his other pitches before he could bring the slider back?

Apparently Barry Bonds became an old, injured, and struggling played immediately after the strike was resolved.

yeah, I know. I nearly choked on a dorito when Bob said that.

I've heard it pronounced two ways today: Duh-PIE-rack Duh-PAIR-ick

My understanding is that they reduced it to four pitches, but that he lacks a definitive out pitch.

Casey McGehee: Best defensive 3B in the Southern League last season.

Are you sure ? Pat & Ron said it was Sing. It was Dopirak. Marshall's curve is wicked.

Is it me or is Dusty slurring his words more than usual?

Dopirak is a great mistake pitch hitter, gotta give him credit for that.

Rammy with a nice grab on the smash.

Holy crap Marshall is scrawny.