CubsInNC

I know it's not the exact proper location, but based on twitter, Charles Thomas is being sent to instructionals again this winter.

Just want to clarify something about this. Having lived in Indy during that time frame, and been around several pacers players, the city was Pacers crazy... or real big Knick haters take your pick. But the point is, the Pacers were winning. There were problems. There were players with reputations for poor behavior. But, it didn't matter as much, because they were winning. Stories were ignored, or just not deemed important, because the teams were good. Yes, the fanbase did get tired of Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, Williams, Best, Davis, et al. But, was that because they were poorer examples of behavior, or was that because they were scapegoated and pointed at, because the pacers were losing?

I can't stand it any longer Drop Dunn Add Pujols Drop Smoak Add Berkman

Jokisch (PEO): 5ip, 2h, 0r, 3bb, 4k 83 pitches

While I think he'll get some work in still this calendar year, I agree about not counting on him as a member of the ML rotation next year. But I'm not opposed to having him be the #6/7 option (prefer #7).

I'm really mulling a Dunn drop. But I don't want to burn the transaction in case of devastating injuries. Here's to hoping he bounces back.

My SWM died Sunday night, and the tech's not coming until today. Feel your pain.

What about the possibility of keeping Hendry through the waiver trade deadline, and then firing him? You can for the most part operate the remainder of the season without a GM, openly search, and the moment teams are eliminated from the post season, begin asking for permission to interview. Hopefully having your choice ready, and in the position as the WS ends, if not before.

Peoria: -RHP Patrick "PJ" Francescon (2011 40th Rd) assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs

18th rounder James Pugliese made his debut with the AZL Cubs, pitching on schedule 2 innings and striking out 4.

DJ is really struggling this year. He's back at Boise to work on fundamentals. Hopefully he can put it together. Nice guy.

When Peoria came here to GR, I sat right by the edge of the dugout, front row (dirt cheap). I got a lot of good looks at pitchers, as well as got a lot of info/a decent view of player personalities in the dugout, as well as manager focus. It was a great place to sit as well. I did lose out on getting good mechanics info though.

I'm not real excited facing 5 AL teams as often as the other 10 NL teams as long as the wild card is around. This. I guess that's the best solution if you want 15 in each. I'd rather scrap divisions and interleague and just have 14/16 with top four moving on. Simple. H ere's one based on the NFL's system. move the brewers back NL1 - New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia NL2 - Atlanta, Florida, Washington NL3 - Cincinnati, St Louis, Chicago NL4 - Houston, Arizona, Colorado NL5 - San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles AL1 - New York, Detroit, Boston AL2 - Toronto, Tampa, Detroit AL3 - Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago AL4 - Texas, Minnesota, Kansas City AL5 - Seattle, Anaheim, Oakland As far as scheduling goes 18 games vs 1 interleague division (3 H, 3 A, 3 Teams) 96 games vs intraleague nondivision (4 H, 4 A, 12 teams) 48 games vs intraleague division (12 H, 12 A, 2 teams) Then have the top division winners and one wild card go to the playoffs, giving you six teams. Have the top two records get a bye, have the third best team host the wild card, fourth and fifth play each other. then do best of 3, best of 5, best of 7, best of 7. Pros - Creates and promotes rivalries (and clustered rivalries) due to directly only competing with two teams (granted the system may never pass w/o splitting up Boston and New York. - Even weak teams always have a chance because they are only competing with two other teams, usually close by. - Still a wild card - One more playoff round for $$$$ Cons - Drastically unbalanced schedule for the 1 wild card spot. - weak teams always have a chance. - One more playoff round - playoff byes - too radically different from current situation Not saying it's the best or even a good solution, it's just one modeled on the NFL's. I Not sure Detroit's going to care to play 312 games a year either. I'd guess that would be a Con, that the MLBPA would never allow that. But, another pro, no Orioles, so when a washed up Cub prospect fizzles out here, they're out of the league.

Drop posey, add Smoak

Montanez was held out of Iowas linup tonight. Speculation there that he's getting called up, official word tomorrow.

Montanez was a last minute scratch from the lineup. Speculation in Iowa that he's getting called up.

This said, I'm definitely for Pujols. I honestly don't think we get him though (because he doesn't leave STL). That's made me think of other options. And I don't think that what Fielder will get on the market will be too bad. He's no Pujols, but if Pujols stays in STL at 23-25 per, I'm ok with fielder for 5-6/18-22 per which would give him a chance at 1 more big contract and puts him even with Ad. Gonzalez, according to BR his most comparable player. I think Prince's market, both in terms of what teams and what dollar per year figure is determined by what Albert does.

For me it's the length. I'd cap it at 10 years. I'm not so concerned with the per year salary, as honestly I see Ricketts being more involved in a negotiation of this magnitude, because of the major financial liability. I'd really like to see it be 8 years guaranteed and 2 vesting years at the end based on some measure of durability (PAs) or team success (don't know if that's within contract rules). I'd also front load the deal, in some sort of stretch or spread it out based on contract/financial progressions. I'm thinking 8/250 + 2/50 vesting or $10 buyout. Not that, if I'm albert I'd take that. But it's what I'd hope for.

Drop Soto, add McCutchen

After reading from Callis, he does seem high on him, but seems to be higher because he's better/more polished than he expected. He is wary if he spends the entire year at Peoria, and struggles though. He does seem to be the only one really high on him. Law, Sickels, etc don't seem to think much of him, in terms of projection. I guess I'm more looking at him from that perspective, but a couple solid years of "growth" will convince me otherwise.

This was so spectacularly wrong, I had to stop reading Really now? He got a larger bonus than Simpson for some other reason than to buy out his commitment to football? And, yes, any athlete, who devotes part time to 2 sports, does need time to develop and see what they'll become. I'm not talking Samardzjia now, I was referring to the promise he showed when he was drafted, although he was much more of a reach, imo, than Szczur. Szczur was actually rated higher than Simpson by BA, PG, etc. That I did not know. I stand corrected on his rating and partial reasons for his bonus. But, I still feel he has more to prove, in terms of actually reaching his promise, because of being a 2 sport athlete. Just out of curiosity, is there any way of determining where Samardzijia ranked as a prospect relative to those 2, when he was drafted?

This was so spectacularly wrong, I had to stop reading Really now? He got a larger bonus than Simpson for some other reason than to buy out his commitment to football? And, yes, any athlete, who devotes part time to 2 sports, does need time to develop and see what they'll become. I'm not talking Samardzjia now, I was referring to the promise he showed when he was drafted, although he was much more of a reach, imo, than Szczur.

It was my bad on including Whitnack, I forgot he was at Daytona, wasn't my intent to skew with the #s. I only included Simpson as he was a 1st round pick from last year. Barring injury/mental issues, I'd say he's all but guaranteed a chance to be at least bullpen filler. Even if you include Szczur, or drop Simpson, it doesn't show balance, to me. It shows more pitchers likely to contribute. And more q's at the postitions. Szczur is in the same boat as samardzija, imo. We need some time to even see what he will become. And he was paid more, because we had to buy him out of another sport, that he may or may not have been drafted in. I have hope for Ha and Lake. But it's just that. I think Ha needs to show he can do it consistently against better pitching. He had good #s last year in Peoria, but I'd like to see him face tougher pitching. He doesn't draw walks, and once he gets to pitchers that won't throw him strikes, or strikes he can hit well, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts. He could convince me this year he's an OF prospect. I can't see him moving Jackson from CF, so unless he develops power/patience to move to a corner OF spot, he's not a lock, to me. And Lake, yeah, he may be in the top 10 prospects, but remember we traded away 2 from that list this offseason, by default, making it weaker. He had a great streak last year. but this year? He hasn't shown that last year was a breakthrough, yet. Moreso that it was just a hot streak. Look, I want to believe that these guys will reach their ceilings, at least some of them. But the Cubs developmental system (instructors, methods, timing, and facilities) over the past 20+ years doesn't lead me to think many will. I know a new guy is in charge of the minors (Fleita) and Wilken in charge of scouting. And maybe things are changing, but I need to see proof before I can believe, optimistically. I'm getting there.

Oof. He now has a excuse for his drop in velocity and stuff. So, let's say he has rotator cuff surgery, is making a good recovery, and drops to the Cubs' second round pick. Should they take him? Depends on the first round pick, but we have such a lack of positional prospects, I'd have a hard time faulting Wilken if he passed for a lower ceiling higher floor position player. Honestly, I'm not sure if I agree about that. I actually think this is the most balanced the system has been in a long time. And I'd say the upper levels of the system are slanted towards hitting prospects instead of pitching. As is evidenced by the lack of decent candidates for the rotation right now, there is a distinct lack of SP prospects near major league ready. I agree that there are few upper level SP prospects as well. But I'm not ruling out at AA or higher McNutt, Whitnack, Jackson/Carpenter, Simpson (included only because was #1 pick, I realize he's @ peoria) as starters, or Smit, Dolis, Jackson/Carpenter as potential relievers. I'm sure I'm jaded, but aside from Jackson, I'm not feeling as high that anyone in AA or above will be as much of a contributor. While the ceiling for Vitters is high, so is the potential flame out, and I'm pessimistically and based on no logic guessing we'll get a year or 2 of Gary Scott out of him. Flaherty/Lemahieu, this season will be more indicative, but we could get a starting 2B, or a couple of AAAA PH's out of them. Aside from them, we're down to A+, and hitters who really haven't been exposed yet, or excelled. I'm not saying that I'd pass on Purke, should recovery be going well. I still likely would take him in that scenario (and 100% would if we took a position player in Rd 1), but if we drafted a P in Rd 1 and there were mixed reviews or spin of the recovery process, I wouldn't fault Wilken if he passed on him and took a positional player.

Oof. He now has a excuse for his drop in velocity and stuff. So, let's say he has rotator cuff surgery, is making a good recovery, and drops to the Cubs' second round pick. Should they take him? Depends on the first round pick, but we have such a lack of positional prospects, I'd have a hard time faulting Wilken if he passed for a lower ceiling higher floor position player.