CubsInNC

The Tigers desperately need to replace Valverde. I know some of the talking heads on Detroit sports radio would give up Castellanos in a deal for a closer or catcher. Would a Gregg & Navarro for Castellanos be starting point? Anyone else in the DET system worth targeting instead? I assume J McCann is off limits, since C is such a hole for them. It might be a decent ending point, assuming the starting point was exceptional. Maybe I'm underestimating Gregg's value. Where would you start? You mean overestimating. I'm talking from Detroit's point of view. Gregg's been great for us, and Navarro's been a pleasant surprise, but nobody's going to give up a top 20 prospect for a pair of journeymen, especially with both impending free agents. Even WSR thinks that's madness. I'm thinking that last years Vizcaino trade has lead some think that Theo's capable of outworldly things, when in reality he lucked into a perfect storm. I'm not of the impression that Theo/Jed are going to steal away outlandish hauls of prospects. But, Detroit has shown that they're willing to trade their top prospects to "win now." Albeit for better returns than what we're offering. And I don't expect Castellanos for those 2, but would it surprise me to see Castellanos moved for a need filling package other worldly better than what we could put together? I don't think those players are out there and available, but I'd guess he's moved to fill one if not both of those needs. In comparison, where is Castellanos as a prospect, compared to Jacob Turner, Andrew Miller, and Cameron Maybin were at the times they were traded?

The Tigers desperately need to replace Valverde. I know some of the talking heads on Detroit sports radio would give up Castellanos in a deal for a closer or catcher. Would a Gregg & Navarro for Castellanos be starting point? Anyone else in the DET system worth targeting instead? I assume J McCann is off limits, since C is such a hole for them. It might be a decent ending point, assuming the starting point was exceptional. Maybe I'm underestimating Gregg's value. Where would you start?

The Tigers desperately need to replace Valverde. I know some of the talking heads on Detroit sports radio would give up Castellanos in a deal for a closer or catcher. Would a Gregg & Navarro for Castellanos be starting point? Anyone else in the DET system worth targeting instead? I assume J McCann is off limits, since C is such a hole for them.

But if he can't correct his vision he has a chance as a pitcher? I'd think it'd be just as, if not more important for a pitcher, would it not? I've heard the problem is he can't pick up spin on a pitched ball, how would that hurt him as a pitcher? It seems like it's an astigmatism, from what I've read. That would potentially drastically impact the ability to pick up the spin. I wonder if he's tried the amber tinted lenses, before they try the lasik route. I would guess so, but since the vision issues didn't become known to the Royals until more recently, who knows what they have or haven't tried. But, the astigmatism shouldn't affect his ability to pitch. The 2 likely biggest issues in that area are seeing catcher's signs in lower light situations and the potential for headaches from eye related strain.

Not that I doubt you at all, David, but where did you hear this? Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG 11h Here's an interesting development. After announcing he was signing with the @Cubs, @UHCougarBB RHP Daniel Poncedeleon now headed back to #UH Is the UH Frankie Ratcliff who was drafted in the 40th, the same Frankie Ratcliff busted with large quantities of marijuana and HGH, at U of Miami? If so, anything to that, and the potential failed physical? Does college test for HGH?

Yep, that's what he was throwing last year. I'm still disappointed he isn't at Kane County this season. I'm disappointed too, but, didn't he end the season rather roughly last year? Thought he started strong, then the league caught up to him.

Zastryzny welcomed Garner, Wilson, and Blair to the Cubs today. Garner and Wilson are in AZ, with Masek and Poncedeleon.

Possibly, but don't let the time fool you. He has been on twitter in the "middle of the night" his entire tenure as a Cub, in season and off season. Is it possible he drunk tweets every night? Absolutely. But the general behavior of tweeting in those late hours isn't out of "normal" for him.

Zak Hermans ‏@zhermans12 44m It's official - just signed my contract with the Chicago #Cubs! Flying out to Mesa, AZ on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Vw6BhCVHP8

Harold's convinced he'll stick at 3B. Guess he's an OF then.

The thing that has jumped out to me is the number of Yankees and former Yankees involved, directly or indirectly, with Biogenesis.

Would have preferred Francescon to Kirk. I'm guessing this might be a sink or swim assignment for Chen, much like I think it might have been for Rymel, and Antigua over the weekend. A promotion to the upper minors to prove what you've got before more bodies get here in a month and people get released. Guessing likewise for Suarez.

Evidently Hunter Cervenka was promoted to AA, pitched tonight for the smokies.

Love the first comment

C Lance Rymel promoted from EXST to AA

I've always been under the impression that 21 is age appropriate for Low A, Short Season - 20/19, Rookie - 19/18 and so on. And by age appropriate I mean that is the age of a majority of the players at that level. If you are a top prospect you're probably a year or two ahead of that pace. I'm curious what other people think and why. Thanks. According to BA, the median age for the FSL in 2012 was 23 years old. See: http://yourprospectsucks.tumblr.com/post/24623508386/the-basics-of-minor-league-baseball Also, according to Minor League Central, there are only 13 batters under the age of 21 currently in the FSL. Dustin Geiger is the 26th youngest player in the entire league. http://minorleaguecentral.com/leaderboard?lid%5B%5D=123&y=2013&split=200&amod=%3C%3D&age=99&time=0&type=batter&table=0 According to BR, the average batter age in the FSL is 22.8. And according to them, Geiger is the 32nd, with regards to age, of hitters with an AB.

The average age of hitters in the MWL as of 2009 (the only number I could find) was 21.6. What's your point? He's in his first full season of pro ball and hitting well. Reason to be excited, yes. Reason to think he's going to become a future perennial .900 OPS guy, no. Quit hating everything. Might have to start calling you Kyle Jr. he's the age of a college draftee hitting in a league he should be hitting well in. He can't defend or do anything else, so its not worth getting too excited about Average Batter Age MWL Current: 21.3 Kane County as a team: 20.5 (2nd lowest in league) (evidently I can't tell numbers, and 20.1 is lower)

2* from next door to Ann Arbor without a UM offer (or almost any other). Now #1 pick? Wow. I thought I read he has no BCS offers. Yep. Just Eastern and Central offered. He was very scrawny (for O-line) coming out of HS, not anywhere near his current build. For 3 years he was an OLB and punter for the HS team.

Exactly. Ryan Clady was also a two-star out of high school and is now arguably the best OT in the NFL. The guy most likely to be picked first amongst Alabama's heralded offensive line group, Chance Warmack, was only a 3-star recruit. Offensive line seems to be far more projection and coacing based than any other position in football. And the earlier the good coaching, and scheme(s) you learn, the better. Hence big project OTs in the 7th round, don't frequently pan out, despite level(s) of coaching.

Supposedly, Fisher performed very well in the Senior bowl, as well as against the couple of Big Ten teams CMU played this year. Even if he has some rough edges, putting him at RT for a year, keeping Albert at LT, isn't the end of the world.

I'd guess that's a ploy to get a trade down, TBH. I wouldn't believe much of what you've heard today. Maybe the report that Joekel was told he isn't the #1 pick. In fact, I wouldn't believe much of what you've heard (about who is getting drafted where) from the last couple days.

Assuming no one pulls a Tannehill/Ponder and goes for their guy a little early, I could see once the first QB gets drafted, there will be a frenzy to trade back into the 1st.

Rotoworld's Evan Silva has the Bears taking Brown in the 1st, with Patterson, Allen, and Milliner(!!!??) still on the board. And then Barkley in the 2nd. They really should stick to fantasy.

I think Geiger is Daytona's 1B. I guess they could send him up a level and then send Vogelbach or Shoulders to Daytona. Can't imagine they plan to rush either to AA just yet though. Regardless, whatever promotions are or aren't in store for any of those guy, I doubt that Justin Bour was standing in the way. If they prefer to be more cautious with the actual prospects, they might prefer shift some organizational OF for now. And Mota has been the other 1B in Tenn. They could keep him there the rest of the season. I don't think the promotions will be immediate, but the possible promotion in late May/early June is much more likely for one of Vogelbach/Shoulders. I didn't think Bour was an road block for the other system 1B, but I don't get the sense that he or Geiger are release candidates either, yet. So, the low-A guys getting promoted was going to be based on success or injury of the guys above them, until it made no sense to keep them at the lower level.

Justin Bour broke his wrist. Guessing there might be some 1B promotions in the future.