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Tim, that's 2 weeks in a row you've edged me out for highest point total.

If I don't have any local games to go to, I might go Tues. night to see Bristow. I have little interest seeing Hatley. A 39th rounder from '06 usually doesn't excite me.

Yes. Beliveau will follow Bristow on Tuesday. And Perez was taking grounders because all five of his errors have been because he can't pick up a ball. All week at home he took grounders at second because it is easier than having a fungo hitter stand in the outfield and be in harms way during BP with baseballs flying all over... That makes sense, I had just never seen an OF'er who wasn't switching positions taking ground balls.

Hatley and Bristow are scheduled to throw on Mon./Tues., correct?

The Cubs tend to be fairly conservative with position players when it comes to promotions. However, if Vitters keeps this up, I don't see how the Cubs could hold him back any longer. Plus, it's not like anyone's blocking him at Daytona. Opitz and Rosa haven't exactly been world-beaters at 3B this season. After BP, N. Perez was taking grounders just in front of the dugout. He has the arm for it and struggled as far as routes and reading the bat off the ball yesterday, but he did make a nice play in foul territory.

Yep kayaking rules, plus Peoria wasn't doing BP and I seen Shafer last year in college so I already know what he throws firsthand.

I went kayaking today instead.

Beloit don't have a stadium gun, which is prob. a good thing if it's anything like some of the minor league parks around.

I can't make any progress, I'm always around 5th place and between 5-10 HRs behind the leader.

Ha! No problem, the wind was gonna keep it banging all night. Sorry I had to get on the air or I would have chatted longer. If you are back at all this week come up and say hi. NB Don't sweat it, I just came in to grab an extra line-up sheet that blew away.

His 1st single was a cue shot that hit the 1B bag, his next two hits were smoked both the HR and the single that nearly killed the 3B. He has an amazing swing, it's so short and compact and the best thing about him is that he can drive the ball as well as he does and he still has plenty of room to get stronger. Vitters did swing and miss too much on 87 MPH FBs for my liking. I liked the actions of Junior Lake at SS, he showed a + arm, and drove the ball for a nice DB despite having a long swing. Flaherty had a rough night and didn't have a great BP session, it look like he might develop into a .270-.28o hitter with 10-15 HRs if everything goes right. I was disappointed with Burke, I don't know if he has some sort of injury but he wasn't athletic at all, espec. for being such a high draft pick a few years ago. Rundle has a chance, showed a strong arm, and gap to gap power in BP, though he has a long ways to get there from now but there were flashes that he has a chance to reach the majors. Perez put on the best show in BP and IF/OF, he showed off his raw power and his 60 OF arm. Velos for pitchers: Archer: FB:89-93 (sat around 91), plus life. CB:77-81 prob. projects as avg., but only threw one or two of those that were solid. Cut: 85-86 supposed to be a slider, acts as a cutter. He was flying open most of the night and missing up and in to RH'ers, he wasn't missing by much, it was unfort. for him that blue didn't have the strike zone with Archer as he did the final 2 innings. Cabrera: FB:90-93 (sat 92) CH or split:84-86 Sl:80-82 He threw 90% FBs and has the baffled the 1st time thru, deceptive arm action, tailing FB. Not much as far as off-speed and the second time thru, the hitters geared up for the FB. Buchter: 86-89FB 76-78SL 2 innings, hitters didn't really square him up and located well, didn't have to use the slider much, but it showed better in warm-ups. Bob Brenly was there with his wife and for the most part the fans left him alone. Nate, I'm glad you figured out how to shut that Press Box door cause I couldn't.

Being that I'm awesome and all, if I can have Strasburg, I will put him as a reserve.

On and off showers. Probably another PPD game tonight. \:D/ That's what I wanted to hear.

What's the weather looking like in Peoria?

I would be looking forward to that, too. What makes you so cool? Well, I'm still a tool, I'm just a tool with a minor league pass.

I'm looking forward to watching him take BP tomorrow while everyone else waits for the gates to open.

I doubt it would be in the 1st, it they would draft an OF, it would likely be a HS toolsy type of pick. Your best bet would be the 1B from UGA, but I don't think it fits the Cubs MO.

Thank you, we'll see how this changes after the strong storms this afternoon/tonight impact it.

Damn, he should be in Beloit instead.

I'd kill to see Zambrano throw this weekend. I'd get there 3 hours early. :)

Raisin, this look right to you? Peoria's rotation for the next 5 days: Wed-Carpenter Thurs-Archer Fri-Shafer Sat-TBD (Hatley would only be on 3 days rest) Sun-Hatley Mon-Bristow I know I won't see Carpenter or Archer on Sat/Sun, part of me is hoping for a rainout pushing Shafer's start instead of a spot start.

Teams crossed him off because many didn't know what happended to him and/or couldn't see him pitch since he hadn't pitched since '07. I give the Cubs credit for this one.

Cales gained an unusual amount of weight (fat) from when he left UIC to St. Xavier. I haven't seen him since his UIC days, but his body then wasn't ideal and if it got worse, would become a concern for the Cubs. As we seen with Acosta, they don't put up with too much as far as players becoming an issue or lack of effort. The fact he did go to several schools on face value doesn't indicate problems, but the likely reasons behind them does.

I believe Cales left Mizzou because he wanted to play SS. I think Cales left UIC because he did not qualify academically. Over at BBF, I think I mentioned a story on Cales. He's extremely gifted and if he keeps his focus, he definitely has the ceiling as a ML reliever with that FB/slider combo and his ability to put it where he wants to.