dew1679666265

I'd prefer Blanco too, but cutting Miles doesn't do us a whole lot of good at this point.

He's better offensively than Blanco. If we had a clearly better option, I'd support cutting him. But we don't, so there's no positive to cutting him. The positive is it's the only realistic way to keep an actual backup shortstop on the roster, which is something they failed to plan for all offseason, and something you legitimately need. So try to trade Miles. Outright cutting him and eating the salary doesn't make a whole lot of sense when he's one of three players in the organization that the management will play at SS.

I don't think he'd be enough alone to get the deal done, but if it costs more I don't think it's worth doing. The idea is to give as little as possible in every trade and, in the long run, Wells likely won't have much value. He's done very well thus far, but I'll be surprised if he continues to build his trade value the entire season. He'll likely falter quite a bit as the league sees him more so it would likely be in our best interest to sell high at the deadline and shift Marshall back to the rotation.

Ascanio, Hoffpauir, Fuld, and a random prospect might be equal to Murton and Patterson. Donaldson and Gallagher were the important parts of the trade. So, no. Would someone like Steve Clevenger, Tony Thomas, or Josh Harrison be equal to Donaldson? I really dont know too much about Donaldson, so I dont know how good of a prospect he was. I would hate to have to send Wells, Marshall, Jackson, or Coleman to the Pads in a deal that wasnt for Peavy, which could very well be a reality next offseason. I'd rather send Wells alone for Bell than a reliever with good potential, a decent lefty power bat off the bench, a prospect and a potential fifth outfielder.

The Baker trade wasn't unnecessary. He was acquired (it appears) to be a platoon partner with Fontenot.

He's better offensively than Blanco. If we had a clearly better option, I'd support cutting him. But we don't, so there's no positive to cutting him.

I'm not sure if there's a set rule for granting a 4th option year or if that's decided on a case-by-case basis. The Cubs were granted an extra option year for Angel Guzman when he was recovering from TJS. I know it happens, but it's so rare that I can never remember when it kicks in.

I'm not so sure. One practical reason why minor leagues in football don't work is that the useful life of a football player is so short. Every snap of the ball, the clock is ticking as more punishment builds up on the body. Putting something between college and the pros would just wear players out before they were ever able to play in the NFL. I think it works better to just keep players on the depth chart or practice squads, where they can work on their skills without suffering injuries and surgeries that take away their natural abilities. I'm not opposed to this league idea though. I hope it works. Can't be worse than the XFL. A minor league system likely wouldn't produce any stars or anything, but it would give guys a chance at the NFL who wouldn't otherwise get it. Generally, a non-rookie on a practice squad isn't a serious candidate to make a roster. They're usually just there to fill space in case someone gets hurt (at best). However, in the UFL, those players will be getting game experience and will have a chance to develop in game situations (though granted against much lesser talent). They will get the same wear, yes, but it would be an opportunity for guys to play a couple or a few years in the NFL who wouldn't have played at all before. And it gives teams a chance to pluck out some guys who have been playing games, move them right into the lineup and get a little extra production from players.

One of the three moves being made tomorrow is Reed coming off the DL. That gives us Fukudome and Reed to play CF if Fuld goes down.

A player has a certain number of options that can be used for them to freely pass between the minors and the majors. Options count for the entire year, so it doesn't matter if a player is called up and sent down once in a season or 20 times, it only counts as one option each year. If a player runs out of options, he must clear waivers before being demoted to the minors. Players get three option years (I think it occasionally can be 4, but I'm not sure on those rules).

Patton is rule 5, do you think the Cubs will be willing to offer him back? I don't think they'll want to and I don't think it's likely, but I could see them doing it. If we really want to keep Patton that bad, but not in the bigs, cant we just make a deal with the Rockies? I doubt theyd ask for too much in return. Christ, we gave them their ace for Luis freaking Vizcaino. Marquis has pitched well, but he's not an ace. 117 ERA+, 1.308 WHIP, 51:36 K:BB ratio He normally pitches better in the first half than the second anyway. In 2007 he put up a 3.67 ERA with a 1.263 WHIP and a 62:41 K:BB ratio in the first half. In the second half, he had a 5.73 ERA with a 1.541 WHIP and a 47:35 K:BB ratio.

The outfield starters will be Soriano, Fukudome and Bradley. With Reed coming back, he and one other outfielder will back up that trio. Fox could be that player, but while he can also back up third, Hoff gives something Fox does not - a left handed power bat off the bench. Either player will be a bench player, but if Hoff is demoted there is no other lefty power bat on the bench. OF: Fukudome, Soriano, Bradley, Reed, Hoff On the infield, Aramis, Theriot, Fontenot and DLee will be the starters. Baker stays because he's a platoon partner with Fontenot and Blanco stays because he is the sole SS backup and Lou loves his glove. IF: ARam, Theriot, Fontenot, Baker, Lee, Blanco Rotation stays the same and the definites in the pen are Guzman, Marmol, Gregg, Marshall and Heilman. That leaves two spots (assuming 12 pitchers) between Patton, Hart and Shark. If they go with 12 pitchers, my thinking is that Fuld, Fox and Shark go to Iowa. Fuld has no real place with both Fukudome and Reed available for center and Hoff backing up the corners. Fox would be valuable backing up Aramis and as a righty power bat off the bench, but the need is greater for a lefty power bat since there are none in the lineup. Shark was the most recent callup and, though I don't know why they promoted him, is the most likely to head back. Shark has more of a future with the team and I think they want him to work on starting still, Hart meanwhile can serve as the sixth reliever. Patton could go, but isn't likely as they appear to love his potential. If they go with 11 pitchers, I think Fox stays and Hart is demoted. This strategy would last until the ASB and the primary goal would be to see what Fox does this week and, perhaps, build his trade value. If he continues to tear the cover off the ball, perhaps they go with it a bit longer and try to deal him before the deadline. If he cools off, then he's demoted after the break and Hart returns. Fontenot almost certainly won't be demoted since his bat has heated up some, though a platoon of Blanco/Baker at second is a possibility. Fontenot has actually been better offensively the past week than Fox, though the obvious tiny sample size applies.

Patton is rule 5, do you think the Cubs will be willing to offer him back? I don't think they'll want to and I don't think it's likely, but I could see them doing it.

I have no idea. Cameron did a heck of a job just getting into the vicinity of that ball. It should have been a hit. The ball that almost hit Milton in the face a couple days ago was ruled a double, but Cameron gets that ruled an error. Just another reason why errors are a mostly worthless stat for outfielders. Exactly.

I have no idea. Cameron did a heck of a job just getting into the vicinity of that ball. It should have been a hit.

How about a bloop single to center? :D

He had a .955 OPS in May, .973 in June and so far (just 4 games) a 1.107 OPS in July. Amazing. It's amazing how much we hated him in April. We're all eating our words now. I thought he had something left, but nowhere near this level. I'm very glad to be wrong about this.

He had a .955 OPS in May, .973 in June and so far (just 4 games) a 1.107 OPS in July. Amazing.

Manuel said the 1st base decision was the toughest he had to make. I'd say Lee was part of the reason it was a tough decision.

And Lilly is it for the Cubs.

Lilly made the team.

I don't understand how a 131 ERA+ and an 88:23 K:BB ratio with a 1.127 WHIP is undeserving of the All-Star game. Lilly definitely deserves to be there.

When was this? He was great for 14 games in July last year. 2.08 ERA, 1.154 WHIP, 12:3 K:BB So he got lucky I guess? Haha, perhaps.

That's a good point. It's similar, though, to NFL teams pulling players out of the Arena League. It gives them a chance for some kind of NFL career, at least.

That entire ending was superb. From Denard Walker tripping to allow Bruce to catch the eventual game winning TD to McNair throwing off Mo Lewis and Kevin Carter to complete a pass to Mason on the second to last play and then Dyson coming up a yard short to end it. I wish the result had been different, but that was a great ending. We wouldn't have gotten nearly that close on the final drive without McNair.