CaliforniaRaisin

Am I the only one who gets mad when one of our pitchers gets 2 strikes and then retires the batter on something besides a strikeout? ETA: I'm way behind. This was in regards to Jaso grounding out.

Disappointed by the lack of reaction from Rodriguez after striking out.

I would have been fine with Jake's day being done at 95 pitches.

Haha, that montage of salty Pirates.

For some reason, I misread your original post and thought you were planning on going Sunday. Assuming no postponements, it would be Null today and Stinnett tomorrow. Stinnett is the better prospect.

Would be cool but Boras is his agent so it certainly won't be easy.

Can't wait for Arrieta to get ejected next inning because of this idiotic warning. Shades of Rondon last year.

Totally see why Jake pitched around Locke in favor of Jaso and McCutcheon.

You'd think you'd give Soler the benefit of the doubt after you just tossed their pitching coach for bitching about your strike zone.

Lol, pitching coach.

Should have used it there. It's definitely coming now. Love the Zobrist bat flip on a walk.

Can't wait for Pittsburgh's retaliatory HBP because Hurdle is a red-assed old school manager.

Kalish was probably going in the next week when Szczur is activated plus I'm sure Maddon likes having three catchers in terms of PH options. Also the Cubs seem to value Federowicz way more than Kalish and want to try to make sure they don't lose him.

Aroldis Chapman is scum.

You say that like Hendricks, Lackey and Hammel didn't put up a nice ERA of 1.69 in their last turn through.

Could just be for today because Locke is a lefty.

The position prospects well really dries up after those two. Rashad Crawford is interesting - he's a toolsy OF who started the season hot but has been in a massive slump since coming back from injury at the end of April. You should get Jake Stinnett (2014 2nd rounder) who has gotten off to a good start after a disappointing 2015 in South Bend.

So the fact that Contreras wasn't selected in the Rule 5 draft two years ago counts against him today but Edwards' most recent BB/9 (6.7 last year and 5.6 this year) shouldn't count against him? And you're going to say this on his birthday?? How dare you! Look, I'm a big fan of Carl's Jr. I think he can make a good pro and his guacamole bacon burger is top notch. I hope his performance of late means he's regained his control but it's only been 5 games since he walked 3 guys in one inning. He's always been difficult to hit, but you can't walk guys at that rate and be a valuable member of a pen in the majors. Meanwhile, in Contreras' most recent 611 ABs (AA, AZ Fall League and AAA this year), he has 202 hits, 47 doubles, 4 triples, 14 HRs, 80 BB, 84 Ks with a .331 avg and a .412 obp. How much more of a sample size does one need? I'm glad I'm not the only one carrying the Contreras torch. 20 posters on NSBB thought he was the best prospect in the system before the season began. You know, before Gleyber Torres started this season poorly and lost some of the shine on his prospect status. Yeah, I don't think he's ready for the big leagues defensively right now but that doesn't mean I don't think he's the best prospect in the Cubs system. I was one of those 20 who rated him ahead of Torres in that poll. Just because some of us don't think Contreras is ready and that a historically good team can withstand two weeks of the Tim Federowicz backup catcher experience doesn't mean we don't think Contreras is a top prospect.

Box Scores: Iowa won 17-2 Box Score CF A. Almora 3/6, R, 3B (3), 2 RBI, SB (5) C W. Contreras 2/5, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB 1B D. Vogelbach 1/5, R, 2B (6), RBI, BB, K 2B A. Alcántara 3/5, HR (5), 3 RBI, 3 BB SS M. Kawasaki 3'/5, 3 R, 2B (4), RBI, BB, SB (11), E (2, fielding) SP J. Buchanan 7 IP, 7 H, 2 E, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 8-3 GO-FO, 93-53 pitches-strikes Tennessee lost 11-1 Box Score CF J. Hannemann 1/3, 2B (7), BB, SB (16) 2B C. Young 0/3, BB, E (2, fielding) 3B J. Candelario 1/4 RF B. McKinney 1/4, K 1B V. Caratini 1/4, R, 2B (8), K LF B. Rademacher 0/3 SP R. Zastryzny 6 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 2-4 GO-FO, 94-56 pitches-strikes Myrtle Beach won 11-3 Box Score RF R. Crawford 1/4, R, 2B (7), 2 RBI, BB, K SS G. Torres 2/5, R, 2 RBI, BB, CS (2), E (6, fielding) 2B I. Happ 1/5, R, RBI 1B Y. Balaguert 4/5, 2 R, HR (5), 3 RBI, K SP J. Null 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 5-6 GO-FO, 77-52 pitches-strikes South Bend won 6-2 Box Score CF D. Dewees 1/4, R, 3B (8), RBI, BB DH PJ Higgins 1/5, RBI, BB, 3 K RF E. Jimenez 3/5, R, K, E (1, fielding) 3B J. Hodges 2/4, R, BB 1B T. Alamo 1/4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K SP P. Morrison 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 5-4 GO-FO, 85-57 pitches-strikes RP C. Brooks 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2-0 GO-FO

Apparently Wacha's velocity is down this season. Cardinals lose, Cubs 8 up on Pittsburgh and St Louis.

BA mock draft: http://bba.am/S6NsVQ

Will the Pirates ever beat the Cubs?

It's just one inning but the difference between Hammel's last start and today is like night and day. Good command and hitting his spots. ETA: I take full responsibility if this post jinxes him.

Concepcion should have taken Juan Paniagua with him to AAA.