CaliforniaRaisin

Please vote for the Cubs #27 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #27, #28 and #29. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera #21: Logan Watkins #22: Rob Whitenack #23: Barrett Loux #24: Ben Wells #25: Paul Blackburn #26: Hector Rondon

The second annual MLB Prospect League international showcase starts tomorrow in the Dominican Republic. Jesse Sanchez' story ---------------- Top Prospects: Dominican Republic: SS Obispo Aybar - being investigated by MLB due to age questions 3B Rafael Devers - connected to the Boston RF Micker Zapata - linked to the Seattle, Minnesota and leveland OF Eloy Jimenez - linked to Houston RHP Mayky Perez RHP Marcos Diplan SS Franly Mallen Taiwan: RHP Tseng Jen-Ho - age 18 Venezuela: SS Gleyber Torres - linked to the Cubs SS Yeltsin Gudino - linked to Oakland and Seattle Official Signings: Cubs International Pool Breakdown: Standard 5% Over --------------------------------------------------- Initial bonus pool $4,557,000 $4,784,850 From Astros +$ 784,000 +$ 823,200 From Orioles +$ 388,000 +$ 407,400 To Dodgers -$ 209,000 -$ 219,450 =================================================== Cubs bonus pool $5,520,000 $5,796,000 =================================================== Signings: Gleyber Torres $1,700,000 $1,700,000 Jen-Ho Tseng $1,625,000 $1,625,000 Jefferson Mejia $ 850,000 $ 850,000 Erling Moreno $ 650,000 $ 650,000 Johan Matos $ 270,000 $ 270,000 Eloy Jimenez $2,800,000 $2,800,000 Remaining IFA Budget: -$2,375,000 -$2,099,000 OF Eloy Jimenez, Dominican Republic - age 16 - $2.8 millino + $250,000 for college SS Gleyber Torres, Venezuela - age 16 - $1.7 million bonus RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, Taiwan - age 18 - $1.625 million bonus RHP Jefferson Mejia, Dominican Republic - age 18 - $850,000 bonus RHP Erling Moreno, Colombia - age 16 - $800,000 bonus C Johan Matos, Dominican Republic - age 16 - $270,000 bonus RHP Armando Rivero, Cuba, age 25 - $3.1 million - will not count towards 2012-13 international pool Mariners: RHP Jose Santiago, Dominican Republic, age 19 - $205,000 bonus - counts towards 2012-13 international pool Rangers: OF Todd McDonald, Australia, age 17 - $475,000 bonus - counts towards 2012-13 international pool Reds: LHP Jacob Constante, Dominican Republic - age 19 - $730,000 bonus - counts towards 2012-13 international pool

Please vote for the Cubs #26 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #26, #27 and #28. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera #21: Logan Watkins #22: Rob Whitenack #23: Barrett Loux #24: Ben Wells #25: Paul Blackburn

There is a run-off for #23 and #24 between Barrett Loux and Ben Wells. Please vote for the Cubs #25 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Wednesday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #25, #26 and #27. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera #21: Logan Watkins #22: Rob Whitenack #23/#24: Barrett Loux/Ben Wells

This is a tie-breaking run-off vote between Barrett Loux and Ben Wells for the Cubs #23 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. The loser of the run-off vote will be the #24 prospect. If someone convinces you that the other player should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Sunday. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera #21: Logan Watkins #22: Rob Whitenack

There is a run-off for #21 and #22 between Logan Watkins and Rob Whitenack. Please vote for the Cubs #21 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Wednesday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #23, #24 and #25. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera #21/#22: Logan Watkins/Rob Whitenack

This is a tie-breaking run-off vote between Logan Watkins and Rob Whitenack for the Cubs #21 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. The loser of the run-off vote will be the #22 prospect. If someone convinces you that the other player should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Wednesday. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera

Please vote for the Cubs #21 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #21, #22 and #23. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18: Marco Hernandez #19: Gioskar Amaya #20: Alberto Cabrera

Please vote for the Cubs #20 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Friday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #20, #21 and #22. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes #18/#19: Gioskar Amaya/Marco Hernandez

This is a tie-breaking run-off vote between Gioskar Amaya and Marco Hernandez for the Cubs #18 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. The loser of the run-off vote will be the #19 prospect. If someone convinces you that the other player should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Friday. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara #17: Ronald Torreyes

Please vote for the Cubs #17 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Wednesday (giving an extra day due to NYE/NYD). For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #17, #18 and #19. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14: Duane Underwood #15: Matt Szczur #16: Arismendy Alcantara

Lovie better be fired.

There is a run-off for #14 and #15 between Duane Underwood and Matt Szczur. So, please vote for the Cubs #16 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Saturday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #16, #17 and #18. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario #14/#15: Duane Underwood/Matt Szczur

This is a tie-breaking run-off vote between Duane Underwood and Matt Szczur for the Cubs #14 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. The loser of the run-off vote will be the #15 prospect. If someone convinces you that the other player should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Friday. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario

Wow.

Please vote for the Cubs #14 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #14, #15 and #16. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10: Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake #13: Jeimer Candelario

Please vote for the Cubs #13 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Thursday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #13, #14 and #15. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10:Josh Vitters #11: Pierce Johnson #12: Junior Lake

There is a run-off for #10 and #11 between Josh Vitters and Pierce Johnson. So, please vote for the Cubs #12 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Tuesday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #12, #13 and #14. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples #10/#11: Pierce Johnson/Josh Vitters (run-off)

This is a tie-breaking run-off vote between Pierce Johnson and Josh Vitters for the Cubs #10 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. The loser of the run-off vote will be the #11 prospect. If someone convinces you that the other player should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples

Just like last time, with a close vote, we settled both the #8 & 9 positions. So, please vote for the Cubs #10 prospect (serious votes only, please!). Please post your rationale below. If someone convinces you that someone else should be higher, please feel free to change your vote anytime between now and Monday. For this vote, you should select the players you feel should be #10, #11 and #12. If we end up with multiple players having similar vote totals at the end of the voting period, there will be a run-off with just those players. Results so far: #1: Javier Baez #2: Jorge Soler #3: Albert Almora #4: Arodys Vizcaino #5: Dan Vogelbach #6: Brett Jackson #7: Juan Paniagua #8: Christian Villanueva #9: Dillon Maples

Per ESPN.

It's early, but the roster is starting to shape up. I started to do this in the Offseason thread, but that just clutters it up. First, my first run at a projection. I'm using bWAR, because I like the scale (basically, it uses 52 wins as a baseline instead of 43, and will give lower results for all players. fWAR uses 43 wins as a baseline, which tends to produce higher numbers and given the illusion that really bad players have a little bit of value). Total: 28 WAR Projected record: 80-82 This is a lot more optimistic than I planned on it being, but I'm sticking with it after examination. This is an imaginary roster here our starting rotation makes 162 starts and we don't dismantle the team midseason. It just keeps coming back to how historically awful the back half of the Cubs' roster was last season. The front half could support an average team, but our bad players were just *so* bad. If you can somehow manage to field ordinarily bad players in your bench, in your bullpen and as replacement/emergency starters, you can make really amazing gains over last year's team.

BP will release their Cubs top prospect list tomorrow.

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2012/11/01/111-iapoce-new-minor-league-hitting-coordinator/

Johnson is very well regarded in college baseball circles.