CaliforniaRaisin

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.

List courtesy of Arizona Phil at The Cub Reporter:

Not too shabby: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=18680

1. Wil Myers, of/3b, Omaha (Royals) 2. Travis D'Arnaud, c, Las Vegas (Blue Jays) 3. Trevor Bauer, rhp, Reno (Diamondbacks) 4. Tyler Skaggs, lhp, Reno (Diamondbacks) 5. Anthony Rizzo, 1b, Iowa (Cubs) 6. Shelby Miller, rhp, Memphis (Cardinals) 7. Danny Hultzen, lhp, Tacoma (Mariners) 8. Anthony Gose, of, Las Vegas (Blue Jays) 9. Yasmani Grandal, c, Tucson (Padres) 10. Jedd Gyorko, 3b/2b, Tucson (Padres) 11. Jake Odorizzi, rhp, Omaha (Royals) 12. Adam Eaton, of, Reno (Diamondbacks) 13. Dan Straily, rhp, Sacramento (Athletics) 14. Adeiny Hechavarria, ss, Las Vegas (Blue Jays) 15. Brett Jackson, of, Iowa (Cubs) 16. Nick Franklin, 2b/ss, Tacoma (Mariners) 17. Leonys Martin, of, Round Rock (Rangers) 18. Derek Norris, c, Sacramento (Athletics) 19. Matt Adams, 1b, Memphis (Cardinals) 20. Patrick Corbin, lhp, Reno (Diamondbacks) http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614192.html

No Cubs. 1. Trevor Bauer, rhp, Mobile (Diamondbacks) 2. Taijuan Walker, rhp, Jackson (Mariners) 3. Tyler Skaggs, lhp, Mobile (Diamondbacks) 4. Danny Hultzen, lhp, Jackson (Mariners) 5. Billy Hamilton, ss, Pensacola (Reds) 6. Andrelton Simmons, ss, Mississippi (Braves) 7. Nick Franklin, ss/2b, Jackson (Mariners) 8. Hak-Ju Lee, ss, Montgomery (Rays) 9. Allen Webster, rhp, Chattanooga (Dodgers) 10. James Paxton, lhp, Jackson (Mariners) 11. Tony Cingrani, lhp, Jackson (Mariners) 12. Matt Davidson, 3b, Mobile (Diamondbacks) 13. Zach Lee, rhp, Chattanooga (Dodgers) 14. Brad Miller, ss, Jackson (Mariners) 15. Didi Gregorius, ss, Pensacola (Reds) 16. Tyler Thornburg, rhp, Huntsville (Brewers) 17. Daniel Corcino, rhp, Pensacola (Reds) 18. Christian Bethancourt, c, Mississippi (Braves) 19. Carter Capps, rhp, Jackson (Mariners) 20. Sean Gilmartin, lhp, Mississippi (Braves)

Non-premium link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614140.html Premium link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614139.html

Javier Baez is #1. No other Cub in the top 20. Non-premium link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614127.html Premium: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614126.html

Three Cubs make the list (subscriber link): 1. Addison Russell, ss, Athletics 2. Albert Almora, of, Cubs 3. Joey Gallo, 3b, Rangers 4. Jorge Soler, of, Cubs 5. Dorssys Paulino, ss, Indians 6. Lewis Brinson, of, Rangers 7. Stryker Trahan, c, Diamondbacks 8. C.J. Edwards, rhp, Rangers 9. Daniel Robertson, ss/3b, Athletics 10. Clint Coulter, c, Brewers 11. Nomar Mazara, of, Rangers 12. Ronald Guzman, 1b, Rangers 13. Renato Nunez, 3b, Athletics 14. Dan Vogelbach, 1b, Cubs 15. Mitch Brown, rhp, Indians 16. Nick Travieso, rhp, Reds 17. Gabriel Guerrero, of, Mariners 18. Tyler Pike, lhp, Mariners 19. Zach Bird, rhp, Dodgers 20. Matt Olson, 1b, Athletics

NWL Championship Series Box Scores Boise lost 12-9 to lose their best-of-3 NWL Championship Series 2-1 Box Score

NWL Championship Series Box Score Boise ties their best-of-3 series 1-1 on a walk-off Willson Contreras single, winning 3-2 Box Score 2B G. Amaya 1/3, SB (2) SS M. Hernandez 0/4, 2 K RF-LF S. Bruno 1/3, 2B (3), RBI, 2 K, HBP DH D. Vogelbach 0/3, R, BB, 2 K CF A. Almora 0/3, K - left game in 8th inning with injury 1B R. Shoulder 1/3, BB, 2 K C W. Contreras 2/4, 2 RBI, 2 K, E (1, throw) LF-CF T. Martin 0/2, R, BB SP P. Johnson 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 2-2 GO-FO RP J. Arias 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 6-3 GO-FO

NWL Championship Series Boise lost 10-7 and trails the best-of-three series 1-0 Box Score 2B G. Amaya 0/4, R, BB, 4 K, E (3, throw) SS M. Hernandez 3/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, E (2, fielding) RF S. Bruno 1/4, 2B (2), BB DH D. Vogelbach 1/4, R, 2B (1), 2 RBI, BB, 2 K 3B J. Candelario 2/5, RBI, K, 2 E (4, fielding, fielding) CF A. Almora 1/5, R, RBI, 2 K 1B R. Shoulders 1/4, 2B (1), K C W. Contreras 1/3, R, RBI, BB LF T. Martin 0/3, R, BB, K, SB (1), outfield assist at home SP I. Dickson 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP J. Amlung 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP J. Pugliese 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR, 3-0 GO-FO RP H. Simpson 0+ IP, 0 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GO-FO

Playoff Box Score Boise wins 3-2 to win their playoff series 2-1 and advance to the NWL Championship Box Score 2B G. Amaya 1/2, R, 2 BB, K, SB (1), E (2, throw) RF S. Bruno 1/4 3B J. Candelario 0/3, BB DH D. Vogelbach 1/4, 2 RBI, K SS M. Hernandez 0/4 CF A. Almora 1/3, BB, K, SB (2) 1B R. Shoulders 0/4, 2 K C W. Contreras 0/1, R, BB - ejected in the 5th inning LF T. Martin 1/3, R, BB SP F. Peña 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 13-5 GO-FO RP E. Orozco 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3-0 GO-FO

Playoff Box Score Boise won 11-5 to even their best-of-3 series 1-1 Box Score 2B G. Amaya 1/3, 2 R, HR (1), 2 RBI, BB RF S. Bruno 3/5, R, 2B (1), RBI, E (1, fielding), outfield assist at third base 3B J. Candelario 2/4, R, 3B (1), 2 RBI, B, K, E (2, throw) 1B D. Vogelbach 0/3, R, 2 BB, PO C W. Contreras 0/3, R, 2 BB, HBP CF A. Almora 3/5, 2 R, 2B (1), 3B (1), 2 RBI SS M. Hernandez 0/4, R, BB, 2 K LF T. Martin 3/4, 2 R, 2B (1), RBI, HBP SP T. Scott 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 6-2 GO-FO RP M. Heesch 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, WP, 3-0 GO-FO

Playoff Box Score: Boise lost 5-4 and is down 1-0 in their best-of-3 series Box Score 2B G. Amaya 0/3, 2 K, HBP, E (1, throw) SS M. Hernandez 2/4, R, 3B (1), CS (1), E (1, throw) RF-2B S. Bruno 0/3, BB, 2 K 1B D. Vogelbach 0/3, R, BB, 2 K 3B J. Candelario 0/3, R, BB, 2 K, E (1, fielding) CF A. Almora 1/4, K, S (1) DH R. Shoulders 1/4, R, HR (1), 4 RBI, 3 K - 3rd grand slam of the season C W. Contreras 1/3, BB, K, PB (1) LF T. Martin 0/3, 2 K, E (1, throw) SP P. Johnson 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 4-3 GO-FO RP J. Arias 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HBP, 3-3 GO-FO Scheduled Regular Season Games: Tennessee won their season finale 8-1 Box Score RF M. Szczur 1/4, R, BB, K 2B L. Watkins 1/4, R, K, HBP LF JH Ha 2/5, 2 R, 2B (28) 1B J. Bour 0/4, R, BB, 3 K C A. Recker 2/5, R, 2B (1), HR (1), 4 RBI SS J. Lake 1/3, R, 2 BB CF R. Silva 1/5, 2 RBI, outfield assist at home SP A. Kirk 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 3-6 GO-FO, 78-45 pitches-strikes; hitting: 1/3, R, 2B (1) RP R. Dolis 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP T. McNutt 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO Peoria won their season finale 6-2 Box Score 2B Z. DeVoss 0/4, RBI CF PC Chen 2/4, R, 3B (10) 1B D. Geiger 1/3, 2B (14), RBI, K RF J. Soler 1/2, BB, HBP, CS (1), outfield assist at second base DH C. Krist 1/4, 2 K 3B T. Saunders 1/4, R, K, 2 E (9, throw, fielding) SS W. Darvill 0/3, 2 R, HBP C Y. Cabezas 2/4, R, HR (1), 3 RBI, K SP B. Wells 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, HBP, 2 WP, 0-4 GO-FO RP W. Cruz .2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR, 7-6 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-1

Box Scores Iowa at New Orleans Cancelled - Venue (Hurricane Isaac) Tennessee scored 4 in the top of the 9th and won 7-3 Box Score CF M. Szczur 1/6, R, BB, 3 K 2B L. Watkins 2/6, R, 2B (20), 2 RBI LF JH Ha 2/6, R, K 1B J. Bour 1/6, R, BB, 2 K SS J. Lake 1/5, R, HR (10), 4 RBI, BB, K, E (32, fielding) CF R. Silva 2/7, R, 3B (3), K 3B M. Cerda 3/7, R, RBI, K, E (18, throw) SP DE Rhee 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, HBP, WP, 8-2 GO-FO, 89-51 pitches-strikes; hitting: 0/2, 2 K RP T. Zych 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP F. Batista 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 3-0 GO-FO Daytona won their season finale 3-2 on a Taylor Davis walk-off single Box Score CF J. Andreoli 0/4, K 2B R. Torreyes 2/3, 2B (23), BB 3B C. Villanueva 0/4, E (3, throw) SS Ja. Baez 2/3, 2 R, 2 HR (4), 2 RBI, BB, K 1B M. Gibbs 1/3, K SP R. Searle 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 11-1 GO-FO RP M. Spencer 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-1 GO-FO Peoria lost 5-4 in 10 innings Box Score 2B Z. DeVoss 1/4, R, BB, 2 K CF PC Chen 1/5, R, K, 2 SB (36) 3B D. Geiger 0/4, RBI, 2 K RF J. Soler 3/5, R, HR (3), RBI C C. Krist 0/3, BB, K 1B J. Rogers 2/5, R, RBI SS T. Saunders 2/4, BB, K, SB (8) SP S. Peralta 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 3 WP, 5-2 GO-FO RP A. Reed 1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-1 GO-FO Boise had the day off. The NWL playoffs start tomorrow. OVERALL: 2-1

Box Scores Iowa at New Orleans Cancelled - Venue (Hurricane Isaac) Tennessee lost 3-2 Box Score RF M. Szczur 2/5, R, 2B (7) 2B L. Watkins 1/3, R, HR (9), 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB (28) LF JH Ha 0/2, 2 BB, K, PO 1B J. Bour 0/5, 2 K, SB (4) C A. Recker 0/5, 4 K SS J. Lake 0/4, BB, 3 K CF R. Silva 0/3, BB, K, SB (3) 3B M. Cerda 0/1, 2 BB, HBP SP E. Jokisch 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3-4 GO-FO, 88-59 pitches-strikes; hitting: 1/2, K RP Z. Rosscup 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, WP, 0-1 GO-FO RP J. Chapman 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GO-FO RP R. Dolis 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO Daytona won 4-2 Box Score CF J. Andreoli 2/3, 2 R, HR (1), RBI, BB, 2 SB (55) 3B C. Villanueva 1/4, R, 2 SB (5) DH N. Perez 2/3, R, 2 2B (14), RBI, BB, K SS Ja. Baez 1/4 C R. Lopez 1/3, RBI SP M. Loosen 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, HBP, 1-5 GO-FO RP AJ Morris 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-0 GO-FO Peoria lost 6-5 Box Score 2B Z. DeVoss 1/4, 2 K, CS (16) CF PC Chen 0/4, BB, K 3B D. Geiger 0/4, 2 K RF J. Soler 1/4 C C. Krist 2/4, 2 R, 2 2B (15) 1B J. Rogers 1/2, 2 R, 2 BB, K LF O. Zapata 1/3, R, 2B (9), 2 RBI, BB, K DH B. Rademacher 2/4, 2B (7), 3 RBI, SB (2) SP J. Antigua 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR, 9-4 GO-FO, E (1, fielding) Boise won their regular season finale 12-11 on a walk-off fielder's choice and throwing error Box Score 2B G. Amaya 2/4, 3 R, 2B (6), 3B (12), 2 RBI, 2 BB, K SS M. Hernandez 4/6, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 E (22, missed catch, throw) 3B S. Bruno 1/1, RBI, BB, HBP - ejected in the 4th inning 1B D. Vogelbach 3/5, R, 2B (9), 3 RBI, BB, E (3, throw) C-3B W. Contreras 1/6, RBI CF A. Almora 2/5, RBI RF R. Shoulders 2/3, R, 2 BB, E (4, fielding) LF T. Martin 0/3, R, RBI, BB SP I. Dkickson 3.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 5-3 GO-FO RP H. Ackerman 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3-2 GO-FO RP B. Smith 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 3-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

Box Scores Iowa at New Orleans Cancelled - Venue (Hurricane Isaac) Tennessee won 5-0 Box Score CF M. Szczur 2/5, R SS L. Watkins 1/4, 2B (19), BB, K RF JH Ha 0/4, RBI, 3 K 1B J. Bour 1/4, 2 R, BB C A. Recker 1/4, 2 K 3B J. Lake 1/2, R, BB, HBP, 2 SB (21) LF R. Silva 2/4, R, HR (2), 4 RBI SP C. Rusin 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4-2 GO-FO, 33-23 pitches-strikes; batting: 0/1 RP N. Struck 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 5-5 GO-FO, 97-62 pitches-strikes; batting: 0/3, 2 K RP T. Zych 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GO-FO Daytona won 4-3 on a walk-off Rebel Ridling double Box Score CF J. Andreoli 0/5, 2 K 2B R. Torreyes 0/4, BB 3B C. Villanueva 1/5, R, 3 K, SB (3) 1B R. Ridling 4/5, R, 2B (16), HR (5), 2 RBI SS Ja. Baez 0/4, 2 K DH R. Lopez 1/2, R, 2B (10), 2 BB SP K. Burke 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HBP, 5-4 GO-FO Peoria vs. Cedar Rapids Cancelled - Rain Boise lost 6-4 Box Score 2B G. Amaya 2/3, 2 R, BB, K, SB (15) SS S. Bruno 2/4, 2B (19) 3B J. Candeario 2/3, 2 RBI, K 1B D. Vogelbach 1/4, K, pickoff C W. Contreras 0/4, R CF A. Almora 0/4 PH M. Hernandez 1/1, R, RBI DH R. Shoulders 2/4, 2B (11), RBI LF T. Martin 0/4, 3 K, CS (5), PO SP F. Peña 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 7-1 GO-FO RP H. Simpson 2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-1