pitchcs

No problem. Don't call me a junior scout apparently....but I dunno, I just don't really see Kirk as a reliever. Sure, maybe a #3 starter was too high, as I did see his best game ever, but he just doesn't seem to have 1-2 really good pitches to be an effective reliever. I don't think long relief should be his goal obviously... Regarding his curve/change, it's totally possible he was throwing the curve and not a change. I had OK seats but not good enough to tell the difference between every curve and change. And the glaring sun didn't help the radar gun deciphering much.

Just some random notes/thoughts on Kirk and his MPH per requests: - The Peoria gun WAS working and posting the MPH last night, but obviously there's no way of knowing if it was truly accurate. - Watching Kirk warm-up I was actually thinking he looked like Clayton Richard; he has a very strong core and foundation and a slightly "jerky" motion (sorta [expletive] his leg a bit). - He seemed to be sitting around 90 most of the game (88 at the end). I swear I thought it said 96 once but the sun was directly hitting the scoreboard so it very well was probably just a mistake on my part. - He seems to have a VERY good changeup. As I said before, he got ahead of almost every hitter and then got them to swing over or roll over a change. Didn't seem to throw a ton of curves/sliders, but he also probably didn't need to. Looks to be decent though. - The fastball seems to be pretty competent, especially considering he sets it up so well (ala Ted Lilly) with his off-speed stuff. I could see him projecting as a #3 starter, definitely not a reliever. Couple other notes: - Szczur is a tough guy to scout; I feel like you probably need to see him play 8-12 times before really being able to know what he can bring to the table. Pretty much just looked like another guy last night. - Clinton had a guy playing RF (Kalian Sams) that was one of the largest minor leaguers I have ever seen; the dude looked absolutely ridiculous standing next to anyone else on the field. Then I checked the scorebook and realized he was 25 years old.....

I was actually at my first ever Peoria Chiefs game tonight and got to witness Kirk's no hitter (also my first live). He looked very, very good the whole game, continuously getting ahead of the hitter. I really think only one or two balls were even hit hard, one being caught by the left fielder on an over the shoulder dive type of play early in the game. Great game to be at, nice stadium. Congrats to Kirk

To be fair, Quentin and Humber were very accomplished college players and high draft picks.

I don't pitch from the windup -- all stretch all the time

Yup, and we don't have to watch Davis bore us to death

Fukudome - RF Campana - CF Castro - SS Ramirez - 3B Pena - 1B Soriano - LF DeWitt - 2B Hill - C Davis - P A. Rowand - CF M. Tejada - SS A. Huff - 1B Cody Ross - RF P. Sandoval - 3B P. Burrell - LF Bill Hall - 2B Chris Stewart - C Vogelsong - P

Not much they can do about DeWitt unfortunately, at least he's not hitting 3 and he's probably a better option than DJ

Not possible

I've heard a lot about it; I thought the trailer looked terrible, but hopefully I'm wrong. But Jonah Hill?? He's just a terrible actor

It's quite embarrassing. He and Dan Uggla have been two horrific off-season signings. I'd still trade Soriano for either one of them, though. I'm trying to trade Gaby Sanchez for Dunn in my fantasy full-roster keeper league

Sox: Pierre - LF Vizquel - 2B Quentin - RF Konerko - 1B Dunn - DH Ramirez - SS Pierzynski - C Rios - CF Morel - 3B Buehrle - P

Cause he's really fast

What is Z wearing?

Cubs lose one I'm thinking

I am totally on board with the "I'm Looking Through You" love. So underrated. Off the same album, 'If I Needed Someone' is one of my fav's. God I love George Harrison

Jacque Jones had the highest OPS in that game lineup above.

Soriano activated, not in lineup: Castro SS Johnson CF Baker 1B Ramirez 3B Soto C Montanez RF DeWitt LF LeMahieu 2B Zambrano P

Wow, thanks for that laugh. I actually worked in South Bend in 2006, just a year too early to catch his 12 BB in 1 IP.

I played with a guy in college, Cory Lapinski, who had this same problem. A lefty converted OF with nasty stuff, was drafted in the 11th round by the Astros in 2005, he never could harness his control. I think they ended his experiment/career fairly quickly even though his end #'s weren't that bad.

Eww

We have 2 J. Baez's now?

I think it's: Fuk - RF Castro - SS ARam - 3B Pena - 1B DeWitt - LF Soto - C Baker - 2B Reed - CF Wells - P

It's not just the draft pick. I think many are afraid that is the Cubs do well enough that it could be spun that 2011 was a season that could have been good if not for the injuries, it might be enough to justify letting Hendry and Kenney keep their jobs. It is a distinct possibility that if not for that mini "resurgence" at the end of last season, the organization may be a bit further along the road to being good than it is now. It hurts to watch, but if the team isn't going to compete, they might as well just tank. It'll get us a better draft pick, but more importantly, it'll leave little doubt that the FO needs to go. I can bear a 95 loss season if it leads to more light at the end of the tunnel. Letting things malinger like they have is the worst case scenario. I feel that, and maybe overlooked that as a reasoning, but I'm semi-confident Ricketts will be ridding himself of Hendry/Kenney no matter what at this point. He may not be a 'baseball guy' but he's not an idiot either.

I think everyone pretty much understands that the Cubs aren't going anywhere this year, but is it really necessary to root for them to lose? I mean, the Cubs are pretty much guaranteed a "good draft pick" (top 6-7) and I really don't think hoping for the #1 pick in what's supposedly a weak draft is really that big of a deal. They will finish where they finish and we should really just root for self respect at this point.