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So I'm going to do a short writeup on Wichita State 3B Alec Bohm. I considered him a top prospect going back a few months and wished I wrote about him before he blew up. Scouts love this guy now. I think everyone who follows draft prospects here pretty closely knows about this guy and his teammate (Greyson Jenista). They're both top prospects who should go in the 1st round. Jenista is the better athlete I believe, but I'm convinced Bohm has the superior bat. Bohm is a big guy at 6'5" and 240 lbs with good physicality. I don't think he'll get much bigger, but he's already plenty strong. He might slow down as he gets older. Scouts aren't sure if he can stick at 3B since his speed and arm strength only rate as average. (Correction: I talked to someone and got this wrong. His speed is considered below-average. His time from home-to-1B is not good. My bad.) If he can't stick at 3B everyone says he'll have to move to 1B because he doesn't have the speed or range to play corner OF. That's the downside and pessimistic view. I think he can stick at 3B personally. His bat is what makes him special. He bats righthanded and it's a very nice swing. He takes a small stride forward and has a short swing. Doesn't sell out for power or try to pull everything. He has tremendous raw power. Some scouts predict he'll be capable of hitting 30+ HRs in his peak. His stat line this season is excellent (.340/.471/.736) with a 14/8 BB to K ratio right now. Only 5 HRs so far, but he should set a career high. He hit 11 HRs last year. The Cubs are probably familiar with his game, and I bet they like him a lot because of his performance in the Cape Cod League. He hit .330/.407/.552 for the Wilmington Sharks in 2016, and then last year hit .351/.399/.513 for the Falmouth Commodores. I think right now he'll get taken anywhere from 7-20 in the draft. If the Cubs get a chance I think they'll seriously consider taking him. The draft is so loaded in high quality power pitching prospects that maybe the Cubs would select a pitcher even if Bohm is available at #24. Pitching prospects have more inherent risk though so we'll see. I really like Bohm and believe he's one of the top 3 hitting prospects in this draft. [bbvideo=853,480] [/bbvideo]

Hah, I don't think I come across as crazy... I just don't see the point in talking about some weirdo that doesn't post here anymore. I think our forum here is actually really good in limiting trolls and stupid posters. Just take a look at 'cards talk' or GRB lol. I remember before I started posting here that some stupid Christian Cardinals fan tried to have conversations with posters here right? He had some "interesting" thoughts and I believe he kind of was a troll. No Cardinals fan ever tried to post here to have an intelligent conversation. Once the Cubs got really good he never posted here again. I mean no one mentions that idiot anymore either. Confirmed. Lol. Sure, I'm also that Sulley guy too.

Yeah, tonight's game was awful. I really wanted them to lose. It also sucks that the new anti-tanking measures go into effect next season. Our odds would be so much better for getting the #1 pick under that system. I like Mikal Bridges, but that's a big dropoff (probably) from selecting Ayton or Bagley or Doncic.

Hah, I don't think I come across as crazy... I just don't see the point in talking about some weirdo that doesn't post here anymore. I think our forum here is actually really good in limiting trolls and stupid posters. Just take a look at 'cards talk' or GRB lol. I remember before I started posting here that some stupid Christian Cardinals fan tried to have conversations with posters here right? He had some "interesting" thoughts and I believe he kind of was a troll. No Cardinals fan ever tried to post here to have an intelligent conversation. Once the Cubs got really good he never posted here again. I mean no one mentions that idiot anymore either.

I know nsbb has been around for awhile and this Meph guy sounds pretty crazy, but isn't this too "inside baseball" even for a baseball forum lol? You guys talk about this weirdo like war vets talk about Hitler or Stalin or Mussolini. I'm sure it's all warranted, but us younger posters have no idea who the horsefeathers you're talking about...

http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages%2F_2478000%2Fff_2478586_full.jpg&w=600 WTF???

Well, Edwards is the last guy standing from the M. Garza trade. First went Olt and then Ramirez and now Grimm. Kind of sucks, but I still consider it a good trade. If Edwards can develop into a shutdown late-inning reliever this trade will look even better. I really thought N. Ramirez was going to be awesome for the Cubs after that amazing 2014 season. He had incredible stuff when healthy.

You hate the balk? classic "older brother" opinion imo It probably is an "older brother" opinion. Well, I trust my opinion over that of someone who says "Jen Ho-Tseng is my man" and uses him as their avatar pic lol. :lol:

I was watching it again and the leg definitely comes to a complete stop, but there is still some slight movement in his upper-body area/arms. It's not as smooth as Kershaw's motion for sure. I really hate the balk and it's really hard to determine whether a pitcher committed a balk or not in some cases. I don't believe umps will call a balk on Darvish as long as he doesn't pause that leg motion for too long. You hate the balk? It's just hard to determine when a pitcher commits a balk, and I feel like the rule needs to be clarified. Sometimes it feels too arbitrary when it is actually called on a pitcher. I guess I have a problem with human umps and how they call it moreso than the balk itself. I understand why the rule exists. I don't want to get rid it. A few years ago the NBA clarified what constitutes "traveling" and how many steps a player is allowed to take after ending their dribble. They released video of NBA players that weren't called for a traveling violation, but should have under the rules. It's a similar rule or violation that is difficult to call in real-time, and NBA refs make mistakes just like MLB umps.

I was watching it again and the leg definitely comes to a complete stop, but there is still some slight movement in his upper-body area/arms. It's not as smooth as Kershaw's motion for sure. I really hate the balk and it's really hard to determine whether a pitcher committed a balk or not in some cases. I don't believe umps will call a balk on Darvish as long as he doesn't pause that leg motion for too long.

That is not something I want to see. If it stays confined to the minors it's fine I guess. I don't like it, but whatever. Now that said they better not horsefeathering consider it as an option for MLB games that go into extra-innings...

That's freaking terrible for the kid. Man, that really sucks if it is some serious injury. Reminds me of that story from The Arm by Jeff Passan about Daniel Hudson and his struggles coming back from TJS. Hopefully, it's way different in this situation.

With five walks and two home runs in five innings? Don't think so. I get what you're saying, but it is Grimm's job to lose. Maples would have to pitch better than Grimm to take it away. It at least well enough for the team to feel confident he is ready. He hasn't come close to those things. Yeah, I'm almost positive Maples is starting the year at AAA. He didn't spend much time there last year (not that it's required for every pitching prospect).

A lot of posters here really like LHP - M. Liberatore so I'll post the link to a recent article on Fangraphs. I still think the Cubs have no chance at him, and it's kind of a waste of time to dream on getting him. I do think his velocity picks up as we get closer to the draft, and that he gets taken in the 2-8 range. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/a-glance-at-matthew-liberatores-draft-stock/

Damn, that poignant goodbye letter hurts...

Didn't 2 Broke Girls get cancelled? I've never heard of this sitcom. Why would you get Addison Russell? I hope he didn't take any swings while they were filming. If he did then some of the film crew better watch out lol.

The rumored extension the Cubs were offering was probably worth more than what he is receiving from the Phillies. Yeah, Boras and Arrieta messed up and are probably pissed about what happened.

Wait, are you sure about that? I thought the Cubs were unable to get a compensation pick after round 1 (between round 1 and 2) due to our market size? I'm so confused right now... Compensation picks are not the same as competitive balance picks. Yeah, I know. I meant compensatory picks for losing a FA. The Cubs never get competitive balance picks. I'm pretty sure the Cubs will never get a compensatory pick after the competitive balance round A (after the 1st round). I thought our compensatory pick comes after competitive balance round B (after the second round).

Yeah, it's kind of sad but we all saw it coming. We've had time to prepare. At least he didn't go to the Cardinals like Dexter.

Yeah he just has to sign for the Cubs to get a pick. Doesn't matter what the amount is. The amount determines the round. If it's over 50 million it's the comp round between round 1 and 2, less than that it's the comp round between rounds 2 and 3. It's the approximate difference in getting pick 33 or 73. Wait, are you sure about that? I thought the Cubs were unable to get a compensation pick after round 1 (between round 1 and 2) due to our market size? I'm so confused right now...

Indeed. I think the Cubs will eclipse 100 wins again barring any serious injuries.

Your bolded line can be interpreted in a lot of ways. I absolutely agree with the sentiment in the way I interpret it - which is (one reason) why it is such a horrible thing to have Trump's daily degradation of the office. I agree it can be interpreted in many different ways. I agree with the sentiment as well, but people have stopped respecting the White House and the seat of the president going on many decades now. I don't know exactly when it started. The quote is fine, but the context and timing of the quote was problematic. He said that comment after the President called NFL players who protested by taking a knee during the national anthem "S.O.B.'s" and Trump also made other stupid remarks about protesting players. To be fair to Maddon, he was unaware of the whole affair and believes in freedom of speech and says he would allow his players to protest in whatever way they feel is best. Also, right now in this political climate I believe it's actually warranted -- the lack of respect for this White House and this current president. It's also possible to respect the White House as an institution and what it stands for while at the same time disagreeing with the president and what he stands for.

Maddon has said that immigrants were 'saving' his home town and pissed off that town in the process. More recently he said 'it doesn't make any sense' to own an automatic rifle. I don't believe or expect Maddon to be a paragon of progressive politics, but the extrapolation that some folks have done to one of his comments is silly. More to the point, I think Joe Maddon is a great manager. I am also getting tired of his 'always on' method of being a great manager since the media eats this stuff up and reports it at every turn. Good points. I missed those comments he made about immigrants in his home town. What do you mean when you say 'always on' method of being a great manager? The media does love to quote him and talk about him because he's so different from most managers/coaches. I also agree he is a great manager.

The moment he brought Chapman in during game 6, I started doubting whether I wanted him here. In these quotes we have one normal guy making a joke and two nut jobs who actually question whether they want Joe Maddon managing the Cubs. So, umm... where do we begin? First, I'm assuming you're saying the normal guy making a joke is TT right? I don't think he's joking. I think he's being serious. Second, where do I question whether I want Maddon managing the Cubs? I said his personality is starting to get to me now, and it started in the 2016 postseason. I STILL want him managing the Cubs, but I hate how he defends himself after he makes a stupid and/or questionable move in a game. I like Maddon and want him to continue to be the manager for however long he wants to stay here, but he needs to show a little more humility and admit when he makes a mistake. His personality doesn't ultimately matter if the Cubs are winning and all the players are content with playing time/usage. That is by far the most important part of his job.

The managerial decision making from Maddon overall has been pretty good other than some questionable calls in the 2016 and 2017 postseasons. I don't think there are many managers that are better than Maddon in MLB right now. His personality and gimmicks are getting to me. I had this idea that he was a progressive free thinker who says funny things from time to time, and that stills holds true I guess but he isn't that progressive. He's no Greg Popovich or Steve Kerr. That quote he gave about the current political situation was terrible. Maddon said, "It’s dangerous when folks in our country stop respecting the White House and the seat of the president". I don't know if he doesn't want to criticize the president because the Ricketts are close to Trump, or maybe he genuinely believes that. He also likes to quote Colin Powell which seems like a weird choice to me. I think if he honestly told us his true opinions on a lot of controversial topics like gun control or immigration we'd be pretty horsefeathering disappointed.