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I certainly want Schwarber back and destroying baseballs again, but unfortunately even if he is healing and regaining strength and all that -- there just isn't enough time left to send him to the minors or AZ to get game ready. Another problem is that we play in the wrong league -- no DH. Schwarber for this yr at least, is most likely only a DH right now. Getting full mobility, agility and the reps needed to play C and LF adequately would take a while. I'm not saying there is no chance, but its low. Very low chances unfortunately...maybe >1% (especially if they go far in the playoffs), but not by that much. No way is there a 10% of coming back this yr sadly.

I know we make a lot of jokes at La Stella's expense, but I really hope he doesn't retire at the end of the season. I don't understand his frustration with the game or whatever is going on, but he's a useful player and a good hitter. Teammates seem to like him. Excellent pinch-hitter. Not my favorite player by a long shot, but he will be missed if he decides to hang'em up for good.

I'm all for acquiring a sidearm or submarine-style pitcher, but you know, some deception and funk would be nice. That's the whole point of throwing from these weird arm angles and release points. So far, batters seem pretty comfortable against him. I hope this will serve as a lesson learned in future seasons -- Joe says he wants someone with some "funk" to create a different look. Cubs should, you know, actually acquire someone who fits that description and not just do it to please Maddon next time... Joe Smith probably told Maddon this: http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/mfnky.gif

I will be very very disappointed if we add Papelbon. I don't think we're the team that is getting him though...

Read my next post buddy. I said: Read both of my posts and you'll somewhat understand what I'm saying. I think...

If I had to characterize his makeup purely in terms of on-the-field behavior and how he interacts with teammates and takes instruction from manager/team officials, reacts to game situations and how he handles them, the way he interacts with the media -- I would have to say his makeup in that sense is fine, if not good overall. It's a weird case because of all the off-the-field incidents and the DV/firing a gun incident. I mean his makeup and character are poor because you have to factor in everything, but he seems fine so far in his on-the-field behavior. I know you shouldn't deconstruct it this way, but maybe I'm just trying to defend the Cubs decision to acquire him :dontknow: ...

Ah, its complicated. Yes, he has done horrible things and certainly his reputation was bad in Cincinnati. I'm conflicted because most of the Yankees personnel and team officials said he was a good teammate in his short stay there. He is distant, but I've never heard or read about any instance or conflict between him and a teammate. I guess his makeup is poor because of the DV incident, but I've never read about him pouting after a teammate makes a bad play behind him or arguing with a teammate or any other incident. Its hard to rationalize someone as being both a "good teammate"/bad makeup individual. I think the Cubs players would have nothing but good things to say about him so far. It's a weird case.

It's right here: http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/40552/if-cubs-are-interested-jon-lester-endorses-acquiring-jonathan-papelbon He was constantly around him -- he should know what kind of person he is, and his standards for what he considers a "good" teammate doesn't seem to fit this version of the Cubs. This Cubs roster is all good-to-great makeup individuals save for a few (Lackey, and maybe Chapman).

This is pretty simple -- NO. This guy is an idiot, acts like a buffoon and isn't that talented a pitcher anymore. Shame on guys like Lester talking him up and saying he'd be a good addition. I now know Lester's opinion carries very little weight and I think less of him. Honestly, I was conflicted about adding Chapman, but I've heard he is a good teammate, just very quiet and a bit aloof. I am not conflicted about Papelbon... not even a little bit. That guy is a complete horsefeathers. Cubs should squash this and say they have no interest.

Well, I just learned I'm a little bit older than you lol. I was 17 at the time of that draft. No, you're right about Mauer and Teixeira. They were consensus top 5 prospects and were considered very good prospects. The concern with Mauer was that he was a HS catcher, which carries a lot of risk. The concern with Texiera was that he would have to move to first base and exactly how much game power he would develop. Some scouts were concerned that he was too passive and his plate discipline was so advanced that he was content with taking walks (Which was a thing back then. I mean Votto still gets criticized for being too passive at the plate). That's what I can recall. I remember reading columns about that draft by Peter Gammons, and he was lamenting how a small-market team like the Twins couldn't afford to draft Prior. At the same time he mentioned maybe Mauer will develop into a hometown hero and all-star C, and that his selection will look better with time. I thought he was crazy...

I remember that draft pretty well, and Prior was considered far and away the best prospect available and it was a little bit shocking that the Twins didn't select him (worked out pretty well for them). Obviously, I know a hell of a lot more about baseball now and scouting and the MLB draft, but honestly I still think I would've selected Prior over Tex. Maybe not, with more info and analysis. I guess try to lean on history to minimize risk. Still, I remember reading that Prior had "perfect mechanics" for a pitcher and that he would be a staff ace for well over a decade. I mean the video of him pitching at USC was crazy impressive. He was the S. Strasburg of that era over a decade ago. I would pray with better handling and development and reduced pitch counts/innings that he might have held up better in an alternate universe, but the truth is he probably would still end up getting hurt. I completely agree with Transmogrified Tiger's philosophy, but I'm not going lie I was so enamored with M. Prior that I still would've taken him if I were the scouting director for the Cubs. People tend to forget how impressive his control and command were. It sucks we only got to see the good Prior for like 1.5 yrs. Really makes me sad... PS -- I liked Tex and he was actually a switch-hitting third baseman in college and some scouts thought he could stick at third base. I had my doubts, and I didn't know how valuable he would be at first base. In retrospect, he was still pretty damn valuable at first base.

Okay, thanks. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Ah, just mentioning or rather asking again, but have the Cubs announced any of their July 2nd signings yet? There is no way the other teams just cleaned up and got every prospect out there lol. I mean you can still get some interesting young players w/ lots of projection left at $250k/$300k.

So there haven't been any announced signings by the Cubs so far correct? I realize they are in the "penalty box" for going over their pool amount last yr and can only offer $300K, but it still seems strange that they haven't signed anyone... My worry is that they were about to do the exact same thing Boston just got penalized for and decided to nix those plans; I pray that wasn't the case. I mean it makes sense to do a bundle deal with one legit prospect and a couple scrubs and then re-allocate those payments, but it is technically cheating and a deceptive practice. I don't want the Cubs to do that or any club to do that, but these restrictions are dumb and MLB needs to come up with a better system for signing J2 international FAs. I have no idea what this system should be. I think an international draft would just further incentivize bad teams to tank as much as possible. I think they will address this in the next CBA.

I have to agree here with Ding Dong Johnson and rawaction -- Almora's speed is an asset. No, he's not blazing fast, but you can use him as pinch-runner for D. Ross or M. Montero or someone like that. There is pure running speed and I guess effective running speed in baseball. If you have good baseball instincts and base running skills (like Almora) it helps make up for the lack of high-end speed. You run shorter, more direct routes and get better jumps. There are many fast players in the minors who lack those instincts and are poor baserunners... I also kinda take umbrage with posters who mock Almora's speed or don't believe he's a good runner. He's not a running back or widereceiver who needs to create separation to get past the defense lol

I see this senior pitcher, Duncan Robinson, is also from Dartmouth. Are they trying to replicate some "Kyle Hendricks" type magic lol? I'm pretty sure this guy isn't much of a prospect, but they probably said the same thing about Hendricks... I would love to have another K. Hendricks-type pitcher in the system!

Actually, I should state that RHP - Z. Godley (the 10th round pick in 2013) reached the big leagues with Arizona. So that's one pitcher who made it and was a late round pick. Kudos to the scout who recommended him and the Cubs for finding someone in the 10th round lol.

This feels disappointing...it's what I expected but it still feels meh. A lot of college pitching prospects that will sign for slot. I don't like RHP - B. Clark, but it was a 5th round pick so whatever. I honestly know nothing about the other college pitchers. This I do know -- teams are scouting better and selecting better. I feel like the Cubs had targets that didn't fall to them. This draft class doesn't seem that great right now. I guess if one of these college pitching prospects develops then it will be considered a good draft when we judge it a few yrs from now. I'm happy with our past draft picks and the focus on advanced hitting prospects w/ high ceilings. That said, out picks after the 1st round have kinda sucked. I don't have a lot of faith in our scouts in finding pitching prospects in later rounds. Haven't done it yet, but maybe that will change w/ D. Cease or P. Johnson. I hope I'm wrong and these scouts find some diamonds-in-the-rough...

So there are still a lot of intriguing prospects available which is nice, but the Cubs pick in the 3rd round is still pretty far away so some of these players will be gone before the Cubs get to select someone. The ones I like that are still available (and affordable I think): RHP - S. Tewes (injured) LHP - J. Luzardo (injured - had TJS) C - C. Johnson (local kid, great defender) RHP - Z. Gallen RHP - D. May (big RHP from Texas) LHP - JoJo Romero & LHP - D. Smeltzer (good JUCO pitchers that might be available in later rounds) RHP - K. Funkhouser (Boras client, inconsistent stuff, Senior, I kind of like him at the right price? :-k ) RHP - N. Martinez LHP - M. Krook I could list many more, but I am most familiar with these draft prospects or rather like these prospects enough to care. There are some good position players available, but I feel like the Cubs are going to focus on pitching. Curious what other people think and who they like/want selected?

The White Sox trying to copy us by taking C - Z. Collins lol. He won't be as good as K. Schwarber, but he should develop into a good player. I have no idea whether he can stick at C (read mixed things). Curious to see how far SS - D. Perez falls today...

Yeah, the Cubs representative is T. Lilly lol. I'd rather have K. Wood there to represent the Cubs, but whatever. I can't believe LHP pitching prospect J. Groome is falling down the board so far. Man there must be serious makeup concerns or something.

It will be majority college and/or JUCO selections among pitchers. They probably will select maybe 1 or 2 HS pitchers, but not more than that. HS pitching prospects carry more risk, but also a higher reward potentially down the road. However, they also usually carry a higher price tag as well (the highly rated HS pitching prospects, anyway) or have strong commitments to collegiate programs. That's why you'll see the ratio skew more towards the college side. Also, college and JUCO pitching prospects tend to advance through the minors a little bit faster than the HS crop. I wish we could go after the high-risk/high-reward targets, but the Cubs simply don't have a large enough draft pool to afford that strategy this yr. It's too expensive and is a very risky approach if you don't balance it with "safer" high floor draft prospects.

Man why do so many ppl want to trade Schwarber?...You really should be opposed to trading Schwarber -- he's an excellent, young disciplined hitter who can play C part-time and is a great teammate with great makeup. You don't trade those kind of players, except for M. Trout or B. Harper. Theo and the Cubs FO loves Schwarber -- and dammit if they love Schwarber so should you! Pardon my language...

Umm, so I'm just wondering why we have TWO separate threads about the pirates with both labeled "The Pirates" lol? I mean I don't hate them and I sort of admire how they've turned into a contender, but we really only need one thread for discussing all things Pirates-related...

Well, I'm conflicted now lol. I'd still probably take him if he were available at #104, but I don't think he'll fall that far down. Some team is gonna get a bargain since he has no leverage. Wish we had a late 1st round pick now...