neely crenshaw

Outside of his 12 game stint with the Giants Peavy has looked a whole lot like Edwin Jackson over the last few seasons I just can't see a scenario that we're better with Peavy over Hammel, especially considering what the difference in cost would likely be. It really doesn't matter either way unless we sign or trade for a TOR guy.

Only Cub fans would vote for a guy who has yet to play a ML game as the greatest player ever in their organization over guys who had actual good/great careers and hall of famers.

Hey didn't Marmol start as a catcher? Maybe we found a new role for Baker. We can go back to high school days and bring the closer out from behind the dish in the middle of an inning to close it out!

It's doubtful that Jackson goes, but perhaps if some of the bullpen moves-we can put Jackson out there and see if he can do anything of value in that role. He has always been talked about becoming a closer because of his stuff. Obviously he doesn't have the fastball that warrants that role anymore but maybe in a set up spot or in Villanueva's role if he goes. I think it's too late to hope he'll turn the corner, and clearly no one would want him even if we paid most of the tab, so maybe we can get some use out of him. Position players that could/should be moved Valbuena/Bonifacio (I don't see any other position players that teams have a need for). So it looks like bullpen, and as dark horse guys, maybe Wood or Castillo.

He's had a little more success since leaving Colorado (though he never really had worse numbers at home). He had some success in relief this year, before going back into the rotation in May. Valbuena has pretty much gone back to his previous norms average wise in the last month and a half, but is really not walking as much as he had been either. Ultimately, he'll be a utility guy and I think a 25-yo starter at best or decent reliever at worst is probably slightly more valuable. That being said, I'm pretty much with you. I'd probably do the deal, but I'd hope it would be on the table a little later. I know the ML team doesn't matter, but I really don't want the alternatives playing everyday at 3B (Olt, Watkins, Valaika?) if Valbuena is gone. And that goes for the start of 2015 until one of the young guys establishes himself at the ML level. The A's need a 2B bad and very soon. If Pomeranz is on the table, I'd jump on it. That said, Valbuena has value to the Cubs for his versatility and ability to be a decent stopgap until the kids are up AND have no problem coming off the bench when that time comes. His selectivity at the plate and the moderate pop in his bat profiles as a good pinch hitter. I like him but for the lottery ticket that is Pomeranz (5th pick overall, 25 years old, MOR ceiling, good reliever floor), I'd do it. I am not sure that it's necessary for this team to have a stop gap at this point. Valbuena has played well, but we are heading for the worst record in baseball why does it matter if we are better at 3b right now. Put Olt there, put bonifacio there, heck play "automatic out" but if we get anything of value for anyone (not in the plans) on the roster go for it.

catching and carrying the ball out of play is basically the same as if you had thrown it out of play-dead ball and all the runners get 1 base.

Maybe you could say it's good to wait, but most of that % is from his first month and half when he hit under .200 and struck out almost half the time with a sub .600 ops. Since he has settled in hitting close to .300, almost .900 ops and dropped his K rate below 25%, which is basically where he has been in his career. To me it sure looks like he was unhappy to go to AAA when he probably felt he had earned a spot on the ML roster in the spring.

Most labeled him a #2 best case scenario which kind of leads one to put him as very possible mid-rotation starter- if he falls below of his ceiling. Although we really won't know because of his injury, despite his start Tanaka had fallen off a bit in his last starts. He had lost 3 of 4, and only one was a good start. In the other 3 he gave up 3,4 and 5 earned runs, and had from 1.99 to 2.50. We'll never know for sure if it was just a down cycle, or due to the injury or he was being figured out a bit.

got to see him last week when KC played Quad cities. He is a ton. He is much more than a "power" bat. He made great adjustments during at bats, and drove the ball to all fields. Opened against a righty starter throwing 90-91, and took a 2 strike pitch off the wall in in left center. 3rd at bat they brought in a lefty to face him. He looked bad on pitch 1, then fouled off a couple, then took a 1-2 pitch off the wall in right center. Next at bat, they brought in a "closer" who was bringing it in the 94-95 range. he drilled a fastball right back up the middle… I paid close attention to his catching. He looked solid behind the plate, but he didn't have much to block so tough to tell a lot. He definitely has the arm. He threw bb's every time throwing down. He also threw out a runner (who had 30 steals on the year) pretty easily. His bat is clearly near ready or at least closer than his defense but he could definitely catch. There is a good possibility that they won't need to rush him because they have so many other options in the field. Without trading anyone, they have infielders Bryant, Castro, Baez, and Rizzo- with Russell and Alcantara. Then you have outfielders Mckinney, Almora and Soler. If 2 of the infielders move to the outfield, then we really don't have a need or a spot for him, other than catching. Every player on that list is ahead of him in the system. Now he is moving up faster than anyone, but it certainly looks like we have the depth to wait for his defense to come along.

As a young kid it was Rick Monday until he was traded. Then Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux. Always liked DLee during that generation. Currently it was Shark, and Rizzo.

How on earth can you reason that Bonifacio has been good? Good is relative. Bonifacio has been what he always is, about a .320 ob%. In this scenario he is in the lineup for Barney, Lake, or Olt. So maybe "better" is the term to use. Also the lineup isn't half bad as long as Ruggiano and Coghlan keep it up, Valbuena does not take a 2nd half swoon, and Alcantara plays like we hope.

Have you heard of Addison Russell? Yeah, was kind of thinking of "our" guys(before the deal), which now include Russell, but just kind of completely forgot about him. Heck McKinney falls into that category also..

He appears to be the one main prospect that may have the ability to post good ob% numbers and be a lead off hitter. Perhaps not ideal but he has posted .350+ ob% the last 2 seasons, and with the potential bats behind him in the future that could be more than good enough. It's already better than what we have now. Also if he can become a solid CF he could fill another hole among our future stars. It's also nice to see another of our young guys up and playing.

I think castro is the type of player that will be even better (offensively) with better players around him. I also think he could be an all star type of outfielder. He has an amazing drop step and range on pop flies. If russell does become the SS, He could easily fill a need out there.

I hope that's the plan. Unless you are the Dodgers or Yankees, you really have to balance bringing along your own stars with buying what you need. Obviously the more you "grow" the less you have to buy, and the more you can spend on it. The only problem I see down the road is that the cost of top line pitching has skyrocketed to the point that middle to backend guys are getting in the 10-15mil range, It's very hard to buy a staff at that type of cost. At least the FO has shown the ability to find cheap guys to finish off the rotation economically. If we end up developing the bulk of our order, it will be easier to take on a salary like Stanton, or a true number 1-possibly both. It's a lot easier(and cheaper) to buy complimentary pieces than studs.