CUBZ99

From my understanding it wasn't his bulkiness that prevented him from playing regular 3b or LF, but instead the fact that Aram is back and Soriano is playing LF. Lou has already stated that he made a mistake by not putting Fox at 3B sooner. I would not have a problem with giving Fox a shot at 2b during the fall league. For one, the fall league games don't count, so if they run him out there and he is terrible it won't matter. Also, Fox has really opened some eyes this year, and has proven most of his detractors wrong. Although he will likely never win a gold glove he has shown that he is adequate with his glove at 3B, 1B and the OF. Why not reward him with a chance to play 2b over the fall? Looking at the Cubs lineup for next year, there is only one position that would give Fox a chance to play every day. If he sucks, like everyone seems to think is a foregone conclusion, there is nothing lost.

Haha Castro to AA? Isn't he only 18 or 19? I guess why not. No matter what he will start out at AA next year, so give him a taste of AA and see what he does? Edit: Wow, Castro was terrible in April, but since May he has been outstanding. I don't see a problem with this move. Its amazing looking at his stats post-April to realize how well he has done in high-A as a 19 year old.

here's to some Rothschild pixie dust.....

Here comes A. Miles to the rescue! His injury has been the one that affected the Cubs the most. I don't have the stats, but I'm sure their record has been terrible since he went on the DL. :-)) :-))

Were the texts from Steve Stone?

I do not understand this line of thinking. How are the Cubs not in a position where they can give guys a chance to develop into effective big league players? Where are you going to play them on a regular basis, in order for them to develop? Most of the year they have been languishing in AAA. The Pirates are configured to the point where they can take more luxuries with allowing them to go through growing pains without affecting the overall outcome of their season. In Hart's situation, he is headed back to the minors as soon as Lilly is off the DL. Ascanio had brief call ups, and didn't immediately impress Cubs brass, therefore relegating him to IA. With the Pirates, I presume he will be given a much longer leash.

gaub and parker, that is a pretty poor list of players, not much to worry about. And Colvin he has been hot lately and you never know if he will put it together.

Nice analysis. :D I think you hit on some very good points in regard to the different ways to evaluate a farm system. As much of a beating as the system took in the offseason, the farm seems to have been underestimated even by the team. Fox has proved to be very useful to the big league club and will be a terrific bat coming off the bench for the rest of the year. Blanco and Scales have proven that Miles was unneeded. Guzman has stayed relatively healthy and has been lights out. Nobody expected Wells to be as good as he has been so far this year. Stevens has shown some real promise. Even Fuld filled in for a short time, and played adequately. Sure there are no A+ prospects in that group, but they have provided much needed production. Many players have stepped up in the lower levels and given fans prospects to be excited about again. It is starting to look like Cashner may be able to convert to starter, and his numbers so far in AA are very encouraging. Carpenter will have played in 3 different levels this year and has been terrific. J. Jackson was putting up some pretty impressive numbers in AA, leaving the Cubs with three legit above average starting rotation options in the near future. With Vitters, Lee, Casto, B. Jackson, among others, the Cubs have some exciting position prospects to keep an eye out for in the coming years.

The Cubs should let him wear 34 if he wants. Fans loved Kerry Wood, but its not like he did anything to deserve to have his number retired.

Marshall has been terrific in the pen.. how exactly is Lou misusing him? By using him to face 1 batter, and then removing him from the game. Although getting Grabow should eliminate that trend. Ah, gotcha.

At this point, I think we have to assume that there was some type of injury. Maybe that would explain his poor start in Daytona so far. The Jackson demotion is very puzzling. Carpenter has been been on fire this year, but Jackson's numbers in AA were pretty decent. Unless the move was for discipline reasons, it doesn't make any sense. It would have been some rotation at AA with Cashner, Carpenter, and Jackson in it.

Marshall has been terrific in the pen.. how exactly is Lou misusing him?

guh....come on. i'm in a good mood and you bring this. Vitters for Grabow? vitters wasn't in the lineup last night! oh no Maybe Hendry will throw in Jay Jackson?

Zack Duke? If the Cubs trade anything of value for just Grabow, Hendry needs to be fired. I doubt Duke would be considered "another pitcher" but I guess you never know. After the Sanchez deal, something tells me that Hendry is going to get hosed.

Do the Astros have any relief pitching left? Ortiz is almost at 50 pitches in the 2nd inning.

Let's call a suicide squeeze with Fontenot and Bradley and tie this baby up.

Hasn't Ortiz owned the Cubs this year so far?

Wow! now that is a comeback.

Just out of curiosity, why did Lemhieu get bumped to Peoria already over these guys? Probably because he is older and more advanced. It is amazing what Lee and Watkins are doing in Boise, I hope they just let them finish the season there.

Maybe him and Jackson are being traded to Toronto? :-))

Looks like Fuld is not in the IA lineup (no surprise). Also, A. Miles is 3-3 ! :(

Why would Jay Jackson be sent back to Daytona, when he has been fairly successful at Tenn all year? Maybe he is being traded, if not let him take his lumps at AA.

Cashner with another nice outing 5.0 IP, 3 hits, 4BB, 4K 1 unearned run. 91 pitches. Dropped his ERA to 1.09 :D

Word is that Hendry was close to making the trade until stmarkcubs posted it on the internet and the trade rumor received negative comments, causing Hendry to back out of the deal.

Wouldn't the Cubs actually save money on that trade?