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Have Your Pencils, and Scorecards Ready…
Contracts have been tendered and salary abritration has been offered, so pending further trades, FA signings, and minor league acquisitions, here is the projected Cubs organizational position depth chart, including the Cubs and their four full-season farm clubs (Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, and Peoria).
There are quite obviously too many position-players and pitchers listed on the various minor league teams, so not all of the candidates will survive Minor League Camp (Spring Training). Some will get released, while others will get moved in a “courtesy trade” to allow them to go to an organization where they aren’t blocked.
* bats or throws left
# bats both
CATCHERS:
CUBS: Michael Barrett/Henry Blanco
IOWA: Geovany Soto/# Koyie Hill
TENN: Jake Fox/Chris Robinson/Tony Richie
DAYT: * Mark Reed/Jake Muyco/* Alan Rick
PEOR: Mario Mercedes/Matt Canepa/Blake Parker
==================================
FIRST-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Derrek Lee/* Daryle Ward
IOWA: * Micah Hoffpauir/Jesse Hoorelbeke
TENN: Brian Dopirak
DAYT: Ryan Norwood/Alberto Garcia
PEOR: Russ Canzler
======================================
SECOND-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Mark DeRosa/Ryan Theriot
IOWA: * Eric Patterson/* Mike Fontenot
TENN: * Nate Spears/Issmael Salas
DAYT: * Matt Camp/Robinson Chirinos
PEOR: * Steve Clevenger/# Matt Matulia
=========================================
THIRD-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Aramis Ramirez
IOWA: Casey McGehee
TENN: # Matt Craig
DAYT: * Ryne Malone/Ryan Lilly
PEOR: Josh Lansford/Elvin Puello
======================================
SHORTSTOPS:
CUBS: # Cesar Izturis
IOWA: Ronny Cedeno/* Gary Cates
TENN: Joe Simokaitis/Carlos Rojas/# Albenis Machado
DAYT: Jonathan Mota/* Kyle Reynolds
PEOR: * Dylan Johnston/Sammy Baez
====================================
LEFT-FIELDERS:
CUBS: Matt Murton/* Buck Coats
IOWA: * Scott Moore
TENN: Jemel Spearman/* Jeff Culpepper
DAYT: Jesus Valdez/* Nate Price
PEOR: D. J. Lewis
====================================
CENTER-FIELDERS:
CUBS: * Jacque Jones/# Angel Pagan
IOWA: * Felix Pie/Chris Walker
TENN: * Sam Fuld
DAYT: * Tyler Colvin/# Matt Ciaramella
PEOR: * Davy Gregg
======================================
RIGHT-FIELDERS:
CUBS: Alfonso Soriano
IOWA: * Jorge Cortes
TENN: Ryan Harvey
DAYT: Yusuf Carter
PEOR: Alfred Joseph
===============================
STARTING PITCHERS:
CUBS:
Carlos Zambrano
* Ted Lilly
* Rich Hill
Jason Marquis
Mark Prior
Wade Miller
IOWA:
* Sean Marshall
Angel Guzman
Jae-kuk Ryu
Juan Mateo
Randy Wells
* Ryan O’Malley
John Webb
TENN:
Sean Gallagher
* Donald Veal
* Chris Shaver
* J. R. Mathes
Mark Holliman
Bobby Brownlie
DAYT:
Kevin Hart
Grant Johnson
Justin Berg
Mitch Atkins
Scott Taylor
Billy Petrick
PEOR:
Jeff Samardzija
* Mark Pawelek
Billy Muldowney
* Jeremy Papelbon
Joel Santo
Todd Blackford
================================
BULLPEN:
CUBS:
Ryan Dempster (closer)
* Scott Eyre
Bob Howry
* Will Ohman
Michael Wuertz
* Neal Cotts
Kerry Wood
* Glendon Rusch
IOWA:
Carlos Marmol (closer)
Roberto Novoa
* Clay Rapada
Rocky Cherry
Federico Baez
* Carmen Pignatiello
Thomas Atlee
* Les Walrond
Jason Anderson
Ben Howard
* Nate Bland
TENN:
Adalberto Mendez (closer)
Adam Harben
* Tim Layden
Michael Phelps
Jon Hunton
* Paul Schappert
Jim Henderson
* Geoff Jones
Chadd Blasko
DAYT:
Matt Avery (closer)
Jesse Estrada
Justin Rayborn
* Jerry Blevins
* Scott Koerber Mike Billek
Roberto Sotolongo
PEOR:
Jose Ceda (closer)
Michael Cooper
Alessandro Maestri
* Jayson Ruhlman
Jon Mueller
* Darin Downs
Rocky Roquet
Matt Harrington
* Luke Hagerty
* Zach McCormack
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198 Responses to “Have Your Pencils, and Scorecards Ready…”
December 14th, 2006 at 10:00 am
I was way off about Matsuzaka. I hope the Red Sox go bankrupt.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:03 am
Is the Marquis deal final yet? I don’t recall ever seeing confirmation of a deal at cubs.com and yet Hendry apparently is talking about Marquis winning 15 games a year for the Cubs. I thought the only delay last weekend was for the guy to pass a physical. I thought that would have happened by now. Is the delay a bad sign (or a good sign if you are not a Marquis supporter)?
December 14th, 2006 at 10:10 am
Marquis is supposed to get his physical to complete the deal as of next week. Lilly gets his physical today/tomorrow and that will make the deal “official” with a corresponding cubs.com confirmation.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:11 am
ARM: The Jason Marquis deal is still officially “pending,” sort of like when a house gets sold but all of the paperwork isn’t completed or filed. That isn’t unusual for a situation where a FA is signed to a contract during the off-season.
The only thing that would strike the deal is if Marquis flunks his physical or if the MLB office finds something about the contract that isn’t kosher.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:38 am
The only thing that would strike the deal is if Marquis flunks his physical or if the MLB office finds something about the contract that isn’t kosher.
Apparently Marquis ordered a kosher contract, eh?
December 14th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Based on Hendry’s interview this morning on ESPN radio, I wouldn’t expect to see any young starting pitchers dealt away in the near future. He emphasized that any team that goes into the FA market looking for pitching is going to be at a serious disadvantage, and that they were only in this winter’s market out of necessity.
So I would not expect to see Marshall or any of the young pitching prospects dealt unless it was a trade deadline deal during a pennant race. Or a deal in which we trade a MLB-ready guy and receive younger pitching in return.
That AAA rotation looks pretty solid with genuine prospects instead of the usual retreads, followed by Veal and Gallagher at AA. So the pipeline is in place as long as we keep guys reasonably healthy.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:45 am
That’s right JMR:
You won’t see Jason eating a hot dog with a milk mustache on the “Get Milk” billboard ads.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Man, if Zambrano gets hurt, that Iowa rotation might be better than the Cubs’.
OK, that’s hyperbole, but it speaks to how little I think of Jason Marquis that I’d rather take a chance on any of the top 4 Iowa starters than on him (especially with a 3-year commitment).
December 14th, 2006 at 10:58 am
Maybe you heard Hendry wrong, Arm. Maybe he’s talking about Marquis winning 15 over the next three years. Given a few breaks, I think he can do just that.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:01 am
AZ Phil -
you have Marmol listed as the closer at Iowa. Are you certain about this, because I hadn’t read that. I knew there was some talk last season about moving him to the bullpen, and I personally like the idea, but I didn’t know that they had decided to do that.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:07 am
#10 of 10: By Someguy (December 14, 2006 11:01 AM)
AZ Phil -
you have Marmol listed as the closer at Iowa. Are you certain about this, because I hadn’t read that. I knew there was some talk last season about moving him to the bullpen, and I personally like the idea, but I didn’t know that they had decided to do that.
===========================================
SOMEGUY: I’m not certain about any of these projections, but based on what I have heard, the Cubs project Marmol as a future closer (or at least a reliever) rather than as a starter.
While pitchers who are projected as future closers or set-up guys are often used as a starter in the minors in order to get them more innings (and more experience), I believe in order to prep Marmol for his expected future role, and given the quantity of young starters who will likely be in the rotation at Iowa, Marmol will be the closer at Iowa in 2007.
Getting him innings is fine, but at some point the Cubs need to develop Marmol’s “closer mentality.”
BTW, I also believe Ryu, Mateo, and Wells are more than likely future MLB middle-relievers, but because they aren’t projected as closers, they will continue to get innings at AAA as starters in ‘07.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:09 am
AZ Phil -
you have Marmol listed as the closer at Iowa. Are you certain about this, because I hadn’t read that. I knew there was some talk last season about moving him to the bullpen, and I personally like the idea, but I didn’t know that they had decided to do that.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:34 am
AZPhil - you have one of my favorite players Scott Downs listed as a left fielder. The truth is the Cubs are loaded with left fielder why dont the Cubs try him at shortstop as you have suggested.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:48 am
#13 of 13: By Rory (December 14, 2006 11:34 AM)
AZPhil - you have one of my favorite players Scott Downs listed as a left fielder. The truth is the Cubs are loaded with left fielder why dont the Cubs try him at shortstop as you have suggested.
=====================================
RORY: I take it you meant Scott Moore, right?
If you did mean Moore, I believe although he will be “based” in LF, he will play all over the place (LF-RF-3B-1B, plus some SS and CF, too), as the Cubs develop him as a Geoff Blum-type supersub.
The Cubs did the same thing with Buck Coats at Iowa last season, and I believe Coats will be (like Jose Macias was in 2005 and Frddie Bynum was last year) the Cubs multi-positional supersub 5th man off the bench (at this point, anyway, what with Jason Smith having been lost in the Rule 5 Draft), and that after a year of AAA–and if he isn’t traded–Scott Moore will be a good candidate to take that job next year.
Now, if Moore gets an opportunity to play SS a lot at Iowa and demonstrates that he can play that position, he could be moved back there. But as long as Ronny Cedeno is at Iowa next season (and I believe he will be), Moore won’t get much PT at SS.
I think it is far more likely that Moore will either remain with the Cubs and be developed as a Geoff Blum-type supersub, or he will get traded.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Scott Downs??
December 14th, 2006 at 11:55 am
I’m sure he meant Scott Moore, but while we’re on this tangent…
I remember Scott Downs as having some promise as a pitcher but I believe he’s had some significant injuries that limited his career. My memory of him was the ptbnl in the Cubs acquiring Rondell White from Montreal in 2000.
Scott Downs Transactions:
June 3, 1997: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 18, 1997.
November 3, 1998: Sent by the Chicago Cubs to the Minnesota Twins to complete an earlier deal made on August 25, 1998. The Chicago Cubs sent a player to be named later and cash to the Minnesota Twins for Mike Morgan. The Chicago Cubs sent Scott Downs (November 3, 1998) to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade.
May 21, 1999: Traded by the Minnesota Twins with Rick Aguilera to the Chicago Cubs for Kyle Lohse and Jason Ryan.
July 31, 2000: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Montreal Expos for Rondell White.
November 29, 2004: Released by the Washington Nationals.
December 16, 2004: Signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
AZ Phil…did you say what your * and # meant?
December 14th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Thanks for the depth chart post AZPhil. I’ve been searching around for some info on which prospects/suspects were going to be placed on Peoria so I can see who will battle the mighty Silverhawks. I hope you’re right on Samardzija and Pawelek with the Chiefs. Does it appear that the Cubs org. now sees C.Blasko as a reliever or is he just in the pen to build arm strength?…and have you heard anymore on A.Guzman being moved to the pen as a potential closer? In reality I think Guzman, Marmol and Mateo all should be moved to the pen.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
#17 of 18: By dave (December 14, 2006 12:05 PM)
AZ Phil…did you say what your * and # meant?
================================
DAVE: I forgot to do that. Thanks! I have made the necessary addition.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
DAVE: I forgot to do that. Thanks! I have made the necessary addition.
Cool…the funny thing is that I refreshed this page to see if you replied, and saw you addition. At first I thought I had just missed it.
Good work, once again.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
#18 of 19: By Bogey (December 14, 2006 12:06 PM)
Thanks for the depth chart post AZPhil. I’ve been searching around for some info on which prospects/suspects were going to be placed on Peoria so I can see who will battle the mighty Silverhawks. I hope you’re right on Samardzija and Pawelek with the Chiefs. Does it appear that the Cubs org. now sees C.Blasko as a reliever or is he just in the pen to build arm strength?…and have you heard anymore on A.Guzman being moved to the pen as a potential closer? In reality I think Guzman, Marmol and Mateo all should be moved to the pen.
==================================
BOGEY: I don’t think there is any room for Blasko in the Cubs organization as a starting pitcher. If he ever does make it back (and he could just as easily get released out of ST), I believe it will be as a reliever.
As for Guzman, with his four-pitch arsenal, I think he is still projected as a starting pitcher. However, if he continues to throw a high-number of pitches per inning, he will have to be moved to the bullpen.
I believe Marshall, Guzman, Gallagher, Veal, Mathes, Holliman, Samardzija, and Pawelek (if they remain with the Cubs and continue to develop) are ultimately projected as starters, and Marmol, Ryu, Mateo, Wells, and Shaver (if they remain with the Cubs and continue to develop) will likely eventually be moved to the bullpen.
The jury is still out on Grant Johnson. I saw him pitch in the Instructional League, and although he has good stuff, he just keeps nibbling. He does not aggressively go after hitters like he should. 2007 will be a make-or-break year for Grant, as I think he will get just one more year to show he can be a rotation starter. If he continues to struggle as a starter in ‘07 (probably at Daytona), he will have to compete with guys like Matt Avery, Jesse Estrada, and Justin Rayborn for bullpen slots at AA in 2008.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Great job. I really enjoyed your article. Question - I noticed you had Colvin being double promoted. I know he came from college and not high school, but do you think this would be a wise move. He didn’t exactly overwhelm short season A ball. I would start him in Peoria and maybe move him up after 6 weeks or so if warranted.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
az phil, thanks ! comprehensive as ever !
were you channeling pat piper for today’s headline?
dc
December 14th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Sorry, one more question, You had Papplebon as a starter. Is this what they are thinking? I thought he was a two pitch guy with limited upside. You probably have seen him pitch, what is your view?
December 14th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
What about Ryan O’Malley? He signed a minor league deal…..
December 14th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
If you are a pitcher with Z at the beginning of your last name….STAY AWAY from all forms of computers.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs...../612140388
December 14th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
do any of you all think it possible that seibu kicked some money back to boras, if a deal were struck? would this be legal? what could mlb do?
December 14th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Grant has been really disappointing and you’re completely right, he doesn’t trust his stuff…really reminds me of Heilman’s early tenure with the Mets, where along with Johnson had terrific control at ND, then the minute they leave they can’t find home plate with a search party. Heilman turned it around but still doesn’t appear that he’s going to be the #2 starter that his stuff indicated he would be. I don’t know if Grant’s rookie ball instructors got into his head, but he doesn’t look anything like the pitcher he was at ND..and I think most of it is confidence…although he did get sidelined with shoulder stiffness last season. Pawelek is actually even more disappointing. I’m sure you saw the piece in BA where he said that he came into camp last year out of shape. If these positional players slated for Peoria turns out to be accurate, it looks like the Chiefs might struggle to score runs this year.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
hilarious jacos!
what do you think Zumaya’s favorite song on Guitar Hero was? Ace Of Spades perhaps?
December 14th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Probably something from Randy Rhodes’ catalog
December 14th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
#22 of 22: By TJ (December 14, 2006 12:44 PM)
Great job. I really enjoyed your article. Question - I noticed you had Colvin being double promoted. I know he came from college and not high school, but do you think this would be a wise move. He didn’t exactly overwhelm short season A ball. I would start him in Peoria and maybe move him up after 6 weeks or so if warranted.
============================
TJ: There are a couple or three reasons I think both Tyler Colvin and Matt Camp will jump Peoria.
First and foremost, I believe they are ready for Hi-A. I saw both of them play in the Instructional League, and the two of them (and to a slightly lesser extent, Josh Lansford) are head & shoulders above the other kids in the lower levels of the organization (it probably helped that both Colvin and Camp played big-time college ball in the ACC). Colvin made the move to CF without a hitch, and looked great at the plate. Camp showed improved patience at the plate, and he is also a good hitter (albeit without Colvin’s power) and made the adjustment back to 2B from CF.
Secondly, there is nobody at Daytona blocking either of them. One of the reasons not to double-jump a guy is if there is another player immediately ahead of him at his position blocking him. But Davy Gregg had a disappointing ‘06 at Peoria and will likely not get promoted (or if he does, it will be only as a back-up guy), and although Robinson Chirinos will likely be going back up to Daytona from Peoria (he played at Daytona in ‘05), he also has no future in the Cubs organization (he will be a Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent after next season).
And thirdly, the Cubs have a history of double-promoting their better mature (played college ball) prospects and/or challenging them at a higher level. Eric Patterson went directly from Peoria to AA West Tenn (skipping Daytona), and Mark Holliman went directly from college ball (Ole Miss) to Daytona. Ryne Malone played at Peoria last year right after being selected in the June draft out of Florida State, and Nate Price went to Daytona after signing as a NDFA out of the University of Iowa. So if anything, I was somewhat surprised that Colvin was not assigned to Peoria after he signed last Summer.
Obviously, if Colvin or Camp struggle in ST, they won’t get assigned to Daytona. But as of right now, I would project both to leap past Peoria and go staight to Hi-A.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
#24 of 31: By TJ (December 14, 2006 12:48 PM)
Sorry, one more question, You had Papplebon as a starter. Is this what they are thinking? I thought he was a two pitch guy with limited upside. You probably have seen him pitch, what is your view?
======================================
TJ: I think Papelbon will be moved to the starting rotation, at least for a while. He seems to have the durability needed to be a starter. You can get away with being a two-pitch starter in the minors, you just can’t do it in AAA or in the big leagues. Donald Veal has a similar problem that he will need to address this coming year, or else he could end up in the bullpen, too.
Jose Ceda is a really extreme case, because he has one outstanding pitch (a blazing fastball), a mediocre breaking ball, and no change-up. I suspect it is MOST likely that the Cubs will decide to use him as a reliever and just leave him there (which is why I have him projected as the closer at Peoria in ‘07), but it is also possible that they will have him remain in Extended Spring Training and at least try to either improve his breaking ball and/or try to learn a change-up, and then use him as a starter at Boise to get him more innings.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
#25 of 32: By Super Hozey (December 14, 2006 12:51 PM)
What about Ryan O’Malley? He signed a minor league deal…..
==================================
SUPER HOZEY: The Cubs re-signed Ryan O’Malley to a minor league deal after he was released? I wasn’t aware of that. If it happened, it happened in the last week, because O’Malley was not on the list of Cubs players eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
No O’Malley hasn’t been re-signed…and though it’s possible, I don’t think he has much of a future even as a reliever when his BAA is .279 vs lefties and .285 against righties. I like his low BB rate but he just doesn’t miss enough bats.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
BTW, I posted this before, but for those who didn’t see it or weren’t already aware of it, OF Miguel Negron (released by the Cubs last month) signed a minor league contract with STL and got an NRI to ST. Negron is presently the hands-down MVP of the Puerto Rican Winter League.
MLFA OF Jorge Cortes (who spent eight years in the PIT organization and one in the HOU system, never playing above AA) was signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs (essentially replacing Negron), and Cortes will likely be one of the outfielders at Iowa in ‘07.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Hendry is really making the radio rounds…on Murphy’s show/WSCR today.
Not much new ground covered with topics including:
He’s on a better diet and exercise program. He’s excited about LouPa and the new coaching staff but that’s been overshadowed by all the acquisitions. No acquisition will block Pie when he’s ready so no multi-year CF was a consideration. We didn’t see Angel Pagan in CF because Pierre played every day but he implied he’s an option if Pie’s not ready (he didn’t say JJones was a CF option, but it wasn’t asked). He hopes to add one more bench player before spring training. Kerry Wood will be in the bullpen all year and he’s not worried about what inning he will be used in as that will sort itself out. Jason Marquis acquisition was because he was a historical 14-15 game winner and 200 inning a year guy and they wanted (starters) guys that can pitch more innings.
What I thought was interesting though:
Hendry said Ryan Theriot can play all 3 OF spots (implying a CF option) besides the infield.
Asked about the extensive bullpen inventory, Hendry said all the young kids have options and we’re going to have an inventory in Iowa which we haven’t had before, of young arms that are all home grown guys.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
RYAN O’MALLEY WAS INDEED GIVEN A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT and an invitation to the major league spring training camp after he cleared waivers.
His arm is fine and he started throwing this week.
Even though three MLB teams called him and told him he was invited to their spring training camps, apparently as a courtesy to the Cubs or as a matter of strategy they didn’t claim him off waivers.
So O’Malley belongs on the AAA roster.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
hendry was on the score with mike murphy over lunch-maybe a rehash of his interview with mike and mike from earlier:
he is feeling very well.
it is still 2 months until arizona.
murphy looks at the roster from bottom up-hendry says”very happy with theriot, ward, and blanco”.
specifically hendry made mention of theriot playing all 3 of spots.
their goal for pitching was to get innings guys.
they will not block pie at all- when hendry, lou, and staff agree he’s ready, the job is his, no equivocating.
agreed with murph marquis had a lousy 2nd half of 2006, but wanted the dependability of 200 innings. and went through the litany that over past 3 seasons, marquis has more victories than either zito or schmidt.
very optimistic on wood’s health- next goal is to get wood pitching back to back days and 3 out of 4 days to prepare for life in the pen. innigs are not yet “assigned”, that will all work itself out in arizona.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
check Theriot’s DNA fibers…maybe he’s actually Ryan Freel’s clone…or the illegitimate child of a Ryan Freel and D.Eckstein relationship.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
hmm..milb.com has him down as a FA. When did he re-sign?
December 14th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
cwtp…have a link for the o’malley info?
December 14th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
I’m confused regarding Jeff Samardzjia - he’s listed here as being in the rotation at Peoria, but he played at Notre Dame this year. Now, imagining he doesn’t enter the NFL Draft, do the Cubs retain rights to him, or does he have to re-enter the draft next summer? And how is he able to maintain collegiate eligibility if he’s pitching in a professional league?
December 14th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
AZ PHIL: Have you seen Jose Ceda pitch yet? As the offering from Todd Walker, I just keep hearing about his heater - but that’s all.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Just as a review, the following MLFAs signed to minor league contracts have received an NRI to ST with the Cubs:
Jason Anderson, RHP
Koyie Hill, C
Ben Howard, RHP
Les Walrond, LHP
John Webb, RHP
INF Json Smith also signed a minor league contract with the Cubs for 2007 and had received an NRI to ST, but was subsequently selected by TOR in the Rule 5 Draft last week.
Other Cubs “in-house” candidates likely to receive an NRI to ST (albeit not yet announced) are:
Jake Fox, C
Adam Harben, RHP
Casey McGehee, 3B-C
Eric Patterson, 2B-OF
Carmen Pignatiello, LHP
Randy Wells, RHP
If the Cubs re-sign C Jose Reyes (non-tendered on Tuesday) to a minor league contract, he will almost certainly get an NRI, too.
It’s possible (though less-likely) that RHP Federico Baez, 2B Mike Fontenot, 1B Micah Hoffpauir, and/or OF Chris Walker could score an NRI, too.
Also, a minor league catcher (probably either Chris Robinson or Tony Richie) could get a last-minute NRI if the Cubs feel they need an additional catcher to help catch the 30 pitchers who will be reporting to camp.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Now, imagining he doesn’t enter the NFL Draft, do the Cubs retain rights to him, or does he have to re-enter the draft next summer?
The Cubs most definitely retain the rights to him, even if he enters the NFL draft.
how is he able to maintain collegiate eligibility if he’s pitching in a professional league?
I have never really understood this. Why Samardzjia can play football and Bloom could not play at Colorado was always strange for me. The NCAA wouldn’t allow Bloom to play because of endorsement deals. But it is very much a double standard.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
#42 of 44: By yaric (December 14, 2006 02:11 PM)
I’m confused regarding Jeff Samardzjia - he’s listed here as being in the rotation at Peoria, but he played at Notre Dame this year. Now, imagining he doesn’t enter the NFL Draft, do the Cubs retain rights to him, or does he have to re-enter the draft next summer? And how is he able to maintain collegiate eligibility if he’s pitching in a professional league?
=========================================
YARIC: Per NCAA rules, a student-athlete can play professionally in one sport and still maintain college eligibility in another. There have been a number of college football players who played pro baseball in the Summer and college football in the Fall.
What Jeff Samardzija is doing is kind of Bo Jackson-like, in that he has talked about playing both pro baseball AND NFL football, without giving up either. That’s really hard to do! With NFL off-season mini-camps essentially required, and with the MLB schedule extending well into the football season, at some point in the future he will probably have to make a decision about which sport to pursue full-time.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
dave, sure I have a link to the O’Malley situation.
It’s not a big secret.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/s.....102287.asp
December 14th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
#43 of 46: By The E-Man (December 14, 2006 02:13 PM)
AZ PHIL: Have you seen Jose Ceda pitch yet? As the offering from Todd Walker, I just keep hearing about his heater - but that’s all.
================================
E-MAN: I have seen Ceda pitch in the AZL (Mesa) and in the Instructional League, and he does indeed throw gas. I also have seen him routinely bounce breaking balls (he seems to have no feel for them), and the next change-up I see him throw will be the first one.
He needs a lot of work, but I’m not sure he can’t learn to control his breaking pitch better just by using it as a secondary pitch while pitching out of the bullpen at Peoria, rather than necessarily having to remain in EXST at Fitch.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
Cubster:
“Jason Marquis acquisition was because he was a historical 14-15 game winner and 200 inning a year guy and they wanted (starters) guys that can pitch more innings.”
Well over the past 4 years, Lilly has average 5.69 innings per start(683.2 IP and 120 starts). Not very good. Marquis does average 200 IP the last 3 seasons, but he also averaged 30 HR’s over the past 3 seasons.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Thanks for answering my questions Arizona Phil.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
#47 of 49: By cubswinthepennant (December 14, 2006 02:29 PM)
dave, sure I have a link to the O’Malley situation.
It’s not a big secret.
====================================
CWTP: Thanks for the info. I will certainly add Ryan O’Malley to the Iowa pitching projections, although he might have a tough time cracking that staff!
And since he says in the article that he received an NRI to ST, you can add him to the list of Cubs in-house NRIs I mentioned in post #44 (above)
December 14th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
I’m guessing Zumaya was rockin out to “More Than A Feeling”
December 14th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
I was way off about Matsuzaka. I hope the Red Sox go bankrupt.
Weak……
Padres are making a $3 mil to $4 mil offer for Giles which I’m sure he’ll take to play with his brother.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
“He’s on a better diet and exercise program.”
good, now someone let hendry borrow a comb and maybe he’ll look human by spring training.
its been kinda freaky watching him just self-destruct into a homeless looking fatass the past couple years.
good to hear that hendry thing about theriot and the OF, it really seemed like that’s the direction he was leaning toward envisioning theriot, but its nice to hear…i like that direction for use, anyway.
ya know, in a market where a guy like mark loretta is passed around like he’s worthless and struggles for 2-3m a year it helps to be able to play all over the field like frank cat. did and freel does…
December 14th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
A couple of dissenting views on F. Pie.
1) I think he’s the CF. He may lose the job in ST, but it’s his to lose.
2) I don’t think he had a disappointing year at Iowa. His job was to graduate, and he’s done that–four years in the minors. Having a high ceiling does not mean that you put up superstar numbers in the minors. It means you have physical gifts that will allow you to get better, longer than other players. It may be three or four years before he is better than other players. But then he’ll only be 25.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Whatever happened to Luis Montanez? I know the Cubs moved him to the outfield. Is he gone from the organization?
December 14th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Whatever happened to Luis Montanez? I know the Cubs moved him to the outfield. Is he gone from the organization?
Didn’t he sign with Baltimore as a minor league free agent?
December 14th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
I got not problem with Pie being our starting CFer and batting 8th next season.
I also got no problem getting Rocco and letting Pie spend the next 3 years in the minors.
He would only be 24 if Baldelli (or anyone) played 3 years for us in CF. So I don’t really buy into the argument of signing someone blocks Pie.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
I say we get Rocco, teach Soriano how to play SS again, and have this as a lineup:
Soriano
Murton
Lee
Ramirez
Barrett
Rocco
DeRosa
Pie
That I could like! :)
(and yes, this is a joke. Soriano will never play SS for the Cubs)
December 14th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
I agree with you about Pie, Virginia Phil. I had to laugh when I read that Hendry wasn’t going to block Pie with another player. That’s exactly what he did last year with Pierre!
Pie’s as ready as someone without a major league at bat can be. With 2000 milb plate appearances he’s not going to get better at Iowa. Who does?! More likely they’ll just mess with him like last year when they decided he should learn how to be a base-stealing leadoff man (Dusty’s idea) although Hendry at first denied it saying they were just trying to get Pie more bats. Of course when Womack came along he bumped Pie out of the lead off spot in the order and that’s when Pie had a drop off in production for awhile.
But Now we have Soriano to hit first and steal bases, and a hole in center field that needs filling. There’s no reason to hold Pie back. He can hit 7th or 8th and play great defense with Soriano and Jones/Murton/etc. on either side. No pressure.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Padres are making a $3 mil to $4 mil offer for Giles which I’m sure he’ll take to play with his brother.
Wow…that is not a lot of money for a guy with his overall production.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
“Whatever happened to Luis Montanez? I know the Cubs moved him to the outfield. Is he gone from the organization?
Didn’t he sign with Baltimore as a minor league free agent?”
Yes Montanez joins K.Patterson, Williamson, Leicester, Bako, B.Sing and F.Bynum as ex-Cub flops who will be wasting space on the Orioles roster and payroll.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Because he started so young the number of ABs Pie has in the minors is not as relevent as it would be for an older player. For once the Cubs are bringing someone along the right way. He absolutely could use more time in the minors to learn the strikezone better without 40,000 bitter fans screaming at his every mistake. He has shown more plate discipline and has a better chance to improve it further against AAA pitching rather than against the Carpenters and Oswalts of the world.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
AZ Phil:
As for Guzman, with his four-pitch arsenal, I think he is still projected as a starting pitcher. However, if he continues to throw a high-number of pitches per inning, he will have to be moved to the bullpen.
That would be a shame. His stuff is overwhelming… if he could just located it better.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
i have an idea - Trade Rich Hill for Rocco.
Me and Pinella, the 2 italians on the team would take us straight to the top - just like the 06′ world cup! vivo italy!
now our outfield is Me, Sori in rt, and Jacque / murton in left(one of the fastest outfields around). and i have a cannon for an arm too!). When Jacque is a free agent, we will promote Pie and i will play right field.
Now our staff will miss Hill, but our staff still is strong.
Zambrano, Mark, Ted, Jason, and a 5th (Marshall, Wade, or one of the prospects).
Also, our lineup becomes considerably stronger.
lineup:
soriano
Me
Lee
Ramirez
Jacque / murton
Barrett
DeRosa (my italian bretheren)
Izzy
done deal! we have speed, power, youth, and great defense in the outfield, now go make the italian dream happen mr. GM. my bags are packed…..
December 14th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
is hendry in the hospital again?
first lilly. now marquis.
the thought’s making me puke
December 14th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
oh yes,
we need another left handed stick in our lineup. power righties will have a field day on us.
rocco
December 14th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
oh yes,
we need another left handed stick in our lineup. power righties will have a field day on us.
rocco
December 14th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
I doubt that Samardzija will be a major part of the Cubs. he had another great year for the evil ND, but his worth in the NFL (he’ll hit the big signing bonus) is going to be too big too pass up (pun not intended). He might take the Chad Hutchinson route (oh my god, I think i am going to vomit–bears fans), but the opposite way. Maybe like Danny Ainge.
It was a risky pick and not that smart, not unlike the Bulls drafting Tyrus Thomas because he is “long.” Enough about other CHicago teams.
What scares the hell out of me about all these pitching prospects is the fact that so many of them get hurt. YOu can’t blame it on Dusty and Rusty Rothchild (alhtough lord knows I want to)…so many careers interrupted. Will they ever model themselves like, say the A’s, with one coherent philosophy at each level? Which reminds me, Mike Harkey as AAA pitching coach? Intriguing.
Is it me or is Daryle Ward a really great signing? This guy has a bit of Marvell Wynne (don’t knock one of the Cubs alltime pitch hit leaders) or Thad Bosley. A great addition to the bench.
I’m serious. Any chance that they will dump cenendo in a trade and one of the 8,000 relieivers?
December 14th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
he was a 5th round pick, would anyone give a rat’s ass who we picked in the 5th round if it wasn’t samardzija?
anyway, latest I heard was that he was a 2nd/3rd round pick in the NFL which will not be nearly as appealing as 1st round bonus money. Plus, if I understand the contract correctly, he’d be walking away from a good amount of guaranteed money from the Cubs if he chooses football.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Pinella is of Spanish lineage.
Sorry pizan(?).
December 14th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Why dump Cedeno? He costs nothing and he’s worth nothing in a trade. Izturis will no doubt fall victim to one of his injuries and Cedeno can be brought up as back-up on the bench and cannon fodder for the inevitable simulated season that Mark Prior will be throwing starting around Memorial Day.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
Rob,
Samardzija was basically our 1st round pick that is why they reached on Colvin so they can pay samardzija 1st round money. so it is a big deal that he might go pro in the NFL. As for the draft he will likely be the 4th WR on the board (Johnson, Jarrett, and Ginn should be above him. While we are on the NFL, Gurnee police had a drug raid on Tank Johnson’s house today and found some stuff. The link is:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/.....i-news-hed
December 14th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
i’m sorry Jacos (aka: Jack)
Pinella is very much Italiano - just like my friend mr. lasorda.
Free me and bring me to the Cubs. I love Wrigley.
Baldelli for Hill…it’s a done deal says the TB house.
Salute
December 14th, 2006 at 5:15 pm
well yeah, I get that, but we were able to get him in the 5th round because of the NFL thing and we apparently got a pretty good guy in Colvin who would have went in the 2nd/3rd round. It’s the MLB draft, everybody’s a risk. And if I understand the contract, the Cubs don’t lose much money if he picks football.
The Cubs took a chance on a talent, like everyone else does, he may or may not pan out, like every other freaking prospect.
Matt Bush anyone, Matt Harrington?
December 14th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
“#68 of 75: By rocco (December 14, 2006 04:41 PM)
oh yes,
we need another left handed stick in our lineup. power righties will have a field day on us.
rocco”
You don’t watch the Cubs much do you? Power righties have never been a problem for our primarily right handed team. Soft tossing lefties are the Achilles heel of this team since I can remember.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Rocco, Lou Piniella is a Cuban-American.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Samrazdiarrhea claimed last year that he wanted to play both sports.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
“Now our staff will miss Hill, but our staff still is strong.
Zambrano, Mark, Ted, Jason, and a 5th (Marshall, Wade, or one of the prospects). ” Rocco
Any prospective staff that includes Mark Prior for anything but eight simulated games and a warm-up start at Peoria already has serious flaws. Add to that the king of the gophers, (and I don’t mean University of Minnesota) Jason Marquis, two masters of the base on balls, Z and Lilly (love hitting that 100 pitch mark and getting into the bullpen in the fifth) and then a list of what’s left… we have been down this road for two years. Those who don’t know history are doomed to reapeat it.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Jeff Smard&@#ja:
When he runs a 4.7 40 in the combines, he’ll quit football.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
white men can’t wide receive
December 14th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Hitting robot-
http://griddle.baseballtoaster.....69925.html
Unfortunately they gave the robot Neifi’s skills.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
great comments on that robot link, my favorite from a fella named Greg Brock..
You know what you can’t teach a robot?
Heart.
Call me when the Eckstein 3000’s come out.
December 14th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Jeff Smard&@#ja:
When he runs a 4.7 40 in the combines, he’ll quit football.
—-
To use a Chadism, “you don’t watch much football do you Chad?” You don’t have to possess blazing speed to be a good solid WR in the NFL. You’ve heard of Steve Largent, Mushin Muhammad, Keyshawn Johnson, Hines Ward, Sterling Sharpe, K.McCardell etc right? They don’t have blazing speed either. They have these things called “Possession Receivers” in the NFL to complement the speed threats. Perhaps check out a Bears game sometime and you’ll see they implement a Moose & Berrian combo. With Samardzija’s size, speed and hands he’s at worse an early second round pick.
December 14th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
Speaking of PIE, Carrie Muskat just put an article on Cubs.com
The article then goes on to paint an entirely different picture. He’s playing great defense. He’s skinny and worn out. He’s batting eighth or ninth and facing left handed pitchers almost exclusively. He’s hitting only .216 and striking out 20% of the time. Von Joshua is there with him.
For the record, PIE’s strikeout/AB ratio last season was .225, coincidentally that’s his strikeout/AB ratio for his entire minor league career. I don’t see any worsening or improvement over time.
December 14th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
very interesting that he’s only facing lefties…
December 14th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
rumor has it Theriot is working on his Center Field game. Interesting Platoon situation awaiting either Jacque or Pie Pie? Perhaps?
December 14th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Excellent post phil. I was curious about Geoff Jones. I had seen he was picked up by the AAA team. Any info on him?
December 14th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
pinhead is itallian but grew up in a heavily hispanic part of tampa. he’s fluently bilingual.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Rob/Arizona Phil -
What are the chances of the cubs platooning me w/ Theriot in CF this year? As a follow up, can the cubs pretty locked into Sori playing RF. I’ve got to assume Jones in center is not going to happen but no one is coming out w/ the real lineup here.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
if Pie can’t hit Minor League pitching or winter league pitching What chance does he have in the bigs?
none.
and what does that carrie girl know about baseball anyways? she grew up cheerleading for the durham bulls.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
CRUNCH: What’s with the “pinhead” dis?
PIE: “He has shown more plate discipline and has a better chance to improve it further against AAA pitching rather than against the Carpenters and Oswalts of the world.”
I agree - let him earn a job on the team during ST. In spite of what MUSKRAT says, there is no need to rush him along and get into a Korey Patterson situation.
Right now, would the Cubs have equal talent in CF with JJones/TheRiot/Pagan compared to the “Old Man” in St. Louis, the Willy Tavares replacement in Houston, the Pirates .212 hitter, Ryan Freel in Cinci? I mean there is no Torii Hunter in the NLC, right?
Edmonds WAS the man, but he is a walking concussion.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
BillC,
You don’t want to have this conversation with me. And please don’t ever use Steve Largent in any example. He is no longer relevant in football conversations. Him, Belitnikoff and Lance Alworth could not play in this NFL today.
Furthermore, here’s my complete take on SMJDRATATA he may be good enough to be a professional football player. But he will never be a star and his earning potential will be much higher in baseball where he could top out at 15 mil per year and that would be if he was an all star free agent today. What will the market be like in 8 years when he’s a free agent? Who knows.
But anyway, of your little list, Mushin Muhammad, Keyshawn Johnson, Hines Ward, Sterling Sharpe, K.McCardell, Sterling Sharpe hasn’t played in over 10 years. Moose is slower now that he’s older as is Keyshawn and McCardell (who blows). Hines Ward is not the fastest WR around but he’s not slow either.
I watch plenty of football and I am a die hard Bears fan. I don’t miss any games. So don’t tell me how Moose and Berrian are used.
Try to find me a relevant example. Like say, Matt Jones. Who is enjoying mediocrity in Jacksonville right now. White guys are not good wider receivers.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
“is hendry in the hospital again?
first lilly. now marquis.
the thought’s making me puke”
You’re a week late to the party.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Matt Jones is fast. He’s bad because he’s got a crappy attitude. He had it Arkansas and it hasn’t gotten better now that he’s a millionaire. A better comparison for Smardizja is probably Danny Farmer that played at UCLA or Billy McMullen if people can grasp the concept of comparing a white guy and a black guy.
I also think Smrdjzla’s future is in baseball. Once the combine hits and people start running past him, then his stock’s gonna fall. I think he’ll still get picked on the first day, though. He plays in a “pro style” offense and produced so that’ll talk a lot of people into taking him even if his 40 time isn’t that great.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Danny Farmer - EVEN BETTER! Thank you.
“Once the combine hits and people start running past him, then his stock’s gonna fall. I think he’ll still get picked on the first day, though’
This is what I’m trying to say. He MIGHT get picked on the first day but only in the 3rd round. My guess is that because of baseball he’ll fall to the second day.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:58 pm
Drew Bennett is a better comp. Smardza will be a cub. more money in baseball. he’ll likely hold out for more cash and not show up for spring training till it happens.
boras will be his agent and he’ll demand planes in the minor leagues and a that his posse gets x amount of free flights per year, along with a condo in chicago. aka: kevin brown II
December 14th, 2006 at 7:58 pm
“Why dump Cedeno?”
Maybe because he is and was one of the worst five players in the NL?
December 14th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Drew Bennett is a better comp. Smardza will be a cub. more money in baseball. he’ll likely hold out for more cash and not show up for spring training till it happens.
boras will be his agent and he’ll demand planes in the minor leagues and a that his posse gets x amount of free flights per year, along with a condo in chicago. aka: kevin brown II
December 14th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
“CRUNCH: What’s with the “pinhead” dis?”
my usual managerial respect. heheh…
i called baylor “opie”…i called dusty “dustbag”…i’ll probally call pinella “pinhead” a few thousand times. nothing personal, really.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
#88 of 94: By 5 (December 14, 2006 07:02 PM)
Excellent post phil. I was curious about Geoff Jones. I had seen he was picked up by the AAA team. Any info on him?
================================
5: Thanks for reminding me.
MLFA LHPs Geoff Jones and Nate Bland were signed to minor league contracts by the Cubs last month, and I will add Bland to the list of relievers competing for jobs at Iowa, and Jones to the list of relievers competing for jobs at Tennessee.
Jones spent the last eight seasons in the SD organization, but never pitched higher than AA. The two full seasons he spent at AA were as a lefty reliever, and were quite pedestrian.
Bland pitched at AAA Iowa a couple of years ago, but has bounced around the minors for 13 years with several different organizations (LAD, NYM, HOU, CUBS, and LAA), briefly surfacing in MLB as a LOOGY with HOU in ‘03 (22 games).
Both Jones and Bland are long shots to make their minor league teams out of ST, but you never know…
December 14th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Thanks Phil. I played high school ball with jones. No one has really ever heard much about him. He is one of the first players from our town to play for a big league team(Pepper Martin is the only other one i know of.)
December 14th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
pinhead is itallian but grew up in a heavily hispanic part of tampa. he’s fluently bilingual.
Actually, Jacos had it right in post #71. Piniella is Spanish.
From his Devil Rays bio…
Lou and his wife were born in Tampa, as were Lou’s parents. His family is originally from Spain.
http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb......9251021456
December 14th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Mustache does make this defense for Pie in her article:
“He does strike out a lot, and Joshua is trying to get Pie to go deeper in counts. Look at Detroit center fielder Curtis Granderson — he struck out 174 times and batted .260, and got to the World Series.”
See? Pie could be ready, cause Curtis Granderson also sucks.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
…remove the ‘also’ there. Pie doesn’t suck.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Don’t worry about it, Crunch never really has a point to anything he just likes to hear himself talk, or write. Jerry Rice wasn’t exactly a speed merchant either but I think he turned out ok. I guess Rice may be too old for Chad’s world though. The NFL apparently formed in 1991. I suppose Jim Brown and Payton couldn’t compete in today’s NFL. What a joke.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
yes joe c, i never contribute anything here.
never.
i never have a good piece of news or insight or offer.
you however add a lot. like, just this week you had that post where you bashed me. there was also that…well, i cant recall anything else.
have fun in the “community.”
December 14th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
your butchered “insight” into the origins of Piniella’s last name was particularly impressive.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
Joe the NFL is not a place for slow white wide receivers. Did you compare Jeff Smjadadad to Jerry Rice? You’re the joke.
Don’t give me this BS. The NFL is faster and stronger than ever by 1,000,000 percent. Could Jim Brown play in the NFL? Sure. Would he dominate? No. Would Wilt Chamberlain have played in this NBA? Yes. Would he even score 81 points (like Kobe) NO!
December 14th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
“your butchered “insight” into the origins of Piniella’s last name was particularly impressive.”
yeah joe, i can tell it bothers you a whole lot.
saw your last post before this was also a jab at someone. nice track record. try jogging or something before you come take your crappy day out on the internet. or not…go internet.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
I saw the ‘Joe’ argument and I got sad.
Then I saw that it wasn’t me being talked about and I got happy again.
Let’s be clear on the Joe’s being talked about here. Iam ‘The Joe’ is the one who is loveable. Everyone else can be ‘other Joe’. Sound good?
December 14th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
How about a comparison with Mike Furrey. I agree he is likely to go the baseball route, but there are a couple good white receivers, even today. Clearly the position is dominated by blacks, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be good just because he is white.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
These arguments about Jim Brown and Wilt playing today are crap. Jim Brown was the best athlete of his day. If he were a young athlete in the 80s or 90s with more emphasis on weight training, diet etc, he’d still be the best athlete. Hell, he’d get plucked up by some private high school academy and have better training than he did with the Browns.
There is no center playing right now who could have stayed with Wilt under the circumstances I mentioned above - Wilt growing up in the same generation as Shaq. Wilt was a track star and one of the top three or four basketball players of all time. You really think Wilt couldn’t score a lot in a league with no hand checking and Eddie Curry? Just insane.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
Furrey is short. Smardjizla is tall and rangy.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Boy - we’re getting some really “interesting” visitors now. Are they escapees from other blogs?
I noticed one moniker that I have seen in other places (wel, actually just one) whom always spews negativity. Oh well…
CRUNCH: how did you get “Opie” for Don Baylor?!
December 14th, 2006 at 10:46 pm
TBone you are entirely wrong. Jim Brown would compete in this league. But the caliber of player is better. Same with Wilt. In fact you are 100% wrong about him. There were only a handful of 7 footers in the league, now every team has two or three. Look at his number vs. Bill Russell. The leagues are better now the competition is better. More people are playing and the talent pool is richer, deeper and bigger.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
AZ PHIL: What is the current salaries for AAA players? Can they make a decent living? I vaguely recall $70K+. Am I way short?
December 14th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
#116 of 117: By Chad (December 14, 2006 10:46 PM)
TBone you are entirely wrong. Jim Brown would compete in this league. But the caliber of player is better. Same with Wilt. In fact you are 100% wrong about him. There were only a handful of 7 footers in the league, now every team has two or three. Look at his number vs. Bill Russell. The leagues are better now the competition is better. More people are playing and the talent pool is richer, deeper and bigger.
______________
What if Michael Jordan started playing now instead of when he did? He would probably be as competive as he was for his entire career and make himself better than the next guy. I think that’s what Joe C meant when talking about Jim Brown. I’ll bet the guys who built the pyramids would be as good at training as today’s athletes (even without the slave-drivers).
December 14th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
My bad, I meant TBone not Joe C
December 14th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
“CRUNCH: how did you get “Opie” for Don Baylor?!”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opie_Taylor
yeah, i know its a stretch, but it worked at the time. i wasnt on TCR at the time that one was kicking around.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
things i have learned recently from t-c-r:
a flat tax is good. or not.
white wide receivers, like anabolic steroids, should be banned from baseball.
having been stiffed by the red sox, dice-k was on a plane back to japan.
lou piniella has shed the yoke of his spanish heritage, and joined the ranks of italian-americans.
ronnie cedeno is an improvement over a replacement player- any replacement player.
and matt murton will not be (somebody’s) platoon partner in lf for 2007.
c’mon hendry, do something audacious, like swapping some of your bullpen crowd for jake westbrook. or daniel cabrera. or vazquez. or tim wakefield. or erik bedard. or capuano or bush.
unless you are waiting for a christmas surprise for everybody?
December 14th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Do the cubs have enough in there farm system to trade J. Jones, C. Iztuez and prospects to Texas for M. Young?
December 14th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
I don’t think there are enough prospects in all the minor leagues to turn Jones and Izturis into M. Young.
December 14th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
And throw in Danks while their at it…
December 14th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
If Samardzija picks baseball–and if he has half a brain, he will–the Cubs system will REALLY be loaded with high ceiling pitchers 12 months from now. It’s a near-certainty we get Brackman with the 3rd pick in the amateur draft. Take those two, plus Pawelek, Gallagher an