Cranking Up the Rumor Mill
First off, Darwin Barney is a "finalist" for a Gold Glove at second base...as if they dont' already know the winner. But they've decided to drum up interest by naming the top 3 or 4 at each position and then announcing the winner in a televised event on ESPN2 tomorrow. Holy overkill Batman!
As for the rumor, it's that the Angels are trying to ditch Dan Haren and Ervin Santana before picking up their options this week. Haren is owed $15.5M and Santana $13M. The Cubs aren't going to be giving too much in prospects for either, but they certainly could take on the salary. It's not much of a committment in my opinion and I'd certainly take flyers on either guy in hopes they could rebound in a walk year and a switch to the National League (or in Haren's case a switch back to the NL). And they'd certainly be worth something in a deadline trade if 2013 isn't working out. Either one makes all kinds of sense for the Cubs in my opinion, as long as the Angels asking price is reasonable considering the salaries in question. For those not paying too close attention, Haren will be in his age 32 season after a 12-13, 4.33 ERA over 176.2 IP last year and Santana will be 30 after a 9-13, 5.16 ERA in 178 IP. Haren sports a 116 ERA+ though for his career, while Santana rests at a meager 97 ERA+ with quite a few peaks and valleys to get that number.






Give jd a few years and put one of his kids in the Cubs system, then compare them.
Soriano's lack of awareness carries on past the diamond....
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/24/alfonso-soriano-is-tired-of...
says he's tired of losing, doesn't want to be on a team with a bad record
yet is still on team with bad record after not wanting to be traded to Giants last year
a bit hard to hear...and a heavy on "bad" language (and humor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Q8xga6P_0
Black Like Me By Mark Grace
http://deadspin.com/old-scouting-report-on-mark-gr...
a little less than 2 weeks til the draft...
M.Appel - 98.1ip 77h 21bb 121k - 2.20era
J.Gray - 110ip 69h 21bb 127k - 1.55era
K.Bryant - 203ab 69h 12db 30hr 60bb 38k 7/11sb - .340/.504 avg/ob% (9 errors/55 games playing 3rd)
Glad the love wasn't directed toward Gracie. Slumpbuster or jail bait.
MAYBE I WILL.
*slams bedroom door*
Bill Clinton wants to know what is is.
If you love Bob so much why don't you marry him!?!?!?
:-)
i'm just used to bob knowing a lot more about the team...noticing when someone is off their swing or a pitch and recalling when he's been better...comparative analysis of what was done in the past vs what's going on now. it's not like i pine for the days of bob vs aram...because that got old, but bob really dug down in his analysis of players without getting preachy or doing "i'm steve stone and here's how he could be perfect" type analysis.
bob also seemed to not only know who was in the minors, but how they were doing down there beyond the numbers and would talk about them.
I actually enjoy this team much more than last years squad. My twtw(the will to watch) is up 25%-30% from last year. If it wasn't for the shit bullpen, this team would be totally average! If they could dump E. Jax and his entire salary and replace him with one of the college arms, then we are on to something. Make a trade for Price, which I don't see happening, and you've got yourself a fantastic rotation.
Garza
Ninja
Wood II
College guy
Feldman
Let's hear some examples. It's a bit of a reach to suggest that you know he's not doing his homework without providing specifics.
I haven't been able to watch many games (and there is some apathy involved, too), but he's been fine as far as I'm concerned.
Also seems to be a lot of dead air time -- he and Len don't tseem to be in sync yet.
Almora goes 4-7 in yesterday's 14-inning Kane County loss, dropping his average to .636.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-2013-cubs-bette...
FG article from yesterday about the overwhelming underperformance of the 2013 Cubs. If I understand their 'Clutch' stat correctly, then the Cubs this year are 40% less clutch than the 29th-most clutch team in baseball.
I still love TCR, please don't hate me.
---
Garbage song, I Hate Love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOcVhBu0YjE
scrubbies lose...18-28
as an aside...though jim d. hasn't been awful in the booth, it's a bit disappointing he didn't/doesn't do the amount of "homework" getting to know the team or critiquing things being done like bob did.
so far, when i hear jim d. calling a game it feels like he's a national "game of the week" generic type announcer that doesn't know the team well.
he's a full-on 100% replacement for "bad joke bob" type humor, though.