The Candy Man Can Do
Jeimer Candelario singled and doubled and knocked-in a run, helping the Cubs defeat the Angels 3-1 in AZ Instructional League action this afternoon at Diablo Park Field #3 in Tempe.
A 17-year old switch-hitting corner infielder who was born in New York City and raised in the Dominican Republic, Candelario has had an impressive Instructs so far, hitting 298/366/459 while playing mostly 3B and occasionally 1B (as he did today).
Signed by the Cubs for a reported $500K bonus during the International Signing Period in 2010, Candelario had a smashing pro debut, hitting 337/443/478 for DSL Cubs #2 during the 2011 regular season (he ended up tied for second in the league in both walks and RBI, and was 4th in OPS, 5th in doubles, 6th in OBP, and 7th in batting average), and while it’s not likely, it’s also not totally out of the realm of possibility that he could open the 2012 season at Peoria.
Candelario is an advanced hitter, especially from the left side. He has a large frame that could eventually translate to plus-HR power as he fills out. He already has plus bat speed from the left-side, with solid gap power. The only question is if he has the glove to play 3B, or if he might have to move to another corner (1B, LF, or RF) somewhere down the line.
With Candelario playing 1B, 16-year old switch-hitting Venezuelan bonus baby Mark Malave saw his first action at 3B.
A 6’3 wide-body who received a reported $1.6M signing bonus at the start of the International Signing Period this past July (and who probably would have been a highly-sought after HS recruit as an offensive tackle had he grown up in the U. S.), Malave will likely get playing time at C-1B-3B over the next few years while the Cubs figure out if he can remain a catcher and/or if he has the bat needed to play corner infield. He has raw power and a good eye at the plate right now (although inability to make consistent contact is an issue), and even if he remains a catcher, having the versatility to play 1B & 3B will come in handy on days he is not catching.
Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only):
LINEUP:
1. Rubi Silva, 2B-DH: 1-4 (1B, 2-U, 3-U, F-7, R, RBI)
2. Danny Lockhart, SS: 1-4 (2B, 3-U, 1-3, K, R)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 1B: 2-4 (4-3, 2B, F-9, 1B, RBI)
4. Dan Vogelbach, DH #1: 1-4 (2B, K, P-5, 3-U, RBI)
5. Jeffrey Baez, DH #2: 0-4 (K, 5-3, 6-3, 5-3)
6. Mark Malave, 3B: 0-3 (K, 4-3, 6-3)
7. Shawon Dunston, Jr, LF: 0-3 (4-3, 3-U, 4-3)
8. Neftali Rosario, C: 0-3 (K, F-9, K)
9. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 1-2 (BB, 1B, L-5, R)
10. Trey Martin, CF: 1-2 (4-3, 1B, BB, SB)
11a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED 1ST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
11b. Carlos Penalver, 2B: 0-1 (K)
PITCHERS:
1. Luis Liria: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 20 pitches (13 strikes), 4/2 GO/FO
2. Austin Reed: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 32 pitches (22 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
3. Tayler Scott: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 32 pitches (24 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
4. Starling Peralta: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 31 pitches (19 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
5. Jose Arias: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 12 pitches (11 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
ERRORS: 1
P Starling Peralta - E-1 (throwing error on sacrifice bunt attempt allowed batter to reach base safely)
CATCHERS DEFENSE
Neftali Rosario: 0-3 CS, 1 PB
ATTENDANCE: 18
WEATHER: Sunny with a gentle breeze and temperatures in the 90’s
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Comments
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 6:37pm Permalink
Az Phil: can we get some color on Vogelbomb's double? and Arias' 12 pitch inning?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 6:38pm Permalink
Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 5:35pm.
Az Phil: can we get some color on Vogelbomb's double?
============================================
CUBSTER: Took an outside pitch to the opposite-field, smoking a line-drive laser into the left-center alley. It was all he could to keep from trying to stretch it into a triple.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 6:37pm Permalink
If Candelario not a US citizen? If so, shouldn't have been draft eligible?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 7:33pm Permalink
Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 5:37pm.
If Candelario not a US citizen? If so, shouldn't have been draft eligible?
=============================
REAL NEAL: RHP Tayler Scott was born in South Africa and his parents moved to the U. S. (Scottsdale, AZ) when Tayler was in HS so he could work with Pitching Guru Tom House. Tayler Scott WAS eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft and could not be signed as an "International" player.
Albert Pujols was born in the Dominican Republic but attended HS and JC in the U. S. (Missouri), so he was not considered an "International" player and was eligible for selection in the June Draft.
Jeimer Candelario (and fellow Cub minor leaguer RHP Jose Rosario, too) were born in New York City but moved to the Dominican Republic as children and did not attend HS in the U. S., so they were considered "International" players as far as MLB Rule 4 is concerned.
Where there would be a problem is if a top U. S. HS baseball prospect is moved by his parents somewhere outside the Rule 4 Draft limits (that is, outside the U. S. or Canada)--sort of the opposite of what happened with Tayler Scott--to avoid the Rule 4 Draft and so he can sign when he is 16. If that were to happen (and I think Bryce Harper had actually considered trying that prior to going the GED-to-JC route), the MLB Commissioner would probably say that the player cannot avoid the Rule 4 Draft.
And then there probably would be litigation.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 6:57pm Permalink
j.verlander threw 133 pitches tonight...the world weeps...his 133rd was 100mph.
his arm was supposed to fall apart after 2009.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:03pm Permalink
Therefore all pitchers should throw 133 pitches per start, so they can throw 100 MPH.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:04pm Permalink
obviously.
also, every pitcher should throw 100mph so they can throw 133 pitches per start.
...obviously.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:39pm Permalink
Tell Bob Gibson.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:40pm Permalink
also, every pitcher should throw 100mph so they can throw 166 pitches per start?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:18pm Permalink
Dusty Baker approved
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:29pm Permalink
nice
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 7:21pm Permalink
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-i...
"Day 1 of the COMPENSATION negotiation between Sox & Cubs did NOT go well today," Dennis wrote on Twitter. "Boston wants prospects. Chicago wants to pay just cash."
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 7:30pm Permalink
Doesn't Chicago have all the leverage here?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 7:34pm Permalink
leverage is an illusion...florida had all the leverage and gave up 2 guys they didn't want to lose even if was off-seasons for the kids. everyone knew getting involved that something would have to be given up...to change that assumption mid-game would be a dick move.
but yeah, they should play as much hardball with negotiations as it takes.
i hope it doesn't cost talent the cubs could have used to snag a 3rd/RF/SP/1st...amongst other real needs of the team.
theo's neat and all, but he's far from immune from bad moves.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 7:36pm Permalink
word was florida didn't want to go through the ordeal of tampering charges, hence the higher than expected price.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 7:35pm Permalink
funny, all the Boston folks think they have all the leverage.
the truth probably lies in the middle.
while they certainly probably don't want to have to deal with Epstein as a lame duck GM and the circus that would certainly occur if he came back, they do have him under contract for a season and are under no obligation to let him go.
on the other hand, the Cubs having to explain why they couldn't close the deal on Epstein would be its own circus and then having to settle on the ugly step sister for GM would be its own issue.
it'll get done...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:07pm Permalink
"Jackson, Jackson and Cashner sounds good."
"Sounds good for what, our three Rookie of the Year candidates?"
"Well, you are getting the GM who breaks curses, I guess just Brett Jackson and Cashner so Theo has something to work with."
"How about $65K and we draft someone for you in the Rule V?"
etc, etc.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:37pm Permalink
I feel Theo is a game-changer, an impact performer as GM. If not the top performer at his job, then certainly in the team photo. What he can bring to the organization is worth money and players.
Personally, Boston could have anyone (ideally 2 players only) except Castro and Garza. I have to agree with Rob G. that the current Cubs system doesn't have any potential stars/superstars from the 2010 draft and prior. Sure, I would prefer to keep B. Jax and McNutt but I wouldn't let that stop this deal.
Look, like him or hate him Ricketts swung for the fences on this hire and is very close to putting it over. Until this move, I wasn't sure Tommy could find his ass if he bent over looking between his legs. Let's see if he can bring it home.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:17pm Permalink
Only this organization could f this up
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:20pm Permalink
Ryan Theriot k' s against Randy Wolf.
/more things change....
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:56am Permalink
he also made an awesome play to turn two on Fielder earlier...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:24pm Permalink
How would you assess Scott, Urban, Jensen, Dickson, and Henrie? I'm especially curious about Dickson and Henrie because they didn't pitch until instructs. Thanks as always, AZPhil.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:37pm Permalink
NLCS down to a best of 3
does bringing in Theo mean we as Cubs fans have to sit through a Cardinals World Series run?
the torture never ends...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:41pm Permalink
http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/gregjarrett/wgn...
Kaplan saying what Ricketts said to convince Theo
1) commitment to spending on draft and amateur signings
2) payroll will remain the top in the division
3) other revenue streams to help reach #2 (spring training complex, Wrigley, etc)
4) help me make this single best organization in baseball
Ricketts wants 2 things, win the World Series and make it the best experience for their fans.
sure sounds nice at least...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 11:51pm Permalink
If Ricketts can bring home a World Series title in my lifetime, then as Dave Chappelle is fond of saying, Ricketts can spray fart in my dinner TONIGHT. My fan experience will be COMPLETE at that point!!
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:44am Permalink
Wow. Now there's a visual (an olfactory?) image I could do without.
New Theo article
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:33am Permalink
Here is a newer article from the Boston Herald which quotes the deal as (reportedly) 5/$18.5, and not much else new to report...
http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:55am Permalink
There isn’t a deadline for the negotiations, which may run into the weekend. However, MLB discourages teams from making announcements during the World Series, so both sides likely will want to have a resolution before Wednesday.
reiterates that MLB doesn't want to set a precedent with a major league player being part of the deal (although Lou was traded for Randy Winn...maybe that's not considered an executive)
AFL line
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:00am Permalink
for Thursday taken from a tweet
Josh Vitters (1B): 1-for-4, RBI, BB; Trey McNutt: 2R, 1ER, 2H, 3BB,0K in 2 IP (53 pitches,23 strikes)
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 7:31am Permalink
Certainly they can pick from any of these on my list: Hill, Baker, Berg, Sori (duh), Samardzjia, LeMe, DeWitt, Vitters, LaHair, almost the entire AAA team, Clevenger, Jay Jackson, Ha, Cashner
I have always liked Wilkens pick of Cash, but, honestly he may have chronic shoulder problems the rest of his career. Maybe not, but this would be the higher-risk option if the Sox want the higher-rated, everyday prospects and the Cubs could manage to hold on to a few building block youngsters.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 7:56am Permalink
Theo bringing medical staff?
http://twitter.com/GlobeMazz/status/124620484...
Tony Massarotti (Boston Globe) was on wscr this am, long interview. Tension in Boston developed because they haven't won a playoff game in 3 years. (Boo-hoo). Boston now has a management system in place so their GM is replaceable. Any dirt on Theo? When the deal is done he wouldn't be surprised that it isn't a clean breakup and some dirt is let out.
Hanley quoted Bo-Dog.com odds for next cubs manager, Sandberg 3-2, Quade 2-1, Francona 2-1.
http://sports.bodog.eu/sports-betting/mlb-bas...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 8:20am Permalink
I would imagine those odds are just to get the money 50/50 - not odds done with any sort of research or inside info.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:02am Permalink
isn't the medical staff the dudes that misdiagnosed Ellsbury? Don't believe that was the only case...
Heyman's take
Sounds like theo may take 1 or 2 from bosox f. office/medical staff. But that may affect compensation package (minor leaguers)
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:23am Permalink
Boston is a hotbed for high end doctors with several major university hospital programs competing for business such as Mass General (Harvard). The whole Curt Shilling proximal biceps tendon controversy (spaghetti-gate) with Dr. Craig Morgan makes the Red Sox and their medical staff somewhat interesting to say the least but I'm not sure taking a trainer or a strength coach would amount to much. Certainly Theo's unlikely to bring a doc from Boston to Chicago. Hmmm, maybe Northwestern is open to recruiting a higher end replacement for doc Gryzlo?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:24am Permalink
Surely, from that list, the Sox would be happy to take any of Cashner, Vitters, LeMahieu, and Ha off of our hands. I personally think that either Cashner or Vitters is overpaying for a front office guy.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 8:29am Permalink
Sullivan updates...on the delay.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:03am Permalink
"...for the past six years..." During which time they WON THE WS. And Boston fans think they have it ROUGH.
*stares out window for a very long time*
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:00am Permalink
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/...
The quality of those prospects could be tied to how many front office staffers are allowed to accompany Epstein to Chicago.
~snip~
Once Epstein’s move becomes official, the Red Sox will name Cherington as his replacement. Cherington has been guiding the baseball operations department for much of this month as Epstein dealt with the Cubs and worked out the details on a five-year, $18.5 million deal.
The Cubs’ farm system is largely bereft of talent, but there are several players who could interest the Red Sox. Outfielders Brett Jackson and Matt Szczur are highly regarded. Righthanders Alberto Cabrera and Jay Jackson are possibilities. Chicago’s top pitching prospect, Trey McNutt, dealt with injuries this season but could be on the table.
There are no indications that the Red Sox will be able to unload a bad contract on the Cubs - ahem, John Lackey - as part of the compensation package.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:14am Permalink
I'm sure 3/44 but do you think that an "our junk, for yours" scenario could be discussed?
"Yeah, Theo, you can leave, but you gotta take the trash out with you when you go."
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:25am Permalink
It's pretty common that when higher up front office guy changes organizations some players wind up following him over.
I wouldn't be shocked at all if a guy like Geo went in trade to the Sox for some prospects. Wasn't the Padres GM a Red Sox guy? The good thing is that now we have a GM who understands what the smart front offices value in players, so he won't undersell because of a low BABIP.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:01pm Permalink
I wonder how much value Theo puts on "five tools" guys.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:55pm Permalink
Hopefully not much given what he's inheriting. Hopefully he doesn't put much stock into four tool guys "we think we can teach to hit" - the Cubs system speciality.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:25pm Permalink
AZ PHIL: Of the 2010 draft class, which players that you've seen do you believe have "starting MLB" aplomb?
Of those, do any, in your estimation, have a shot at top-tier makeup?
Thanks.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 2:33am Permalink
Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 11:25am.
AZ PHIL: Of the 2010 draft class, which players that you've seen do you believe have "starting MLB" aplomb?
Of those, do any, in your estimation, have a shot at top-tier makeup?
Thanks.
==================================
E-MAN: From the 2010 class, Matt Szczur should be a front-line MLB OF in either CF or LF. He will probably be a #2 or #7 hitter.
Reggie Golden has the potential to be a power-hitting middle-of-the-order MLB RF, but he is VERY raw and is several years away, and he could just as easily flame out in "A" ball.
RHP Ben Wells is a potential Top-of-the-Rotation starter. He's a Cubs Top 15 Prospect right now, and could be the Cubs #2 pitching prospect (behind Trey McNutt).
LHP Eric Jokisch could be a back-of-the rotation MLB starter.
RHR Aaron Kurcz should be a quality MLB reliever with a mid-90's fastball & killer-slider. He could be a set-up guy or a closer, or a solid middle-reliever at the very least.
RHP Kevin Rhoderick should be a decent MLB reliever.
(Kurcz and Rhoderick could arrive at Wrigley Field as early as sometime next year).
3B Dustin Geiger is a ways away, but if he develops some HR power as he fills out and tightens up his defense he could be a solid MLB regular. He was one of the youngest players in the Midwest League in 2011.
Also RHPs Matt Loosen and Dallas Beeler have quality arms and MLB-potential.
And Micah Gibbs has made strides in improving his hitting and throwing at Instructs. He already is the best receiver among the catchers in the Cubs organization, and if he can continue to build on what he started at Instructs, he could develop into a solid MLB back-up catcher within a couple or three years.
With Luis Flores on the Restricted List while serving a 50-game PED suspension and not eligible to be reinstated until May, Gibbs could start the 2012 season sharing the catching duties at AA Tennessee with Michael Brenly.
Heyman tweets
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:42pm Permalink
Hearing red sox asking price is "significant" for theo. And why not? He did win 2 WS titles. Also, #cubs are more motivated
~snip~
Hear red sox-cubs talk is now about minor leaguers going to boston. No talk of theo's guys going to chicago, but it's fluid
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:18pm Permalink
My only untouchable is Dan Vogelbomb.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:34pm Permalink
If Rock Shoulders goes, I'm gone!
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:09pm Permalink
I said the same thing about Rocky Cherry and Rocky Roquet.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:56pm Permalink
Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:35pm Permalink
Hmm so hi Cub Reporter people! Anyone know if something big happened? Cause suddenly I'm excited again.
If Rickets were willing to eat some of the salary I'd be perfectly happy to take Lackey and see if he can turn it around. Stat wise there is nothing to indicate his fall off before coming to Boston so maybe it is all the mental pressure of divorce and/or whatever else. I feel like both Crawford and Lackey's #s justified the signings (even if Crawford's contract was for too much and too long) and I'm really not down on Theo at all because they didn't succeed in Boston.
The best value he can bring us is a revamp of our system at all levels allowing us to become an actual professional organization with knowledgeable people from minors to majors.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:57pm Permalink
A Johann sighting? Are Manny and Chad next?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:04pm Permalink
The more I've read about Lackey, the less interested I am.
First, the last few articles I've read claim neither team is talking about including Lackey. However, I also read that in 3 of the last 4 seasons he's had arm pain that was dealt with by limiting his innings. I hadn't read that before, but then again, I don't follow the AL that closely. Also, Lackey was one of the beer/fried chicken/video game scandal where the Red Sox rotation spent their time during games in the clubhouse eating fast food, drinking beer, and playing games. Supposedly they all had shockingly gained weight by the end of the season and had very negative attitudes. I'm not very interested in him after reading that.
Re: Lackey
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:07pm Permalink
well no one's interested in him, it's just whether it's fair compensation to get Theo.
I might add they were probably drinking beer, eating fried chicken (didn't Wade Boggs do that every game?) and playing video games while they were going 90-3 or whatever it was.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 3:13pm Permalink
They would have come up with a cool nickname for them if they had won the world series.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:53pm Permalink
Johann!!!
The Sausge king of Vienna!
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:36pm Permalink
Johann!!! How's your mom?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:50pm Permalink
winrar.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:17pm Permalink
Pretty epic actually. If the Cubs do anything worthwhile I might actually stop in chat to discuss it!
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 12:58am Permalink
Awesome!
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 6:15am Permalink
Don't be a stranger Johann
Theo Epstein And The Culture Of The Chicago Cubs
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:52pm Permalink
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/10/13/2487538/th...
The take away:
"While Epstein and Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane are prototypes of the modern GM who bloodlessly manages by the numbers, Hendry was the poster boy for the good-ol' boy network."
Re: Lackey
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:12pm Permalink
that's straight up wisdom from Al Yellon (/sarcasm)
that changing the culture B.S. has been around since Dusty came along, probably since Dallas Green actually.
you know what will change the culture? getting good players and consistently winning...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:17pm Permalink
I think the change in culture will come from a better understanding of what contributes to a baseball team winning consistently, and then building an organization based upon that better understanding.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:34pm Permalink
Al Yellon is a goofball.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:31pm Permalink
that's such a pile of shiiiii...oh, look who wrote it.
people forget about signing alex coras when you got another 30-40 million to spend to distract from it...
besides, pretending hendry is something he isn't is just a tool to blindly dismiss him. at the same time, pretending theo is something he isn't only sets him up for disappointment.
too many people think stats vs. scouts is polarizing rather than complimentary...it's not a war...or drama...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 1:54pm Permalink
Sullivan tweet reminder that today is the 8th anniversary of Alex S. Gonzalez 8th inning error.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:08pm Permalink
Sullivan needs to be re-assigned to cover parking tickets.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:12pm Permalink
Poor Alex S. Gonzalez. He did nothing for the Cubs except play better than anyone should have expected him to. It's not his fault the Cubs didn't have anything better going on at SS than him.
Re: Alex Gonzalez
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:17pm Permalink
pretty incredible to be a 20-HR hitting shortstop and still be completely terrible.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/g...
2003 was his best season with a 1.8 WAR (tied with 2001).
1.0 on offense, 0.8 on defense.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:33pm Permalink
Agree. He had one offensive tool and was barely acceptable at short. And the Cubs did nothing to try to improve themselves at that position.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:40pm Permalink
Nomar?
I think Hendry realized that giving the other team a free 1/2 inning a third of the time was a bad idea following the '03 playoffs. Just took him a while to execute his "correction". It was the original "balanced lineup".
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 3:25pm Permalink
Nomar didn't come until most of the way through 2004, if I remember correctly.
My main point, really, was that AGonz was better than anyone should have reasonably expected him to be (which still wasn't that good) and that reminding us all that he made an error in the playoffs without reminding us that the organization had no better option than him at that position creates the illusion that this slight overachiever who was still just a gap filler is to blame for the failure. He was no more responsible than anyone else at that team. Probably less responsible than many. (And Bartman deserves 0% of the blame.)
Edit: Even with the way it turned out, I thought the Nomar trade was pretty brilliant. It was a gamble, and even though they lost, they still kind of won--certainly didn't lose very much except the expense of paying Nomar and maybe some cheap production from Brandon Harris years later.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 3:38pm Permalink
Gonzalez did seem to have a knack for walkoff HRs. Relatively speaking, of course, wasn't like he hit 15 of them or anything.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:01pm Permalink
Looking through his splits for that season, the only good one that stands out as a "pressure" situation is "high leverage" where he hit .242 .324 .581.
I do remember he had a couple of early season game winners, and rode that way of fan happiness throughout most of the season.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 10:28pm Permalink
Pretty sure Alex Gonzalez had a key HR in game 5 of the 2003 NLDS, perhaps the only post-season series win by the Cubs we'll ever see.
That is, until Theo gets here.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:44pm Permalink
totally should have signed A-Rod :)
aaronb's Miguel Tejada rant is coming soon
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 5:11pm Permalink
i continue to be hopeful that paul sullivan will be placed in the sidewalk underneath the bronze jim hendry statue.
John Henry on radio
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:04pm Permalink
http://twitter.com/PeteAbe
won't say anything definitive on Theo
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:07pm Permalink
More from Pete Abraham's twitter posts:
"John Henry said he didn't support the Crawford signing"
--
Way to throw your player and front office under the bus at the same time. Someone needs to tell the Red Sox owner that he still has Crawford under contract for 800 more years.
Re: Lackey
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:10pm Permalink
yeah, player's gotta love that.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:15pm Permalink
There's a bit more than the tweet suggests. Henry says that Crawford wasn't signed just to improve TV ratings and that it was a 'baseball' move. It sounds more to me like he's saying the baseball guys made the decision and he didn't even support it at the time. But, it doesn't sound like he was complaining about the deal, merely addressing that he doesn't interfere with baseball decisions.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111...
I hate Twitter.
In other news, Mel Gibson says "I...like Jews".
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:10pm Permalink
You can, however, ear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
You can John Henry's hammer ring
Re: Alex Gonzalez
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:20pm Permalink
Henry now says that Carmine (player eval software) has a seat at the draft table.
maybe that's what they're still haggling about
Re; Carmine
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:21pm Permalink
I had never heard of Carmine before, interesting
http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/Reynolds_...
It’s no coincidence that there’s a story in this week’s Sports Illustrated — the one with Brad Pitt on the cover — about the Red Sox and their own version of “the new moneyball,” titled “It’s How the Red Sox Live and Die.” It comes complete with information about the baseball bunker one floor beneath street level inside Fenway, a baseball computer program called Carmine that “is the virtual brains of the Boston operation,” and the Sox having a virtually unlimited payroll to make the most out of this moneyball template.
“I can’t believe Billy is letting him write this book,” Epstein said of Lewis in 2002, as reported in Sports Illustrated. “He’s handing out the blueprint.”
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:59pm Permalink
"Henry now says that Carmine (player eval software) has a seat at the draft table."
The Cubs'have a seat for DOS.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:13pm Permalink
Well I hope Theo burned a copy of Carmine.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:55pm Permalink
Will Carmine run on a Commodore 64?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 5:00pm Permalink
They'll have to train Cubs staff which has been using OOTP Baseball 2011
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 5:22pm Permalink
lol
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 5:59pm Permalink
I hear they've been using Micro-League Baseball...
Henry on radio still going
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:27pm Permalink
you can hear it here...
http://player.radio.com/player/RadioPlayer.ph...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:02pm Permalink
Vitters 2 for 2 (.382) so far today, Lake (.321) with a home run. Vitters tied for league lead in RBI with 10; Lake in the lead with 6 SBs.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 10:25pm Permalink
I'm sure they were all delayed steals (/sarcasm)
Team USA
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:17pm Permalink
beats S. Korea in first game of the day
3-1
B. Jackson 1/2 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 SF, 1 IBB
they also play Venezuela which is about to start, there was a rainout this week.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 4:25pm Permalink
Korea, Japan, Cuba, all international baseball power houses, so that is pretty cool.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 7:26pm Permalink
win 7-4 over Venezuela as well.
believe they play Canada tomorrow in the Bronze medal game
this is the IBAF World Cup, still have the Pan-Am games after this
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 5:27pm Permalink
New ESPN article up profiling 9 Cubs prospects that Epstein might like.
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/i...
The last guy on the list is Jeimer Candelario.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 5:28pm Permalink
I heard Kaplan do a sports update during the news on WGN radio about an hour ago and said he heard the compensation talks could go into next week.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 6:00pm Permalink
MLB would prefer they not announce until Monday or Tuesday anyway
Brett Jackson was pulled from game one
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 6:02pm Permalink
after going 1/2 and not starting Game 2
Twitter freaks out...
Muskat says he tweaked his foot though.
good times...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 6:10pm Permalink
Meh. As long as he's ready for baseball by the time spring training starts, what he does this winter doesn't matter a whole lot.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 6:17pm Permalink
I think people were freaking out that he was being pulled as part of trade to Red Sox.
Since it was Team USA and not a Cubs affialiate game, that doesn't make a lot of sense, but there were some worries.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 6:27pm Permalink
slight hip flexor was the injury...my bad.
Buster Olney tweet
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 8:35pm Permalink
Rival GM: "Cubs should just keep saying no (on compensation for Theo). What are the Red Sox going to do -- bring Theo back? No way."
Kapman around 9:30pm CST
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:24pm Permalink
Just spoke to a GREAT source on the Theo compensation talks. Red Sox are asking for an insane package of players. Cubs are saying no way.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:18pm Permalink
I just think it will drag on, and either they agree to take a MLB player and a prospect, or maybe this goes away and they move on to Friedman or Hahn?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:55am Permalink
Sounds good to me. Giving White Sox fans like Phil Rogers many more opportunities to advise the Cubs to yield Brett Jackson seems like a bad idea.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:07pm Permalink
cubstats.com?
discusses Brett Jackson compensation and says no...but throws Jeff Baker in the deal.
I'm thinking' if Hendry's doppelgänger is sitting on Randy Bush's shoulder...The Cubs would re-sign John Grabow and then put him in the Epstein deal
http://www.cubsstats.com/2011/10/brett-jackso...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:17pm Permalink
he's being over-rated by some, but yeesh...law is under-rating him.
he's probably going to be a top 20-30 prospect in all of baseball when the list-makers break out their numbers this offseason.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 11:17pm Permalink
Law has an anti-hard on for any Cubs prospect. I think he tried to get a job with the Cubs and they made fun of him or something.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:12am Permalink
He seems to like McNutt. Probably just being more realistic than Cubs fans want to hear about their prospects.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:47am Permalink
The Cubs really don't have much of a track record of success with a lot of prospects over the last, oh, 100 years, so it's understandable someone is a little skeptical.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 3:01am Permalink
Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:17pm.
Law has an anti-hard on for any Cubs prospect. I think he tried to get a job with the Cubs and they made fun of him or something.
=============================
TRN: Perhaps Law didn't get along with Tim Wilken and the Old School scouts when he was with the Blue Jays, and so now he feels good dissing Wilken's work whenever possible.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:36am Permalink
That could be it. He sort of like McNutt... he's pretty much the only "prospect guy" in baseball that doesn't have Jackson at least in the top 100.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:25am Permalink
I don't get all the Trey McNutt love. He has been ineffective in double A since he tried to pitch there at the end of 2010. I said before that when internet scouts give someone that they have touted an "injury mulligan," they are giving themselves a mulligan. McNutt reminds me of Jay Jackson, who also hit his head at AA, though not quite as hard.
So I wouldn't cry if the Cubs gave up McNutt, although I think they should have a rule against trading anyone 21 or younger in the previous season. That would protect McNutt, Vitters, Cerda, Watkins, Lake, Szczur, Ha and a bunch of pitchers including Jokisch, Antigua, Kirk, Struck, DelValle. You just don't know what you're giving up. At least with Beliveau (24) and Dolis (23), they would know what they were trading and could price them accordingly.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 5:54pm Permalink
He mentions Wilken in this:
http://www.drunkjaysfans.com/2011/09/layin-do...
Seems they didn't get along at the time but have made up now.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:09am Permalink
solid regular actually seems about right actually, but he does have a small bit of star potential I think (by star i mean a few ASG's). Plus he's the best Cubs prospect and the Cubs shouldn't waste that bullet on a GM.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:37am Permalink
I'm thinking Brett Jackson is Jim Edmonds with less power, pre-knee problems.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 2:21am Permalink
Submitted by Paul Noce on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 12:37am.
I'm thinking Brett Jackson is Jim Edmonds with less power, pre-knee problems.
======================
PAUL N: I believe Brett Jackson has been undervalued by a lot of the so-called experts.
I would compare B-Jax to Grady Sizemore circa 2007. He is a 20/20/20 guy who can play CF.
Jackson will have more strikeouts and a lower batting average than a lot of MLB players, but he will also walk a lot and rack up lots of XBH.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:03am Permalink
Why less power? He's 20 pounds heavier.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:10am Permalink
PED testing.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:45am Permalink
Maybe he grows into a 30 hr guy, who knows. And I think Charlie is right. Edmonds is from the stone age PED era compared to today's prospects. Plus he always had that natural mascara thing going on.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 10:05pm Permalink
LOL - now in your world weight guarantees power. Awesome.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 12:04pm Permalink
Obviously there's a correlation between weight and power. "Guarantees" was your word.
Somehow I don't picture you laughing out loud at anything.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:07am Permalink
It makes the most sense for the Cubs to pursue a cash exchange, but if they need to throw in Jeff Baker or a medium-ceiling, low-level pitcher, then so be it.
so his idea is that Cubs should give up nothing of value for something of great value...cool.
/maybe he was just trying to be sarcastic with that last line and I'm missing it.
this is the same fella that wrote that fangraphs article the other day that the first step for Theo should be to get rid of all the Cubs bad/overpaid players.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:57am Permalink
I think it would be awesome if they took Byrd off our hands. Byrd and Baker would be even better.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 8:44am Permalink
From Kaplan's Blog, 1:50am CST (Kaplan is more obsessed than I thought)from one of his sources:
Guy sounds like a prick if any of this is true.
I am wondering what the "Plan B" is as I stated yesterday? Has there been any phone calls to other candidates? Hmmm...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 8:53am Permalink
It will get done
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 9:11am Permalink
As always, this is the Cubs you are talking about.
We will see...
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 9:21am Permalink
I'm sure Hendry will overpay for Epstein.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:32am Permalink
I can't believe he's setting the market in the off-season for GM's. Any other team could have gotten Eptstein for 6 years at a million a per, but Hendry is way over paying.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 7:49pm Permalink
Theo's also getting a NTC and a heavily backloaded contract.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 8:09pm Permalink
And at least three reverse challupas a week by a PTBNL.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 12:45pm Permalink
Just like the Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy deals, huh?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 12:57pm Permalink
One difference is we know Theo's not on PED's.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 2:46pm Permalink
I hear he takes ginko balboa extract.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 3:44pm Permalink
Yo Astralagus!
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:23am Permalink
I obviously have no idea what his contract looks like, but I wonder if he is guaranteed the position of GM on the team and if there's any stipulation on his duties.
Could they reassign him if they wanted? Name Cherington to a position above him or just circumvent him with Lucchino voiding all his decisions and letting Cherington do the job. I can't imagine Cherington would want to work under those circumstances or screw Epstein over like that, but I suppose there are some dick moves the Red Sox can still pull out of their playbook.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:35am Permalink
"I suppose there are some dick moves the Red Sox can still pull out of their playbook."
Like the Nutty Professor. Always hilarious.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:56am Permalink
Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe replies to Kaplan with an article:
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/...
Lucchino's job is to do what's best for the Red Sox, blah blah,
but then there is this:
"Henry also revealed this during his radio takeover yesterday: “There was an initial conversation before formal permission was granted. I can’t go into the specifics of what’s going on.”
Tampering?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:18pm Permalink
"In the end, a deal gets made. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts would lose all credibility in Chicago if he can't get his franchise savior in place."
This was an interesting and useful perspective by P. Abraham but he couldn't resist going a little overboard at the end. Ricketts hasn't spoken one word about Epstein, or had one word leak, since he answered "I don't know" a couple weeks ago to the question, Can you get him? I don't see that his credibility concerning Epstein is at issue at all. There is a number of other prospective GMs around who would make Cub fans very happy.
The real issue is Ricketts's credibility as a genial, laid-back midwesterner (not midwest as in Chicago, but as in Nebraska) playing hardball with a shrewd bunch of yankees--you'll excuse the expression. I am somewhere between hopeful and confident that Ricketts will hold his own.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 2:56pm Permalink
maybe on the tampering, bet you it's Kenney's fault :)
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:35pm Permalink
That sentence in of itself doesn't mean anything. There was an initial conversation between who, and about what?
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 10:45am Permalink
I interpreted it as Riketts talked to Teo before permission was granted.
I ae a ouple keys out on te keyboard. Typo exuse
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 12:54pm Permalink
Yes, but it could have been an initial conversation with Theo and Sox Exces, like "Theo, do you want that job" or among the ownership group "Do we want to extend or lose Theo?" etc.
I seriously doubt that Rickett's called him up at work and asked him if he wanted the Cubs gig prior to getting permission.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 1:36pm Permalink
Kenney sent a Greek Orthodox priest over to Theo's office to judge his interest in the job.
Re: The Candy Man Can Do
on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 2:26pm Permalink
I wonder if there is any possibility that if they have to give away a plethora of top prospects to get this done, do they just walk away and sign Theo when his contract runs out?
The team is not going anywhere, anyway, in 2012.