Cubs Announce Minor League Staff Assignments

The Cubs have named their minor league & player development staff for 2011:



MINOR LEAGUE FIELD COORDINATOR:
Dave Bialas


MINOR LEAGUE COORDINATORS:
MINOR LEAGUE PITCHING COORDINATOR: Dennis Lewallyn 
MINOR LEAGUE HITTING COORDINATOR: Tom Beyers 
MINOR LEAGUE INFIELD & BUNTING INSTRUCTOR: Franklin Font 
MINOR LEAGUE OUTFIELD & BASERUNNING INSTRUCTOR: Lee Tinsley 
MINOR LEAGUE CATCHING INSTRUCTOR: Marty Pevey 
LATIN AMERICAN FIELD COORDINATOR: Carmelo Martinez 


IOWA:
MANAGER: Bill Dancy
PITCHING COACH: Mike Mason
HITTING COACH: Von Joshua


TENNESSEE:
MANAGER: Brian Harper
PITCHING COACH: Marty Mason
HITTING COACH: Mariano Duncan


DAYTONA:
MANAGER: Buddy Bailey
PITCHING COACH: Tom Pratt
HITTING COACH: Barbaro Garbey


PEORIA:
MANAGER: Casey Kopitzke
PITCHING COACH: Jeff Fassero
HITTING COACH: Ricardo Medina


BOISE:
MANAGER: Mark Johnson (also Extended Spring Training Manager)
PITCHING COACH: Dave Rosario
HITTING COACH: Desi Wilson


AZL CUBS (MESA):
MANAGER: Juan Cabreja
PITCHING COACH: Rick Tronerud
HITTING COACH: Jason Dubois
ASSISTANT PITCHING COACH: Frank Castillo


Lee Tinsley, Brian Harper, Mariano Duncan, Marty Mason, Mark Johnson, and Jason Dubois are new additions to the Minor League Player Development staff, replacing 2010 Minor League Pitching Coordinator Mark Riggins, Hitting Coordinator Dave Keller, and Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator Bob Dernier (who were appointed to Mike Quade's Cubs coaching staff), and 2010 Iowa Manager Ryne Sandberg, Daytona Hitting Coach Richie Zisk, and Boise Manager Jody Davis (who will not be returning).


Mark Johnson was a player-coach at Iowa in 2010, but served as a Game Manager at Instructs this past September-October.


Jason Dubois played for the Iowa Cubs last year and had been playing in Venezuela as recently as last month.


Brian Harper had a lengthy MLB playing career (most-notably with the 1991 World Champion Minnesota Twins) and had been a minor league manager and catching instructor with the Angels, before serving most-recently as the manager of the San Jose Giants in the San Francisco organization.


Lee Tinsley played five seasons in MLB in the 1990's with SEA, BOS, and PHI, and after his playing days were over he served as a Minor League Outfield Instructor with the Angels and a base coach with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.


After a lengthy MLB playing career where he played on three different World Champion teams (CIN. PHI, and NYY), Mariano Duncan spent the past five seasons as the 1st base coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Marty Mason was a long-time coach in the St. Louis organization, where he worked with new Cubs Pitching Coach Mark Riggins. He spent the last 10+ years as the Cardinals bullpen coach under Tony LaRussa.

Tags: 
Cubs Minor Leagues
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:44pm
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Comments

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 5:44pm

kevin millar + MLB Network = best thing since john kruk on BDSSP.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:07pm

I meant to turn on hot stove... anything interesting?

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:17pm

nah...no breaking news or anything really nice.

kevin millar is just out there raising the humor bar for everyone else in between cracking them up. he's like a 5 year old on a sugar rush.

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:59am

What do these teams all have in common: Yankees, Angels, Rangers, Twins, Brewers, Red Sox, Cubs, Phillies, Rays?

Answer: They're all contending clubs.

Morosi's list of needs for contending teams.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/cliff-lee-...

The Spankees have two needs, the Cubs only need a leadoff hitter.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 2:41am

3 years later, the Cubs could still use Brian Roberts.

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:00am

"Carlos Pena should have a nice season on the North Side, but only if he comes to bat with runners on base. Don’t you miss those Brian Roberts rumors?"

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:51am

Has anyone checked with Big Bird lately?

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:04am

Does anyone realize that Orlando Hudson is still available and could be had for relatively cheap? I've always thought he would fit in well at 2B, where we've typically had average or below-average offensive players, and I think he plays decent D.

I could be completely wrong about his defense especially, but doesn't it make sense to sign him without having to spend a ton of money and either bat him leadoff or in the 2 hole?

I've never understood why the Cubs weren't more interested in him. Is he a bad clubhouse guy or something?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:18am

I always liked Hudson, but he has a reputation of a bad clubhouse guy, and his contract demands are outrageous (at least to me, probably not in this crazy market).

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:25am

Last April, Hudson welcomed himself to the Twins by proclaiming MLB is racist.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-dyeh...

I don't agree with him. His two examples, Dye and Sheffield, were guys who were DH's at that stage of their careers, and refused to accept it and take a low base salary.

He's also, as TRN said, been asking for a 3 year contract at $8-10 mil per year for about 3 years, and bitching when he doesn't get it.

As I said above, I've always liked the guy, he has a spark that the Cubs haven't had in a long time. But the unfortunate reality is that outspoken black players have run into trouble at Wrigley. The guys who just do their job are beloved, but if you dare speak up on any subject, you'll be booed constantly. Hudson probably wouldn't be a very good fit with our media/fans.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:18am

He's getting a little long in the tooth now, but the main reason the Cubs haven't signed him is that they were spending money in other places and Hudson has been looking for a 3 year deal for three years.

We already have a LH hitting 2nd basemen as of right now.

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:35am

Hudson is a switch-hitter, and though I understand he's getting older, there's not many teams pursuing him, so he shouldn't ultimately come at an outrageous price. I don't know much about his clubhouse presence, but if that's a problem, then that may make sense as to why they're not pursuing him.

I'm not really looking forward to Blake DeWitt leading off and starting at 2B for a full season...

Project .500 rolls on.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:49am

OK, we already have a RH hitting second basemen.

Not saying it wouldn't be an upgrade, but signing Soriano to replace Marmol would be an upgrade - it just doesn't make sense given the cost/improvement.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 11:08am

think Cubs have made it clear they're not interested in Hudson at his asking prices, they passed on him like most of the rest of the league the last two years.

twice now we could have had Kelly Johnson, just like to point that one out.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 11:30am

Rosenthal tweeted Hudson is getting 2 years/$11.5 million from the Padres.

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 11:32am

Fair enough...that's more than I thought he'd go for.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:50pm

Good for him to finally get his multi-year deal. I've been a little surprised the Padres have spent a wee bit of money this year. Bartlett and Hudson give them good defense up the middle and better offense then the ss-by-committee/eckstein last year.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:38am

He may have the tail wagging the dog on the cause/effect of the Cubs' leadoff hitter scoring only 81 runs last year.

I would say that's the last time I will jab the Zombie of Lou Piniella about lineup construction... but that's probably a lie.

Submitted by Hagsag
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:56am

Az. Phil, have you been out to see the action at Camp Colvin?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:03am

Mets interested in Gorz...

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_arme...

Webb should sign in the next few days with a team.

http://twitter.com/ed_price/status/1577783101...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 9:59am

I'd bet on Chris Young before Brandon Webb. Upside is lower, but the odds are getting productive innings in 2011 have to be higher.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:58am

from Chris Young?

seemed to be a guy that lived off pitching in Petco...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:16pm

4.16 career road ERA, 3.40 at home, with most of those innings pitching for SD.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:11pm

Kerry Wood press conference is going right about now, according to Muskett.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:22pm

i'm just gonna go ahead and say it...

*deep breath*

i like blake dewitt as the cubs 2nd baseman and i think he's capable of a .350-ish OB% with 30 doubles and 15+ homers.

yeah. i think i said similar about fontenot, too, only i wasn't so sure about him being an everyday player. i get the feeling dewitt will be splitting some time, at least early, with jeff baker, though.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:45pm

still lacking details as far as I can tell on the contract...

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/st...

"It's never been about the money," said Wood, who will have performance bonuses for games pitched and finished. "It's about being home and being here at Wrigley, which is home for me."

claims to have had 3 to 4 other offers for mo' money...

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:48pm

2 minute standing O or 5 minute standing O when he returns to wrigley? =p

...and then cubs fans realize they're giving a huge standing O to a middle reliever. sigh...cubs.

go k.wood.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 4:05pm

Any news on who got bumped from the 40 man roster?

Is there a bigger window to do such things this time of year? (AZ Phil?)

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 5:17pm

Submitted by QuietMan on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 4:05pm.
Any news on who got bumped from the 40 man roster?

Is there a bigger window to do such things this time of year? (AZ Phil?)

=======================================================

QUIET MAN: The Cubs don't have to make a roster move until they file Wood's contract with the MLB office. But it's also possible that the Cubs have already Designated a Player for Assignment and it just hasn't been reported yet, because the MLB office might have closed early for the weekend. (It takes two business days to get a player through waivers, meaning whoever the Cubs drop from the 40-man roster won't clear waivers until next Tuesday at the earliest, and that's presuming the player was placed on Outright Waivers this afternoon).

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 5:28pm

Thanks Phil. You're the best!

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 2:05am

Homer.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:47pm

Gaudin to Nats on minor league deal

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 4:29pm

from espn-
.But it looks like a long shot. Rowand is still owed $24MM over 2 years with SF. Fukudome will make $13.5MM for the Cubs in 2011
about 4 hours ago via web .The Giants and Cubs discussed a Rowand-for-Fukudome trade, said a BB source. A classic bad-contract, change-of-scenery deal.
about 4 hours ago via web

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 5:11pm

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 4:29pm.
from espn-
.But it looks like a long shot. Rowand is still owed $24MM over 2 years with SF. Fukudome will make $13.5MM for the Cubs in 2011
about 4 hours ago via web .The Giants and Cubs discussed a Rowand-for-Fukudome trade, said a BB source. A classic bad-contract, change-of-scenery deal.
about 4 hours ago via web

=====================================================

JACOS: Kosuke Fukudome ($13.5M in 2011) and Carlos Silva ($6M in 2011 plus a $2M buy-out in 2012) for Aaron Rowand ($12M in both 2011 and 2012) would be even closer to a salary wash over 2011-12.

Of course it would mean that the Giants would be adding about $7.5M in payroll in 2011, although they would save $10M in 2012 payroll for a net savings of $2.5M. Since the Giants would have no use for Silva, they could then trade him someplace else, maybe even eat his entire 2011 salary, but with Silva's new club on the hook for the $2M 2012 buy-out. That would save the Giants $4.5M net in payroll over 2011-12.

The Cubs would be saving about $7.5M in 2011 but would add $10M in payroll in 2012 (Rowand's $12M in 2012 when they otherwise would have just had to pay Silva his $2M buy-out) for a net increase of $2.5M, although it would at least free-up $7.5M in 2011 payroll when they probably need that to acquire a SP (several contracts will be coming off the books in 2012 to offset the $10M payroll increase).

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:36pm

Why would we want to dump Silva just add one year of Rowand?

Submitted by Tony S.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:01pm

. . . .

...oh you were serious??

Oh, because Silva's change of scenery/i love big z/watch me pitch out of my mind honeymoon is long gone and he's not going to do shit this year. That's why we should trade him for a ham sammich (not that Rowand is much better) although we probably won't because he helps the team have "pitching depth" which is BB exec code for "enough shitty pitchers that even if one gets hurt a young kid still won't get a fucking look-see."

And on a side note, if that's the best we do for Fuk I say why bother (unless that bit o savings is leading to something helpful for the team*

*It should also be noted that the list does not include paying a guy with one start in 2 years 7-fucking-million-dollars, previous cy winner or not

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:21pm

Submitted by The Joe on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:36pm.
Why would we want to dump Silva just add one year of Rowand?

==========================================

THE JOE: Like I said, if it frees-up $7.5M in additional 2011 payroll and that extra $7.5M in 2011 is what's needed to acquire Zack Greinke (for example), then that's why you would do it, presuming the addition of somebody like Greinke is desirable.

In other words, it's just a way to create additional 2011 payroll to be used on a high-priced starting pitcher Hendry otherwise can't afford.

If it's possible to trade Fukudome and get $7.5 in 2011 payroll relief without taking back a bad contract, then that would be better, but apparently there is no market for Kosuke unless the Cubs take back a bad contract. So trading Fukudome and Silva for Rowand fits both requirements (frees up 2011 payroll and exchanges bad contracts).

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:25pm

Ok, I passed over the money increase part. If it gets us Greinke, I'm ok with the Silva loss:)

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:32pm

Wants out of KC

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 8:25pm

I admit that would be about the only reasonable thing that could happen to get me excited about the 2011 season.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:34pm

Really? And I'm not being a smartass (believe it or not).

I'm just a little afraid Greinke is being over-valued. He may want out of KC, and he may have no idea what he's in for. What's more, he seems to be kinda like Z--very 'Ace' WHEN he's on, and very not when he's not.

I just think if we're hanging season hopes on Zack Greinke we're in a bad way (which we are), but I don't think he's that huge of a difference maker, even making the AL-->NL move.

And I am dutifully standing by for a stream of statistics, traditional or not, telling me I'm wrong. ;)

Submitted by The Joe
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 1:03am

Greinke is awesome. The idea that he might play for the Cubs makes my pants tight. I don't know stats, though.

fart.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 1:08am

Have you thought about taking some pepto bismal?

Submitted by The Joe
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:56am

No, but I'll consider.

Submitted by Sweet Lou
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 7:53am

There probably are only 15 +/- true aces in all of baseball. Greinke is one of them. He is arguably a top five starting pitcher and he has compiled his resume pitching for a very untalented team in KC.

I don't want to get my hopes up, but if the Cubs could obtain Greinke and sign him to an extention, he could become the keystone to their pitching staff for years to come. He's the kind of guy you build around. He's the kind of guy we all thought Big Z was going to be when he signed his most recent contract. He is a difference maker.

The only knock on the guy is that he has been treated for social anxiety disorder. I don't think anyone knows for sure how that would play out at Wrigley, but as a big market/high revenue team, the Cubs should be in a position to take a risk on someone like Greinke.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 12:15pm

fuck if I know, grass is always greener syndrome probably

chances are he'd break his arm the first week or curl up in the fetal position on the mound after giving up a HR.

But he's got as good as stuff as just about anyone in the game and he'll be 27 next year.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 1:55am

Greinke to the Brewers???

Nothing confirmed.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/fanblogs...

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 2:09am

looks like a "strong" rumor, though.

decent bats, great power, nice SP...gambling on the pen. stl/mil look ready...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 2:08am

no good shall come of this...

Greinke, Gallardo, Marcum, Wolf with a real good offense.

imagine Cubs will be picked 4th by everyone in the preseason if this turns true. I guess hope Z can put it together and they can sign 2006-2008 Webb.

deal is allegedy Greinke and Betancourt for Escobar, Jeffress, Odorizzi and L. Cain

something equivalent to Castro, J. Jackson or Carpenter, McNutt or Archer, B. Guyer (don't think Cain is considered as good as B Jackson at the moment).

one of you prospect junkies could give a better comparison I'm sure...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 7:15am

There's some more confirmation and another player, Jake Odorizzi added to the deal, down at the bottom of the link.

ESPN just confirmed it on Sports Center.

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 5:38pm

Horrible. This way we get two years of a shitty grossly overpaid outfielder instead of just one.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:32pm

Agreed keep Fuku.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 5:29pm

Cubs 2010 5th round draft pick Matt Szczur leads the Villanova Wilcdcats into Cheney, WA, tonight to face the Eastern Washington Eagles in an FCS (Division 1-AA) semi-final game. (Eastern Washington beat North Dakota State in OT last Saturday). Tonight's victor plays the winner of tomorrow's Delaware-Georgia Southern game in the FCS Championship Game next month in Frisco, TX.

Tonight's game is on ESPN, starting at 5 PM PST (8 PM EST). Last week at Appalachian State, Szczur threw for one touchdown, caught another one, and ran for three more. He has also been invited to play in the Senior Bowl in January.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 7:05pm

ESPN 2 in Chicago.

You have to turn it on for a minute just to see the ugly ugly red turf.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:34pm

Sorry if this was already mentioned...

Part of Wood's insistence on returning to the Cubs centers around his youngest daughter Charlotte's health issues that are best dealt with at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital. Kerry and Sarah decided last year that they would give up their home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and raise their children in Chicago. The driving force was Charlotte's medical needs.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/i...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 1:06am

So that's what he meant by "some family issues came up" and wanting to live in Chicago. I wish them the best.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 11:31am

Isn't that a Dempster thing, too? And Derek Lee? Maybe not. I seem to remember stuff.

Chicago is a great place -- as someone who no longer lives there I can tell you that sometimes I underrated it when I was there. When I visit, my heart skips a beat. It will always be my favorite town. I think it's why I can't let go of my sports teams. It's my tie to Chicago. But I'm not good at self-psycho analysis. The reason I bring it up is that it makes sense that K relies on a great medical facility in Chicago (and yes, sadly, people in other parts of the country do call it chi-town)

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 1:13pm

Yes, Dempster's daughter was born with a condition that makes it hard or impossible to swallow, if I remember correctly. She's getting better, though. I think she was born in Arizona and he was flying back and forth. I'm sure he had to be a train wreck inside.

DLee's daughter had/has a vision problem that was misdiagnosed.

One of the few things that must suck being a pro athlete is all the travel when a family member is having major health problems and you want to be there all the time for them. (Same goes for businesspeople who have to travel constantly).

Submitted by Tony S.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:42pm

...or is Levine just drunk again?

"Hendry has manipulated his bullpen money beautifully so far, spending only $3 million on Carlos Pena in the 2011 budget and $1.5 million on Wood."

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/i...

Cot's says

# 1 year/$10M (2011)

* signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 12/8/10
* $5M deferred, to be paid 1/2012

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/chic...

Sooooo, WTF?? Can AZ Phil explain new Levine math to me??

*edit Muskrat at least explained it. 2m of Pena's 10m he'll get as a signing bonus this year. Apparently that means it goes on this year's budget (seems they go by calendar year, probably affects luxury tax and that sort of thing) so he's kinda getting paid over 3 years for a 1 yr contract; 2/3/5m.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 2:10am

The math is too much for an old man like me. All I know is that Hendry copped (yes, like a nice pound of Columbian when it was $300 a pound), a heavy lifter who bats lefty and has an OPB that is gonna be near the top 20 league wise.

So what, exactly, is your complaint?

I can't tell because your post is incomprehensible.

My suspicion is you had a little too much to drink before that post. I don't blame you for that. I do that often when arguing against Republicans on political sites, cuz it's the only way to go.

Submitted by The Joe
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:00am

I think he was just wondering how 3 = 10/5.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 8:09am

as Tony S. posted... here is the sun-times explanation:

A big part of that is also due to the structure of Pena's contract, which puts $5 million (due in 13 months) on the 2012 books and $2 million (signing bonus paid this month) on the 2010 books - leaving only $3 million to go on the Cubs' accounting for 2011.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2010/12/with_k...

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 11:02am

Over under on opening day payroll 130 Mil:

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 12:16pm

that's still $5M this year, no matter how much Levine blows Hendry about his creative accounting

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 8:25am

some quotes from the Texans...

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/...

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 12:20pm

Richie Zisk has not been let go. He's been given a newly created pro-Scout job operating out of Florida evaluating both minor league and major league players.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:56pm

As painful as this offseason is for our supposedly big-market team, at least our left field courtship doesn't involve selecting between Marcus Thames and a Hairston.

http://mlb.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/12/the_d...

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 7:44pm

yeesh...at least make a run at andruw jones or something

Submitted by QuietMan
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 10:10pm

Long before our time, Cub old timer Phil Cavarretta has died.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/st...

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 10:17pm

wow...didn't even assume he was still alive. 94. wow.

it's hard to keep track of those guys that never gave many TV interviews.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 11:42am

long before your time, you mean.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 7:29am

some commentary on the Brewer prospects in the deal from the mlb blog for the Brewers

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 9:08am

Great deal for KC. Good deal for Brewers. I'm shocked and impressed by the Brewers. Good for them to be so aggressive. And I love seeing the Yankees miss out on another top player.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 9:15am

To me you always want to get a guy back who you think may turn out to be as good as the guy you're trading and I don't see where the Royals got that, but they may be really high one one of the guys. The Cubs could have offered more, but not an MLB ready starting SS. I guess going into last year there was some debate about whether Castro would be better than Escobar, but I think that's been put to rest.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 9:55am

One thing though for the Brewers, they significantly downgraded on defense at SS.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 9:56am

Gammons says that Jeffries isn't a part of the deal and it's a PTBNL instead.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 11:18am

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets that the $2MM going to Milwaukee will cover the buyout for Yuniesky Betancourt's 2012 option, if the Brewers choose to buy him out.

will the $2M the Brewers get in the deal be for medicinal MJ if they get to keep Jeffries?

http://tinyurl.com/27jxdjb

or to paraphrase Achmed, the dead terrorist ("I kilo you")...

http://tinyurl.com/28glkco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTsQng-70o

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 4:35pm

Nice work, Cubster, especially the obscure Rolling Stones B-side reference.

Submitted by Newport
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 11:24am

I hope Greinke has a mental breakdown.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 11:43am

I shouldn't laugh at that, but I did.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 4:23pm

No, you shouldn't!

~shakes head and smiles~

Submitted by The Joe
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 7:40pm

Seems like a great market for him.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 12:53pm

As I had said a couple weeks ago, with the Cubs 3 number 5 pitchers, the starting staff was already behind the Brewers. Now the team will be duking it out with the Pirates (whose staff looked like the Phillies against the Cubs) and Astros.

Fuck Jim Hendry.

Fuck Tom Ricketts.

We are now a "small market team in America's 3rd largest City"

And yet, asshole me will be paying for my Combo season ticket package once more.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Hendry will do something similar for the lesser skills of someone such as Matt Garza.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 1:26pm

I'm not sure I agree that the Cubs have 3 #5 pitchers, but I sure agree with your overall sentiment. The Cubs purchase reminds me a little of the Tribune purchase by Sam Zell. Zell clearly could not afford that purchase, and leveraged his purchase heavily. I get the feeling that the Ricketts family really couldn't afford this team and they bought it for the ego trip of owning the Cubs. They're in it for themselves, so that the boys can get laid a little more. Their idea of improving the franchise is sprucing up the washrooms and declaring a love for minor league development. All owners, by the way, say that about the minor league system. So until it actually starts producing mega stars, and it never has, historically, I'm remaining a cynic.

It's obvious to me that the Ricketts family is not in this as a top 3 market player. As fans, we can only do one thing -- vote with our feet and put the turnstiles to a dead stop.

Rob calls this year Project .500. That's not good enough. Anybody who goes to see this team at Wrigley next year is simply doing the equivalent of enabling an alcoholic.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 2:19pm

I don't know, not sure it's wise to compound the problems Zell/Hendry/McDonough created by creating more problems with more unwise, absurd contracts.

Cubs payroll is still gonna be 2nd/3rd in the NL, I think next offseason will be the real litmus test on what the Ricketts plan to do with the team.

That Greinke deal as far as I can tell is close to the Cubs giving Castro or Hak-Ju Lee, J. Jackson or Carpenter, McNutt or Archer, B. Guyer or B. Jackson. Pretty steep, but Brewers basically have a 1-2 year window left with their core.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 2:48pm

I agree, next off-season will be interesting to watch. If Ricketts still is freezing/cutting payroll it's probably not a good sign. Not that we need to rush out and sign some more awful deals, but there will be money for some smart moves without shell games.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 11:03am

Here is my issue with the moves this offseason.

If the plan is really project .500. And we are essentially punting. Then WHY ARE WE DEFERRING PAYROLL MONEY INTO 2012?

Submitted by navigator
on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 11:34am

If you recall, the basic Hendry gameplan is to put together a team that is sitting around .500 at the All Star break and then convince the cheapskate owners to open their wallets so he can "tweak it" with a few mid-season addition$$ to "make a run" at the wildcard.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 11:50am

I don't think Hendry's plan is Project .500, I'm sure he thinks the team he's building is as good as any in the Central.

But he may have Down's Syndrome...

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 1:06pm

I hate that I'm a Cubs fan sometimes.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 1:27pm

Me too.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 3:38am

Hendry may have Down's Syndrome?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6lY8UmMIUY

Submitted by The Joe
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 8:25pm

I'm not going to criticise Hendry based on the Brewers' moves. Though, I will criticise him for he previous shit contracts, but at least they were making a run for it and it failed.

Now the Brewers are making a run for it. The Cubs had their window and it's passed. Though I'd LOVE for the Cubs to have gotten Greinke, this might not be the time to sell all of their best prospects from someone who doesn't seem interested in larger markets and has a limited no-trade clause. Maybe Chicago is on his list?

I'd be pleased with a Garza trade.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 1:26pm

jeffress confirmed as part of the greenkey trade.

the holdup was making sure jeffress's preferred brand of blunt wrap was available in MIL.

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