Brett Jackson Makes A List and Other Cubs Minutiae

The rush of major league prospect rankings are about to make their way out and MLB/MILB.com and Jonathon Mayo is the first out of the gate. OF Brett Jackson is the only Cub and is listed as the #46 best prospect in all of baseball. Just traded Cub, Chris Archer, finished one spot below Jackson at #47. You can always view past rankings at Wiklifield, where you can discover such things as Starlin Castro being rated #22 last season.  From the video clip on Jackson they had this to say...

"Each tool may not wow you, but he can do a little bit of everything and has the potential to be a 20/20 type player in the future."

In other news, if you care to call it that, the Cubs signed Todd Wellemeyer to an $800K non-guaranteed deal with another $400K in incentives. Hendry must be on a contract quota or something.

Clay Rapada ended up where you'd expect an ex-Cub minor leaguer to end up.

In Bruce Levine's weekly chat, he says the Cubs may add a veteran middle infielder with Orlando Cabrera, Julio Lugo and Chirstian Guzman being named. He calls out the two Jackson's (Brett and Jay) as the most likely call-ups in 2011.

Tags: 
Cubs Roster Moves
Brett Jackson
Todd Wellemeyer
Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 12:32am
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 1:07am

that he'll be somewhere else in 2011

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...

I really don't care, to tell you the truth," he said about the need to make the 25-man roster. "I'm very, very excited with how things are going and me being down there [in Arizona] since early November. How I'm working out, how I'm throwing the ball, how I'm throwing off the mound already, I'm very, very excited.

kidding around, seems to be working hard this offseason and counting on Mark Riggins to keep him on the team.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 9:48am

Jeff Samardzija... 2011 savior. Eyeroll.

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 9:56am

Chances that Samardzija starts the season as a SP for the Cubs - None.none %

Submitted by TJ
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:44am

I don't understand the comment, "I'm throwing off the mound already...". Did he have some type of injury I don't remember? Do they not throw off a mound in winter when they initially start throwing? Can someone explain?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 9:15am

Depends on the pitcher I'm guessing and if they played winter ball. He certainly played catch or long toss, but probably not a lot off the mound. He seemed to be saying that he's already where most pitchers would be a week or so into spring training.

At least that was my take on it.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 11:48am

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/news/s...

one of you with access can tell me where the Cubs rank and if he says anything interesting. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE the whole thing.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:52pm

a little birdy told me they ranked #20th and would be top 10 before the trade. Something about still having the most prospects in the 100-150 range other then the Royals. A lot of average to just above average potential major leaguers at the moment.

-correction- a lot of players that could be above average or better and what he calls high floor players.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:34pm

if you agree with that assessment, what does that mean for the Cubs?

my take, make some more Matt Garza like trades (or Aramis Ramirez or Derrek Lee if you will), trading away depth for your potential young All-star talent. Instead of overpaying for over 30 guys on the free agent market, target arbitration and near FA players that teams are looking to move. At least you get them younger and at a better point in their career path.

also, if Hendry doesn't trade them all away, the Cubs should be better able to withstand injuries with a constant pipeline of talent that could replace ineffective or injured players.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:06pm

Even if we put the debate on Garza's merit aside, how many more trades like that can we expect to make? The current 25 man roster isn't a championship caliber team. Say we made one more trade like that, picking up Billy Butler for the Jackson twins, Castillo and Dollis, and don't sign Pena - are we now the favorites or even one of the favorites in the NL central?

The team needs a major boost, like adding 10 to 14 WAR. The best way to do that, in my mind is replace the Byrd's, Bakers and Fukudome's with guys who are pre-arb produce at similar levels, and then make one or two astute moves in free agency.

Maybe for 2013 only two of those four guys are average ML starters - but they're doing it for less than a million bucks combined, while we're paying Garza $11 million for maybe one more win. Doing that two or three times, doesn't seem to help the overall problem.

There's also the other issue, that I don't think we get these guys to sign at "hometown discounts"... when they get traded from Pittsburgh or Florida because the team doesn't want to sign them long term - they're going to come to the Cubs with a "time to get paid" mindset.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:14pm

http://www.locksmithsportspicks.com/2010-san-...

http://www.betfirms.com/san-diego-padres-mlb-...

baseball's a funny ass game.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:36pm

Billy Butler? Really? Lol....
Ok..so you think that this trade would be made? Wouldn't the Jacksons, and Castillo all be rated ahead of Chirinos and Guyer?

I agree that making a series of trades like this is no way to build a team, but the Cubs gave up a good pitching prospect, a SS who is 2-3 years away, and may or my not develop any power/and still be blocked by Castro, a guy who may just have had a career year in AA...at age 24..who hit 70 points above his career average in 1042 PA's, and a 26 year old Catcher converted from the infield..who has 55 at bats in AAA, and was behind Castillo on the depth chart.

Basically, the Cubs gave upa good pitching prospect, and a 19 year old SS with little power, for Matt Garza, a MLB starting pitcher who will turn 27 this season, and is a the very least, a solid #3 start...maybe a #2.
Ok.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:51pm

3rd, 5th, 11th and 12th according to Baseball Prospectus.
1st, 4th, 8th, by AZ Phil's rankings
1st, 4th, and 10th by BA
3rd, 4th, 8th and 15th by John Sicke's rankings.

The Cubs gave up a quarter of their farm system, if you don't like Chirinos. Tyler Colvin was ranked no higher than 13th last year on the lists that had him, and he had less minors' success than any of these guys.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 6:22pm

Fine Neal...Fine. If Guyer repeats his success, Archer makes the Rays rotation, Chirinos sticks as a backup catcher, and Hak Ju Lee is the starting SS in 2013, it will be a failed trade.

Also possible, Garza pitches well for the Cubs 2011-2013....Archer becomes a bullpen arm for a very deep pitching staff in Tampa Bay...Guyer struggles in AAA, and becomes a tweener...a little power...a little speed, not enough of them to be a starting OF.... Chirinos becomes Crash Davis....touring AA and AAA until he becomes a coach, and Hak-Ju Lee doesn't hit enough to get out of AAA except as a defensive replacement.

Again..I will freaking repeat: as has always been my assertion...I like Garza, I just don't understand the move this season, with so many holes on this team. I did not want to give up Archer, or even Lee. But Chirinos, and Guyer? A little old to get real excited about AA success, but could possibly become a 4th/5th OF type and a backup catcher. Maybe.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:07pm

Old News?

Jim Callis (of BA) interview by Rays prospects web site:

http://www.raysprospects.com/2011/01/q-with-b...

"Chirinos is old for a prospect at 26, but he's legit. I think he has the upside of a starter, because he can hit, has some pop and has improved during his two years as a catcher, but I think it's more likely he's a quality backup....Lee is definitely a better prospect than Beckham. He's still two to three years away from the majors, but he's a much better defender (and will stay at shortstop), a much better runner, and I think he'll hit more.

Yes, that's #1 overall pick Tim Beckham.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:18pm

tim beckham...wow...pulling out the high bar on the comparisons, there.

he'll be lucky to crack any top-100/200 lists after his 2010 season where he took a step back (or spun wheels, to be nice) with his D and power. at least A ball lee is immune from that because he was traded for garza to a team that's going to win only 20 games this year and paying him $20m to do it.

Submitted by springs
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:38pm

A player drafted out of college being 24 is not old for AA. Guyer's production was rather stellar and I am not sure why people discount it so significantly...it was really the first year he was truly healthy and he got better as the year went on.

I don't like the trade because I don't like trading prospects with huge upside...Guyer has speed, hit .340+ at a high level and showed at least significant xb hit power if not chance for 20 hrs. Archer has #1 starter potential and Lee has lead-off hitter/40 sb potential.

That said, if we received a star for these players, that would be understandable. I wouldn't complain if we received someone who could make a difference...instead we received someone who appears his ceiling is being a #2. And people here justify it by downgrading the value of our prospects traded, which is just attempts to retain hope.

If the trade was so wise, why did the Rays make the trade? And if you state that it was because they are not in contention, then you are stating we shouldn't have done the trade. If you are stating that they can replace Garza with their own talent and more cheaply, then perhaps we should have looked to deal for a better (or cheaper) player.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:45pm

guyer is neat, but prospect vs. MLB expectation is what i'm personally dealing with.

for instance...castro is neat, but at the end of the day we got a guy who's upside is production vs. cost. he's a contact hitting low-power guy who should be cheap for 3-4 years. after that...unless the power shows... *shrug*

guyer, if he can stay at CF, is interesting. a team that needs a roaming LF/RF/CF type he's interesting, too.

as a regular he's a guy with doubles power who isn't very exciting at LF or RF unless the team can make up for it elsewhere. he's not going to take walks. he's gonna go up there and swing. he looks like a good #2 or 7/8 hitter as it stands if he can find a place to be a starter.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 12:06pm

Jeff Samardzija says in the interview that he doesn't know where he will be in 2011.

Well, since he is out of minor league options, he can't be optioned to the minors, and since he has "no trade" rights, he can't be traded or placed on Outright Waivers without waiving the NTC in advance.

So if Samardzija does not waive his NTC, the only way the Cubs can remove him from the 25-man roster in 2011 is by Outright Release, and then the Cubs would be on the hook for The Shark's $2.8M salary (minus the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary should he sign a major league contract with another MLB club). The Cubs will be able to change all of this after the 2011 season, however. The Cubs hold a $3M club option for 2012 that they are almost certain to decline (it could have been a mutual option if Samardzija was eligible for salary arbitration post-2011, but he won't have enough MLB service time to be eligible).

Once the Cubs decline their 2012 club option, Samardzija reverts to being an "auto renewal" player without "no trade" rights, and the Cubs can either auto-renew him and sign him for 2012 with a maximum 20% pay cut from 2011 (meaning he would get no less than $2.24M if he is automatically renewed), or they can outright him to the minors (and it's unlikely that he would get claimed, because the claiming club would be stuck with paying Samardzija at least $2.24M in 2012), or he could get non-tendered on 12/2, which would have the effect of making Samardzija a free-agent, although the Cubs would be able to re-sign him to a major league or minor league contract without worrying about the 20% cut rule.

So in a way, you could say Samardzija is a "Super Rule 5 Player" in 2011, because not only can't the Cubs option him to the minors, they can't even outright him unless he gives his approval (waives his NTC) in advance.

Samardzija really has the Cubs by the balls.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:20pm

>>Samardzija really has the Cubs by the balls.<<

I don't get this statement. Based on your explanation, the Shark has the Cubs on the hook for $2.8MM this year, but that's it. If they release him, that's all they owe. And if he signs a major league contract elsewhere, they get $400K of that money back. If he isn't good enough to make the Cubs middle relief corps, then what's wrong with cutting him if the cost is only $2.4MM? Heck, some teams release guys that are owed three or four times that money.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:56pm

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:20pm.
>>Samardzija really has the Cubs by the balls.<<

I don't get this statement. Based on your explanation, the Shark has the Cubs on the hook for $2.8MM this year, but that's it. If they release him, that's all they owe. And if he signs a major league contract elsewhere, they get $400K of that money back. If he isn't good enough to make the Cubs middle relief corps, then what's wrong with cutting him if the cost is only $2.4MM? Heck, some teams release guys that are owed three or four times that money.

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

JIM H: Of course the Cubs could release Samardzija and eat $2.4M if he signs a major league deal with another club (or somewhere close to $2.8M if he signs a minor league deal elsewhere), and the Cubs have certainly eaten larger contracts in the past. But because of the money he's making and his NTC, Samardzija has a lot more Spring Training "roster leverage" than most players with his level of experience and MLB service time, more than the typical Rule 5 player (like David Patton in 2009 for instance).

The Cubs might ultimately decide to release The Shark, but I highly doubt they would do so coming out of Spring Training, even if he gets crushed in Cactus League outings. Or he might surprise a lot of people and turn out to be really good. He did pitch fairly well out of the Cubs bullpen when he first got called up in 2008, and new Cubs pitching coach Mark Riggins thinks that's how he will be used in 2011. And you don't have to be Carlos Marmol to be the 12th man on the staff.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:58pm

it helps that the guy is so damn reasonable and professional, imo.

i was a little worried after he signed given his entourage he brought to wrigley and early bar stories, but the guy seems to be giving it all even if the numbers show suck-a-tude.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 9:02pm

to be the 12th man on the staff
---
it's almost gotta be better than the David Patton experience.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 12:17pm

gets a cease and desist letter from the Lingerie Football League

the response
http://www.theheckler.com/2011/01/26/an-open-...

the original article
http://www.theheckler.com/2011/01/25/lingerie...

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:44pm

That's funny.

In the Dear-God-It's-True-Poke-My-Eyes-Out news dept the Lingerie League announced it's new expansion team....Green Bay.

http://host.madison.com/sports/amateur/articl...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:11pm

Speaking of prospect lists... you know who I can't find on a top 100? Matt Garza.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:32pm

Stir it up TRN!!!! WHOOOOO!!!!...Lol...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:37pm

especially when he's wrong

#21 in 2007 by BA and #13 by BP, also #2 pitcher by Sickels
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospect...

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php...

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/1/13/1817...

consensus #1 Twins prospect heading into 2007, drafted in 2005, pitched 50 innings in 2006 for the Twins, big surprise as he was the 25th pick in the draft and considered a bit of a reach there.

BP write-up on him
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php...

The Good: Everything came together for 2005 first-round pick that rocketed from High A to the majors in his full-season debut. Fastball gained a few ticks, moving to a 92-95 mph plus offering that touches 97, breaking balls gained bite, changeup came around, and command took a big step forward. All of these improvements added up to one massive step forward and a ranking among the best pitching prospects in the game. The Bad: Garza's tough big-league debut was attributed to a tired arm as the workload from his first full season took its toll. He's still learning how to mix in all of his pitches, particularly in hitters' counts. The Irrelevant: Just three years ago, Garza went 1-6 with a 9.55 ERA as a freshman at Fresno State, getting torched for a .558 slugging percentage, including eight home runs in 43.1 innings. In A Perfect World, He Becomes: Everything is there for Garza to become an All-Star.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:40pm

I wasn't wrong.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:42pm

mistaken? poorly researched? Fox-news'd?

however you care to put it...

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:50pm

I don't care if Garza was, or wasn't on a top 100 prospect list (which he was)

I am happy to have a proven 2/3 starter, who is only 27, and under club control for a couple more seasons.

Submitted by springs
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:41pm

Giving up a potential future star(s) is good when you increase the chances of a champsionship now beyond negligble. We didn't do that with the Garza acquisition.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:22pm

What star(s) did we give up?

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:50pm

The Real Neal really Jay Cutler'd that up.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:53pm

I just said I couldn't find him. I suppose you think Sarah Palin shot that representative too.

So we have a guy who wasn't on anyone's list to a All-Star prospect, who then settled is a #2-3 starter. I guess he's a good example on why you should never trust the prospect evaluators.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:58pm

I suppose you were trying to make a point that Garza wasn't that highly thought of as a prospect as some of us have mentioned.

I just think Sarah Palin is a fame-whoring moron.

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:05pm

Even calling her a fame-whoring moron makes her more relevant than she should be. We shouldn't even be talking about her...

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:24pm

I happen to believe she's a symptom, not the disease.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:16pm

get over it.

the cubs are paying a 12m pitcher 6m this year and they gave up some old dudes they have replicas of as well as a AA pitcher who can't find the plate.

chris archer is neat, but he's doing nothing right now to help the cubs.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:47pm

I am just trying to see how many different times I can get you to write out that 83 wins seasons are a valid goal of "130 million payroll" ML organizations. Trust me, I'll stop as soon as I cease to find you amusing.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:51pm

well it's a shame we only have garza for one year, he's 38 years old, and your spreadsheet has finished the season for 2011 already.

2010 STL wants their NL Central championship recount, too.

also, your gigantic penis shames me. it's very very large. i am humble.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 6:09pm

Funny how all the teams with the MBA's running them are in the playoffs and have the best organizations.

Keep running with that "it's all a coin flip" theory on success, like I say, it's amusing to no end.

Submitted by springs
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:45pm

We paid more than Texas for Garza. Texas, in case you didn't see, actually is contending for a championship. We are not.

Perhaps Garza is good, but we overpaid for him and we aren't winning a championship.

With all due respect, you are not looking at this trade in any perspective of where the Cubs currently stand. And somehow, because a minor league pitcher doesn't have great control, he isn't a good prospect? Sometimes that is true and sometimes they are Randy Johnson. Teams close to a championship should trade potential #1s with control issues for #2-3 starters to help them. Teams competing for 4th place should'nt make this trade -- if they should, then why did the Rays do the trade?

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:51pm

garza is here for 3 years. he's a 200ip sub-4.00 era, sub-1.30 whip starter who is making 1/2 his worth in 2011.

i am totally looking at his value.

i also don't see the big deal about lee or guyer given what they project to do. chin was/is expendable given the cubs system.

archer...though he's got all the power in the world in his arm, has both command and control issues. he's not polished or mlb-ready. he has a work ethic, but he's also got a ways to go.

the cubs should get what they're expecting out of garza and in 2011 they're getting it at a nice discount.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:20pm

Lee's a good field, no hit SS until he proves otherwise. Those guys a are a dime a dozen.

Archer wasn't a top prospect only a year ago. Maybe he has a nice career, but unless Garza gets hurt, we should get something like a low 3.-- era and 3 years of 14-15 wins or better.

Guyer is a question mark.

Chironos is a question mark.

3 years of good pitching from Garza will be hard to make the Cubs a "loser" or "overpaid" on this deal. Unless Archer becomes a bonafide all-star starting pitcher for many years, it was a good deal.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:28pm

Or you could be the astros and give Wandy Rodriquez a 3/33 extension.

WHat??

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:35pm

to me it's a decent deal, but HOU screwed themselves (imo) only offering him 8m in arb when wandy submitted 10m.

now they're paying him 11m a year for the next 3...pretty much 12m a year for the 2 years they're "buying out" after this arb period.

hope his legs hold up...actually, no i dont. =p

they got him age 32-34 now.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:36am

$10 million, and $11 million - that's probably a little less than we'll be paying for Garza's final two years. Seems fine to me.

I think it's probably his name, but he's one of baseball's underrated players.

Houston's top four rotation guys are going to be pretty tough.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:50am

TRN- Who would you rather have Wandy or Garza?

Just asking.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:57am

Garza right now. If their service clocks were the same, Wandy.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:55pm

Doh. I respectfully disagree.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:38pm

Yeah, I can understand that point of view. I'm not a really big Garza fan, and neither are the hard core stat heads. Wandy's a lefty that pitches in a park that gives RH hitters a huge advantage, and does pretty well.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:36pm

Just out of curiosity, what makes a good hitting shortstop in your mind?

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:44pm

i know it's not directed at me, but hitting a few more doubles or more than 1hr in 551ab would be a good start.

he can hit...but the value of his hitting (at the A ball level) seems to be getting on 1st base at this point.

the guy out ob%'d his slugging last year.

he's still got growing to do. he's not worthless even if he ends up a low-power SS as long as he can keep hitting singles and his D tightens up.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:31am

You know you're the guy who defends Juan Pierre as a leadoff hitter, right?

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:08pm

would you please go change your diapers...or at least quit sticking your head in them when they're full.

you keep making these shit-comparison links that have nothing to do with anything. if you think lee is capable of 200+ hits and 50-70sb on the mlb level then i want to buy some weed from you.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:35pm

At least you can keep the it's 1986 crowd company.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:40pm

swing and a miss.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:01pm

A SS has to hit more than 1 hr a year, period. They don't have to be juicers and hit 30 hr's, but these single hitting SS's are everywhere. Every team has a bunch of those guys in the minors. Maybe not with Lee's talent, but until Lee turns that potential into production, he's still just a singles hitting SS. I'll trade a guy like that for a proven, productive, and mind you, cheap, young, and team controlled starting pitcher every day of the year.

And as for Archer, if he has to be moved to the bullpen (as some of these scouts/analysts are suggesting), even if he becomes a very good closer, that's still a no-brainer trade. SP's who give you 200 quality ip's are worth more than elite closers. How many teams have you seen win the world series or make it deep in the playoffs with average SP? Not many. How many make it deep with an average closer? A ton.

Unless Lee and Archer both become proven, big time players, and not one year wonder's, the Cubs should be the winners in this trade easy.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:55pm

Ozzie Smith slugged .328 over 19 seasons. Vizquel slugged .354 over 22 seasons. Lee slugged .351 last year.

Vizquel committed 25 errors, mostly in AA, at age 21, the earliest season BR has defensive records for.

Smith was a perennial all star, a hall of famer, a magician. No one is comparing Lee to Smith; but there's no reason Lee couldn't become a perennial GG like Omar Vizquel, maybe a little better hitter, maybe not as good a glove--who knows?

The reason I'm not crying about trading Lee is that I don't think he could have taken SS away from Castro. But they might have waited a couple of years and gotten more for him.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:43pm

Ok. good point on Ozzie Smith. Of course...he also came up in 1977. It was a little different then, yes?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:59pm

Ozzie Smith never plays for you. Jose Reyes doesn't play for you. That's cool and all, but most people realize that Tim Raines was a better ball player than Jeffrey Leonard. It's not 2001 anymore, it's possible that you can contribute significantly with defense, getting on base and speed.

"Every team has a bunch of those guys in the minors." Yes, every team has a bunch of Hak-Ju Lee's in the minors.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:24pm

Not arguing against Hak-Ju Lee, but...

Jose Reyes doesn't play for you.

This is an odd one. Jose Reyes does have some pop.. not a lot, but definitely has some power, and every season has "hit more than 1 hr a year."

Reyes is hardly the example of a singles hitting SS. He has a career .434 SLUG, which, while not great, is also not a singles hitter.

He had a .422 minor league SLUG (compared to .375 from Lee).

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:26pm

Not arguing about Lee, as he intrigues me, but ...

Jose Reyes doesn't play for you.

This one is odd.

Reyes had a .422 SLUG in the minors to Lee's .375.

He is hardly an example of a singles hitter, having a career SLUG of .434, which isn't anything special, but isn't Juan Pierre or Ozzie Smith either.

Tim Raines is actually pretty odd as well, for the same reasons.

Paul Noce never said that a SS (or any position) had to be a slugger.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:44pm

Oh..I thought you meant Reyes doesn't play because he's hurt a lot?

(ducks)

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:25pm

Well, Lee hasn't graduated yet, but it was an example of a guy who was never expected to hit 10 or 15 HR's a year, who was still considered a great prospect, essentially because of his speed and defense.

Noce says that a shorstop has to hit somewhere between 1 and 29 HR's a year. My point is that in 2010, and most likely 2013 when you may expect to see Lee in the majors, you don't need to hit 15 HR's or whatever he's expecting, if you do every other facet of the game exceedingly well.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:20pm

cuz they have the milb player of the year waiting to take garza's place @ mlb minimum salary?

Submitted by MikeC
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 7:33am

Castro hit 3 HR's last year....is that good enough? He was essentially a singles hitting SS. 139 hits....100 of them singles.

But i really am not worried about his offense. It's his defense that troubles me and saying ohhhh Derek Jeter made 50 errors blah blah doesn't comfort me.

In the long run i like Lee over Castro as a better overall MLB player. But i still love that we got Garza.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 8:17am

Castro: .300/.347/.408 at age 20. 31 doubles, 5 triples...in the MAJOR LEAGUES.
Lee: .282/.354/.351 22 doubles, 4 triples, 1 HR. at Class A Peoria.

There might be a bit of difference in the caliber of pitching in the majors, compared to the Midwest League.
Oh..and Jeter did make 22 errors his rookie season.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 8:38am

Lee probably has had about 30% of the plate appearances in his life that Castro has. They're disimilar players on different paths to the major leagues with different hitting philosphies. When Lee hits a fly ball, he consideres it a mistake.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 9:11am

Ok....Castro had more at bats. He is in the major leagues, right now. Lee may need 1-3 more years. We have a starting SS right now, who needs to continue to improve his defense, and pitch recognition-like most 20-yr olds in baseball, but had a very solid rookie season. Lee may, or may not make it. He's a long ways away.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 9:27am

Sure... but that isn't really what we are talking about, is it? We all know that Lee is a ways away. That isn't the question.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 9:35am

Ok. Castro had more extra base hits, in the majors, than Lee did....in A ball. They are on different paths...they are different players. Ok.

Castro is a bird in hand, Lee 2 in the bush.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 8:39am

But Jeter was tagging base runners at MLB level in grade school.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 4:31pm

he plays baseball, too?

i thought he sold deodorant.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:16pm

I thought we agreed in the past, no politics on TCR? It always gets ugly and it accomplishes nothing. Lord knows there are enough political blogs for such things.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:40pm

by dermatologists

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/26/...

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:48pm

baseball writers have more pretend medical doctors than any other sport around.

hell, we have a guy who makes the rounds in print and on TV as a medical expert who's credentials are "my dad is a doctor."

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:41pm

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/so...

$5M this year did go to Angels for Wells

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:42pm

Manny signed for 1/2M, Vlad wanted 2/16M and is now down to 1/8M that still no one wants to pay.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:05pm

If I need a DH in 2011, I like Vlad at 1/8 better than Manny at 1/2, assuming I've got an extra $6MM lying around.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:14pm

I'd take Manny at first base for us over Pena at $10, except for the psyche blow it would probably deal Castro.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:16pm

I've got an extra $6MM lying around.

well that's the key, they got Damon and Manny for the then going rate of Vlad.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 6:00pm

Cubs license plates

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/...

Submitted by tbone
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 6:53pm

Cub license plates. As if it's not embarrassing enough to be a fan of our favorite team you can now pay the failing state of Illinois for the chance to let the tailgater behind you on the Kennedy know too.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:42pm

And now... a dancing mascot.

Submitted by Seamhead
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:50pm

How ironic. White Sox fans making Cubs' license plates in prison.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 7:52pm

ooooooooooooooooh snap.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 10:05pm

Rotoworld's assessment of...got everything in there but "and he's ugly too"

the 34-year-old is going to have to turn elsewhere. He doesn't have good range, he doesn't have a good arm, he doesn't hit anything but singles and now he's pretty old. Someone will give him a non-roster invitation to spring camp, but will be a shock if he makes a big league roster.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 10:06pm

Aaron Miles

I want a NRI too.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 11:01pm

Do not speak the name.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:49pm

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/column...

someone let me know if any Cubs are on there, would like to update wiklifield.

and top 10 by organization

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/column...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:51pm

one player not on that list, Brett Jackson

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=law_...

apparently he's #101

Submitted by W Flag
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:06pm

No one from the Cubs made the top 100 list, but in his "just missed" list, the Cubs have four players: B. Jackson, Vitters, Carpenter, and J. Jackson. Hope that helps

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:07pm

thanks, any of the traded guys make the top #100?

Submitted by W Flag
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:24pm

I should have been more careful when I read the list. Trey McNutt is actually #66. If you want to be heartbroken, Archer is 40, and HJ Lee is 49.

Submitted by W Flag
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:35pm

One more thing, his list goes (1-10) McNutt, BJ, CC, Vitters, JJ, Simpson, R. Lopez, Brooks Raley, Golden, and finally Szczur.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:45pm

Keith Law likes them, the trade is a failure!!!

thanks. Lee that high is surprising, he didn't have him in his Top 100 or just missed list last year.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:44pm

Sort of weird that he even makes the list, isn't BA still affiliated with ESPN? Really his list is a good illustration of what happens if you try to cover everything in baseball.

I was looking at some of those BA top 100's (looking for Garza) and I couldn't find one top 10 where all the guys "made it".

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:01pm

neal vs. garza and the world, day 4.

personally...if archer had more control and command over his stuff rather than just stuff i'd be a bit upset, too.

as it is i'm not too upset. you're basing a lot of it on the cubs not needing garza now or any time in the future because you see them as a lost cause in the immediate future.

i don't really see the big deal about archer and though lee is nice, he's far from being a sure thing. hell, people are already speculating on archer perhaps being closing material.

money saved is nice, but this is a 120-140m club...it's not SD or KC.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:38pm

In someone unrelated news, Season 2 of Archer premiers tonight. I'm totally stoked.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:41pm

about f'n time...hj benjamin is the funny.

"home movies" (him as coach mcgirk) was the funny, too.

been meaning to catch "bob's burgers"

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:57pm

Hah, I really liked Home Movies.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:46pm

Amazing how you could reply to a post that had nothing to do with Garza and Archer and spend 100 words comparing Garza to Archer... this after implying that I have a drug problem.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:48pm

yeah, amazing things happen every day. brb, looking for garza.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:46pm

BWWAAHAAAAHAAA!!!!!

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 3:42pm

b.looper and a.ojeda minor league contracts

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:12pm

Plus they signed a couple of Cubans. An OF and a C. You can find it at the rumor site.

Submitted by Eric S
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 7:29pm

Excuse if 3/44, but here is a link to BA's brief writeup on the two Cubans

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects...

Alas, neither one is named Aroldis Chapman

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:15pm

Yeah, there's a list of non-rostered invitees at cubs.com.

Adduci invited over Campana. The two Tonies (Campana and Thomas) headed for Iowa, I guess.

M. Smith invited.

Young-uns invited: McNutt, both Jacksons, Carpenter (still young at 25?), Vitters.

Otherwise, a lot of flotsam and jetsam. (Maybe that's not fair to Clevenger.)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:57pm

wait for it...

wait for it...

FREE BOBBY SCALES!!!!

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:28pm

Bunch of effing haters. :)

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:38pm

f'reals.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:29pm

Hey, we've got both Adduci and Wellemeyer now. We won that trade!

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:15pm

Phil would know this best, but I thought I read Augie wants to get into coaching. Since the Cubs need an organizational SS at Iowa anyway, maybe this gives him a chance to make the transition from playing to coaching with the organization he likely is most familiar with.

Iowa would seem to have plenty of available pitchers for 2011, so not sure what the point is for messing with Looper, unless the Cubs want him to do a Wellemeyer and compete for a middle relief job. Guh.

Jim Hendry sure does have a fetish for veteran, marginal "fringe-y" players, doesn't he?

Submitted by DavidP
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:41pm

The bottom end of most bullpens are made up of marginal, fringy players.

Should he have signed Lee away from the Phillies and made him the last member of the pen?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 10:32pm

If it keeps Berg off the team - I am all for it.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:51pm

Augie! Augie!

Augie is Nick Punto without the piranha teeth.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 12:12am

Sickels

Archer v. McNutt

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/1/25/1952...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 8:33am

I got an "ugh" from the last sentence of the article. From my totally unscientific review of who did the best job projecting Cubs prospects the last few years, Sickles seemed like he was the most accurate. FWIW he rated McNutt with a B+ over Archer's B in his list this year.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 9:07am

Brian Wilson is nuttier than circus elephant shit-

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/01/28/br...

And is awesome!!

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:12am

Oh my god, lol. Thanks for that, Jacos.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:23am

Somebody is a Will Ferrell fan.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:26am

that's it! I couldn't put my finger on it.

Ron Burgundy.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 12:15pm

please trade for him Cubs...

- Lopez being thoroughly unprepared for it I think was the best part
- MLB2k11 ad is awesome too, love the 80's cellphone he's talking on

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 1:22pm

George Lopez is terrible. He's so unfunny I am genuinely embarrassed for him when I see his show.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 2:18pm

..but what about the wacky faces he makes before and after deliverying a joke? Oh, man, when he sticks out his tongue, you just know it's funny!

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