Recent comments

VirginiaPhil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

At AAA Pawtucket, Coello yielded 44 hits in 64 innings, for a lovely H/9 of 6.2. But 10 of those hits were home runs! So he gave up one HR for every 4.4 hits. Oh, well, Marmol used to give up home runs, too.

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

SI's Heyman channels his inner Phil Rogers: "Three competing executives say they expect the rival Cubs to make a big push for Pujols and, indeed, they do look like the greatest outside possibility at the moment. Wouldn't that cast him in a new light for Cardinal Nation? The Cubs have the resources and the need, and execs feel they will pursue either Prince Fielder or more likely Pujols. "They'll give him the A-Rod deal," one exec opined. "They'll give him $33 million or $34 million for seven years," guessed another exec." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/02/16/albert.p…

VirginiaPhil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I'd like to see Smith beat out Jeff Baker for a roster spot. In order to do that, he would have to show some proficiency at second base, since Ramirez may not go on the DL for a few months. I note that Smith has played 32 games at second in his three full seasons in the minors, including nine last year. It's not a lot, but Baker never played second at any level as a pro until 2008, when he started 47 games there for the Rockies. (Barmes was the regular.) Baker must have learned the position in ST. Anyway, Phil, if you see Smith working out at second, please let us know!

TJ 13 years 2 months ago (view)

You make this trade because you can never have enough pitching prospects and we have an abundance of quality 2B candidates on our roster. I'm kidding about the second part. I'm actually pulling for Barney to win the job because I think he can be everything Theriot was supposed to be and was not. Does anyone know if the high K totals for the new pticher is because of a great fastball, breaking pitch, or some other reason.

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

AZ Phil's last paragraph sums up Thomas. Coello has an intriguing strikeout total, and has been very hard to hit, based on his numbers. His stats look a lot like Carlos Marmol - shuts down hitters but walks too many while striking out everyone else. Thomas wasn't going anywhere with us, it's a decent gamble. 201 ip, 144 hits, 239 k's, 85 bb's.

jacos 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Why make this trade?

Rob Richardson 13 years 2 months ago (view)

http://thedugoutdoctors.com/2011/02/top-10-catchers-in-mlb/

Arizona Phil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Marlon Byrd, Scott Moore, and Bobby Scales have arrived and participated in workouts this morning. Byrd looked very rusty and really struggled to hit anything solid, but Marquez Smith had a nice BP session, hitting several bombs onto 6th Place. Smith's hitting style reminds me a lot of Gary Matthews, Sr.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Thomas sounds like a Helluva prospect. I think Pedroia should watch his back!

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I am not sure what the rules state, but often there is some quantity (i.e. well above the body's natural level) bar for doping restrictions. In biking, I think that too many red blood cells is actually tested for.

Dr. aaron b 13 years 2 months ago (view)

No need for this really? Might as well have gone year to year with the guy.

navigator 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Byrd noticed many of the nutritional store supplements **he was taking** were showing up on baseball's banned substance list. This is a tacit admission that he was violating MLB doping rules!! He just never tested positive.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I would bet that he'd take that contract. The thing is that Pujols has already given the Cardinals a great deal for the first 11 years of his career, so he feels like he should be paid at least close to market value. Eight years for $220 would get it done for sure. I think the Cardinals are in for a rude awakening if they think Pujols is going to go on the open market and get less than 8/$200.

The Real Neal 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Thinking of Interleague games as "a chance to get Koyie Hill into the lineup" is the final nail in the coffin for my appreciation of that concept.

Arizona Phil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 1:11pm. "I strongly suspect that Geovany Soto could end up playing some 1B on days he's not catching," What is this based on? While it is a good idea, I can’t say I have heard from any other source ====================================== BOB R: I base it on the fact that Soto played 1B at Iowa in 2007 when he had a sore shoulder, and that since he is recovering from post-2010 shoulder surgery, the Cubs may have to find another position for him to play if he is unable to handle a #1 catcher's work-load. So far the Cubs have made no public comment about the present condition of Soto's shoulder or the most-recent progress in his rehab. Also, as I have mentioned before, if a club has a good-hitting catcher--especially one who might be his club's best offensive player, as is the case with Soto--it is a good thing if the catcher has another position he can play on day's he's not catching, as has happended in the past with catchers like Yogi Berra (LF), Gus Triandos (1B), Ed Bailey (1B), Johnny Bench (3B-1B-LF-RF), Gary Carter (RF), Carlton Fisk (1B-LF), etc. A lot depends on what other position or positions the catcher is capable of playing, and if that position is blocked by another player you want in the lineup every day. With Carlos Pena now the Cubs #1 1B, there should be a good chance to get Soto some playing time at 1B in 2011, especially against LHSP. Obviously having the good-hitting catcher DH when he's not catching would be ideal, but it just isn't possible for the Cubs or any other National League team to do that (except in interleague play). It also helps to have a decent-hitting back-up catcher, so that when you move your #1 catcher to another position on days he's not catching, you aren't creating a black-hole in the lineup with your back-up catcher.

VirginiaPhil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Thomas was 15 out of 17 in SBs at Tennessee last season, so his brain must have recovered. Not sure why you suggest that second base doesn't require athleticism. It strikes me as one of the skilled positions--less so than shortstop, obviously, but I have trouble imagining Aramis playing second. Thomas had an OPS last season of .823, which would put him third behind M. Smith and B. Jackson among Cub prospects who are still in the organization and under the age of 28 (i.e., excluding Guyer/Chirinos/Snyder/LaHair). With the same exclusions, Thomas's SLG of .485 is better than Jackson's, and third behind Smith and Castillo. (Burgess's SLG on two teams was .465.) Of course, Thomas is no longer with the organization, either. They're certainly taking a run at our talent! If Thomas doesn't project as a major-league 2B, he's Eric Patterson and he won't have a career. But if he can play second, I think he's legit. He's a better mix of power and speed than the two frontrunners for second on the Cubs right now.

jacos 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Has Soto even taken grounders?

Rob Richardson 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Byrd said Wednesday he was the one who first contacted Conte after Byrd noticed many of the nutritional store supplements he was taking were showing up on baseball's banned substance list. "Instead of me being dumb and just trying different things, I wanted to reach out to somebody so I didn't test positive," Byrd said. "It took him about a year just to trust me. He didn't want to be associated with anyone that might get him in trouble." http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6127757

Old and Blue 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I wonder if he just doesn't want to play for St Louis anymore. $200 million is a lot of money -- what difference does 20 million or even $50 million more make when you're talking about that kind of money? What's he gonna do? Buy the Dominican Republic?

Rob Richardson 13 years 2 months ago (view)

"I strongly suspect that Geovany Soto could end up playing some 1B on days he's not catching," What is this based on? While it is a good idea, I can’t say I have heard from any other source.