Recent comments

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.

Arizona Phil 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Submitted by jacos on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 10:21am. Phil in you opinion how serious are the Cubs putting him at first base? Platoon this year? (Who is Cubs back up at 1b?) Starter 2011? ======================================== JACOS: Tyler Colvin and Jeff Baker are the Cubs back-up 1B right now, but I strongly suspect that Geovany Soto could end up playing some 1B on days he's not catching, especially against a LHSP. As for 2012, I think it's possible that Colvin could play 1B, but only if Brett Jackson has graduated to MLB and Marlon Byrd has not been traded. Otherwise, I believe the Cubs will pursue a 1B next off-season (like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder), with Colvin/Soto the 1B fall-back option in case they can't get one of the guys they want.

Cubster 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Weeks 5/50 extension with Brewers O Cabrera officially signs with Tribe, Bruce Levine orders crow sandwich for lunch bur was overheard saying "wait till next year"

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I've switched to MLB Network, but when I had ESPN on they had a ticker running across the bottom saying the offer was $19-23 mil per year. Then they had someone in studio say that wouldn't put him in the top 5 in yearly salaries.

jacos 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I heard Cards offered 8/200 on ESPN.

The E-Man 13 years 2 months ago (view)

A metaphor for the Cubs' farm system. Actually, I think it would be a metaphor for the Cubs' Big League squad as opposed to the farm.

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Dewitt, the Cards owner, said during the press conference that they didn't run out of time to sign Pujols, they just couldn't reach agreement. The GM Mozeliak said they made him 1 offer just after January 1st. Dewitt said there was a little talk about if they could modify the offer to get it done, but they never changed the offer. Someone this morning leaked the Cards offer was between $19-23 million per year, I don't know how long. MLB Network and ESPN both reported those numbers, which if true wouldn't put Pujols in the top 5 in yearly salary, which, despite my despising him, that's insane. That's less than Ryan Howard, and Pujols is a far better player. I still would be very weary of making a 8-10 year offer to him, or any player, period, especially if it takes then into their late 30's/early 40's.

jacos 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Sirius Radio saying no Pujols deal.

Paul Noce 13 years 2 months ago (view)

I'm glad Moreland got it over Otto. Now Moreland has to work on not sounding like Tim McCarver.

Rob G. 13 years 2 months ago (view)

No Pujols deal via xm

Ryno 13 years 2 months ago (view)

Of all of the candidates, I suppose he was the best. Just, the "pool" was not that strong.

A metaphor for the Cubs' farm system.