2011 Minor League Wrap Up, Part 1

In Minor Leagues by dmick89Leave a Comment

Now that the minor league regular season is over it seems a good time to take yet another look at the Cubs top prospects. Over the next week I’ll do just that and this time I will publish a new survey and actually post the results. I promise. First, let’s look at how the teams performed and how one non-top prospect from each team performed.

Iowa Cubs: 66-77, 13.5 GB, 4th place (last) PCL American Northern

Did you really think it would be anyone other than Bryan LaHair? The dude hit 38 home runs in 523 plate appearances. He batted .331/.405/.664, which was good for a ridiculous .443 wOBA (155 wRC+). Nobody in the PCL with more than 332 plate appearances came close to LaHair’s OPS this season. No player in the PCL with more than 450 plate appearances had an OPS over 1.000 other than LaHair’s 1.070.

Tennessee Smokies: 83-57, 1st place by 5.5 games Southern League North

The Smokies won the first half division and reached the postseason and finsihed 2nd in the 2nd half. Overall they were easily the best in their division and only Mobile won more games (84). Those were the only two teams with more than 77 wins.

28 year old catcher Blake Lalli finished his 3rd full season in Tennessee (3+ seasons overall) and has been remarkably consistent. In 2009 he posted a .793 OPS and then followed that up with a .791 OPS in 2010 and 2011.

Daytona Cubs: 76-61, 1.5 GB, 2nd place Florida State League North

The Daytona Cubs are also in the postseason thanks to a very good first half. They weren’t so good in the 2nd half, but clinched a playoff berth because they won the division in the 1st half.

Dae-Eun Rhee is now 2+ years removed from TJS and he had a pretty good season this year. The once highly touted prospect took a hit because of surgery and then post-surgery performance, but he rebounded a bit this season. Rhee is still only 22 and turns 23 in March so he’s still young. This season he threw 127.2 innings and allowed 131 hits, walked 43 and struckout 117. The days of him having above average potential as a starter are more than likely done, but it’s he’s young enough that he might surprise us a little.

Peoria Chiefs: 60-79, 22 GB, 8th place (last) Midwest League Western

In 123 games and over 500 plate appearances, Richard Jones put together a very good season for the Chiefs. The 23-year old was drafted in the 9th round in 2009 and had just been OK since. This year he hit .309/.362/.538 with 24 home runs and 36 doubles. That’s a little old for the Midwest League so we’ll see how it goes next year. Regardless of that, he had a great season.

Boise Hawks: 36-40, 8 GB, 2nd place Northwest League East

Kyler Burke turned 23 in April. He was acquired in 2007 as part of the Michael Barrett trade. He had a ton of potential as a hitter, but it never worked out so the Cubs converted him to pitcher this year. He spent much of the year in extended spring training and then when he was sent out he pitched surprisingly well. In 16 games he threw 44 innings, allowed 36 hits, only 2 home runs while walking 18 and striking out 47. He didn’t make any starts, but that doesn’t mean that much at that level. No idea what the Cubs plan for him, but I’d guess a reliever. Nobody ever questioned his arm as a right fielder. It’s nice to see him throw strikes in his first action.

AZL Cubs: 28-28, 13 GB, 3rd place Arizona Summer League East

The rookie league team finished the season poorly (2-8 in last 10), but still managed to play .500 ball. 18 year old SS Gioskar Amaya played in more games than any other AZL Cub (52). It was his first season in the US and he handled the bat extremely well. He batted .377/.417/.510. He had 11 doubles and 8 triples along with 21 stolen base attempts (13 sucessfully). 

DSL Cubs 1: 25-42, 19.5 GB, 7th place Domican Summer League

Xavier Batista is 19 years old and he’s ready to come back to the US. After a disappointing year in the AZL last year the Cubs sent him back to the DSL teams. The right-handed outfielder hit .259/.371/.472 with 10 home runs between DSL Cubs1 and DSL Cubs2. He finished 4th in the league in home runs and displayed the ability to take a walk, which is a rarity in this organization.

DSL Cubs 2: 47-25, 1st place by 8.5 games, Dominican Summer League

Jeimer Candelario was one of the Cubs big international free agent signings a year ago as they signed him for a $500,000 bonus. He’s just 17 years old and he had a terrific season. He hit .337/.443/.478. He took 50 walks in 72 games and struckout 42 times. This report from BA was from early in the season:

Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Cubs. July 2 is right around the corner, which means Baseball America’s reports on the top international prospects will start next week. Meanwhile the summer leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are underway, with the majority of last year’s international signings making their debuts in those leagues. One of the early standouts has been Cubs third baseman Jeimer Candelario, a $500,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic last summer (although he was born in New York) who has come better than advertised. Candelario, 17, earned praise from scouts for his potential to hit for average and power from both sides of the plate. Even better, his approach at the plate is quite mature for his age, as he’s already drawn 12 walks in 34 plate appearances. Sure, it’s early, but he’s off to a .364/.588/.455 start and leading the DSL in OBP.

He came back to earth a bit, but he still displayed great patience and on-base skills. Carlos Penalver was the only other Latin player the Cubs signed for more money than Candelario. Penalver signed for $550,000. He had an OK season.

The 8 teams above went 421-409 overall.


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  1. Normal Distribution

    [quote name=GW]Bradbury’s notion that average players are more plentiful than bad players is nonsensical.[/quote]
    I disagree.

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  3. cdw

    Iowa State should just dissolve all sports when the B12 folds. Then they can put all of their effort behind math club and solar car racing.

    So glad I’m not living in Ames this week.

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  4. mb21

    [quote name=cdw]Iowa State should just dissolve all sports when the B12 folds. Then they can put all of their effort behind math club and solar car racing.

    So glad I’m not living in Ames this week.[/quote]I’d like to see them denied entrance into the MAC. (dying laughing)

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  14. ACT

    I thought this was a really good game so far. There were a lot of tense situations that the Cubs wiggled themselves out of (line drive DP, another DP on a fly ball to Reed Johnson).

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  15. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=ACT]I thought this was a really good game so far. There were a lot of tense situations that the Cubs wiggled themselves out of (line drive DP, another DP on a fly ball to Reed Johnson).[/quote]It’s so slow, though. Bleh. MLB really needs to do something about the pace of games.

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  28. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    I’ve always kinda rooted for Blake Lalli because we went to college together, and even graduated the same year I think altho I didn’t actually know him.

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  29. binky

    [quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]I’ve always kinda rooted for Blake Lalli because we went to college together, and even graduated the same year I think altho I didn’t actually know him.[/quote]I went to college with a ball player named Cody Hooten. He didn’t make it to the big leagues. I just think he has a funny name.

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  30. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]My favorite part is Brenly giving kudos to Hill for blocking the plate, even as the replay shows him parting his legs like the red Sea so the runner almost gets his foot in under the tag. (dying laughing). Helluva throw by Reed, though.[/quote]I watched the replay a couple of times and Koyie does have his legs wide open until the moment Renteria slides, then he dropped his knee down to block him off the plate. Just saying, credit where credit is due.

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  36. mb21

    Nyjer Morgan is just a slightly more animated Zambrano. Whereas Zambrano takes it out on his own teammates, Morgan takes it out on the opponent. (dying laughing)

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  37. mb21

    I guess that’s why I can’t dislike him. I’ve been a huge fan of Zambrano for a long time and fans of 29 teams have called him a cunt.

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  43. Aisle424

    [quote name=Berselius]Damn, it was off a LHP too[/quote]
    It just goes to show that Pena can hit an average fastball thrown right down the middle with absolutely no movement as well as anyone.

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  47. mb21

    Could be bullshit, but this guy has earned some respect having been right about this stuff before:

    Earlier this evening, Notre Dame and Texas jointly presented the Big Ten Conference with their proposed terms of entry into the conference. These terms resulted from lengthy discussions among both schools and the Big Ten over the past several months.

    The major items include:
    1. The preservation of an eight game (plus championship) conference football schedule. Both ND and Texas wish to preserve rivalries with non-Big Ten universities on a regular basis. This would require the Big Ten to abandon its current plans of a 9 game conference schedule.
    2. The staggering of the schedule to allow for mid-season scheduling with non-conference football opponents.
    3. The preservation of the status quo conference makeup until approximately 2014, unless the Big XII fails to retain key (NOT including A&M) conference members. This will provide the member schools, acting in unison, with the greatest leverage negotiating ongoing television contracts, particularly with ESPN.
    4. Should Texas depart the conference for the Big Ten before ND due to the further disintegration of the Big XII, ND will remain independent until approximately 2014
    5. The Longhorn Network would remain independent until approximately 2014, at which point the network would become a part of an expanded Big Ten Network (specifically referred to as “BTN2”), likely either in partnership with Fox, NBC, or less likely ABC

    The Big Ten just wrapped up a meeting to initially consider all of the terms presented by the schools, including the aforementioned.

    Notably, there is a general discontent with the reporting of the situation by ESPN with specific regard to Texas. ESPN has, for self-serving purposes, drastically exaggerated the lean of Texas to the Pac12 conference in nearly all commentary. ESPN has essentially waged a propaganda campaign to drive support among the Texas stakeholders to the Pac12 conference. ESPN has gone so far as to attempt to accelerate the disintegration of the Big XII to pressure Texas into making an immediate conference change decision. Texas has steadfastly resisted change, and will do so until the appropriate time occurs for Texas to stand in a strong position to renegotiate television contracts, including with ESPN.

    In reality, the preference expressed by Texas’ relevant leadership is to depart the Big XII for the Big Ten at the time that gives Texas the greatest leverage in negotiating a new television rights deal. The Big Ten and Texas agreed that Texas should do what is best for Texas, which they also both agree is a move by Texas to join the Big Ten Conference. Delaney’s top priority has been to create an environment for Texas and Notre Dame to join the conference on mutually benefical terms.

    Notre Dame has an interest in preserving its traditional rivalries, three of which occur already in the Big Ten, and creating a new national rivalry with a traditional powerhouse. The Big Ten believes that ND prefers independence, but realizes that it will soon have no choice but to join a conference. The Big Ten also believes that ND is trying to position itself so that if it must join a conference, it does so on the most favorable terms possible. Hence the return to the 8 game schedule and a protected game with national power Texas. The Big Ten will attempt to create a mutually beneficial environment for ND that allows it to preserve a great deal of independence to retain all its traditional rivalries within the conference context.

    The initial mood at the Big Ten to the terms provided by the two schools is “receptive.”

    http://northwestern.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=57&tid=162506546&mid=162506546&sid=901&style=2

    This isn’t the first time I’ve heard about ESPN creating the Texas to the Pac story and it serves them well. They sure as hell don’t want them to go to the Big Ten.

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  48. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]It just goes to show that Pena can hit an average fastball thrown right down the middle with absolutely no movement as well as anyone.[/quote]Before the season started I predicted that Pena would hit a long home run so I’m not surprised.

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  49. mb21

    There were also the emails that surfaced last year from the Ohio State President regarding Texas to the Big Ten. I don’t know if it happens, but it’s a lot more likely than a lot of people want to admit.

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  50. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Before the season started I predicted that Pena would hit a long home run so I’m not surprised.[/quote]
    Are you an expert in hitting long home runs? No? Then go fuck yourself.

    /MGL

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  51. mb21

    So if Purdue were to keep all 3 current rivalries they have with Big Ten schools, they’d go in the Legends Division (Michigan, Michigan St…Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Minnesota). They’d play Michigan and Mich. St. each year and then could take Iowa’s protected rivalry with Purdue.

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  52. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Could be bullshit, but this guy has earned some respect having been right about this stuff before:

    http://northwestern.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=57&tid=162506546&mid=162506546&sid=901&style=2

    This isn’t the first time I’ve heard about ESPN creating the Texas to the Pac story and it serves them well. They sure as hell don’t want them to go to the Big Ten.[/quote]
    This makes me wish Jim Miller had waited another year to write his ESPN book (dying laughing). Though given how a lot of interviews in the book went, most of the coverage of this LHN business would just be everyone patting each other on the back for being total geniuses.

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  53. Berselius

    Notre Dame has an interest in preserving its traditional rivalries, three of which occur already in the Big Ten, and creating a new national rivalry with a traditional powerhouse.

    A new rivalry? I just figured they’d keep their long-running ones with USC and (less importantly) Navy. Don’t they play them every year?

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  54. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing) @ Tango and MGL patting themselves on the back in this thread

    http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/to_hippeaux/#comments%5B/quote%5DMy favorite was on IIATMS where someone pointed out that Tango was irresponsible and he said stop saying it. If you’re going to post something, RTFA. He’s been blogging long enough to know that. I also like it when MGL talks about subject matter experts, which he of course including himself among the baseball experts. He knows a hell of a lot more than I do, but Dusty Baker, dumb as he is, knows infinitely more about baseball than MGL ever will.

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  55. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]So if Purdue were to keep all 3 current rivalries they have with Big Ten schools, they’d go in the Legends Division (Michigan, Michigan St…Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Minnesota). They’d play Michigan and Mich. St. each year and then could take Iowa’s protected rivalry with Purdue.[/quote]
    There’s a rivalry there?

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  56. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]My favorite was on IIATMS where someone pointed out that Tango was irresponsible and he said stop saying it. If you’re going to post something, RTFA. He’s been blogging long enough to know that. I also like it when MGL talks about subject matter experts, which he of course including himself among the baseball experts. He knows a hell of a lot more than I do, but Dusty Baker, dumb as he is, knows infinitely more about baseball than MGL ever will.[/quote]
    I hope some BlueMike-esque “I PLAYED COLLEGE BASEBALL” troll turns up in one of those MGL threads (dying laughing)

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  57. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]A new rivalry? I just figured they’d keep their long-running ones with USC and (less importantly) Navy. Don’t they play them every year?[/quote]I think so. I know they play USC, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue each year. I also think they have a home and home scheduled against Texas in the near future.

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  58. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]I think so. I know they play USC, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue each year. I also think they have a home and home scheduled against Texas in the near future.[/quote]
    I should finish reading before commenting (dying laughing). I think they were talking about UT.

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  59. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]There’s a rivalry there?[/quote]No, but the Big Ten thinks there is. That was Iowa’s protected rivalry (comes with a new trophy and all). Like I said at the time, I’d gladly take a rivalry game with Nebraska at the end of the season and a dumbass protected game with Purdue. Iowa got what they wanted. They lost Wisconsin, but when they go to 9 games that game will be added.

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  61. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]No, but the Big Ten thinks there is. That was Iowa’s protected rivalry (comes with a new trophy and all). Like I said at the time, I’d gladly take a rivalry game with Nebraska at the end of the season and a dumbass protected game with Purdue. Iowa got what they wanted. They lost Wisconsin, but when they go to 9 games that game will be added.[/quote]
    Too bad they couldn’t have kept the Wisconsin one. I’m too lazy to look up the protected rivalries. Who are UW’s, besides Minnesota?

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  62. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]I should finish reading before commenting (dying laughing). I think they were talking about UT.[/quote]That’s what it sounded like, but it also sounded like the beginning of negotiations. Texas and Notre Dame present what they want and then the Big Ten takes some of it away and they eventually agree. I don’t see how all of those conditions could be met, but I don’t think they’d have to be.

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  63. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]To be fair I think MGL could only be talking about UZR experts, not baseball experts in general.[/quote]Well, if it’s UZR then I’d consider Colin Wyers an expert long before him. MGL has been using some form of UZR for a decade or longer. In a few months Wyers showed it was complete shit. The discussions on UZR there remind me of discussions of batting average on cubs.com. Batting average adds nothing and neither does UZR. (dying laughing)

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  64. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Well, if it’s UZR then I’d consider Colin Wyers an expert long before him. MGL has been using some form of UZR for a decade or longer. In a few months Wyers showed it was complete shit. The discussions on UZR there remind me of discussions of batting average on cubs.com. Batting average adds nothing and neither does UZR. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Did Colin ever actually finish his defensive system that he started breaking down when he joined BP? I never seem to see that quoted anywhere.

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  65. mb21

    The goal at this point should be to come up with a new system that is more accurate. There’s no reason at all to be talking about what UZR correlates with. It’s junk. Tango has often talked about BP needing to deprecate certain stats. UZR needs to be one of them.

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  66. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Did Colin ever actually finish his defensive system that he started breaking down when he joined BP? I never seem to see that quoted anywhere.[/quote]I think he did, but I’m unsure whether or not the FRAA on BP is the old one or the new one. I looked around one day trying to figure out which it was and just wasted time.

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  67. Dr. Aneus Taint

    You might be a bit more respectful to one of my front page authors

    … and one of the most respected posters here.

    Instead of just diving in and bitching about something that you appear to be clearly wrong about.

    Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation’s Baseball Nation

    by Al Yellon on Sep 7, 2011 2:02 PM CDT upreply

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  68. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]I think he did, but I’m unsure whether or not the FRAA on BP is the old one or the new one. I looked around one day trying to figure out which it was and just wasted time.[/quote]
    It’s probably because it’s not on fangraphs, but I just rarely see anyone quote it around the internets. I’m skeptical of BP stats that only BP uses, e.g. EqA or whatever the fuck they’re calling it now

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  69. Dr. Aneus Taint

    I’m a faget

    … and I like to have sex with fagets. And I like to sniff fagets’ butts. And I like when fagets sniff my butt.

    Join us fagets for complete faget coverage at SB Nation’s Faget Nation

    by Al Yellon on Sep 7, 2011 2:02 PM CDT upreply

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  71. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]I guess that’s why I can’t dislike him. I’ve been a huge fan of Zambrano for a long time and fans of 29 teams have called him a cunt.[/quote]
    I’ve heard him called many things but I don’t think I’ve ever heard Carlos Zambrano called a “cunt” before.

    I wonder if he accepted AC’s kickball offer.

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  72. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]It’s probably because it’s not on fangraphs, but I just rarely see anyone quote it around the internets. I’m skeptical of BP stats that only BP uses, e.g. EqA or whatever the fuck they’re calling it now[/quote]A few months ago I wanted to use it, but I did not want to use the old version. I just couldn’t find any confirmation if what I was looking at was the new version. I skimmed Colin’s articles again and couldn’t find any mention of it being available in the stats section. who knows?

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  73. Arthur Mitchell

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I don’t think I’ve ever heard Carlos Zambrano called a “cunt” before.
    [/quote]
    Hi.

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  76. Doogolas

    I feel it’s worth noting that Rhee really picked it up in the second half of the year. I’m not sure just how much it means yet, but went from being OK to absolutely dominating everyone in sight.

    In 83.2IP in the second half he had 77K 23BB 5HR and a 3.66ERA to go along with an FIP of about 2.69.

    And the thing with TJS is that usually control takes a while to come back, while the stuff usually doesn’t diminish too much. So it’s possible he can regain that #2/#3 starter type status next year if he continues that in his almost certain promotion to AA.

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  80. binky

    [quote name=Aisle424]I couldn’t tell if Taylor was running hard the whole time? Looked like he was at the end, but I wonder if he took that hit for granted.

    I love when RFers can do that. That has to be embarassing as hell for a hitter.[/quote]He looked a little slow getting out of the box, but it was a very close play.

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  81. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]I couldn’t tell if Taylor was running hard the whole time? Looked like he was at the end, but I wonder if he took that hit for granted.

    I love when RFers can do that. That has to be embarassing as hell for a hitter.[/quote]The batter wasn’t having fun.

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  83. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]http://aeryssports.com/tales-from-the-juice-box/2011/09/07/hey-jim-crane-wanna-own-the-astros-you-gotta-do-it-in-the-al/

    Huh.[/quote]Part of me wishes it was the Cubs who Bud was forcing to move to the AL. I’ve just love to see all the comments from Cubs fans about that. Then I’d love all the nonsense about the DH. It would be pure comedy for the entire offseason.

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  84. binky

    [quote name=Aisle424]http://aeryssports.com/tales-from-the-juice-box/2011/09/07/hey-jim-crane-wanna-own-the-astros-you-gotta-do-it-in-the-al/

    Huh.[/quote]The article claims that the D’backs should move to the AL, but then there would be a shortage of teams in the NL West, which means one of the NL central teams would have to move to the NL west…..hm…. I wonder who they would pick.

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  85. mb21

    Can you make a team move to the AL? The Brewers wanted to move to the NL for obvious reasons. The Cubs and Cardinals fan base travels as well as any team in baseball. Certainly better than the teams they’d have been in the same division as (Twins, White Sox, Indians, Tigers).

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  87. WaLi

    [quote name=mb21]I assume Houston would move to the NL West unless they put Atlanta back in that division.[/quote]If there is a 15/15 team league, would there still be dvisions? I obviously haven’t read much about what Selig wants to do.

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  88. binky

    [quote name=mb21]I assume Houston would move to the NL West unless they put Atlanta back in that division.[/quote]Exactly. The writer was lamenting that a move to the AL West would mean games in the later time zone, and that the D’Backs actually expressed an interest in being in the AL West, so they should go. But I think the end result of the Astros being in the Western division is inevitable in a shift.

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  89. binky

    [quote name=WaLi]If there is a 15/15 team league, would there still be dvisions? I obviously haven’t read much about what Selig wants to do.[/quote]I think so, three 5 division teams is sort of the general plan, though I think he’s considering alignments such as 2 leagues, take the top 5 teams for the playoffs. The other factor is that there will have to be an interleague game every day.

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  90. Dr. Aneus Taint

    Jason King from Yahoo Sports has also been tweeting that he “predicts” the Big 12 holds and BYU joins the conference to replace A&M. King is talking to someone in the know at Baylor or another school. He was writing articles about where the castoffs would go the last few days and now he’s changing his tune.

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  93. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=GW]Hey Ryno,

    Should I drop the Giants D and pick up the 49ers in fantasy?[/quote]
    I wouldn’t. NYG DST will face better offenses in DAL and PHI than SF’s DST, but they’ll also get you more turnovers and sacks.

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  94. Berselius

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]I wouldn’t. NYG DST will face better offenses in DAL and PHI than SF’s DST, but they’ll also get you more turnovers and sacks.[/quote]
    Assuming the Giants have any players left to force those turnovers

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  101. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Berselius]Assuming the Giants have any players left to force those turnovers[/quote]
    Who are they missing now?

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  102. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=mb21]Ryno, the Big 12 is funny.[/quote]
    Beebe is doing everything he can. If he can keep the current nine teams, add BYU, poach Boise State and add an Air Force or something, maybe they’ll stick around.

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  104. Berselius

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]Who are they missing now?[/quote]
    They’re down a starting middle linebacker after he blew out his acl in practice this week (dying laughing).

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  105. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=GW]goff, clint sintim, terell thomas, marvin austin, bruce johnson, osi, amukamara[/quote]
    NYG’s D is based on D-line disruption. Losing Osi will hurt, but he’s only out a game or two, iirc.

    I’d still take them over SF’s D…at least in the long run.

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  107. Mish

    KG

    Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 1-for-3, HR (1), R, RBI, K. .260/.283/.410 line in 43 High-A games left more questions than answers.

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  108. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mish]KG

    Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 1-for-3, HR (1), R, RBI, K. .260/.283/.410 line in 43 High-A games left more questions than answers.[/quote]
    Ewww.

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  109. Rodrigo Ramirez

    From Phil Rogers:

    Baseball America is naming Northwestern product Eric Jokisch as the Cubs’ best minor-league pitcher in 2011. An 11th-round pick in the 2009 draft, he wasn’t ranked in the Cubs’ top 30 entering the season but put himself on the radar by holding up when others failed. Jokisch opened the season with low-A Peoria, following Simpson into games rather than starting, and ended it in the Double-A rotation. He worked 139 innings while starting only 14 games, going 10-3 with a 3.09 ERA. He projects as a young Doug Davis, using the same kind of unorthodox delivery to create enough deception to get by with a fastball that tops out in the high-80s. He’s a strike thrower, which could get him to the big leagues in time.

    (dying laughing) @ Doug Davis reference

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  110. mb21

    [quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]From Phil Rogers:

    (dying laughing) @ Doug Davis reference[/quote]If he ended up like Doug Davis that would be pretty damn good for a guy who wasn’t even on the radar, RR. Prior to 2010 he had been worth 23.3 rWAR and 23.4 fWAR in about 1650 innings. That’s 7+ less than Zambrano though Z had thrown 200 more innings. Davis was never a great pitcher, but he had some really good years.

    I’m actually going to write a bit about Jokisch on the final part of the MILB wrap up.

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  112. Dr. Aneus Taint

    The over/under on Rickey Henderson being able to complete a sentence Colts wins in 2011 without Peyton Manning is 5.5.

    Go.

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  113. Berselius

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]The over/under on Rickey Henderson being able to complete a sentence Colts wins in 2011 without Peyton Manning is 5.5.

    Go.[/quote]
    Under

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  115. Berselius

    Baseball America is naming Northwestern product Eric Jokisch as the Cubs’ best minor-league pitcher for making puns from his last name in 2011.

    .

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  116. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Berselius].[/quote]
    They’ll burn him with a few jokes, but they’d only be scratching the surface. I’m sure it’ll just be a minor irritation.

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  118. Berselius

    I’m just waiting to see how Kubiak and the Texans will screw up having the division handed to them on a silver platter (dying laughing)

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  119. Aisle424

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]2011 : Colts : : 1996 : Spurs[/quote]
    So next year they’ll have Andrew Luck AND Peyton Manning? UNSTOPPABLE!!!

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  120. ACT

    [quote name=mb21]Part of me wishes it was the Cubs who Bud was forcing to move to the AL. I’ve just love to see all the comments from Cubs fans about that. Then I’d love all the nonsense about the DH. It would be pure comedy for the entire offseason.[/quote]Eh, I think most fans of NL teams don’t like the DH (or at least are far less likely to). I don’t think a negative reaction to a team you are following playing under a new set of rules is irrational.

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  121. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Aisle424]So next year they’ll have Andrew Luck AND Peyton Manning? UNSTOPPABLE!!![/quote]
    Exactly. Luck and Manning will stand next to each other in the shot gun, make it look like they’re both taking the snap, play action (or will they?) and throw to a different part of the field.

    Fool. Proof.

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  122. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]Exactly. Luck and Manning will stand next to each other in the shot gun, make it look like they’re both taking the snap, play action (or will they?) and throw to a different part of the field.

    Fool. Proof.[/quote]
    Wildcat, Colts style!

    I would enjoy seeing this in action.

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  124. Aisle424

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]Exactly. Luck and Manning will stand next to each other in the shot gun, make it look like they’re both taking the snap, play action (or will they?) and throw to a different part of the field.

    Fool. Proof.[/quote]
    Hilarious. Good luck with your playbook.

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  125. mb21

    [quote name=ACT]Eh, I think most fans of NL teams don’t like the DH (or at least are far less likely to). I don’t think a negative reaction to a team you are following playing under a new set of rules is irrational.[/quote]No, it’s not irrational, but some of the arguments will be.

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  126. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]No, it’s not irrational, but some of the arguments will be.[/quote]
    1. Tradition
    2. Strategy
    3. Not real baseball

    Did I miss anything?

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  127. Dr. Aneus Taint

    I thought PHI should do something similar to the Wildcolt I laid out above. Have a spread formation with VY and Vick in the backfield. They could use that with everything from two TE sets to four wide. Handoffs, play action, option passes, zone read.

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  131. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=dylanj]Will Carroll has already decided that Peyton Mannings rumored surgery is career ending[/quote]
    Proof:

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  132. binky

    [quote name=Rice Cube]1. Tradition
    2. Strategy
    3. Not real baseball

    Did I miss anything?[/quote]4. Racism
    5. Black Sox proves baseball hates Chicago
    6. Bud Selig likes the Brewers
    7. Carlos Zambrano has some pull with MLB
    8. Billy Goat curse

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  133. Mish

    [quote name=josh]4. Racism
    5. Black Sox proves baseball hates Chicago
    6. Bud Selig likes the Brewers
    7. Carlos Zambrano has some pull with MLB
    8. Billy Goat curse[/quote]
    9. Money due to Carlos Silva
    10. Aramis’s option for next year vests if DH is instated

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  134. Rice Cube

    Ah, I was confused but I see that you have taken my original list of anti-DH rants and expanded it to include Cub-centric ones.

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  135. binky

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Ah, I was confused but I see that you have taken my original list of anti-DH rants and expanded it to include Cub-centric ones.[/quote]I thought the issue was irrational arguments against the Cubs being moved to AL West and the comedy that would ensue.

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  136. Rice Cube

    [quote name=josh]I thought the issue was irrational arguments against the Cubs being moved to AL West and the comedy that would ensue.[/quote]
    After re-reading the thread I believe that both of us are correct as ACT’s statement had to do with the DH and a new set of rules and that’s what I originally went with given MB’s reply.

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  142. Berselius

    [quote name=dylanj]whatever man, will carroll says it could be career ending. and he’s an expert[/quote]
    He says so himself!

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  144. dylanj

    will carroll is living the dream. Here’s a guy without a medical degree who tweets about other people’s injuries that he hasn’t diagnosed or evaluated and people listen to him.

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  145. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=dylanj]whatever man, will carroll says it could be career ending. and he’s an expert[/quote]
    Well I posted a picture showing that Manning is CLEARLY unable to lift his right arm.

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  146. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]Well I posted a picture showing that Manning is CLEARLY unable to lift his right arm.[/quote]
    (dying laughing) I thought it was there because Manning was standing behind a guard and not the center (the guy doesn’t have the ball, right?)

    Upon further inspection Manning seems to be in the shotgun but the angle the photo is taken made me think that he was confused. Turns out I am the one who is confused.

    RC —> no dinner

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  147. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]will carroll is living the dream. Here’s a guy without a medical degree who tweets about other people’s injuries that he hasn’t diagnosed or evaluated and people listen to him.[/quote]I wonder if people would listen to him if there money was at stake. In other words, would people give a shit what he says if he was telling people what stocks to invest in?

    I doubt it.

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  148. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]I wonder if people would listen to him if there money was at stake.[/quote]
    Given that he still does not work for a professional sports team, probably not.

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  149. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]I wonder if people would listen to him if there money was at stake. In other words, would people give a shit what he says if he was telling people what stocks to invest in?

    I doubt it.[/quote]
    If he worked for a magazine like Forbes, I bet they would. People see the Sports Illustrated and assume expertise. They don’t know he’s not a medical doctor or anything because 90+% of people don’t bother looking anything up for themselves.

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  150. Aisle424

    If ESPN or SI came along and suddenly declared me a baseball expert, 90% of people tuning in would assume it was true. I’m almost certain of it.

    Fucking Kevin Millar is a fucking “expert” on the MLB channel. Who gives a shit what that guy thinkas about anything? But there he is spreading nonsense all over the airwaves and getting paid to do it.

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  152. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]If he worked for a magazine like Forbes, I bet they would. People see the Sports Illustrated and assume expertise. They don’t know he’s not a medical doctor or anything because 90+% of people don’t bother looking anything up for themselves.[/quote]
    I have noticed that people generally don’t ask questions or use Google.

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  154. Rodrigo Ramirez

    [quote name=Aisle424]http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18763951&topic_id=16401516&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_18763951&v=3

    My how time has changed.[/quote]
    That was really cool. How soon we forget how much he did for the Cubs and MLB.

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  155. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]That was really cool. How soon we forget how much he did for the Cubs and MLB.[/quote]
    I never did. I loved Sammy Sosa.

    /faget

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  156. Aisle424

    Sammy was a hell of an entertainer and I don’t care how much of it was fake or achieved through pharmaceuticals. The guy was more fun to watch play baseball on a regular basis than about anyone else for a period of about 5 years.

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  157. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I never did. I loved Sammy Sosa.

    /faget[/quote]
    What’s with that guy in the FB comments talking about how much 9/11 sucked because it killed the Cubs momentum that year. Is that Alvin’s protege or something?

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  158. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]What’s with that guy in the FB comments talking about how much 9/11 sucked because it killed the Cubs momentum that year. Is that Alvin’s protege or something?[/quote]
    He’s a high school kid. I wouldn’t take too much exception to it, chalk it up to inexperience and lack of tact.

    I am forever disappointed that the only chance I had to see Sammy Sosa play in person, he either had the day off or was on injured reserve 🙁

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  161. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]Lieber threw 78 pitches in a CG the next day. The other team’s two pitchers threw a total of 93.

    Damn.[/quote]
    The one I went to had a rain delay but was pretty enjoyable, mostly because they won. I had always wanted to see a Cubs game at Wrigley. I’d only been in the Oakland Coliseum up to that point so Wrigley was definitely a lot nicer (dying laughing)

    Speaking of Wrigley…

    http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ticketing/starwars.jsp?partnerId=aw-8153914421081783870-1079

    Is there a problem with declaring it “Star Wars Night” when it’s a day game?

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  164. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]Love the bellringer. The new guy is pretty, pretty, pretty good.[/quote]
    He looked like he was having fun out there.

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