Ian Stewart is injured. It's not his wrist this time, but he'll be out a few weeks. Luis Valbuena has already made the team. Josh Vitters is also out an other 2-3 weeks, but I thought this was interesting.
The Cubs do face some decisions regarding Stewart. His $2 million contract is non-guaranteed, which is not unusual for an arbitration-level player, but there is a March 16 deadline. If the Cubs decide at that date that Stewart isn't ready, they can release him and will be obligated to pay one-sixth of his salary ($333,333). If he's released after that date and before the regular season opener, the Cubs would owe Stewart $500,000.
"The fact of the matter is, three weeks from now puts you basically at March 14, which puts you three weeks before Opening Day," Sveum said. "If he's capable and the leg is fine, it'll be a cram session, that's for sure."
Valbuena, 27, already has secured a spot on the 25-man roster and impressed Sveum with his defensive play. Lake, 22, who batted .279 at Double-A Tennessee last season, would be next in the pecking order. — cubs.com
I had just assumed if there was injury to Stewart or Valbuena that Vitters would become the backup. I figured he'd already played at AAA, apparently well enough to earn a call-up and would be the next guy on the depth chart.
Not so. It appears the Cubs would move SS Junior Lake to 3rd base and use him as the backup despite no experience above AA.
It's even possible that Christian Villanueva could pass both of them on the depth chart, though it's highly unlikely. It's not so unlikely that he could pass Vitters, but not probable.
Josh Vitters seems to be an afterthought in this organization at this point and that's probably for good reason.
Comments
MB–your new signature line suggests you have confidence now. Show down with RS in the near future?
SVBQuote Reply
I like the way you used a Rant Sports styled title for this one.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Junior Lake could make team and what this means for Starlin Castro
That’s Rant Sportsified. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Junior Lake could make team and what this means for Starlin Castro and Kate Upton’s breasts
Even better
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
I actually sorta did that with my blog today.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
I think there are a couple categories though…
1. Rant Sports General Statement
2. Rant Sports Question Statement
So it still works out.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If Stewart can’t start the season, it’d really say a lot about the 2013 Cubs if Luis Valbuena is on the All-Star Ballot.
Chet MastersonQuote Reply
http://youtu.be/oRm8RmNGFq4
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Chet Masterson:
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I see CBS Sports is reporting the NHL will move the Red Wings to an eastern conference with non-NY/PA Northeast and Canada teams, and Florida teams. Blackhawks stay with St. Louis, Nashville, and other western teams. It would seem very strange to me not to have the Blackhawks and Wings in the same division…
SVBQuote Reply
Granderson —> broken arm
Everyone on Twitter —> speculating about Soriano trade
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Speculation has hit the major sports sites too. Granderson is only out til mid-May…
SVBQuote Reply
@ SVB:
Jesse Rogers and Bruce Levine, of all people, are the voice of reason today. Yankees can’t take on too much money even if the Cubs were to pay most of Sori’s contract, and it’s not like they can’t survive a month.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
From MLBTR
Isn’t that exactly the opposite of what we thought here when discussing Bourn? i.e., that speed players last longer….
SVBQuote Reply
@ SVB:
I don’t recall the discussion but my guess would be no.
But then, I had no idea Juan Pierre was back on the Marlins.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I don’t see why they’re so avoid-y of the luxury tax threshold. It’s not like they owe $20m if they go a dollar over the limit or anything.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Brenly joins Len in the booth. He said something about “sneaking out of town at the end of last season” and working for the DBacks being “a pretty good Plan B”.
Did Brenly get fired?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Just tuned in, and I was about to say that Mick Gillespie sounded a lot like Bob Brenly, then it turned out to actually be Brenly visiting the booth (dying laughing).
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
IIRC WGN wouldn’t go over 2 or 3 years for him, but then hired Deshaies for more.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Cubs win!
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Undefeated!
WaLiQuote Reply
The Chicago Cubs are the 2013 lineal champions now (if you count spring training). We swept the 2012 World Series champions in a 1-game series and are the new title-holders.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
They should quit playing the 2013 season so they can finally be be champions.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smardzija out-pitched the starter of the last All-Star Game, so he gets to start in the next All-Star Game. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
My CHI, GB and SF mocks based on the current NFL Draft Scout rankings are coming soon…
RynoQuote Reply
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/2/25/4023060/javier-baez-cubs-xander-bogaerts-red-sox-prospects
MishQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
Nevermind, they haven’t updated their rankings yet. My original, hand-crafted mocks are coming soon.
RynoQuote Reply
CHI
1. Johnathan Cooper, G, UNC – He might be gone at 20, but guards and ILBs always tend to slip on draft day. The LG version of Warmack, imo. Looks like a pro bowler for the next decade.
2. Arthur Brown, LB, KSU – If he were a bit bigger, he might be a first rounder. I think he’s a perfect fit for CHI’s Cover 2.
4. David Quessenberry, OT, SJSU – Athletic prospect who more than held his own during Senior Bowl week at G and T.
RynoQuote Reply
GB
1. Johnathan Hankins, DT, OSU – No OL of value here, so GB adds a versatile DL in Hankins. Three-down DL, imo, can play 5-technique and shift down to either DT spot in the nickel.
2. Menelik Watson, OT, FSU – Here’s where GB finds OL. Watson might have the highest upside in the draft. Super athletic and could probably play either T or G spot (Beavis and Butthead laugh). Combine winner Terron Armstead is also a possibility here.
3. Gavin Escobar, TE, SDSU – PERFECT fit for GB’s offense. He’s about what Aaron Hernandez was as a draft prospect a few years ago.
RynoQuote Reply
Since dylanj is still crying about the Super Bowl, I won’t bother with the SF mock. I’ll just say that Tavon Austin would be a great fit in this offense or I’d like to put some picks together to move up and grab an impact DT like Sheldon Richardson.
RynoQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
If you assume that Kaepernick is the starter going forward, is Alex Smith going to stick around as the backup or are they going to trade him and find a different backup? (I haven’t been keeping track even though I probably should since I’m actually from there) 😛
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Rumor has it he’s already been traded, but they can’t announce it until mid-March.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
SF is saying they don’t mind keeping Alex Smith, but I assume it’s just posturing because they want to trade him instead of releasing him.
I’m thinking KC will trade either their 3 or 4 this year or next year’s 2 or 3 for Smith, then draft Joeckel No. 1 and maybe Tyler Wilson with their 2.
Then SF will go into next season with Tolzien as the backup and likely draft a QB on Day 3 (Mike Scott or Sean Renferee).
RynoQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
RE Brenly – From Bleacher Nation
Bob Brenly says he was so close to re-upping with WGN and the Cubs on a five-year deal that he went out with his family to celebrate. The problem, though, was that WGN couldn’t guarantee him the final three years of the deal, because its contract with the Cubs expires after the 2014 season (and WGN didn’t want to be forced to pay Brenly for those final three years if they lose the Cubs, and the new network didn’t pick up Brenly (I’m thinking there’s no way the new network wouldn’t have picked up Brenly, but whateves)). So, he sought out the security of the D-backs deal.
Chet MastersonQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Yeah, but we’ll see. I’m expecting a high 4 this year or a high 3 next year.
RynoQuote Reply
Just a friendly reminder that I am gauging interest for a OV Mock Draft in the forums. We have 4 maybe 5 definites and would like to get at least 3 more particpants. If you are interested, please visit and say which teams you would like to draft for.
MuckerQuote Reply
Ryno, did you watch the combines? Have you seen anybody that really hurt/helped their stock? I saw that Warmack hurt his a little because of how poorly he did.
MuckerQuote Reply
So trying to get this board back on topic…
Does anyone have experience with Stainless Steel cookware? We have a set of old non-stick cookware that we are looking to replace. I know All-Clad is overpriced, but they seem to have a great warranty, america (fuck yeah) made, etc. Le Creuset also came out with a stainless line that looks comparable to All-Clad.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I got cast iron stuff for my wife from IKEA. I think the brand name is “senior” or something to that effect. It works pretty well. I am not much help as we prefer cast iron to stainless steel 🙁
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I like Le Creuset for their enamel cast iron, I’ve never tried their stainless steel. I think All-Clad is a nice brand, but you could probably find a cheaper option that would work just as well. I bought a stainless steel pan last fall (I forget the brand at the moment), and it’s worked well. I think as long as a pan is heavy/thick bottomed, and made well, it should work well.
Maybe check to see if any friends have an All-Clad or non All-clad that you could borrow and use a couple times?
EdwinQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I think it was Regal Ware, but I’m not sure. I got it at Orange Tree Imports.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah, all the discussions here about cast iron kind of scared me away from them. I don’t think we could take care of those like we would need to.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Stainless steel might still rust or wear down on you if you’re not careful.
I think DMick is a cook so he’d probably know more whenever he shows up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
We have a large stainless all-clad frying pan (like 16″?) and a huge all-clad stock pot, plus a few of their other baking items. I like that they are relatively easy to clean and should last forever. I just haven’t had a lot of use on them though.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
That’s been my problem with cast iron. I’m too used to non-stick, so I never use the cast iron enough to keep it seasoned. Plus I was an idiot and got way too big a skillet, so it’s a pain in the ass to move around. I’m hoping to transition to using more stainless steel, and then when I buy a house get a kitchen where it’s easier to get to/use my cast iron.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah but cooking meth is different than cooking food.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
If Breaking Bad is anything like what DM does, then he probably uses Stainless Steel. Iron would proably leech into the process and he wouldn’t be able to reach that 99% purity.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Now all I can think of is if they replaced Top Chef with Top Meth.
EdwinQuote Reply
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sns-rt-fbn-newssx3b6b5a1-20130225,0,4234492.story
This raises super interesting issues of labor law if teams pass on Te’o because they aren’t sure if he’s gay.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
I’m a believer that the combine doesn’t change teams’ perceptions as much as people think, and that’s mostly because the things that show up at the combine show up on tape too.
WVU WR Tavon Austin, for example, looked great at the combine, but everything the showed in Indy showed up on his film too. Electricity. Long story short, I can’t see the combine moving 99 percent of players more than 15 picks or so.
That said, Arkansas PB OT Terron Armstead might have jumped up into Round 2.
I think Tenn WR Justin Hunter showed good enough hands to solidify him as a second rounder.
Tenn. QB Tyler Bray was right the fuck on with his throws, and I can see him jumping back into Day 2.
FSU DE/OLB Tank Carradine looked healthy. If he checks out medically, he might be the biggest winner of all, jumping into round 1.
Oregon DE/OLB Dion Jordan came in much bigger than expected and showed the same athleticism. Might be a top 5 pick now.
aggy DE DEmontre Moore looked weak and slow.
As far as Warmack goes, anyone dropping him because of his combine should be fired immediately. He’s the best RG prospect in years. Cooper is close as a G, but he’s more of a LG.
RynoQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
It seems to me that the combine would be more used to try and support/double check on existing opinions (we think player x is fast, how fast is he, we think player y has good hands, does he) as opposed to forming new opinions on many players.
I think it’s more that the for the media/fans, this is the first chance to actually get some easy to comprehend data on some of these guys, as opposed to scouts who have been scouting these players all season.
EdwinQuote Reply
Cubs/Dodgers is on MLB.tv today.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Cubs lineup
Good Value – 2B
Gold Glover – DH
New Guy – RF
Other New Guy – CF
Nelson, B. – 1B
McDonald, D. – LF
Horse Castle – C
Junior Lake – 3B
A-Gonz – SS
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
So how are they going to find out if he is gay?
Lock him in a room with Clay Aiken and bartender serving martini’s then see what happens?
What if they find out he is gay? Are they going to not draft him? This is just bad news.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
Yeah, that’s exactly right for the majority of players. Players might run faster or slower than they look on tape, and teams will go back and look at the tape.
For the smaller school guys, it’s a chance to see how they stack up athletically to the bigger school guys.
For some, it’s a chance for coaches to see how they might fare at other positions. I’m sure a ton of coaches want to see Ziggy Ansah perform LB drills, for example.
RynoQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
I didn’t think somebody like Warmack would suffer from a bad combine. But there are definitely “fringe” prospects that really jump out based on their athleticism and that can only help them come draft time. Somebody that comes to mind is Connor Barwin.
MuckerQuote Reply
“Extra hitting paying off for Jackson early”
Seems like this is pretty common, to me: dude receives extra training, there are short-term gains, everyone declares a job well done, player settles back into old habits for one reason or another, output changes only marginally, overall.
joshQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Oh most definitely, but that happens much less than it used to because “workout warriors” like Mike Mamula have taught teams to trust their tape.
The biggest combine movers were the guys who answered medical questions or had medical questions pop up.
I think Dion Jordan made the most money at the combine, and I think Terron Armstead improved his stock the most.
RynoQuote Reply
Cubs —-> Dynasty
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
Agreed. Vernon Gholston too. He’s the most recent combine bust.
I think Lane Johnson really helped himself too. And I can’t believe Swope ran a 4.34!! That’s crazy fast for a white boy.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cir05JyEsV0#t=18s
That’s supposed to start at 18 seconds, stupid embedding. YouTube fail.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Cubs lose.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
I think Lane Johnson was top 15 before, and I don’t think he gets past SD now.
RynoQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
Really? I read a couple draft guys had him early 2nd.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Yep. I think he’ll be the third OT selected, and I think that’s SD at the latest.
RynoQuote Reply
Edwin wrote:
I love Orange Tree. I took a bunch of Indian cooking classes there when I lived in Madison.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
Wicked anecdote, mate
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Unfortunately, the Cubs are no longer the 2013 lineal champions. Now my interest in that subject is much lower.
MylesQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I don’t have a whole lot to add to this discussion (no particular favorite and I tend to think the higher end brands are overrated), but you are still going to need to take care of the pan. It’s easier than caring for a cast-iron skillet. That’s for sure.
dmick89Quote Reply
If you leave your stainless steel pan soaking in dishwater will it dull the edges?
SVBQuote Reply
New Shit
MylesQuote Reply
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affiliate programsQuote Reply