Last year MLB and the MLBPA agreed to some draconian rules regarding the draft. Gone were the days when you could spend whatever you want. You might think that MLB may have adopted some penalties that may still have allowed teams to go over their first 10-rounds budget, but they made the penalties so damn harsh that they essentially eliminated …
2013 MLB Draft: Could the Astros pass on Mark Appel again?
The 2013 MLB Draft is set to begin June 6th and we're going to try and provide at least one or two things per week between now and then. The Astros had the first pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and they again have the top pick. Last year, Mark Appel was rated by some as the top draft prospect. …
JOT: Cubs Minor League Recap 4-18-13
The Iowa Cubs were rained out. Tennessee Smokies 5 @ Huntsville Stars 3 Kyle Hendricks got the start and lasted only 2 innings. He gave up 5 hits and 3 runs while walking a batter. He didn’t strike out anybody. The Smokies bullpen would throw the next 9 innings (extra innings game) and they allowed only 2 hits and no …
JOT: Cubs Minor League Recap 4-17-13
This is a short Cubs minor league recap seeing as the Iowa Cubs and Kane County Cougars were postponed. Tennessee Smokies 4 @ Huntsville Stars 1 Eric Jokisch struckout 7 and walked none over 6 innings today. He gave up 3 hits and no runs. The 23-year old left-hander is off to a fantastic start in AA. He's thrown 6 …
JOT: Cubs Minor League Recap 4-16-13
Cubs Minor League recap Nashville Sounds 1 @ Iowa Cubs 4 Brooks Raley was very good as he threw 6 innings, allowed 6 hits, no runs or walks and struckout 7. Yoanner Negrin threw 2, allowed 2 hits and no runs, didn't walk anybody or strike anybody out. Cory Wade threw an inning, allowed a couple hits and a run …
JOT: Cubs Minor League Recap 4-15-13
Alburquerque Isotopes 11 @ Iowa Cubs 5 Drew Carpenter is not very good at pitching, but we already knew that. He struck a batter out, walked 2, gave up 2 home runs and 7hits. He somehow escaped only allowing 5 runs in under 5 innings. Esmailin Caridad struckout 3 and walked none in 1.2 innings, but gave up 3 hits …
Mark Appel and leverage in the draft
Last year when Mark Appel turned down the Pirates offer, which was well below what he was expecting to get, it seemed like Appel would not have any leverage in the 2013 draft. The reason for this is that he really has no other alternative. Unlike last year, he can't return to Stanford. He could sign with an independent team, …
JoT: Cubs Minor League Recap 4-14-13
Alburquerque Isotops 1 @ Iowa Cubs 4 Chris Rusin made his 3rd start of the season for the I-Cubs on Sunday. He had his best start of the year. He had allowed 7 runs (6 earned) over his previous 11 innings of work while striking out only 6 and walking 6. On Sunday he threw 7 innings, allowed just 4 …
Prospect Profile: Nick Struck
This is a continuation of the weekly series of of writing about a Cubs prospect. Early on, I will be writing about guys that Dave and I did not cover in our Prospect Ratings. Links for past ratings and past profiles at at the end. Who is Nick Struck? Nick Struck was drafted in the 39th round of the 2009 …
Kyuji Fujikawa placed on DL
The Cubs new closer, Kyuji Fujikawa has been placed on the 15-day DL. He has what they're calling a right forearm strain. "It can't get worse right now and being in an important role with the team if it's not helping the team and it's hurting them, it's better to make that decision," Fujikawa said through an interpreter. Fujikawa recently …