Chicago Cubs 3 @ Colorado Rockies 1 Junior Lake made his debut, doing Junior Lake Things. He was aggressive at the plate and it paid off, having a 3-4 day with a double and a SB. Sveum called him the only kid he's seen come up so far that looked like a big leaguer. So there's that. Starlin Castro had only …
Dariel Alvarez Stats, Aledmis Diaz Stats, and Endless Cuban Comps
Updates: If interested in more defector profiles and comparisons, here are Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Dalier Hinojosa, Odrisamer Despaigne, Alexander Guerrero, and Misael Siverio. In case you are looking for some info to browse through while waiting for Matt Garza to leave town. I was initially planning to write up Misael Siverio, a Cuban lefty who disappeared into a cornfield in Des Moines Tuesday …
JOT: Cubs Minor League Recap 7-18-13
Iowa Cubs 6 @ Round Rock Express 3 Logan Watkins scored 2 runs on a single and a HBP. No walk today. Donnie Murphy had a big day, going 2-4 with a double and a home run. Ty Wright also had a double, as did Edgar "Who?" Gonzalez. On the Texas side (since Garza is probably maybe going there), prospects that might just come with us Leury Garcia …
Keith Law’s 2013 midseason top 50 prospects
Keith Law has just published his top 50 prospects at the midway point of the 2013 season. The Cubs have a number of players in that list. 15. Kris Bryant 20. Jorge Soler 25. Albert Almora 27. Javier Baez One of the honorable mentions is Arismendy Alcantara That's a lot of talent in the minor leagues. Too bad Mark Appel …
Odrisamer Despaigne Stats and a Comparison with Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez and Dalier Hinojosa
Updates: If interested in more defector profiles and comparisons, here are Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Dalier Hinojosa, Aledmis Diaz, Dariel Alvarez, Alexander Guerrero, and Misael Siverio. I have previously profiled Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez and Dalier Hinojosa. This time it’s Odrisamer Despaigne, who defected two weeks ago by walking away from the national team at an airport in Paris. No word yet whether the Cubs have interest, as Despaigne’s …
Cubs 2013 Draft Wrap: Preparations for the Apocalypse
Cubs 2013 Draft The signing deadline for the 2013 MLB Draft was last Friday. The Cubs’ official website has been unusually light in the details of who has actually signed and who hasn’t but I think we connect the dots pretty accurately. Three of the top 25 picks didn’t sign, and it looks like those three are Daniel Poncedeleon (RHP, …
A Jeff Samardzija Extension
Let's talk about a possible Jeff Samardzija extension for a bit. Jeff Samardzija has been mentioned in some trade rumors though I find it unlikely he'll be traded. He's in his first year of arbitration this season and has two more before he can file for free agency after the 2015 season. The Cubs have a few options: Give him …
The American League All-Star Merit Team
The ASB is here, and as we know, This Time It Really Matters (No, Really, Please Watch This Game). I'd like to take to remake each team and not abide by the silly rule of having a player from each team. Today, I'll look at the AL. Catcher Joe Mauer wins here, pretty easily. He sports a wOBA of .380 and an OBP …
Series Preview: American League (107-94) at National League (94-107)
Team overviews Since the usual would make no sense, I'll list the top three players as well as the team that leads the league in that category. Players with an asterisk did not make the ASG roster. NL Team NL 1st NL 2nd NL 3rd AL Team AL 1st AL 2nd AL 3rd wRC+ 110 (Cardinals) 162 (Buster Posey) 157 (Paul Goldschmidt) …
JOT: Cubs Minor League Recap 7-13-13
St. Louis Cardinals 4 @ Chicago Cubs 6 In what was likely his final start for the Cubs Matt Garza was once again excellent, scattering 10 hits and 2 walks across 6.2 innings, striking out 4, generating 10 ground ball outs, and allowing only 2 runs. I have no idea why we acquired you, Matt Garza, and I wish we …