The Cubs may or may not be discussing Justin Upton with the Dbacks.
It could go either way. Basically all there is to this report is Rosenthal saying that the Dbacks are having "active discussions" about Upton. One of his sources said that there's an 80% chance that he gets traded this offseason, though obviously the FO is denying this. What ties the Cubs into it is that they were on Upton's four team no-trade list last season. Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that Rosenthal said that the list has changed this year, though the new four-team set it unknown. I can't really see any reason why Upton would want to come to the Cubs though, and it's not like there's a lot of urgency from his perspective to get a big extension from anyone. If we start seeing more Cubs-Upton rumors I'd be more inclined to think that Arizona is using them to drive up his price with other teams.
The DBacks are also looking to unload top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer, because he's fallen out of favor with the organization for some reason. That has to be a huge red flag for any team that wants to acquire him. Bauer was the organization's top prospect going into last year, and ranked as the 9th best prospect overall.
Looks like the Haren deal was nixed due to Haren's health
According to Orange Guy, the deal fell through due to the Cubs concerns over Haren's back and a separate hip issue which was likely the cause of his drop in velocity. The Cubs don't seem super interested in signing him on the free agent market either.
Hoyer said the org deserved some of the blame for the leak, namely, they should have told Marmol that it wasn't done deal sealed yet when they asked him to waive the NTC. Personally, I don't think it would have made a ton of a difference. Going from "I have been traded to the Angels" to "The team asked me of I would be cool with being traded to the Angels" isn't that different news-wise in the rumor-hungry offseason. But I wouldn't be surprised if the org quietly put the word out to players to keep their mouths shut.
Long term deal with Samardzija?
Gordo speculates that the Cubs might lock up Samardzija this offseason, but to me Hoyer's GM-speak sounds like they're not planning on it. This is probably just a case of Thoyer saying nothing and each side just wishcasting what they want. Here's the quotes:
I'm not going to comment on it, but he's had a great year and certainly he's a guy we hope is in a Cubs' uniform for a long time…He's a great competitor, and I think he's the kind of guy that teammates really look up to,'' Hoyer said. “And I think he has the potential down the road to be a really good leader. …
“It's hard to be a leader when you're also trying to establish your career. But now that he's had a really great season, I think he can probably be that guy. There's nothing but positive things to say about the year he had, and getting to know him, he's really impressive.''
Cubs downplaying trade opportunities at GM Meetings
The Chicago Tribune reports…wait. I have to pay money in order to read a Paul Sullivan article? Excuse me while I die laughing.
Various prospect lists released
Baseball Prospectus ($) and Fangraphs have released their top ten and top fifteen prospects in the Cubs system, respectively. Perhaps the most surprising ranking is Dan Vogelbach, who was ranked fifth in each list. Not surprisingly, Javier Baez and Albert Almora headed each list. Brett Jackson's star has fallen far under the weight of approximately 674 strikeouts in 2012.
BPro has a good discussion by their minor league evaluators about the ranking process (free), which is worth a read.
Wrigley renovation shakedown update
Now that the city is no longer focused on the election, we can get back to our regularly-scheduled business of putting taxpayer money in politicians' and Tom Ricketts's pockets. It sounds like there's no way they're going to get anything from the bankrupt state government, and Ricketts "would prefer to work out a deal that does not require legislative approval", which was what was going to happen anyway.
Nate Silver on the Daily Show last night
| The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Nate Silver | ||||
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Comments
I enjoy that there is a link to the Daily Show, which is in fact daily. I think it should be renamed to “Random Facepalm” or “Sporadic Facepalm”, but I’m not going to tell you what to do. I’m just going to be an asshole.
WaLiQuote Reply
They spent too much time on the Daily Facepalm Icon. To change it, it would require a minimum donation of $500. For your donation, you’ll also a free 6 month subscription to the OV Forums (Other Topics not incl).
jtsunamiQuote Reply
@ jtsunami:
(dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
jtsunami wrote:
We’re also providing a bottle of Cookie’s BBQ sauce autographed by MB if you write us a check by Friday.
Aisle424Quote Reply
WaLi wrote:
BerseliusQuote Reply
not sure how gordo arrived at that conclusion from that hoyer quote. to me it actually sounds like the opposite.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
@ EnricoPallazzo:
FWIW, I’m pretty sure that quote is reaction to his speculation.
BerseliusQuote Reply
the scouting reports on vogelbombs bat are insane and make bubbs smile. Then bubbs realizes we dont have a DH.
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
If you’re interested, there’s a couple of ways to get around the pay-wall thingy.
If you have an iPhone, use the “Reader” function in Safari. This usually works.
Or if you can click Ctrl-A at the right time, the page will copy and you can paste into Word.
Each has worked for me fairly well (that is, if you don’t mind spending that much time to read garbage).
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
Congrats to Dr. Cube
BerseliusQuote Reply
bubblesdachimp wrote:
It may happen by the time he will be in the majors.
WaLiQuote Reply
Has anyone watched The Wire?
jtsunamiQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Thanks Dr. berselius!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ jtsunami:
I heard it was an awful show. I think a few people here watched it and hated. Something about Omar being a horrible character and McNulty being a shitty cop.
WaLiQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
Sounds like a Bond villain.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Yes, Mr. gbts, I expect you to blog.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Speaking of GBTS’ blog:
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Aisle424Quote Reply
WaLi wrote:
if i got 2:1 odds, i would bet that yes, this will happen by then.
@ jtsunami:
i’ve never seen the show but i hate it due to the fact that every time someone finds out that i live in baltimore, all they do is ask 800 questions about the wire. every fucking time.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
@ EnricoPallazzo:
Do you get scared when you are walking down the street and you hear someone whistling?
http://youtu.be/iMm1Wih0kug
WaLiQuote Reply
Rodrigo Ramirez wrote:
You can get around it with ad-block.
pinetarQuote Reply
You can also just stop the page loading on the Trib to get around it. Same thing on the Daily Herald.
mb21Quote Reply
@ pinetar:
How do you do it with adblock? Would it work on other news sites like the Times?
mb21Quote Reply
The Wire is basically the only television show I’ve watched start to finish in my life.
joshQuote Reply
Anyone else think the most telling sign Of the state of 2013 Cubs is Darwin Barney being the marquee player?
Also what the hell do you DO at a Cubs convention?
akabariQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Create a filter that blocks the pop-up where it wants you to login. I can pass what needs to be filtered if you’d like it. Once the filter is in place when you click on the article it takes you straight to it. I take it by the Times, you mean the Sun-Times? If so, it fixes it also.
pinetarQuote Reply
@ pinetar:
Send that along. I was talking about the New York Times though I just remembered I have an account (dying laughing)
You still have my email, right?
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
Yes, you will need to open the page and then once the offending page is loaded open the blockable items within ad-block. Then block the offending culprit that I send you.
pinetarQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
Email sent for the Tribune.
pinetarQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
AMC un-canceled The Killing.
Hooray, said no one.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Neat.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ bubblesdachimp:
Don’t need a DH. That’s what LF is for. At least it was until Coach Dave — moonlighted as an OF coach this year and messed up the charade.
@ WaLi:
It’s on the list after updating the Race to the Top. (dying laughing)
Finally–the Cubs don’t need more public money for a complete overhaul of Wrigley. Joe Ricketts is getting a huge crop insurance pay out. His Super PAC didn’t bear fruit.
mobile SVBQuote Reply
Word is that Dickey’s on the block. Any interest (purely for the jokes, of course)?
joshQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/projections/2013-cubs-projections-cairo.html
mb21Quote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Freddie the killjar?
joshQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Interestingly, the Democratic party was the pro-slavery party at that time.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Well, during reconstruction. You knew what I meant.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
I don’t even know what you’re saying right now.
Southern Democrats during the Lincoln election, before secession and afterward.
joshQuote Reply
Aisle424 wrote:
What’s sad is it’s only taken 40 years to go from “Ask not what your country can do for you — Ask what you can do for your country” to “Ask not what I can do for my country — Ask what my country can do for me” To damn many freeloaders with their hands out is the problem going forward. Won’t be long and the leechers will outnumber the taxpayers. Those that work for a living will be outnumbered by those that vote for a living.
pinetarQuote Reply
I m Italian. Also if also Usa now has some problem. I love your way to do politically.
francescaQuote Reply