Series Preview: Zambranoless Cubs (53-68) Bournless and Penceless Astros (38-83)

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This is the hardest series preview I’ve ever had to write.

It’s also the third series preview I’ve ever had to write, but even if it were the 287th, I’m pretty sure it would trump all others in difficulty. You can throw all the previous stats out the window, because they mean nothing.

The Cubs have won a lot of their last just-a-little-more-than-that games, and I think we all know why. Carlos Zambrano was on the way out, and Cubbieverse could sense it. The wins have been pulled along the fringe of the Einsteinian vortex formed by the sheer planetary mass of Carlos Zambrano’s selfish rage. With him no longer weighing down the clubhouse, the Cubs can expect to sail free from the emotional gravity of his evil.

Then we have the Astros with their palindromic win-loss record, which scares me. Yes, they’re without noted Cubs killers Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence, but you know who else they’re without? Carlos Zambrano. Surely their spirits have lifted as well. Anything could happen.

Even as I type, Comcast SportsNet prepares to air an interview between Carlos Zambrano and his biggest fan and supporter, David Kaplan. Z will tell us he is sorry. He’ll tell us he is misunderstood. He’ll tell us he still wants to be a Cub. He’ll tell us he and the Cubbie faithful are still tight. Bro, he’ll tell us a cool story. He’ll probably rope Paul Sullivan in for a big bear hug, shed a few angry tears, and blame the whole fiasco on the psychological block that has prevented him from eating dinner for the last 12 months. The spiritual explosion between Kap and Z is sure to put the emotional planes of the universe in flux. How can I predict what that will do to the clubhouses at Minute Maid?

I can’t. How can I predict how a youngster like Rodrigo Lopez will be encouraged by the absence of Zambrano’s karma vs. a pitcher who shares the name of another SuperCub castoff, Henry Sosa? Can’t do it. 

How could anyone know how impressively Ryan Dempster will break free of every sorrowful tie that binds him now that Zambrano is no longer ruining the punchlines to all his Matt Foley jokes? Against Brett Myers, who has never had to play alongside much nicer Carloses like Lee and Beltran? Tougher call than a coin flip.

And what about the other pitchers I don’t care enough to look up? I mean, Casey Coleman vs. To Be Announced. Seriously, how do you predict something like that? 

And how, I ask you, in the name of Tony Campana‘s winged boots does anyone predict how the Astros will perform against the Cubs when Zambrano’s not around to no-hit them? Well, all I can do is weep for the future, wail for the past, and shed a solitary tear for this moment.

Prediction: Cubs sweep. I mean, the Cubs are bad, the moment is bizarre, and the Texas stars may just be aligned, but holy mother of crap do the Astros suck.


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  1. Aisle424

    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

    If I had done it, the title I was going with was “Chicago Cubs Sans Carlos Zambrano vs. Houston Astros Sans Anyone Who Should Be in the Major Leagues.” After that our similarities would have ended because the actual text of the post would have sucked.

    Well done.

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  2. AndCounting

    Thanks, guys. Hopefully I can go the rest of my life without ever discussing the sordid Z affair again. It’s just too much.

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  3. Mercurial Outfielder

    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

    I think OV just peaked.

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  4. Berselius

    [quote name=AndCounting]Brand new day:[/quote]
    I can attest that the sun is high. No word on if the birds are singing that you’re gonna die.

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  5. Berselius

    [quote name=dylanj]it will be interesting to see how that kid handles pro ball. Camp Colvin might help turn that fat into muscle[/quote]
    They just need to have him live with Dempster in the offseason

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  6. Berselius

    [quote name=ACT]Man, I know “data” is supposed to be plural, but “the data agree” just looks/sound wrong.[/quote]
    Speaking as a former technical proofreader, so single item has been a bigger bone of contention than the usage of “data”

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  7. binky

    [quote name=Berselius]Speaking as a former technical proofreader, so single item has been a bigger bone of contention than the usage of “data”[/quote]I’m a proofreader/editor and it took me a while to get “data” as plural. I still miss it sometimes. I’m a terrible editor.

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  8. Aisle424

    [quote name=Berselius]Speaking as a former technical proofreader, so single item has been a bigger bone of contention than the usage of “data”[/quote]
    What about “Sox?” It is obviously intended to be a take-off of the word “Socks,” but it is given the same singular treatment as team names like the Magic and Jazz. It bugs me anyway that when someone is talking about a whole bunch of guys, and if they are Cubs, they would be plural, but if they are Magic, they’re singular. That’s stupid.

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  9. mb21

    Called around to see if I could get some tickets to the next two Yankees games in KC. Came up with some free ones thanks to a friend. I hope the season ticket holders aren’t too upset with me.

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  10. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]What about “Sox?” It is obviously intended to be a take-off of the word “Socks,” but it is given the same singular treatment as team names like the Magic and Jazz. It bugs me anyway that when someone is talking about a whole bunch of guys, and if they are Cubs, they would be plural, but if they are Magic, they’re singular. That’s stupid.[/quote]Since we’re talking about stupid things that annoy us, I always get annoyed when someone says Cub. “He’s a Cub.” No he’s not. (dying laughing)

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  11. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Called around to see if I could get some tickets to the next two Yankees games in KC. Came up with some free ones thanks to a friend. I hope the season ticket holders aren’t too upset with me.[/quote]
    Just make sure you don’t eat dinner that night, then it’s okay.

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  12. Mish

    [quote name=mb21]Castro has made two or two-hundred eighty eight ridiculously good defensive plays the last couple days.[/quote].

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  13. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Castro has made two ridiculously good defensive plays the last couple days.[/quote]
    Nice variance.

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  14. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Barney’s play yesterday was ridiculously good. Same inning as the Castro one, right?[/quote]
    Methunk the Castro Jeter impression was later on in the game.

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  15. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]Barney’s play yesterday was ridiculously good. Same inning as the Castro one, right?[/quote]IIRC, yes. I’m encouraged about the defense up the middle with Barney, Castro and Jackson next year.

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  16. Rice Cube

    That play was helped by the fact that Chipper Jones is slower now (being old and with balky knees and all) but it was still a great throw.

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  17. binky

    i just don’t get why Z did what he did. According to Q, there was no conflict regarding Z staying in. it makes no sense.

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  18. dylanj

    [quote name=Rice Cube]The signing of Vogelbach makes me wonder if any other Cub in history has ever had moobs.[/quote]
    you dont remember glendon?

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  19. Mercurial Outfielder

    How shitty were the Cubs yesterday? All time shitty. Per Miles:

    They struck out 18 times while drawing no walks. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? We’ve written constantly on this blog and in the paper about the Cubs’ inability or unwillingness to draw bases on balls. How bad was yesterday’s game in that regard? Research historian Ed Hartig tells me “that from 1919 to 2010, there were only seven major-league games where a team struck out at least 18 times yet failed to draw even 1 walk; only once did such a team win (Oakland in 1997). One of the games was Kerry Wood’s 20 strikeout performance in 1998.”

    (dying laughing)

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  20. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]The signing of Vogelbach makes me wonder if any other Cub in history has ever had moobs.[/quote]Hector Villanueva. Rick Reuschel. Glendon Rusch. Greg Maddux the second time around. Randall Simon. Daryl Ward. Alfonseca.

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  21. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]The signing of Vogelbach makes me wonder if any other Cub in history has ever had moobs.[/quote]
    The Reuschel boys, Hector Villanueva, Randall Simon, Daryl Ward, Matt Stairs.

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  22. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=dylanj]vogelbach is still the most interesting hitter in our system[/quote]Everyone who owns stock in Doritos and KFC agree.

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  23. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]The Reuschel boys, Hector Villanueva, Randall Simon, Daryl Ward, Matt Stairs.[/quote]
    Perhaps the Cubs should’ve made a deal with a mansierre company.

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  24. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Z news from Muskat…

    http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2011/08/15/815-is-z-retiring-or-isnt-he-only-he-knows/%5B/quote%5DChoice bits:

    “The organization is my family. I’ve seen people go and come and I’m still there. I want to keep pitching for the Cubs. It was a moment of frustration Friday night, and I pitched so bad I wanted to retire, you know, I don’t want to be making $18 million and pitch like (that).

    That resonates with what Ozzie said Z texted him Friday.

    “Why would I be hitting Chipper that night?” Zambrano said. “Chipper is the main guy on the Braves, and I threw some curves inside because I wanted to get them to extend their arms because they were too comfortable. I have to pitch inside, and the pitch was cut. If I wanted to hit someone, I hit him. I think I have good target when I want to hit someone. And Edmonds can talk about that.”

    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

    I’m always down for a cheapshot aimed at Johnny Guyliner.

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  25. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Jim Thome —-> 600 HR

    Badass.[/quote]Good for Jim. I’ve always liked that guy.

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  26. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I hate bunts with men on second base and no outs. So stupid.[/quote]One of us. One of us. One of us.

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  27. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Frank]And should have been a Cub.[/quote]Wut? The Phillies outbid everyone and by the time he went to the Sox, he was finished as a defensive player.

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  28. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=ACT]I’m still fine with them, particularly with a hitter like Lopez.[/quote]I will never be okay with giving away outs, and I cannot be argued off this stance. (dying laughing)

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  29. Rice Cube

    [quote name=ACT]I’m still fine with them, particularly with a hitter like Lopez.[/quote]
    I think “The Book” explains that shitty pitchers should always bunt no matter what because of the percentages, but I still think it’s stupid (dying laughing)

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  30. Frank

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Wut? The Phillies outbid everyone and by the time he went to the Sox, he was finished as a defensive player.[/quote]
    MO, Thome came to the Cubs before signing with the Phillies and he was going to offer the Cubs a home team discount. Hendry refused to make him an offer. So it isn’t as though the Cubs were outbid in effort to sign him, they simply didn’t try.

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  31. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Frank]MO, Thome came to the Cubs before signing with the Phillies and he was going to offer the Cubs a home team discount. Hendry refused to make him an offer. So it isn’t as though the Cubs were outbid in effort to sign him, they simply didn’t try.[/quote]
    That certainly could’ve taken care of the whole power-hitting lefty bat at first base thing…

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  32. Aisle424

    [quote name=Frank]MO, Thome came to the Cubs before signing with the Phillies and he was going to offer the Cubs a home team discount. Hendry refused to make him an offer. So it isn’t as though the Cubs were outbid in effort to sign him, they simply didn’t try.[/quote]
    They had Hee Seop Choi, who then turned into Derrek Lee, so it worked out.

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  33. Frank

    [quote name=Aisle424]They had Hee Seop Choi, who then turned into Derrek Lee, so it worked out.[/quote]
    I still would have preferred Thome.

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  34. Aisle424

    [quote name=Frank]I still would have preferred Thome.[/quote]
    It would have made 2003 a hell of a lot more interesting.

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  35. AndCounting

    Have they failed to sign anybody? All I heard when the draft was going on was that there were a handful of picks they’d never get. I love that another generation of Dunston is with this team.

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  36. Rice Cube

    [quote name=AndCounting]Have they failed to sign anybody? All I heard when the draft was going on was that there were a handful of picks they’d never get. I love that another generation of Dunston is with this team.[/quote]
    Sounds like they need to finalize the Baez deal (first round pick) but that’s supposed to be a foregone conclusion.

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  37. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Frank]MO, Thome came to the Cubs before signing with the Phillies and he was going to offer the Cubs a home team discount. Hendry refused to make him an offer. So it isn’t as though the Cubs were outbid in effort to sign him, they simply didn’t try.[/quote]Lemme guess: you think Hendry was stupid to let Josh Hamilton go, too.

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  38. dylanj

    what this draft does is basically cancel out the massive down year the system had. So I would expect us to be a 15-20 system again. But you do this for a few years in a row and we will really have something going. Great to see from Ricketts

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  39. dylanj

    S_DunstonJr shawon dunston jr
    It’s apart of the #Cubs family!! Thank you #Vanderbilt for signing me in the fall! I will always roote for my #vandyboys

    epic fail

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  40. Rice Cube

    [quote name=dylanj]S_DunstonJr shawon dunston jr
    It’s apart of the #Cubs family!! Thank you #Vanderbilt for signing me in the fall! I will always roote for my #vandyboys

    epic fail[/quote]
    ? So is he going to college or is he signed? That seems like a weird Tweet.

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  41. ACT

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Brian Wilson had a Marmol moment.[/quote]He’s having a down year in terms of walks and strikeouts. He has less fWAR than Marmol this year (he did last year, too).

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  42. Aisle424

    [quote name=dylanj]what this draft does is basically cancel out the massive down year the system had. So I would expect us to be a 15-20 system again. But you do this for a few years in a row and we will really have something going. Great to see from Ricketts[/quote]
    That’s the real question. Will they stay committed to this kind of spending on players that smaller markets can’t afford to sign (or can’t risk that they won’t sign them)? I’d like to think so, but who the hell knows.

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  43. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Lemme guess: you think Hendry was stupid to let Josh Hamilton go, too.[/quote]I don’t think that’s fair. I remember Thome wanting to play for the Cubs. It wasn’t the blank check that Dawson handed them in ’87, but he was going to sign with the Cubs for a lot less money than he’d get elsewhere. I wanted them to sign him and was very disappointed when they didn’t even make an attempt to do so.

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  44. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]what this draft does is basically cancel out the massive down year the system had. So I would expect us to be a 15-20 system again. But you do this for a few years in a row and we will really have something going. Great to see from Ricketts[/quote]Low 20s. The Cubs didn’t get a Mark Prior in this draft. They got a lot of players with talent and most of them will sadly fill out their top 10. As many as they’ve added, just as many have slipped off the face of the earth. I doubt the Cubs even end up being rated in the top 8 or 9 as far as this draft goes. They did well with what they had and what they drafted, but that’s as far as I’d go with blowing this organization.

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  45. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]That’s the real question. Will they stay committed to this kind of spending on players that smaller markets can’t afford to sign (or can’t risk that they won’t sign them)? I’d like to think so, but who the hell knows.[/quote]The thing is that small market teams are now signing these guys because they realize they’re never going to be able to afford to sign the free agents. The larger market teams don’t have the advantage they once did in the draft because the Pirates, Royals and every other small market team is spending lots of money. The Royals signed their 29th round pick (a cousin to someone who regularly comments here) for supplemental first round money. They signed their 4th rounder for the same amount and their 3rd rounder for $1.5 million. They’ve gone more overslot than the Cubs have.

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  46. dylanj

    i think this ends up a top 5 draft with Maples.

    Plus we finally spent on the LA free agents as well. This was a real big year for adding talent

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  47. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]i think this ends up a top 5 draft with Maples.

    Plus we finally spent on the LA free agents as well. This was a real big year for adding talent[/quote]I think it’s top 10, but probably around 8 or 9, which is a huge step up from recent years. It just seems like it’s a great draft because we’ve been following a team that drafts Tyler Colvin and Hayden Simpson in the first round.

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  48. mb21

    The Cubs have improved their depth in the minor leagues, but they haven’t added that many players potential impact players. Dillon Maples is probably the biggest impact player they drafted and he’s still unsigned. Brett Jackson remains the organization’s top prospect and that really says all you need to know about the organization when most scouts don’t think he’s impact player. They refer to him as having solid tools across the board and a bit better than average. That’s their top prospect.

    This is a step in the right direction, but you don’t build farm systems in one year. It takes several years to do it. If the Cubs keep doing this and get a few more impact players in the draft they’ll easily be top 10 within a few years and maybe even top 5. It takes time. They were starting from shit.

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  49. dylanj

    i think vogelbach, baez and maples are all impact players. baez was the best HS bat in the draft according to most and vogelbach has pretty high potential .

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  50. mb21

    The other thing to consider here is that the top picks have signed for a record amount. In other words, more teams are signing players overslot than ever before. Callis said earlier in an article on BA that they expect the total signing bonuses this year to be significantly higher than the record last year. Again, all teams are spending more. So the Cubs spending more, while a great sign, has to be taken in the context that the league is spending more on these players than ever before.

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  51. dylanj

    oh i agree its not just the money. but all of these guys we are talking about are rated highly as well. Dunston is the one im not that sure of

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  52. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]http://www.news-press.com/article/20110815/SPORTS/110815017/0/SS08/Bishop-Verot-s-Vogelbach-denies-signing-Chicago-Cubs?odyssey=nav|head

    (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Weird. The media is full of conflicting lies.

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  53. dylanj

    i tell you what if Dan Vogelbach doesn’t want 1.6 million you can find 3-4 prospects in the int’l market to split that money up on.

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  54. Rice Cube

    [quote name=dylanj]i tell you what if Dan Vogelbach doesn’t want 1.6 million you can find 3-4 prospects in the int’l market to split that money up on.[/quote]
    The comp pick if he doesn’t sign could be useful too, but lefty power sure is nice.

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  55. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]i think vogelbach, baez and maples are all impact players. baez was the best HS bat in the draft according to most and vogelbach has pretty high potential .[/quote]I don’t know, DJ. Hard for me to ever say a 1st baseman at his age and his size has high potential. Vogelbach’s potential hinges on his ability to remain at 1st base and what minor leaguers have proven to us is that they move to the right of the spectrum. He’s only an impact player if you ignore position.

    Look, the Cubs have had a good draft, but it’s not like they took a Bryce Harper or Steven Strasburg. They didn’t take a Mark Prior or a Corey Patterson or Kerry Wood. They took some high quality players, most of which will fail, hopefully some of which will succeed. All it is is a step in the right direction. One small step after years of taking steps in the wrong direction.

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  56. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]i tell you what if Dan Vogelbach doesn’t want 1.6 million you can find 3-4 prospects in the int’l market to split that money up on.[/quote]I agree. As great as his bat could be, I’m very hesitant to sign someone his size to that kind of money. I won’t complain if they do. I like it when the Cubs spend money, but that has a very high chance of becoming wasted money.

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  57. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=dylanj]that insider at BCB is saying the Cubs gave Maples 2.5 mill. Thats fucking crazy money[/quote]Wow. Ricketts really went all out.

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  58. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]http://www.news-press.com/article/20110815/SPORTS/110815017/0/SS08/Bishop-Verot-s-Vogelbach-denies-signing-Chicago-Cubs?odyssey=nav|head

    (dying laughing)[/quote]Vogelbach has about 83 minutes to sign. No hurry.

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  59. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Why are we talking about the draft when such an important Cubs game is happening? Priorities, people.[/quote]Castro sure is striking out A LOT these days.

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  60. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]I don’t think that’s fair. I remember Thome wanting to play for the Cubs. It wasn’t the blank check that Dawson handed them in ’87, but he was going to sign with the Cubs for a lot less money than he’d get elsewhere. I wanted them to sign him and was very disappointed when they didn’t even make an attempt to do so.[/quote]I don’t remember anything of the sort. I remember Thome beating the I’m A Local Guy drum, but who knows where that would’ve led.

    Hindsight is 20-20. But beating up Hendry for not signing a guy who *said* he would take a hometown discount is no different than beating him up for not taking Hamilton.

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  61. Mucker

    [quote name=mb21]I agree. As great as his bat could be, I’m very hesitant to sign someone his size to that kind of money. I won’t complain if they do. I like it when the Cubs spend money, but that has a very high chance of becoming wasted money.[/quote]I’m not that worried about his size. When I graduated HS, I was almost 300 lbs. By the time I was 21, I was 190. He’s an athlete. He’ll get his weight figured out. Hasn’t he already lost weight too? I just worry that if he loses weight, does his power go?

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  62. mb21

    I’m not beating Hendry up for it. It was frustrating at the time, but Choi was also a highly rated prospect so I had mixed feelings. I wouldn’t have been upset if they signed Thome, but at the same time I really wanted to see Choi play.

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  63. mb21

    [quote name=Muckey]I’m not that worried about his size. When I graduated HS, I was almost 300 lbs. By the time I was 21, I was 190. He’s an athlete. He’ll get his weight figured out. Hasn’t he already lost weight too? I just worry that if he loses weight, does his power go?[/quote]There was an article about how he had lost weight, but then another article that said he hadn’t. Post-draft articles are impossible to figure out. Everyone of the players drafted is in the best shape of their lives and so on and so forth. it’s like spring training.

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  64. Frank

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I don’t remember anything of the sort. I remember Thome beating the I’m A Local Guy drum, but who knows where that would’ve led.

    Hindsight is 20-20. But beating up Hendry for not signing a guy who *said* he would take a hometown discount is no different than beating him up for not taking Hamilton.[/quote]
    Again, Hendry didn’t even attempt to sign him. He let come in for a visit, then told him thanks but no thanks.

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  65. Mucker

    [quote name=mb21]There was an article about how he had lost weight, but then another article that said he hadn’t. Post-draft articles are impossible to figure out. Everyone of the players drafted is in the best shape of their lives and so on and so forth. it’s like spring training.[/quote]I’d be worried if he was a fat sloppy kid with zero athletic ability. But watching some videos of him, he’s pretty athletic. He hits the ball a fucking ton. If he can get down to the 230 range, he should be ok.

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  66. ACT

    This post-draft process has been very frustrating. I keep hearing reports about how someone is signed, then he isn’t, then he is, then he isn’t… Goddamn internet rumors, I wish they’d go away.

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  67. Berselius

    [quote name=ACT]This post-draft process has been very frustrating. I keep hearing reports about how someone is signed, then he isn’t, then he is, then he isn’t… Goddamn internet rumors, I wish they’d go away.[/quote]
    It’s probably just that they have an agreement in place but the agent is waiting to see if he can leverage someone else’s bonus into a raise for his client at the last minute.

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  68. dylanj

    [quote name=ACT]So… Vogelbach and Maples are definitely going to sign?[/quote]
    depends on who you ask (dying laughing)

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  69. Aisle424

    [quote name=ACT]This post-draft process has been very frustrating. I keep hearing reports about how someone is a faget, then he isn’t, then he is, then he isn’t… Goddamn fagets, I wish they’d go away.[/quote]
    .

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  70. Rice Cube

    [quote name=ACT]Oh my god! Mariano just got a save! Maybe all this talk about his maybe being washed up was a tad premature.[/quote]
    Well, it WAS the Royals…

    29 minutes to go. Are any beat reporters up this late to check on signings?

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  71. Berselius

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Well, it WAS the Royals…

    29 minutes to go. Are any beat reporters up this late to check on signings?[/quote]
    Miles is up, but not tweeting particularly much

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  72. dylanj

    cst_cubs cst_cubs
    Cubs get 9 of first 10 picks done by tonight’s deadline, including No. 9 overall Baez. 18 of first 20 signed.
    Favorite Retweet Reply

    wow

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  73. Rice Cube

    [quote name=dylanj]cst_cubs cst_cubs
    Cubs get 9 of first 10 picks done by tonight’s deadline, including No. 9 overall Baez. 18 of first 20 signed.
    Favorite Retweet Reply

    wow[/quote]
    Indeed. What’s the word on Maples though?

    I’m impressed regardless.

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  74. dylanj

    i know that we didnt get our 8th and nobody thinks we were going to get lindgren. So that should mean maples is in the bag

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  75. Berselius

    @jimcallisBA: #Cubs get 1st-rder Javier Baez for $2.625 mil, 14th-rder Dillon Maples for $2.5 mil spread over five years. #mlbdraft

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  76. GBTS

    TheBlogfines Matt Clapp
    BOOM! RT @jimcallisBA: #Cubs get 1st-rder Javier Baez for $2.625 mil, 14th-rder Dillon Maples for $2.5 mil spread over five years. #mlbdraft

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  77. Berselius

    [quote name=dylanj]does that mean we gave him a major league deal?[/quote]
    I don’t think so, for a high-schooler.

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  78. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Holy crap. I think I’m stoked.[/quote]
    It is a nice step. I want to see more of this in the coming years and I don;t want this to be instead of international spending. I don;t think it will be, based on the Ricketts mantra, but we’ve seen his actions not match his words often enough that I’m not ready to bow down in front of then yet.

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  79. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]It is a nice step. I want to see more of this in the coming years and I don;t want this to be instead of international spending. I don;t think it will be, based on the Ricketts mantra, but we’ve seen his actions not match his words often enough that I’m not ready to bow down in front of then yet.[/quote]
    Yeah, I hope it continues for years to come. There’s no way the Cubs shouldn’t outspend and outdraft other teams. I’m glad at least this is going our way (dying laughing)

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  80. Berselius

    [quote name=GBTS]Somebody ban temporarily ban MB so he can’t shit on our moment until the morning. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Write a post about how much you love The Olive Garden. It will distract him (dying laughing)

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  81. Berselius

    [quote name=AndCounting]Zambrano left this team just in time.[/quote]
    They need to ship out Aramis now before he ruins all these prospects.

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  82. dylanj

    [quote name=Berselius]7.2 for Rendon from Natinals. big league deal[/quote]
    baez is a fucking bargain compared to that

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  83. AndCounting

    [quote name=Berselius]They need to ship out Aramis now before he ruins all these prospects.[/quote]They’re not getting any better.

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  84. bubblesdachimp

    Just want to say give some credit tonight where credit is do. The ricketts pretty much gave an open check book to wiklen and he utiliZef it

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