“We will have financial flexibility,” Hoyer said. “We’ve been diligent to make sure we do have flexibility and we’re efficient going forward. We’ll obviously be active in the free agent market. That’s a big part of our research and work now is evaluating free agents. We have some money to spend and we’ll focus on it heavily.” – Jed Hoyer …
Brett Jackson has more strikeouts than Darwin Barney
Brett Jackson has struckout 53 times in 125 plate appearances. Darwin Barney has struckout just 50 times in 540 plate appearances. Jackson has more strikeouts on the Cubs than all players but Alfonso Soriano, Bryan LaHair, Starlin Castro and David DeJesus. By the way, can we stop referring to Castro as a contact hitter? How many times have you heard …
Jonathan Mayo’s top 100 prospects (and top 20 Cubs prospects)
Despite promoting top prospects Anthony Rizzo and Brett Jackson this year, the Cubs still managed to land five guys on Mayo's top 100 list. (EDIT: Apparently Jackson still qualifies for the list) For those too lazy to click through Javier Baez (24) Albert Almora (52) Bert Jackson (74) Arodys Vizcaino (76) Jorge Soler (77) Cubs top 20 Top 100
Seeking Rock Bottom: Pitcher K’s
Ahh… the Hendry Era. The Cubs were always winning, the best players were beloved by the media and treated with respect by the front office, player acquisitions were always based on sound analytical wisdom, and Order prevailed in its eternal conflict with Chaos. Wait, what’s wrong with these…? /cleans fogged up sepia-tinted Transitions Lenses It’s all this damn Texas sunlight. …
The Cubs probably won’t be taking many walks for some time
The Cubs 6.5% walk rate prior to last night's games was the lowest in baseball (league average 8.1%). The following Cubs with 150 PA or more are or were above league average: Geovany Soto (9.6%), Luis Valbuena (9.8%), Ian Stewart (10.4%), David DeJesus (10.6%) and Bryan LaHair (11.2%). One of those players is now with the Texas Rangers. Another is …
Cubs call up Jackson and Vitters
Per MICubs. Both Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters are in uniform in LA for todays game. Go nuts.
Let’s play “What if”
Starlin Castro has established himself at the big league level and he's going to get better. How much so? Who really knows, but even if he never got any better, he's still an above average shortstop currently making league minimum. Anthony Rizzo hasn't established himself as Castro has, but he's more than shown in his first couple months with the …
New Cub Arodys Vizcaino
I was getting ready for bed last night when all these trades happened and I assumed I'd make it to bed at my bedtime. Then I saw Arodys Vizcaino's name surface as one of the two players the Cubs were getting in return for Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm. At that point I knew I was going to be up …
Geovany Soto traded to Texas Rangers for Jacob Brigham, Johnson and Paul Maholm traded to Braves for Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Capman ***UPDATED***
According to Tim Brown of Yahoo, Geovany Soto has been traded to the Texas Rangers. Soto has been traded to Rangers. — Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) July 31, 2012 Not sure how accurate this is, but it figures the Cubs would pull this shit when I'm about ready to go to bed. This trade is not related to the Reed Johnson …
Reed Johnson traded, Geovany Soto too ***UPDATED***
Reed Johnson has more than likely been traded. He was pulled from tonight's game and was shaking hands in the dugout. More on this later (probably tomorrow morning for me). UPDATE: Geovany Soto was shaking hands in the dugout and was pulled at the same time. Brett Jackson was pulled from Iowa and would likely be recalled. Can't imagine the …