Concepcion a Cub....Longterm

As I reported earlier in the season, Cuban prospect Gerardo Concepcion is with the Cubs.  The left-hander has now signed a five year major league contract with the organization.  This is the payoff the defect was looking for when he left for the USA.

"One of our focuses has been on continuing to bring in pitching depth, and he's a 20-year-old left- hander, really good feel for pitching, three-pitch mix, has had success at a really young age in Cuba," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "He's a guy we're excited to bring over here and work with."

This continues to be a move that I see bringing depth in pitching for the Cubs that will aid them going forward in the coming years.  His big league potential needs to be harnessed in and a few mechanics need to be improved but having done all this he definitely exudes the tools of a major leaguer.  Having gotten a chance to watch some tape on the kid he has a big motion and can be a little wild but given all of the resources of teaching and tools and the big league level he will certainly be harnessed in a little bit and improve in a short period of time.

ESPN is reporting the details of the contract to be...The 20-year-old is guaranteed $6 million in the deal. There is a $3 million signing bonus, with the other $3 million spread out over the length of the contract.

Also courtesy of ESPN here is a video from Mesa, AZ of Jed Hoyer discussing his reaction to the signinghttp://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7673834 

North vs. South For The First Time In 2012

Spring training is the time for opportunity, development, change and today is the chance for rekindling of rivals.  The North Siders are prepared to take on their cross-town rivals for the first time in 2012.  The game will take place in the afternoon Arizona heat and will pit several regulars against each other in the two clubs first game of significance if there is one in spring training.  The Cubs are slated to send Travis Wood to the rubber followed by Randy Wells and Rodrigo Lopez. Back in the lineup today for the Cubs after a strong performance last time out, Alfonso Soriano will step into the batters’ box first for the Cubs.  Pitching for the White Sox will be Chris Sale. 

The lineup he will face is:

1. Alfonso Soriano, DH

 

2. Darwin Barney, 2B 

3. Jeff Baker, RF 

4. Bryan LaHair, 1B 

5. Marlon Byrd, CF 

6. Joe Mather, LF 

7. Steve Clevenger, C 

8. Junior Lake, SS 

9. Edgar Gonzalez, 3B

With potentially 5 starters in today’s lineup there is no question that there is a little bit of intensity added to a very much less than meaningful spring training game.  Now it is time for the game to being in less than 2 hours time and see how the pitching stacks up for the Cubs as well as the bats and see if they can come back to life for the North Siders.  A big portion of today’s viewing should be given to see the bat of Alfonso Soriano and to determine is he is continuing to round into shape in time for early April.

Enjoy the game and Go Cubs Go.

Time for Intrasquad

It is that time Cubs fans! The Chicago Cubs have begun to play some intrasquad games and are ready to get the 2012 MLB season somewhat underway! This is where the true tests are given and see who can 'swim' and who will 'sink'.  Pitting "minor leaguers" against who is slated to make the big club and test their skills and see the potential that exists within the organization.  Big names are taking the opportunity to share some knowledge and help develop some players for the future while playing alongside the Cubs of today.

Stories to follow as spring training progresses in Mesa, AZ will be Matt Garza and to see he will be ready to throw from the rubber on opening days against the Washington Nationals April 5th for the north siders.

Will Alfonso Soriano round back into his old form and become the Cubs' clean up hitter, only time will tell and a good Spring Training will go a long way to being the star he once was!

Manager Dale Sveum will also take the opportunity to use players in roles he envisions for the regular season such as different infield positions or outfield positions, but most notably where to use some pitchers within his bullpen.  Pitchers to watch during this time would be Travis Wood, Randy Wells, Andy Sonnanstine, Casey Coleman and Alberto Cabrera would be just a few to name.

Stay tuned for some more developing stories as spring training notes come to fruition from Mesa the site of the stars of the Cubs today, and tomorrow!

Off The Record - Cubs Edition

Good Evening Followers....catch the first episode of Off The Record with myself as host and an few other insiders from different sports to provide outsider's perspective of the Cubs and baseball in general going into the season.  As Spring Training is upon us, this is the time where team dynamics are made and a culture is developed for a new team.  Dale Sveum is taking the team in a new direction and Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are making the calls from up-top, see what these folks had to say about that and some exciting topics going into the start of the 2012 season.

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Alright thanks for the read and the views and come on back soon for more information quite often relayed here!

Compensation Finally Settled For Epstein

It has been months since the Chicago Cubs acquired President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein from the Boston Red Sox.  With this deal having been made from both clubs just after the end of last season, it was announced at the outset that compensation would be sent back to the Red Sox in terms of a prospect.  Finally, ESPN.com is reporting the issue is resolved and it was done with the assistance of Commissioner Bud Selig.  Selig was asked to step in as a mediator to compensate the Boston Red Sox.  And finally, the longest drawn out trade of the off season in the MLB is settled - for the most part.  The Cubs have agreed to trade Chris Carpenter, a young right-handed arm. The 26 year old, played a little bit of time with the big club last year during June, and this will be the year he is ready to make the leap towards a full-time bullpen spot for a big league club.  So this move will help to solidify and add depth to their bullpen and maybe play AAA ball to start and move in and out of the big league club....this move is fine - the problem becomes ESPN reports that the Cubs and Red Sox will exchange ANOTHER player to be named later.

This deal was already the longest and most drawn out deal of the Winter, why can't two teams just settle this and move on with their decisions of who they've acquired.  Normally, when a trade is made with a player to be named later it is often dependent upon the success of the teams involved in the trade for the quality of player that will be traded.  Should this be the case, I see this as being inappropriate.  The clubs success or failure should not be directly tied to the President of Baseball Operations.  He is able to make moves for the club, however it is the players on the field who dictate the outcome and can hinge upon them rather than the front office staff.

Podcast with The Irate Italian

Another podcast that encompasses some of the week's hot topics and definitely had to throw in a little bit of the  Cubbies in there!

Check this one out, talk about the Super Bowl, 2013 Winter Classic, and the Detroit Tigers and their moves and chat about Matt Garza and a few other surprises to come....

Catch the podcast and stay tuned for more Cubs chats to come really soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQhVztRcDuY

Pardon My Interruption

Hey there Cubs fans....here is the latest of my thought from last while I had a sit down on PMI (pardon my interruption).  I sat down with the NFL insider Ivo the HITMAN Frankovich and Quinton the KRONWALLER Rossini.  We chatted about anything in the NHL, the Super Bowl to THE CHICAGO CUBS! So have a listen and hopefully enjoy this weeks episode...more to come

http://sportblogger.tk/

Check back soon for more CHI CUBS info