This blog is intended for adult audiences- viewer discretion is advised! I will try to limit the cursing but when it comes to my Cubs- it’s been 103 years a fan can get a little upset over that! These are my opinions of recent transactions and moves made by the North Siders.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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
The February 16th date is fast approaching for veterans of the team for the Chicago Cubs. Their off season is ending rather quickly and ready for the grind that is the 162 game regular season beginning in the windy city. However, for the roster hopefuls time can't move fast enough because they want their shot at becoming an everyday player on the roster of the big club.
The training camp will be extra special for one family. As highlighted on Cubs.com Tayler Scott the South African will be trying to crack the roster and he will bring his family and friends all the way from South Africa and introduce them to a game of which they have relatively no knowledge. This will hopefully bring light of the game to a new area of the world and really try to grow the game globally through local heroes such as Scott.
Since it's been a while since my last post....
Roundup of the last week's events:
Cubs and Garza agree to terms on a new deal. One Year $9.5Million deal are the terms and coming off career best marks of ERA and K's per 9 of 9 (which is awesome!) A strikeout power pitcher is something that could help solidify the Cubs rotation in this year of transition. If he proves himself again this year, a long term deal is definitely in his future.
Beautiful Pinstripes!
Cubs Acquire Second Baseman Cardenas. Adrian Cardenes was claimed off waivers for the Oakland A's. This is a very suspicious move by the A's and a good pickup by the Cubs. In Triple-A last year he batted well over 300 and had 50+ RBI's in 120+ games. Suspicious because I would not drop 300 hitters from AAA for nothing! there is more to understand on this one, I will find more in the coming weeks as training camp draws nearer.
- I would love to hear what you think is actually (the problem) with Cardenes for him to be given up by Billy Beane for absolutely nothing!
Finally! Cespedes is coming to the US. Once he gets to the US he will give every team a final chance to make an offer and then he will make his decision as spring training approaches for all teams. This will be the final chance for Epstein and Hoyer to woo the Cuban free agent into coming to Chi town.
And just to get everyone in the mood for the season here is "Go Cubs Go" just for a little easy listening
It is official! Cespedes is now on the market, he is a free agent now! He has obtained citizenship with the Dominican Republic and has be officially listed by Major League Baseball as a free agent. The outfielder is now, after the signing of Prince Fielder by the Tigers, the most sought after free agent on the market and one of the most wanted Cuban in a long time. With the signing of Fielder the services of Cespedes is not so hotly desired by the Tigers anymore. Other reports have stated that Cespedes will not play for the Miami Marlins even if they are the highest bidder.
SO since that leaves the Cubs as the only major contender left for his services, a few minor players are left, but this has paved the way to the north side for Yoennis!
Yoennis
Cespedes, a Cuban defector is one of the, if not the most hotly sought after
free agent on the market this offseason.Now in the process of defecting, and obtaining citizenship in the
Dominican Republic, this will allow him to play in the Majors.Being 26 years old, he is too old to go
through the draft process, and will forgo this and simply become a free
agent.As he is supposedly in the final
stages of his citizenship process, which has lasted about two months, there are
still three (3) teams hot on his tail.They are willing to throw big money at the outfielder for his services
in their Major League organizations.This
five tool star in the making is being eyed by the Marlins, Tigers and most
importantly the Cubs.
So screw
the rest of the teams let’s talk about the Cubs and why he could fit in right
away with the big league club.
The Cubs’
current outfield roster goes like so!
-Marlon
Byrd
-Reed
Johnson
-Alfonso
Soriano
-Tony
Campana
-David
DeJesus
Adding Cespedes
could be very important!He is built
like an NFL running back- so if all falls through just send him to Soldier
Field to try out for the Bears.With
talks that Soriano could go to the Tigers that may satisfy their need for an
outfielder even though I think he should move to DH with the AL club.Being a five tool outfielder he could replace
what Soriano used to be able to do in his younger days before he started to
strikeout every at bat.With the pop
that Soriano still has in his bat this could help the Tigers who will be
without Victor Martinez for the majority of the season.
Cespedes is
a valuable tool that will be very important and helpful as the Cubs look to
rebuild this year.He will be learning
the Major League game over the course of the year as the Cubs look to improve
themselves during this season.The only
issue that may arise is the idea that the Cubs will continue to cut payroll
this year as they move towards building the war chest back up for the
future.
BUT to
throw the money you have at Cespedes or not?????
Cespedes - Outfielder or Running Back?
Cespedes
wants a long term deal of $50-60M.This
is too much for Epstein and Hoyer to invest in one player during their
rebuilding era.However – CURVEBALL.Another Cuban defector Jorge Soler
is described as a younger Cespedes and he is on the market through hear say for
about $20M.This is an investment for a
potential five tool player on a team that is rebuilding.He would go to the minor leagues with a fast
track to the Majors.If Epstein gets a
good look and likes what he sees he and Hoyer will pull the trigger on this one
for the Cubs.
Savior of the Cubs!
All in all
we need some outside help to make this five year plan for Epstein work –
Save us Cuba!
With 103 years of disappointment comes an air of
scepticism. This is the situation the
Chicago Cubs find themselves in going in to each of the past few seasons. However, with a renewed focus towards putting
a championship contending team on the field this past season the owner Joe
Ricketts and son Tom Ricketts have decided money is no object. This is the mentality which is necessary for
a winning ball club in today’s baseball.
The most important change that the Cubs have made is the hiring of Theo
Epstein brought in to become President of Baseball Operations. The Ricketts’ brought in Epstein from the Red
Sox after years of successful managing of the Boston club.
Having stolen him away from a ball club that has seen recent
success under his leadership, a hefty price must be paid for his services. This fee is about twenty million over the
next five years. But if this is the
price for creating a winning culture that hasn’t been seen since the early
2000’s after the Steve Bartman incident, then I’m glad the Tom Ricketts is
prepared to pay it. Arguably the
hungriest fans in sports need something to look forward to and with Theo
Epstein calling the shots from up top.
With Epstein at the helm his first move was to bring in a general
manager to execute his ideas and strategies going forward with the Cubs
organization. The man for the job is Jed
Hoyer. Another young and hungry leader
within the Cubs’ trust to organize and orchestrate deals to move the club
forward Hoyer will bring fresh eyes and new perspective to the 2012 season.
Back to Epstein...
A graduate of Yale he was hired by the Boston Red Sox at the
age of 28 to become the youngest General Manager of a baseball in history. He ended an 86 year drought of not winning a
championship for the Red Sox and looks to accomplish the same feat for the
Cubs. During his nine year tenure he won
two World Series Titles and took the team to the playoffs four other times
taking them from irrelevance to perennial contenders. This ‘Epstein Effect’ is what the Cubs are
looking for to take them mediocrity to championship contenders. Although Epstein’s Red Sox team was not
afraid to spend money, he also is from the ‘moneyball’ era of baseball. He is able to find undervalued players and bring
them to prominence within the Major League ranks. Some of his most notable work is with Kevin
Youkilis. Taking a player no one had on
their radar in the eighth round (a steal) and finding value in his playing
style. His batting average in the
major’s is a shade under 300 and on base percentage of just under 400. He possesses all of the skills of a highly
touted prospect but Epstein and the Red Sox found him in the eighth round! It is with moves like this that the Cubs now
have hopes of a World Series in the very near future. The five year plan of the Cubs with Epstein
at the helm in my opinion is as follows:
Year 1: Get out of the basement of the NL Central. Find talent in the draft and begin to build
up the minor league teams for the future of the club. Have a 500 record to restore the ‘roar’ of
the Cubs.
Year 2: After beginning to regain success the Cubs will need
to look to add pieces to become division threats and through another successful
draft, and good free agency period become contenders for the title of the Central
Division.
Year 3: It’s time for the young pieces and building blocks
of the club to show their talent lead by strong starting pitching and win the
division or gain a wild card berth.
Year 4: After having
gotten a taste of the playoffs the year before and having another successful
offseason the Cubs will look to launch a deep playoff run with great pitching
and timely hitting necessary for good teams to perform well during the
playoffs.
Year 5: Time to end the drought of what would now be 108
years and win the elusive World Series title and become a dynasty for years to
come. HELL YES!
See the video of Theo being introduced as President of
Baseball Operations
Tell me that’s not a confident man!
Tell me the World Series is not coming to Chi Town!
