The Giants are like a box of chocolate, but don't worry, be happy

OK, so Timmy says not to worry, no need to panic. But Cody Ross seems to be sensing what is in Giants fans hearts and minds -- a season slipping away. In a sense, Timmy is right. When the Giants RHP go to the bump -- I don't worry, I be happy. When the LHP's are on the hill -- life's like a box of chocolates, you don't know what you're going to get.

San Francisco Giants - Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports:

"By The Numbers:

1.67—Tim Lincecum's ERA in his last 10 starts, since mid-June, the second lowest in the majors in that span. He'll start for the Giants Saturday.

Quote To Note:
'Same old song and dance. We've got to do something, and we've got to do it fast. It's getting out of control.'
—Cody Ross, on the Giants' ongoing struggles."

----

BTW: I see that Carlos Zambrano had a meltdown last night for the Cubs. He basically quit on his team, according to Quade. Well, he did it openly and publicly. Most of the other Cubs players, if they are being honest with themselves, had mailed in this season -- and large parts of the last couple of seasons -- a long time ago. So, Carlos became the poster boy for the issue, but it goes back to manager / coach dilemma, it's easier to fire a manager or a hitting / pitching coach, than it is to fire 23-24 players, especially when many of them have horrible contracts.

Yes, looking squarely at GM Jim Hendry on this one. Because, seriously folks -- A Carlos Zambrano meltdown -- who did NOT see that one coming?

So Carlos should likely be the first one out of town, but Hendry and perhaps Quade should follow. This team fooled management into thinking they would play for Quade late last year. That may have been an illusion. It's always a dicey proposition to put your eggs in a basket of players who have demonstrated an ability to shut down their effort for whatever reason. If they did it once, they will do it again, for whatever silly reasons they may come up with. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. I'm not sure where the Cubs go with this fool me greater than two times philosophy, but the players don't seem to take management very seriously at this point, and in reality have not going back to late in the Piniella regime.

Find players whose character is strong enough that they don't do that or a manager strong enough to not tolerate it. Maybe Ryne Sandberg is still available and wouldn't mind playing sloppy second choice to come in to clean up this mess.

Giants baseball may be torture, but Cubs baseball is just sickening to watch at times.

Crazy Zito Trade Proposal - Zito for Soriano?

Crazy Zito Trade Proposal

I say do it. Both teams need what the other player brings and both players are badly in need of a change of scenery. Zito has been an innings eater, but watch his ERA soar when he goes from the cavernous ballpark he now calls home to Wrigley. And if that happens, they won't be calling it the "friendly confines" for very long. The same Cubs fans who blister the airwaves with calls complaining about Soriano will suddenly extol his virtues.

How about swapping Barry Zito for Alfonso Soriano?

Tom Hanks never made a sequel to “The Money Pit.” If he did, he could’ve called them, “The Sori Strikes Back” and “Return of the Zito.” There aren’t many contracts in baseball history that have been more widely panned, ridiculed, dissected and excoriated.

It's almost even on the "bad contract" swap side.

Soriano, 35, is making $18 million this year. Zito, 33, is making $18.5 million.

Next year: Soriano $18 million, Zito $19 million.

In 2013: Soriano $18 million, Zito $20 million.

And 2014: Soriano $18 million, Zito $7 million buyout. (Let’s leave aside the vesting option language for now, shall we?)

So assuming Zito gets the buyout in 2014, and prorating this year’s salaries, we’re looking at a difference of roughly $7.75 million between the two players. Given the longer time frame, that seems like a number the two sides could smooth out one way or another.

Sure, why not? You think the Cubs are that desperate to give away Big Z?

And while Brian Sabean and Jim Hendry are at it, might as well throw Carlos Zambrano and Aaron Rowand in the deal, too.

Trade Barry Zito Central:
http://www.tradebarryzito.com/

Cubs 2011 Review - Year Two: Hope Springs Eternal

Cubs Prospects beginning to pay dividends - Soto, Colvin and Castro


One of the more difficult jobs in baseball has to be in the PR department of the Chicago Cubs. Somebody in those offices has to deliver a message or a slogan -- that tells a fan base that has waited rather patiently since 1945 for a World Series appearance and 1908 for a World Series championship -- that the waiting will continue. The best the Ricketts family could come up with after spending $845M to purchase the team was “Year One”.

Cub’s fans (and the Ricketts family) are going to demand more for their money than that in 2011 and the good news may be found within the clubs suddenly resurgent farm system. Under the leadership of GM Jim Hendry, Farm Director Oneri Fleita and Scouting Director Tim Wilken, the Cubs are planting the seeds down on the farm that may result in a bumper crop of future major leaguers.

The Cubs organization is currently considered to have as many future big leaguers in its system than any other team in baseball according to the consensus of opinion of scouts and minor league directors. The team stubbed its toe at the beginning of the decade with its first-round picks beginning in 2001 with Mark Prior (mixed results). The Cubs followed that with Bobby Brownlie, Ryan Harvey, Grant Johnson and Mike Pawelek. Since 2006, the first-round has produced Tyler Colvin, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson and Hayden Simpson. Getting better, but it will take some time and a Rookie of the Year perhaps, to erase the memories of past futility and false hopes Remember Felix Pie? Brian Dopirak? Corey Patterson? Angel Guzman? And please don’t make me go all Hee-Seop Choi on your behind. Suffice to say, Cubs fans have been through a lot. In more ways than one.

But perhaps things are beginning to look up. Last year the Cubs introduced SS Starlin Castro and OF Tyler Colvin, as well as RHP Andrew Cashner, to the roster with mixed results and some question marks. Castro was an immediate hit with the bat -- posting a .300 average -- but his defensive lapses were a cause for concern. In his defense, ideally Castro should have been learning his craft in AA-AAA ball last year. There is nothing harder on a young prospect than making rookie mistakes on the major league stage, on balance Castro performed remarkably well and the expectation is he will be a fixture at SS for years to come.

Tyler Colvin showed promise as a hitter early, than tailed off somewhat as pitchers made adjustments. Like Castro, Colvin enters a pivotal sophomore year. A more patient approach should bring down his strikeout rate (100 in 358 AB’s) and lift his average (.254 BA) closer to .300. Colvin did club 20 HR’s last year, so a 30-90-.275 stat line is not out of the question for Colvin.

The only question about Andrew Cashner seemed to be “future starter or closer?” For now, it seems as if he will help Kerry Wood set-up closer Carlos Marmol. Not a bad option to have, a 6-6, 210 pound flame-thrower to lock down the sixth and seventh innings of games.

The Cubs took a pinch off the top of the prospect list to acquire RHP Matt Garza from the Devil Rays. RHP Chris Archer, SS Hak-Ju Lee and OF Brandon Guyer were highly regarded, but replaceable and certainly worth the price to add Garza to the top of the rotation. Garza, Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster combined were 41-28 last year. Add a LHP Sean Marshall (7-5 record) instead of RHP Randy Wells (8-14 record) to the rotation and perhaps RHP Carlos Silva (10-6 record) or LHP James Russell and you have a starting staff that is capable of winning 60% or more of their approximately 90 decisions. Sixty percent gets you to 54-36. If you can manage to split those other games -- which are decided by bats and bullpens and in Wrigley Field generally leave behind softball scores – you can get to 90 wins and that should be good enough for a playoff berth, if not a divisional crown.

The bullpen is solid enough. The staff overall seems a little light on the left-handed side -- having dealt Tom Gorzelany to Washington for power-hitting prospect OF Michael Burgess -- and a decision has to be made on RHP Jeff Samardzia, but in a Central Division that may be the easiest pickings in the National League, the Cubbies have a shot as currently constructed.

Now, what does the future hold for the Cubs as far as prospects? After subtracting Archer and Lee from the top five prospects to get Garza, the Cubs recovered by securing Michael Burgess from Washington.

What is the buzz on Burgess? He’s a former first-rounder via Washington (2007 draft). A 5-11,195 lb. 22 year-old who throws and bats from the left side. Burgess brings a prodigious power bat, but strikes out frequently. He has a plus-OF arm. If he picks up his average a little and backs down the strikeouts (they go hand in hand) the Cubs appear to have a steal.

MICHAEL BURGESS

Former Nats' GM Jim Bowden offered this report recently:

“ Burgess has tremendous power, he's got 30-35 HR power, light-tower-power. When he hits them, he hits them a mile. He's got a great arm. He was a pitcher in high school, came out of Tampa, but a great arm. A good fielder, I'd say an average fielder with an above average [arm], he will throw you out. You try to score, you're not going to. You try to go first to third, Michael Burgess will throw you out. Now, what's the downside. High strikeouts. One out of four at bats he punches out. He's got some holes. He's got some mechanical things in his swing, I'm not going to call it a hitch, but he's got a little pump at the end that doesn't clear, and he hasn't been able to get rid of it yet, but, he's only 21-year-old, and that's when you look at prospects like this and you're seeing a guy that reaches all the way up to Double-A at twenty-one, if he was in the draft, he'd be coming out as a junior or senior in college and he'd be starting at A-ball or rookie ball. So, to me, you look at the age and go, okay only 21, he's got the power, and by the way, he's kept improving each year. I think it was a good pickup for [Cubs' GM] Jim Hendry. Look, he's not a sure thing, but if he makes it, if he can make some adjustments with the bat, and make more contact, Hendry might have just stolen a 25-30 HR major league hitter."

Not too bad. So Burgess goes towards the top of the list.

Keeping him company there and what, in some combination, will comprise the Cubs outfield of the future are:

Brett Jackson 6-2, 210 OF (2009 1st rounder) Age 22 - Best power hitter in organization, 4-tool player. Potential 20 HR, 20 SB type. Quick bat with plus speed.

BRETT JACKSON

Matt Szczur 6-1, 190 OF (2010 5th rounder) Age 21 – Best Athlete in organization. Fastest runner. Not much pop in the bat and needs more plate discipline and patience in hitting approach.

MATT SZCZUR

The top infield prospects would appear to be the following:

Josh Vitters 6-3, 195 3B (2007 1st rounder) Age 21 – Was the organizations top prospect in 2008-09. Has easy, compact stroke but can be pull-happy at times. Needs to develop a more patient approach.

JOSH VITTERS

Darwin Barney 5-10, 175 (2007 4th rounder) Age 25 – Makes contact, little pop in bat. Needs to be a more patient hitter as well. Best defensive IF in the organization.

DARWIN BARNEY

D.J. LeMahieu 6-4, 195 (2009 2nd rounder) Age 22 – May be one to watch down the road. Needs AA seasoning but early returns are good. Best Hitter for average in the organization, not much pop. Needs to develop more patient approach.

D.J. LEMAHIEU

Matt Cerda 5-9, 165 (2008 4th rounder) Age 20 – No speed, no pop. Consummate utility type prospect. Makes contact and HAS A PATIENT HITTING APPROACH. Yippee!!!!

MATT CERDA - CUBS PROSPECT

Cerda competed in the LLWS that featured Danny Almonte – his team lost – so from a purely poetic justice standpoint, I’m rooting for this kid.

Here is the ESPN.com article that documents the story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cerda

MATT CERDA - LITTLE LEAGUER

Among the pitching prospects:

Trey McNutt 6-4, 205 RHP (2009 32nd rounder) Age 21 - Good control, best curveball in the organization, a power CB. 92+ on the FB. High strikeout rate. (10.00 K/9IP).

TREY MCNUTT

Hayden Simpson 6-0, 175 RHP (2010 1st rounder) Age 21 - Surprise of the 2010 Draft 1st round. Cubs have seen him get the FB to 94-97. Has Maddux-like approach to pitching. Projects as a #2-3 starter. If he hits big and soon, he can have a major impact on the organizations fortunes.

HAYDEN SIMPSON

Chris Carpenter 6-4, 215 RHP (2009 3rd rounder) Age 25 - Possible bottom of the rotation starter or set-up reliever. Solid 92-95 FB good slider.

CHRIS CARPENTER

Rafael Dolis 6-4, 215 RHP (2004 Dominican Republic) Age 22 - Converted SS, project as a pitcher. High 90’s FB has broken 100+. Has some elbow and control issues.

RAFAEL DOLIS

So the future appears brighter. The transition from Lou Piniella to Mike Quade should allow the organization to transition more smoothly from a veteran oriented win-now approach, to a more patient system where impact players are drafted and developed from within. The recent success of organization like the Rays, Twins, Braves and more recently, the Giants World Series victory from last year, demonstrate that this approach can pay dividends rather quickly.

What kind of baseball do you play? Mount Piniella is ready to blow...

This is classic Lou Piniella, questioned by reporters after another dismal showing by the Cubs bats. This after the move of ace Carlos Zambrano from Opening Day starter to set-up man for Carlos Marmol.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/videobeta/?watchId=07504596-4623-418a-aff7-6f4d50ce7d0f

"Did you think of bunting after Byrd doubled?" Piniella was asked.

"Bunting what?" Piniella said. "With a left-handed hitter up, you want to bunt? What kind of baseball you play? Really, what kind of baseball do you play?"

CLASSIC!!! Sounds an exchange with Joey from Friends.

The Cubs are at an early season cross-road. And Mount Piniella is starting to steam.

LILLY PICKS UP WHERE ZAMBRANO LEFT OFF

Ted Lilly follows Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter with six near-perfect innings to start the game, before giving up a hit (or two?) in the seventh, this afternoon in Milwaukee. Lance Berkman walked in the second, and was promptly picked off by Lilly. Reggie Abercrombie led off the seventh with a ??-able error scored on Aramis Ramirez. Mark Loretta followed with a clean single to right-center to end the no-hit bid.

This would be the only hit the Astros would get in this two game set in Milwaukee, as Carlos Marmol, Jeff Samarzia and Bobby Howry would combine to shut the 'stros down the rest of the way, preserving the one-hitter.

If Lilly had been able to finish the deal, it would have been the first time no-hitters have been twirled by pitchers from the same team in back-to-back games.

The Giants Gaylord Perry and the Cardinals Ray Washburn combined to pitch back to back no-no's in the same series, but for separate teams.

These two games were laden with controversy as the Reggie Abercrombie hit that was scored an error brought back memories of the questionable scoring call that went against C.C. Sabathia in Pittsburgh and cost him a chance at a no-hitter. Today, Lilly was given a questionable second life, which Loretta would later turn into a moot point. But it seems like rarely does a game go by that a scoring decision isn't dripping with home-cooking. Something needs to be done about that situation. It's turning into a bit of a joke. There was a blind fan in Section 103 screaming at the press-box that it was a hit, that's how bad the scoring was.

The old school maxim that the first hit has to be a clean one was stretched to the absolute limit today.

The second questionable item was the propriety of moving the game from Houston to Milwaukee in the first place. The Astros were are competing directly with the Brewers for the wild-card spot, so in fairness to the Astros, you would think the game could have been played somewhere other than the Cubs backyard.

By the way, in case your scoring at home, Sundays game drew 23,441 and this afternoons matinee managed to pack in 15,158 otherwise unoccupied Cubs fans. The two-game average of 19,300 is right about the Rays regularly-scheduled game average.

Considering these were unscheduled games, moved into a division rivals stadium, with a fan base that has it's own local flooding problems due to the weekend hurricanes, that's fan support the Cubs can be proud of.

Maybe that's why the Commish moved the games here. Another chance to ring the register. HAHAHAHA.

Cubs Baseball, Another Century of Frustration??

The Cubs today showed the kind of futility that should keep them from the post-season for God knows how long into the 21st Century. The team seems to be focusing their anger and disdain on guys wearing the same uniform lately, as today's Barrett-Zambrano dust-up seems to illustrate.

Now, that by itself won't keep them out of the post-season, playing as they do in the worst division in baseball, what makes this team so special and capable of maintaining their legacy, is a Bad-News Bears-esque disdain for 1)catching the ball well, 2) throwing the ball and 3)displaying even basic base running acumen.

Fundamentally, still one of the worst teams in the major leagues. Ironically, the lack of basic fundamental play, was the main reason the media honks in this area gave for running one Johnny "Dusty" Baker out as manager. Even after spending quality Wrigley Bucks on free-agents this past off-season, as well as luring Lou Piniella away from the booth, these Cubs if anything seem to be regressing to an even lower level of baseball, if that's possible.

This team may not be as good as the Devil Rays, at about 4 times the payroll. Todays debacle came after the team supposedly had a players only meeting to straighten out some of the bone-headed play and lack of cohesion. Looks like they may have just been playing cards behind closed doors.

Oh well, better luck next century.