MLB reportedly admits Anthony Rizzo's controversial slide vs. the Pirates should have been called illegal

There, that didn't take long now did it? St. Joe probably will still maintain that we should be teaching our kids to be dirty players, but that's his problem.

• We now have rules not being enforced that were put in place to enforce prior rules that were in place but not being enforced by umpires.
• We now have instant replay that is consistently not picking up mistakes made by the umpires on the field. And apologies to teams impacted by these errors are just not going to do the trick too much longer. 

MLB and Instant replay are a joke. But, at least they aren't as big a joke as Joe Maddon and Anthony Rizzo. 

from cbssports.com
MLB reportedly admits Anthony Rizzo's controversial slide vs. the Pirates should have been called illegal

Breaking: Source indicates the league believes interference should have been called yesterday re Anthony Rizzo's 8th inning slide at home plate. Both teams have been informed of that decision which differs from the call on the field and the umpires video review.  

Rizzo had already been forced out at the plate before the slide. Had the play been called interference, the Pirates would've been given the out on Diaz's throw to first base. It would've made a significant difference in the game. Consider the situations:

• Rizzo slide called legal: Cubs up 5-0, runner on second with one out.
• Rizzo slide called illegal: Cubs up 3-0, runners on second and third with two outs.

Maybe those runners score and the Cubs take a 5-0 lead anyway. Who knows? I do know a 5-0 game is very different than a 3-0 game though. Both Cubs manager Joe Maddon and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle would've used their bullpen differently.

MLB rule 6.01(i) says the "runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate), or otherwise initiate an avoidable collision." Rizzo, clearly, deviated from his path to initiate an avoidable collision. Was it a dirty slide? I'm not sure. Was it against the rules? For sure.

For whatever reason, MLB's replay crew did not see it that way at the time, and the play stood. The slide was called legal. Now MLB has reportedly backtracked, and informed both teams the slide should've been ruled illegal. That doesn't help the Pirates now, but at least the league is acknowledging the mistake.

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http://cbssportsapp.com

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2015 Draft Report Card: Cubs - BaseballAmerica.com

Bottom line, the Cubs should get over their recent playoff disappointment rather quickly. I like Ian Happ from the 2015 draft class and I believe that Billy McKinney will be the next bat to make an impact in the Cubbies young, but prodigious lineup. Cubs will just re-load and take another shot. If David Price reunited with Joe Maddon, that really solidifies the starting rotation with a Big Three in Lester, Arietta and Price.

Some day soon people are going to be openly questioning the genius who packaged both Addison Russell and Billy McKinney in a trade for a one-night stand with Jeff Samardjzia. Maybe some day:
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/6/24/8836273/russell-mckinney-keep-cubs-big-winners-one-year-later

Just saying. And it's not using the benefit of 20/20 hindsight either. When I heard the deal, the first thing I thought was Russell AND McKinney!! Oh my!! The spreadsheet must not have been working properly on that day.

from Baseball America:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-draft-report-card-cubs/

QUICK TAKE

Chicago's class could shine if prep millionaire Hudson and Wilson hit, and both sound exciting.

POSITION PLAYERS

BEST PURE HITTER: The Cubs believe in the hitting ability of both of their top picks, OF/2B Ian Happ (1) and OF Donnie Dewees(2), but Happ gets the edge because he makes more impact at the plate. Happ has a more polished approach and is adept switch-hitter. Dewees has more of a slashing, see-it and hit-it old-school approach with tremendous natural hand-eye coordination. » BEST POWER HITTER: 1B/3B Matt Rose (11) led the Sun Belt Conference with 16 homers this spring and has long levers and plate discipline, giving him plus righthanded power. Happ has a chance to develop 20-homer power at his peak, with present power to the gaps. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF D.J. Wilson (4) is an explosive athlete with plus speed that made him a Division I-caliber wide receiver in football. He's at top speed soon after his first step. Happ and Dewees are both plus runners as well. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Wilson impressed with his reads, range and instincts in center field, and he has a plus arm as well. 2B/3B P.J. Higgins(12) is a steady, sure-handed infielder with body control.

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McKinney doubles twice in Double-A debut | MiLB

Billy McKinney joined Tennessee after leading the Carolina League in all three slash categories. (Andrew Green/Tennessee Smokies)

For the Cubs, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler and Addison Russell may be leading the way, but when this kid and Schwarber are added to the mix, the Cubs lineup is going to be tough to beat. I still can't believe they pried both Russell and McKinney from the A's. Somewhere down the line you have to think that Billy Beane is going to regret losing those two studs. 

from milb.com

http://m.milb.com/news/article/20150515124495042/

Tennessee's talented lineup racked up 14 hits in the win, and the Smokies' 3-4-5 hitters -- Chicago's No. 4 prospect Kyle Schwarber, No. 15 Dan Vogelbach and Contreras - combined to go 7-for-12 with a double, six runs scored and three RBIs.

"I just try to pick their brains, to be honest," McKinney said of his new teammates. "I try to get smarter with everything they do. Watching Vogelbach and Schwarber, they just have great at-bats every time. It's fun watching them and learning from them."

Chicago says good bye to Mr. Cub

from @Chicago Cubs Twitter


RIP Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks.

from ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28617/baseball-says-goodbye-to-mr-cub

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts added: “Never in time have numbers fallen so short in describing the true greatness of a baseball player. Ernie Banks was known as much for his off-the-field demeanor as his on-the-field performance.” 

Listening and watching from the front of Fourth Presbyterian Church were many baseball greats, including Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson and Lou Brock. Other current and former Cubs and team employees attending included Kerry Wood, Jim Hendry, Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, John McDonough, Glenn Beckert and Randy Hundley. All got an opportunity to remember Mr. Cub for the player and person he was. 

“Ernie Banks was living proof that you don’t have to wear a championship ring on your finger in order to be a pillar of baseball and a champion in life,” Joe Torre said in representing Major League Baseball at the ceremony. “He made the confines of Wrigley Field friendly, he made the Cubs lovable, and he was one of the pivotal people during a vital time in our history who made a great game worthy of being our national pastime.” 

Giants "not in the driver's seat" in Jon Lester negotiations - Giants Extra

I heard this interview with Evans on Sirius yesterday and thought "then the Cubs ARE in the drivers seat" and that is how it turned out. Giants once again are in the back seat.

from Giants Extra:
Giants "not in the driver's seat" in Jon Lester negotiations - Giants Extra:

Assistant general manager Bobby Evans was less optimistic about signing Lester on Tuesday, saying he feels the free agent left-hander is feeling a strong pull from Boston and Chicago. Lester was drafted by the Red Sox and spent his whole career there before a July trade to Oakland. The Cubs are run by former Red Sox executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer. “I think there are other clubs he’s a little more attached to,” Evans said. “Ultimately, I don’t know, but the sense we get is that we’re not in the driver’s seat. I don’t know exactly who is, but it will probably come down to deep relationships he has in other places.”

'via Blog this'

So good for the Cubbies, they get their bell-cow. And they needed this win more than the Giants and the Red Sox. Good for the Sawks, 'cause Lester got the opportunity to publicly lead their owner John Henry around grovelling and begging and apologizing for past sins, before finally telling him to F-off. Truly every bitter employee and jilted teenage girls dream come true. The Daily Double of revenge.

And good for the Giants, since they won't have to deal with the dynamic of a guy who may be second or third in the rotation behind Bumgarner and Cain, if he's 100%, carrying the top contract around the clubhouse. That may have been the deciding factor for Lester, with the Cubs he is THE MAN and if he leads them to the promised land, it's never been done before. In SF, he might have the fear that "dang, even if the team wins the World Series, they've been there, done that". Same with the Sawks, so the Cubbies make the most sense. If he wins on the North Side, he owns this town.

Now the Giants can go after the guy who I still think fits better in the rotation and the clubhouse and that is "Big Game" James Shields. Forget about Scherzer and his $200M. That's Yankee money.

And get Romo back before he shuffles down to LA and joins Mr. Wilson in the embattled former Giants closers club that the Dodgers bullpen may develop into. .

And get a Vogelsong clone because I heard him interviewed on Sirius it seems like he's gone to Minnesota of Philliy or anywhere but SF. Way to burn that bridge quickly guys.

Giants win in typical Giant style!!!

Let the debates begin!! The Giants confound the experts again, as all the Fox pre-game talking heads picked the Royals to win, and yet the Giants win instead. They announcer didn't notice the Giants had a chance to win until about the seventh or eighth inning and never gave them their props. And friggin' Buck whines and jokes about why he's despised as an announcer. He's a horses ass every step of the way.

Aside from Bumgarner's performance for the ages, the Giants amazingly close this one out without a HR in the series, with an 0-12 performance from their 1-2-3 hitters tonight and without much of an offensive contribution from their top offensive player.


The debate today seemed to center on whether or not this third title in five years stamps the Giants as a "dynasty". In modern day terms, I think they qualify. Chicago columnist Phil Rogers was on Sirius/XM saying that the Atlanta Braves were more a dynasty  since they won /dominated more consistently over a longer period of time in spite of not winning more than one World Series title. Leaving out the irony of a Cubbies sportswriter commenting on "what makes a dynasty", does he really think that Braves fans wouldn't trade an occasional flop for more World Series success? This USA Today graphic doesn't even list the Bravos.

This was Panda, as cool, calm and collected as Bumgarner would be later. And he backed it up with his own signature performance, both in this game and this series. Pay the man, just pay the man!!

If the Giants could find money under the seat cushions to pay Hunter Pence after he came over and sparked the team. If the Giants feel they could find enough money in the budget to make a competitive run at Jake Peavy, who openly flirts and makes googly eyes at both the Cardinals and the Cubs while the Giants are competing for this, Pablo's third Giants title, while Peavy by comparison pisses down his leg with his performance in the World Series and spends his free time polishing his future free-agent bona-fides, then you guys better damn well sign Pablo Sandoval first. He means more to the franchise and more to Giants fans than Jake Peavy ever while, so put that in your calculations and smoke it.

from CSN Bay Area.com
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-re-signing-sandoval-well-do-best-we-can

“

Pablo’s at the top of that list. We all know it. Every negotiation is different. Every intention on the part of the player is different. I know we love Pablo and he loves the Giants and we’ll see what happens.

”

— Giants GM Brian Sabean

And how about Jeremy Affeldt. Under-rated, under-appreciated Jeremy Affeldt. Turning in another spit and bailing wire performance that gets the ball to Bumgarner with the outcome still intact after it looked like Hudson had tilted momentum the Royals way. Affeldt righted the ship and I suppose for that gets awarded the victory. More folks than the official scorer should appreciate what Affeldt did getting the Win in this game.

from CSN Bay Area.com
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/affeldt-tearful-upon-being-named-winning-pitcher-game-7

“

I couldn’t be more honored that I was a part of this. I can’t wait to see the people in San Francisco. We pitched, and pitching wins championships.

”

 — Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt

And how about Joe Cool, Joe Fundamentals or whatever nickname eventually sticks doing it with his glove rather than his bat. Where would we be without him righting the ship at 2B this year? And thank God for replay, right? Poetic justice. 

Way to go, Joe!!! Hanging around Brandon Crawford is beginning to rub off on your glove. Hopefully, your bat rubs off on his a little bit more down the road.

It looks like any game that ends in a Buster hug is good for Giants baseball history. If it's not Wilson, Romo and now Bumgarner, to say nothing of Cainer and Timmy for their no-no's and perfectos, these man hugs never get old.

And last but not least, Bumgarner clearly makes the grade among scouts and old-school pitching aficionados.

I guess the amazing, unbelievable, unassuming way the Giants won this year and in some of the same ways, the other two years, makes it somewhat easy to dismiss them an under-rated, lucky and undeserving of matching up with other juggernaut teams from the past and present. I can tell you as a close observer of this team, luck has nothing to do with it.  Pluck and perseverance and stick-to-it-iveness and stick-togetherness DOES. certainly. The essence of the word TEAM. 

Three titles in five years and we could be celebrating and debating about four titles in five years if they don't lose Posey to Cousin's cheap shot heard 'round the Bay Area.  That's not luck chumps. And what some of these guys would know about championship mettle is beyond me. What a brain-dead Chicago columnist would know about what constitutes championship mettle after watching a team that hasn't displayed it in over a century and whose last feeble attempt at same resulted in "Curses Bartman" to say nothing about blaming your failures on a Curse of the Billy Goat is kind of like, well, a Chicago football columnist opining about good, solid QB play. 

Celebrate Giants and Giants fans, You've earned it. Let some of there other guys piss and moan on each other while you're having another parade. 

Cubs Must Hire Maddon

Former Rays manager Joe Maddon. (Joy R. Absalon, USA Today Sports)

That was fast. Tell me they didn't have advance knowledge of Maddon leaving Tampa Bay.

from Bleacher Report:
Cubs Must Hire Maddon:

Rays manager Joe Maddon opted out of his contract, effective immediately.

The Cubs need to hire Maddon, effective immediately.

He’s the right guy. The best manager in the game. The best manager for what the Cubs are building because that’s what Maddon masterfully managed in Tampa.

The Rays were a drafting and development machine the way Theo Epstein said the Cubs would become. The Rays were smart, flexible and good the way Epstein is fashioning the Cubs. The Rays competed almost every season the way Epstein intends. Maddon embraces metrics the way Epstein insists.

'via Blog this'

Joe Maddon Leaving Tampa Bay Rays | Bleacher Report

It will be different to watch the Rays and not see Maddon in the dugout, almost an iconic figure in the franchise's history. I hope he does not end up a Dodger since I like him too much, but it makes the most sense. This can't be good news for Mattingly.

from Bleacher Report:
Joe Maddon Leaving Tampa Bay Rays: Latest Details, Reaction and Analysis | Bleacher Report:

Although it remains to be seen if Maddon intends to go elsewhere, there is bound to be talk regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers due to the fact that former Rays vice president Andrew Friedman was recently hired by L.A. 

'via Blog this'

P.S. - The grapevine ( and Ken Rosenthal ) says that the Cubs are a leading contender for Maddon. They have a Moneyball guy here as the GM, check and a big  budget that Maddon wouldn't mind underwirting his contract and that of his players, check. Put me down as preferring Wrigley as Maddon's destination. Right in time for bushel basket full of Cubs premium prospects to come to fruition. Plus, the Cubs need some good PR for next season. Maddon has them looking like contenders in no time, he's very good with young players.

Sheffield: Javier Baez Needs Work on Swing

http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/the-javier-baez-gary-sheffield-comparison-is-uncanny/

They do have an uncanny resemblance as noted above. The size, the strength and power, the quick bat, the torquing of the bat as a timing mechanism. All very similar. You almost wish the Cubs had hired Sheffield as his batting coach rather than Manny Ramirez. You almost couldn't go wrong with either one, the two most lethal RH power bats of the era, both better hitters overall than McGwire.

from Bleacher Report:
Sheffield: Javier Baez Needs Work on Swing:

"When I saw this guy swing [in December], I knew he was going to be a big leaguer for them soon," Sheffield told ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday. "Right now when I watch his swing, he has something in his swing that can be fixed real easy. He collapses his back leg. And anytime you do that, a pitcher is going to have a field day on you. 

"When you collapse your back leg, anything over the belt line you have to uppercut. You can't stay on top of it." 

"Keeping that back foot anchored is important," Cubs hitting coach Bill Mueller said. "It's necessary for sure in keeping square. What's most important is him getting games played. It's a small sample size." 

Manager Rick Renteria added: "When we look at his film, the one thing that stands out is if he swings at strikes, he does damage. When he swings at balls, he doesn't. That has nothing to do with mechanics." 

Sheffield disagrees, to an extent. 

"I see all the ability," said Sheffield, who hit 509 home runs in 22 seasons. "And I see someone has to get with him real quick and fix that little mechanical issue that he has before it gets worse. When you're trying to create that much torque with your lower half collapsing, that's a lot of moving parts. People would ask me, 'How could you do that with all that wiggling the bat like that?' Because it's not how you start it's how you finish. I was always focused on my finish, not how I start." 

'via Blog this'

It looks like, from the motion picture of Baez (shown below), that Baez lunges or almost leaps forward at the pitch rather than staying back as well as he should. The back leg will collapse like that when you stride out too far and miss.

That may just be his youthful exuberance rather than a purely mechanical mistake. He will learn pretty soon that you get the same credit for the HR's that go 325 feet as you do for the 450 footers. But what do I know, I still think chicks dig the long ball, so maybe longer is better.

Also, agree with Renetria on the plate discipline issue. He can be a guy who hits 25 HR's with a .230 average or a 35-40 HR guy hitting .280 - .300 if he corrects that because this yard will not hold him, and once they get Bryant and Rizzo surrounding him or behind him, watch out. He has to fix the ball / strike discipline issue or he'll be hitting lower in the order, behind those other power guys.

A's and Cubs pull off a Win-Win deal, win(now) versus win(later)

Billy Beane is clearly pushing all his chips to the center of the table, he wants / needs to win now given the A's past playoff failures and he just took a big step towards that end. Theo Epstein continued to build for the Cubs future by acquiring two elite prospects who are a couple of years away at least.

One borrowed from the future to invest in the present, the other borrowed from the present to invest in the future.

In a sense both are taking a bit of a gamble here. Beane has to really hope that this is the A's year. It looks like he sense that at least the AL half is his teams for the taking and he wants to add some insurance.

Epstein really has to hope that the vaunted patience of Cubs fans lasts a couple of more years longer for him. He was brought in so that Cubs fans could begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. Withe deals like this, it seems like the light keeps getting pushed further and further into the future. This team waited a long time for Samrdzija to develop into the kind of pitcher he is today. I'm not sure they really got enough value in trade for their patience and development. Now you're asking fans to go through the same process with Russell and McKinney.

I do like the number of quality young bats the Cubs have in their system and perhaps this sets up a Castro deal down the road to bring in some young arms.

from ESPN Chicago:

Greenberg: Future-focused deal good for Chicago Cubs, Jeff Samardzija - ESPN Chicago:

In a deal with their long-term vision in mind, the Cubs are getting an elite prospect in shortstop Addison Russell, this past year's 24th overall draft pick in outfielder Billy McKinney and pitcher Dan Straily. The deal wasn't official as of late Friday night, but there's a player to be named later involved. I'm sure Mr. PTBNL will be awesome as well.

'via Blog this'

Bryant unlikely to join Cubs this season - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

Tony Farlow/Four Seam Images/AP Images

Kris Bryant has 32 home runs in his first 105 minor league games.

....."barring extraordinary circumstances, both in terms of the player and what's going on with the big league team."



Perhaps it's just me, but it seems as if Bryant would qualify for a call-up under both conditions. But hey,  what the hell do I know? When a guy comes into town on the heels of "In Theo We Trust" like he's some kind of baseball god or something, maybe he knows something we are all incapable of understanding.



Or perhaps Theo lives in an executive suite with no mirrors. Or team standings. Or minor league stats from his own affiliates.



Spreadsheet no like Kris Bryant this year.



from ESPN Chicago:

Bryant unlikely to join Cubs this season - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago:

CHICAGO -- Just days after promoting Kris Bryant from Double-A to Triple-A, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein all but shut the door on a major league promotion for Bryant this season.

"I don't foresee a scenario where he would be up this year," Epstein said Friday before the Cubs played the Pittsburgh Pirates. "I don't think it's the right thing to do in someone's first full professional season, barring extraordinary circumstances, both in terms of the player and what's going on with the big league team." 

'via Blog this'

Giants Rumors: Team Interested, Not Interested in Jeff Samardzjia

If the rumor mill is the slightest bit accurate, and of course it all depends on the number and quality of prospects they have to give up, put me down as being in favor of the Giants acquiring:

1. "Big Game" James Shields
2. David Price
3. Jeff Samardzija

from Bleacher Report:
Giants Rumors: Team Interested, Not Interested in Jeff Samardzjia:

The Giants sent a high-level scout to watch the Cubs play the Marlins. Because that's what they're supposed to do, just in case. Unless they're REALLY interested.

'via Blog this'

Shields just "fits" the Giants better than the others and Price with the adrenalin punch of being back in a pennant race could be dominating. I'm not sure that Samardzija has ever really been described much as either dominating or nails enough to be nicknamed "Big Game". 

Just MO.  Put me down as more "not interested" than "interested" in the Cubs ace. Plus, the other two have the advantage of being AL pitchers. The NL hitters don't have as much of a mental "book" on them. 

Kyle Schwarber: Prospect Profile for Chicago Cubs' 1st-Round Pick | Bleacher Report

A bit of an eye-opener from the Cubs in the four spot. No question about the bat, but questions about whether he sticks as a C raise the question of whether the Cubs were trying to fill a need at C or a general need for more offense. If he sticks behind the dish, it's an OK pick, I probably would have gone for Kennesaw State's C Max Pentecost here. Cubs fans will love his beer league softball look and feel and his mashing of the baseball regardless of where he plays on defense.

The comp in the article is is to Mike Napoli.

from Bleacher Report:
Kyle Schwarber: Prospect Profile for Chicago Cubs' 1st-Round Pick | Bleacher Report:

Kyle Schwarber is the kind of player who would have been right at home in the MLB draft 15-20 years ago, when the focus was on finding power-hitting college bats who wouldn't add much, if any, value on defense.

The good news is Schwarber's offensive skill set, most notably his huge raw power, makes him more valuable than ever due to how scarce pop is at the college level. He's come a long way from being an undrafted high school senior, leading the Big Ten in home runs and being a first-team All-American last season.

'via Blog this'

A Cub pitching prospect shines....for the Cubs

It's good to see the Cubs a pitching prospect they received in a trade for a change after watching Chris Archer develop for the Rays and Casner continue to develop for the Padres. I can't fault them for trying with Garza and was surprised he didn't provide enough return on the king's ransom the Cubs paid to get him and Rizzo at least provided a piece of the puzzle in the everyday lineup, but still.....



Baseball America Prospect Report
Compiled by Baseball America   April 12, 2014

PITCHER OF THE DAY: Corey Black, rhp — Double-A Tennessee (Cubs)There are several pitchers who could easily have been the choice, but the former Yankee prospect—traded for Alfonso Soriano—pitched five no-hit innings in his second Southern League start to get the nod as PoD today. He did not figure in Tennessee's 6-5 win over Chattanooga, but did enough to nose out Archie Bradley (Triple-A Tucson, Diamondbacks); Vince Velazquez (high Class A Lancaster, Astros), and Rafael De Paula (high Class A Tampa, Yankees), other very worthy candidates.

HITTER OF THE DAY: Austin Wilson, of — Low Class A Clinton (Mariners)Wilson, the toolsy 2013 second-rounder from Stanford, was 4-for-5 and knocked in three runs as the LumberKings beat the TinCaps of Fort Wayne 7-1. In his past two games, Wilson is 7-for-9 with a homer and five RBIs. Others in the picture include low Class A Greenville's Manuel Margot (Red Sox), who homered for the third time in the past three games, and low Class A Dayton 1b Sebastian Elizalde (Reds), who was 3-for-5 with a homer.

'via Blog this'



Among the Poco Gigantes, Gary Brown continues his good start and Mac Williamson and Ryder Jones continue to struggle. The pitchers bring more encouraging news with Derek Law adjusting well to AA and Keury Mella doing good work in Low-A. Cody Hall gets lit up and Aldaberto Mejia is scuffling a bit at AA, the "seperator" level. It's where the men get sepated from the boys as far as prospects go.  So we continue to watch and wait to see who separates themselves from the pack of prospects.

SF		AAA		Brown, Gary CF		3		0		1		3		.317
SF		HiA		Williamson, Mac DH		4		0		1		0		.200		2B (2)
SF		LoA		Jones, Ryder SS		5		1		3		3		.207		2 2B (3)

SF		AA		Hall, Cody		1		2		3		3		2		0		9.00
SF		AA		Law, Derek		1.1		0		0		0		0		2		0.00		W (1-0)
SF		AA		Mejia, Adalberto		1		2		1		1		0		1		6.00
SF		AA		Osich, Josh		1.1		0		0		0		1		1		3.38
SF		HiA		Agosta, Martin		3		2		2		1		2		3		3.00		L (0-1)
SF		HiA		Okert, Steven		1		1		0		0		1		2		0.00
SF		LoA		Mella, Keury		5		1		1		1		4		7		1.69		W (2-0)

Alphonso Soriano is proving you can go home again

He just looks right in pinstripes. And if you look good and you feel good, you play good. Soriano is proving not only that a change of scenery can make all the difference in the world but that perhaps you can go home again.

Apologies to Thomas Wolfe.

from ESPN:
Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees - Recap - August 14, 2013 - ESPN:

Soriano needed 144 at-bats to reach 13 RBIs this season with the Chicago Cubs on May 14. Back for another tour with the Yankees, it took him seven trips to the plate over nine innings the past two nights to match that number.

'via Blog this'

A tale of two teams headed in opposite directions

Interesting quote from Linceum after the sweep by the Cubs. It's rare to find pitchers who can hit, yet the Giants not only keep finding them, but keep finding their bats. Also notable from the game is the Giants (so-called) offense being led by Lincecum, who had two hits.

The freak show that is the Giants season continues.

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

Quote To Note:

"It's rare that you find a pitcher who can hit like that. Guys like him and (Cincinnati's Mike Leake, who had three hits against the Giants earlier in the week), you know they can really handle the bat."

—RHP Tim Lincecum on Cubs' LHP Travis Wood, who homered off him in a 2-1 Chicago win on Sunday.

'via Blog this'

On June 24th both the Giants and the Rays sported 38-37 records. Since that time the Giants have run off an 8-21 record to face plant into last place in their division, 10 games out of first place. The Rays on the other hand have gone 24-6 to elevate into second place in their division ( the toughest in baseball ) 1/2 game behind the Red Sox.

A tale of two teams headed in distinctively opposite directions. The Giants playoff odds according to coolstandings.com have diminished to a mere 1.0% as of today. The Rays, on the other hand sit at a comfortable 89% chance of making the playoffs.

Feel free to hit the button at any time Giants. It would be the first indication that anyone in the organization gives a R.A. about this season in over a month. Or that anyone has much of a pulse. Or a heart.

San Francisco Giants stumble to another galling defeat - Inside Bay Area

San Francisco Giants' Hunter Pence strikes out with two outs and bases loaded against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Saturday, July 27, 2013. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group) ( Jim Gensheimer )

The ship still be sinking. The sky still the limit. Although bases loaded and no outs, in the bottom of the 8th inning with your 3-4-5 hitters coming up, things had to be looking up. But NOOOOOOOOO!!!

So we continue the search for rock-bottom or the limits of the clear blue sky or whatever it is this team is searching for tomorrow with Timmy on the mound. This has to go down as one of the weakest defenses of a championship in a year not influenced by labor strife that I can remember. It almost seems like the Giants are distracted by something like that internally. BWDIK?

from Inside Bay Area:
San Francisco Giants stumble to another galling defeat - Inside Bay Area:

SAN FRANCISCO -- In their continuing search for rock bottom, the Giants landed with another thud Saturday night. Nate Schierholtz homered against his old team with one out in the ninth inning, propelling the Chicago Cubs to a 1-0 victory at AT&T Park.

The Giants' heartbreak was complete only after they squandered bases-loaded chances in the eighth and ninth innings. Tony Abreu grounded into a double play to finish it, a fittingly frustrating ending for a team that fell a season-worst nine games out of first place.

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Error opens door, Cubs beat Giants - Yahoo! Sports

Maybe not so much because of this one game....although really guys?
The Cubs are going to get healthy against you? At home?!?

from Yahoo Sports:
Error opens door, Cubs beat Giants - Yahoo! Sports:

The Giants, meanwhile, lost for the 20th time in their past 28 games since being two games over .500 on June 22. They fell to 7-17 against National League Central teams this season.

Down to their last out, the Cubs rallied against Giants closer Sergio Romo (3-5), who was seeking his 25th save.

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But maybe because this seems like a long, long, time ago....and far, far away.

Does this team have any fight left? Any pride? Anything?
Have a garage sale if you have to, but SELL, SELL, SELL!!!

Soriano era to end in Chicago and begin again in New York?

It sure seems that way according to news reports that are saying he's all but packed up and on a plane to the Big Apple. The Cubs brass gives him some impressive parting comments on the way out. He seemed to be under-appreciated by Cubs fans somewhat, but his peers and management seemed to be satisfied with what they were getting out of Fonzie. The Yankees lineup really needs his production, almost as much as the Giants, and Soriano may be in need of a change of scenery. It should be good for him to go back home in a professional sense.

from Yahoo Sports:
Team Report - CHICAGO CUBS - Yahoo! Sports:

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The only person I could compare him to is Robin Yount. His work ethic, he cares to win, prepares every day, prepares to make him a better player. Robin is the only other guy that I have been around that did the same thing every single day." -- Manager Dale Sveum, on LF Alfonso Soriano, who was on the verge of being traded to the Yankees.

The Cubs were said to be getting a mid-level prospect, most likely a pitcher, and perhaps some salary relief from Soriano's contract, which is in season No. 7 of the eight-year, $136 million deal he signed in November 2006.

Soriano is batting .254 with a team-leading 17 homers and 51 RBIs, which were second to Anthony Rizzo on the team. His 181 homers as a Cub rank 11th on the team's all-time list. Soriano also won the admiration of the current management team for his work ethic and professionalism. Former GM Jim Hendry and the previous ownership signed Soriano. Epstein took over baseball operations in the fall of 2011.

"He's 100 percent completely different than I thought," Sveum said of Soriano. "There hasn't been a day of disappointment in his attitude, his work ethic, what he brings to younger players, and his professionalism has been off the charts.

"There's no doubt, he's one of the top five ultimate professionals I've been around in this game."

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Garza gone from shopping list - Good news / bad news

This would have been too rich for my blood. Good news that Sabean passed or exercised discretion or did not have enough to offer here. Not good news as far as what this does to the price for our #1 target Bud Norris.

from Bleacher Report:
Matt Garza to Rangers: Cubs Reportedly Trade Star SP to Texas | Bleacher Report:

In return, the Cubs received two of the Rangers' top-five prospects (Olt and Grimm), as rated by J.J. Cooper of Baseball America prior to the 2013 season. Olt is the biggest prize, as he was ranked as Baseball America's 22nd-best prospect in the sport before the start of the season.

While Garza is far from an ace, he's a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher who should really improve the Rangers pitching. Still, he's likely a rental player, as he's in his final year of salary arbitration. 

But if he helps Texas win a World Series, most will forget how much the Rangers gave up to get him. 

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UPDATE:

Cubs do well for themselves, extracting one of the top Rangers prospects.  One bat and one arm.


from mlb.com Prospect Watch:

Mike Olt

Rank: 1

Round Rock Express (AAA)

ETA: 2013

Position: 3B

Age: 24, DOB: 08/27/1988

Bats: R, Throws: R

Height: 6' 2", Weight: 210

Drafted: 2010, 1st (49) - TEX

Twitter: @molt2222

Scouting Grades* (present/future): Hit: 4/5 | Power: 5/6 | Run: 3/3 | Arm: 6/6 | Field: 5/5 | Overall: 5/6

There are those who feel Olt is ready to play every day at third base in the big leagues, and could do so for a number of teams. The issue for Olt is that the Rangers aren't one of them, with Adrian Beltre standing in his way at the hot corner. When he was up briefly in 2012, he played some first base and some corner outfield, but that's not a condemnation of his skills at third. His hands, range and arm, the last of which being his best defensive tool, all play very well at that position, leaving little doubt about his ability to stay there long-term. Olt may not hit for a really high average, and fans should be prepared for a good amount of strikeouts, but he'll also draw a ton of walks and is a better all-around hitter than many anticipated. The power is legit, too, and it's not a projection. Olt's ready to hit the ball out to any field at any time. All he needs is a regular opportunity to do so.

C.J. Edwards

Rank: 15

Status: Traded

ETA: 2016

Position: RHP

Age: 21, DOB: 09/03/1991

Bats: R, Throws: R

Height: 6' 2", Weight: 155

Drafted: 2011, 48th (1464) - TEX

Twitter: @CEdwardsSBS

Scouting Grades* (present/future): Fastball: 5/6 | Curveball: 3/5 | Changeup: 3/5 | Control: 4/5 | Overall: 4/5

It’s not often that a 48th-round Draft pick creates buzz in a system, especially one as deep as the Rangers’. But the improvement Edwards has shown since signing has been impressive. He made his pro debut in 2012 by tossing 20 scoreless innings in the Arizona League, earning a promotion to the more advanced short-season Northwest League. He wasn’t fazed by the challenge, striking out 11.49 per nine innings over his 47 innings of work. Long and lean, Edwards has some deception to his delivery, making his fastball, which already can be above-average, even harder to pick up. His secondary stuff needs to be developed more, but he’s shown an ability to spin a breaking ball and a feel for his changeup, giving him the chance to have three average or better offerings. He has a long way to go, but it’s hard to imagine a more encouraging start.