John Sickels’ 2013 midseason top 75 prospects

In aside by dmick891 Comment

Law came out with his earlier today and now it's John Sickels of Minor League Ball's turn. Below are the top Cubs prospects.  14. Javier Baez 18. Albert Almora 23. Jorge Soler 57. Arismendy Alcantara His list does not include 2013 draftees. 

Kuji Fujikawa out for the year with Tommy John Surgery

In aside by berselius1 Comment

Kyuji Fujikawa left Sunday's game with an apparent re-aggravation of his forearm injury. After taking an MRI yesterday, he was diagnosed with a torn ligament and is due for TJS. This is a real bummer – Fujikawa looked pretty good after coming back from his first injury. The Cubs have him signed through next season, at $4m, and have a …

Cubs under contract for 2015

In aside by myles3 Comments

With the Anthony Rizzo signing, I thought it'd be sweet to show you the "Cubs Core;" players under team control for 2015 (when we should EXPECT a competitive team instead of just hoping).  Anthony Rizzo: 2021 Starlin Castro: 2020 Welington Castillo: 2017 Edwin Jackson: 2016 Luis Valbuena: 2016 Travis Wood: 2016 Darwin Barney: 2016 Jeff Samardzija: 2015 James Russell: 2015 …

RE24 Update

In aside by myles5 Comments

If you couldn't tell, I'm back at work for the first time since Leah was born… so I have more spare time. Earlier in the season, I discovered that the Cubs barely had anyone on the Top 50 list for RE24 this season. That trend has continued. The only member on the list this year so far is David DeJesus. …

WSD’s Rice Cube on MLB doing away with the draft

In aside by dmick896 Comments

Here's a great article by frequent OV commenter Rice Cubs on his blog: Total Market Freedom. If you’re a good software engineer or a good web designer, you get to work for Microsoft or Facebook or Twitter or Google or whatever.  You have a choice.  Maybe you decide to work for a company close by in Chicago.  Maybe you decide …

Jim Deshaies is Trying Not to Scare Anyone

In aside by GW3 Comments

Carson Cistulli has posted a short interview with new Cubs color commentator Jim Deshaies over at Fangraphs. In it, he talks about his transition to Chicago after 16 years in Houston and having to adapt to an audience that is unfamiliar with his style. He also talks about his philosophy in presenting analytics to a wide array of fans. …I think …

Jackie Robinson’s not so friendly departure from baseball

In aside by dmick891 Comment

Great article on how alienated Jackie Robinson was from baseball at the end of his life. Very sad. Robinson never bothered to hide his antipathy toward the game he had done so much to change. He participated in very few of its ceremonial events over the years and refused to go to old timers games so often that teams stopped …