Cubs 'closing in' on deal with Taiwanese RHP Jen-Ho Tseng
MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez says the Cubs are close to a deal with the Taiwanese pitcher, who is ranked 29th in mlb.com's list and 23rd on BA's. For a while he projected to be the #1 prospect in this year's class, but he scuffled a bit this year. GW points out in last night's comments that even if the Cubs max out their pool via trade, Tseng and Jimenez together would put the Cubs in the penalty area anyway, so it's look like they're just saying "fuck it".
Scott Baker throwing again
Carrie Muskat reports that Scott Baker is throwing again in AZ. In fact, he's thrown four simulated games, and could be pitching for the Cubs in a month. Something tells me they might have a rotation vacancy.
Cubs falling behind in the Race to the Top
They new have a better record (40-48) than last year's world series champs (40-49). To quote GBTS, if only the Cubs had won that game against the Mets, they'd be buyers right now.
Things are inching closer on the Wrigley Field renovations
Rahm says they're "fucking literally some fucking feet away. Fuck." (Not a direct quote). Tunney is fighting a losing battle over the signs/scoreboard. It sounds like the last sticking point is fireworks, which is somewhat more of a legitimate complaint from the neighborhood.
Travis Wood batting WAR update
Travis Wood went 1-3 last night, and has a .336 wOBA and 0.6 WAR on the season. He's got a long way to go to catch Carlos Zambrano's career 5.2 batting WAR.
(dying laughing), Mets
The Mets admirably set up a Native American Heritage Night later this month. However, they must be using the same PR firm as MLB, as they scheduled it during a series against the Braves. It could have been a ballsy statement, but instead the Mets backed off so as not to offend the Braves. (h/t HardballTalk).
Comments
Anyone else think the Cubs are throwing in Fireworks just to piss off the neighborhood? (dying laughing)
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Next up: Sex Offender Appreciation Night
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
“Driving to Sturgis for the bike rally? Groups of 20 or more motorcycles get free tickets to a Cubs game!”
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
This should happen when the Cubs play the Yankees so Lillibridge can be in attendance.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Ronnie Woo Woo Impersonator Night
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Nice, but I thought you covered that with the Sex Offender Appreciation Night.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Just trying to promote this untapped market to the Cubs (dying laughing).
BerseliusQuote Reply
so, I trawled Chinese sites for a few minutes to see if they had any reports on Tseng signing, a la the leaks on Spanish sports sites on July 2nd. No luck, there’s just parroting of Jesse Sanchez’s report.
What I did gather is that Tseng is represented by Scott Boras (who is referred to in translation as “Vampire Porras”), and his nickname is Catfish.
GWQuote Reply
I agree with Nate in the last thread about signing Garza. Unless the Cubs are going to get a significant return for Garza, which I don’t think they will, I’m having trouble making sense of trading him. Maybe they get way more than I’m expecting in return. They aren’t going to get a better starter in free agency and their starting pitching in the minor leagues basically sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Doesn’t Alvin absolutely hate the Cubs mascot, Ronnie Woo Woo? For Al’s 50th anniversary of walking in the stadium (I think it was referenced in his now famous letter to Theo that it was coming up) we should collect funds to give to Ronnie to hang out in the left field bleachers.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
It shouldn’t cost much, right? maybe $10? We can throw in extra for him to say “Bleed Cubbie WOO!”
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I bet for $20, Ronnie will follow Alvin around for the entire game. They can share a trough and everything.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
I don’t think they can get a better starter for 2014 or 15, but I do think they can piece a decent bullpen together with arms from the system and trades. Next years pen: Parker, Strop, Russell, Vizcaino, Arrieta, Cabrera, Zych, plus that japanese dude will be back after TJ. Crazy to believe that the Cubs have a +1 run differential. That’s actually a significant improvement over last year.
NateQuote Reply
@ Nate:
It’s a huge improvement, but how much of it is real? I don’t buy for a moment that the Cubs are a better than a .500 team. I don’t even buy that they’ve played to that level. They’ve had good pitching throughout the season, but the offense has left a lot to be desired. Travis Wood isn’t this good and neither was Scott Feldman.
It’s still a team in need of younger talent, but I don’t think that means you just trade anyone for it. Garza is valuable and can be valuable to this team in the next couple years.
dmick89Quote Reply
apparently the yankees are shopping phil hughes, who will be a free agent.
GWQuote Reply
New Shit
MylesQuote Reply