Jorge Soler a Cub, then Jorge Soler not a Cub
Reports that the Cubs had signed Jorge Soler yesterday proved to be premature. Could he be signed today? It could go either way. The Yankees have been added to the mix of interested teams, but given how this offseason has played out I'm betting on Mystery Team
Cubs transactions MB21 recently enjoyed
In the midst of yesterday's argument about whether the rumored Soler deal was worth it, we were reminded that MB does not seethe at every move the Cubs make. Let's not forget that the Sean Marshall and Andrew Cashner trades were pretty good, as well as signing Reed and DeJesus. We don't hate everything around here (laughing). Just Mish.
Is there a Cubs game today?
No.
News in pitchers that I thought the Cubs had already signed
The Cubs are interested in bringing Ramon Ortiz back to be the eleventh starter. Honestly I thought the Cubs had already signed him, but in my defense it's easy to mix him up with Andy Sonnanstine, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Casey Coleman, and Rodrigo Lopez.
This week in stellar Chicago media
The local NBC picked up an unconfirmed rumor "from Wrigleyville" that the Cubs were maybe thinking about playing at The Cell next year during Wrigley renovations. The Cubs denied the rumor. No word on the shirt color of NBC's source. I am disappointed that this didn't come from a certain ABC morning show, or Tribune Tower.
If the Cubs do need to clear out for a season (or at least a non-trivial chunk of time) it's pretty obvious that the Cell is where they need to go. How many fans, especially STH are going to schlep up to Milwaukee for 81 games? It's not bad to do for a single Brewers series but if they're already having trouble drawing fans for Wednesday Pirates-Cubs games, how many do you think would turn up if you add an hour or so drive (if there's no traffic) with no public transportation or Wrigleyville bar scene to the mix? It would be a disaster. Not to mention that the idea the Cubs would be ready for major renovations one year from now given the number of permits/kickbacks/paperwork they'll have to get through with the city.
Woodworking products Koyie Hill wishes he recently enjoyed
I'm too dumb to figure out how to embed this video, so here's the link (Don't be so hard on yourself, Bersy)
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| People Who Are Destroying America – SawStop | ||||
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Cubs org meetings begin today in Mesa
Per Carrie Muskat the Cubs organizational meetings begin today. Usually these take place not long after the World Series but the org chart was a little unsettled this offseason. Also per Muskat the Cubs are waiting with bated breath to see if they can keep Blakey.
Pitchers and Catchers report in 3 days
The official start day is Saturday. We can all get excited for 5 minutes before we realize that real baseball is still over a month away.
Fewer Noon games this year, presumably
FOX is moving many of its Saturday games to primetime, which means that there should be fewer noon starts caused by the national blackout worked into FOX's MLB deal. I'm guessing the blackout restriction is waived in these cases, because there's no way the 20+ other teams that play on Saturday nights are going to move those games.
Don’t forget Trever Miller.
You guys are assholes.
All your embed are belong to us, b.
@ Mish:
By the way, if anyone wants the link for buying bleacher season tickets (you use the same ticket buying interface as regular tickets, but just pay a deposit at this stage), let me know. I’m not going to be using it.
@ Suburban kid:
You’re just offering this up to anyone? To anyone? I was told nothing like this would every happen again.
@ Suburban kid:
I always thought there were walkways that allowed passage between the bleachers and the bowl, but since they go in through separate entrances perhaps the seat nazi who told me the tale of free passage was mistaken. Whoever takes this deal may be stuck in the bleachers for a wee bit before they will be allowed to relocate.
I wonder why they don’t sell PSLs at Wrigley?
AndCounting wrote:
Thanks, AC.
Suburban kid wrote:
If you can get me a job in Chicago and some money, I’m in.
I added a few new tidbits to the post.
It also will let you buy up to 8 bleacher season tickets.
They must be hoping scalpers go for this deal.
@ Suburban kid:
They’re just holding out for that customer that has piles of money and a large family and thinks that the best way to watch Cubs games is a mile away while surrounded by drunk Chads and Trixies.
Blake DeWitt should be the compensation to the Sox, along with a photocopy of Bud Selig’s ass.
Rice Cube wrote:
Corey Patterson?
Its funny how “bleacher season tickets” went from something owned only by an “elite” minority of olden-day bleacher bums, totally unavailable to anyone else but those chosen few, to something the Cubs are pushing out in wads of up to eight at a time while apologizing for them not being good seats.
@ Dr. Aneus Taint:
Win
@ Suburban kid:
If this doesn’t send Alvin on a murderous rampage, nothing will.
@ Dr. Aneus Taint:
I think that was the top “bad swing” on the list and it was Jonathan Herrera.
@ Dr. Aneus Taint:
He always liked those eye high fastballs.
After a few inquiries, it has been confirmed that indeed, one cannot access the bowl with a bleachers ticket and vice versa as the Cubs have put up a force field between the two sections of park.
@ mb21:
I guess he had to try to protect the runner, and therefore he can sort of be excused for such a terrible swing. I did (dying laughing) though.
Rice Cube wrote:
Because the team was so bad by the time it became an option for the Ricketts, there was no way it would fly.
It would also be the first baseball stadium to sell PSLs for a stadium (or part of a stadium) that wasn’t newly built or refurbished. I did this post over on the old site that goes into more detail.
Nobody called it the fucking “bowl” until Wally Hayward Jablowme came to town.
Rice Cube wrote:
That’s what I thought. It seemed to be a security nightmare otherwise. I think they started screening it off because they didn’t want people buying cheap bleacher seats and sneaking into the bowl. Now I think it is probably reversed.
FOX moving many Saturday games to prime time.
I guess this means fewer noon starts, and that they’re relaxing the Saturday blackout restrictions on those games.
Suburban kid wrote:
I use it because it is easier than typing “grandstand.”
MLBTR out of options list:
Cubs
Marcos Mateo, Jeff Samardzija, Geovany Soto, Bryan LaHair
I knew about Samardzija and LaHair but wasn’t aware about Soto.
If I had a bowl shaped like that, shit would spill out before I could eat any of it.
@ Berselius:
Every team but the Cubs? I wish the Cubs would play more primetime games, honestly.
Aisle424 wrote:
That, and Cubs.com said it’s a bowl (dying laughing)
@ Berselius:
Why would you guess that? I know the games that were on here at 6pm last year were blacked out on MLB.tv or Extra Innings.
Suburban kid wrote:
.
@ Suburban kid:
Replying to yourself now? (dying laughing)
@ mb21:
I used the wrong word. I’m sure there will still be blackouts if FOX isn’t showing the game you want locally. FOX negotiated an exclusivity window where their games were the only ones scheduled to be on the air. Their games ran ~3:30 to 7, so the only other times you could start if you weren’t on FOX were noon or after 7.
@ mb21:
It appears he is.
@ mb21:
It’s just the one comment, mb21.
@ josh:
I’d like to see a few games on TV instead of always having to listen to them on the radio.
@ josh:
I’m trying to decide if I want to shell out for mlb.tv again. Somehow I feel like the 20% or so of games on WGN-tv will probably be enough video for this likely awful season.
@ Berselius:
Yeah, I wouldn’t unless you have a backup team you want to follow.
@ Berselius:
Unless MB, Aisley, and AC want to buy it for me for the sake of the blog. I generally get several posts a year out of bitching about MLB.tv’s shitty customer service, advertising, and horrible product launches (dying laughing)
/AlsoRepliesToSelf
MLBTR says Olney sez Phillies and Yankees are in on Soler. Not sure if serious.
@ Rice Cube:
I’ve read the Yankees are making a big push for Soler.
@ mb21:
I’m guessing Soler ends up in New York.
I’ll bite and say I don’t get the raven pic.
@ GBTS:
A group of crows is called a “murder.” This is not quite a group.
@ josh:
That was a vernacular lesson I recently enjoyed.
@ Rice Cube:
More vocabulary than vernacular.
\semantics
@ josh:
You guys are smrt.
@ Aisle424:
If the Cubs did relocate to anywhere for a year, you can pretty much bet the PSLs would go into effect immediately following, and that’s how they would make up any revenue lost while they played in the Cell or Milwaukee or Bolivia.
Aside from obviously the Rays, I am getting mlb.tv again because I want to watch some quality baseball this season. Neither of the local teams seem intent on providing that to me.
@ mb21:
Would Soler’s contract count against their luxury tax, or just if he’s at MLB level? I assume he’d have to spend a year or so in the minors.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/building-through-the-draft-worst-of-the-worst/
Ewwww @ Cubs
@ Rice Cube:
But the Red Sox are on top, and now we have the guy who oversaw that.
@ Rice Cube:
So does this mean the Rays are now #6org?
@ Berselius:
I think the Rays would be #5org while the Tigers are #6org if you are just referencing that list. I forgot what criteria they used originally to say that the Mariners were #6org though.
@ josh:
Right. With theo @ 4.36 WAR / player, that brings up the whole over 10 years 1st round draft picks are only worth (enter WAR amount here, I forget) figure that MB was using.
I mean if we use Theo as a basis of comparison with what 1st round talent should do instead of the whole league (which includes the atrocious Cubs and Mariners), wouldn’t we get a better understanding of what value we can expect from Concepcion/Soler?
Does that make sense at all? I mean there seems to be more than just luck to drafting.
@ josh:
It’s like trading in a Toyota Tercel for a Lamborghini.
@ Rice Cube:
Stupid criteria. I still (dying laughing) at Cameron (was it him) ranking them as #6.
Rice Cube wrote:
And finding out a universal 35mph speed limit has been enacted
GW wrote:
@ GW:
Although they could still go 5-10 mph over the limit and the cops might not care…
@ Rice Cube:
If he’s on the 40-man roster then it counts toward the luxury tax. The Cubs are nowhere near that point though.
@ mb21:
I was more referring to the Yankees as they are fairly obviously trying to trim payroll (i.e. AJ Burnett trade possibility) and adding a guy like Soler seems counter to that plan.
Rice Cube wrote:
I don’t think the Luxury tax is going to be a big concern if they go after Soler. Moving Burnett is more due to the fact that he’s deadweight on the roster, any payroll savings they get is gravy. IIRC the rumors had the Yankees sending something like 70% of his salary in a trade.
new shit: http://www.obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/the-future-cubs.html
@ WaLi:
Exactly. Even if there is a speed limit, as someone suggested, the non-luck component of the draft will increase the minor leagues, long-term, and everyone has the speed limit. My guess is that the disparity will decrease somewhat, but there is still going to be an edge to be had.