MLBTR led to me this article by Nick Cafardo, which talks a bit about the Cubs. “We’re certainly farther along than we were last year at this time,” said Epstein. “When we got here, we identified one core player [Starlin Castro] and now we can look around and see Anthony Rizzo, Darwin Barney, Jeff Samardzija , and others. We do …
The Way We Were – A look back at Jeimer Candelario in 2012
Jeimer Candelario was part of the Super Boise team and one of my favorite breakout threats for 2013. Candelario just turned 19 so he played his first full US season as an 18 year old and one of the youngest players in the NWL. Candelario was an overslot signing a few years back inking for around 500,000. He was born …
Fangraphs Top 15 Cubs Prospects
It's that time of the year, so Fangraphs released their version of the top Cubs prospects list right behind Baseball Prospectus' list from a few days ago. In case you are wondering, I'm sure OV will have our own top Cubs prospects list just as soon as the search teams find DJ and we can chain him back up to …
Daily Facepalm – 11.8.12
The Cubs may or may not be discussing Justin Upton with the Dbacks. It could go either way. Basically all there is to this report is Rosenthal saying that the Dbacks are having "active discussions" about Upton. One of his sources said that there's an 80% chance that he gets traded this offseason, though obviously the FO is denying this. …
Baseball Prospectus Top 10 Cubs Prospects
Baseball Prospectus has released their version of the Cubs top 10 prospects. 1. OF Albert Almora 2. SS Javier Baez 3. OF Jorge Soler 4. RHP Arodys Vizcaino 5. 1B Dan Vogelbach 6. OF Brett Jackson 7. RHP Pierce Johnson 8. RHP Duane Underwood 9. 3B Christian Villanueva 10. RHP Dillon Maples Jason Park is very high on Almora and …
Epstein, Bush, and the coaching staff
Theo Epstein talked Cubs a year after his hiring was official. One year ago, the Cubs had one player who projected as part of the core Epstein and Co. are trying to develop and that was shortstop Starlin Castro. Today, Epstein said there are at least half a dozen in the organization, including pitcher Jeff Samardzija, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, …
Jonathan Mayo’s top 100 prospects (and top 20 Cubs prospects)
Despite promoting top prospects Anthony Rizzo and Brett Jackson this year, the Cubs still managed to land five guys on Mayo's top 100 list. (EDIT: Apparently Jackson still qualifies for the list) For those too lazy to click through Javier Baez (24) Albert Almora (52) Bert Jackson (74) Arodys Vizcaino (76) Jorge Soler (77) Cubs top 20 Top 100
The Children Are Our Future – Minor League Update Sponsored by TGI Friday’s
AZL Cubs Shawon Dunston, Jr.'s minor league career has not gotten off to a fast start. He was 0-4 last night. After spending 71 plate appearances at Boise he was demoted to the AZL Cubs where he's been an improved hitter, but nothing that gets you excited. On the season he's hit .228/.291/.347. Albert Almora was 1-4 with a double …
2012 MLB Draft: Best Available Prospects
The first day of the draft is over, which means we've only seen 60 selections so far and have 39 rounds to go. I thought I'd post a roundup of the stuff we posted yesterday and then talk abou a few of the best available players that should be taken sometime today. The second day of the draft begins at …
Cubs First Round Pick: Albert Almora
In the first rund with the 6th overall pick the Cubs selected Albert Almora. No surprise here. Almora is a latter-day A.J. Hinch in that he has become a go-to player for USA Baseball national teams from a young age. Almora was USA Baseball's 2011 athlete of the year after being MVP of the 18-and-under Pan American Championships in Colombia …