The first half of the Cubs’ season draws to an end today in Pittsburgh, thus leading us to wonder: It’s only the fucking All-Star break?! Starlin Castro has managed to play well enough at a thin enough position that he could be starting the All-Star game, and Aramis Ramirez has gotten serious buzz as a potential injury replacement at third …
Are even the best relievers unreliable?
Carlos Marmol blew a save last night so it naturally sparked discussion about whether or not you should sign relievers to longterm contracts. Carlos Marmol is a very good relief pitcher and likely will be worth the contract he signed this past offseason. However, we know relief pitchers work so few innings that their sample size in a single season …
Midseason look at the Cubs top prospects, part 5
Below is a form for you to enter your top prospects. There are 30 players listed. I don’t expect all of you fill out all 30, but I’m hoping all of you can fill out 10. I’ll publish the results next week. Your browser doesn’t support Iframes. Go <A href=”http://obstructedview.net/survey/index.php?sid=94854″ >here</A> to fill out the survey.
Can Rosenbloom out-stupid Rosenbloom?
Steve Rosenbloom’s streak of semi-reasonable articles came to a screeching halt yesterday (we’re all regression fans here, so we saw this coming) with his “thrashing” of the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano and his decision to go adopt a child during the All-Star break. Cue Rosenbloom: Latest cases in point began when Zambrano went on the disabled list with a bad back …
Series Preview: Iowa Cubs of Chicago (36-53) at Pittsburgh Pirates (45-42)
I was going to write a longer preview for this series, but I saw the Cubs probable pitchers and gave up. Friday: Rodrigo Lopez Saturday: TBA Sunday: Ramon Ortiz Saturday will probably end up being Dempster as he threw a bullpen session yesterday and was reportedly feeling good. Though I guess it's possible he could produce a human infant in …
Midseason look at the Cubs top prospects, part 4
Over the last week we’ve looked at the top 20 Cubs prospects according to John Sickels and how they’re performing this season. We’ve also looked at 15 or 16 additional players worthy of some discussion for one reason or another. Many of the 2010 draft picks, especially the high school ones, have very little playing time to their name. Few …
Cubs Sign International Free Agents Mark Malave and Ricardo Marcano
Terms aren’t yet available, but the Cubs have signed two more international free agents. Scouting reports for the players are below. Malave is the 8th ranked international free agent, one spot ahead of Enrique Acosta who the Cubs gave big bucks to. Malave’s arm might be his best tool. He has a short arm stroke and delivers plus throws consistently …
D’oh! Cubs, D’oh!
The Cubs have had injury problems. This is not a secret. Tom Ricketts will tell anyone with a camera or a microphone about the injuries and how they ruined a perfectly good baseball team. But when you look at the injuries piled up together and and see how the Opening Day roster has been beaten within an inch of its …
Midseason look at the Cubs top prospects, part 3
We’ve taken an extensive look at the top 20 Cubs prospects this season by Sickels so it’s time to look at some others who weren’t ranked. John Gaub Gaub is coming of a season in which he walked almost a batter per inning and allowed a tons of runs, but this season he’s been pretty good. His strikeouts are through …
Midseason look at the Cubs top prospects, part 2
A few days ago we looked at Sickel’s Cubs prospects ranked 11-20 entering the season and how they’ve done so far. This time we’ll look at the top 10. 10) Alberto Cabrera, RHP, Grade C+: Another live arm that needs polish. Cabrera made 9 starts for AA Tennessee and then was promoted to Iowa. I’m pretty sure the only reason …