Jake

QUOTE (mike65 @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 09:15 PM) I don't know what this means or if it means anything but the Cardinals promoted a 2B late today to AAA Memphis. His name is Luis Mateo. In addition, Kolten Wong, who is always in the lineup, is not playing tonight. I can asure you that Wong is not coming to STL with the year Carpenter is having. This is just a little strange. Since I am a Cardinals fan hanging on this board, I just thought you folks would appreciate the heads up. Thanks for the info! That is VERY interesting.

QUOTE (jthunder93 @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 09:01 PM) Right. Also, for the 9 passed balls, I guess that's less than 1 per game (11 games). He does need to cut that number down, though. What weird delay? Crikey, that is a lot of passed balls. He's just 19 though. I was referring to how he was seemingly getting passed over for playing time early in the short season.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 09:14 PM) In your opinion, is he overcompensating too much for the loss of bat speed? Seems like the only thing that makes sense. He isn't stupid, he would have realized he needed to change his approach if approach was the issue.

Vive el "corner"

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 09:05 PM) As someone that's seen a large majority of Konerko's at bats with the Sox, I'll never understand why he changed his swing so much last year around the ASB. It seems like he tries to flip everything to right field, and cuts off his swing so drastically now. Honestly, he was doing a lot of those swings even during the hot streak - we didn't notice how little power he had while he was batting .400, but now that he's back down to earth it doesn't look pretty. He used to use that kind of cut occasionally, maybe against a tough pitcher or to break out of a slump, but we haven't seen him look hitterish in a long time now.

QUOTE (jthunder93 @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 08:31 PM) Ayala is really showing off his arm...threw out his 9th runner of the season. Caught stealing percentage is a solid 56.25% He still does have 9 passed balls in 11 games behind the plate though. His batting average is up to .275 after going 1-for-2 with a BB so far today. Stoner got his first RBI of the season, and brought his average up to .200. Good for Sammy, nice for him to start playing well when he got the chance (after that weird delay). I'd also say that 56% is MUCH better than fine. Usually your pitchers alone prevent you from throwing out half the attempts. QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 08:38 PM) Snodgress no-hitter thru 6. Semien 2 homers. The Marcus Semien Committee is pleased.

ptatc suggested that league protocol is to work elite starters up to 120 pitches. Current research suggests that up to 120 mark isn't a big problem.

CSINAA

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 07:57 PM) Simon Castro with another bad outing. It's hard to see how he was every a top 100 prospect. Almost has to be hurt or else has some other issue with warming up on short notice. He lost velocity in each successive outing in Chicago

97mph for Sale

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 06:50 PM) And they're in great position to do so the next few years. Might need new management if they are to do something other than give out horrible contracts

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 06:47 PM) No Wilkins, Tim Anderson or Barnum = yawn Probably traded for Buster Posey

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 06:34 PM) With the money they'll have to spend, they're going to use a lot of these prospects to go after the likes of David Price, etc. Their organization is in a far better place now than it was a year ago, despite the lack of improvement by Castro. Especially if there are two PTBNL and Ramirez is one of them, this was an incredible deal by the Cubs. The Rangers are giving up more for Garza than they did for Cliff Lee. I'll stand by what I've said for a while -- they'll be good once they buy some good players.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 06:28 PM) Cubs are going to have the #1 ranked farm system, aren't they? That will look great next to their attendance trophies. This deal, in a couple years, could look like a "meh" deal or it could look really good. Not bad when you really HAD to move him.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 06:27 PM) Peter Gammons ‏@pgammo 18m Garza haul of Edwards, Olt, Grimm and the chance to take N. Ramirez as PTBNL a boom for Cubs, statement about Tex. system Expand Thanks

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 06:15 PM) Sounds like the PTBNL could be Neil Ramirez. Fantastic return if true. Source?

Lots of risk, decent upside in this deal. Hard to say what will come of Olt - I've always loved him but this concussion/vision business is troubling. Tough to say what will happen with Edwards, I'll be interested to see if the Cubs promote him from low-A where he is old-ish. I'm not a fan of Grimm, but he could develop into a decent enough NL starter, so not a bad third piece.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 04:28 PM) He makes better contact and has been posting reasonable walk rates, though. He should be a substantially better OBP guy than Alexei IF he develops as he should. Hard to guess that he'll be as good of a defender though, so in the end I see them being fairly similar -- and this is if Sardinas can sustain himself as he moves up in level. His bat isn't exactly prolific in SAL

Olt, Edwards, Grimm, PTBNL per Passan

I like Sardinas, but I see him as a guy whose ceiling is Alexei (the powerless version).

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 04:19 PM) What exactly are the Cubs gonna do with Olt? 1st base is locked up, and if I am to believe the hype, Bryant should be in the majors at 3B very soon. Can he play in the outfield? There had been speculation that the Rangers were thinking about him in the OF as a means to open a spot for him, so I suppose that is in the cards.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 22, 2013 -> 04:16 PM) It's amazing how much more the Cubs got for Garza as opposed to Dempster last year. I think Garza's street cred from his AL East days has helped him immensely, plus the recent development that he is supposedly an ace

Boston and St.L would also make great trade partners

Much better than anally I would suppose