Anthony Rizzo- Good start. Hoping he turns into a 25-100 good defensive first baseman


Jeff Szmardzija- Needs to keep improving. Expect he will. Hope he ends up as a good #3


Matt Garza- Trade


Darwin Barney- Needs to show improvement offensively, but good guy to have on team


Brett Jackson- Hope he surprises me, but as Ive said, he screams 4th of to me


Starlin Castro- DO NOT TRADE. Too young and Too good.


Wellington Castillo- Not crazy about him. Thinking he's a stop gap


Carlos Marmol- Trade


Jorge Soler- See ya next year and im expecting real good things


Junior Lake- See ya next year


Javier Baez- See ya next year


Albert Almora- Will be watching him closely. The first pick of the new mgmt era. He should be here in 2015

I've never heard of any of these players. Are they on the major league roster?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

66% of them are

A real major league roster?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

They didnt make the playoffs last year, so I guess it depends how you define REAL

I have a gut feeling that Rizzo will end up being another in a long line of over-loved underachieving hopes in Cubs history.

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Elections have consequences.

RPB, dead on. It's another year to see improvement from the young folks and figure out if the older guys are worth anything. Trade older assets if you can.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Why do you say that? Just a gut feeling?


Because he hasnt really followed any of the path of the guys you are talking about.

My question is, why will Rizzo be playing for Italy. His wikipedia page says he was born in FL. You're a darn American......I don't really care, but I never understand why Americans want to play for their ancestors' homeland.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

The Italian team asked Mike Mussina to play for them one year only to find out that he wasnt Italian.

You're one year too early on Almora, Baez and Lake. I've watched Soler and I think he'll be here next year. I am betting he has a tremendous spring in very limited action.
I think Rizzo will put up Steve Garvey numbers consitently.
Shark has what it takes to be a #2.
Castillo has a bigger upside than you think. I believe he gained the confidence of the pitchers over the course of the season.
Barney's OBP will go up this year and you'll see him at Wrigley for the next 10 years.
Dead right on Castro.
Any improvement out of Jackson is a huge bonus but asks the question of if he can redo his swing over the past winter, what the F were his coaches doing with him prior to this?
Garza would get an extension if I was GM. He got hurt and spent the rest of the season, every single game, on the top step of the dugout, into the game and rooting his team on. Where was Ian Stewart. I'll take 25 Matt Garzas.
I'm looking forward to attending a lot of Kane County games this year, although I hear they might change the name to "Kaner County" if the Blackhawks win the cup this year..

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Host of the weekly "We Fish ASA" podcast
Weekly columnist for the Northwest Herald
Bi-monthly columnist for Illinois Outdoor News magazine
Former host of The Outdoors Experience on WIND and The Great Outdoors on CLTV
http://www.wefishasa.com

Doggy-Style

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I am not sure maybe just a gut? 285 and 15 homers in half a season isn't enough for me to bank on anyone given Cubs luck.

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Elections have consequences.

International play is so lame in baseball. If you smoke a ton of pot, you qualify for Team Netherlands.

And RPB, with Giving It Up For Gum, shouldn't it be Chewin' Thangs?

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You better hope he is good. He is the centerpiece of this entire reclamation project. He will have to be the big veteran as these young guys move up.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Anthony Rizzo- Keeps going where he left off. Great power and stellar ability to hit to all fields instead of just pulling it.


Jeff Szmardzija- Not as good as last year but thats how it usually goes for pitchers. 11 wins, mid 4 ERA. Barring injury 2014 will be a great year for him.


Matt Garza- Trade


Darwin Barney- Solid. Slight offensive improvement and gold glove defense.


Brett Jackson- TBD. He has completely reworked his approach....which Rizzo did after his failure with the Padres. Could be anything from a 4A guy, 4th OF or stud.


Starlin Castro- It all depends on how he responds to a below average for him season. Has he removed his head from his ass? Has he matured? Has he found a way to focus? Has he worked on his mental approach at the plate? These answers will determine his future.


Wellington Castillo- Fucking terrible and will be injured half the season. Can't wait until he is gone and a real catcher is developed or acquired.


Carlos Marmol- See above. I strongly hope he doesn't break camp with the club.


Jorge Soler- He will spend the early summer destroying Kane County and then go straight to the Smokies to continue to inflict pain upon opposing pitchers.


Junior Lake- Iowa. Could be part of a trade. Needs to find a position. He isn't playing short so get him to 3rd and the corner OF and see what he can do.


Javier Baez- Impresses enough in camp to break with the Smokies. AA all star with late season promotion to Iowa. No bigs this year but next year its on.


Albert Almora- Hangs in extended spring training until Soler moves up and then goes to Kane County and rakes.

Tim Saunders- Keeps turning heads. Becomes a legit utility prospect. Gets more OF reps. Starts in Daytona and finishes in AA

Vogel- Beats up on midwest league pitching in Kane County and will be traded at some point to an AL team that can put his fat ass at 1st and DH

Vitters- 85 percent chance he struggles in Iowa after not making the big league club and is out of the organization after the season. 15 percent chance he follows his minor league pattern and figures it out and relieves the big league club of the ian stewert valbuena double decker shit sandwich at 3rd.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I should clarify See ya next year means, see ya next september.

I agree with most, but Im not a big fan of Garza. I dont hate him.

He's not the centerpiece neccessarily. He's just the first guy.

That's my point sort of. The brass may think that but not so sure the meatball fans do.

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Elections have consequences.

Anthony Rizzo- Hopefully he can be Billy Butler with more pop.

Jeff Szmardzija- #4 starter.

Matt Garza- Trade

Darwin Barney- Trade within 2 years

Brett Jackson- Corey Patterson.

Starlin Castro - Do not trade unless can't miss prospect given. He'll give above average play at short or 2nd for 15 years.

Wellington Castillo- Stop gap.

Carlos Marmol- Trade

No opinion on prospects. I have 0% clue about their future.

Do you at least hold a mirror so you can see his face?

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Castillo hasn't really showed much of a pulse beyond being less stoned than Soto

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RPB,
Nice positive spin on the Cubs. Something tells me the Cubs will be looking for a RH 1st basemen to give a slumping Rizzo some rest. I don't know much about the Cub rookies,but if they look like last years shit,give them two years before bringing them up.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

You better hope he is good. He is the centerpiece of this entire reclamation project. He will have to be the big veteran as these young guys move up.[/quote]
He's not the centerpiece neccessarily. He's just the first guy.[/quote]

Obviously we are in disagreement. That is the guy who will be your 3-4 hitter if everything works out as planned. He will be your best hitter best run producer. I would imagine in Theo's wet dream he would project Almora-Rizzo-Soler as 3-5.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

He's not the centerpiece neccessarily. He's just the first guy.[/quote]

Obviously we are in disagreement. That is the guy who will be your 3-4 hitter if everything works out as planned. He will be your best hitter best run producer. I would imagine in Theo's wet dream he would project Almora-Rizzo-Soler as 3-5.[/quote]
I just dont think he'll be the best of the young guys. I think the guys you named and Castro have a chance to be better. He is definitely an important piece though.

Some good calls here, some not so much.

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Team Cutler.

Cub = Jonathan Villar
Rest of Division = Brandon Phillips

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

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