Great night in Iowa.

Coleman went 6 strong to get the win. Carpenter (even though the DBag brass said he was going there to be the closer) pitched 2 efficient and shut out innings of relief and Maine got the save.

Jackson, Flaherty and DJ each had 2 hits.

This is what I like to see and what gives me a sliver of hope.

Ha had 1 hit in TN, Szczur had 2 in Daytona, the old hack they got for Gorz is still hitting for power but hitting .215, Crawford though...the guy they got for Fontenot I believe...he has quietly had a very nice year. Kid gets on base, hit for average and steals bags....he also k's a ton but whats new.

While I don't see kids like Ridling and Crawford being part of the future, they are putting up good numbers and can be traded.

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DJ is raking in AAA. Another 2 hits today. I would really like to see him up in the bigs sooner than later. He just hits the ball.

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Gretzky is a Cub!! This should be interesting. He supposedly has high ceiling potential but is probably less advanced than a 16 yr old in the dominican program. Go watch him at extended spring training and the AZL next year. Maybe he will be in Peoria in 2013.

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If the Cubs keep Ramirez and Pena, and offer arb, I don't think either would accept that offer. I think keeping them, and getting two for Ramirez and one for Pena is worth it. If I'm wrong with my theory, let me know. Yes, right section. They could get more guys to discuss in this thread. Also, most of the discussion here is real. As opposed to everyone sucks, is great, the other team is burrito, etc.

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Actually that is not a bad idea. Aram wants to cash in for 1 last big contract. He revealed that if (after his family has gone home to the Dominican) he accepts a trade he wants the 1 year option terminated. Would arbitration net him more than 16 mil next year? Pena might accept it because there are more 1b free agents this year than last and he is having virtually the same season and would probably get the same kind of offers.

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Scored alot of runs, didn't win and not a good night for the prospects in Iowa tonight. DJ and Colvin have been fairly solid and both had hits tonight. Colvin is batting around .275 with about 200 ab's down there now. I think he has at least gotten back to where he was last year. DJ just keeps hitting. He is around.330 though he is not hitting for much power aside from his 1st AAA hr last night. Jackson and Flaherty have hit a wall in AAA for the time being batting under .200 and barely above .200 respectively.

In TN...Ha had a few hits and Vitters had a 3 run bomb giving him 9 on the season with 45 rbi while keeping the average respectable at .277. The kid has shown progress but he sure takes his time developing.

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It also comes down to the rules. I've asked, and received some strong knowledge from Keyzer and others. But I still don't completely understand the compensation rules. Aramis would definitely net the highest comp due to weakness at third base. However, I don't know if that works for a player with an option.

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I tried to read up on it and its beyond the rules I have read. It may be something that is specific to the language in the contract. I'm not sure if they can tender a contract while also declining the option. Voiding the option may make him a non tendered free agent automatically.

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The prospects are coming!

can I fuck your wife for 1 night?

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There are whispers that the Cubs have reached an agreement with 2nd rounder Dan Vogelbach but the bonus is so far over slot that MLB is trying to keep it secret.

Josh Vitters with a HR and an actual walk last night. Much more excited about the walk.

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Team Cutler.

Interesting. I haven't read anything on that yet. Where did you hear that?

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Team Cutler.

I first read it on that northside baseball site then Callis mentioned it in one of his chats. If they sign him it would be a good get. He had a very strong commitment to Florida.

That'd be really nice to see the Cubs spend the money to get him into the system. He'd instantly become a top..3? yea maybe top 3 power prospect in the entire minors

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Team Cutler.

We are working hard to make this happen.

Is he the fat first baseman? If so I heard to somewhere that I can't remember that he is in fact signed. I thought it was announced. Wasn't there some pitching prospect they took that had a rock solid commitment to North Carolina but could be had with an absurd signing bonus?

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Yeah he's the fat first baseman. It's not offical yet. I have to admit I was hoping the tubby bastard would end up at Florida because it would be fun to watch him bomb with Mike Zunino and the boys.

Dillon Maples is the pitcher. He went 9-1 0.92 ERA with 143 K's in 68 innings this year. An arm like that doesn't last until the 14th round if he was an easy sign.

Somebody was on the Score (maybe Hendry's cheerleader Wittenmeyer) who said the Cubs are going to spend a ton of money to sign their picks, some of which were tagged as unsignable by other teams.

Brett Jackson got his first AAA hr today. He is still struggling with the promotion as he is hitting a very Dunn-like .175.

DJ had a few knocks as well in the 3-1 victory.

Nick Struck pitched very well. He is kinda off the radar and this is his 3rd level this year but its still good to see a quality start from the I-Cubs staff.

Also having a hell of a little season is Wellington Castillo. He is batting well over .300 with 14 bombs and around 40 driven in and his OPS is .915.

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John Sickels also did a midseason review of his top 20 prospects. This one isn't pretty either:

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/7/2 ... #storyjump

Ooof. Well at least Hendry thinks that the Cubs will be in the race like the Pirates next year.

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Wow. This guy gives some generous grades to guys with shit stats. WTF? The great Tim Wilkens doesn't seem so great now does he?

I have no idea where he came up with those grades. Simpson has been absolutely horrible and he gets a B-. Castillo has been real good and he gets a C.

Vitters got #10 last night.

Not sure where that guy got his info for those evaluations. I didn't even see Flaherty on there. How does DJ not get an A?

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Those were his preseson rankings. If he were to reevealuate them now the grades would obviously be different.

I see. I thought they were a re-evaluation.

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What grade does Wilken get? D at best IMO.

Brett Jackson is starting to figure it out in AAA. 3-4 with a bomb last night got his average up to .236.

Vitters also went 3-4 for Tennessee and hit his 11th hr of the year. He isn't setting the world on fire but he has had a decent season. He is hitting around .280 with 11 bombs and 50 rbi. He only has 13 walks but only 37 K's too. The kid is developing....just slower than shit at doing it though.

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Jackson hit another bomb tonight.....avg up to .241

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