Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson are not walking thru that door

The A's pitching always seems better than it is because of where they play half their games. I don't think the A's top three pitchers last year are better than what the Cubs have. And the Cubs don't have to beat a monster team like Anaheim. The Reds should be okay. But they're an injury or two away from being a sub-.500 club.

That's the real beauty of baseball. The margin between the best teams and the worst is razor thin. It isn't like Alabama football and everyone else where it takes a miracle for them to be beaten and them not making the championship game is difficult to envision.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

_________________
Team Cutler.

I think you are undervaluing the Reds. They are good and have depth in pitching and position players.

I agree with your overall point, just dont see it happening this year

And the A's benefit from their park but they also draft pitching well.

I don't really see it happening this year either, but I didn't see the 2000 White Sox coming either.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

I'm excited about the possibility that this team can provide watchable baseball for 4 months this year and then we can see some exciting September call ups.

_________________
Team Cutler.

I think your exciting call ups are going to be Jackson and Vitters and maybe....maybe Junior Lake and Szczur. I don't think they have any intention of starting the clock on the other guys this year. I'm not sure how the clock works on a guy like Soler who has a mlb contract.

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

I'm sure you're going to see Soler in the big leagues this September. I would guess he'll be in Triple A before the All-Star break.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

I'm not sure thats true. Theo and Jed believe in the idea of all players getting 500 at bats (minimum) at the minor league level before being called up to the majors. I would be surprised if Soler made it this season. The team will likely win somewhere between 73-76 games. At the trade deadline Garza (if he is healthy) , Baker and any other guys that do well besides Samardzijia (and jackson-who's contract makes him unlikely to bring any offers), will be offered up in trades for good prospects. So even if they were around .500 near the deadline, afterwards the team will be once again weakened and incapable of competing for a post-season spot. It's not to that point....yet.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

This guy isn't some kid out of high school in the U.S. He was playing at a high level in Cuba. And he was like a man against boys down in A-ball last season. He only batted about 100 times but he got on at a 40% clip and slugged around .500.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

The second page of this thread has been some of the best baseball analysis on this board in a long time. Well done.

_________________

My minor league knowledge will improve this season with a few visits to Kane County.

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

Yes and no. I watched Ben Grieve prior to his ROY season during Spring Training. Man crush. While I was partially correct, I thought he'd be in the Hall of Fame. My goodness the swing. How did that go?

_________________

I agree with Steve. Im not saying its right or wrong but the management seems to be really strict about these minor league minimums.

Rizzo's OBP was like 1.500 and they didnt call him up until after he played game 162

Well, Rizzo had already been given a job and failed in San Diego. They didn't want to yo-yo him. When he came back, they were going to make damn sure he came back to stay.

I'm not saying Soler is going to be looked to for a contribution this year, but I do expect him to get his feet wet in the big leagues come September. I would imagine he's headed to AA out of spring training.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

I cant wait until this team makes the wildcard this year. IT's going to be such a fun season.

_________________

Yeah, its possible. September call ups dont mean much.

We'll see. Certainly you can see why a fan of the Cubs would not be in a rush to rush anyone with their recent history of cant miss prospects.

Also, there are no service time issues with Soler.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

How many MVPs do you thin he'll win?

As many as Dayan Viciedo.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

It's more a matter of giving him the foundation that 500 at bats in the minors give a player. He just turned 21 years old this month, so in spite of the fact that he played a short time with an elite level Cuban team, he's far from an experienced veteran player. They will be sure to take it slow and give the kid a great base to build on, rather than rushing him to the majors.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza experienced some tightness in his side while rehabbing and will start out the season on the disabled list, manager Dale Sveum said Sunday.

Sveum said Garza could miss the first month of the season, since he may only get two starts in the Cactus League.

Jeff Samardzija will be the opening day starter, and Travis Wood and Carlos Villanueva will make the rotation
-

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

He'll have his 500 minor league at-bats before he's called up this September.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Yeah, a September call-up is possible. I would love it if he is able to make it up then. Keep harvesting from the farm sysyem!

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!