Right now he is sucking in AAA on his rehab/extended spring tour.

This one is all Theo and Jed! I know he will got a second chance, right before Vitters gets his 4th chance, but if this Baez kid is going to play 3rd...THEN PUT HIM AT 3rd IN THE MINORS.

Or is the assumption that this will just be the TBD Free Agent?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I think the money will be spent on free agent PITCHING. I do agree that Baez needs to be moved to 3rd at once, to get him used to the position.

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Go Cubs!!!!

The last thing the Cubs need to do is move him RIGHT NOW..... he is off to an awful start at Daytona with a current slash line of .208/.231/.431 with 23 K in 73 AB. Force the move now and really screw with his head. The "Theo/Jed/Jason" philosophy is to let them play SS or center field until the player realizes he cannot then that prospect will play himself off the position and you do not move a guy to fill a need 2 -3 years in the future. Baez is currently playing at a premium position. He will not be moved. Did the Rangers move Profar? Did the Orioles move Machado? Move him now and you risk losing him forever. Is that what you really want to do to a Top 20 prospect? I am glad you are a poster and not in any MLB teams front office especially the Cubs.

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That is an awful line at rookie/A ball. I thought Cub fans thought this guy was awesome and like ready next year?

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Elections have consequences.

You might be the best baseball poster on this board.

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Cubs apologist.

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+1000.

INQUISITOR, your posts are always a good read and I wish you would post more of your Cubs/baseball thoughts

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Third is really not a difficult position to learn. Id say, mentally, it is the easiest defensive position on the field. Physically, a young guy you played SS should be able to pick it up quickly.

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

Thoroughly enjoyed the ES firebombing there. Delightful.

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Team Cutler.

Trade him for Beckham

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Right now,Luis Valbuena is doing OK. He has a almost acceptable OBP of .338 with 4HR & 9RBI's. His glove is above average and he has his managers respect. If he could just hit around .260,he can help the Cubs win some games. His swing is strictly uppercut and he flies out a lot. He should try taking some balls to LF for some hits.

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

If you get 18 hrs 55 rbi out of him with his glove then that is a win. I thought he would hit horribly and he has been decent so far.

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

Yes,that would be a win for the Cubs. I didn't mind the Cubs starting the season with him but I was hoping they would aquire a more established FA. I guess Keppinger is not doing so hot with the Sox. It's a long season though.

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

meanwhile sappelt is starting tonight...why why why does he need to be on this team. At least when Stewart is activated Sappelt is probably dumped.

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

18 and 55 is miles above what the Colorado flunkie would give you. I'm still trying to figure out Epstoyer's insistence on keeping Stewart. You blew it. He sucks. Move on.

Yeah,"lookslikeHell" Dale has stated he is sticking with Valbuena.

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

This clown might really go off on the Twitter machine when he's released to sign Chris Nelson.

http://www.justinjabs.com/blog/ian-stew ... lsons-dfa/

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Which is my point, the theory of getting a stronger arm one day? come on, he can make the throw from third at this point or he can't.

The "Lose the guy forever " is a weak excuse for just not making it.

Did someone lose Soriano when they couldnt find a position for the guy? They even fought about it

If you can hit, they will find you a place to sit.

I am fine with him sucking in Daytona. I think he could use a little humility after everyone put him in the HOF.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

You dont move him based on what position might be open in a year or two. Thats not a good idea.

Stewart should be activated for tonight's game one would think. You only get so many games to rehab in the minors and he has been there for a few weeks I think.

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

You sound like someone that has never played Baseball. 3B is a far easier position than SS and quite frankly Baez has not been rated as an exceptional SS, because of his range at the position. They have already looked at him at CF, 3b and 2B. Baez is not likely to reach the majors before the middle of next season at least, so they have a little over a year (or more) to get him comfortable at a new position, as Castro is not moving as much as he has better range and a stronger arm. Baez is a guy with plenty of ability and confidence. The idea that they might "lose him forever" , if moved is ridiculous. 3B is a position they move guys to frequently. It's more a reactionary position, wit little ground to cover. Hell, many catchers have been moved there, to save their knees. Again, I doubt you ever played much Baseball, so you don't know what you are talking about. The last thing this team needs is to have Baez ready for the majors and THEN have to acclimate him to a new position.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Playing 3rd will limit his development. He will see more balls at short and get a chance to improve his range and fielding. Once he gets to AA and AAA they will probably mix in some starts at 3rd. He needs to keep hitting though. He is finally starting to get hot. His average is in the .270's i think and he hit his 5th hr last night.

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

Anyone who watched him in spring training knows he's gonna hit. As far as SS is concerned, either you have the quickness to cover a lot of ground or you don't. You can't increase your range with more practice. You can improve your throwing from the position, and learn how to get stronger throws off from the position. But it's not like he hasn't already learned to be on the balls of his feet with his knees bent like some 12 year old. He just doesn't have great quickness. For a guy with his offensive ability, you move him to a position where he can get to the majors quicker, with a position to call his own, he's not gonna get ruined. He's gonna be inspired, knowing he has a path now to a starting job on the big league club. Not much worse than knowing no matter how well you play, there is no opening with the big league club for you, so unless you are traded, you are stuck.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Most top prospects are not moved until they get to the big leagues or close to it.

If a guy is a TOP prospect, he probably projects to be better than anyone else the orgainization might have at the position anyway. But many prospects are moved because their skills at a position are deemed less that desirable and then switch to a position they are more capable of playing well. Look at the Tigers Nick Castellanos (a TOP prospect)....he was drafted as a SS, switched to 3B and now is playing OF.

If you want to continue to agrue this point I will have to do so later, as I have a tee time at Carriage Greens to keep.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Where did you play your ball?

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They may also want to trade him. You never know. It would decrease his value if you moved him now. I still think there is a chance that they could try to acquire Chase Headley. I would make that trade in a second.

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

I dont feel real strongly about this, but Id wait to move him.

What if Castro gets hurt, rapes again, or gets traded and you need a SS?

Just cross that bridge when you come to it.

I would never play this piece of shit again and I would let him and his 2 mil rot on the bench in Iowa or hell I would even send his ass to TN or Daytona. He was in Iowa rehabbing....he finished the allowed amount of time and then the Cubs had to option him to keep him there. He proceeded to take his 72 hour grace period away from the team even though it was the same team he was already with. What an arrogant prick.

No chance anyone in the organization has any respect for bullshit like that. Its one thing when you actually get sent down from the big league team and need to collect your thoughts and physically move to the affiliate but its another when you are already fucking there.

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

If only the Cubs had signed Keppinger, right Jimmy?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."