Wow, they actually signed someone decent.

So how does he compare to the guy they had in that spot last year?

I was talking about the Closer who they had. I forgot his name.

The Trib is reporting that Veras will close and Strop will setup for him.

The Trib is reporting that Veras will close and Strop will setup for him.

There was a streak in the second half of 2011, I believe, where Sanchez was as good as any pitcher in baseball.

I see a blurb about Clayton Richard coming to the Cubs. I criticize KW for overpaying in almost every trade. However, everything he did involving Jake Peavey ended up being a good move.

Today, the Chicago Cubs confirmed the minor league signings of lefties Tsuyoshi Wada, Jonathan Sanchez, and Tommy Hottovy. We discussed Wada previously here, Sanchez previously here, and Hottovy previously here. Insert me saying the same stuff again.

Added to the group today, however, is outfielder Mitch Maier. At one time a notable prospect for the Royals, Maier never broke out as a starter in the big leagues, instead putting together a couple decent years as a utility outfielder in his late 20s in Kansas City.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Boy I tell ya, that Mitch Maier, every time he played against us he just wore our behinds out!

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

I've watched my fair share of Royals baseball. Let me be the first to say this is a great move and a kid I loved. I'm usually pretty critical of Theo (see this thread and others) but I like this move. Not LaHair 2014.

Looks like he was in Omaha by then. Missed him in Wichita by 1 year. Speaking of Whichita's old minor league team. They had the most fucked up field in the history of fucked up fields. It was an artificial surface but not carpet...it was rubber like a running track rubber with dirt patches for the bases. They hosted some 24 hours of baseball tournament and it allowed them to roll out game after game with virtually no prep. They had this zamboni looking thing come out and vacuum the rubber. I can't believe professional teams allowed their players to play on this shit.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

RT @ChrisCotillo: Source: #Cubs claim Brett Marshall off waivers from #Yankees

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

The Cubs made a trade of sorts and one they obviously felt was an upgrade. They claimed Bret Marshall off of waivers but in order to do so, they had to DFA Liam Hendriks. He was promptly picked up by the Orioles.

Marshall is 23 years old and was the Yankees 6th rated prospect after the 2012 season by Baseball America. Marshall was a 6th round overslot draft in 2008, receiving $850,000 to sign.

His best season was following that 2012 year when he went 13-7 with a 3.52 ERA (4.09 FIP). He walked 3.01 hitters per 9 IP (8%), while striking out 6.82/9 IP (18.1%)

Marshall is short at 5'11" but has a solid 200 lbs. frame and a good arm, throwing in the low 90s in the minors, though he averaged in the high 80s in his brief call-up with the Yankees last season. He compliments his fastball with what is considered the best change-up in the Yankees system.

Despite his size and a 3/4 arm slot, Marshall keeps the ball low, getting sinking action on both his fastball and change. He has the potential for good command because he repeats his delivery well, so the potential is there for a bottom of the rotation starter who works efficiently and generates ground balls.

He needs to work on his breaking ball and there isn't a ton of upside with Marshall, as most would consider his ceiling to be as a #4 starter, but he should be in that mix for that #5 starter and if he doesn't he win that spot, he can provide depth at Iowa or perhaps work out of the bullpen, though for me, his potential to be a durable starter make him more interesting in the rotation.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.