It's too bad John hasn't fully recovered from his concussion.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-top-10-prospects-chicago-cubs/

Fangraphs Cubs Top-15:

1. Javier Baez
2. Kris Bryant
3. Albert Almora
4. Jorge Soler
5. Arismendy Alcantara
6. Pierce Johnson
7. C.J. Edwards
8. Dan Vogelbach
9. Arodys Vizcaino
10. Kyle Hendricks
11. Jeimer Candelario
12. Christian Villanueva
13. Duane Underwood
14. Elroy Jiminez
15. Neil Ramirez

Looks like 15 future perennial all-stars to me.

I'm not Bruce, I swear.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Any chance the Cubs come out of spring training with 2 new rooks?

*Dan Vogelbach to hit against LHP at 1st. (Problem is,this fat ass can only play 1st)

*Mike Olt at 3rd

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

Olt could certainly make the club if he returns to not sucking.

Vogelbach though??? No way in hell. He is a high school draft pick and he spent almost all of last season in Low A ball and only got promoted to Daytona for the last few weeks/postseason. He is going to be right back in Daytona when the season starts.

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

Vogelbach certainly won't, but he could easily start at AA.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Bryant crushes AA and comes up in June hopefully

They still have to pick real positions for Bryant and Baez. These 2 are going to be butchers in the field if they don't start getting some reps at the positions they project them to play in the bigs.

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

What makes you think that about Bryant?

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

I thought he was always long term projected to be in the OF. 6'5 is awfully tall even if its 3rd base. I haven't seen much of him but I thought that was the plan coming out of the draft.

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

Never knew Ripken was 6'4 until I just looked it up.

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

Haven't there been other rather tall 3B that have been pretty good? Glaus? Rolen?

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

I believe PayRod is about the same height as Ripken and was a pretty good SS early in his career. In my opinion, you don't move guys who can field their position at a plus rating because of the possibility they may be blocked in the future.

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

He's never going to be a plus defender at third. He simply doesn't have the footwork or first step quickness needed to excel at the position. If he stays there he's going to be a below average major league third baseman.

Troy Glaus was the comparison right?

Coming out of the Convention, fans must be stoked. It's gonna happen!

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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 Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Are you attending Frank Costanza's off season championship party?

I wasn't invited.

_________________
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 Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I don't see a problem with putting Bryant in LF. No one is blocking him out there so its his position if he wants it and he should be able to provide as good of defense as Soriano did with a better arm. I would rather have a better glove in the IF if there is room to put him in the OF. Is Baez going to play 3rd or SS and if SS then where is Castro going? I hope they figure out their plan in Spring Training so these guys can get reps this season at their affiliates. They don't need to be figuring this out and learning in the bigs.

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

I still think Starlin will be traded.

during the 2014 season or next off season?

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

Would be nice to see these guys kicking ass in this hypothetical lineup by 2016:

2B Alcantara
SS Castro
3B Baez
LF Bryant
1B Rizzo
RF Soler
C Castillo
CF Almora

IF the Cubs are counting on everyone to hit and be good major league starters than the team is fucked.

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As I said, it would be nice...

I'll say by the All Star Break, especially if he has a decent 1st half.

Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisMLB 2m
Could see him up in second half. @gslade19: how close is Alcantara to the majors? @Cubs

He's been compared to Reyes. Interesting skill set.

It would nice to see some speed on this team.

Its like Callis is reading this thread

Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisMLB 10m
I bet Alcantara 2B, Baez 3B, Bryant OF. @formersulkin: is beSt bet Baez playing 2b w/ Castro at SS? @Cubs

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

Someone mentioned today that the plan is for Baez to play SS at AAA to start the season and that he will mix in 2b.

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