Lawrence is on board with the plan. Good luck.

Holy hell have the Cubs dodged a bullet with Mark Appel. Yesterday his line in high A:

IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
1.2 7 7 7 1 2 0 10.80

2.087 WHIP!

It's more fun to be a victim

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

No shit. It sounds like something Dusty Baker would try.

I think Dusty's tandem pitching program would be having 2 pitchers in the game pitching at the same time....one to the batter and one just whipping it to the left-fielder...just in case.

It's more fun to be a victim

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

The guy had an appendectomy or something like that right at the start of spring training, too, I think. But, the 'Stros just ran him out there.

Seems like Houston is really dicking this guy over. What the hell is a tandem starter program?

The guy had an appendectomy or something like that right at the start of spring training, too, I think. But, the 'Stros just ran him out there.

Seems like Houston is really dicking this guy over. What the hell is a tandem starter program?

I have seen the player make three consecutive starts. In the first look, the fastball velocity was well down from his usual range. The velocity returned in the second outing, hitting 97, but had a thumb injury. No injuries or other reasons for a poor third start, so the grades are from that look.

The player's struggled to make adjustments to professional baseball. I don't blame the tandem rotation, as he's been on extended rest in each of my looks, and he's started each of them rather than coming out of the bullpen. After each of the poor outings, the player never shows emotion when he's on the mound or when being pulled -- just takes a seat in the dugout as if nothing happened. I don't mind players that don't wear their heart on their sleeve, but he pitches like it's a bullpen session where he just needs to get his work in, grooving in pitches with no purpose.

It is worth noting that only one secondary offering would show up in each of his starts. Also, hitters did not have trouble squaring up his fastball whatsoever. That may always be the case because he just doesn't have deception in his delivery. But he does tip his offerings with his wrist placement; recommend keeping an eye on his stretch vs. windup splits.

Right now, the player just doesn't look like the player he was drafted to be. I haven't seen anything to even consider he could be a No. 2 starter, or even more. I'm concerned more with how he pitches than what his fastball is registering on the radar gun. A backend starter appears to be the realistic role based on my recent looks.

I don't waste my time with the Cubs.

ESPN's Keith Law who worked in the front office for the Toronto Blue Jays has his mid Season Top 50 Prospect list.

1. Bryant
4. Russell
8. Baez
28. Soler

He also said Alcantra would have made the list but is not on it due to his promotion.

Sounds like he did a shitty job in Toronto.

I don't waste my time with the Cubs.

Based on WHAT exactly?

Because he is not doing a job that pays more, has greater prestige and far more perks. SI talent evaluator is a demotion from any senior MLB front office job just like Mel Kiper's position is lower than any NFL senior exec.

What exactly does "worked in the front office" mean anyway? Ozzie's kids worked in the front office for the Sox. Anything but the title of scout, scouting director or something comparable is fairly irrelevant experience to his current job.

"In 2002, Law was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays as a "Consultant to Baseball Operations" after impressing Blue Jays' general manager J. P. Ricciardi during the offseason winter meetings.[4] Paul DePodesta had recommended Law to him and Ricciardi asked Law's opinions regarding the approaching Rule 5 draft of that year, and, impressed with Law's answers and explanations, offered him a position with the team.[5] During his time with the Blue Jays, he acted as a major league and minor league scout, contract negotiator, and provided assistance to the team's marketing and sales staffs.[2] Law reached the position of "Special Assistant to the GM" before resigning in 2006 to work at ESPN.[6]"

What happened to Paul DePodesta? He's fucking up the Mets now, right? Is his computer spitting out any more Teahens?

Mike Foltynewicz initially struggled with it too. Appel also has a wrist injury and received a cortisone shot which is probably affecting his command. He was up to 97 a couple starts ago. He'll be fine.

Yes it is.

When this is all over, which is not going to be for a while, Trump will be re-elected President.

If the Cubs are a "big market team," why can't they bring up Bryant now?

If the Cubs are a "big market team," why can't they bring up Bryant now?