I am officially ready for some baseball news. In fact, I'm so desparate, I'm trying to guess which players will be assigned where.  (Note:  If you're interests don't involve who will be in Daytona, etc... this year, find something else to do.)  Rather pointless, but there you go.

Some destinations are easy.  Watkins and Lee in Peoria with Kirk (maybe), Rusin, Rhee, Hernandez, and Gonzalez every fifth day.  Wagner in the outfield.  Daytona with LeMahieu, Vitters, Brett Jsckson, Brenly, and a potential rotation similar to Peoria's late last season.  Tennessee quite similar to last year with Guyer trying to get it right this time.

My question is, what will go on with out 8-ish middle infielders that belong in Daytona?  DJLM, Flaherty, Rosa, Opitz, and Samson, should probably start there.  Vitters is at third.  Can we trade one of them for any value?  Meaning Rosa, Opitz, or Samson?  Or Junior Lake? 

Any minor league questions or answers, fire away.  

After a weekend of doing some preparation for the 2010 MLB Draft (okay, so I think a little too far ahead now and again), I realized I enjoyed it and will continue.  Since I'm going to research who the Cubs might select with the 16th pick in the first round, I figured I would share it with (a micro-niche of) my BCB co-conspirators.  My emphasis for now is the first pick, though I may expand my research if there is a reason to do so.

I have two lists, one of the first eleven guys I will expect to be drafted.  These guys are, for now, off limits.  The second list of eleven are probably the list they will be selecting from.  Obviously with injuries and hot streaks, these lists will be adjusted periodically, from now until June.   So here are the lists for now, in alphabetical order..

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I must have been living under a rock when the Cubs signed Starlin Castro.  I don't remember the specifics.  I'm certain that I'm not the only one.  If anyone remembers, what were the specifics?  Was it like Sano and Chapman?  Was he supposed to be this good?  Who were the competitors?  Was there a consensus on if we paid too much?

I would appreciate any background information on the situation.  Thanks in advance.

There has been discussion recently on how well, or poorly, the Cubs draft.

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Since trades involving a Player to be Named Later have to be concluded in six months, the clock is ticking on who the Cubs will get for the lefthanded starter the Cubs dealt to Baltimore on February 2nd, 2009.  The last I heard, Hill was trying to decide whether he was injured enough to go on the DL.  At the same time, the Orioles were contemplating designating Rich for assignment.

I've heard discusiions that the quality of the PTBNL would be determined by Hill's performance.  He hasn't been effective (hence the DFA talk), but he has gotten Baltimore some wins.  Any such agreement, though, should still be completed by August 2nd, as I understand.

It would be nice to add some more quality to the pipeline for him.

With the Friday rainout and Monday off-day, I would send Randy Wells back to Iowa on Sunday (if Carlos Zambrano is good after his start and nothing curious happens today).  Inform him he will be back up sooner than later.

Then, on Sunday, activate another pitcher (presumably Stevens over Waddell) to help man the pen until Zambrano returns.  Use whichever one it is twice before being returned to Iowa, so Lou can get a feel for how they do "when there's a second deck."  

This will give us an idea if they can help us, and they get farmed out just before Zambrano's start. 

The extra day off decreases the need to use Wells (or anyone else) too soon as a surprise starter.

We should offer Colorado either Jake Muyco, Al Alburqurque, or Henry Williamson {all pitchers at Daytona, none lighting the league on fire} to let us send Patton to AA.  I don't think they should expect more than that, since they won't get him back anyway.  I'm hoping to hear if I'm offering too much or too little from those more aware of the individuals mentioned.     

Many BCBers are somewhere on the David Patton bandwagon.  Either 'he's looking better than Gaudin/Vicaino', 'Reed Johnson likes him', or 'I wish we could get his full rights from Colorado for someone with no future.'  While you are welcome to supply your own acceptable PTBNL list on that topic here, that's not where I'm going with this.

As mentioned earlier on BCB, Donald Veal has made the Pirates 25 man roster.  Are you interested in getting him back if he continues to struggle for Pittsburgh, would you prefer a Patton-esque deal (the Buccos have upgraded their lower levels of their system, according to the Pirates blog), or should Hendry play hardball in getting a decent prospect back?

I guess I'm ready for the season with a post like this.

People retire these days early, some of them without the benefit of Manny-sized paychecks.  How can they do that?  They properly utilize their resources.  They live beneath their means, and invest in the future.  What does this have to do with baseball?  Glad you asked.

The Cubs are faced with a four for two decision today or tomorrow.  Between  Gaudin, Guzman, Patton, and Samardzija, only two can make the opening day roster.  Before I tell you what I want to happen, I will give you five words to think about:  Good decisions precede great results.

"The Yankees were so lucky in the nineties and early 2000's.  They had all the money and could buy anyone they wanted."  Y'mean when they drafted and developed Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite, and others. 

"But what about the Red Sox, they...." Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Pappelbon, Jacoby Elsbury.

The Cubs farm system is poor.  One of the reasons we couldn't get (fill in the blank) recently is due to a lack of artillery at the minor league level.   Good decisions precede great results.

I cannot fathom one good reason to bring Jeff Samardzija to Houston on Monday.  He doesn't have a defined role.  He needs to upgrade his game.  He wasn't very good in the spring.  He has options left.  In that order, I think.  He should go to Iowa and remember how to get hitters out.  Start, relieve, don't care.  Show me an ERA below 4.  Then I'll reconsider.

As for Gaudin, I'm ambivalent.  If he's going to be terrible, trade him, but I hope we don't trade him for a low grade corner outfielder or a reach second baseman.  We have enough of those.  Get a shortstop or a centerfielder that might wear the Cubs pinstripes in a few years and I'd be good with it.  Good decisions precede great results.

Now, the crux of it.  I haven't invested as much in Guzman as most of you.  When he was at his best, I was paying more attention to the NASDAQ than the Cubs.  So sue me.  I hope we have legit offers for him.  I wouldn't mind us keeping him, if only to trot him out as bait.  If he performs well in April, I think Hendry could get more than he is being offered now.  I wouldn't be brokenhearted if we deal him, but do not release him.  We have to get something for him.  I will defer to (Josh and) others as to whether we get enough, but don't release him.  Good decisions precede great results.

David Patton.  If he stunk it up this spring, I would have no problem sending him back to the Rockies.  Colorado will see him plenty of times, in an opposing uniform.  I'm not predicting greatness from Patton, but there are lotsa bad bullpens.  He will make it through '09 in Chicago, or Pittsburgh, or somewhere.  But I strongly recommend keeping Patton, at least initially.

He throws stirkes (unless against Japan), has a spring ERA under one (yeah, that's kinda good), and isn't in Lou's doghouse yet.  Hang on to him at least to start the season.  And he's cheap.  Many of those Yankee/Bosox draft picks played well as cheap talent.   With a posting on the site wondering what would be required to not win the division by ten, I really don't think keeping Patton for at least a month will do us in.  We could be five out in June and (injuries pending) still be the favorite to win the NLC.  Not that I want that, but Patton has earned his keep.  The only way I would approve anything but keeping him is to get wads-o-cash or trade to get us bait (preferably a ss and/or cf prospect).    A twelfth reliever shouldn't cost you more than two games, and we need to get much better at utilizing our resources.

Good decisions precede great results.  

I may be a bit early with this, but better early than never.  As players start getting farmed out, let us know which minor leaguers you are keeping an eye out for, and what stat is the one you will be watching.  

Many of you are far more knowledgable about our system than I am (I truly appreciate the daily farm reports), and I hope to hear from some of you here.

My three for now are....

Josh Vitters, Fielding Average

Wellington Castillo, Batting Average

Andrew Cashner, wh/ip

I'm so novice at it, I haven't even included what I consider acceptable.