2012-2013 Off-Season Calendar & Discussion

[deltaclown]

Eric Karros the favorite to take over for Bob?

Ugh....says who?

[Milnertime]

How many Cubs and who do you think will play in the WBC next spring?

[SenorGato]

“Or go outside the organization and try to buy low on a pitcher that we really liked and then build value by putting him in that role. (That’s) value for the Cubs, and then if our season doesn’t turn out the way we want it to – potential value in a trade.”

Rangers did it with the supposedly finished Joe Nathan.

Marmol is kind of like that guy right now actually, particularly given Epsteins comments on his fastball. Hopefully some team likes what they saw and he can be traded this offseason or, if anything, in July/August.

[deltaclown]

Trade Marmol to LAA, sign Ryan Madson for a few mill. Done and done.

[OldStyleCubbies]

Ugh....says who?

RT @MattSpiegel670: Steve Stone just suggested, strongly, that it will be Eric Karros in the Cubs booth with @LenKasper next season.

[OldStyleCubbies]

^ retweeted by Bleacher Nation earlier today btw.

[SenorGato]

Trade Marmol to LAA, sign Ryan Madson for a few mill. Done and done.

LAA is one option...The Yankees, who just lost Soriano, might show some interest and may also be willing to take Alfonso Soriano on as well...Who else...maybe the Rangers...maybe even the Tigers....Giants if they DFA Wilson...possibilities abound.

[OldStyleCubbies]

Keith Law said he thinks Darwin Barney is a bench player and one you'd be hard-pressed to use in the era of the 12/13 man pitching staff... and he can't play SS.

[Milnertime]

Keith Law said he thinks Darwin Barney is a bench player and one you'd be hard-pressed to use in the era of the 12/13 man pitching staff... and he can't play SS.

Why can't he play SS?

That's his natural position.

[ABE32]

Trade Marmol to LAA, sign Ryan Madson for a few mill. Done and done.

first time for everything but I agree 200%

[OldStyleCubbies]

Why can't he play SS?

That's his natural position.

Not sure, but I think Law is big on guys losing the ability to play their old spot if they move somewhere else for awhile.

[Yagyu+]

Via The Republic, "ASU-Cubs deal for Mesa stadium is dead."

{Photo: Stadium 1, Stadium 2, Stadium 3}

A proposed deal that would have allowed Arizona State University to use the new Chicago Cubs stadium in Mesa is dead.

ASU said Thursday it is breaking off talks with the Cubs, and Mesa Mayor Scott Smith told The Republic he would no longer try to broker an agreement unless the sides show some willingness to come together.

The proposed agreement had been in the works for more than a year, after the Cubs invited ASU to share the facility under construction in northwest Mesa.

The Arizona Board of Regents accepted a general memorandum of understanding with the Cubs in late 2011, but Smith said the deal fell apart as the sides tried to fill in the details of the agreement.

Steve Patterson, ASU’s vice president for university athletics, blamed the Cubs for the impasse, saying it has been obvious for months that the big-league ball team no longer wanted to share its facilities with the university.

Cubs spokesman Julian Green disputed that.

“It’s unfortunate ASU decided not to pursue the deal,” Green said. “ASU broke off discussions when we very much hoped the university could be part of the new training facility. For the last several months we publicly stated we wanted to do a deal that benefited all parties.”

[JIMBO]

what exactly is Law's quote?

[OldStyleCubbies]

What do you think about Darwin Barney? Gold Glove winner, and was top 15 in the NL in WAR.
Klaw (1:10 PM)

Wildly overrated by advanced defensive stats due to the overshift. He's a bench player in reality, and one you'd be hard-pressed to use in the era of 12- and 13-man pitching staffs because he can't play short.

also...

Did you get many looks at Javier Baez this year? Reviews about his bat and defence have been great thus far. Is there any reason to be skeptical based on his lack of patience?
Klaw (1:11 PM)

Yes, before he left the AFL. Best bat speed out here. Swings at everything and then some.

another...

Follow-up AFL question - what purpose does the AFL serve best?
Klaw (1:41 PM)

Great for scouting. Also great for players who need extra reps, like Cosart/Gibson, or who need to be challenged by older competition, like Baez.

[Yagyu+]

Cubs:

#Cubs today named Anthony Iapoce special assistant to the GM/Player Development. Iapoce will oversee the minor league hitting program.

Iapoce joins the #Cubs after spending the last three seasons as the roving hitting coordinator for the Toronto Blue Jays.