2012-2013 Off-Season Calendar & Discussion

[Yagyu+]

Posting from my phone at an airport and having trouble looking up remaining options, but do we have anyone on the roster yet to log the odd inning at first?

EDIT: I thought possibly Brian Bogusevic, but it doesn't look like he's played first. The Cubs signed Brad Nelson to a minor league contract toward the end of December. Maybe Nelson?

[homestarunner93]

Question: Any news about Darwin Barney working on his offensive approach this winter?

Bruce Levine: I was at a mini-camp that he was working at in November. He was working on pulling the ball a bit more. He's an incessant worker, always trying to get better.

Stuff like this is why advanced stats are overrated. You can't quantify work ethic. Barney is so underrated around these parts.

[Yagyu+]

Stuff like this is why advanced stats are overrated. You can't quantify work ethic. Barney is so underrated around these parts.

Supposedly Marlon Byrd took a shining to Barney and they trained a bunch together.

[homestarunner93]

Did he get a hold of Marlon's PEDs too?

[KyleJRM]

Stuff like this is why advanced stats are overrated. You can't quantify work ethic. Barney is so underrated around these parts.

We hear this garbage every year, and it has nothing to do with how well the player performs the next year. He's in the best shape of his life! He's rededicated himself to baseball!

[Yagyu+]

Did he get a hold of Marlon's PEDs too?

Omelettes:

It's early Saturday in the Cubs clubhouse and Darwin Barney is looking at video of his swings on his iPad. He's just finished half of his cheese, sausage, and jalapeno omelette that Marlon Byrd brings him every day with a side of potatoes.

"I used to have a stomach thing, and I'd come in and feel like crap in the mornings," Barney said. "Marlon had his nutritionist in, and he said the two worst things to eat in the morning are wheat and dairy, and I'm eating a bowl of Cheerios. [Byrd] said, 'Do I need to bring you breakfast?'"

Byrd, 33, who has more than 3,200 big league at-bats, has been delivering an omelette to Barney, 25, who made his Major League debut last year, every day since that conversation. During this interview, Byrd even offered advice on how the infielder should answer questions.

"He's my mentor in all aspects of the game," Barney said.

He's not kidding. Barney's extra effort and devotion to Byrd could pay off with a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster.

[SenorGato]

I don't think it's crazy to imagine Barney putting up a suprisingly strong offensive season this year. He's competent enough, has more power than he did, and has put up a full season with a much better BA/OBP just in 2011. Nothing crazy, but a league average OBP with 10 HRs, his D, base running, and grit (or is he too ethnic looking to have any?) would be a very valuable player at less than a million.

[MrPoon]

and grit (or is he too ethnic looking to have any?)

[KyleJRM]

Well-spoke Asians with normal-sounding names are honorary white.

[SenorGato]

Well-spoke Asians with normal-sounding names are honorary white.

I would like to believe this but lesser players have gotten way more popular. Plus, his name's Darwin and ain't no one with that name with faith in the good lord.

[homestarunner93]

We hear this garbage every year, and it has nothing to do with how well the player performs the next year. He's in the best shape of his life! He's rededicated himself to baseball!

Tyler Colvin? Worked out well for him. Of course, the Cubs dumped him for **** anyways because everyone needs a crappy, oft-injured 3B.

Omelettes:

That's interesting. Might have to start taking tips from Marlon's nutritionist. I stopped eating breakfast because I would feel so bad afterwards.

[Yagyu+]

According to the Cubs, they have signed free agent C Jair Fernandez to a minor league contract. Same day they agreed to terms with Garza, avoiding arbitration.

[ABE32]

According to the Cubs, they have signed free agent C Jair Fernandez to a minor league contract. Same day they agreed to terms with Garza, avoiding arbitration.

Bye Bye Clevenger...kidding but maybe not so much!

[OldStyleCubbies]

Lendy DFA'd.

[Jack the Ripper]

Are you guys ever going to let the ****ing Tyler Colvin **** go? He was a painfully average outfielder.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm itching for opening day. I really can't tolerate this off-season anymore. It's fun for a while, but I'm ready to get to the fun part! Let's play some ball!