2012 MLB Regular Season Running Thread

It was against the Mets, but yeah, he looked good. Could be a nice pick-up for the Braves.

 

That was my first thought, so I looked it up. They were actually in fourth place at this time. But a once-in-a-lifetime comeback is still not something you seriously try for.

That's not true at all. This kind of shows how the perception of MLB franchises is slow to change. I think that describes the Cubs farm system 18 months ago, but certainly not today. Well, except for the pitching part. They've got a normal amount of interesting relief arms, but I don't think they have a single truly interesting starting pitching prospect outside of this year's draft and Maples (who hasn't pitched yet after being drafted last year).

But the position players are no longer "deep and full of replacement-level guys." That used to be true, but they traded a couple, lost a couple in the Rule V draft, graduated Clevenger and AAA found a huge hole in Brett Jackson's swing..

Right now, it's kind of a donut-hole. The sure-fire, replacement-level guys are the one thing they don't have (maybe Welington Castillo fits that mold). They've got high-impact, high-ceiling guys in Soler/Baez/Almora and then some high-ceiling lottery ticket types in lower levels like Jeimer Candelario, and the fruits of two pretty good drafts.

You addressed this well later in your post, but let me expound on it: The Cubs are definitely not beholden to long-term contracts right now. The only long-term contract they are commited to right now is Soriano, and that's expiring two years after this one (and not looking that bad, he's having a hell of a year).

The Cubs have virtually no long-term financial commitments. They have $33 million in the majors, excluding arbitration-eligible players committed, to 2013. When you start including the arbitration estimates and pre-arb guys likely to make the team, they are looking at something like $55 million for 19-21 players. This is for a team that ran $135 million payrolls until this year.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html

 

Think Rich Harden got a phone call?

 

Wonder where he got that late-breaking info.

Coming two innings later: Several teams are showing interest in Cole Hamels!

 

If the Pirates can get Upton for Marte I will be a very, very happy person.

 

Yeah, that's not happening. 28 other GMs would be immediately on the phone with the Pirates making a better offer if that's all it took.

 

They need to get a new shortstop in there, somebody who can offer something at the plate.

 

Have to agree with Rick on this one. I'm guessing Taillon or Cole would have to be in the deal.

 

I know this is late, but that Padres/Dodgers game-ender from Saturday was crazy. You would think by now, umps would wait until they see the ball before they call anyone out, but no, the ball goes flying over the catcher and the ump calls him out, then safe.

 

After yesterday's start, Justin Verlander's ERA is within .03 of last year's.

He has to keep it up for a few more years, but his Hall of Fame credentials are piling up remarkably quickly. I'd put him in the more likely than not category right now.