John Gaub gave up a run on three hits with a strikeout in an inning of work. Solar Sox down 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th

Neil...what's the best way (besides the CCO) to follow the AFL?

Suzy...here ya go

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/winterleagues/

I'd actually prefer Prince Fielder if (big IF) DLEEs skills slide that much in two years. I just can't swallow the idea of Pujols in Cubbie blue (shudder).

My hatred of Pujols would become instant love once he puts on the blue uniform!!!But Cardinal nation would never allow it.

Here's an interesting link, that could play right into the Cubs hands if it all plays out right.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/10/pujols-not-talking-extension-just-yet.html

The last superstar we had was Sosa, and the trouble the Cubs have had to find a first baseman the years in between Grace and Lee makes this a little bit intriguing right? Contracts will be coming off the books - and the Cubs will possibly need someone to save those Ramirez throws. He will be 30 or 31 see he could realistically cost 7 or 8 years for between 200 and 250 million. How long does he have left?

Woody34...How long does he have left is

the real question re Pujols. We got Sosa/Grace etc young....Sosa was 18 when the White Sox got him from Texas...he was a fast skinny kid then. We got Soriano...(Hendry's version of a superstar) at age 31...got too good years out of him...(with injuries) last season...and God knows what for the next 5. If he gets to FA...if we were lucky enough to get him...we'd be just in time to watch his decline.

No...go young...go young...go young unless it's a 1 or 2 year deal that really meshes with the team.

I'd say that some are and some aren't, Jim C. Russell wouldn't be a top 10 prospect and Castillo may no longer be either. There are some limitations on who can be on the team. For example, I think there can be only one player from either Hi A or low A. And pure numbers limit each major league team's positions on an AZ Fall League roster.

I hope Castro shows some defensive prowess in AZ. That's the rap against him. He was DH'd yesterday.

Can you believe that at a talent show like the AZ Fall League, yesterday's game drew 459 paid attendees. I'm guessing that tickets are 5-10 bucks, and that you can visit with the players during pre-game activities. What a deal!

If Castro is a defensive liability (gosh, how many times have we heard that over the years about our prospects), don't you think that the Fall League would be the right setting for him to work on that v. DH'ing him. Geesh!

Bryan, I would not call Castro a defensive liability from everything I've read. Yes he committed his fair share of errors this season but he is only 19 years old (March 24, 1990).

I have heard/read really good things about him and I am hoping he gets a big league invite to Spring Training.

Baseball America said the following about his defense prior to the 2009 season:

"He has plus range, steady hands and a solid arm with good accuracy. He displays fine instincts at the plate and in the field."

The Mesa Solar Sox is made up of players from different teams (Angels, Red Sox, Marlins, Twins, Red Sox and Blue Jays), just not the Cubs. So seeing someone like Castro at DH will happen.

Neil,

I see that Castro is only 19, but how far away do you think he will be from making it to Wrigley? He might be able to provide some of the speed that was so lacking this past season.

Larry, I have read/heard quite a bit about the Cubs looking for a short-term solution at short in order to not block Castro. He has really made an impression.

I would think at least a year, if not two at this point. They moved him rapidly through the system so far. I hope he gets a non-roster invite to big league camp this spring.

For the record, in the fourth at HoHoKam, the Solar Sox are up 1-0. Castro is at short and is 1-for-2 with a double.

Josh Vitters got the start at third and Welington Castillo is behind the plate. Castillo is 1-for-1 so far.

What kind of ideas/names are being tossed around as a short term solution at short? I assume that any move would include moving Theriot to 2nd?

We hear a lot about trade Bradley, but are there any thoughts about looking to try and move Fukudome and his salary?

Larry, I have a running commentary on the offseason in the community blog where we discuss things like this. I will post an answer there, as well as answer you here (though I know you didn't ask me specifically)...

As for the shortstop situation, the Cubs (however irrational it may seem) appear committed to Theriot there. Here's why:

1)The payroll for the Cubs is expected to remain between $140-150 million.

2)The following guys are eligible for arbitration: Theriot, Fontenot, Gorzelanny, Guzman, Marmol, Heilman, Hill, Marshall, and Baker. Let's just say each of them gets $2 million on average through arbitration (very possible). That's an additional $18 million on the books, which will almost certainly limit the moves we can make. Almost all of them are expected back with the team, save for Fontenot, Hill, and maybe Heilman. Hill and Heilman, however, have been rumored to be coming back for sure.

3)I just want to run down a list of big market second basemen and their stats this year:

Utley-.282 avg, .397 OBP, .508 SLG, 31 hr, 93 RBI

Cano-.320 avg, .352 OBP, .520 SLG, 25 hr, 85 RBI

Pedroia-.296 avg, .371 OBP, .447 SLG, 15 hr, 72 RBI

Castillo-.302 avg, .387 OBP, .346 SLG, 1 hr, 40 RBI

Sanchez-.293 avg, .326 OBP, .416 SLG, 7 hr, 41 RBI

Hudson-.283 avg, .357 OBP, .417 SLG, 9 hr, 62 RBI

Kendrick-.291 avg, .334 OBP, .444 SLG, 10 hr, 61 RBI

Polanco-.285 avg, .331 OBP, .396 SLG, 10 hr, 72 RBI

Kaz Matsui-.250 avg, .302 OBP, .357 SLG, 9 hr, 46 RBI

Jose Lopez-.272 avg, .303 OBP, .463 SLG, 25 hr, 96 RBI

There's your big market (and budget) teams: Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Giants, Dodgers, Angels, Tigers, Astros, and Mariners.

Now, Theriot...

.284, .343 OBP, .369 SLG, 7 hr, 54 RBI.

He'd be tied for 2nd to last in hr, 4th to last in RBI, 4th to last in avg, 5th to last in OBP, 3rd to last in SLG. Since we have the 3rd highest payroll in all of baseball, it stands to reason that we could find a FAR better option, considering he has an average ranking in all 5 categories of 7.4 (out of 11). For a team with the 3rd highest payroll, like I said, I'd think they could do far better than Theriot at 2B.

4)But what about keeping him at SS? Considering the fact that the only shortstops with the teams mentioned that outrank him considerably (in power numbers and slugging) are just Jeter Rollins, and Tejada. So, therefore, it stands to reason that his greatest value to us offensively would be at shortstop

As for your question about Fukudome, I have not ever seen or heard of any Fukudome rumors at all...ever since he signed with the Cubs. About the only thing that could even remotely be considered a "rumor" would be comments made at the end of last year linking him to Trey Hillman of the Royals based on their ties to Japan, but if memory serves me correctly, it wasn't like, "the Royals have interest" or anything like that, it was more of a hypothetical "rumor". If you think logically, about the only way the Royals could afford Fukudome is if they trade Guillen, and even then, at $12 million, and producing only 9 hr, 40 RBI with a .242 avg, .314 OBP, and .367 SLG with 22 walks to 50 K's in 81 games might not make any sense to us (even if the Royals take on all of Fukudome's salary for the remaining 2 years of his deal, thus saving us $12 million). Despite all his obvious flaws on offense, Fukudome is solid in RF on defense, and put up a .375 OBP, .421 SLG (granted, he had yet another .250's avg). Guillen would not be the answer for us, and might even hurt us next year, even though he has a strong arm in the OF (so does Fukudome). Guillen also has a volatile personality, which is precisely what we're trying to rid ourselves of with Bradley.

The best case scenario for next year is this:

1)Bradley is traded for a guy like Burrell or Vernon Wells with a large contract and underperforming, and we bite the bullet, taking less defense for more offense

2)Guys like Gregg, Heilman, Fontenot, Stevens, Miles, Patton, Chad Fox, Jake Fox (because the Cubs refuse to use him correctly...and he also can't hit breaking balls), Neal Cotts, Grabow (given suitable replacements in Papelbon, Gaub, and Marshall already in house...plus the bone chips in his elbow, and likely salary demands), Taguchi, Scales, Johnson (great guy, bad injury history), and Bradley, should never don Cubs uniforms again.

3)Hendry is fired (I would've put him first, but the others are more pressing)

4)Kenney is fired

5)we make trades to get Chris Davis/Mitchell Moreland, BJ Upton, Josh Fields, Dunn, and EY Jr.

A lot of things this offseason are inter-dependent. If we can't offload Bradley, then we really can't move on. If the sale of the team drags on, then it limits maneuverability. If Hendry starts signing aging veterans to fill holes, then it severely limits trade flexibility on the roster (which we all know that Hendry is FAR more likely to give an Aaron Miles type a long-term deal, rather than explore the possibility of trading for a BJ Upton or Josh Fields, etc.)

Vitters doubled in his second trip to the plate ... Castillo struck out with Vitters at second.

James Russell gave up two runs, one earned, in the fifth. The first run was unearned after a throwing error by Josh Vitters.

Starlin Castro grounded out to second in his third at bat, but advanced the runner to third. Castro's productive out helped the Sox tie the game at two after five innings.

I take it that thsese guys are the cream of the minor league crop. We need youth.

Jim, I agree with JimK on James Russell, but he has shown promise in the past.

As for Welington Castillo, the Cubs were very pleased with the progress he made with his defense and game calling this year. Oneri Fleita said his offense took a step back this season but he made great strides with his play behind the plate. Fleita compared Castillo once again to Yadier Molina.

As for other names:

Brandon Guyer

Brett Jackson

Kyler Burke

Casey Coleman

Rebel Ridling

Steve Clevenger

Hak-Ju Lee

Chris Carpenter

... Just to name a few.