Bobby...re Soriano...I agree...he won't be able to take the field by then.

if all the Top porspects turn into decent major leaguers like they are projected what about a team like this in 4 years: (Bats/Throw)

C: Castillo/Soto(if we havent traded him/let him go)(R/R)

1st: Vitters(R/R)

2nd Lee/castro(R/R\L/R)

ss: Castro/Lee(R/R\L/R)

3rd Flahtery(L/R)

LF: Colvin(L/L)

CF: Jackson(L/R)

RF Synder(L/L)

SP: Wells(R)

SP: Andrew Cashner/Shark(R)

SP: Jay Jackson(R)

SP: Rhee(R)

SP: Chris Carpenter (not the st. lois one the one in our farm system)(R) CL:Marmol(R)

SU:Cashner/Shark(R/R)

LOOGY:Gaub(L)

RP:Stevens(R)

RP: Caridad(R)

RP:Russel(L)

RP:Guzman(R)

Bobby...it looks great on paper...don't forget Soriano's contract runs another FIVE years...so you have to include him.

The other part of it is some of these guys won't make it or get injured...some will be traded for more immediate needs etc. But it's a fun exercise.

You should put that list in hard form...

pull it out in four years and see what

really happened to that proposed team.

But we're on the right track.

i was hoping by then maybe we can defer money and then trade him or realease him with an andrew jones type of thing where he gets paid for 12 years.

I found this article pretty interesting...it's the perspective of a

Blue Jay's fan eyeing a trade with the Cubs for Scott Downs/Jason Frasor....

http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article_external/199920?=true

Nady can play 2B better than Sorry-oh-no, and Lou had Sorry-oh-no there last year on occasion.

Castro: it would be a mistake to rush him to the majors. Go right ahead and destroy his confidence and thereby ruin him forever. Gary Scott had a great ST in 1989, and Don Zimmerman ruined him because they needed a bat at 3B, so they rushed him. He never played at the major league level again. He was a good looking player, too. He could have been somebody. Confidence is the name of the game.

And who knows how old Hanley Rameriz really is.

Maybe because they both just played A ball, and there's only so many dudes they could get into the AFL, where Castro really turned it on. Hmmm, well I hope they both get promotions to start out the year at least. From what I've heard AA can be a big jump, so it'll be a nice test.

With the age on this team I would love to see the Castro (SS)/Theriot (2B) combination. Allow them to work together throughout ST and keep the pressure off the young kid.

Wouldn't it be great to see a young athletic 19 y/o in our lineup and perhaps pump some energy to this roster.

I'd prefer a competitive team to a roster of young athletes. The roster doesn't need guys with energy. It needs guys who can run, hit, field, throw and pitch.

Here's what I don't understand...I love Cashner, Castro, Vitters, and Brett Jackson, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out why Ryan Flaherty isn't getting more publicity.

Check out his first 2 years:

2008-219 AB, 39 runs, 65 hits, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 8 hr, 26 RBI, .297 avg, .369 OBP, .511 SLG

2009-485 AB, 81 runs, 134 hits, 24 doubles, 5 triples, 20 hr, 81 RBI, .276 avg, .344 OBP, .470 SLG

He will be 23 next season. Outside of Kyler Burke, there's not one single player in our system that had a more complete season. Funny thing is, neither of them got much publicity.

Here's Burke's line:

465 AB, 93 runs, 141 hits, 43 doubles, 3 triples, 15 hr, 89 RBI, .303 avg, .405 OBP, .505 SLG

Burke will be 22 next season.

Fact is, Jackson didn't even have a full season of stats, Castro got promoted, and did well at each stop, but his numbers likely wouldn't even justify much publicity in another organization.

I just cannot figure out why Burke and Flaherty wouldn't even receive a NRI to Spring Training. They clearly deserve it, especially Flaherty, who would figure strongly in the middle IF discussion. The guy can play 2B, SS, and 3B, and is 6'3", so he's not a midget like Fontenot.

Our average age in our lineup next year as it stands now will be around 32 years old, which ranks it as one of the oldest in the league right now:

(ages next year)

C-Soto-27

1B-Lee-34

2B-Fontenot-30

SS-Theriot-30

3B-ARAM-32

LF-Soriano-34 (questionable)

CF-Byrd-32

RF-Fukudome-33

bench-

Hill-31

Baker-29

Nady-31

Tracy-30

? (Hoffpauir-30, Blanco-26, Fuld-28, Snyder-28)

That's a friggin' old team if I've ever seen one, which is precisely why I hope the likes of Castro, Snyder, Brett Jackson, and other young guys impress during Spring Training. We will almost surely need their help this year, as recent seasons have suggested, where almost every time Hendry goes after 30+yr old veteran free agents like Floyd, Bradley, etc., we've had to bring up guys like Murton, Hoffpauir, and Fox to pick up slack from their negative performances.

Anyway, does anyone else feel like I do...that Flaherty and Burke should've been given invites?

Aaron...other than top prospects...this last year is my first really following the minor leagues in depth.

So I don't know all the factors that go

into a Spring Training Invite...So I could not give you a truly informed opinion about Flaherty and Burke.

Factors: ???

Performance

I assume there are only so many slots

so the coaches aren't overwhelmed by

sheer numbers.

Amount of investment by the team...ie

draft order...$$$/etc.

Needs of the team...

Perhaps politics...ie Jay Jackson might not have gotten an invite due to his

disciplinary action last summer...

maybe.

Can you educate me on this?

What are the actual factors tat lead t9o a Spring training invite?

you are correct about the factors...I might expand my answer later, but I have limited time, so here's a brief summary:

Performance-mostly based on last year's minor league stats

Contractual-some draftees have stipulations in their contracts that specify a MLB NRI invite and/or flat out 40-man roster addition (like Samardzija)

Invested $$-bonuses, etc. are factors, and usually related to former first round picks

"RUDY" list-this would be good guys like Bobby Scales that get invited mostly as a favor for their citizenship, etc. It also includes guys that might've gotten a cup of coffee at the MLB level, but never broke through, so you typically sign them for each and every position for depth during ST games for split squad, etc.

...I'll add more later...need to run to a movie

Contrary to what Levine thinks, I agree Castro would be better off honing his skills a little more in the minors. At least half the season.

The Cubs will want to at least take a peak of him at the mlb level this season...if he continues his ways.

He'll probably be our starting ss in 2011...so they'll give him a looksee

sometime this season.

I really think we'll be strong up the middle this year.

Baker...poised for a DeRo-like year...

they're going to give him sometime in the outfield at ST.

Theriot...fairly consistant.

Blanco...just absolutely dynamite defense

with a much improved bat...but little power.

Barney and Castro in the wings.

With the exception of his lefty bat...

with pop (when he's on)...not much need for Fontenot....(The intangible here is how would his leaving affect Theriot...

best buds since college)?

In principle, we can afford to let Castro get some seasoning in the minors...he'll be 20 in March...but my

guess is we WILL see Castro sometime this season.

In complete agreement on Castro. Let's hope they move him step-by-step with enough ABs and fielding at each level to really see what he's got. The ability to effectively maximize a talent comes with a little experience and maturity. I teach college and the difference between most 19 year olds and 23 year olds is significant.

I am excited about the prospects too, but I'll say again that I am absolutely not in favor of Castro starting the 2010 campaign with the big league club. I believe that move could hurt him and would hurt the club.

Castro at SS means Theriot at 2B. That means Castro's bat replaces Baker's bat (again - Fontenot shouldn't even be a part of this conversation).

Baker has a good glove at 2B and a .780 lifetime OPS. Theriot has an average glove at SS and a .726 lifetime OPS. At 19 years-old, Castro has what appears to be a flair for the spectacular at SS with a fairly poor fielding percentage and a .757 lifetime OPS - predominantly in at-bats at the single-A level.

Theriot's glove is better at 2B than it is at short - and he's a better 2B glove than Baker. But at 19, it would be hard to imagine that Castro would step into the SS position and field it as well as Theriot can right now. I think he will eventually, but he's going to need some time to mature (remember - he is 19). So from a defensive perspective, you're probably looking at a wash. If there's improvement, it's bound to be fractional.

At the plate, you'd have to expect a significant dropoff in production. What does Castro's single-A .757 OPS equate to as a 20 year-old major leaguer? .700? .680? I'll be generous and say .725. In replacing Baker's .780 with Castro's .725 (which is a big stretch), you just lost 55 points of OPS in your lineup.

Add a possible fractional improvement in the field (coming mainly at 2B) to a fairly significant reduction at the plate and what do you have? A bad decision.

Let Castro mature for another year or two. Many think his future is at 2B anyway. Don't hurt his development and the production of the ball club because you're excited that we finally have some good prospects. Prospects are only as valuable as their ability to improve the big league team - whether that's via trade or promotion. A promotion at this juncture would not improve the big league team.

I agree the Cubs need to be very cautious with Castro, but they seem to be willing to let his performance do the deciding, rather than hold him back. I'm curious, though, are there other examples of young MLB-ers that were successful but didn't come up as mashers like Griffey Jr, Miguel Cabrera, and A-Rod? Just curious what kinds of numbers those guys had at such a young age.

I think my main concern with Castro is that they let him become a really consistent OB machine, and create a situation where he can hone the craft of baserunning, which seems to be much harder at the ML level. Don't think he'll be much of a power threat until he grows a bit more.

Griffey Jr. was done playing minor league ball at 18. In 130 games, he had 465 at-bats with a .997 OPS.

A-Rod was done playing minor league ball at 19. In 170 games, he had 645 at-bats with a .988 OPS.

Cabrera was done playing minor league ball at 20. In 368 games, he had 1,428 at-bats with a .781 OPS.

Castro is 19. In 178 games, he's had 665 at-bats with a .763 OPS.

Cabrera and Castro's numbers include significant at-bats at the Rk level. Neither Griffey jr nor Rodriguez played Rk ball.

At 20 years-old, Cabrera played the first half of the season at AA and put up a 1.038 OPS in 266 at-bats. If Castro does that in the first half of 2010 (and I dont think that's likely), I'll agree that he's ready for the bigs.

Not really sure what you are arguing here, pbr. You say you don't want to see Castro rushed up, and I don't either, then you come up with this list of some of THE best players in the last decade that come up young.

I don't know how any of them where "ranked" according to the baseball pundints, but I image higher than Castro.

I just don't see anything near any of those players listed in Castro. All the guys on your list flat out raked in the minors and crushed the ball. Castro is not a power hitter. And seen soo few ABs and all at low levels...I just think that we are setting ourselves up for dissapointment...and certainly if you are comparing him to Hanley, ARod and Cabrera...

My point was that Castro's numbers don't suggest that he's ready at 19 or 20 to hit MLB pitching. Guys have done it, but the successful ones were crushing minor league pitching before they made the jump. Castro hasn't really done that yet.

Yeah I think my original question was how to see Castro in a way outside of the A-Rod, Cabrera, and Griffey stats, because Castro is not a masher, but he is young and touted. Hanley Ramirez seems closer, but yeah, its very rare for someone to get better at every level, including MLB, and so quickly.

If Castro is killing it in ST, who would still like the Cubs to start him AAA?

Take a look at Hanley Ramirez' minor league numbers. He was a 5 tool highly touted prospect, but his numbers never matched the hype until he made it to the majors.

Hanley Ramirez was done playing minor league ball at 21. In 400 games, he had 1,536 at-bats with an OPS of .782. That too tells me that Castro could use a few more minor league at-bats.

By the way, comparing your best prospect to some of the best players the game has ever seen and some of the best players in the league right now is more than a little bit unfair and unrealistic.

The guy is 19. Have a little patience.

Neil...and whoever else goes to ST...I was just reading a little on Gray...while

his numbers aren't overly impressive they do say he throws a 97mph heater...if you can give us some scouting eyes to what Gray looks like...that would cool.

I'm thinking Aardsma...but the question is the Aardsma with us/WS/Boston etc or the Aardsma with Seattle.

He has no back of the pen experience but maybe that can develop. He has one option left...so...

Suzy, believe me I will.

In past years I have my SLR and my video camera not to mention listening and talking to people ... I would imagine it will be more of the same this year.

Fitch Park is very close to HoHoKam and I try to go there as well ... should be a little easier this year, I am going to only one away game.

One of my favorite things to do while I am there is watch the pitchers throw in the pen and side sessions on the back fields.

I have read positive things about Jeff Gray, but as you pointed out he has an option left. It will be hard for him to make the team out of Spring Training but he has the opportunity to make a name for himself with the coaches.

Thanks Neil, 18 degrees and the thought of Spring Training is warming. Never been...but someday....I can read the anticipation in your post. Smiles...

or as Big Al used to say..."Seashells

and Balloons".

Suzy, I am looking forward to ST ... but probably not as much as my wife. She loves it.

This will be our sixth year in a row.

I think you would love it. Very relaxed and as Jimmy Fallon said, you get to scout the players.

No doubt I'd love it...but no travel for awhile with my brother to care for.

Re Abby...you might try stealing JimK's

lesson for longetivity...ala...

"The Trophy Wife". :)

Six years in a row? I will not envy, I will not envy... oh, who am I kidding?

I am encouraged by our minor league system progress. It bodes well for the future of a franchise that seeks to produce annual contenders.

As a result of that improvement, I still don't see the need for a veteran RP. We have plenty of live arms hungry for a chance.

And I am optimistic that the addition by subtraction approach to the offseason will pay huge dividends. Our bullpen gave up 60 HRs last season, but 21 of those came from two players - Gregg and Heilman. Now, I'm not thinking that the new kids will be flawless, but I don't expect them to be throwing batting practice pitches late in the game, either. Seriously, if we just recover the 7 -10 games Gregg threw away (forget Milton and his mess), we are contenders again.

I think this team is shaping up to be stronger this year than last, but not as strong as 2008. And I would be delighted to be wrong (in a good world series kind of way).

Are the Jacksons invited to spring training?

Brett Jackson received a non-roster invite but not Jay Jackson.

Way to go Wilken. Vitters, Cashner, and almost B Jackson in the top 100. Not too shabby.....

OF Bret Jackson has a Non roster invite.

Pitcher Jay Jackson does not...at this moment.

Thank you Suzy ... missed your response.

I am looking forward to seeing Castro, Vitters and Jackson while I'm at Spring Training. I have seen Cashner, but not the other three.

I am hoping that the split squad game I'm going to at Camelback Ranch-Glendale (White Sox) will feature Castro at short and Vitters at third in the starting lineup.

The vets usually stay behind for road trips in the spring, especially split squad games.

Ah Guys, the old JH argument...Seems to me we've done this a thousand times...

Think Groundhound Day...or most of the endless Septembers for the Cubs over

the last Century.

For every argument...there's a counter argument...ie

Won 3 division titles..."Yes, with the weakest competition and a top five payroll.....How did they do when they actually got in?"

and you say..."that's not the gm's job"

And I say...??? etc.etc. etc.

I'm not engaging in the JH argument

today.

I don't hate him. It's a new era. A

new owner...the core of the team is ripe for turnover...A change is coming and it's inevitable.

You can't just put people at 2B because you want the bat in the lineup. And it isn't the arm that would be the problem in that scenario - it's the feet. The main reason that good hitters often end up in the outfield is because they don't have the feet to play in the infield. You can live with bad feet at the corners if the bat is REALLY good (think Adam Dunn) but you can't live with bad feet up the middle - no matter how good the bat is.

And for all the JH haters out there you should be realistic in many issues. Just look around baseball. I am not saying he is the best but look around baseball and there are a lot of bad deals made and a lot of bad contracts. It could be worse. Here are some positives:

1. Three division titles and a team that has been in contention when they have not won the division. Remember the 70's, 60's, 50's, 40's, 30's, 20's, 10's? That is a long dry spell. If they would have kept Dallas Green it might have been a bit different in the 90's.

2. There have been some really great moves:

*How about Choi for Lee? Robbery!

*How about Hill for Ramirez and Lofton? Robbery! When have the Cubs had better corner infielders?

*Lilly, great signing!

*DeRosa was a great signing and at the time everyone went WHAT, you are paying DeRosa how much? To be a sub? JH must be smoking something?

*Marquis was a good signing and produced greatly for a number 5 even though he was overpaid. But how many number 5's produced what he did?

*Bob Howry helped stabilize the bullpen and helped greatly in 2007.

*Everyone would have been crying if Z left in free agency, like Maddux!

*For the Fontenot lovers, he came in a trade made by JH for Sosa.

*Randall Simon was a good pickup and helped them win the division with a bat off the bench. They could use somebody like that now.

*How about Todd Hundley for Grudz and Karros, GREAT MOVE!

*The farm system is finally in good shape it appears, under Hendry. He does deserve some credit for this if he is going to get the blame for moves as well.

JH has undone some of his great moves which has hurt him.

*The obvious move is DeRosa and this move by itself has warrented all of the complaints! I have no problem trading anyone but in this case they were trying to win a World Series and the guys the got back did nothing to help them. If they were flipped for Peavy then you can live with it. But to trade a key piece for players you are not using now killed them and they are paying for it still.

*Should have never let Grudz go at the time. Needed to get left handed, though. Sound familiar? Bad move, Todd Walker was good but everything got all jacked up. There is something to be said for certain guys like Grudz and DeRosa. They are winners!

*Probably should not have let Marquis go either. Can't get a better 5th starter.

But the pressure to be the guy who gets this done and wins the World Series is huge and is tough to measure. Let's be honest and consider how bad the Cub fans can be and some unjust booing that occurs. This does affect players. They are not robots as much as many fans seem to think. They do have feelings. They do have distractions. There are the same family issues that are there that we do not know about. Look how Dempster was affected. How can you not be. Have you ever not performed well on your job because of an outside issue?

With all of this said I think I would make a change but there is only 1 guy I would hire, Theo Epstein. I want a guy that has done it before in a similar situation, and he has. That is the only guy I would make a move for now.

Lets see if JH has undone the mess he created last year and judge from there.

D Lee at 2B, not happenig. I was assuming he was joking.

JH has made a lot of great deals. I for one was calling to trade DeRosa and feel they made a good move (Bring Bradley in as result of the $$ saved was the mistake). The Cubs never Buy low, and sell high. They usually Buy high and sell low. I was telling friends that the Cubs should sign DeRo before they signed him. He was a great signing. But, I was also wanting him traded, while his value was high. JH did that and has some potential from the trade (Gaub and Stevens). DeRo is an example of Buy low/Sell high. Good teams do that.

My biggest issue with JH was last offseason, every move backfired for the upcoming season. I had been a JH supporter and was all of last year. But looking back and evaluating the moves, every move was bad.

Now, does that mean you fire him. Maybe. He actually has made some good moves this offseason, we will find out if they were the right ones soon enough. If they turn out bad he will be gone. If they win the division and can be relevant in the playoffs, then he will stay. That is they way it should work.

D Lee at 2nd base? Are you guys out of your mind? You are going to move one of the best defensive players from his position to accomadate someone else and really screw up the defense. Put X at second if that is what you like but you don't move Lee!

The most realistic scenario would be moving Theriot to 2nd and having Castro at ss if remotely close. Then X and Baker will be the fill ins.

Fontenot probably will be traded or used as left handed bat with Tracy of bench.

Agree that Fukodome can go!

It is great to see some talent in the minors. It will make it easier for the major league team, once they start coming up every year.

X at 2b. Don't see it. But I did read from someone that he hasn't played IF except 1B. He actually played 18 innings at 3B, back in 2005. Outside the box thinking, but I still don't see it. Early part of the season he will be a spot starter, pinch-hitter. Once (and if) his arm is able to throw better, he will slowly take over RF from Fukudome. Of course this will be just about the time that Fukudome is slowing down for the year. Fukudome has been a good bat for April and even May, but at some point will start whirly birding it again and that is when Nady will take over RF. We will have an OF of Soriano, Byrd, Nady, and Fukudome, all splitting time. I can't imagine anyone starting even 150 games. Match-ups, injuries, slumps, etc.

Fukudome will be the target of trade rumors and talks this year and I feel will be traded before 2011. I don't look at trading a player like this, as how much do we pay to trade him, but as how much do we get back in payroll relief. If we keep him we pay his whole salary of $26.5 million over the next 2 years. No one will take him at that rate and we have already spent the money. Let's get some of those $$ back. If we can replace his production with a prospect coming up (by mid-season or sooner, I say that will be possible) then any $$ we get in salary relief is good. So say they trade Fukudome for a couple of prospects (any prospects will do, you just have to save face by saying you recieved a couple of prospects) and have to pay all of this years and half of 2011 salary. Sounds awful, except that is really $6.75 million of salary relief for 2011. I take that fast. If Snyder or anyone else is able to produce as well or better, and they are gaining experience.

Tony,

I agree that they probably won't give X a shot at 2B. My points are that 1) LaRussa thinks outside the box and moved Shumaker to 2B last year, and he had never ever played 2B anywhere, and 2) since X is only throwing 120' now, don't look for him in RF until past the All-Star break or beyond. That is MY projected timetable for him. So I conclude that X will be a very expensive pinchhitter for the first half, at least. I want his bat in the lineup. And how much worse than Aaron Miles do you figure he really is? Miles was "good enough" to be considered the projected starter for the Cubs last year.

And for those folks saying that he'll make errors and cost the Cubs runs, just remember this: if he can't make a throw from RF, that will cost the Cubs runs, too: runners going from 1st to 3B on him, singles turned into doubles, every runner on third automatically scoring no matter where the ball is hit in RF.

The position on the field that takes the least arm of all, outside of 1B, is 2B. That's right, folks. 2B.

If his wing isn't up to 250' throws by April 2, I wonder if X will even make the opening day Roster . . . .

Or maybe the Cubs should move DLee to 2B and put Nady at 1B until he can throw again.

I like the thinking, I just don't see it happening. Until he can make normal throws, I see him as pinch-hitter spot starter. If he can take over RF by June, it will be great. It's to bad we can't play him in LF. Left field only needs to throw to the cut-off man and most of the time it is not a urgent throw as the runner is stopping at 2B or already made it to 3B. RF needs to be able to throw the ball a lot more.

I actually like the signing more and more, but as always it comes with IF, he is able to take over RF by June and make at least average throws from RF.

Suzy,

Me? Change my name from Ripsnorter to FORGETABOUTIT? It will never happen. FORGETABOUTIT.

:-)