Random Cubs Franchise Update

[FirstTimer]

All-Star Break:

Lineup
Fukudome .301 9HR 31RBI
Castro .243 4HR 24RBI
Ramirez .290 17HR 39RBI
Pena .248 19HR 57RBI
Soriano .249 12 HR 37RBI
Byrd .240 14HR 40RBI
Soto .233 9HR 24RBI
LeMahieu .239 1HR 5 RBI (Only called up a few games ago)

Bench
Campana .226 8/8SB
Hill .243 1HR 3 RBI
Barney .213 1HR 15RBI
Johnson .265 3HR 14RBI


Rotation
Dempster 4-11 3.53 ERA
Zambrano 5-5 4.50 ERA
Garza 5-5 2.45 ERA
Wells 2-11 5.26 ERA
Coleman 3-1 2.64 ERA

Chris Carpenter 2/3 in saves since Marmol trade

Disabled List:
Blake DeWitt 15 DAY DL with a Pulled Groin. Out for 1-6 more days .279 on the year
Jeff Baker 60 DAY DL with torn achillies Out for another 3-4 months. .200 on the season



Notable Transactions Made by Cubs:

Traded: CP Carlos Marmol to Tampa for SS/2B Tim Beckham


Released:Bobby Scales(AAA), Bryan LaHair(AAA), Max Ramirez (AAA)




Notable in minors:

AAA
Tyler Colvin .325 6HR 20RBI (.179 3HR and 9RBI in MLB this year)
Wellington Castillo .214 7HR 31 RBI
Rebel Ridling .295 0HR 10RBI in 22 games(.285 13HR and 50RBI in AA before being called up)
Nate Samson .304 0HR 7RBI(6 games)
Marquez Smith .276 9HR 33RBI

Jay Jackson 6-7 3.43 ERA
Andrew Chasner 2-3 3.83 ERA (1-8 8.68 ERA in Majors before being sent down for Casey Coleman)

AA
Junior Lake .310 0HR 6RBI
Tim Beckham .265 1HR 5 RBI since trade
Brett Jackson .268 5HR 29RBI
Josh Vitters .250 3HR 17RBI
Justin Bour .267 oHR 5RBI (18 games)
Matt Szczur .355 2HR 9RBI (7 games)
Michael Burgess .240 2HR 6RBI (7 games)

Trey McNutt 5-6 3.60 ERA
Brooks Raley 2-9 2.99 ERA
Alberto Cabrera 7-6 2.98 ERA
Rafael Dolis 5-3 2.83 ERA


Around the Majors


AL East
Bos 61-31
NYY 7 GB
Bal 10.5 GB
TB 11 GB
Tor 25 GB

AL Central
CWS 54-39
Det 1GB
Min 1.5 GB
Cle 11.5 GB
KC 25.5 GB

AL West
Tex 52-40
Oak 12 GB
Sea 13.5 GB
LAA 14 GB


AL Wild Card: NYY, Detroit(1.5GB), Min(2.0 GB), Bal(2.5 GB), TB(4.0GB)


NL East
NYM 51-41
Atl 2 GB
Flo 8 GB
Was 14 GB
Phi 14.5 GB

NL Central
StL 63-29
Mil 15.5 GB
Hou 18 GB
Pit 20 GB
Cin 29GB
CHC 28 GB

NL West
Col 56-35
SF 7.5 GB
SD 8.5 GB
Ari 13.5 GB
LAD 14 GB

NL Wild Card: SF and ATL tied, SD(1GB), Mil(1.5GB), Hou(4.0GB, Ari(6.0GB), Flo(6.0), Cin(6.0GB), LAD(6.5GB)

[FirstTimer]

Kind of a cool happening.

I get a trade offer from the Twins for Aramis Ramirez:

18 year old SS/3B Prospect Miguel Sano for 3B Aramis Ramirez straight up.


The VERY next day I get a trade offer from the White Sox(who the Twins are trying to chase down)

CWS get: 3B Aramis Ramirez

CHC get: OF/1B/3B Dayan Viciedo, 3B Brent Morel, RP Jhonny Nunez

Haven't decided what deal I want to do.......

[Irish]

I also have issues with Starlin's average being lower than real life.

Interesting you have Colvin in AAA, he dominates for me right now in the starting lineup.

[FirstTimer]

I also have issues with Starlin's average being lower than real life.

Interesting you have Colvin in AAA, he dominates for me right now in the starting lineup.

I simmed like 85% of these games.

Castro has been coming around. i think his average has gone up about 20 points in the last few weeks.

When DeWitt gets back I think I'll be sending Barney down and Rebel Ridling is getting close to a call up as well.

[FirstTimer]

I'm REALLY tempted to pull the trigger on the A-Ram/Viciedo deal. I'd take Morel out and maybe take Nunez......

The Sano deal is interesting but I already have a stud 3B waiting in A ball in Javier Baez.

[FirstTimer]

Pulled the trigger on the Aramis Trade.

White Sox get:
3B Aramis Ramirez

Cubs get:
3B/OF/1B Dayan Viciedo
RP Jhonny Nunez

Viciedo steps in and immediately becomes my 3B.

Nunez goes to the bullpen in AAA.

I also pulled off another trade as well.

Seattle Gets:
SP Andrew Cashner
SP Robert Coello
RP Kyle Smit

Chicago Cubs Get:
SP James Paxton

Pulled this deal off because I like Paxton's power left arm and his upside.

Paxton goes to AA Tennessee and could be on the fast track to the big depending on how he pitches.

Coello and Smit went to the Mariners AA squad. The 24 year old Cashner steps into the Mariners starting rotation for a really ineffective Erik Bedard.

Trade deadline is coming up so I'll see if any other big trades go down.

[FirstTimer]

Start of 2012


Lineup vs RHP
CF Campana
2B DeWitt
SS Castro
1B Fielder
3B Viciedo
LF Soriano
RF Jackson
C Soto

Bench:
Fukudome
JJ Hardy
Jake Fox
Mark DeRosa
Reed Johnson


Lineup vs LHP
CF Campana
2B DeRosa
SS Castro
1B Fielder
RF Viciedo
LF Soriano
C Soto
3B Hardy





Rotation
Garza
Dempster
Zambrano
James Paxton
Jay Jackson

Bullpen:
LR: Charlie Morton
MRP: Sean Marshall
MRP: Jhonny Nunez
MRP: Dan Cortes
SU: Jensen Lewis
SU: Kerry Wood
CP: Chris Carpenter


Busy busy offseason. As you can see I picked up Fielder in the FA market. Paid big bucks for him but it was worth it(I hope). I like my lineup. Plenty of speed at the top with Campana who batted .287 for me down the stretch in 2011. DeWitt is solid at 2B and DeRosa gives me a nice bat to use against lefties at 2B. Castro slots into the 3 spot after a late season power surge. Great hitter and I'm hoping the power numbers stay. Either way I need guys on base in front of Fielder so Castro will stay here for the time being. Viciedo settles into the middle of the order and Brett Jackson can get his feet under him after batting .286 during his September call up in 2010 at the #7 position in the order.

I can't wait to rid myself or Soriano.

I was able to bring Fukudome back for cheap at the end of free agency.

I like my bench overall. Jake Fox is kind of a crappy back up at catcher and I have Wellington Castillo down in AAA but I want to keep getting him AB's. Through 13 games so far Soto is batting in the .130's so Castillo's time could be soon if I can trade Soto for peanuts.

With Hardy and DeRosa I have some nice IF/OF flexibilty as well.

My pitching staff I like a lot. Garza had a great year for me last season and is my ace now. Dempster and Zambrano are pitching where they should be and the back end of my rotation is really young. Paxton I am really high on. he got called up last year. Went 1-1 with an ERA in the mid 3's. Power lefty arm. Projects out for me as a #2 guy. Maybe a fringe ace. Control issues but really solid 4 pitch guy. Jay Jackson got a call up late last year and went 3-0 with an ERA under 3.50. Nothing overpowering about his stuff but a solid middle to back end of the rotation arm.

My bullpen I was able to upgrade as well IMO. The Pirates let Morton walk after an iffy season and he is a guyw ho can spot start for my younger arms. Marshall/Nunez/Cortes are upgrades for me in the middle relief area. Nunez came over in the Aramis/Viciedo deal and has been really solid. Cortes Isigned away from Seattle and he's been impressive in duty so far this season. Lewis was an All-Star at AAA last season and I picked him up. Another guy who doesn't have overpowering stuff but nothing he throws is straight and he gets outs. I resigned Wood and he's a good veteran prescence at the back end.

Carpenter has electric stuff. There will be growing pains but he has closer stuff.

I signed Dontrelle Willis to a FA contract and he is currently at AAA along with Kris Medlin who the Braves let walk after he missed all of last season with an injury. I'll let him "rehab" down there for a while then look at calling him up later. It's ncie to have options beyond Casey Coleman at AAA to call up if need be.

Vitters and McNutt start the year off at AA.

Castillo and Rafael Dolis are the only real prospects of note at AAA.

My system is still really young. Most of my talent(Vitters, McNutt, Hayden Simpson, Jae-Hoon Ha, Michael Burgess, Justin Bour, Matt Szczur, Tim Beckham, Dan Vogelbach, Javier Baez, Reggie Golden, etc) is at the AA level or below. Beckham has been lighting it up early on at AA though so he's one to watch as the season moves forward.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random Free Agent observations:

-I tried to bring back Colvin but the Yankees outbid me for him. I'm sure he will love the short porch in right in Yankee Stadium.

-Jose Reyes went to the WS champion Red Sox. They are loaded in the lineup now.

-Carlos Beltran and Carlos Pena ended up with the Dodgers. The Dodgers OF is filthy. Beltran, Kemp, Ethier.

-Atlanta has maybe the best young staff in baseball. Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor, Beachey. Teahran is still down at AAA.

[zack54attack]

Interesting..to know what your gonna do with Soriano

[FirstTimer]

Interesting..to know what your gonna do with Soriano

I'm still looking for trade partners. I'm late May and he's stil batting like .150.

[RyanLeaf16]

I'm still looking for trade partners. I'm late May and he's stil batting like .150.

That is the moment in time where you literally cut your losses and take whatever you can get for him. I mean anything. If they give you an "F" potential catcher and that's it...you take it!

[FirstTimer]

That is the moment in time where you literally cut your losses and take whatever you can get for him. I mean anything. If they give you an "F" potential catcher and that's it...you take it!

I'd take an F Potential trainer at this point.

[LC AAU]

You can't use Soriano? I seriously rake with Sori in every Franchise I use. Soriano does more damage then anyone besides A Ram.

[FirstTimer]

You can't use Soriano? I seriously rake with Sori in every Franchise I use. Soriano does more damage then anyone besides A Ram.

I sim most of these games...

[zack54attack]

I'm still looking for trade partners. I'm late May and he's stil batting like .150.

So teh gamez is realz Life

[zack54attack]

You can't use Soriano? I seriously rake with Sori in every Franchise I use. Soriano does more damage then anyone besides A Ram.

Soriano was a monster in all my years playing MLB the Show...

In MLB 2k, he's weak.