The Cubs' Minor League Cornucopia

I’m going out of the country for twelve days starting tomorrow, and like my battered wife co-author of this blog, I’ve decided to take a hiatus from the Cubs. I’m going to check scores maybe every other day, avoid looking at anything Cubs (or even baseball) related, and generally do my best to live the life normal people do for the next two weeks. Its kind of like going to Betty Ford, all the way down to the withdrawal I’m sure I’m going to suffer (Of course, in an act similar to sneaking a mirror and straw into a rehab clinic, I’m subscribing to an international data plan on my cell phone). So I'll be back posting regularly in about two weeks. Until then, Jason will be ably manning all the controls here at FotG.

ANYWAY…

Since the Cubs haven’t done much over the last few days to warrant much of any reaction (good or bad), the only major news is the ongoing discussion of C.C. Sabathia coming to Chicago. According to recent reports, the Indians are looking for major-league ready prospects, which the Cubs have in spades, if by “major league,” you mean “Mexican League” and by “prospects,” you mean “tubs of goo.” The minor league cupboard is a bit bare, folks. But considering the major competition for Sabathia’s services is also fairly bare (at least when it comes to “major league-ready,” Brewers fans), there is still hope. If I’m Jim Hendry, here’s my sales pitch for the Cubs “Major League Ready” players.

Sean Gallagher: He’s young. He’s won games at the major league level. Sure, few of them have been against good teams. He’s lost weight and gotten 3-4 MPH more out of his fastball this year. He also looks like he could be Scott Eyre in training. Wait, strike that last one.

Jeff Smardzija: Has the potential to be a great #3…receiver.

Felix Pie: Great AAA numbers, awful major league numbers (in minimal at bats). He’s never really been given a significant chance at the major league level. Rumors abound that he might have Kyle Farnsworth syndrome, so he might have trouble in a town with such a rich nightlife as…wait, I had to remind myself that the Indians are in Cleveland. You can only go to the Rock and Roll Museum so many times. He’ll flourish there.

Ryan Harvey: He was a first round draft pick and…nevermind. He just sucks.

Ronny Cedeno: By the end of May, he was on pace for 120 RBI! Sorry-what was the question? You want to know what he’s done since then? Ummm….sorry, I got a call on the other line.

Tyler Colvin: See Ryan Harvey.

Donnie Veal/Jose Ceda: They're young Cubs pitchers, so you can absolutely get 2 years out of them before their arms fall off.

Rich Hill: It worked for Rick Ankiel.


Well, I guess it might take a little more creativity to sell these guys. It would be great if the Cubs’ venerable general manager could muster up a little of that creativity and pull in 330 pounds of Cy Young stuff. Then again, I’m a Cubs fan, so I’ll just order my MECHE 55 jersey now.