Schedule

by John Sickels on Aug 3, 2025 9:24 AM EDT Comment 16 comments

On childcare duty this morning. This afternoon I will have the Braves prospect review list for you. Tomorrow I will hit the Royals, followed by the Mets, then the Mariners. My intention is to get this ramped up to two teams per day so that it doesn't take all month, but I have a few other projects I have to clear off my desk first. We will get another AQA in there sometime soon too.

A couple of other questions.

Bryce Harper is just posturing. I don't take the facebook stuff seriously and expect him to sign two seconds before the deadline.

Quick report on Thomas Diamond, replacing Ted Lilly in the Cubs rotation: throwing 88-92 right now, with an excellent changeup. His breaking ball is better than it used to be, but is still weaker than the fastball and changeup. I can see him being a solid fourth starter if he throws enough strikes.

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Chris Sale

Just saw where Sale is going to be promoted before today’s doubleheader. I’m assuming he’s the first guy from the 2010 draft to make it to the Majors. He’s performed well in the few innings of relief he’s seen this year. Should make an otherwise boring Tuesday a little more exciting.

by KSM on Aug 3, 2025 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

Where is he getting promoted to?

I didn’t see this.

Needs moar dingerz.

by Blicks on Aug 3, 2025 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

tomorror

Now they are saying tomorrow. He’ll be promoted to Chicago - he’s already in Charlotte.

by KSM on Aug 3, 2025 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Aah. My question is this

Why is Chris Sale being used as a reliever and not being left in the minors to start?

Needs moar dingerz.

by Blicks on Aug 3, 2025 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

They want him to get to the majors to help in the pen right away

They’ll start him next season

…they should send down Huntington & Nutting, because they aren’t ready, either. - royshowell

by Marinerfanjake on Aug 3, 2025 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

It was part of his contract negotiation

It’s a nice way to work around Bud Selig’s stupid unwillingness to approve over-slot deals until he’s wasted a year of development for both the players and their teams.

By getting him onto a major league roster now, they’re essentially getting him the money he wanted in a signing bonus in a creative way and using him in a way that they thought was helpful to the club and his development. He threw too many innings in school this year to go three months of starting as a pro anyway, so their choice was to move him to the pen for this year or shut him down. He’ll be in a rotation next spring.

by realitypolice on Aug 3, 2025 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Boras is no fool

It would be career suicide if he left $10-$12 mill on the table, had Harper return to college, and then saw his stock drop dramatically or the kid get hurt.

by ScottAZ on Aug 3, 2025 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Yunesky Maya

John, what is your take on the 28-year-old Cuban?

by jaroche6 on Aug 3, 2025 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

maya

No idea. I don’t trust scouting reports on most Cuban players.

by John Sickels on Aug 3, 2025 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting that the Cubs might've uncovered another cheap, good starter

First it was Randy Wells. Then Tom Gorzelanny. Now maybe Thomas Diamond?

Pretty nerve-wracking that they keep finding good players like this, but then they go out and waste astonishing amounts of money on guys like John Grabow.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Aug 3, 2025 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

can you do

a Lars Anderson-Anthony Rizzo prospect smackdown?

That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Aug 3, 2025 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

+1

me likey

by another know it all on Aug 3, 2025 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it would be interesting

That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Aug 3, 2025 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

diamond

is a fascinating story given all he’s been through, how highly he was once viewed, and how he has re-invented himself as a pitcher.

by rdf8585 on Aug 3, 2025 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

Diamond

I talked to him a few years ago (2005 maybe?) when he was with Corpus. Seemed like a very mature guy and that was before all of the adversity he’s gone through the past few years. I’m usually not surprised when guys with good make-up re-invent themselves and do well or at least salvage a decent career. Hope he does well even if he is a Cub.

by KSM on Aug 3, 2025 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions