I heard this story about a rookie ball pitcher who made the jump to triple A in just one season of work. Is this as rare as I believe it to be? I was in Iowa watching the Cubs play Omaha and this hard throwing free agent right hander came into the game. At first I thought nothing of it but later came to find out that the kid was in Mesa for the entire season. No stops on the way, just straight to AAA. He was throwing 94 with a sick circle change. Retired all six hitters he faced and then the season was over. Any thoughts on this type of jump? Where do you think the cubs will send this prospect at the start of next season? The kids name is Mike Christl and he looks like he has a ridiculously high ceiling.

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees are contemplating offering Alex Rodriguez a 5-6 year extension at $30M per year, in an attempt to keep him from opting out of the remaining 3 years (at $90M; partially paid by the Texas Rangers) on his contract. It would keep him to age 40 or 41. Heyman also mentions the Cubs as a possible suitor, if Rodriguez opts out, likely only because of the Cubs' revenues and not because they would actually go after him. And for that amount of money and for that long, he can stay in New York.

http://tinyurl.com/25gsac

And to think that all this time I thought Rick Morrisey had no sense of humor. I guess the workers dug that up too.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=58202&src=152

I'm not sure if Flieta has not been part of the problem, especially when you look at the Cubs best hitting prospect over the last several years. The strikeout to walk ratios are terrible. We are either drafting and signing the wrong kinds of amateur hitters, and/or the kids we are drafting and signing are not being properly taught. Flieta is to connected to MacPhail and Hendry for my taste.

The Baltimore Orioles continue their quest to stockpile former Cubs. They "claimed right-handed pitcher Roberto Novoa off waivers from the Chicago Cubs," reports the Baltimore Sun.

http://tinyurl.com/ywdwr8

I have to wonder if Paul Sullivan is writing stuff just to have something to write. With ownership up in the air and not likely to be decided before opening day of 2008, I just don't see the Cubs being all that active this winter. My biggest hope for the Cubs this off-season is just getting a new owner who understands the difference between successful and unsuccessful organizations is more than just money.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3062658

The Reds just got worse. I live in Reds country, and I work with a bunch of die-hard Reds fans. None of them are happy about this, and I can't blame them. I can't figure this one out for the life of me. It doesn't make any sense for either the team or Baker.

Why would the Reds choose Baker? They have a bright future. Jay Bruce is Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year, and their farm system is stacked from top to bottom. Baker won't play the kids if he has a veteran to play, and he is not interested in teaching the game to kids. If they don't immeidately perform like all-stars, they will soon be setting on the end of the bench to be forgotten, breaking their confidence.

"The Reds have hired Dusty Baker as manager," reports SI.com's Jon Heyman. The Cubs are going to see plenty more of their former manager for at least the next three years.

Kobe Bryant may want to come to Chicago. Count me among those that would rather see the Bulls keep their current players -- championship or no -- than have to root for Bryant.

The Sun Times Chris De Luca seems to think so.

http://tinyurl.com/2pg4s6

The Cubs have released their tentative 2008 schedule. Rob G. at The Cub Reporter has some highlights.

Here's a story that will likely go nowhere, but the Chicago Tribune's Fred Mitchell reports that Steve Stone becoming the Cubs' GM is "a distinct possibility if Chicago financier Lou Weisbach becomes the new owner." Two paragraphs later, Mitchell writes that Stone "would become the general manager if the Weisbach group were to land the team." (Emphasis added.)

When Stone returned in 2003 to save us from Joe Carter, he reportedly told Jim Hendry that he was no longer after his job, that he was content to be a broadcaster. That is presumably no longer the case after the 2004 fall-out. The Sun-Times' Chris De Luca reported in April that Stone was interested in a front office position following the change in ownership.

"The Detroit Tigers today announced lefthanded pitcher Edward Campusano has cleared waivers and the club has outrighted his contract to Triple A Iowa in the Chicago Cubs organization," reports the Detroit Free Press. The Brewers had selected Campusano in the 2006 Rule 5 draft and then traded him to Detroit. He had elbow surgery in March and missed the year.

"The Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Cubs, reportedly has been delaying the previously announced sale of the team, leaving bidders frustrated," reports UPI. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of these reports over the next several months, especially as the delay relates to any restraints placed on the front office.