Cubs Offseason 2014: So, what did your team do this offseason? Isn't that cute.

[InternetApex]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I am a picky hitter myself in slowpitch softball.

I don't know who that is. His name never appeared when I opened the link. But he admits that he's the type of slow pitch softball player who stands there with his bat on his shoulder and tries to draw walks, which means he is on a level below drunk drivers and child rapists in my mind.

[Yeti]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I am a picky hitter myself in slowpitch softball.

I don't know who that is. His name never appeared when I opened the link. But he admits that he's the type of slow pitch softball player who stands there with his bat on his shoulder and tries to draw walks, which means he is on a level below drunk drivers and child rapists in my mind.

Matt Trowbridge. He's Rockford's Nick Vlahos

[Slaky]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I am a picky hitter myself in slowpitch softball.

I don't know who that is. His name never appeared when I opened the link. But he admits that he's the type of slow pitch softball player who stands there with his bat on his shoulder and tries to draw walks, which means he is on a level below drunk drivers and child rapists in my mind.

Matt Trowbridge. He's Rockford's Nick Vlahos

I was hoping it was Nick Vlahos. Either way minor city Illinois sportswriters are amazingly horrible.

[ChuckD]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I suppose Babe Ruth shouldn't be in the HOF either. Once he started hitting the ball out of the park, it made it impossible for defenders to have an honest chance at catching the ball. That's just as bad as throwing games.

[InternetApex]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I am a picky hitter myself in slowpitch softball.

I don't know who that is. His name never appeared when I opened the link. But he admits that he's the type of slow pitch softball player who stands there with his bat on his shoulder and tries to draw walks, which means he is on a level below drunk drivers and child rapists in my mind.

Matt Trowbridge. He's Rockford's Nick Vlahos

I was hoping it was Nick Vlahos. Either way minor city Illinois sportswriters are amazingly horrible.

I have found this to be true, influenced as they are, by all the amazingly horrible big city Illinois sportswriters.

[SKO]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I am a picky hitter myself in slowpitch softball.

I don't know who that is. His name never appeared when I opened the link. But he admits that he's the type of slow pitch softball player who stands there with his bat on his shoulder and tries to draw walks, which means he is on a level below drunk drivers and child rapists in my mind.

Matt Trowbridge. He's Rockford's Nick Vlahos

I was hoping it was Nick Vlahos. Either way minor city Illinois sportswriters are amazingly horrible.

yeah but minor city Illinois sports fans are worse. They're just catering to their base. My friends father reads this kind of crap and just nods his head affirmatively while telling me and my friend he refuses to watch the NFL or NBA because "they score too much".

[CBStew]

I'm with Fork. I don't think pitch framing means anything, but if these guys are really good at pitch framing, then maybe it means something.

I think it's more a matter of reputation than actual function, Cutler-boy.

Pitcher reputation or catcher reputation?

Pitchers for sure. Remember the Atlanta strike zone in the 90s?

I do, which reminds me of this hottest of takes.

I am a picky hitter myself in slowpitch softball.

I don't know who that is. His name never appeared when I opened the link. But he admits that he's the type of slow pitch softball player who stands there with his bat on his shoulder and tries to draw walks, which means he is on a level below drunk drivers and child rapists in my mind.

Matt Trowbridge. He's Rockford's Nick Vlahos

I was hoping it was Nick Vlahos. Either way minor city Illinois sportswriters are amazingly horrible.

yeah but minor city Illinois sports fans are worse. They're just catering to their base. My friends father reads this kind of crap and just nods his head affirmatively while telling me and my friend he refuses to watch the NFL or NBA because "they score too much".

Must be a soccer fan.

[PenFoe]

There's a whole lot of words here and I don't understand a lot of them, but the point seems to be that if they're so inclined, the Cubs (and the Red Sox) can basically spend anything they want on draft picks next year.

[Saul Goodman]

Starlin got himself arrested this morning after a nightclub shooting his entourage allegedly participated in.  Was already questioned by cops for a different nightclub incident earlier this month (one rumor was someone spilled a drink on him so his pals opened fire, as reasonable men do) and he was accused of sexual assault by a girl he took home from a nightclub two years ago.  Definitely keep going to clubs, that's going well.

Update: Sources confirm ESPN was wrong. His agent says he was not arrested and that DR police told him the video surveillance tape clears him of involvement. Despite all that his agent still thinks he should stop going to clubs. 

[Quality Start Machine]

Chris Denorfia. A Cub.

Looks like the LF platoon is squared away.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Chris Denorfia. A Cub.

Looks like the LF platoon is squared away.

We dodged an Elibullet.

[Eli]

Nick Cafardo, who is generally a legitimate reporter, has the Cubs interested in Zobrist and Shields.

3. Ben Zobrist, 2B/RF, Rays — Zobrist, 33, has one of the biggest trade markets out there. The super utilityman is being pursued seriously by the Giants, Nationals, Angels, and Cubs. The Rays recently acquired Asdrubal Cabrera on a one-year deal, sparking further speculation that Zobrist might be on the move. The Rays are said to be asking for at least one top prospect and a mid-level one.

James Shields, RHP, free agent — It hasn't been easy to determine Shields's market. Jon Lester's negotiations were so public, yet Shields's have been private. Still, the teams who have had discussions or shown interest, according to a major league source, are the Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Giants.

I don't really see Shields happening, but Zobrist would be awesome.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Nick Cafardo, who is generally a legitimate reporter, has the Cubs interested in Zobrist and Shields.

3. Ben Zobrist, 2B/RF, Rays — Zobrist, 33, has one of the biggest trade markets out there. The super utilityman is being pursued seriously by the Giants, Nationals, Angels, and Cubs. The Rays recently acquired Asdrubal Cabrera on a one-year deal, sparking further speculation that Zobrist might be on the move. The Rays are said to be asking for at least one top prospect and a mid-level one.

James Shields, RHP, free agent — It hasn't been easy to determine Shields's market. Jon Lester's negotiations were so public, yet Shields's have been private. Still, the teams who have had discussions or shown interest, according to a major league source, are the Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Giants.

I don't really see Shields happening, but Zobrist would be awesome.

Yes, please.

[SKO]

Nick Cafardo, who is generally a legitimate reporter, has the Cubs interested in Zobrist and Shields.

3. Ben Zobrist, 2B/RF, Rays — Zobrist, 33, has one of the biggest trade markets out there. The super utilityman is being pursued seriously by the Giants, Nationals, Angels, and Cubs. The Rays recently acquired Asdrubal Cabrera on a one-year deal, sparking further speculation that Zobrist might be on the move. The Rays are said to be asking for at least one top prospect and a mid-level one.

James Shields, RHP, free agent — It hasn't been easy to determine Shields's market. Jon Lester's negotiations were so public, yet Shields's have been private. Still, the teams who have had discussions or shown interest, according to a major league source, are the Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Giants.

I don't really see Shields happening, but Zobrist would be awesome.

Zobrist would be a great move. More than capable of being a quality OF if things work out in the IF with Javy and Bryant, but able to take over at 2nd or 3rd if needed.

I'd want Shields mostly for the fact that the Cubs would have one of the best rotations in the NL for sure with him on board, but also because I'd love to see Gordo try to spin how the Ricketts are still broke as shit since he went with "the Lester contract was every dime they had saved for three years and now they're tapped angle."

[Quality Start Machine]

Nick Cafardo, who is generally a legitimate reporter, has the Cubs interested in Zobrist and Shields.

3. Ben Zobrist, 2B/RF, Rays — Zobrist, 33, has one of the biggest trade markets out there. The super utilityman is being pursued seriously by the Giants, Nationals, Angels, and Cubs. The Rays recently acquired Asdrubal Cabrera on a one-year deal, sparking further speculation that Zobrist might be on the move. The Rays are said to be asking for at least one top prospect and a mid-level one.

James Shields, RHP, free agent — It hasn't been easy to determine Shields's market. Jon Lester's negotiations were so public, yet Shields's have been private. Still, the teams who have had discussions or shown interest, according to a major league source, are the Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Giants.

I don't really see Shields happening, but Zobrist would be awesome.

Zobrist would be a great move. More than capable of being a quality OF if things work out in the IF with Javy and Bryant, but able to take over at 2nd or 3rd if needed.

I'd want Shields mostly for the fact that the Cubs would have one of the best rotations in the NL for sure with him on board, but also because I'd love to see Gordo try to spin how the Ricketts are still broke as shit since he went with "the Lester contract was every dime they had saved for three years and now they're tapped angle."

Zobrist could also mean a competent backup for Rizzo.