12/13/2007

Peoria will be Cubtown for a while now

The Chicago Cubs are staying with the Peoria Chiefs through at least 2012.
What is known for the Peoria Chiefs is that the team will be the Class A Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs at least through the 2012 season.

That was announced by the team on Wednesday.

What about a manager for 2008? Anything? Anything at all?

"They haven't told us anything," Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen said. "Last year at this time all the other staff positions were filled except for our manager, but so far nobody has given any indication on our staff."

Managers and coaches for all the Cubs affiliates will be named en masse.

"Every year it seems we'd lose a guy after the winter meetings (to another organization)," Cubs vice president for player personnel Oneri Fleita said. "For that reason we purposely waited. There's one more position to fill. We'll announce them all at one time."

Cubs.com reported in answering readers e-mail "there are hints" that Sandberg will be back.

Sandberg's return makes sense. There are no known departures from the Cubs' minor league staff, and, with no departures, there is no room for Sandberg to advance.

Ah, internet speculation. It's gotta be a certainty.

How about players?

Baseball America is projecting third baseman Josh Vitters to start the season in Peoria next year.

The magazine ranked him the No. 1 prospect in the Cubs system.

The third-overall pick in the 2007 draft didn't exactly excel in his brief pro debut split between the Cubs rookie league team in Mesa and at short-season Boise. He hit just .118 after a long layoff between the end of his high school season and signing with the Cubs right before the Aug. 15 deadline.

The other potential future Chief in the Cubs top 10 is catcher Josh Donaldson, the 48th pick overall in the June draft. The Auburn product hit a robust .346 with Boise last year.

Fox Cities Area Cub fans may want to mark the following dates for Peoria appearances at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium:

June 1,2,3, & 4

July 1,2,3, & 4

Simple. Easy to remember.

No comments:

Site Meter