Mike Olt - Baezing All Over The Mariners, And Other Newsy-ness

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Ahhh...Spring Training, the time when Winter is destroyed by the forces of all that is good in the world...BASEBALL!!!!

It's also a time for gross over-reaction for all fans.  "ZOMG! OUR PLAYER IS AWESOME!" "DAMN GM GETTING RID OF THIS AWESOME PLAYER!!!!!!!!1!!1!!" And then in mid-May folks can't understand/forget why player X is performing the way they are.  It's like dating someone.  For the first few months, they can do no wrong...then BOOM, you realize you are dating a horrible, terrible person and curse everyone around you for not telling you.

Or something like that. (Good God, that is A LOT of caps in the opening paragraph)

• The Cubs dropped a tough one in 10-innings last night 8-7 to the Mariners.  Marcus Hatley suffered the loss by giving up the go-ahead run.  Want another bit of evidence that W/L is nearly useless for pitchers?  Tsuyoshi Wada gave up 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks over 1.2 innings, yet, he was awarded a Hold while Hatley suffers the loss. 
• Mike Olt, apparently, is having few issues seeing the ball well so far this Spring and went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs.  PleaseBeRealPleaseBeRealPleaseBeReal  
• Carrie Muskat (Note: There is no "r" in the last name) reports that Albert Almora, Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant, Arismendy Alcantara and a host of other Cubs players are heading down to Minor League Camp.  Some of the other players sent down include Matt Szczur and Logan Watkins.  With Olt appearing to be able to see again and a plethora of infielders in camp, makes sense that Watkins gets sent down.  Seems like he should be able to do something when you look at his AAA stats but clearly there is something that is lacking when Cubs coaches are looking at him.
• Fun note: Almora, Soler, Bryant, Alcantara and Szczur all got a few at bats in last night. 
• Brett Jackson is one of the prospects that remains in the Major League camp.  You know...that guy who was once the CF of the future of the Cubs that had everyone thumbing their ears at K-rate harpers.  I'm cheating a bit by linking another Muskat story, but whateves.  Jackson says he is having a good time in camp and he is not trying to worry about his mechanics as much.  If you recall, his mechanics at the plate were a big focus heading into 2013.  If he emerges as a legitimate 4th OF candidate that can play all three positions, that is an incredible asset to get from him (and would prove Keith Law right, grrr).
• Renteria made his first challenge in Cubs history and in typical Cubs fashion...it failed.  What else would you expect?  I also think that you will find the Umps do a damn good job on the field in real-time.  
• An excellent, and well-timed, piece from Tony Blengino regarding the value of impact prospects.  There is soooooo much goodness in there.  I, often, fall into the trap of scouting prospects solely on their stats (my abject railing against Javier Baez last May-June is a prime example) and this serves as a very good reminder that not only is it stats, it's what the scouts see.  
• Also, the article highlights what many folks have noticed, teams are hoarding their prospects.  You can fault the Cubs for not adding impact free agents the past few seasons; however, spending a ton on aging (especially now that players age normally) players to gain a few more wins at the cost of A LOT of prospects at a time where free agent classes are getting worse and worse while still falling well short of the playoffs wouldn't have been smart.
• The money quote from that article?

People can talk about the deep pockets of the Yankees and other franchises, but just remember that the last time the Bronx Bombers were on top, they got there thanks to homegrown impact talent – the core group of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, etc., that made it possible for them to spend their millions on luxuries at other positions.