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BOISE—Despite the uncooperative actions of the Treasure Valley weather gods, summer is among us and the 2010 Northwest League season is just two days away.  Media Day has come and gone from Memorial Stadium, marking the return of the Boise Hawks and the renewal of minor league relationships.

Though the Chicago Cubs placed 26 players on the Hawks’ 2010 roster—15 of which have previously played for Boise—only two were selected by the club in this year’s First-Year Players Draft just nine days ago.

Jeff Vigurs and Joseph Zeller were both inducted into the life of professional baseball when they were selected in the 22nd and 28th rounds respectively, and were the only two draftees to find their way onto the Hawks’ 2010 roster.

Vigurs was selected by the Cubs as a catcher, after totaling four home runs, 13 doubles and 41 RBIs to match his .333 batting average as a Bryant University Bulldog in his junior season.  Although he saw success in college, Vigurs has already felt the drastic transition from collegiate to professional baseball before even playing in a game.

“It’s a lot different than college,” said Vigurs, “and it’s really exciting right now. I’ve only been [with the Cubs] a couple of days and I’ve already been to Arizona and Boise the next day, so it’s been nice to finally settle down.”

A Mission Viejo native, Zeller, formally a right-handed pitcher for The Masters College in Santa Clarita, California, was drafted by the Cubs in the 28th round after going 5-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 91 innings for the Mustangs. Zeller previously played second base until his senior season, and played his freshman season for Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.

Like Vigurs, Zeller expressed a feeling of excitement and confusion when first experiencing professional baseball.

“It’s really exciting, but the initial reaction was just trying to figure out what’s going on because you get thrown right into it and just trying to figure it all out,” said Zeller.

For rookies like Virgus and Zeller, it takes the leadership of experienced players like George Matheus, in addition to the coaching staff, to develop young players into confident teammates. Matheus will be making his second stop with the Hawks, after beginning the season with the Class-A Peoria Chiefs where he hit .208 with four RBIs in 16 games.

“What I say for the new guys is that the most important thing is, ‘don’t change how you play; if you play hard, keep playing hard.’ The difference now is that there are more people in the stands. Last Year was my first year playing in front of a lot of people, in this ball park, and I see for the first time a lot of people watching me play.”

“I understand that it’s their first time and they’ll feel a little bit e nervous, everyone is a little bit nervous,” said Matheus.

With the leadership of veterans and returners from last season, Zeller and Vigurs are sure to have a successful debut in professional baseball. 

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Day one of the MLB First-Year Players Draft began with the most predictable draft pick in baseball history, when the Washington Nationals selected 17-year-old phenom Bryce Harper. 

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As the Chicago Cubs—though still premature—close in on their first losing season season since 2006, one thing may be able to relinquish an utterly disappointing season.

Currently, numerous mock-draft web sites have the Cubs taking yet another pitching prospect, ranging from Alex Wimmers and Asher Wojciechowski, to Stetson Allie and Drew Pomeranz.

As seen with Chicago pitcher-prospects Jeff Samardizija and Jay Jackson, developement of young pitchers can be time consuming, and possibly result in career minor league pitchers. 

So the question should be asked: Does the Chicago Cubs front office have the patience to wait for another mediocre hurler to earn his stripes? And the question can be simply answered with an emphatic “no.”

For Cubs fans looking for something to cheer about that doesn’t involve the Blackhawks in 2010, draft day may be a short term solution to their spring woes. 

As draft day approaches (round one begins at 7 p.m. ET on June 7) Jim Hendry and the Chicago Cubs’ executives need to find possibilities to trade up in the round from pick 16, to possibly snag catching phenom, Bryce Harper—no matter how far-fetched is may seem. 

The Washington Nationals have once again “won” the right to the first overall pick in the MLB First-Year Players Draft, and are on pace to draft Harper, who may surpass former first-overall pick, and National, Stephen Strasburg as the highest paid rookie. 

According to Cbssports.com, however, Washington—who ranks 23rd in team payroll this season—may not be able to afford yet another blockbuster player with their $61 million budget. 

The best option for the Cubs and the Nationals, may be to make a deal on Tuesday.

Derrek Lee is currently the leader in Chicago Cubs trade rumors around the organization, and would be a good fit for the Nationals, who depend on the un-dependable Adam Dunn at first base.

Along with Geovany Soto (.254 batting average with a .405 slugging percentage), Washington could have a set of experience National League veterans to anchor their already youthful squad.

Though the Cubs’ chances of landing Harper are a stretch at best, Chicago needs to trade up from their current spot to capitalize on a rather deep amateur draft.

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With the lack of excitement and appeal that surrounds Major League Baseball every May, draft talk begins to dominate all conversation in baseball realms— and rightfully so. 

For the second straight year, the Washington Nationals have secured the rights to the No. 1 overall pick in the First-Year Players Draft, in which top prospect Bryce Harper is on pace to be selected June 7. 

Analysts have already begun comparing Harper to possibly the greatest catcher in the history of the MLB, Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins, as well as former top catching prospect Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles. 

In the photo above, Harper is dropping home run bombs in his own dome in Tampa Bay, Florida, with the same majestic left-handed swing that piled everyone onto the bandwagon of the multi-sport phenom Mauer, just six years ago.

Simply put, Harper is not the next Mauer or Wieters behind the dish (though it may be too early to compare). He is definitely not going to save the Washington franchise in the fashion that Mauer has. 

Unlike Mauer, Harper’s scouting report boasts above-average power with plus speed, plus-arm strength, and plus range, with less-than-jaw-dropping defensive technique.

Harper’s draft stock skyrocketed after he graduated high school early to play at the College of Southern Nevada, where he worked on mechanical issues at the plate that he was previously criticized for.

All previous doubt has since been abolished. 

Notwithstanding the preceding top-draft pick, Jason Heyward, who is dominating National League pitchers, Harper has been regarded as having the most power, and quickest hands, of any player in draft history— placing him among the greats of amateur athletes. 

As a result of his below-average catching ability, Harper may be converted to a left- or right-fielder in the future, after being commended for his plus range and plus-arm strength from anywhere on the field. 

Harper was awarded the 2009 Baseball America High School Player of the Year at the age of 16, as well as the Ryan Howard Award (International High School Power Showcase Home Run Derby), and First Team All-State Catcher Honors in 2008.

For the College of Southern Nevada, Harper hit 29 home runs, drove in 89 RBI, stole 18 bases, and hit for .422 with a .524 OBP and a .986 slugging percentage in 62 games. 

For Nationals fans, he may not be the next Joe Mauer, but he may be more successful than last year’s top prospect Steven Strasburg.

Only time will tell. 

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On a gloomy Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley, Cubs’ right-hander Carlos Silva improved to 4-0 in his seventh start of the season. With a 4-3 win over the visiting Florida Marlins, Silva is off to his best start since 2004, where he began the season 5-0 for the Twins.

Sports fans and analysts alike were skeptical when Chicago General Manager Jim Hendry announced that the Cubs, after finishing the 2009 season 86-76, had acquired Silva for clubhouse virus Milton Bradley, and cash, from the Seattle Mariners. 

Bradley has struggled again this season. He’s since been placed on the inactive list after asking the Mariners front office for help with “emotional stress.”

Silva, meanwhile, has reclaimed his career, The righthander is tearing up the National League, backed by the sporadic Cubs offense. But is Silva really that good? 

When Silva has taken the mound this season, Chicago has outscored opponents 49-28. But the team is hitting just .271 on the season. 

Though Silva holds an unblemished record, his ERA has escalated to a season high 3.50, still his lowest in five seasons.

For the third time this year, Lou Pinella yanked Silva in the sixth inning. The starter surrendered seven hits, two runs and two walks.

Holding a two run lead in the top of the fourth, Silva gave up a two run single to Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino. The game tying hit scored Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu. 

How does the Venezuelan right-hander keep winning with such mediocre performances?

Despite his fourth inning blunders, Silva would regain the lead with an RBI double by Marlon Byrd and a wild pitch by Chris Volstad. Volstad’s mistake allowed shortstop Starlin Castro to touch home, giving the Cubs a 4-2 lead. The runs were enough insurance for Silva, who notched his fourth win. 

In his May 7th victory, Silva received the most run support by the Chicago lineup with 14, while pitching only five innings and giving up 10 hits. Silva also has three no decisions, which came against the Reds (19-15), Nationals (19-15) and Diamondbacks (14-20). 

Silva could very well be 4-3.

On May 1st, Silva threw five innings, giving up five runs to the NL West worst Diamondbacks. The Cubs rallied in the sixth to, once again, save Silva from another blemish. 

Against the Nationals on April 26th, Chicago jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, which quickly evaporated when Silva allowed two runs in the fourth, then another in the sixth to tie the game at 3. He was lifted in the seventh. The Cubs eventually won the game in the bottom of the 10th when Brian Bruney walked the bases loaded.

Silva clearly isn’t as good as his record suggests. Though the pitcher obviously won’t maintain his ethereal 0.69 ERA, no one would’ve predicted that the Cubs OFFENSE would be the source of his success.

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Finally, it appears that the Chicago Cubs are willing to show some backbone in the dugout after the promotion of Class AA shortstop Starlin Castro to the Major League roster. Castro made his highly anticipated MLB debut on Friday—after a series sweep by the Pirates left the rotation gasping for run support. 

For the first time in four years, Ryan Theriot was moved over to second base to supplement the promotion of Castro. 

In his first at bat as a major leaguer, Castro hit a three-run home run in the away half of the second inning and finished the game two hits and six RBI—moreover allowing the Cubs to end a three-game skid with a 14-7 win over the Reds. 

Just when the night seemed like it couldn’t get any better, it was announced that Castro was the first ever rookie to debut with six RBI in Major League history. 

The only response from skipper Lou Piniella was: “What a debut!” 

Other offense for the Cubs came by way of another three-run home run by outfielder Marlon Byrd and a grand slam by Mike Fontenot in the eighth. 

Due to this marvelous offensive support, Carlos Silva received his third win of the season (3-0) after giving up four runs on 10 hits and four errors in just five innings. 

All we can here echoing from former ace Carlos Zambrano in the bullpen is: “Where was that when I was still in the rotation?” And then proceeding to destroy a perfectly good beverage container with the world’s best maple. 

Questions surrounding the middle infield in Chicago have been numerous of late—shortstop Theriot and Fontenot both had relatively slow starts to the season—and after Castro’s performance, the conversations are only going to get more interesting. 

Theriot, who has rebounded from a horrible start to lead the club in hitting with 43 hits and a .333 average, will continue to lead off for the Cubs, but will most likely remain at second, after chemistry could be seen after only one game with the Dominican national, Castro.

Castro and Theriot linked up on their first double play of many on the year in the bottom of the fourth inning, by way of a 6-4-3. 

Most likely, Castro will remain with the big league club and continue to play short stop at least five days a week for the Cubs according to ESPN: Chicago writer Bruce Levine. 

If this sporadic amount of success continues for Chicago’s offense, fans may once again regain hope, with the wild card race still in tact with a 14-16 record—four games behind National League-leading San Fransisco.

The Cubs will look to continue their offensive triumphs when they match up once again against the Reds on Saturday. Castro may break out once again when he faces right hander Aaron Harang, who currently boasts a 6.68 ERA. 

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