Levine reports on Tejada for Prior rumor 12/22 - 26

[Ding Dong Johnson]

From San Diego, went to USC...

[Magnetic Curses]

From San Diego, went to USC...

 

originally vanderbilt, though. so it appears he's not all obsessed with going or staying in socal.

[UMFan83]

Wasn't there a game where Prior was taken out of the game strangely early, and then after the game Dusty said that his arm or something was sore, and then when they went to question Prior he had no idea what they were talking about?

 

I can see why he hates this joke of a franchise.

[frostwyrm]

Derrek Lee is the guy who has the most reason to be upset with the organization. He had a legit shot at the MVP but all those games with Patterson/Perez at the top of order killed his chances in the RBI race, and Lee is smart enough to know it. I bet Lee's shabby treatment annoyed Prior too.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

This organization is a train wreck.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Were reasons given? I mean I know why I and many others hate the organization but I wonder if there are different reasons from a players perspective.

 

I believe a lot of it is related to everyone's favorite toothpick sucker and the seemingly unquestioning love the brass has for him.

 

Pitchers know they can't talk about wanting to come out of games. And they'll get blasted if they question the manager's overuse of them. But they have to trust the pitching coach and manager will look out for them. Dusty never looks out for his pitchers. And while one of his jobs is to deflect blame away from players, he'll never do that either. It would not surprise me at all if a pitcher hated Dusty.

 

I agree.

 

Prior didn't even pitch the whole year but check this out...

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=25

 

 

Prior would make atleast 30 starts a year w\o dusty

[umpunk]

I read the first page discussing 2 very interesting trade ideas. I go to page 9 to find that the thread has turned into a (and I'm sure you aren't going to believe this) bash on Dusty and how the Cubs organization is run. To be fair, I skipped 2-8, so I'm sure there are some interesting posts in there, but it is so tiring to read thread after thread that turn into a rant on Dusty and/or Hendry....

[LoneStarCubFan]

If Prior really is unhappy here, perhaps his inclusion in a trade is at his own request/ suggestion. Maybe he won't go public with it, like Tejada ( and he really doesn't have much leverage), but maybe he's made it known that he "wouldn't be opposed" to such a trade. Whatever the reason, Hendry has done an abrupt about face with regard to dealing him if these rumors are to be believed. It definitely seems as though there is smoke here.

 

If Prior demanded a trade there's no way in the world it wouldn't be leaked by somebody. It'd be all over the Chicago papers. Something that big doesn't stay quiet.

[J.R.]

The Neifi signing has crushed the hearts of the fanbase; why would it be any different for the players?

 

If I were Prior I wouldn't want to play with Perez, or for Baker. Those two are ruining everything.

[YearofDaCubs]

Were reasons given? I mean I know why I and many others hate the organization but I wonder if there are different reasons from a players perspective.

 

I believe a lot of it is related to everyone's favorite toothpick sucker and the seemingly unquestioning love the brass has for him.

 

Pitchers know they can't talk about wanting to come out of games. And they'll get blasted if they question the manager's overuse of them. But they have to trust the pitching coach and manager will look out for them. Dusty never looks out for his pitchers. And while one of his jobs is to deflect blame away from players, he'll never do that either. It would not surprise me at all if a pitcher hated Dusty.

 

I agree.

 

Prior didn't even pitch the whole year but check this out...

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=25

 

 

Prior would make atleast 30 starts a year w\o dusty

All the more reason to not like the man they call Dusty Baker.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Goony, earlier you expressed concern about Tejada possibly having to change positions. Assuming that Tejada could move to 2B and wouldn't have to become a 3B, OF, or 1B, I wouldn't be especially concerned about that, since we wouldn't be moving Cedeno in this deal.

 

Tejada/Cedeno until Tejada has to move (if that happens).

 

Cedeno/Tejada after that.

 

2B isn't the most obvious place for him to move. SS move because of decreased range, 2B still need range. I'm thinking 3B or LF. Regardless, once you move him out of SS, the premium you pay for production at SS is more than you should pay for production at 2B.

 

You don't trade young top 10 pitchers for a guy you might have to move in a couple years.

 

I hate when other people post "I have a source" stuff, but I'll do it anyway. Take it with a grain of salt. I would do the same if I were in your position.

 

I have a source I respect who tells me that Mark Prior absolutely hates everything about the Chicago Cubs organization. It's almost a 100% sure thing that he's leaving as a free agent the very instant he can. You could be looking at Tejada for four years versus Prior for three years.

 

Obviously, I don't know this for sure. Just something to consider.

 

Considering this is a "I have a source" theory, I simply chose to believe that somebody ELSE is putting words into Prior's mouth. I realize Prior (and who wouldn't, right now) could have a legitimate beef with the Cubs, but I simply don't see any evidence to show one or another. And say what you want, but Hendry is a straight shooter, meaning if he was going to trade Prior, he would tell Mark what's going on. But seeing as this is a "I have a source" theory, you can't agree with something, that hasn't been acknowledged. Until, I see proof that Prior does "hate the Cubs organization", I would chalked this up to overzealous creative writing.

[gflore34]

Were reasons given? I mean I know why I and many others hate the organization but I wonder if there are different reasons from a players perspective.

 

I believe a lot of it is related to everyone's favorite toothpick sucker and the seemingly unquestioning love the brass has for him.

 

Pitchers know they can't talk about wanting to come out of games. And they'll get blasted if they question the manager's overuse of them. But they have to trust the pitching coach and manager will look out for them. Dusty never looks out for his pitchers. And while one of his jobs is to deflect blame away from players, he'll never do that either. It would not surprise me at all if a pitcher hated Dusty.

 

I agree.

 

Prior didn't even pitch the whole year but check this out...

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=25

 

 

Prior would make atleast 30 starts a year w\o dusty

All the more reason to not like the man they call Dusty Baker.

 

I agree Dusty abuses pitchers and shows poor judgement of when to pull the starter however, Zambrano and Prior (and Wood for that matter) could cut down on the abuse by consistently throwing strikes.

[RynoRules]

The Neifi signing has crushed the hearts of the fanbase; why would it be any different for the players?

 

If I were Prior I wouldn't want to play with Perez, or for Baker. Those two are ruining everything.

 

That's a bit of an overstatement; might have been sarcasm.

[J.R.]

The Neifi signing has crushed the hearts of the fanbase; why would it be any different for the players?

 

If I were Prior I wouldn't want to play with Perez, or for Baker. Those two are ruining everything.

 

That's a bit of an overstatement; might have been sarcasm.

 

Whose decision was it to put two bums at the top of the depth chart at second base? Would you want to play for a stooge manager with ideas like that, who treats Neifi — the very definition of mediocrity — like some kind of elite player?

 

It's clear to me that Baker has his favorites, and dudes like Prior just aren't in the club.

[YearofDaCubs]

The Neifi signing has crushed the hearts of the fanbase; why would it be any different for the players?

 

If I were Prior I wouldn't want to play with Perez, or for Baker. Those two are ruining everything.

 

That's a bit of an overstatement; might have been sarcasm.

 

Whose decision was it to put two bums at the top of the depth chart at second base? Would you want to play for a stooge manager with ideas like that, who treats Neifi — the very definition of mediocrity — like some kind of elite player?

 

It's clear to me that Baker has his favorites, and dudes like Prior just aren't in the club.

You know what's funny? I can totally see Baker tell Prior "You are not in the club, dude." :)

[badgercub]

 

Considering this is a "I have a source" theory, I simply chose to believe that somebody ELSE is putting words into Prior's mouth. I realize Prior (and who wouldn't, right now) could have a legitimate beef with the Cubs, but I simply don't see any evidence to show one or another. And say what you want, but Hendry is a straight shooter, meaning if he was going to trade Prior, he would tell Mark what's going on. But seeing as this is a "I have a source" theory, you can't agree with something, that hasn't been acknowledged. Until, I see proof that Prior does "hate the Cubs organization", I would chalked this up to overzealous creative writing.

 

I would tend to believe the source. While it takes someone with a bit of an ego to be a GM(not saying all are). From everything I have heard, Hendry is an arrogant, ego maniac. As far as Hendry being a straight shooter, I don't necessarily agree with that statement either, that's just me though. There were too many shenanigans in the past as far as statements being made about injured players, the whole Sammy Sosa incident and the revelations that they had it on tape. Just a lot of things about Hendry that have made me a little more leary of him in the last few years.

[daske17]

Whose decision was it to put two bums at the top of the depth chart at second base? Would you want to play for a stooge manager with ideas like that, who treats Neifi — the very definition of mediocrity — like some kind of elite player?

 

It's clear to me that Baker has his favorites, and dudes like Prior just aren't in the club.

 

Dusty has never been a fan of pitchers. He doesn't know what to do with them, both starters and relievers (of course he doesn't know what to do with hitters either).

 

The biggest thing that concerns me is that no one in the Cubs organization has come out to refute this rumor. When Hill and Pie were bandied about during the winter meetings, Hendry came out and said that they were untouchable.

 

I would like with a star pitcher like Prior he would have called up Levine/Rosenthal and said the same thing.

 

[desperate wailing] BUT I DON'T WANT PRIOR TO GO!!! HE'S MY FAVORITE!!![/desperate wailing]

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Boy, if Rosenthal and Levine were an act, it would sure be easier to lament on this Prior/Tejada thing. Can we combine the threads now that we aren't discussing the people who started the rumors?

[UBlink]

As one of the explanations for managements displeasure with Walker a point was made that some of the pitching staff had complained about the quality of the Cubs' defense. Could that possibly be a source of some of Prior's alleged discontent? And if so, wouldn't it be ironic if the infield were improved by trading Prior away?

[Sarcastic]

Whose decision was it to put two bums at the top of the depth chart at second base? Would you want to play for a stooge manager with ideas like that, who treats Neifi — the very definition of mediocrity — like some kind of elite player?

 

It's clear to me that Baker has his favorites, and dudes like Prior just aren't in the club.

 

Dusty has never been a fan of pitchers. He doesn't know what to do with them, both starters and relievers (of course he doesn't know what to do with hitters either).

 

The biggest thing that concerns me is that no one in the Cubs organization has come out to refute this rumor. When Hill and Pie were bandied about during the winter meetings, Hendry came out and said that they were untouchable.

 

I would like with a star pitcher like Prior he would have called up Levine/Rosenthal and said the same thing.

 

[desperate wailing] BUT I DON'T WANT PRIOR TO GO!!! HE'S MY FAVORITE!!![/desperate wailing]

 

After the Prior/Abreu rumors, Hendry said that Prior would not be traded this offseason. Obviously, that was before this rumor was ever reported. I doubt that this deal, if the offer actually exists, happens.

 

Also, I second the desperate wailing.

[daske17]

After the Prior/Abreu rumors, Hendry said that Prior would not be traded this offseason. Obviously, that was before this rumor was ever reported. I doubt that this deal, if the offer actually exists, happens.

 

Also, I second the desperate wailing.

 

I hope you're right. I also pray that we're all being a bunch of worrywart message board posters who have blown this all out of proportion.

 

I also pray that a garbage bag full of money falls onto my front porch. . .

[DougDascenzo]

is it just me or is tejada being overrated by some on this board, and now Hendry evidently...

 

people post things talking about how we can expect 40 HR and 130 RBI from him,

 

his line from last year: .302 .349 .515 .864 26 HR 98 RBI

 

he has never hit 40 HR...

 

career OPS of .815

 

he is a very good player indeed but not the world beater he is being made out to be by some

[minnesotacubsfan]

COLD HENDRY HAVE FLOATED THIS LEAKE TO SEE WHAT FANS REACTIONS MIGHT BE?

[CubinNY]

As one of the explanations for managements displeasure with Walker a point was made that some of the pitching staff had complained about the quality of the Cubs' defense. Could that possibly be a source of some of Prior's alleged discontent? And if so, wouldn't it be ironic if the infield were improved by trading Prior away?

 

I believe the above post goes in the irony thread.

 

----------

 

There is no doubt in my mind that Prior is more than a little ticked off with the way the organization handled his injuries. When people where questioning his "toughness" there weren't a whole lot of statements of support coming from Clark and Addison.

[badgercub]

is it just me or is tejada being overrated by some on this board, and now Hendry evidently...

 

people post things talking about how we can expect 40 HR and 130 RBI from him,

 

his line from last year: .302 .349 .515 .864 26 HR 98 RBI

 

he has never hit 40 HR...

 

career OPS of .815

 

he is a very good player indeed but not the world beater he is being made out to be by some

 

His numbers look great because he is a SS. Compare his numbers to other SS and that is why he is so valuable. Is he worth Prior? Not in my book, but he is an extremely valuable player.