What's the difference between Tejada and Griffey, Jr ?

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

I guess this is all just wishful thinking on my part but I was thinking back a number of years ago when Griffey, Jr. and his agent demanded that he be traded by the Mariners to the Reds. I was trying to remember all the particulars of that situation. If I remember correctly the Reds really had the Mariners over a barrel somehow, Griffey, Jr. didn't want the Reds to give up some of their best players, in order to get him. So, the Mariners had to settle for players of lesser quality?

 

Somebody help me out, what actually happened? Any how I wish that Tejada would be in a similar situation, where he would demand a trade to the Cubs, or be willing to sit out the season. It would be great to get Miggy without having to give up Prior or Zambrano. Are you listening Santa?

[AlamoCub]

The Reds gave up Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko, Jake Meyer, and Antonio Perez. Griffey was a far superior player at the time of that trade than Tejada is now. He had put up 4 consecutive seasons with a .950+ OPS. Tejada currently has zero such seasons to his name.

[Electron Blue]

I guess this is all just wishful thinking on my part but I was thinking back a number of years ago when Griffey, Jr. and his agent demanded that he be traded by the Mariners to the Reds. I was trying to remember all the particulars of that situation. If I remember correctly the Reds really had the Mariners over a barrel somehow, Griffey, Jr. didn't want the Reds to give up some of their best players, in order to get him. So, the Mariners had to settle for players of lesser quality?

 

Somebody help me out, what actually happened? Any how I wish that Tejada would be in a similar situation, where he would demand a trade to the Cubs, or be willing to sit out the season. It would be great to get Miggy without having to give up Prior or Zambrano. Are you listening Santa?

 

While I would like the Cubs to get Tejada, this isn't the way I want it to be done. I hate it when players sign these lucrative deals and then change the rules as soon as they see something else that they want. I'm fine with requesting a trade, but threatening to sit out a season is just wrong in my book.

[UK1679666180]

I guess this is all just wishful thinking on my part but I was thinking back a number of years ago when Griffey, Jr. and his agent demanded that he be traded by the Mariners to the Reds. I was trying to remember all the particulars of that situation. If I remember correctly the Reds really had the Mariners over a barrel somehow, Griffey, Jr. didn't want the Reds to give up some of their best players, in order to get him. So, the Mariners had to settle for players of lesser quality?

 

Somebody help me out, what actually happened? Any how I wish that Tejada would be in a similar situation, where he would demand a trade to the Cubs, or be willing to sit out the season. It would be great to get Miggy without having to give up Prior or Zambrano. Are you listening Santa?

 

Griffey was also only a year away from FA, he signed that deal w/Cincy right after they traded for him, once he passed his physical.

 

If Tejada was to be a FA after '06, the leverage would shift greatly towards the team looking to acquire him.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Griffey had a rather large injury history before the trade. This isn't true of Tejada.

[AlamoCub]

Griffey had a rather large injury history before the trade. This isn't true of Tejada.

 

1994 and 1995 were his only real injury plagued seasons prior to the trade.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

I seem to remember him having more injury problems while he was with the Mariners. Oh well.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

I appreciate y'alls input. I just wish that there would be a way we could get Tejada, without giving up Prior. I like many, just wish we had gone after him hard when he was a FA. I don't however blame Hendry like many people do, instead all the blame needs to be put on the Trib. If we had Mark Cuban, Jerry C, (Dbacks,Suns owner) or someone else, with deep pockets, owning this team ---it might be a different story.... but it's not. Is it?

 

My New Year's Day prayer is that the Chicago Tribune, will do all Cub fans favor, and sell the team. I also hear through the grapevine, that the Tribune is a hard company to work for. I can't tell you how, but last week I talked to Hendry's secretary, and she said that although all of the other MLB clubs had their offices closed leading up to Christmas, the Trib required all of their employees to come in to work. I'm sure y'all will give me a hard time over this last sentence but it is true. I hope you will remember all of my previous posts, and realize that I don't submit "bogus" posts.

[BigbadB]

I appreciate y'alls input. I just wish that there would be a way we could get Tejada, without giving up Prior. I like many, just wish we had gone after him hard when he was a FA. I don't however blame Hendry like many people do, instead all the blame needs to be put on the Trib. If we had Mark Cuban, Jerry C, (Dbacks,Suns owner) or someone else, with deep pockets, owning this team ---it might be a different story.... but it's not. Is it?

 

My New Year's Day prayer is that the Chicago Tribune, will do all Cub fans favor, and sell the team. I also hear through the grapevine, that the Tribune is a hard company to work for. I can't tell you how, but last week I talked to Hendry's secretary, and she said that although all of the other MLB clubs had their offices closed leading up to Christmas, the Trib required all of their employees to come in to work. I'm sure y'all will give me a hard time over this last sentence but it is true. I hope you will remember all of my previous posts, and realize that I don't submit "bogus" posts.

 

Trib's Cub payroll last year: 87m

Diamondbacks payroll last year: 63m

 

Cubs are already over 92m for 2006. Arizona has removed payroll (Vazquez and Glaus) and will likely remove more if they can find someone to take Green and/or Gonzalez.

 

This disaster taking place in Chicago has very little to do with the Trib. If Hendry really wanted Tejada in 2004, I'm sure he could have made it happen. Instead of paying Tejada, they instead traded for Lee, signed LaTroy Hawkins and Greg Maddux, which is much more than what Tejada would have cost that year. They also had plenty of money to spend at the trade deadline, which is when they added payroll for a SHORTSTOP named Nomar.

 

Tejada's contract only paid him 5m in '04. I'm sure there was a heck of a signing bonus that covered a big portion of his contract, but if Hendry REALLY wanted Tejada, he was there for the taking.

 

Alex still had 5.5m left on his deal. True. But, he was clearly not the answer at SS. After his misplay in the NL Championship series, no one would have shed a tear if he was moved. No one would have screamed he was overpaid if he spent 2004 as a utility guy.

 

Cubs management can make excuse after excuse for why they did or didn't do certain things. I'm cool with that. It's actually pretty easy to create an excuse that everyone can buy into. What is not excusable, is to not make the right deal when it's the right time (sign Tejada in '04), and then realize you should have made the right deal at the right time and then make the wrong deal at the wrong time later to compensate for your ignorance the first time around.

 

Cubs management has no direction. They give the appearance of tossing a blade of grass in the air to see which way the wind is blowing as to which direction they will go, nearly on a daily basis.

 

I don't fault the Tribune for any of these blunders, except maybe the continued faith in a management team that can't pick a direction and stick with it.

[Magnetic Curses]

common myths regarding the cubs:

 

1. the payroll is low.

 

2. the GM is doing the best he can.

 

3. the manager is not to blame.

 

4. the bullpen WAS the biggest problem on the team last year.

 

5. the TEAM OBP wasn't.

 

6. jacque jones is an upgrade in any area to jeromy burntiz.

 

7. juan pierre is the best leadoff man in the national league.

 

8. hendry filled the biggest holes the cubs had during the offseason.

 

9. we should fashion our offense in the way that the white sox did.

 

10. if the trib sold the team all of our problems would be solved.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

BB and Sully, I hear what you're saying I do think that the Manager and the GM certainly need to be accountable for any decisions made...and I honestly don't believe that if the trib sold the team, everything would be fine. I do believe however, that the blame needs to distributed evenly and not just on Baker and Hendry.

 

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

[Magnetic Curses]

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

hendry not doing the best job he can might be opinion, but jacque jones is not an upgrade to burnitz at all, and that's statistical fact.

[nilodnayr]

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

hendry not doing the best job he can might be opinion, but jacque jones is not an upgrade to burnitz at all, and that's statistical fact.

 

Comparing last year's numbers, yes, but projecting forward I would say jj is a slight upgrade. Upgrade enough, most definitely not, but in 2006 most likely a slight upgrade.

[Magnetic Curses]

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

hendry not doing the best job he can might be opinion, but jacque jones is not an upgrade to burnitz at all, and that's statistical fact.

 

Comparing last year's numbers, yes, but projecting forward I would say jj is a slight upgrade. Upgrade enough, most definitely not, but in 2006 most likely a slight upgrade.

 

that remains to be seen. as of right now, he's not an upgrade.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

hendry not doing the best job he can might be opinion, but jacque jones is not an upgrade to burnitz at all, and that's statistical fact.

 

Comparing last year's numbers, yes, but projecting forward I would say jj is a slight upgrade. Upgrade enough, most definitely not, but in 2006 most likely a slight upgrade.

 

that remains to be seen. as of right now, he's not an upgrade.

 

He's neither an upgrade or a downgrade, until JJ's 06' season is played out. It's is strictly opinion & pure speculation to think otherwise.

[Magnetic Curses]

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

hendry not doing the best job he can might be opinion, but jacque jones is not an upgrade to burnitz at all, and that's statistical fact.

 

Comparing last year's numbers, yes, but projecting forward I would say jj is a slight upgrade. Upgrade enough, most definitely not, but in 2006 most likely a slight upgrade.

 

that remains to be seen. as of right now, he's not an upgrade.

 

He's neither an upgrade or a downgrade, until JJ's 06' season is played out. It's is strictly opinion & pure speculation to think otherwise.

 

judging from last year, and his career numbers, he's definitely not an upgrade.

 

using your logic, we would have no way of knowing whether jones would be an upgrade to miguel cabrera.

 

one cannot predict that jones will have a better year than burntiz based on anything but the age argument.

[BigbadB]

BB and Sully, I hear what you're saying I do think that the Manager and the GM certainly need to be accountable for any decisions made...and I honestly don't believe that if the trib sold the team, everything would be fine. I do believe however, that the blame needs to distributed evenly and not just on Baker and Hendry.

 

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

The Tribune had absolutely no involvement with how Hendry put himself into a position to have to sign a mediocre RFer like Jacque Jones. That's all on Hendry.

 

The Tribune has expanded it's payroll by more than 25m over the last 5 years and has become top 5 overall. The only real blame you can hand to the Tribune at this time is that they didn't fire MacPhail and/or Hendry and Dusty after the craptastic 2004 season, or the craptacular2005 season. Not just because the results weren't there, but because of the way these guys dealt with internal problems (ie. Steve Stone, Chip Caray, Sammy, Moises, Walker, Mercker, etc...)

 

But, getting back to the real problem.....

 

Hendry had horsey blinders on this offseason in his quest to replace Ronny Cedeno or Nomar at SS. All he saw this offseason was free agent Rafael Furcal. He totally put all of his eggs in Rafael's basket, and Rafael took his basket to Los Angeles. Hendry felt like he had a sure thing. Because of that, he had no back up plan if the Furcal thing fell through.

 

The question of how much of an upgrade Furcal would have actually been over Nomar and/or Cedeno in comparison to a good RF over Burnitz hasn't been answered. Outfield was far and away the 2nd biggest problem this team had last year. The biggest problem of course being team OBP, especially at the top of the order.

 

Depending on how Dusty attacks his line up card, I'm not sure there will be much improvement on OBP at the top of the order if Pierre ends up hitting about the same as he did last year, and Neifi Perez or Jacque Jones end up hitting 2nd in his line up.

 

I really don't care one way or another about Hendry's passion to improve team defense. I'm fine with that. But, not at the expense of OBP.

 

With the money the Cubs had available this offseason, the trade commodity (farm and parent club) they had available to use to improve the tema, and other teams interested in making trades, there are NO EXCUSES that Hendry gets a pass on.

 

This mediocre team he has thrown together this offseason needs to finish in 1st place or grab the wild card at minimum, or he needs to be kicked to the same curb he kicked Nomar to.

 

Trading Prior would be the last thing I let him do. In fact, I'd like to see someone stop him before he actually does it.

[Jehrico]

BB and Sully, I hear what you're saying I do think that the Manager and the GM certainly need to be accountable for any decisions made...and I honestly don't believe that if the trib sold the team, everything would be fine. I do believe however, that the blame needs to distributed evenly and not just on Baker and Hendry.

 

Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

 

The Tribune had absolutely no involvement with how Hendry put himself into a position to have to sign a mediocre RFer like Jacque Jones. That's all on Hendry.

 

The Tribune has expanded it's payroll by more than 25m over the last 5 years and has become top 5 overall. The only real blame you can hand to the Tribune at this time is that they didn't fire MacPhail and/or Hendry and Dusty after the craptastic 2004 season, or the craptacular2005 season. Not just because the results weren't there, but because of the way these guys dealt with internal problems (ie. Steve Stone, Chip Caray, Sammy, Moises, Walker, Mercker, etc...)

 

But, getting back to the real problem.....

 

Hendry had horsey blinders on this offseason in his quest to replace Ronny Cedeno or Nomar at SS. All he saw this offseason was free agent Rafael Furcal. He totally put all of his eggs in Rafael's basket, and Rafael took his basket to Los Angeles. Hendry felt like he had a sure thing. Because of that, he had no back up plan if the Furcal thing fell through.

 

The question of how much of an upgrade Furcal would have actually been over Nomar and/or Cedeno in comparison to a good RF over Burnitz hasn't been answered. Outfield was far and away the 2nd biggest problem this team had last year. The biggest problem of course being team OBP, especially at the top of the order.

 

Depending on how Dusty attacks his line up card, I'm not sure there will be much improvement on OBP at the top of the order if Pierre ends up hitting about the same as he did last year, and Neifi Perez or Jacque Jones end up hitting 2nd in his line up.

 

I really don't care one way or another about Hendry's passion to improve team defense. I'm fine with that. But, not at the expense of OBP.

 

With the money the Cubs had available this offseason, the trade commodity (farm and parent club) they had available to use to improve the tema, and other teams interested in making trades, there are NO EXCUSES that Hendry gets a pass on.

 

This mediocre team he has thrown together this offseason needs to finish in 1st place or grab the wild card at minimum, or he needs to be kicked to the same curb he kicked Nomar to.

 

Trading Prior would be the last thing I let him do. In fact, I'd like to see someone stop him before he actually does it.

 

I don't think your post is very fair. I agree that there wasn't sufficient cause to work so hard on upgrading SS while ignoring RF, but to say that Hendry put all of his eggs in one basket isn't right. He went after Furcal so hard moreso because he was a leadoff hitter than a great SS. When Furcal didn't pan out, he went toward plan B, Juan Pierre. He was going to get a new CF regardless, had he landed Furcal, he could have went with more of a middle of the order type of hitter instead of Pierre, and that would have taken a little of the burden off of getting a stud RFer. I disagree with his strategy, he should have went after RF hot and heavy from the get go, but the one thing I don't think he did was put all of his eggs in one basket (Furcal) with no backup plan.