Some love fore 'em Buccos!

[Jake]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AnadXhmW2.jC8N7zBYp3D6QRvLYF?slug=cnnsi-busybucs&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns

 

A reasonable assessment of the team.

 

Three people who's performance I think can alter the team's standing this year:

Kip Wells, Oliver Perez and Jose Castillo. All three did not live up to expectations last year. I'm talking reasonable expectations. Kip & Ollie should win at least 10 games each. Castillo, while playing good defense needs to stay on the field, hit .280 and have at leat 20HRs. If everyone else on the team does as well as expected, we could win more than we lose this year.

 

Which, of course, is NOT the goal.

[Uber]

who?

[Jake]

Ouch.

[BigbadB]

Never understood the Jose Castillo love. I thought Freddy Sanchez, Bobby Hill and Mack-o-wack were all better options offensively.

 

His 50 HR's over the course of his minor league career in 2200 at bats doesn't bode well for 20 HR seasons.

Edited January 13, 2006 by BigbadB

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Probably in for a long season if your three "key" free agents are Roberto Hernandez, Joe Randa and Jeromy Burnitz.

[Jake]

Never understood the Jose Castillo love. I thought Freddy Sanchez, Bobby Hill and Mack-o-wack were all better options offensively.

 

His 50 HR's over the course of his minor league career in 2200 at bats doesn't bode well for 20 HR seasons.

Ya know what? On some level I agree with you.

 

I was a little surprised to see Bobby Hill let go. He's everything Jim Tracy said he wants - a guy who can put the ball into play.

 

Mack-O-Whack: It hurt to trade him, but a couple things come up. First, he's too streaky. He does much better as a spot starter (or even a few starts in a row) than being an everyday player. And, he strikes out too much. Not that I'd want to trade him, per se. But, I thought we got good value from him in Marte. Left Handed relievers don't come cheap. And my soon to be 5 year old loves saying his name (I've been taking her to games since she was 3 month old!)

 

As for Sanchez - on the last Friday night home game, one of our local talking heads, Paul Alexander (who was fired last month as part of a station overhaul) had his booth set up out side of PNC Park. I asked him if he thought Freddy could compete with Jose for the everyday starting position for the upcoming season. He said to me:

Jose Castillo is the best player on the team. Don't get me wrong, I like Freddy Sanchez, but Castillo is the best player on this team

Two things come to mind here: Castillo hasn't been very healthy his first two seasons; and he has to hit both more HRs and for higher average. I'd bet Freddy is going to get at least 40 starts at second, 20 each at short and third. Caveat about third: Jose Bautista lights it up in Indy and plays his way onto the team.

 

I think Getting rid of Bobby Hill was a bit shortsighted. No, he'll never be a star, but he can hit off of the bench and play 2nd & third. He'd have been behind Sanchez, to be sure. We have this guy who played 6 positions at Indy, Yuerendall DeCaster. It might his play that prompted the trade of Hill?

[Jake]

Probably in for a long season if your three "key" free agents are Roberto Hernandez, Joe Randa and Jeromy Burnitz.

When you look at our team from last year, which lost 95 games, then, yeah, these guys are improvements. Don't forget about Sean Cassey, either.

 

Question: How many Cubbie relievers had a better ERA than Hernandez last year?

[Derwood]

Why is a Pittsburgh fan posting with a ChiSox avatar?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Probably in for a long season if your three "key" free agents are Roberto Hernandez, Joe Randa and Jeromy Burnitz.

When you look at our team from last year, which lost 95 games, then, yeah, these guys are improvements. Don't forget about Sean Cassey, either.

 

Question: How many Cubbie relievers had a better ERA than Hernandez last year?

 

Hey, teh Cobs didn't do much better. We were only marginally better last year and our 3 key FA's were Eyre, Howry, and Jones. Woo frickin hoo!

[SouthSideRyan]

Why is a Pittsburgh fan posting with a ChiSox avatar?

 

I believe that's former Pirate Mackowiack.

[Jake]

Why is a Pittsburgh fan posting with a ChiSox avatar?

 

I believe that's former Pirate Mackowiack.

Indeed it is!

 

I need to get around to putting Zack Duke's face there in place of Mack-O-Whack.

[Tim]

Never understood the Jose Castillo love. I thought Freddy Sanchez, Bobby Hill and Mack-o-wack were all better options offensively.

 

His 50 HR's over the course of his minor league career in 2200 at bats doesn't bode well for 20 HR seasons.

Ya know what? On some level I agree with you.

 

I was a little surprised to see Bobby Hill let go. He's everything Jim Tracy said he wants - a guy who can put the ball into play.

 

Mack-O-Whack: It hurt to trade him, but a couple things come up. First, he's too streaky. He does much better as a spot starter (or even a few starts in a row) than being an everyday player. And, he strikes out too much. Not that I'd want to trade him, per se. But, I thought we got good value from him in Marte. Left Handed relievers don't come cheap. And my soon to be 5 year old loves saying his name (I've been taking her to games since she was 3 month old!)

 

As for Sanchez - on the last Friday night home game, one of our local talking heads, Paul Alexander (who was fired last month as part of a station overhaul) had his booth set up out side of PNC Park. I asked him if he thought Freddy could compete with Jose for the everyday starting position for the upcoming season. He said to me:

Jose Castillo is the best player on the team. Don't get me wrong, I like Freddy Sanchez, but Castillo is the best player on this team

Two things come to mind here: Castillo hasn't been very healthy his first two seasons; and he has to hit both more HRs and for higher average. I'd bet Freddy is going to get at least 40 starts at second, 20 each at short and third. Caveat about third: Jose Bautista lights it up in Indy and plays his way onto the team.

 

I think Getting rid of Bobby Hill was a bit shortsighted. No, he'll never be a star, but he can hit off of the bench and play 2nd & third. He'd have been behind Sanchez, to be sure. We have this guy who played 6 positions at Indy, Yuerendall DeCaster. It might his play that prompted the trade of Hill?

Does the talking head know that Jason Bay is still on Pittsburgh?

[imb]

Never understood the Jose Castillo love. I thought Freddy Sanchez, Bobby Hill and Mack-o-wack were all better options offensively.

 

His 50 HR's over the course of his minor league career in 2200 at bats doesn't bode well for 20 HR seasons.

Ya know what? On some level I agree with you.

 

I was a little surprised to see Bobby Hill let go. He's everything Jim Tracy said he wants - a guy who can put the ball into play.

 

Mack-O-Whack: It hurt to trade him, but a couple things come up. First, he's too streaky. He does much better as a spot starter (or even a few starts in a row) than being an everyday player. And, he strikes out too much. Not that I'd want to trade him, per se. But, I thought we got good value from him in Marte. Left Handed relievers don't come cheap. And my soon to be 5 year old loves saying his name (I've been taking her to games since she was 3 month old!)

 

As for Sanchez - on the last Friday night home game, one of our local talking heads, Paul Alexander (who was fired last month as part of a station overhaul) had his booth set up out side of PNC Park. I asked him if he thought Freddy could compete with Jose for the everyday starting position for the upcoming season. He said to me:

Jose Castillo is the best player on the team. Don't get me wrong, I like Freddy Sanchez, but Castillo is the best player on this team

Two things come to mind here: Castillo hasn't been very healthy his first two seasons; and he has to hit both more HRs and for higher average. I'd bet Freddy is going to get at least 40 starts at second, 20 each at short and third. Caveat about third: Jose Bautista lights it up in Indy and plays his way onto the team.

 

I think Getting rid of Bobby Hill was a bit shortsighted. No, he'll never be a star, but he can hit off of the bench and play 2nd & third. He'd have been behind Sanchez, to be sure. We have this guy who played 6 positions at Indy, Yuerendall DeCaster. It might his play that prompted the trade of Hill?

Does the talking head know that Jason Bay is still on Pittsburgh?

 

Thats what I was gonna say, maybe he was talking about the Penguins

[Derwood]

Why is a Pittsburgh fan posting with a ChiSox avatar?

 

I believe that's former Pirate Mackowiack.

Indeed it is!

 

I need to get around to putting Zack Duke's face there in place of Mack-O-Whack.

 

I see. Well don't let your love for Rob turn you to the dark side of Chicago

[CuseCubFan69]

I was a little surprised to see Bobby Hill let go. He's everything Jim Tracy said he wants - a guy who can put the ball into play.

 

I think Getting rid of Bobby Hill was a bit shortsighted. No, he'll never be a star, but he can hit off of the bench and play 2nd & third. He'd have been behind Sanchez, to be sure. We have this guy who played 6 positions at Indy, Yuerendall DeCaster. It might his play that prompted the trade of Hill?

 

I saw Hill play here and he jogged on two groundballs. The guy has an attitude without the talent IMO.

[Jake]

Never understood the Jose Castillo love. I thought Freddy Sanchez, Bobby Hill and Mack-o-wack were all better options offensively.

 

His 50 HR's over the course of his minor league career in 2200 at bats doesn't bode well for 20 HR seasons.

Ya know what? On some level I agree with you.

 

I was a little surprised to see Bobby Hill let go. He's everything Jim Tracy said he wants - a guy who can put the ball into play.

 

Mack-O-Whack: It hurt to trade him, but a couple things come up. First, he's too streaky. He does much better as a spot starter (or even a few starts in a row) than being an everyday player. And, he strikes out too much. Not that I'd want to trade him, per se. But, I thought we got good value from him in Marte. Left Handed relievers don't come cheap. And my soon to be 5 year old loves saying his name (I've been taking her to games since she was 3 month old!)

 

As for Sanchez - on the last Friday night home game, one of our local talking heads, Paul Alexander (who was fired last month as part of a station overhaul) had his booth set up out side of PNC Park. I asked him if he thought Freddy could compete with Jose for the everyday starting position for the upcoming season. He said to me:

Jose Castillo is the best player on the team. Don't get me wrong, I like Freddy Sanchez, but Castillo is the best player on this team

Two things come to mind here: Castillo hasn't been very healthy his first two seasons; and he has to hit both more HRs and for higher average. I'd bet Freddy is going to get at least 40 starts at second, 20 each at short and third. Caveat about third: Jose Bautista lights it up in Indy and plays his way onto the team.

 

I think Getting rid of Bobby Hill was a bit shortsighted. No, he'll never be a star, but he can hit off of the bench and play 2nd & third. He'd have been behind Sanchez, to be sure. We have this guy who played 6 positions at Indy, Yuerendall DeCaster. It might his play that prompted the trade of Hill?

Does the talking head know that Jason Bay is still on Pittsburgh?

 

Thats what I was gonna say, maybe he was talking about the Penguins

Mr. Bay came up in this conversation. He said Bay is better right now, but that Castillo is only 22 and is going to be better than Bay.

 

Yeah, I'm skeptical too.