Bruce's Take

[CubfaninCA]

the complaining is getting a little carried away.

 

Yeah...I don't know why people would complain after losing 6 straight games. Clearly Baker and Hendry have the NL right where they want them.

 

the 6 game skid sucks, but they're 14-16 with prior, wood, lee and jwilliams out. it could be a lot worse.

 

do you expect them to be tied w/ the cardinals?

[BigbadB]

Alternatives to Jacque Jones? There are tons of them and I've already named a lot of them.

 

The only reason I'm in this thread is because I don't appreciate someone telling me I'm living in some fantasy world because I wanted the Cubs to aggressively pursue Brian Giles.

[soapy]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

I'm not bbb or goony, but these are all names I'd prefer to Jones and/or Pierre. All of whom seem likely to have been available in the last year:

 

Wilkerson

Bradley

Mench

Kearns

Dunn (I'm sure someone will say to drop this one)

B. Giles (see: Dunn)

Klesko

Abreu

Burrell

Floyd

 

EDIT: Hell, I'd prefer another year of Patterson instead of three years of Jones.

Edited May 8, 2006 by soapy

[BigbadB]

the complaining is getting a little carried away.

 

Yeah...I don't know why people would complain after losing 6 straight games. Clearly Baker and Hendry have the NL right where they want them.

 

the 6 game skid sucks, but they're 14-16 with prior, wood, lee and jwilliams out. it could be a lot worse.

 

do you expect them to be tied w/ the cardinals?

 

Personally, I expect them to not be the worst offense in baseball.

[Banedon]

the complaining is getting a little carried away.

 

Yeah...I don't know why people would complain after losing 6 straight games. Clearly Baker and Hendry have the NL right where they want them.

 

the 6 game skid sucks, but they're 14-16 with prior, wood, lee and jwilliams out. it could be a lot worse.

 

do you expect them to be tied w/ the cardinals?

 

I expect them to be competing, absolutely. Maybe my standards are a bit higher than yours. There's only one injury so far that we've had to deal with unexpectedly, and that's Lee. Hendry and Baker had all offseason to prepare, and here we are. That's unacceptable to me. "It could be worse" does not console me.

[CubfaninCA]

Alternatives to Jacque Jones? There are tons of them and I've already named a lot of them.

 

The only reason I'm in this thread is because I don't appreciate someone telling me I'm living in some fantasy world because I wanted the Cubs to aggressively pursue Brian Giles.

 

I'm just trying to bring you back to reality. :)

 

Can you refresh my memory on your rf alternatives?

I'm guessing Aubrey Huff is one. Milton Bradley another.

[CubfaninCA]

Btw giles isn't exactly tearing it up with his .357 slugging %. the cubs have enough guys who rarely hit the ball out of the park.

 

And Petco Park is one of the worst hitting parks in baseball. Couple in LA, San Fran and Arizona and you have one of the worst hitting divisions in baseball, even with Colorado in the mix. His SLG dropped when he moved to the NL West. I don't think it would be nearly as bad if he was playing the NL Central, one of the best hitting divisions in baseball.

 

What's Giles' OBP right now? SLG isn't the only part of his game.

 

.400

[BigbadB]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

I'm not bbb or goony, but these are all names I'd prefer to Jones and/or Pierre. All of whom seem likely to have been available in the last year:

 

Wilkerson

Bradley

Mench

Kearns

Dunn (I'm sure someone will say to drop this one)

B. Giles (see: Dunn)

Klesko

Abreu

Burrell

Floyd

 

Our very own Nomar

Cliff Floyd

Huff

Shawn Green

Luis Gonzalez

Wily Mo Pena

Coco Crisp

Reggie Sanders

 

And I'm sure more could be added.

[CubfaninCA]

So, we should expect Marcus Giles to sign with San Diego when he becomes a free agent, I suppose. We probably shouldn't even bother attempting to sign him either.

 

eric patterson is supposed to be the future 2b. gotta play the kids and save money. :)

[BigbadB]

Alternatives to Jacque Jones? There are tons of them and I've already named a lot of them.

 

The only reason I'm in this thread is because I don't appreciate someone telling me I'm living in some fantasy world because I wanted the Cubs to aggressively pursue Brian Giles.

 

I'm just trying to bring you back to reality. :)

 

Can you refresh my memory on your rf alternatives?

I'm guessing Aubrey Huff is one. Milton Bradley another.

 

Reality? Reality is that we had tons of talent to trade and over 40m to spend, and for that we got two good relief arms and:

 

a back up middle infielder (Neifi), a spot starter (Rusch), a slap hitting, poor OBP lead off man (Pierre) and the 2nd possible worst option to play RF (Jacque Jones). The worst option would have been Encarnacion.

 

It's hindsight now, but Hendry did everything he could to fill the SS position, which happens to be where some of the teams best production is coming from. Outfield is and has been the teams worst problem these last few years, and it still is. Hendry addressed the outfield last when he should have addressed it first.

 

He addressed the lead off position first when he should have been focusing on bringing in guys who are good at getting on base.

[CubfaninCA]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

[Banedon]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

 

But on a one year deal we'd be free to make an upgrade and kick him to the curb. Instead we're tied down to a 3 yr deal with Jones. Why throw away crap to get new crap? I'm obviously not arguing that Burnitz was the best option. Just throwing out what the options were.

[BigbadB]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

 

You're right about that. But, his 1 year contract wouldn't be holding the Cubs back from being better a year from now. Jones for 3 years was just a horrible decision.

[CoolHandLuke]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

 

It wouln't have cost us 3 years and a boatload of money.

[CubfaninCA]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

I'm not bbb or goony, but these are all names I'd prefer to Jones and/or Pierre. All of whom seem likely to have been available in the last year:

 

Wilkerson

Bradley

Mench

Kearns

Dunn (I'm sure someone will say to drop this one)

B. Giles (see: Dunn)

Klesko

Abreu

Burrell

Floyd

 

Our very own Nomar

Cliff Floyd

Huff

Shawn Green

Luis Gonzalez

Wily Mo Pena

Coco Crisp

Reggie Sanders

 

And I'm sure more could be added.

 

Alright soapy and bbb..

 

To get Wilkerson would have to had to give up someone of soriano's caliber & bowden loves sori type of player.

 

Bradley - Colleti didn't want to deal w/ the Cubs and what stud prospect you giving up for him?

 

Mench - Pretty sure there was a Mench for Walker rumor.

 

abreu, burrell, floyd, huff, gonzo, green might be available at the deadline. i think az, ny and philly wanted to hang onto them in the offseason. hence they're still there. who knows what tb's doing.

 

giles & dunn - riiight

 

kearns - hendry's been negotiating with this forever. does cincy deal anyone? give up hill, i guess.

 

nomar - at the expense of walker or cedeno?

 

coco crisp - boston gave up marte. that's a lot. so give up pie?

 

sanders - doesn't help us more than jones.

 

If Hendry could have got ARod, we'd be in great shape ya know.

[CubfaninCA]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

 

But on a one year deal we'd be free to make an upgrade and kick him to the curb. Instead we're tied down to a 3 yr deal with Jones. Why throw away crap to get new crap? I'm obviously not arguing that Burnitz was the best option. Just throwing out what the options were.

 

perhaps, but the discussion is about improving the team for this year.

 

i think there's a few teams that will take jones for 2 years.

[Banedon]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

I'm not bbb or goony, but these are all names I'd prefer to Jones and/or Pierre. All of whom seem likely to have been available in the last year:

 

Wilkerson

Bradley

Mench

Kearns

Dunn (I'm sure someone will say to drop this one)

B. Giles (see: Dunn)

Klesko

Abreu

Burrell

Floyd

 

Our very own Nomar

Cliff Floyd

Huff

Shawn Green

Luis Gonzalez

Wily Mo Pena

Coco Crisp

Reggie Sanders

 

And I'm sure more could be added.

 

Alright soapy and bbb..

 

To get Wilkerson would have to had to give up someone of soriano's caliber & bowden loves sori type of player.

 

Bradley - Colleti didn't want to deal w/ the Cubs and what stud prospect you giving up for him?

 

Mench - Pretty sure there was a Mench for Walker rumor.

 

abreu, burrell, floyd, huff, gonzo, green might be available at the deadline. i think az, ny and philly wanted to hang onto them in the offseason. hence they're still there. who knows what tb's doing.

 

giles & dunn - riiight

 

kearns - hendry's been negotiating with this forever. does cincy deal anyone? give up hill, i guess.

 

nomar - at the expense of walker or cedeno?

 

coco crisp - boston gave up marte. that's a lot. so give up pie?

 

sanders - doesn't help us more than jones.

 

If Hendry could have got ARod, we'd be in great shape ya know.

 

Man...you got some good contacts to have all the inside info on this stuff. Colleti didn't watn to deal with the Cubs huh? And the rumor was that they were going to release Bradley, so I don't think it would've taken a stud to get him.

[Banedon]

i think there's a few teams that will take jones for 2 years.

 

Really? Who?

[RynoRules]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

 

You're right about that. But, his 1 year contract wouldn't be holding the Cubs back from being better a year from now. Jones for 3 years was just a horrible decision.

 

That's so true that I can barely stand it. Three years!!!!!

[Banedon]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

How about re-signing Burnitz for 1 year instead of Jones for 3?

 

I think there was a lot of talk about Austin Kearns being available before the season.

 

burnitz wouldn't make us any better this year.

 

But on a one year deal we'd be free to make an upgrade and kick him to the curb. Instead we're tied down to a 3 yr deal with Jones. Why throw away crap to get new crap? I'm obviously not arguing that Burnitz was the best option. Just throwing out what the options were.

 

perhaps, but the discussion is about improving the team for this year.

 

i think there's a few teams that will take jones for 2 years.

 

No the discussion is why the moves that Hendry and Baker made were the wrong moves.

[CoolHandLuke]

i think there's a few teams that will take jones for 2 years.

 

Really? Who?

 

Please forward your insider info to Hendry.

[CubinNY]

I hate that this once great thread has been hijacked.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I hate that this once great thread has been hijacked.

 

Since Bruce got the Theriot thing right, maybe next he should write about the Cubs trading for players that don't suck.

[CubfaninCA]

bbb and gooney, i'm still waiting for a reasonable alternative.

 

i guess you can argue for prior for tejada. not sure what else.

 

I'm not bbb or goony, but these are all names I'd prefer to Jones and/or Pierre. All of whom seem likely to have been available in the last year:

 

Wilkerson

Bradley

Mench

Kearns

Dunn (I'm sure someone will say to drop this one)

B. Giles (see: Dunn)

Klesko

Abreu

Burrell

Floyd

 

Our very own Nomar

Cliff Floyd

Huff

Shawn Green

Luis Gonzalez

Wily Mo Pena

Coco Crisp

Reggie Sanders

 

And I'm sure more could be added.

 

Alright soapy and bbb..

 

To get Wilkerson would have to had to give up someone of soriano's caliber & bowden loves sori type of player.

 

Bradley - Colleti didn't want to deal w/ the Cubs and what stud prospect you giving up for him?

 

Mench - Pretty sure there was a Mench for Walker rumor.

 

abreu, burrell, floyd, huff, gonzo, green might be available at the deadline. i think az, ny and philly wanted to hang onto them in the offseason. hence they're still there. who knows what tb's doing.

 

giles & dunn - riiight

 

kearns - hendry's been negotiating with this forever. does cincy deal anyone? give up hill, i guess.

 

nomar - at the expense of walker or cedeno?

 

coco crisp - boston gave up marte. that's a lot. so give up pie?

 

sanders - doesn't help us more than jones.

 

If Hendry could have got ARod, we'd be in great shape ya know.

 

Man...you got some good contacts to have all the inside info on this stuff. Colleti didn't watn to deal with the Cubs huh? And the rumor was that they were going to release Bradley, so I don't think it would've taken a stud to get him.

 

the colletti thing was discussed here a lot, and oakland gave up a pretty good prospect to get bradley btw. apparently, the release rumor was wrong...

[Bruce Miles]

Thanks for the nice thread. I appreciate it. You guys have once again shown yourselves to be fair and knowledgeable.

 

I've taken a little criticism for my comments on Dusty, but I wrote them in the spirt of "fair is fair." If you give Hendry this extension and he put together this roster, then I think it would be unfair to blame this all on the manager.

 

Maybe Maddux can get you guys a win tonight!