Jim: Please ignore Mike Kiley

[wastra]

The bottom line is that the cubs have to, for once, go out and get a good hitter in his prime or thereabouts. We quite literally have not signed or traded for a top-notch hitter that wasn't a gamble or "flier" in about 5-6 years with the lone exception being Derek Lee. Every other offensive player we've brought in or up has been on injury rehab, guys coming off awful seasons we're just HOPING they can improve on, or just not very good hitters before we signed them anyway.

 

It is baffling that we consistantly have holes in our lineup, and we've NEVER gone out and paid money for a top-flight free agent since the Alou fiasco. We're not Minnesota. With a $95 million payroll, one or two key players should have been guys we jsut signed over the competition. As long as Hendry relies on reclamation fliers and "bargain basement" type of guys, we can't field the offense we deserve.

 

 

For the life of me, I can't understand how on a $95 million roster, the only two good outright FA signings are setup men.

 

I agree with you. But even with Lee that seemed to be by accident. I remember when the Cubs trading for him Hendry saying he could hit 40+ homers and I (and others) were rolling our eyes. We knew he was good defensively and had a good eye at the plate, but I don't think many saw superstar status when that deal was made. So, in my opinion, Hendry kind of lucked out on that one.

 

Again, you're right that it's inexcuseable not to have a top-flight FA or get a top-flight deal done with the payroll. I still don't understand some people getting upset at the Murton trade proposals since many of us said during the offseason that this offense wouldn't be good with Murton in left without a high OPS guy in right such as Abreu or Giles. Murton would be a great asset on this team if we had a GM and manager who knew how to properly construct a team.

 

I agree with you totally. I don't see any way you can go into 2007 with an outfield of Jones, Pie, and Murton. If you can platoon Murton, fine. But he can't start opposite Jones. And I think, ultimately, we'd have to find a worse/more desperate judge of major league talent than Hendry to unload Jones...that's a rough task. It wasn't as if there was a line of GMs trying to sign him last winter.