"Tribune Needs to Spend More" Game

[Caryatid]

Many people have complained that the Cubs have not spent enough to win. They are currently spending roughly $95 million this season. So here's a little game I propose to them:

 

Create the best team you can. Use only $95 million. Use only current Cubs, Cubs minor leaguers, and players who have been free agents in the last three years.

 

Maybe that will show people that $95 million can go alot further than the Cubs management team has made it.

[A New Era]

I'm not very savy with what all players were available but I can atleast add what I'd have done this off season. .

 

Neifi

Rusch

Williams

Bynum

 

Would not have been on my team this year. Either traded or not signed. .

 

Nomar would have been offered a deal as a super sub. 1B, 2B, 3B, possibly OF.

 

Would have went after 1 #2 calibur SP via trade over the off season.

 

These couple minor moves alone would have vastly improved the team.

[BigbadB]

It's not how much you spend. It's how you spend it. The Yankees haven't won a World Series since Steinbrenner started attempting to buy World Series.

 

95m is more than enough to win a World Series. There haven't been many teams that have won a World Series with a higher payroll than that.

 

White Sox in 2005? 74m

[Soul]

Agreed. It's not the price tag. It's the goods.

[Pinktermite]

What I would really like to know is: Did Dusty ASK for Neifi to come back? Or did Jim force Dusty to take Neifi. I would tend to say the former, given Dusty's penchant for veterans who suck. Be that as it may, Hendry deserves credit for MOST (obviously not all) of the things he has done.

 

Signing Lee, Aramis, Erye, Howry, Dempster, (maybe) Wade Miller, and getting rid of Sammy.

 

I doubt Neifi would still be with the team if Hendry had anything to do with it. He sent Jerry packing for a power hitting (washed up?) right handed guy who can play two or three positions.

 

Hendry's not stupid. Neither is Dusty. Given that, I would say that this team sucks because it spends money surrounding its great players (Aramis, DLee, Barrett, Walker, Murton...(all high OBP players)...with players that suck so bad they look and smell like a dead body.

 

So that 95 million should have been spent on the best bench players available. He did it with the relief corps...but not with the bench, and alas, we pay the price when a star goes down. That's why we should cut loose Neifi, Bynum, possibly Womack (though he playing well right now), Maybry...and replace them with the highest OPS player available at that position in the minors, AA and above. To hell with the fact they are rookies, we have great veteran players that will help that out.

 

We'd save a bundle in payroll, and use that money next off season or at the deadline to keep the payroll around 100 million.

 

I'm probably goofy, but I think this would help.

[jiml60]

What I would really like to know is: Did Dusty ASK for Neifi to come back? Or did Jim force Dusty to take Neifi.

 

Either way, a good GM would not sign Neifi to a 2 year, $6m deal.

[Rooftop Bum]

The signing of Rusch and Perez stinks. That could have gone towards locking up Furcal. It seems like the Trib just does not want meet any high salary long term deals. Which is okay I guess if you have solid options to fall back upon. However, in this case Furcal would have been a much better one than relying on Ronny C and Neifi to pan out. We could have placed Ronny C at 2nd base or traded him for some other talent. Or traded Walker. At least there would have been some options there. I think it would have been worth what Furcal was asking.

 

Granted Lee got injured but the lineup would have looked nice with Furcal SS, Pierre CF, Derrek Lee 1B, Ramirez 3B, Jones RF, Barrett C , Murton LF, Cedeno 2b or Walker 2B. Or wherever you want to stick those people in the lineup. I just can't imagine the Trib did not have enough money to swing that lineup.

 

But yeah, in the end what the Trib is spending right now is definitely enough to have a contender. No doubt. But that one signing would have sure made things look better going into the season. That would not be out of the Trib's reach. It's not like that would be $150 million.

[Pinktermite]

The Trib doesn't spend this money...Jim Hendry (and to an extent Andy MacPhail). I don't think the Tribune brass and Dennis Fitzsimmons gives a hootin hell about who they spend the money on. This is Hendry's and Dusty's and Andy's baby...plain and simple. Which tells a very bad story indeed.

[srbin84]

When your best and third best starter make 2 starts the first two months, it's unfair to compare the payroll to the product on the field. At least substrat thier approx. 15 million because they haven't had anything to do with this team.

[goonys evil twin]

When your best and third best starter make 2 starts the first two months, it's unfair to compare the payroll to the product on the field. At least substrat thier approx. 15 million because they haven't had anything to do with this team.

 

Teams lose expensive players all the time. And the Cubs knew the injury risk a long time ago. Not to mention, they are very likely largely responsible for the injury situation given their usage of those players.

[srbin84]

When your best and third best starter make 2 starts the first two months, it's unfair to compare the payroll to the product on the field. At least substrat thier approx. 15 million because they haven't had anything to do with this team.

 

Teams lose expensive players all the time. And the Cubs knew the injury risk a long time ago. Not to mention, they are very likely largely responsible for the injury situation given their usage of those players.

 

For the first year, MAYBE two, ok. Those guys, at least Prior, should have recovered from the 2003 overuse by now.

[cbbryan]

Ok, this is a tough one but I'm going to try and budget using the last 3 years of FA and make a better team.

 

I'm sure they'll be some mistakes, but bear with me:

 

Pitchers:

 

Aardsma, David $ 330,000

Dempster, Ryan $ 4,333,333

Eyre, Scott $ 3,200,000

Prior, Mark $ 3,650,000

Wood, Kerry $12,000,000

Zambrano, C $ 6,500,000

Byrd, Paul $ 5,000,000

Millwood, Kevin $ 7,868,893

Williamson, Scott $ 2,000,000

Seanez, Rudy $ 1,900,000

Ohman, Will $ 610,000

Novoa, Roberto $ 320,000

 

Pitcher Total: $47,712,226

 

 

Positional Players:

 

1B: Lee, Derrick $ 9,416,667

2B: Cedeno, Ronnie $ 336,000

SS: Eckstein, David $ 3,333,333

3B: Ramirez, Aramis $ 11,000,000

C: Barrett, Michael $ 4,333,333

LF: Murton, Matt $ 337,000

RF: Guerrerro, Vlad $ 13,500,000

CF: Pierre, Juan $ 5,750,000

 

Bench:

 

C: Blanco, Henry $ 1,500,000

IF: Walker, Todd $ 2,500,000

Mackowiak, Rob $ 2,250,000

OF: Conine, Jeff $ 1,700,000

Mabry, John $ 1,075,000

 

 

TOTAL TEAM PAYROLL: $ 104,743,559.00

 

It's not 95M, but it's managable.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Ok, this is a tough one but I'm going to try and budget using the last 3 years of FA and make a better team.

 

I'm sure they'll be some mistakes, but bear with me:

 

Pitchers:

 

Aardsma, David $ 330,000

Dempster, Ryan $ 4,333,333

Eyre, Scott $ 3,200,000

Prior, Mark $ 3,650,000

Wood, Kerry $12,000,000

Zambrano, C $ 6,500,000

Byrd, Paul $ 5,000,000

Millwood, Kevin $ 7,868,893

Williamson, Scott $ 2,000,000

Seanez, Rudy $ 1,900,000

Ohman, Will $ 610,000

Novoa, Roberto $ 320,000

 

Pitcher Total: $47,712,226

 

 

Positional Players:

 

1B: Lee, Derrick $ 9,416,667

2B: Cedeno, Ronnie $ 336,000

SS: Eckstein, David $ 3,333,333

3B: Ramirez, Aramis $ 11,000,000

C: Barrett, Michael $ 4,333,333

LF: Murton, Matt $ 337,000

RF: Guerrerro, Vlad $ 13,500,000

CF: Pierre, Juan $ 5,750,000

 

Bench:

 

C: Blanco, Henry $ 1,500,000

IF: Walker, Todd $ 2,500,000

Mackowiak, Rob $ 2,250,000

OF: Conine, Jeff $ 1,700,000

Mabry, John $ 1,075,000

 

 

TOTAL TEAM PAYROLL: $ 104,743,559.00

 

It's not 95M, but it's managable.

 

You could certainly cut some fat by replacing Blanco with Soto (1.2M), just about anyone for Pierre but let's say Michaels (4.25M), and someone like Buck Coats or Restovich to take Conine's spot (1.4M). That'll get you down to around 97.9M. Insert Marshall for Millwood, and you're close to 90. Drop Seanez for Wuertz, and you have enough money to put Tejada at SS and you're back in that 95 range.

 

Nitpicking, but it's Derrek, not Derrick.

[Rooftop Bum]

The Trib doesn't spend this money...Jim Hendry (and to an extent Andy MacPhail). I don't think the Tribune brass and Dennis Fitzsimmons gives a hootin hell about who they spend the money on. This is Hendry's and Dusty's and Andy's baby...plain and simple. Which tells a very bad story indeed.

 

These guys would surely ask for more money I would think though from the source. That source would be from the Tribune. How they get the payroll budget is beyond me. I don't know how they determine it. Yeah, I know what you mean in that they spend whatever money they have "to work with". I understand that. Unless they are truly that stupid and don't ask for more money? LOL! I would not put it past them unfortunately.

 

It just seems like they like to pass on quality players because they are just too pricey. Okay then.

[cbbryan]

Ok, this is a tough one but I'm going to try and budget using the last 3 years of FA and make a better team.

 

I'm sure they'll be some mistakes, but bear with me:

 

Pitchers:

 

Aardsma, David $ 330,000

Dempster, Ryan $ 4,333,333

Eyre, Scott $ 3,200,000

Prior, Mark $ 3,650,000

Wood, Kerry $12,000,000

Zambrano, C $ 6,500,000

Byrd, Paul $ 5,000,000

Millwood, Kevin $ 7,868,893

Williamson, Scott $ 2,000,000

Seanez, Rudy $ 1,900,000

Ohman, Will $ 610,000

Novoa, Roberto $ 320,000

 

Pitcher Total: $47,712,226

 

 

Positional Players:

 

1B: Lee, Derrick $ 9,416,667

2B: Cedeno, Ronnie $ 336,000

SS: Eckstein, David $ 3,333,333

3B: Ramirez, Aramis $ 11,000,000

C: Barrett, Michael $ 4,333,333

LF: Murton, Matt $ 337,000

RF: Guerrerro, Vlad $ 13,500,000

CF: Pierre, Juan $ 5,750,000

 

Bench:

 

C: Blanco, Henry $ 1,500,000

IF: Walker, Todd $ 2,500,000

Mackowiak, Rob $ 2,250,000

OF: Conine, Jeff $ 1,700,000

Mabry, John $ 1,075,000

 

 

TOTAL TEAM PAYROLL: $ 104,743,559.00

 

It's not 95M, but it's managable.

 

You could certainly cut some fat by replacing Blanco with Soto (1.2M), just about anyone for Pierre but let's say Michaels (4.25M), and someone like Buck Coats or Restovich to take Conine's spot (1.4M). That'll get you down to around 97.9M. Insert Marshall for Millwood, and you're close to 90. Drop Seanez for Wuertz, and you have enough money to put Tejada at SS and you're back in that 95 range.

 

Nitpicking, but it's Derrek, not Derrick.

 

Yeah, I kind of got stuck around the 104 range and wasn't sure where to go................. I figured someone would have some ideas.

 

To think the Cubs could have Vlad, Tejada, Aramis, AND DLee for the same money....................depressing really!

[CubfaninCA]

Considering all the money they waste on starting pitching, yes they need to spend more.

 

Wood - $12 million. Maybe he'll earn half that.

 

Maddux - $9 million. Probably not a good move in retrospect. Hey he's great for marketing tho. :roll:

 

Prior $3.65. Has earned $0.

 

Rusch - $2.75 million. $0 earned. Nice durability Prior.

 

Wade Miller - $1 million. $0 earned.

 

Jerome Williams - $500k, if not more, right? $0 earned

 

They're getting very little out of $29 million.

[srbin84]

Considering all the money they waste on starting pitching, yes they need to spend more.

 

Wood - $12 million. Maybe he'll earn half that.

 

Maddux - $9 million. Probably not a good move in retrospect. Hey he's great for marketing tho. :roll:

 

Prior $3.65. Has earned $0.

 

Rusch - $2.75 million. $0 earned. Nice durability Prior.

 

Wade Miller - $1 million. $0 earned.

 

Jerome Williams - $500k, if not more, right? $0 earned

 

They're getting very little out of $29 million.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself. Bravo.

[badger1679666666]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Bravo.

 

Were you as blatantly anti-Wood and anti-Prior back in 2003 as you are now?

[srbin84]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Bravo.

 

Were you as blatantly anti-Wood and anti-Prior back in 2003 as you are now?

 

I'm not really anti-Wood. I'm not a fan of the contract though. I started getting frustrated with them in 2004. After 2005, I realized they probably were never going to recapture their 2003 form, at least not together. I think it's best for the Cubs to move on from them. I was big fans of both and cut them a lot of slack, but after 2005, enough is enough. I'm tired of them attaching season after season to their health and performance only to watch them fail miserably.

[badger1679666666]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Bravo.

 

Were you as blatantly anti-Wood and anti-Prior back in 2003 as you are now?

 

I'm not really anti-Wood. I'm not a fan of the contract though. I started getting frustrated with them in 2004. After 2005, I realized they probably were never going to recapture their 2003 form, at least not together. I think it's best for the Cubs to move on from them. I was big fans of both and cut them a lot of slack, but after 2005, enough is enough. I'm tired of them attaching season after season to their health and performance only to watch them fail miserably.

 

I hardly think the age of 25 or 26 is the time to give up on a guy with the upside of Prior. I think that's foolish and short-sighted. Woody is murkier, but even 28 is not that old. If you think about several of the "greats", they never put it together until the age of 28. Woody finally had the surgery he needed to have, his elbow and shoulder are now "fixed". I think the cubs owe it to themselves to not pull the trigger too quickly.

[Mark_R]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Bravo.

 

Were you as blatantly anti-Wood and anti-Prior back in 2003 as you are now?

 

I'm not really anti-Wood. I'm not a fan of the contract though. I started getting frustrated with them in 2004. After 2005, I realized they probably were never going to recapture their 2003 form, at least not together. I think it's best for the Cubs to move on from them. I was big fans of both and cut them a lot of slack, but after 2005, enough is enough. I'm tired of them attaching season after season to their health and performance only to watch them fail miserably.

 

I hardly think the age of 25 or 26 is the time to give up on a guy with the upside of Prior. I think that's foolish and short-sighted. Woody is murkier, but even 28 is not that old. If you think about several of the "greats", they never put it together until the age of 28. Woody finally had the surgery he needed to have, his elbow and shoulder are now "fixed". I think the cubs owe it to themselves to not pull the trigger too quickly.

 

Thank you, Dr. Andrews.

 

If Wood stays healthy all season, you can bring up this post and mock me.

 

To say he's "fixed" is short sighted.

[badger1679666666]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Bravo.

 

Were you as blatantly anti-Wood and anti-Prior back in 2003 as you are now?

 

I'm not really anti-Wood. I'm not a fan of the contract though. I started getting frustrated with them in 2004. After 2005, I realized they probably were never going to recapture their 2003 form, at least not together. I think it's best for the Cubs to move on from them. I was big fans of both and cut them a lot of slack, but after 2005, enough is enough. I'm tired of them attaching season after season to their health and performance only to watch them fail miserably.

 

I hardly think the age of 25 or 26 is the time to give up on a guy with the upside of Prior. I think that's foolish and short-sighted. Woody is murkier, but even 28 is not that old. If you think about several of the "greats", they never put it together until the age of 28. Woody finally had the surgery he needed to have, his elbow and shoulder are now "fixed". I think the cubs owe it to themselves to not pull the trigger too quickly.

 

Thank you, Dr. Andrews.

 

If Wood stays healthy all season, you can bring up this post and mock me.

 

To say he's "fixed" is short sighted.

 

I don't need to mock you. If Wood stays healthy all season then I presume we'll both be happy, even though our team will still suck. I was more referring to prior at age 26. Giving up on him would be short sighted. Especially since we have his rights through 2009 I believe.