Hey Bruce, Nice job on TV!

[swordsman]

Hey Bruce,

 

Nice job on TV with Len and Bob.

 

Nothin' like Rain Delay Theatre.

 

How much notice did you have that you would be on?

[Bruce Miles]

Hey Bruce,

 

Nice job on TV with Len and Bob.

 

Nothin' like Rain Delay Theatre.

 

How much notice did you have that you would be on?

 

About 5 minutes

[Bruce Miles]

Bob and Len are terrific to work with and be around.

[Geech]

If I were you, I would have used my screentime to tear in half a picture of Dusty Baker while screaming, "Fight the real evil!"

 

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

[Bruce Miles]

If I were you, I would have used my screentime to tear in half a picture of Dusty Baker while screaming, "Fight the real evil!"

 

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

 

Nah, but I got my plugs in for Wuertz, Walker and OBP.

[Jazz]

If I were you, I would have used my screentime to tear in half a picture of Dusty Baker while screaming, "Fight the real evil!"

 

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

 

Nah, but I got my plugs in for Wuertz, Walker and OBP.

 

Is the weather as bad as it sounds?

[Bruce Miles]

If I were you, I would have used my screentime to tear in half a picture of Dusty Baker while screaming, "Fight the real evil!"

 

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

 

Nah, but I got my plugs in for Wuertz, Walker and OBP.

 

Is the weather as bad as it sounds?

 

It was coming down in waves for a while. Looks like it's clearing to the west.

[Mad Ducks]

Hi Bruce,

I was about to turn the TV until I heard you would be on. Does everyone think that Izzy was that great a pickup or are they just drinking the cool aide?

[Bruce Miles]

Hi Bruce,

I was about to turn the TV until I heard you would be on. Does everyone think that Izzy was that great a pickup or are they just drinking the cool aide?

 

Well, you know how the Cubs value defense. Others, myself included, remain skeptical.

[CP_414]

You briefly mentioned it on TV, but do you expect Aramis to use the opt out clause? Even if he does were talking 90% chance he resigns here, right?

[Bruce Miles]

You briefly mentioned it on TV, but do you expect Aramis to use the opt out clause? Even if he does were talking 90% chance he resigns here, right?

 

I believe he's sincere in what he said last night and for the last year or so _ that he wants to remain a Cub. What I think will happen is that the Cubs will attempt to restructure the deal to sweeten it and keep him off the open market. Aramis and Jim Hendry have a good relationshp, and the agent, Paul Kinzer, appears to be a very reasonable guy.

 

My gut feeling is that he stays.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bruce,

 

Nice job on TV!

 

Do you think Pierre re-signs or will we go a different direction in CF?

[Bruce Miles]

Bruce,

 

Nice job on TV!

 

Do you think Pierre re-signs or will we go a different direction in CF?

 

The Cubs would prefer to keep Pierre, believing that what they've seen since June is the real Juan Pierre. I'm not aware of any serious talks, of late.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bruce,

 

Nice job on TV!

 

Do you think Pierre re-signs or will we go a different direction in CF?

 

The Cubs would prefer to keep Pierre, believing that what they've seen since June is the real Juan Pierre. I'm not aware of any serious talks, of late.

 

Thanks...an offense that has Pierre, Cedeno, and Izturis is going to be scary impotent, don't you think?

[TruffleShuffle]

You briefly mentioned it on TV, but do you expect Aramis to use the opt out clause? Even if he does were talking 90% chance he resigns here, right?

 

I believe he's sincere in what he said last night and for the last year or so _ that he wants to remain a Cub. What I think will happen is that the Cubs will attempt to restructure the deal to sweeten it and keep him off the open market. Aramis and Jim Hendry have a good relationshp, and the agent, Paul Kinzer, appears to be a very reasonable guy.

 

My gut feeling is that he stays.

 

This makes sense to me. The Cubs will have money to spend in the offseason, and the fallout from letting him walk would be very ugly, considering that the offense is already the worst in baseball. I really hope that they don't think people will consider keeping ARam as a successful offseason, but who knows. They've shown very little interest in making their constituents happy.

[Hacking Out Machine]

Bruce,

 

Nice job on TV!

 

Do you think Pierre re-signs or will we go a different direction in CF?

 

The Cubs would prefer to keep Pierre, believing that what they've seen since June is the real Juan Pierre. I'm not aware of any serious talks, of late.

 

Why do they so conveniently forget that Pierre's terrible play in the first two months is one of the biggest reasons that the period of time he has been producing in has been garbage time?

[jtownie]

You briefly mentioned it on TV, but do you expect Aramis to use the opt out clause? Even if he does were talking 90% chance he resigns here, right?

 

I believe he's sincere in what he said last night and for the last year or so _ that he wants to remain a Cub. What I think will happen is that the Cubs will attempt to restructure the deal to sweeten it and keep him off the open market. Aramis and Jim Hendry have a good relationshp, and the agent, Paul Kinzer, appears to be a very reasonable guy.

 

My gut feeling is that he stays.

 

This makes sense to me. The Cubs will have money to spend in the offseason, and the fallout from letting him walk would be very ugly, considering that the offense is already the worst in baseball. I really hope that they don't think people will consider keeping ARam as a successful offseason, but who knows. They've shown very little interest in making their constituents happy.

 

You mention the Cubs having some money to spend in the off-season. There's another cub-site that does an article on this topic. Not sure how many read it but I thought it was good fodder for discussion.

 

http://www.thechicagonationalleagueballclub.com/article/archives/2006/08/01/707

[Hacking Out Machine]

Bruce,

 

One other thing. On the radio today, Jim Hendry stressed that he considers the most important offensive statistic to be hitting with RISP. He said something like, "For me, that's what it's all about offensively".

 

One would assume that, since this is philosophy, he would attempt to acquire players who do well in this area. Do you think that Jim realizes that BA with RISP is almost entirely a random statistic? My guess is no, since they continue to value players whose offensive upside is limited to the largely random event of hitting singles.

[Bruce Miles]

Bruce,

 

One other thing. On the radio today, Jim Hendry stressed that he considers the most important offensive statistic to be hitting with RISP. He said something like, "For me, that's what it's all about offensively".

 

One would assume that, since this is philosophy, he would attempt to acquire players who do well in this area. Do you think that Jim realizes that BA with RISP is almost entirely a random statistic? My guess is no, since they continue to value players whose offensive upside is limited to the largely random event of hitting singles.

 

There you go; I think you answered your own question. It's the same stat he brought up when they signed Jeromy Burnitz. As you say, the stat is entirely random and varies from year to year with each player. All I can do is keep beating the OBP drum and maybe talking with some of their inside people about this silly notion. I did hear the interview today on the way to the park.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Bruce,

 

One other thing. On the radio today, Jim Hendry stressed that he considers the most important offensive statistic to be hitting with RISP. He said something like, "For me, that's what it's all about offensively".

 

One would assume that, since this is philosophy, he would attempt to acquire players who do well in this area. Do you think that Jim realizes that BA with RISP is almost entirely a random statistic? My guess is no, since they continue to value players whose offensive upside is limited to the largely random event of hitting singles.

 

Has anyone informed Jim that the Reds are last in the NL in BA with RISP ? Somehow, they are leading the Wild Card. And that Boston team, they are 13th in the AL in BA with RISP.

 

Bruce, could you mention this stat at some point to Baker or Hendry ? You couldn't fit any curve in the world to batting with RISP.

[Bruce Miles]

Bruce,

 

One other thing. On the radio today, Jim Hendry stressed that he considers the most important offensive statistic to be hitting with RISP. He said something like, "For me, that's what it's all about offensively".

 

One would assume that, since this is philosophy, he would attempt to acquire players who do well in this area. Do you think that Jim realizes that BA with RISP is almost entirely a random statistic? My guess is no, since they continue to value players whose offensive upside is limited to the largely random event of hitting singles.

 

Has anyone informed Jim that the Reds are last in the NL in BA with RISP ? Somehow, they are leading the Wild Card. And that Boston team, they are 13th in the AL in BA with RISP.

 

Bruce, could you mention this stat at some point to Baker or Hendry ? You couldn't fit any curve in the world to batting with RISP.

 

I will mention it to Jim and his people as I've done in a million different discussions. There are scant few of us here in the media who see the whole idea of the importance of OBP, SLG and their result: OPS. (A TV guy asked the OBP questions yesterday, and good for him). The Cubs must outslug their opponents at this ballpark.

Maybe they don't want to listen to some writer and his stat-geek friends. LOL.

[Warren Brusstar]

You briefly mentioned it on TV, but do you expect Aramis to use the opt out clause? Even if he does were talking 90% chance he resigns here, right?

 

I believe he's sincere in what he said last night and for the last year or so _ that he wants to remain a Cub. What I think will happen is that the Cubs will attempt to restructure the deal to sweeten it and keep him off the open market. Aramis and Jim Hendry have a good relationshp, and the agent, Paul Kinzer, appears to be a very reasonable guy.

 

My gut feeling is that he stays.

 

This makes sense to me. The Cubs will have money to spend in the offseason, and the fallout from letting him walk would be very ugly, considering that the offense is already the worst in baseball. I really hope that they don't think people will consider keeping ARam as a successful offseason, but who knows. They've shown very little interest in making their constituents happy.

 

I think you're overestimating the fallout from letting Ramirez walk. It seems the collective masses think that Ramirez isn't "clutch" and that he can't be counted on because the worst two months (arguably) of his career coincided with Lee's injury. Indeed, virtually everyone I talk to about Ramirez bemoans the fact that he's only performing now that it "doesn't matter."

 

Obviously, all of that is utter nonsense. But I think that's what the masses generally believe. And that means that ditching Ramirez wouldn't generate much of a backlash, except from the folks that have been engaged in a constant backlash for the last 24 months (at least). And we know how effective that's been.

 

Now, if I was a betting man (who I am kidding with that phrase) -- As a betting man, my sense is that he stays. I just don't think it would create a huge stir if he left.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

 

I will mention it to Jim and his people as I've done in a million different discussions. There are scant few of us here in the media who see the whole idea of the importance of OBP, SLG and their result: OPS. (A TV guy asked the OBP questions yesterday, and good for him). The Cubs must outslug their opponents at this ballpark.

Maybe they don't want to listen to some writer and his stat-geek friends. LOL.

 

They are old school. The mound is still 15" high in their world. The ball weighs almost as much as a grapefruit. The Polo Grounds still exist. Gibson just lowered his ERA to 1.12 yesterday.

 

I guess its like any other business around. The ones who live in the past fail. The ones who are always looking ahead succeed.

[Jazz]

Even though I hope this isn't the truth, I think that Hendry might be guilty of signing players that in his mind will cause the biggest buzz around Cubland, and the first player that comes to my mind with this scenario is Nomar. After that, I think he saw the same oppurtunity with Jones and Pierre, because they both had above averaged numbers in one or two stats. Jones with HR's and Pierre with steals, and all his talk of stats like RISP and his excuses are just him trying to justify thoses signings and acquisitions to save face.

[CP_414]

You briefly mentioned it on TV, but do you expect Aramis to use the opt out clause? Even if he does were talking 90% chance he resigns here, right?

 

I believe he's sincere in what he said last night and for the last year or so _ that he wants to remain a Cub. What I think will happen is that the Cubs will attempt to restructure the deal to sweeten it and keep him off the open market. Aramis and Jim Hendry have a good relationshp, and the agent, Paul Kinzer, appears to be a very reasonable guy.

 

My gut feeling is that he stays.

 

This makes sense to me. The Cubs will have money to spend in the offseason, and the fallout from letting him walk would be very ugly, considering that the offense is already the worst in baseball. I really hope that they don't think people will consider keeping ARam as a successful offseason, but who knows. They've shown very little interest in making their constituents happy.

 

I think you're overestimating the fallout from letting Ramirez walk. It seems the collective masses think that Ramirez isn't "clutch" and that he can't be counted on because the worst two months (arguably) of his career coincided with Lee's injury. Indeed, virtually everyone I talk to about Ramirez bemoans the fact that he's only performing now that it "doesn't matter."

 

Obviously, all of that is utter nonsense. But I think that's what the masses generally believe. And that means that ditching Ramirez wouldn't generate much of a backlash, except from the folks that have been engaged in a constant backlash for the last 24 months (at least). And we know how effective that's been.

 

Now, if I was a betting man (who I am kidding with that phrase) -- As a betting man, my sense is that he stays. I just don't think it would create a huge stir if he left.

 

I agree, and that's what worries me. I couldn't count the number of times this year I've heard that he's not "clutch" and is "lazy". While the later may be true, it's the least of out concerns at this point.