Will Carroll Source: Prior's 2006 Injury = Wood's 2005

[TruffleShuffle]

Do you believe Zito is the kind of pitcher worthy of a $14-17m/yr contract?

 

No, but I don't believe Manny Ramirez is worth $20M per year and I don't believe Carlos Beltran is worth $17M per year. You either overpay for top talent, or you settle for second-tier players. The Cubs are apparently content doing the latter.

 

Manny Ramirez is a top 5 offensive player. Barry Zito isn't a top 5 pitcher. I'd struggle to put him in the top 20. It's one thing to overpay a guy who's clearly in the top tier at his position. Zito isn't close to being a top pitcher.

 

OK. I'm just saying that your rationale - that he isn't worth that money - has been used for just about every major free agent the last 2-3 years, including Beltran, who is one of the best CF in baseball.

[USSoccer]

Do you believe Zito is the kind of pitcher worthy of a $14-17m/yr contract?

 

No, but I don't believe Manny Ramirez is worth $20M per year and I don't believe Carlos Beltran is worth $17M per year. You either overpay for top talent, or you settle for second-tier players. The Cubs are apparently content doing the latter.

 

Manny Ramirez is a top 5 offensive player. Barry Zito isn't a top 5 pitcher. I'd struggle to put him in the top 20. It's one thing to overpay a guy who's clearly in the top tier at his position. Zito isn't close to being a top pitcher.

 

OK. I'm just saying that your rationale - that he isn't worth that money - has been used for just about every major free agent the last 2-3 years, including Beltran, who is one of the best CF in baseball.

 

Hey, I know what you mean. I know Hendry likes to cheap out on impact FA and overpay mediocrity. I think what I'm saying is that if Hendry were to pay Zito $15m a year, it would be overpaying for mediocre production. I think the FA class this winter-especially the pitchers- is so weak that I won't blame Hendry for not chasing the "name" pitchers (Zito & Schmidt). It's going to be different than the Beltran thing. I think you can get similar production to Zito's for much less if you target the right guys.

[swordsman]

A big thank you to Marcus Giles, Brad Hawpe, and most importantly, Dusty Baker. Without you ruining Prior wouldn't have been possible.

 

No flames please, just going to throw out another potential factor: steroids and/or HGG.

 

There is certainly some circumstantial evidence: Prior's longtime association with Tom House and Tom House's admitted substance use.

 

As I said, no flames. I'm not asserting he did or didn't, but the evidence is worth addressing. Thoughts anyone?

 

What's HGG?

 

Human Growth Gobstopper

[TruffleShuffle]

Do you believe Zito is the kind of pitcher worthy of a $14-17m/yr contract?

 

No, but I don't believe Manny Ramirez is worth $20M per year and I don't believe Carlos Beltran is worth $17M per year. You either overpay for top talent, or you settle for second-tier players. The Cubs are apparently content doing the latter.

 

Manny Ramirez is a top 5 offensive player. Barry Zito isn't a top 5 pitcher. I'd struggle to put him in the top 20. It's one thing to overpay a guy who's clearly in the top tier at his position. Zito isn't close to being a top pitcher.

 

OK. I'm just saying that your rationale - that he isn't worth that money - has been used for just about every major free agent the last 2-3 years, including Beltran, who is one of the best CF in baseball.

 

Hey, I know what you mean. I know Hendry likes to cheap out on impact FA and overpay mediocrity. I think what I'm saying is that if Hendry were to pay Zito $15m a year, it would be overpaying for mediocre production. I think the FA class this winter-especially the pitchers- is so weak that I won't blame Hendry for not chasing the "name" pitchers (Zito & Schmidt). It's going to be different than the Beltran thing. I think you can get similar production to Zito's for much less if you target the right guys.

 

I think it's hardly fair to call Zito mediocre. He's very good, just not great.

[USSoccer]

Do you believe Zito is the kind of pitcher worthy of a $14-17m/yr contract?

 

No, but I don't believe Manny Ramirez is worth $20M per year and I don't believe Carlos Beltran is worth $17M per year. You either overpay for top talent, or you settle for second-tier players. The Cubs are apparently content doing the latter.

 

Manny Ramirez is a top 5 offensive player. Barry Zito isn't a top 5 pitcher. I'd struggle to put him in the top 20. It's one thing to overpay a guy who's clearly in the top tier at his position. Zito isn't close to being a top pitcher.

 

OK. I'm just saying that your rationale - that he isn't worth that money - has been used for just about every major free agent the last 2-3 years, including Beltran, who is one of the best CF in baseball.

 

Hey, I know what you mean. I know Hendry likes to cheap out on impact FA and overpay mediocrity. I think what I'm saying is that if Hendry were to pay Zito $15m a year, it would be overpaying for mediocre production. I think the FA class this winter-especially the pitchers- is so weak that I won't blame Hendry for not chasing the "name" pitchers (Zito & Schmidt). It's going to be different than the Beltran thing. I think you can get similar production to Zito's for much less if you target the right guys.

 

I think it's hardly fair to call Zito mediocre. He's very good, just not great.

 

He's good. Very good is a stretch. You'd struggle to put him in the top 20 for SP's.

[Yestheydo]

 

He's good. Very good is a stretch. You'd struggle to put him in the top 20 for SP's.

 

Wood and Prior were both thought of as top 20 pitchers. Fat lot of good that did us. I'll "overpay" for good and reliable over very good and injury prone any day.

[Shavo]

Where do people get the idea Zito is guaranteed to get 14-17 million dollars a year?

[C.C.]

Where do people get the idea Zito is guaranteed to get 14-17 million dollars a year?

 

The market will demand it, no doubt. He'll make 15 a year somewhere..

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

No, thank you on Zito. Schmidt, please.

 

Your going to be very upset when Schmdit lands on the DL in the first month with shoulder problems.

 

Zito is the best pitcher on the FA list.

 

Are you sure?

 

ERA + Last three seasons.

 

 

Zito- 04: 99; 05: 110; 06: 121

Schmidt- 04: 139; 05: 95; 06: 134

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

What is the obsession with Zito?

 

He's a homer prone, high walk, fly ball pitcher. The thing he'd give us is innings and if we want an expensive overrated lefty to do that we could trade for Eric Milton or someone.

 

I can't even think of a pitcher I want on the FA market but if a gun is to my head I'd give it to Schmidt. Thats between the two big name guys though...no clue who else is out there.

 

And I still refuse to quit on Prior. This seems too preliminary for me, not going to jump the gun yet.

 

I find it funny someone with the screen name "wegotwood98" would

bag on a Zito.

 

That has absolutely nothing to do with why Zito is valuable beyond the fact that he eats innings...but ok?

 

Eating innings is valuable, but 10+ million valuable? He still walks a ton of guys and is a big time flyball pitcher.

[SouthSideRyan]

No, thank you on Zito. Schmidt, please.

 

Your going to be very upset when Schmdit lands on the DL in the first month with shoulder problems.

 

Zito is the best pitcher on the FA list.

 

Are you sure?

 

ERA + Last three seasons.

 

 

Zito- 04: 99; 05: 110; 06: 121

Schmidt- 04: 139; 05: 95; 06: 134

 

I trust Zito's health a lot more than I trust Schmidt's.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

No, thank you on Zito. Schmidt, please.

 

Your going to be very upset when Schmdit lands on the DL in the first month with shoulder problems.

 

Zito is the best pitcher on the FA list.

 

Are you sure?

 

ERA + Last three seasons.

 

 

Zito- 04: 99; 05: 110; 06: 121

Schmidt- 04: 139; 05: 95; 06: 134

 

I trust Zito's health a lot more than I trust Schmidt's.

 

I trust Schmidt's ability to get hitters out more than Zito's.