[VanceJergins]

I havent seen many people mention Pettitte as a possibility for next year. Is it because of his bad year (bad first half, he's had an ERA of 2.89 since the ASB), think he'll ask for too much, is it assumed he'll return to Houston, or do people just not think he's very good?

 

I dont think he should be the first choice but it we lose out on Zito and Schmidt, he doesnt seem like a horrible alternative.

 

I think he would be a horrible alternative. He's fragile, old, inconsistent, overhyped and a guarantee to be overpaid. And his solid 2nd half has taken place in half the innings than his horrible 1st half. Andy has had a nice career, and he's had some very good to great seasons, but most of the time he's been right around average, or juts a little above. And just to emphasize, he's been dogged by elbow issues for a very long time.

 

Well that answers my question. It just seemed like a lot worse pitchers were being brought up, but with his injuries and high salary I guess it makes sense.

[goonys evil twin]

I havent seen many people mention Pettitte as a possibility for next year. Is it because of his bad year (bad first half, he's had an ERA of 2.89 since the ASB), think he'll ask for too much, is it assumed he'll return to Houston, or do people just not think he's very good?

 

I dont think he should be the first choice but it we lose out on Zito and Schmidt, he doesnt seem like a horrible alternative.

 

I think he would be a horrible alternative. He's fragile, old, inconsistent, overhyped and a guarantee to be overpaid. And his solid 2nd half has taken place in half the innings than his horrible 1st half. Andy has had a nice career, and he's had some very good to great seasons, but most of the time he's been right around average, or juts a little above. And just to emphasize, he's been dogged by elbow issues for a very long time.

 

Well that answers my question. It just seemed like a lot worse pitchers were being brought up, but with his injuries and high salary I guess it makes sense.

 

I'd be happy to see him signed to an incentive laden contract with a team option for year 2 or something. But he's a huge risk, and the one thing this team can't do is spend big on huge pitching risks.

[Magnetic Curses]

Two words: Cy Young. I'm not saying it's right, but I think that award is a big factor in Zito's perceived value.

 

Yeah, I'm aware that Zito's perceived value is that high, but Sulley was saying it was justified.

 

it's justified because his kind do not become available every day, you know.

 

i don't see any other pitchers besides schmidt and mussina that we can add to our rotation that really add anything that our rookies can't.

Agreed, add into that the switch to the much easier national League and i think you can see why Zito would be a huge get for us.

 

I think Zito will end up in NY (Mets or Yankees), but the switch to the NL may not be as easy as people think. Zito won't know any of the hitters in the NL. I'd like to get Schmidt because he has shown what he can do in the NL.

 

but then again, the hitters won't know him very well, either.

 

did i just blow your mind or what?

[Mephistopheles]

Pettitte has hinted at retirement, and I think it is a forgone conclusion he stays in Houston or winds up back in New York. I really don't see him going anywhere else. He can either have the money (Yankees) or his family (Astros). No other team has anything to offer him.

[CubsWin]

I'm still of the mind of signing two FA pitchers this off season, but today's performance, along with many others since being brought up, is yet more evidence to suggest that Juan Mateo would make a very competitve 5th starter.

 

If the Cubs can get someone like Schmidt or Zito to go with Zambrano, Hill and Prior, and then sign Wade Miller as the 2nd FA, with Mateo putting up a 4.09 ERA even with his rookie growing pains, that might be enough depending on how the offense is improved to contend.

[A New Era]

I'm still of the mind of signing two FA pitchers this off season, but today's performance, along with many others since being brought up, is yet more evidence to suggest that Juan Mateo would make a very competitve 5th starter.

 

If the Cubs can get someone like Schmidt or Zito to go with Zambrano, Hill and Prior, and then sign Wade Miller as the 2nd FA, with Mateo putting up a 4.09 ERA even with his rookie growing pains, that might be enough depending on how the offense is improved to contend.

 

I too, would like to go after than 1 hot FA starter. Then spend the rest on offense, offense, offense. Hill and Mateo seem the most ready. I am ofcourse, for going after Miller too.

[Soriano12]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

 

And yet, some think we should avoid counting on Prior as he is too often injured.

[Soriano12]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

 

And yet, some think we should avoid counting on Prior as he is too often injured.

 

I have stated consistenlty that we should not count on Prior as part of the top 3 part of the rotation. However I have no problem with him in the bottom part.

 

Thats my view with Eaton as well.

 

I would like to see a top notch starter added via FA or Trade, along with another starter for the bottom of the rotation. At this point I have seen enough of Hilll to pencil him in at 3.

 

Zambrano

Daisuke/Zito/Schmidt

Hill

Prior

Eaton or other FA.

 

I think Eaton has more upside than a guy like Ted Lily who also had been mentioned.

[mg420]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

i would much rather see mateo starting for the cubs in 2007 than eaton.

[Soriano12]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

i would much rather see mateo starting for the cubs in 2007 than eaton.

 

If Mateo can continued to perform like he has, I would as well.

 

However I'm afraid he may be pitching over his head right now.

[mg420]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

i would much rather see mateo starting for the cubs in 2007 than eaton.

 

If Mateo can continued to perform like he has, I would as well.

 

However I'm afraid he may be pitching over his head right now.

 

he might well be but i like his approach. he throws strikes, moves the ball around and changes speeds. i also like the fact that he doesnt try to overthrow. he works around 88-91 but can get up to 94 when he needs to. i think between him and marshall, the cubs should be able to get a solid starter in 2007.

[CubsWin]

Adam Eaton

 

I have been pining for him for quite some time, as a #4 type guy.

i would much rather see mateo starting for the cubs in 2007 than eaton.

 

If Mateo can continued to perform like he has, I would as well.

 

However I'm afraid he may be pitching over his head right now.

 

he might well be but i like his approach. he throws strikes, moves the ball around and changes speeds. i also like the fact that he doesnt try to overthrow. he works around 88-91 but can get up to 94 when he needs to. i think between him and marshall, the cubs should be able to get a solid starter in 2007.

Wade Miller just boosted his FA leverage with 5 shutout innings today. He'll have one more start, the last game of the season I believe, to keep GMs thinking that he is ready to win games for them in '07.

 

Given Miller's past success, when healthy, and Eaton's past mediocrity (he's never had an ERA below 4), when healthy, I would much rather resign Miller.

 

If the Cubs are somehow able to sign either Zito or Schmidt, 1-3 would be very nicely set. I just don't see the Cubs being able to pull that off. There will be so much competition for those guys and the Cubs have so much depth at the position (guys like Veal and Gallagher could be just a year away), that I see them not being willing to pay the price for a top flight FA starter. But if they do and if Miller is resigned, Prior and Miller can fill out the bottom of the rotation. Neither of those guys have a reassuring injury history, but when they are on, they are on. If one or both should go down or falter, the Cubs have capable young arms in the wings like Mateo and several others.

 

If the Cubs fail to sign a top shelf FA starter, then they are left counting on Prior to regain his form and his health. Has Hendry learned his lesson?

[CubsWin]

Another reason for Hendry to sign someone like Zito or Schmidt is that Zambrano will be a FA after '07. Z's competitiveness is painted on his face. He wants to win. If the Cubs count on Hill and Prior to follow Z in the rotation and it doesn't work out, the Cubs will be out of the playoffs again next year and Zambrano will have good reason to want to go elsewhere to win.

 

Also, if Z secretly desires to get out of Chicago and bolts after the '07 season whether the Cubs win or not, then they would already have a top of the rotation type guy under contract. Plus, having such a pitcher under contract will give the Cubs more leverage in negotiations with Zambrano or another FA pitcher replacing him.

 

Come on, Jim. Bite the bullet. Over pay and give the Cubs a good chance to win next season.

[CubsWin]

Is the Oakland stadium a hitter's park? Zito's away splits are really good.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is the Oakland stadium a hitter's park? Zito's away splits are really good.

 

Oakland is a pitcher's park.

[Neuby]

Sign Schmidt.

Re up Wood for the bullpen.

Bring Back Miller.

 

Zambrano

Schmidt

Hill

Prior/Miller/Mateo/Marshall/Omalley/Guzman/Gallegher/Marmol

 

Hendry also would have a slew of arms to help fill out the bullpen in Nova ,Wuertz, and Aardasma.

 

All these extra arms will allow Hendry to create a package to help are offense.

[RockTheIvy]

Sign Schmidt.

Re up Wood for the bullpen.

Bring Back Miller.

 

Zambrano

Schmidt

Hill

Prior/Miller/Mateo/Marshall/Omalley/Guzman/Gallegher/Marmol

 

Hendry also would have a slew of arms to help fill out the bullpen in Nova ,Wuertz, and Aardasma.

 

All these extra arms will allow Hendry to create a package to help are offense.

 

Can we please just get rid of Novoa? For anything?

[Backtobanks]

Sign Schmidt.

Re up Wood for the bullpen.

Bring Back Miller.

Zambrano

Schmidt

Hill

Prior/Miller/Mateo/Marshall/Omalley/Guzman/Gallegher/Marmol

 

Hendry also would have a slew of arms to help fill out the bullpen in Nova ,Wuertz, and Aardasma.

 

All these extra arms will allow Hendry to create a package to help are offense.

 

That's what I have been saying all along. Have Prior as a #4 and Miller/Marshall/Mateo as a #5. In the bullpen, have Wood (Howry) as your closer with Wuertz (Howry/Wood) and Eyre as setup men. Trade bait for an impact bat: Cedeno (Izturis), Guzman, Dempster, Novoa, Gallagher. O'Malley, Marmol, Pagan, and Theriot would probably have no trade value. Obviously, Rusch is a question mark because of his health.

[goonys evil twin]

Obviously, Rusch is a question mark because of his health.

 

What kind of question? He's going to be worthless regardless of health.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Obviously, Rusch is a question mark because of his health.

 

What kind of question? He's going to be worthless regardless of health.

 

Agreed.

[Backtobanks]

Obviously, Rusch is a question mark because of his health.

 

What kind of question? He's going to be worthless regardless of health.

 

Agreed.

 

The question would be whether he's well enough to play or be traded or whether his health will cause him to retire.

[CubsWin]

Obviously, Rusch is a question mark because of his health.

 

What kind of question? He's going to be worthless regardless of health.

 

Agreed.

All kidding aside, if Rusch is able to regain his form from '04 and most of '05, he'll have trade value. Not a tremendous amount, but he'll have some.

[imb]

if i learn how to fly ill be able to save a lot of money on gas, too.

 

neither will happen

[CubsWin]

if i learn how to fly ill be able to save a lot of money on gas, too.

 

neither will happen

As a prediction, I agree with you. But it is far more accurate and fair to say that it could. I mean who expected Rusch to be so good in '04 and then again for much of '05? I know I didn't.