A-Ram update

[goonys evil twin]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

Seems to me everyone agrees that the Cubs need ARam *and* ARod/Tejada/Soriano.

 

Who is everyone? Clearly the media isn't included in that, as so many of them are scoffing at the idea that Hendry needs Ramirez. And many fans still harp on his hustle more than his production.

[davearm]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

Seems to me everyone agrees that the Cubs need ARam *and* ARod/Tejada/Soriano.

 

Who is everyone? Clearly the media isn't included in that, as so many of them are scoffing at the idea that Hendry needs Ramirez. And many fans still harp on his hustle more than his production.

Well I wasn't clear.

 

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

[HoopsCubs]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

 

I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers.

Edited October 24, 2006 by HoopsCubs

[USSoccer]

Every voice we've heard at Wrigley in the last month, from McDonaugh to Hendry to Piniella, has delivered the same message: World Series. Now.

 

That task goes from difficult to impossible if Hendry lets Aramis Ramirez get away. Hendry knows it, ARam knows it, and the whole world knows it.

 

So doing whatever it takes to keep this guy is Hendry's only option here. He *has* to get this worked out. There's no other choice, plain and simple.

 

Fortunately, indications are that ARam's preference is to stay.

 

So the only question left to be answered is, how much $$$ will ARam hold the Cubs hostage for?

 

I expect this game of chicken to go down to the 11th hour, but it'll get done, because it has to for the Cubs' recent party line to hold any water whatsoever.

 

Talk is cheap, though. The Trib, McDonough and Hendry can talk about a World Series all they want, but if they don't actually take steps to make that happen, it's just PR talk.

 

It's not unrealistic to think that Hendry would lose Aramis to FA, sign someone borderline average to play 3B and maybe sign Soriano and call it an upgraded offseason based on the Soriano aquisition. People who think critically would know better, though.

 

I don't have the faith in Hendry to believe that he knows that contending without Ramirez would be extremely difficult.

McDonough and Piniella are brand new, and under pressure to make an immediate positive impact.

 

Meanwhile Hendry's job is clearly on the line.

 

So right away, this situation with ARam will be a defining moment for this new regime.

 

Pull through, and the PR talk is backed up.

 

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

My gut says that everyone involved realizes that this absolutely cannot happen.

 

I don't think the public (with a big assist to the print media and Bruce Levine) really would care if Hendry let Ramirez walk. A lot of them buy the whole "hustle" thing, and would view him waling as a net positive since "loafers" don't win championships.

[goonys evil twin]

Well I wasn't clear.

 

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

 

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition.

 

If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended.

[USSoccer]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

 

I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite is great numbers.

 

The media (Bruce Miles not included) are stupid lemmings. I can count the number of good baseball beat guys in this city on 1 finger.

[HoopsCubs]

Well I wasn't clear.

 

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

 

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition.

 

If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended.

 

Can Ramirez still be traded before he "opts out?" Technically, he's not a free agent yet, right? I'm not sure how the rules work at this particular point in the offseason.

[USSoccer]

Well I wasn't clear.

 

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

 

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition.

 

If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended.

 

Can Ramirez still be traded before he "opts out?"

 

He has until 2 weeks after the World Series ends to decide if he's going to opt out, and I think that's before you can trade players and such, so the only way he can be traded is if he doesn't opt out.

[frostwyrm]

If Aramis really is disliked in the clubhouse that's a problem, but I think winning would make everybody get along tolerably well.

[HoopsCubs]

The media (Bruce Miles not included) are stupid lemmings. I can count the number of good baseball beat guys in this city on 1 finger.

 

Bruce is the best, no doubt, but there are 2 others in this town, who I respect, and who seem to be in the know on many things.

[goonys evil twin]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

 

I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers.

 

So does Hendry sign Moises Alou to a 1 year $6m deal (matching last year's salary) to get 300-400 ABs and babysit Ramirez? The general public absolutely loved Alou.

[USSoccer]

The media (Bruce Miles not included) are stupid lemmings. I can count the number of good baseball beat guys in this city on 1 finger.

 

Bruce is the best, no doubt, but there are 2 others in this town, who I respect, and who seem to be in the know on many things.

 

Much of what I read from Morrisey, DeLuca, and Sullivan is just absolute garbage.

[BigbadB]

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

 

If they didn't add another bat, but retained Aramis, they are essentially the same team they were last year, which isn't good enough.

 

While, if healthy, they aren't truly as bad as their 2006 numbers reflect, they still weren't a middle of the pack offense if everyone was healthy.

 

2 bats AND Aramis would likely be necessary to make them one of the elite offenses in the NL. It will be much harder to fill the pitching holes, so going big on offense makes the most sense to me.

 

Resign Ramirez, trade for Drew and sign Soriano and a lesser FA like Dave Roberts, Ray Durham, Mark Loretta or Julio Lugo and I think you have an elite offense.

 

Soriano

Lugo

Lee

Drew

Ramirez

Murton

Barrett

Pie

 

When Pie proves he's ready to produce at the major league level, move him to 6th in the line up and Barrett is like a whole new #3 hitter, only deeper in the line up.

[HoopsCubs]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

 

I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers.

 

So does Hendry sign Moises Alou to a 1 year $6m deal (matching last year's salary) to get 300-400 ABs and babysit Ramirez? The general public absolutely loved Alou.

 

Hendry should never have let him go in the first place! :x

 

Water under the bridge, I know.

 

I don't know how Hendry feels about Moises these days. I know I wouldn't mind seeing Moises at $4M platooning with Jones.

[Mizzou]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

 

I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers.

 

So does Hendry sign Moises Alou to a 1 year $6m deal (matching last year's salary) to get 300-400 ABs and babysit Ramirez? The general public absolutely loved Alou.

I love Alou too, but that's a pretty stupid idea. Paying 6 million to fix someone's attitude? Come on.

 

I still think that Hendry is going to resign him. If Hendry doesn't want him back, then he didn't want him back at the ASB. Ramirez's lack of hustle and supposed attitude problems didn't just pop up after the trading deadline. Keeping him through the end of the season, only to let him walk, when you could have received a great package three months earlier just doesn't make any sense. I think Hendry wants him back.

[HoopsCubs]

Much of what I read from Morrisey, DeLuca, and Sullivan is just absolute garbage.

 

I absolutely agree with you on 2 of those 3. One of those guys, however, I do respect.

[goonys evil twin]

Screw it up, and it's a major step backwards right out of the gate. Both fans and the media will immediately see right through the PR talk and realize it's business as usual for the lovable losers.

 

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off.

 

I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers.

 

So does Hendry sign Moises Alou to a 1 year $6m deal (matching last year's salary) to get 300-400 ABs and babysit Ramirez? The general public absolutely loved Alou.

I love Alou too, but that's a pretty stupid idea. Paying 6 million to fix someone's attitude? Come on.

 

I still think that Hendry is going to resign him. If Hendry doesn't want him back, then he didn't want him back at the ASB. Ramirez's lack of hustle and supposed attitude problems didn't just pop up after the trading deadline. Keeping him through the end of the season, only to let him walk, when you could have received a great package three months earlier just doesn't make any sense. I think Hendry wants him back.

 

The primary reason would be for 300-400 ABs of production hopefully similar to what he had in SF (OPS+ of 141 and 132)

 

Hendry should never have let him go in the first place! :x

 

 

Alou didn't perform up to his last contract, and $11.5m was way too much to resign him for. 100, 113 and 128 OPS+ was not worth $9m per year, let alone $11.5m.

[USSoccer]

How did Alou handle RF in San Francisco?

[Backtobanks]

Well I wasn't clear.

 

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

 

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition.

If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended.

 

The only problem with letting ARam go is that the replacement players will all cost you something in trade. Using an example like Tejada, if Hendry trades Hill, Cedeno, and Gallagher, Hendry will hear about the fact that he gave up 3 good young players for equal production. Also, trading these young players means your pool of players to trade to fill the other holes is diminished. Attitude or not, the wisest decision is to add to ARam and not replace him.

[HoopsCubs]

Alou didn't perform up to his last contract, and $11.5m was way too much to resign him for. 100, 113 and 128 OPS+ was not worth $9m per year, let alone $11.5m.

 

Agree with you that it was smart not to pick up the $11.5M option - that would have been too much. However, I think Hendry could have signed him to a 2 year $12M deal - similar to what the Giants gave him. My source indicated to me that Alou would have accepted it had Hendry offered it. But Hendry was too wrapped up in the Sammy saga to care about Moises - a move (or lack of) he now regrets from what I am told.

[frostwyrm]

Alou is a DH. He can no longer stay healthy while playing defense, and his defense is terrible anyway.

[goonys evil twin]

Well I wasn't clear.

 

What everyone seems to agree with is that the Cubs need to add another "stellar" bat (to use Hendry's term).

 

Implicitly, two "stellar" bats would be needed if ARam leaves.

 

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition.

If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended.

 

The only problem with letting ARam go is that the replacement players will all cost you something in trade. Using an example like Tejada, if Hendry trades Hill, Cedeno, and Gallagher, Hendry will hear about the fact that he gave up 3 good young players for equal production. Also, trading these young players means your pool of players to trade to fill the other holes is diminished. Attitude or not, the wisest decision is to add to ARam and not replace him.

 

I'm all about retaining Ramirez, just trying to think of it from Hendry's perspective, and offering examples of how he can sell it to the masses.

[USSoccer]

Alou didn't perform up to his last contract, and $11.5m was way too much to resign him for. 100, 113 and 128 OPS+ was not worth $9m per year, let alone $11.5m.

 

Agree with you that it was smart not to pick up the $11.5M option - that would have been too much. However, I think Hendry could have signed him to a 2 year $12M deal - similar to what the Giants gave him. My source indicated to me that Alou would have accepted it had Hendry offered it. But Hendry was too wrapped up in the Sammy saga to care about Moises - a move (or lack of) he now regrets from what I am told.

 

If Hendry is incapable of doing 2 things at once I'm very concerned about this offseason.

[goonys evil twin]

Alou is a DH. He can no longer stay healthy while playing defense, and his defense is terrible anyway.

 

DH, or PH. If they could get him to sign for 4 million to mostly platoon with Jones and pinch hit, they could limit his defensive liability.

 

 

I can't believe I'm talking about the potential positives of Moises Alou returning to the Cubs right now.

Edited October 24, 2006 by goony's evil twin

[USSoccer]

Alou is a DH. He can no longer stay healthy while playing defense, and his defense is terrible anyway.

 

If he accepted a reasonable contract I'd sign him to PH, and occasionally spell LF and RF. I'm sure we could find him about 300 AB's and not kill ourseves with poor defense.