Lou wants A-rod

[CubsInNC]

In terms of 3B for the Yankees, what about the player that Akinori Iwamura? Anyone able to give realistic insight into his ability in MLB? Do you think they'd consider him to play 3rd, and take other pieces back in trade?

 

I have a feeling that while he wouldn't command much by himself, the Yanks might be interested in getting Jones in a deal for A-Rod. No idea why, but my gut tells me that. Maybe it's the Taco Bell though.

[RynoRules]

Will Carroll indicated there is a 1% chance of A-Rod being traded to the Cubs.

 

He also said signing Schmidt to a 3 year deal or any deal that is greater than a year would be a dumb idea. He likes a 1yr deal with a option for the second for Schmidt.

 

One percent? That's kinda silly unless Carroll has amazingly good sources. We're not even into the offseason.

 

Will Carroll on injuries = very very good

 

Will Carroll on transactions = very very bad

 

Meh, you beat me to it. Well said.

[Mephistopheles]

I think Iwamura is going to have a tough time switching. He's a very very agressive hitter and has astronomically high strikeout totals for Japan. He's a defensive standout with decent power, I guess. I've always thought of him as a Russell Branyan light. It's pretty safe to assume that the Padres are going to get him.

[RynoRules]

Haven't looked through all the threads for this, but did anyone else hear Hendry with Mac, Jurko, and Harry this afternoon? He said definitively that "we need picthers" and will be getting some, be it "through free agency, trade, or international."

 

Hmmmm......

[David]

They just showed the clip of Piniella when he dismissed the ARod rumors. He brought his hand up to his face and sort of looked away.

 

I'm no expert, but aren't those classic signs, or "tells," of lying?

 

Of course, he might've just been nervous.

[Mephistopheles]

Haven't looked through all the threads for this, but did anyone else hear Hendry with Mac, Jurko, and Harry this afternoon? He said definitively that "we need picthers" and will be getting some, be it "through free agency, trade, or international."

 

Hmmmm......

Kei Igawa! Hiritoshi Ishii! He can't possibly be talking about Matsuzaka...

[Laura]

Will Carroll indicated there is a 1% chance of A-Rod being traded to the Cubs.

He also said signing Schmidt to a 3 year deal or any deal that is greater than a year would be a dumb idea. He likes a 1yr deal with a option for the second for Schmidt.

One percent? That's kinda silly unless Carroll has amazingly good sources. We're not even into the offseason.

Will Carroll on injuries = very very good

Will Carroll on transactions = very very bad

Meh, you beat me to it. Well said.

 

QFT. Doesn't rule out his view on Schmidt (I'd be astonished if he signed a one-year deal unless it was for a GAZILLION dollars).

[Guest]

I'd do a three year deal for Schmidt -- if it had Maggs-type out clauses based on GS or IP.

[Rob]

I'm worried about Schmidt's arm too... but I'd give him a three year deal before I'd give one to Zito.

 

The A's just ravaged Zito's arm this year.

[Laura]

Haven't looked through all the threads for this, but did anyone else hear Hendry with Mac, Jurko, and Harry this afternoon? He said definitively that "we need picthers" and will be getting some, be it "through free agency, trade, or international."

 

Hmmmm......

 

I'll repost the post I made about Hendry on WGN Radio Sports Central below. He said he'd be pursuing starting pitching agressively, though I don't think he mentioned 'international' at all in this interview.

They did send Gary Hughes over late in the season to scout Japanese players (supposedly). (yeah, I know, Gary Hughes)

----

 

 

Hendry was on right at the beginning of the show. You can download or listen to his interview here, it's the hendry_10172006.mp3 file. It's about 11.5 minutes.

[Andy]

They just showed the clip of Piniella when he dismissed the ARod rumors. He brought his hand up to his face and sort of looked away.

 

I'm no expert, but aren't those classic signs, or "tells," of lying?

 

Of course, he might've just been nervous.

It's not at all out of the question that he just said that because he wanted to avoid tampering charges.

[SouthSideRyan]

They did send Gary Hughes over late in the season to scout Japanese players (supposedly). (yeah, I know, Gary Hughes)

 

What do you mean by "yeah, I know, Gary Hughes" I wouldn't want him as my GM, but he's a scout. And a damn good one at that. This is what he should be doing is scouting international players where (I believe) stats can't be translated reliably to the majors.

[Laura]

They did send Gary Hughes over late in the season to scout Japanese players (supposedly). (yeah, I know, Gary Hughes)

 

What do you mean by "yeah, I know, Gary Hughes" I wouldn't want him as my GM, but he's a scout. And a damn good one at that. This is what he should be doing is scouting international players where (I believe) stats can't be translated reliably to the majors.

 

I mean that he is the Number One Target in Cubs Scouting because of his interview about whether stats could influence scouting, wherein he expressed incredulity about any advanced stats. Do we need the link? It's easy to google.

 

Do you think Matsuzaka should be signed?

 

Do you think Hughes agrees with you?

 

What do you mean?

 

ETA: Should I apologize for being the only person here who mentions that Hughes was dispatched to Japan in, oh, say, late August-September to scout these players? Or were you going to get around to that after scolding me? ha ha

[Mephistopheles]

oh man, i remember reading this awhile ago. you made me dig it up, a few tidbits

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: The lower-revenue teams are in a bit of a bind when it comes to high school prospects because they are more of an unknown. It becomes difficult for a team that’s not bringing in that much in terms of revenue to take a big-money chance . . .

 

GARY HUGHES: Why are they an unknown? I don’t understand. Because of the data?

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: Because a player who is 21 is simply closer to his peak abilities than a player who’s 18, for starters.

GARY HUGHES: All your statistics are going to tell you is what a guy has done. Somebody has got to make the decision on what the guy’s going to do.

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: I have no idea what the guy’s going to do. But my point would be, the scouts also have only a limited idea of what the guy’s going to do. He might do this, he might do that, he might be somewhere in the middle. What you’re trying to do is you’re trying to take the guys who you think have the best chance. I fully admit that you can’t tell the future via stats. My point is that scouting has that equal amount of unpredictability. You can only know so much. You’re scouts, you’re not fortunetellers.

GARY HUGHES: We keep mentioning the high school pitcher and the injury factor there. But it’s pitchers in general. Don’t all of a sudden think just because a pitcher goes to college he’s not ever going to get hurt.

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: But the college pitcher is usually closer to the major leagues, so there’s less time for him to get injured.

GARY HUGHES: I think the five tools are five physical tools. I don’t see where plate discipline becomes a tool.

[....]

GARY HUGHES: You’re absolutely right. [Plate discipline is] very important. I just don’t think it’s a tool with a capital T. And you don’t need computers and stat guys to see it. You show up at a game and the first thing you get is a stat sheet and you look at it. This has only been for the last 30 or 35 years that I’ve been doing this. But guess what? The guy with the best strikeout-to-walk ratio is usually the best player. Wow! This didn’t just happen in the past five years.

GARY HUGHES: The swing, the approach at the plate, the show of fear.

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: How would someone show fear?

 

GARY HUGHES: There would be a little give at the plate.

ALAN SCHWARZ: I said, "May not be aware." Gary, have you ever heard of DIPS?

 

GARY HUGHES: No.

[....]

GARY HUGHES: Is that what DIPS is? Tobacco? (Laughter)

GARY HUGHES: History--you've got a long, long list of times to evaluate this guy. The numbers are somewhat important. I think the longer history you have with seeing a guy, you solidify the feeling you have. The first time I see him I have a feeling, five years from now I'm going to have a different feeling. There are so many darned factors that go into it.

ALAN SCHWARZ: . . . see the predictabilities of some of these statistics. So even if his tools don't knock you out, he still has value?

 

GARY HUGHES: But you still in heart think he's not going to hit big league pitching. You say he had a .380 on-base percentage. The key word there is "had." If you could tell me he's going to have the .380 next year, that'd be great!

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: But obviously there's a relationship between the two. Guys who have higher on-base percentages in Triple-A tend to have higher on-base percentages in the major leagues. This is a point where I don't have a lot of wiggle room.

 

ALAN SCHWARZ: That gets us to this question--do you guys think Triple-A stats can predict player performance in the majors?

 

GARY HUGHES: I don't know. I can't answer that. That's not my thing.

 

VOROS McCRACKEN: I think to the extent that that's your answer, that you don't really know . . .

 

GARY HUGHES: I don't think you know.

 

those are some of the highlights http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/050107debate.html

[NorthsideAvenger]

Will Carroll indicated there is a 1% chance of A-Rod being traded to the Cubs.

 

He also said signing Schmidt to a 3 year deal or any deal that is greater than a year would be a dumb idea. He likes a 1yr deal with a option for the second for Schmidt.

 

What' funny that's the same percentage of his accuracy to predict the FA period before happens. In other words...it's his opinion, and I wish he would indicate it is his opinion, not a fact.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm worried about Schmidt's arm too... but I'd give him a three year deal before I'd give one to Zito.

 

The A's just ravaged Zito's arm this year.

 

Schmidt averaged 0.5 pitches per game more than Zito did this year.

[David]

They just showed the clip of Piniella when he dismissed the ARod rumors. He brought his hand up to his face and sort of looked away.

 

I'm no expert, but aren't those classic signs, or "tells," of lying?

 

Of course, he might've just been nervous.

It's not at all out of the question that he just said that because he wanted to avoid tampering charges.

 

Definitely.

[Bull]

Email from a friend:

 

I was just in the studio in Bristol last week during some taping stuff..hung out there for the day in the Sportscenter studios and more. A good friend of mine is the Producer of Outside the Lines. He used to be the producer for Mike and Mike in the morning and Sportscenter for which he won an Emmy last year…Looks like the A-rod thing will happen sometime during or after the winter meetings in November.

 

I know its fourth hand, and I know its ESPN. Large grain of salt.

Not that this means anything, but at least its on topic which is progress for me.

[Guest]

Email from a friend:

 

I was just in the studio in Bristol last week during some taping stuff..hung out there for the day in the Sportscenter studios and more. A good friend of mine is the Producer of Outside the Lines. He used to be the producer for Mike and Mike in the morning and Sportscenter for which he won an Emmy last year…Looks like the A-rod thing will happen sometime during or after the winter meetings in November.

 

I know its fourth hand, and I know its ESPN. Large grain of salt.

Not that this means anything, but at least its on topic which is progress for me.

But the winter meetings are in December...

[goonys evil twin]

Email from a friend:

 

I was just in the studio in Bristol last week during some taping stuff..hung out there for the day in the Sportscenter studios and more. A good friend of mine is the Producer of Outside the Lines. He used to be the producer for Mike and Mike in the morning and Sportscenter for which he won an Emmy last year…Looks like the A-rod thing will happen sometime during or after the winter meetings in November.

 

I know its fourth hand, and I know its ESPN. Large grain of salt.

Not that this means anything, but at least its on topic which is progress for me.

But the winter meetings are in December...

 

Are there two "meetings" for baseball? Something like GM meetings and winter meetings?

[BigbadB]

I'm also in agreement that it may take 3 teams to make a deal work. Florida, Colorado, KC or some small market team that could take prospects to give up their starting pitchers who are going to be making big money soon, if not already.

 

The Cubs can absorb the entire salary of A-Rod. The small market team can load up on pitching prospects. The Yankees can get the 3b or SP they desire.

 

Colorado could move Garrett Atkins and Jason Jennings to NY. Colorado would probably love a Felix Pie type CFer that can cover a lot of territory. They might like a guy to fill their 2b hole like Patterson. They could certainly use some young starting pitchers. Scott Moore could bridge the gap at 3b for them until Ian Stewart is ready.

 

It would depend on what Colorado would want, but Atkins' trade value is high now and they have Stewart on his heals. This would be a good time for them to make a nice haul on a few players to build for the next several years.

 

Someone already mentioned Dontrelle.

 

I just don't see a good trade involving only NYY and the Cubs. Add a 3rd team, and the options seem endless.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Thinking in terms of Colorado, what about Helton going to the Yankees? The Cubs could send prospects to the Rockies, Helton and maybe Prior or a Cubs reliever go to the Yankees, Arod comes to the Cubs.

[CubinNY]

Email from a friend:

 

I was just in the studio in Bristol last week during some taping stuff..hung out there for the day in the Sportscenter studios and more. A good friend of mine is the Producer of Outside the Lines. He used to be the producer for Mike and Mike in the morning and Sportscenter for which he won an Emmy last year…Looks like the A-rod thing will happen sometime during or after the winter meetings in November.

 

I know its fourth hand, and I know its ESPN. Large grain of salt.

Not that this means anything, but at least its on topic which is progress for me.

 

It (the tradng of A-Rod) could happen and have nothing to do with the Cubs.

[hardcorecubfan]

I'm also in agreement that it may take 3 teams to make a deal work. Florida, Colorado, KC or some small market team that could take prospects to give up their starting pitchers who are going to be making big money soon, if not already.

 

The Cubs can absorb the entire salary of A-Rod. The small market team can load up on pitching prospects. The Yankees can get the 3b or SP they desire.

 

Colorado could move Garrett Atkins and Jason Jennings to NY. Colorado would probably love a Felix Pie type CFer that can cover a lot of territory. They might like a guy to fill their 2b hole like Patterson. They could certainly use some young starting pitchers. Scott Moore could bridge the gap at 3b for them until Ian Stewart is ready.

 

It would depend on what Colorado would want, but Atkins' trade value is high now and they have Stewart on his heals. This would be a good time for them to make a nice haul on a few players to build for the next several years.

 

Someone already mentioned Dontrelle.

 

I just don't see a good trade involving only NYY and the Cubs. Add a 3rd team, and the options seem endless.

 

great points but does this quote form NY Post change anything Like a four way? What would then offer?

 

"If the Yankees unload Alex Rodriguez and don't get a third baseman back, expect to hear Scott Rolen's name. The relationship between Rolen and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa isn't good and it's getting worse. -- New York Post"

[goonys evil twin]

Thinking in terms of Colorado, what about Helton going to the Yankees? The Cubs could send prospects to the Rockies, Helton and maybe Prior or a Cubs reliever go to the Yankees, Arod comes to the Cubs.

 

That is a very interesting one.