New York Post: Cubs and Phillies Front Runners for Soriano

[Soul]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

We don't need him to stay healthy, we need him to be healthy most of the time. I think in a 5 year deal, you'd get at least 3 semi-full to full seasons out of him. And then 2 of the seasons he's going to miss some games. But that's probably why you can get him for around $14m, when Soriano might get $17-18m.

 

Look at how the Mets handled the Pedro situation. They signed him for 4 years, and pretty much acknowledged they weren't going to get 4 strong years out of him.

 

If the Cubs were a $65 million team, Drew isn't worth the risk. If they were a very good offensive ballclub, there probably isn't much reason to sign such a player. But the Cubs are desperate for a hitter that does exactly the things JD does. They need an impact bat. Their offense could be awesome with him, and all they'd need to do was try and tread water when he misses games. For all the issues he's had, JD has never crippled a team with his problems. Give JD the same profile, but make him 34 or 35 right now, and my story would probably change. But the Cubs need this type of player, and from age 31 through age 34 or 35, they should be able to get a ton of production out of him.

 

Hmmm...Good way to look at it, and if you think about it you are taking the same gamble with Aramis.

 

Yeah, but the more injury-ridden guys you have, the more chance you'll never be able to get your footing.

 

I'm not saying I wouldn't want Drew to come here. But the fact that Soriano stays healthy is definitely a positive.

[UMFan83]

Don't forget some injury prone players we signed in the past like Moises Alou and Michael Barrett. Both remained pretty darn healthy during their runs with the Cubs. Not saying being a Cub magically keeps players healthy (OBVIOUSLY), but just because someone has been injured often in the past doesn't mean it will hold true in the future. Edited November 16, 2006 by UMFan83

[goonys evil twin]

Yeah, but the more injury-ridden guys you have, the more chance you'll never be able to get your footing.

 

I'm not saying I wouldn't want Drew to come here. But the fact that Soriano stays healthy is definitely a positive.

 

It is. But the fact that Drew is routinely better than Soriano is also a positive for JD.

 

The more injury prone guys you have, the higher the odds you'll miss multiple guys at once. But the more really good guys you'll have, the higher the odds you can withstand setbacks.

[C.C.]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

[UMFan83]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

[goonys evil twin]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

If the Cubs are substantially increasing payroll, the ability to take risks with high reward players becomes greater.

[goonys evil twin]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

 

I've always said I'm much more willing to overspend on players that are actually really good.

 

I think a team with a payroll such as the Cubs should spend big on impact players and look for bargains with the filler.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would rather have Drew over Soriano but I won't complain if we end up with Soriano.

[C.C.]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

 

I think the majority of the posters have no problem over-spending for good players. It's the 3/13 million for DeRosa's of the world that drives everyone here crazy...

[Vinestal]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

 

I think the majority of the posters have no problem over-spending for good players. It's the 3/13 million for DeRosa's of the world that drives everyone here crazy...

 

Not everyone, I certainly saw the value in it and there were several other people that didnt have a problem with it either. Try not to speak for everyone, just because the majority agrees with you. I wasn't dancing in the streets over it but I certainly understand why he was signed even if it was slightly over paying. I think alot of people are going to be eating crow on the DeRosa signing.

[C.C.]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

 

I think the majority of the posters have no problem over-spending for good players. It's the 3/13 million for DeRosa's of the world that drives almost everyone here crazy...

 

Not everyone, I certainly saw the value in it and there were several other people that didnt have a problem with it either. Try not to speak for everyone, just because the majority agrees with you. I wasn't dancing in the streets over it but I certainly understand why he was signed even if it was slightly over paying. I think alot of people are going to be eating crow on the DeRosa signing.

 

Fixed and I hope you're right...

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Please save Hendry from himself, Pat Gillick.

[WrigleyField 22]

Drew's health is a concern, but if we equip ourselves with a good 4th OF my worries will be lessened.

[baseball7897]

Drew's health is a concern, but if we equip ourselves with a good 4th OF my worries will be lessened.

 

Jay Payton

[UMFan83]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

 

I think the majority of the posters have no problem over-spending for good players. It's the 3/13 million for DeRosa's of the world that drives everyone here crazy...

 

Not everyone, I certainly saw the value in it and there were several other people that didnt have a problem with it either. Try not to speak for everyone, just because the majority agrees with you. I wasn't dancing in the streets over it but I certainly understand why he was signed even if it was slightly over paying. I think alot of people are going to be eating crow on the DeRosa signing.

 

Not to turn this into another DeRosa thread, but Mike North tried to make a point today that Mr. DeRosa fit 'a little too well' in his uniform last year compared to his other years. Probably just unfounded speculation, but can't dismiss it altogether

[UMFan83]

Drew's health is a concern, but if we equip ourselves with a good 4th OF my worries will be lessened.

 

Matt Murton probably...

[mul21]

Very interesting conversation. And I keep going back and forth with this...

 

Hell, lets just get good players and take it from there.

 

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

 

I think the majority of the posters have no problem over-spending for good players. It's the 3/13 million for DeRosa's of the world that drives everyone here crazy...

 

Not everyone, I certainly saw the value in it and there were several other people that didnt have a problem with it either. Try not to speak for everyone, just because the majority agrees with you. I wasn't dancing in the streets over it but I certainly understand why he was signed even if it was slightly over paying. I think alot of people are going to be eating crow on the DeRosa signing.

 

Not to turn this into another DeRosa thread, but Mike North tried to make a point today that Mr. DeRosa fit 'a little too well' in his uniform last year compared to his other years. Probably just unfounded speculation, but can't dismiss it altogether

 

I might normally take that report into account if :

 

A. It didn't come from a complete and total waste of skin like Mike North and

 

B. If there weren't numerous reports of a completely new hitting approach and

 

C. There was a huge power increase inthere, which there wasn't

 

Did I mention Mike North is a raging moronic, non-sensical idiot?

[David]

I might normally take that report into account if :

 

A. It didn't come from a complete and total waste of skin like Mike North and

 

B. If there weren't numerous reports of a completely new hitting approach and

 

C. There was a huge power increase inthere, which there wasn't

 

Did I mention Mike North is a raging moronic, non-sensical idiot?

 

QFT

 

I was about to respond with something almost exactly along these lines, particularly the parts about Mike North.

[Soul]

Hahaha, Mike North.

 

Yeah. It's not like he makes it difficult to dismiss his idiotic rantings.

[Warpticon]

I'm pretty sure I'd be a little skeptical if Mike North told me the sun came up this morning.

[Bull]

I'm pretty sure I'd be a little skeptical if Mike North told me the sun came up this morning.

 

Just see what I do if he suggests the sky is blue.

[Balsa]

Oh jeez, this comes from Mike North?

http://netgames.apollo.lv/forums/html/emoticons/whatever.gif

[VanceJergins]

Oh jeez, this comes from Mike North?

http://netgames.apollo.lv/forums/html/emoticons/whatever.gif

 

Oh my, how can you make innocent little smiley face guy do such a thing?

[Balsa]

Oh jeez, this comes from Mike North?

http://netgames.apollo.lv/forums/html/emoticons/whatever.gif

 

Oh my, how can you make innocent little smiley face guy do such a thing?

I have powers well beyond what your mind can envision. Do not anger me or you will face my twisted smiley wrath!

[A New Era]

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

 

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy.

 

As many others here have stated, the last three years he has played 145+ in two of them. His missed time in 2005 was due to a broken wrist on a HBP, not exactly your "injury-prone player" type of injury.

 

I AM for Drew just let me say that. But. . . that reminds me we were saying the exact same things about Prior, remember?