Jayson Stark's Season Preview

[Bruno7481]

Pretty good article, lots of information on the Cubs.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2007/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2763402

 

Bits and Pieces...

 

*Cubs most improved NL team

* Cubs #1 Checkbook Champs

* Soriano 3rd best free agent signing

* Wood best FA signing under 2 million

* 3 Cubs received votes for worst FA signing, Lilly, marquis, and Soriano

*Wood/Prior #1 most important injury comeback

*David Eckstein had a higher SLG% than Sosa in 2005

[BigbadB]

Soriano got a vote as worst free agent signing?

 

Why is the Eckstein/Sosa reference in there? Sosa was not a Cub in 2005.

[Brian]

He is not a Cub this year either.

[Bruno7481]

Soriano got a vote as worst free agent signing?

 

Why is the Eckstein/Sosa reference in there? Sosa was not a Cub in 2005.

 

He previews hot stories for each league, the Rangers and Sosa were one of those in the AL. He was asking the question is the Sosa signing really something for the Rangers and the fans to be excited about.

 

He polled people in baseball for the info. Soriano got votes in both categories.

[goonys evil twin]

Soriano got a vote as worst free agent signing?

 

It's not that hard to believe. He got paid like an absolute superstar but he's not one.

[TruffleShuffle]

board favorite JD Drew had the second-most votes for worst signing of the winter...

[CubinNY]

board favorite JD Drew had the second-most votes for worst signing of the winter...

 

I think that has more to do with his reputation than his ability.

[sethuel1]

From Tim Kurkjian's article today:

 

It would be less of an issue if Soriano were to be surrounded by Gold Glove outfielders, but Cliff Floyd, Matt Murton and Jacque Jones ("he plays the heck out of right field, but he can't throw,'' one former teammate said) aren't Gold Glovers.

 

 

bbbaaaahahahahaha

[rocket]

board favorite JD Drew had the second-most votes for worst signing of the winter...

 

i don't have much respect for the voters if the best signing was daisuke.

[CubColtPacer]

board favorite JD Drew had the second-most votes for worst signing of the winter...

 

i don't have much respect for the voters if the best signing was daisuke.

 

I think they're only factoring his contract in and not the posting fee-when you do that, he is the best signing IMO.

[Bruno7481]

board favorite JD Drew had the second-most votes for worst signing of the winter...

 

i don't have much respect for the voters if the best signing was daisuke.

 

I think they're only factoring his contract in and not the posting fee-when you do that, he is the best signing IMO.

 

I think it is still too premature to say that. Potential or not, fact stil remains that he has never thrown a pitch in the major leagues.

 

He may be great, but I still think it is risky.

[BigbadB]

It's not that hard to believe. He got paid like an absolute superstar but he's not one.

 

I'll have to disagree with you on this. How many people are members of the 40/40/40 club?

 

If the guy walked a bit more, he'd be one of the premier players in the league. I'll take 89 XBH's from a CFer all day long. Are there any OF's that hit that many XBH's last year?

 

Grady Sizemore is the only one I can find. That's pretty good company.

 

It was ridiculous money to pay for anyone. But, no way does it classify as one of the worst signings.

[CubColtPacer]

board favorite JD Drew had the second-most votes for worst signing of the winter...

 

i don't have much respect for the voters if the best signing was daisuke.

 

I think they're only factoring his contract in and not the posting fee-when you do that, he is the best signing IMO.

 

I think it is still too premature to say that. Potential or not, fact stil remains that he has never thrown a pitch in the major leagues.

 

He may be great, but I still think it is risky.

 

True, but he's getting paid less than 9 million a year-in this pitching market, that is bargain basement for somebody with his potential. He may not all be that great, but right now I still think he's the best if you ignore the posting fee. If you include the posting fee, then several people pass him for that honor because then the risk is magnified.

[goonys evil twin]

It's not that hard to believe. He got paid like an absolute superstar but he's not one.

 

I'll have to disagree with you on this. How many people are members of the 40/40/40 club?

 

I don't really care. It's a worthless stat. His overall numbers don't compare to true superstars, his unique speed/power combo makes him a good story, but not as productive as actual superstars.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Soriano got a vote as worst free agent signing?

Probably from a White Sox fan.

 

Just my opinion here, but anyone that hits 40 home runs is a superstar. He may not be the best player in the league, but he's a difference maker on any team you put him on.

[TB_11]

Getting Aramis at 5/75 was a vastly better signing than Soriano at 8/136.

[CubColtPacer]

Getting Aramis at 5/75 was a vastly better signing than Soriano at 8/136.

 

I don't think they are counting any re-signings but only players who changed teams (although they did stick Wood as an aside in there).

[TruffleShuffle]

It's not that hard to believe. He got paid like an absolute superstar but he's not one.

 

I'll have to disagree with you on this. How many people are members of the 40/40/40 club?

 

I don't really care. It's a worthless stat. His overall numbers don't compare to true superstars, his unique speed/power combo makes him a good story, but not as productive as actual superstars.

 

Just because you don't like him that much doesn't mean he's not a superstar. You might think that JD Drew or Lance Berkman are better players, but they're not superstars. Soriano is known because he has a lot of speed and power.

[abuck1220]

It's not that hard to believe. He got paid like an absolute superstar but he's not one.

 

I'll have to disagree with you on this. How many people are members of the 40/40/40 club?

 

I don't really care. It's a worthless stat. His overall numbers don't compare to true superstars, his unique speed/power combo makes him a good story, but not as productive as actual superstars.

 

Just because you don't like him that much doesn't mean he's not a superstar.

 

and just because you think he's a superstar, doesn't mean he is.

 

You might think that JD Drew or Lance Berkman are better players,

 

and you'd be right. especially if you're talking about berkman.

 

but they're not superstars. Soriano is known because he has a lot of speed and power.

 

who the hell cares if he is "known"...what does that even mean? that he played on the yankees and they talk about him on sportscenter? that's just ridiculous.

[TruffleShuffle]

It's not that hard to believe. He got paid like an absolute superstar but he's not one.

 

I'll have to disagree with you on this. How many people are members of the 40/40/40 club?

 

I don't really care. It's a worthless stat. His overall numbers don't compare to true superstars, his unique speed/power combo makes him a good story, but not as productive as actual superstars.

 

Just because you don't like him that much doesn't mean he's not a superstar.

 

and just because you think he's a superstar, doesn't mean he is.

 

You might think that JD Drew or Lance Berkman are better players,

 

and you'd be right. especially if you're talking about berkman.

 

but they're not superstars. Soriano is known because he has a lot of speed and power.

 

who the hell cares if he is "known"...what does that even mean? that he played on the yankees and they talk about him on sportscenter? that's just ridiculous.

 

no it's not. If he'd said that Soriano is not as good a player as someone like Drew or Berkman, fine. Superstar involves the word "star." Keanu Reeves can't act, but he's a superstar; someone like William H. Macy is not.

 

You're arguing something completely different. Use a different word if you want agreement from me.

[goonys evil twin]

no it's not. If he'd said that Soriano is not as good a player as someone like Drew or Berkman, fine. Superstar involves the word "star." Keanu Reeves can't act, but he's a superstar; someone like William H. Macy is not.

 

You're arguing something completely different. Use a different word if you want agreement from me.

 

You sound ridiculous.

 

I said he's not as productive as a true superstar. I don't care about his media attention, that's an absurd thought to even bring up.

[TruffleShuffle]

no it's not. If he'd said that Soriano is not as good a player as someone like Drew or Berkman, fine. Superstar involves the word "star." Keanu Reeves can't act, but he's a superstar; someone like William H. Macy is not.

 

You're arguing something completely different. Use a different word if you want agreement from me.

 

You sound ridiculous.

 

I said he's not as productive as a true superstar. I don't care about his media attention, that's an absurd thought to even bring up.

 

Don't say he's not a superstar then. Say he's not a great player. Otherwise, you sound ridiculous.

[abuck1220]

 

no it's not. If he'd said that Soriano is not as good a player as someone like Drew or Berkman, fine. Superstar involves the word "star." Keanu Reeves can't act, but he's a superstar; someone like William H. Macy is not.

 

 

um....ok.

[abuck1220]

no it's not. If he'd said that Soriano is not as good a player as someone like Drew or Berkman, fine. Superstar involves the word "star." Keanu Reeves can't act, but he's a superstar; someone like William H. Macy is not.

 

You're arguing something completely different. Use a different word if you want agreement from me.

 

You sound ridiculous.

 

I said he's not as productive as a true superstar. I don't care about his media attention, that's an absurd thought to even bring up.

 

Don't say he's not a superstar then. Say he's not a great player. Otherwise, you sound ridiculous.

 

who cares whether he's considered a superstar anyway? that distinction is meaningless.

[TruffleShuffle]

who cares whether he's considered a superstar anyway? that distinction is meaningless.

 

It is, but goony was arguing that he was not a superstar, someone else disagreed with him, and I do too.