Looking ahead to 2008

[nilodnayr]

Interesting name that could be available at SS, is Rafael Furcal. Dodgers have a great young SS prospect who will be ready in the near future.

 

In terms of $, hed cost in 1 year what Renteria will cost in 2 years. While I'm sure he'll bounce back with a healed ankle, the fact that they didn't find much wrong in the MRI and hes not having surgery actually scares me. If they find something wrong then the go in and fix it, he rehabs, he should be fine. If not, and all hes going to do is rest, this could be a lingering thing. Plus, I don't think the dodgers would let him go for any less than the braves would let renteria go for. If we are going to improve at one position, I'd rather it be as close to a sure thing as possible and not hope for a bounce back.

[Guest]

Lou needs to put his foot down and get Soriano out of the lead-off spot.

 

We need someone either in center (if Pie is not they guy) or someone in right with some decent power. We also need a shortstop -- preferably someone who is NOT gritty. The two offensive guys we get should be hitters WHO HAVE SOME SEMBLENCE OF PLATE DICSIPLINE.

 

We need one more good starter as well.

 

I don't think A-Rod is a Cub next year.

 

Not sure about that one. I'm fine with what we have now. Why spend the money it'll take to get a starter. Spend it on offense, the pitching isn't the problem.

 

Yeah, we have plenty of options for pitching next year. Z, Lilly, Hill for sure. Then fill out the final 2 spots with Prior ( ), Marshall, Gallagher, Marmol, Hart, Marquis ( [-X ), ?Guzman?, maybe even Veal if he can rebound. I think we should focus completely on upgrading 2 of SS, RF, CF.

 

Guzman is out for next season.

[nilodnayr]

Interesting name that could be available at SS, is Rafael Furcal. Dodgers have a great young SS prospect who will be ready in the near future.

 

Which SS prospect are you talking about? Isn't Hu going to be moved to 2b?

[Guest]

Interesting name that could be available at SS, is Rafael Furcal. Dodgers have a great young SS prospect who will be ready in the near future.

 

Which SS prospect are you talking about? Isn't Hu going to be moved to 2b?

 

I hadn't heard that...they have Kent under contract for next season.

[rawaction]

Interesting name that could be available at SS, is Rafael Furcal. Dodgers have a great young SS prospect who will be ready in the near future.

 

Which SS prospect are you talking about? Isn't Hu going to be moved to 2b?

 

I hadn't heard that...they have Kent under contract for next season.

 

Yeah, that's news to me. I think they were toying with it, but they like Abreu (I think) at 2B if Kent goes elsewhere, rumors is Kent will request a trade or just retire.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

it's a dangerous situation for the Dodgers -- more youngsters coming in means more have to go, right?

[nilodnayr]

Interesting name that could be available at SS, is Rafael Furcal. Dodgers have a great young SS prospect who will be ready in the near future.

 

Which SS prospect are you talking about? Isn't Hu going to be moved to 2b?

 

I hadn't heard that...they have Kent under contract for next season.

 

Yeah, that's news to me. I think they were toying with it, but they like Abreu (I think) at 2B if Kent goes elsewhere, rumors is Kent will request a trade or just retire.

 

I think it was just conjecture somewhere, nevermind.

 

I think in order to keep kent happy they should trade Loney, Ethier, Kemp, and Billingsley to the cubs for DLee, Jones, and Marquis. :D

[David]

What's the timetable technically for effective pitching after Prior's surgery? Is there any chance, barring a miracle, that he'd have decent velocity by next season?

 

I'm trying to remember how long it took Carpenter to come out and pitch well.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What's the timetable technically for effective pitching after Prior's surgery? Is there any chance, barring a miracle, that he'd have decent velocity by next season?

 

I'm trying to remember how long it took Carpenter to come out and pitch well.

 

6 months just to get back to normal (by normal I mean full range of motion like you and me). Probably at least 3-4 more months beyond that for conditioning and then another 3-4 months to get back to MLB pitching shape.

[nilodnayr]

What's the timetable technically for effective pitching after Prior's surgery? Is there any chance, barring a miracle, that he'd have decent velocity by next season?

 

I'm trying to remember how long it took Carpenter to come out and pitch well.

 

6 months just to get back to normal (by normal I mean full range of motion like you and me). Probably at least 3-4 more months beyond that for conditioning and then another 3-4 months to get back to MLB pitching shape.

 

Sounds about right, he had the surgery in March, was cleared to start throwing a couple weeks ago. So his time table puts him to be ready by as early as spring training, as late as May.

[David]

Wow.. So, conceivably, he could have his fastball back sometime next summer?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Wow.. So, conceivably, he could have his fastball back sometime next summer?

 

Depends on what you mean by "back" but, in theory, yes. I think what we'll likely see next year is him topping out around 88-90 when he first gets back and eventually getting up to around 93. I'd like to see him add a little movement to that FB to make up for the loss of velocity, but I think he'll ultimately be OK if his command is back.

[Outshined_One]

With Peralta blocking the position, could Asdrubal Cabrera be had from the Indians?

 

Also, here's a list of trade bait with major league experience the Cubs could conceivably part with in the offseason without losing much, if anything, who could interest other teams:

 

Sean Marshall

Jason Marquis (crappy pitching market)

Jacque Jones (contract year)

Matt Murton

Ryan Dempster (contract year)

Sean Gallagher

Kevin Hart

Juan Mateo

Ryan Theriot (if a SS is available)

Mark DeRosa (I'd rather not see him traded, but his contract and production would interest a lot of teams)

Mark Prior (this would be selling reeeeeeeeeally low, though)

Scott Eyre

Michael Wuertz

 

Most other guys on the roster either would not be easily replaced or would not be of much interest to other teams, imo. I think the Cubs have the goods to make a splash in the trade market, but we'll see.

[JeffH]

The Cubs need to check in on Joe Blanton's availability, using some combination of Marshall, Murton, and prospects as bait.

 

They also need to see how the Marlins feel about moving Jeremy Hermida, for a package centered around Pie.

[nilodnayr]

With Peralta blocking the position, could Asdrubal Cabrera be had from the Indians?

 

The tribe have fallen in love with Cabrera, and Peralta has had a decent resurgence coming off the sophomore slump. The easy thing to do is to get rid of Barfield and use Cabrera at second. Shapiro knows its selling low, but this a really good team that doesn't need major overhaul, so why not just tweak.

 

Peralta is actually an interesting study. His 2006 and 2007 peripherals are nealy identical, save for HR/FB. The 14% he posted this year is probably more inline with what you can expect going forward as opposed to his 9.2% last year. And really, hs 2005 peripherals were nearly identical as well except for HR/FB (18%) and BABIP (about 20-30 points too high). He strikes out in 1/4th of his ABs so he never going to hit for much average. Basically I think he is what he was this year, a below average ranged SS with a 270/340/430 line. A little more pop and a little more patience than the average SS, but nothing spectacular.

[rawaction]

The Cubs need to check in on Joe Blanton's availability, using some combination of Marshall, Murton, and prospects as bait.

 

They also need to see how the Marlins feel about moving Jeremy Hermida, for a package centered around Pie.

 

Blanton's interesting. I was wondering who would be a good option to put in the rotation should the Cubs trade away a bunch of young arms for offense.

[nilodnayr]

The Cubs need to check in on Joe Blanton's availability, using some combination of Marshall, Murton, and prospects as bait.

 

They also need to see how the Marlins feel about moving Jeremy Hermida, for a package centered around Pie.

 

Blanton's interesting. I was wondering who would be a good option to put in the rotation should the Cubs trade away a bunch of young arms for offense.

 

Beane was asking the world for Blanton earlier. But why shouldn't he. I don't know what the new inefficiency is going to be, but injury history sure didn't work out that great this year. I don't think hes going to do a 180 completely, but rather create the right mix of dependable players and injured/high upside guys. Basically, Blanton is the ying to Harden's yang. Of course Beane will listen to offers, but I think he'll have to be blown away.

[Backtobanks]

Interesting name that could be available at SS, is Rafael Furcal. Dodgers have a great young SS prospect who will be ready in the near future.

 

Another benefit of getting Furcal is that Lou might move Fonzie out of the leadoff position.

[Guest]

With Peralta blocking the position, could Asdrubal Cabrera be had from the Indians?

 

The tribe have fallen in love with Cabrera, and Peralta has had a decent resurgence coming off the sophomore slump. The easy thing to do is to get rid of Barfield and use Cabrera at second. Shapiro knows its selling low, but this a really good team that doesn't need major overhaul, so why not just tweak.

 

Peralta is actually an interesting study. His 2006 and 2007 peripherals are nealy identical, save for HR/FB. The 14% he posted this year is probably more inline with what you can expect going forward as opposed to his 9.2% last year. And really, hs 2005 peripherals were nearly identical as well except for HR/FB (18%) and BABIP (about 20-30 points too high). He strikes out in 1/4th of his ABs so he never going to hit for much average. Basically I think he is what he was this year, a below average ranged SS with a 270/340/430 line. A little more pop and a little more patience than the average SS, but nothing spectacular.

 

Quite right, I don't see the Indians moving Peralta or Cabrera. If I were them, though, I'd swap their positions.

[shnsajax]

I don't want to start a new Arod thread, but he is now 0-6 and the Yankees are down 0-2. This is playing out just how all of us want. An 0-for day on Sunday coupled with a Yankees loss would be golden. Hopefully they boo him off the field to a degree where he opts out right a way :twisted:

[d_money]

I don't want to start a new Arod thread, but he is now 0-6 and the Yankees are down 0-2. This is playing out just how all of us want. An 0-for day on Sunday coupled with a Yankees loss would be golden. Hopefully they boo him off the field to a degree where he opts out right a way :twisted:

 

I don't understand your point. I thought its a forgone conclusion that he'll opt out no matter what. Teams who are interested in him know the price tag will be $30M/year, and they probably wont put too much emphasis on his post season disappointments.

 

FTR, I do not think the Cubs will pursue him (due to ownership change/hold up and overall payroll).

[CubinNY]

I don't want to start a new Arod thread, but he is now 0-6 and the Yankees are down 0-2. This is playing out just how all of us want. An 0-for day on Sunday coupled with a Yankees loss would be golden. Hopefully they boo him off the field to a degree where he opts out right a way :twisted:

 

I don't understand your point. I thought its a forgone conclusion that he'll opt out no matter what. Teams who are interested in him know the price tag will be $30M/year, and they probably wont put too much emphasis on his post season disappointments.

 

FTR, I do not think the Cubs will pursue him (due to ownership change/hold up and overall payroll).

 

It is not a forgone conclusion. A $30M/year price tag would pretty much put him out of any team's price range.

 

I think A-Rod will stay in NY. The NYY fans may be schizophrenic, but neither A-Rod nor Cashman are.

[gwc2005]

I really don't see A-rod sticking it out in NY if he doesn't turn his current postseason around (and if the fans resort to booing him). A-rod knows that if he sticks it out in NY(and doesn't win a WS) , he will be known as the guy who only got it done in the regular season and not when it mattered. If he goes to another team no one will really care what he does in the postseason, especially if he breaks the all-time HR record. Also, while $30M maybe the numbers Boras & Co. are spitting to the media, it is not a guranteed thing.

[Outshined_One]

I really don't see A-rod sticking it out in NY if he doesn't turn his current postseason around (and if the fans resort to booing him). A-rod knows that if he sticks it out in NY(and doesn't win a WS) , he will be known as the guy who only got it done in the regular season and not when it mattered. If he goes to another team no one will really care what he does in the postseason, especially if he breaks the all-time HR record. Also, while $30M maybe the numbers Boras & Co. are spitting to the media, it is not a guranteed thing.

 

Even though you've been here awhile, welcome aboard for your first post. :D

[OleMissCub]

In RF, I want Brad Hawpe. Unfortunately, with the Rockies success, I think they may stand pat and trade some of their great blocked bats (Stewart, Koshansky, Baker) for some more pitching.

 

There'd be nothing wrong with picking up one of those guys, imo.

 

Seth Smith would be a good pickup.

 

I'd LOVE to see that. He can reallllllly swing the bat.

 

Kid hit .402 as a freshman at Ole Miss.