MacPhail: Deal is dead (p. 297), stop posting, go outside

[Bluescale]

Soto - .280-.310, 18-25 HR, .360-.380 obp

 

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet.

Yeah, next season I see something more like:

 

.270/.340/.420 10-15 HRs

 

If he's catching every day in the majors, I'd be pleasantly surprised if he breaks .260 with a .330 OBP. And I'd be fine with that from a rookie. 10-15 homeruns sounds about right.

 

Boy do I hope I'm wrong, tho...

[SABR Gamer]

Soto - .280-.310, 18-25 HR, .360-.380 obp

 

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet.

 

I wouldn't really be surprised by the low end of those numbers.

 

.280/.360 with 18 HR?

 

He'd have been one of the best hitters on the team last year...

 

He actually probably would have been.

[Bluescale]

Soto - .280-.310, 18-25 HR, .360-.380 obp

 

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet.

 

I wouldn't really be surprised by the low end of those numbers.

 

.280/.360 with 18 HR?

 

He'd have been one of the best hitters on the team last year...

 

He actually probably would have been.

 

Here's to being hopeful...

[SABR Gamer]

Soto - .280-.310, 18-25 HR, .360-.380 obp

 

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet.

Yeah, next season I see something more like:

 

.270/.340/.420 10-15 HRs

 

those are likely to be what they are like, but can't I be a little optimistic? 8-[

[David]

Not gonna comment on the numbers a whole lot, except to say that I'm optimistic on Soto too. The high end looks like a reach, but the low end looks pretty doable to me, and that, along with his abilities behind the plate, would make him one of the best catchers in the league.

 

As for the rest of it, the numbers actually look pretty realistic. I'd put the SS combo (unless, by some miracle, it were DeRosa) 7th, Soto 6th, Pie 8th, and Fuku 2nd. I know it's doubtful, though, because Lou probably wants his lefties (or switch, in Roberts's case) split up.

[SABR Gamer]

Not gonna comment on the numbers a whole lot, except to say that I'm optimistic on Soto too. The high end looks like a reach, but the low end looks pretty doable to me, and that, along with his abilities behind the plate, would make him one of the best catchers in the league.

 

As for the rest of it, the numbers actually look pretty realistic. I'd put the SS combo (unless, by some miracle, it were DeRosa) 7th, Soto 6th, Pie 8th, and Fuku 2nd. I know it's doubtful, though, because Lou probably wants his lefties (or switch, in Roberts's case) split up.

 

 

My top end for Soto was to say if he really just clicked and he continued the tear he was on last year, thats why its the high end.

[E.J.]

One of the insiders over at orioleshangout says a deal might go down tonight for one of the Orioles big 3 (Bedard, Roberts, Tejada). He won't say which one though.

[CuseCubFan69]

One of the insiders over at orioleshangout says a deal might go down tonight for one of the Orioles big 3 (Bedard, Roberts, Tejada). He won't say which one though.

 

Ok Monty....is it curtain 1 - 2 or 3?

[inari]

My money would be on Bedard being the first one out.

[YearofDaCubs]

One of the insiders over at orioleshangout says a deal might go down tonight for one of the Orioles big 3 (Bedard, Roberts, Tejada). He won't say which one though.

Interesting. I think it will be Bedard.

[E.J.]

He's hinting at a Bedard to the Dodgers deal going first. Sounds like the Orioles are trying to push Tejada on the Dodgers as well. There was also a mention that medical records are being exchanged, so it sounds like it's close.

 

One of the other insiders said we're trying to push Prior on them before the arbitration deadline.

Edited December 11, 2007 by E.J.

[C.C.]

He's hinting at a Bedard to the Dodgers deal going first.

 

Good! I don't want the Reds to get him.

[Butterscup1679666578]

If Bedard goes out tonight, and Fukudome decides in the next 24-48 hours, I'd bet Roberts will be a Cub by the weekend.

[apete6]

Not gonna comment on the numbers a whole lot, except to say that I'm optimistic on Soto too. The high end looks like a reach, but the low end looks pretty doable to me, and that, along with his abilities behind the plate, would make him one of the best catchers in the league.

 

As for the rest of it, the numbers actually look pretty realistic. I'd put the SS combo (unless, by some miracle, it were DeRosa) 7th, Soto 6th, Pie 8th, and Fuku 2nd. I know it's doubtful, though, because Lou probably wants his lefties (or switch, in Roberts's case) split up.

 

I would really think about batting Soto 8th for the simple fact that it would be nice to have someone with some power in the 8 hole. I'm not a fan at all of batting Pie 8th because a lot of pitchers tend to pitch around the 8th place hitter by throwing borderline pitches or pitches just out of the strike zone. Pie seems to be just the type of hitter to fall for the "bait" and starting counts out 0-2 when they should be 2-0.

 

I'd go like this (assuming Soriano won't move and Lou will fail to realize that DLee would be an awesome 2 hitter).

 

Soriano LF

Kusuke RF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

DeRosa 2B

Pie CF

Theriot/Cedeno SS

Soto C

 

Ideally, this would be my lineup (with Roberts and moving Soriano and Lee around)

 

Roberts 2B

Lee 1B

Soriano LF--he'll see more fastballs between Lee and ARAM

Ramirez 3B

Kosuke RF

DeRosa SS--even if he plays a terrible SS, can he be worse than Therior or Cedeno?

Pie CF--less pressure, might see some pitches in front of Soto

Soto C--batting 8th will hurt his numbers, but better than Pie or DeRosa here

[ctcf]

Not gonna comment on the numbers a whole lot, except to say that I'm optimistic on Soto too. The high end looks like a reach, but the low end looks pretty doable to me, and that, along with his abilities behind the plate, would make him one of the best catchers in the league.

 

As for the rest of it, the numbers actually look pretty realistic. I'd put the SS combo (unless, by some miracle, it were DeRosa) 7th, Soto 6th, Pie 8th, and Fuku 2nd. I know it's doubtful, though, because Lou probably wants his lefties (or switch, in Roberts's case) split up.

 

I would really think about batting Soto 8th for the simple fact that it would be nice to have someone with some power in the 8 hole. I'm not a fan at all of batting Pie 8th because a lot of pitchers tend to pitch around the 8th place hitter by throwing borderline pitches or pitches just out of the strike zone. Pie seems to be just the type of hitter to fall for the "bait" and starting counts out 0-2 when they should be 2-0.

 

I'd go like this (assuming Soriano won't move and Lou will fail to realize that DLee would be an awesome 2 hitter).

 

Soriano LF

Kusuke RF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

DeRosa 2B

Pie CF

Theriot/Cedeno SS

Soto C

 

Ideally, this would be my lineup (with Roberts and moving Soriano and Lee around)

 

Roberts 2B

Lee 1B

Soriano LF--he'll see more fastballs between Lee and ARAM

Ramirez 3B

Kosuke RF

DeRosa SS--even if he plays a terrible SS, can he be worse than Therior or Cedeno?

Pie CF--less pressure, might see some pitches in front of Soto

Soto C--batting 8th will hurt his numbers, but better than Pie or DeRosa here

 

Also, with an outfield defense as amazingly awesome as Sori-Pie-Fuku, can't we afford to have a moderately crappy defensive SS?

[CuseCubFan69]

Not gonna comment on the numbers a whole lot, except to say that I'm optimistic on Soto too. The high end looks like a reach, but the low end looks pretty doable to me, and that, along with his abilities behind the plate, would make him one of the best catchers in the league.

 

As for the rest of it, the numbers actually look pretty realistic. I'd put the SS combo (unless, by some miracle, it were DeRosa) 7th, Soto 6th, Pie 8th, and Fuku 2nd. I know it's doubtful, though, because Lou probably wants his lefties (or switch, in Roberts's case) split up.

 

I would really think about batting Soto 8th for the simple fact that it would be nice to have someone with some power in the 8 hole. I'm not a fan at all of batting Pie 8th because a lot of pitchers tend to pitch around the 8th place hitter by throwing borderline pitches or pitches just out of the strike zone. Pie seems to be just the type of hitter to fall for the "bait" and starting counts out 0-2 when they should be 2-0.

 

I'd go like this (assuming Soriano won't move and Lou will fail to realize that DLee would be an awesome 2 hitter).

 

Soriano LF

Kusuke RF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

DeRosa 2B

Pie CF

Theriot/Cedeno SS

Soto C

 

Ideally, this would be my lineup (with Roberts and moving Soriano and Lee around)

 

Roberts 2B

Lee 1B

Soriano LF--he'll see more fastballs between Lee and ARAM

Ramirez 3B

Kosuke RF

DeRosa SS--even if he plays a terrible SS, can he be worse than Therior or Cedeno?

Pie CF--less pressure, might see some pitches in front of Soto

Soto C--batting 8th will hurt his numbers, but better than Pie or DeRosa here

 

But batting Pie 8th might force him to have some discipline. Plus, pitchers would go after him since they'd like to have the pitcher leading off.

[David]

I could handle Prior coming back and having success in the baseball abyss that is Baltimore much better than I could anywhere in the NL.

[E.J.]

I could handle Prior coming back and having success in the baseball abyss that is Baltimore much better than I could anywhere in the NL.

 

The Cubs would definitely be sending him off with a big F U if they sent him to Baltimore.

 

"So, you don't want to work out a deal with us? Fine, you're going to spend the year in Baltimore with a bunch of young guys with no chance of winning. Have fun with that."

[YearofDaCubs]

I could handle Prior coming back and having success in the baseball abyss that is Baltimore much better than I could anywhere in the NL.

 

The Cubs would definitely be sending him off with a big F U if they sent him to Baltimore.

 

"So, you don't want to work out a deal with us? Fine, you're going to spend the year in Baltimore with a bunch of young guys with no chance of winning. Have fun with that."

Not that big of a deal though, since he will be a FA the following year.

[craig]

Baltimore could be a good spot for Prior. Not excessive pressure or expectation. Suppose it's August. The Cubs and Padres have contending teams vying for playoff stuff, thanks in part to decent rotations. Baltimore is 20 games behind Boston, and has a rotten rotation. Prior has rehabbed some minor-league starts, and is throwing 87-90, with an erratic curve and control, a 4.75 minor-league ERA, and hasn't gone beyond 70 pitches or 5 innings in any rehab starts. Do Cubs or Padres want to waste a roster spot or waste any real games on a rehabbing Prior? Orioles might, thinking that they can resign him and have him pay off in their rebuilding plan. But Cubs and Padres might be rightfully too occupied with entering and succeeding in the playoffs to waste big-league rehab starts on Prior.

 

On the batting order, I'd have Soto 6, Pie 7, and Theriot 8. Theriot is a contact/discipline guy, so hitting 8th shouldn't kill him. As noted, hacker Pie might see nothing but junk and swing at it anyway if he's hitting 8th.

[Rob]

Baltimore could be a good spot for Prior. Not excessive pressure or expectation. Suppose it's August. The Cubs and Padres have contending teams vying for playoff stuff, thanks in part to decent rotations. Baltimore is 20 games behind Boston, and has a rotten rotation. Prior has rehabbed some minor-league starts, and is throwing 87-90, with an erratic curve and control, a 4.75 minor-league ERA, and hasn't gone beyond 70 pitches or 5 innings in any rehab starts. Do Cubs or Padres want to waste a roster spot or waste any real games on a rehabbing Prior? Orioles might, thinking that they can resign him and have him pay off in their rebuilding plan. But Cubs and Padres might be rightfully too occupied with entering and succeeding in the playoffs to waste big-league rehab starts on Prior.

 

On the batting order, I'd have Soto 6, Pie 7, and Theriot 8. Theriot is a contact/discipline guy, so hitting 8th shouldn't kill him. As noted, hacker Pie might see nothing but junk and swing at it anyway if he's hitting 8th.

 

Theriot saw 3.53 P/PA last year. He ranked 67th out of the 75 batters with enough PA to qualify. I wouldn't exactly say he's much less likely to swing at junk and I certainly wouldn't qualify his approach as "discipline"

[Outshined_One]

One of the insiders over at orioleshangout says a deal might go down tonight for one of the Orioles big 3 (Bedard, Roberts, Tejada). He won't say which one though.

 

Ok Monty....is it curtain 1 - 2 or 3?

 

Don't forget to switch after they open one of the curtains with a goat behind it.

[Bluescale]

Theriot is a contact/discipline guy, so hitting 8th shouldn't kill him.

 

Just because Theriot doesn't swing and miss a whole lot doesn't mean he's disciplined. He just makes a lot of weak contact.

[CuseCubFan69]

One of the insiders over at orioleshangout says a deal might go down tonight for one of the Orioles big 3 (Bedard, Roberts, Tejada). He won't say which one though.

 

Ok Monty....is it curtain 1 - 2 or 3?

 

Don't forget to switch after they open one of the curtains with a goat behind it.

 

Ahh man...did you have to say goat?

[JeffH]

Theriot is a contact/discipline guy, so hitting 8th shouldn't kill him.

 

Just because Theriot doesn't swing and miss a whole lot doesn't mean he's disciplined. He just makes a lot of weak contact.

 

Ryan Theriot draws a fair number of walks, considering he has essentially zero power and pitchers aren't afraid of him in the least.