Bruce on the offseason

[David]

and trade for a run producer like Soriano. The Cubs had a lot of interest at the deadline and Texas will trade him in the offseason. My Line-up...

 

1) furcal ss

2) lofton cf

3) lee 1b

4) ramirez 3b

5) giles rf

6) soriano 2b

7) murton lf

8) barrett c

 

Who are you trading Walker for? Because I'd take Walker over the overrated/no-patience Soriano... :?

[tgk]

"People just dismiss Burnitz - 'He strikes out a lot. He can't do this, he can't do that.’ If you look at it objectively, he was sixth in the game in slugging percentage of people who struck out more than 120 times. He hit .307 with men on base. He hits left-handers well. He hit .287 with men in scoring position. To me, he's not striking out at the wrong times. The analysis is being done."

--Cubs GM Jim Hendry

 

 

Maybe it's the PR rep in me, but this doesn't bother me because it smells like classic spin. I'm guessing this was made sometime around the signing, when basically the choices were Burnitz and nobody.

 

Ever seen a team sign a person and say, "Well, he sucks, but he was all we could find. Maybe if we hadn't drug our feet so long on the Sosa deal maybe we could have found a warm bucket of spit instead."

 

Now, if he picks up the option. . . :roll:

[BigbadB]

"People just dismiss Burnitz - 'He strikes out a lot. He can't do this, he can't do that.’ If you look at it objectively, he was sixth in the game in slugging percentage of people who struck out more than 120 times. He hit .307 with men on base. He hits left-handers well. He hit .287 with men in scoring position. To me, he's not striking out at the wrong times. The analysis is being done."

--Cubs GM Jim Hendry

 

 

Maybe it's the PR rep in me, but this doesn't bother me because it smells like classic spin. I'm guessing this was made sometime around the signing, when basically the choices were Burnitz and nobody.

 

Ever seen a team sign a person and say, "Well, he sucks, but he was all we could find. Maybe if we hadn't drug our feet so long on the Sosa deal maybe we could have found a warm bucket of spit instead."

 

Now, if he picks up the option. . . :roll:

 

:shaking:

[LoneStarCubFan]

and trade for a run producer like Soriano. The Cubs had a lot of interest at the deadline and Texas will trade him in the offseason. My Line-up...

 

1) furcal ss

2) lofton cf

3) lee 1b

4) ramirez 3b

5) giles rf

6) soriano 2b

7) murton lf

8) barrett c

 

Soriano would fit right in with this bunch. He strikes out a lot and you have to hit him to walk him. Dusty would love Soriano.

[YearofDaCubs]

Soriano would be a terrible idea. I would be against that move.

[iowacub]

i am not in love with the idea of Soriano either, but its no secret that we wanted him at the deadline and Texas wanted walker.

[brinoch]

i am not in love with the idea of Soriano either, but its no secret that we wanted him at the deadline and Texas wanted walker.

 

Yeah, I don't see the upgrade for us there... Walker is cheap production; almost as good as a rookie. Why spend several million dollars to upgrade a position where we are already above average? Use the resources, rather, to upgrade a position of need. Like, say, OF.

[David]

i am not in love with the idea of Soriano either, but its no secret that we wanted him at the deadline and Texas wanted walker.

 

Yeah, I don't see the upgrade for us there... Walker is cheap production; almost as good as a rookie. Why spend several million dollars to upgrade a position where we are already above average? Use the resources, rather, to upgrade a position of need. Like, say, OF.

 

Plus, Walker to Soriano would be a downgrade anyway....

 

Soriano = overrated... :pukel:

[abuck1220]

 

The whole quote:

 

"People just dismiss Burnitz - 'He strikes out a lot. He can't do this, he can't do that.’ If you look at it objectively, he was sixth in the game in slugging percentage of people who struck out more than 120 times. He hit .307 with men on base. He hits left-handers well. He hit .287 with men in scoring position. To me, he's not striking out at the wrong times. The analysis is being done."

--Cubs GM Jim Hendry

 

 

i like how he asks people to look at it 'objectively', then picks and chooses the stats that make him look the best.

[CubfaninCA]

i am not in love with the idea of Soriano either, but its no secret that we wanted him at the deadline and Texas wanted walker.

 

Yeah, I don't see the upgrade for us there... Walker is cheap production; almost as good as a rookie. Why spend several million dollars to upgrade a position where we are already above average? Use the resources, rather, to upgrade a position of need. Like, say, OF.

 

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades?? Giles may stay on the west coast, and NY and Washington may not want to trade Floyd or Wilkerson. Soriano's a better 5 or 6 hitter than Walker, and the Cubs need better production from the heart of the order. Burnitz was subpar for a middle of the order hitter. My concern would be that Dusty would bat Soriano 1 or 2 though. Get Furcal and Lofton and I wouldn't be as worried.

[Magnetic Curses]

 

The whole quote:

 

"People just dismiss Burnitz - 'He strikes out a lot. He can't do this, he can't do that.’ If you look at it objectively, he was sixth in the game in slugging percentage of people who struck out more than 120 times. He hit .307 with men on base. He hits left-handers well. He hit .287 with men in scoring position. To me, he's not striking out at the wrong times. The analysis is being done."

--Cubs GM Jim Hendry

 

 

i like how he asks people to look at it 'objectively', then picks and chooses the stats that make him look the best.

 

also, his reluctance to even mention OBP is frightening.

 

i don't understand this. does he think that the pope of baseball is going to launch some inquisition on the organization for suspected use of USEFUL statistical analysis? not all fans are stupid enough to believe that he's actually doing something beneficial for the org. by using idiotic stats. maybe someone should tell him that.

[goonys evil twin]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

[Exile on Waveland]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

Yep. If they don't improve the OF then nothing else matters.

[HoopsCubs]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

Hendry will go sign Juan Encrnacion to play RF and Preston Wilson to play CF, and will say, "hey, NSBB, I did improve the outfield. I went from 750 to 790 OPS in RF and 650 to 790 OPS in CF." Scary stuff. Hendry should just over-spend to get Giles.

Edited October 7, 2005 by HoopsCubs

[CubfaninCA]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

I don't buy that. Have something like Lee, Kent, Furcal and Ramirez in the infield and Murton, Lofton and say Jacque Jones in the outfield, and the offense looks alright. Pitching is what usually wins titles anyways.

[CubfaninCA]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

Hendry will go sign Juan Encrnacion to play RF and Preston Wilson to play CF, and will say, "hey, NSBB, I did improve the outfield. I went from 750 to 790 OPS in RF and 650 to 790 OPS in CF." Scary stuff. Hendry should just over-spend to get Giles.

 

Is Wilson going to sign a one year deal?? Aren't they pretty high on Felix Pie or would the plan be to move Pie or Wilson to another position in 2007, if Wilson signs a 3-year or so deal??

[rawaction]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

I don't buy that. Have something like Lee, Kent, Furcal and Ramirez in the infield and Murton, Lofton and say Jacque Jones in the outfield, and the offense looks alright. Pitching is what usually wins titles anyways.

 

NO. It looks a lot like last year. If you figure Derrek Lee is gonna come back to Earth, Ramirez is gonna miss time again, Murton may not live up to expectations, and Furcal is a step down from Walker.

[CubfaninCA]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

I don't buy that. Have something like Lee, Kent, Furcal and Ramirez in the infield and Murton, Lofton and say Jacque Jones in the outfield, and the offense looks alright. Pitching is what usually wins titles anyways.

 

NO. It looks a lot like last year. If you figure Derrek Lee is gonna come back to Earth, Ramirez is gonna miss time again, Murton may not live up to expectations, and Furcal is a step down from Walker.

 

What I see is. Kent >> Walker/Neifi, Furcal >> Neifi/Nomar's 60 game's, Murton >> Murton/DuBois/Holla, Lofton >>>>>>>>> Patterson's .600 ops.

 

Also, if Baker has Furcal and Lofton, the 1-2 obp shouldn't be barely over .300. How many runs did Neifi and Patterson cost us batting 1-2?? Yes, Lee probably doesn't put up 1.100 again, but I wouldn't be surprised w/ 1.000.

[goonys evil twin]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

I don't buy that. Have something like Lee, Kent, Furcal and Ramirez in the infield and Murton, Lofton and say Jacque Jones in the outfield, and the offense looks alright. Pitching is what usually wins titles anyways.

 

You don't buy it. Alright, I'll give you the one exception.

 

If next year's infield is Aramis (and he doesn't get injured), ARod, MGiles, Lee (and he doesn't regress, and they get serious pitching upgrades, then maybe they'll contend without improvement in the OF.

 

I think people forget, this was a sub .500 team. They were not in contention the last 2 months of the season. They stunk. And the OF was pitiful. Unless they seriously upgrade the OF, they will have to have enormous upgrades elsewhere to even think about contending. And no, Furcal and Kent don't even come close to getting that done.

 

Kent? Are you serious? Mr. Defense and speed first wants Jeff Kent at 2B?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What if the Cubs can't get any of these significant OF upgrades??

 

Then they are screwed.

 

They have no choice. They must improve the OF.

 

I don't buy that. Have something like Lee, Kent, Furcal and Ramirez in the infield and Murton, Lofton and say Jacque Jones in the outfield, and the offense looks alright. Pitching is what usually wins titles anyways.

 

You don't buy it. Alright, I'll give you the one exception.

 

If next year's infield is Aramis (and he doesn't get injured), ARod, MGiles, Lee (and he doesn't regress, and they get serious pitching upgrades, then maybe they'll contend without improvement in the OF.

 

I think people forget, this was a sub .500 team. They were not in contention the last 2 months of the season. They stunk. And the OF was pitiful. Unless they seriously upgrade the OF, they will have to have enormous upgrades elsewhere to even think about contending. And no, Furcal and Kent don't even come close to getting that done.

 

Kent? Are you serious? Mr. Defense and speed first wants Jeff Kent at 2B?

 

I'm going to have to side with goony here. This team isn't a quick fix or a minor tinkering away. It needs a massive overhaul. We can't just do a wink and a nod at the outfield and hope it fixes itself with weak additions like Jaque Jones or Preston Wilson. We either need to add one major impact bat or two very good ones. Giles is good enough to make a major difference, even if the infield remains the same as last season and you force another year out of Patterson/Hairston. Giles + someone else (Furcal, Wilkerson, etc) greatly improves the team.

 

But, just replacing Nomar with Furcal and signing a bunch of mediocre talent to fill out the outfield will leave us dissapointed again in 2006.

[goonys evil twin]

By the way Bruce, it's Friday, can't you just make something up about the Cubs to write an article on today?

 

What is going on with those meetings?

[CuseCubFan69]

By the way Bruce, it's Friday, can't you just make something up about the Cubs to write an article on today?

 

What is going on with those meetings?

 

Right now they are discussing a multi year contract for the multi purposed Macias.

 

What worries me is who Hendry confides in....Hughes. This and Baker may make any good move difficult. These guys still live in the 70's.

[erik316wttn]

By the way Bruce, it's Friday, can't you just make something up about the Cubs to write an article on today?

 

What is going on with those meetings?

 

Right now they are discussing a multi year contract for the multi purposed Macias.

 

What worries me is who Hendry confides in....Hughes. This and Baker may make any good move difficult. These guys still live in the 70's.

 

Please tell me your'e kidding, Cuse.

[goonys evil twin]

By the way Bruce, it's Friday, can't you just make something up about the Cubs to write an article on today?

 

What is going on with those meetings?

 

Right now they are discussing a multi year contract for the multi purposed Macias.

 

What worries me is who Hendry confides in....Hughes. This and Baker may make any good move difficult. These guys still live in the 70's.

 

:lol:

 

I just pictured Hendry hanging out in the regal beagle with Larry, trying to pick up chicks while discussing the Cubs future.

[YearofDaCubs]

By the way Bruce, it's Friday, can't you just make something up about the Cubs to write an article on today?

 

What is going on with those meetings?

 

Right now they are discussing a multi year contract for the multi purposed Macias.

 

What worries me is who Hendry confides in....Hughes. This and Baker may make any good move difficult. These guys still live in the 70's.

 

Please tell me your'e kidding, Cuse.

 

I just heard the same thing on ESPN Radio...

 

 

 

 

:)