Our NYC/Boston Off-Season in their world

[AramisRamirez]

iif hendry used my wish list he'd have the most expensive off-season in the orgaznitions history. but every summer NY adds atleast 3 big contracts, with boston not too far beihind. this is a glimpse into living large...yankees style.

 

1) millwood and his sub-3.00 ERA. he's going to command alot of money but we pretty much need an impact starter with wood likely to get injured and maddux's production likely to continue to slide. we could be looking at $33M over 3 -years. boston and NY will probably offer up 4 years so we have to plan on spending.

 

2) rafael furcal. he's young and has been an anchor for atlanta at the top of the order. we have to choose him over in my opinion because the lack or consistency in the 1 and 2 holes has killed us. with furcal we're likely looking at renteria money (4-years/$32M).

 

3) brian giles. this third signing would increase our payroll ALOT. but for this to happen giles would have to accept a 3-year contract. he's getting older but his OBP is absolutely ridiculous. it would be a yankee-type off-season.

 

these three signings could change the entire team. it would be taking 3 weak spots in the team (lead-off hitter, legit #5 hitter behind Dlee and aramis, and 3rd starter) and turning them into strengths.

 

todd walkers option would be picked up, neifi, nomar, and burnitz would be allowed to walk. cedeno would back up 2B and SS.

 

SS furcal .275 BA, 45 SB;s

2B walker .285, .355 OBP

1B lee .312 BA, .387 OBP, 38 HRs, 128 RBIs, and 21 SB's

3B ramirez .288 BA, .348 OBP, 36 HR's, 108 RBI's

OF giles .290 BA, .388 OBP, 31 HR's, and 102 RBI's

C barrett .274 BA, 20 HR's

OF murton .270 BA, 17 HR's

OF patterson .258 BA, .305 OBP, and 22 SB's

 

 

eventually felix pie will steal that CF position from corey. it could happen within a month or two of next season. 1 though 6 is pretty stacked lineup, lee ramirez, and giles woiuld make one of the best trios's in the league. furcal and walker would be perfect to hit in front of them, combining speed and high OBP.

 

here's how i would stack the rotation:

 

SP1 prior 189 IP, 15-6, 2.98 ERA

SP2 zambrano 212 IP, 18-8, 3.44 ERA

SP3 millwood 206 IP, 15-9, 3.64 ERA

SP4 rusch* 187 IP, 13-12, 4.09 ERA

SP5 maddux 216 IP, 12-16, 4.77 ERA

 

* = replaced kerry wood on the IR

 

RP dempster 3-5, 43 saves, 2.02 ERA

 

 

that team is pretty damn good, even if murton and corey and pie struggle. we have speed, power, and pretty solid defense. furcal and lee would give us two defesnive achors in the infield. offensively we' d be set. everubody can phit. milwood is a priority because you have to figure kerry wood wont play. at this point zambrano is nearly our ace over prior, just because zambrano is healthy as an ox and prior gets hurt alot --which again makes millwood a high proirity

[CoolHandLuke]

That would be alright, although I'm not a big furcal fan. I also don't understand the point in predicting RBI's(not to mention a closers record, heck a starters record even) I would think Ramirez and Giles would have more with lee, furcal, and walker hitting in front of them.

 

I'd rather go a different route at SS, but I would be pretty happy if that is the offseason.

 

I don't see any way Rusch has that good an ERA, and I really hope that Kerry can finally stay healthy for a year.

 

PS- you probably need a new sig.

 

PPS- there is no IR in baseball

[Electron Blue]

Pretty pessimistic about Wood, huh? I don't belileve the Cubs are thinking that way (though I agree with you). I think they'll look at the rotation you have listed minus rusch and plus wood, and assume that everything will work out for the best. And maybe it will, but probably it won't.

 

I'm torn on overspending for Furcal and Giles. I think Furcal has a ton of potential, most of which he's already proven. I'd say he's a fairly sure bet to give us good production - and a bonified leadoff man would do wonders ahead of Lee/Ramirez.

 

As for Giles, I'm a little nervous. I do believe that he would perform well, and that he could be a key sparkplug in '06. But it's the potential contract that has me scared.

 

I hope JH plays it gutsy (not $8M-for-Nomar gutsy; I'm talkin' calculated-risk gutsy). Because we need a shakeup.

[AramisRamirez]

That would be alright, although I'm not a big furcal fan. I also don't understand the point in predicting RBI's(not to mention a closers record, heck a starters record even) I would think Ramirez and Giles would have more with lee, furcal, and walker hitting in front of them.

 

I'd rather go a different route at SS, but I would be pretty happy if that is the offseason.

 

I don't see any way Rusch has that good an ERA, and I really hope that Kerry can finally stay healthy for a year.

 

PS- you probably need a new sig.

 

PPS- there is no IR in baseball

 

1) who cares about a poster's sig on a message board on the internet?? honestly, does it really both you what a poster's sig is on a baseball message board on the web?? as far as im concerned, its not worth pointing out.

 

2) who cares if they have no IR in baseball. if you are hurt and cant play, you are no longer active. who cares if its called IR, DL, or something else?

 

3) i put rusch's ERA at just over 4.00, which isnt that much lower than he is now. to the best of my knowledge, he's in the 4.00's right now.

 

4) predicting RBI's certainly cant be as pointless as pointing out to another poster that he needs to change his sig.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That would be alright, although I'm not a big furcal fan. I also don't understand the point in predicting RBI's(not to mention a closers record, heck a starters record even) I would think Ramirez and Giles would have more with lee, furcal, and walker hitting in front of them.

 

I'd rather go a different route at SS, but I would be pretty happy if that is the offseason.

 

I don't see any way Rusch has that good an ERA, and I really hope that Kerry can finally stay healthy for a year.

 

PS- you probably need a new sig.

 

PPS- there is no IR in baseball

 

1) who cares about a poster's sig on a message board on the internet?? honestly, does it really both you what a poster's sig is on a baseball message board on the web?? as far as im concerned, its not worth pointing out.

 

2) who cares if they have no IR in baseball. if you are hurt and cant play, you are no longer active. who cares if its called IR, DL, or something else?

 

3) i put rusch's ERA at just over 4.00, which isnt that much lower than he is now. to the best of my knowledge, he's in the 4.00's right now.

 

4) predicting RBI's certainly cant be as pointless as pointing out to another poster that he needs to change his sig.

 

Calm down man, he's just noting that what's in your sig was dated since the season is over.

 

And yes, there's a large difference between an IR and DL. I'm not positive but IR doesn't take up roster space in other sports, it's actually an important distinction to make, whether a guy is on the 15 or 60-day DL, never mind the use of IR.

[goonys evil twin]

3) i put rusch's ERA at just over 4.00, which isnt that much lower than he is now. to the best of my knowledge, he's in the 4.00's right now.

 

It's 4.52. For his career it's 4.88. Only twice in his career has he been close to 4.00 or lower.

 

 

I would be incredibly disappointed if the Cubs purposefully left Rusch in the rotation for next season.