ESPN1K says Cubs trying to finish a deal for Pierre

[Wheelimus]

Ah, once again, proving he's the BAD Bruce :lol:

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

i think i'm just going to ignore the trade stuff until there is an official statement on cubs.com.

[YearofDaCubs]

i think i'm just going to ignore the trade stuff until there is an official statement on cubs.com.

I'm with you on this one. Damn, I hate the drama! Too abd we can't fast forward time :lol:

[tgk]

From Jayson Stark's chat that just ended:

 

Eric (Chicago): Any legs to this Juan Pierre to the Cubs rumor? If it gets done, would they give up their pursuit of Rafael Furcal?

 

Jayson Stark: (12:28 PM ET ) The Cubs have had longtime interest in Pierre, who looks extremely likely to get moved. And the Marlins are one of the teams that has always been intrigued by Corey Patterson. So watch that front closely. But I don't see that impacting the Cubs' pursuit of Furcal, because they view him as the sure-thing SS/leadoff force they need most. Pierre, on the other hand, is more of a question mark after last year. But the way he bunts and handles the bat, he could easily hit second. He and Furcal would be one intriguing top of the order.

 

In short, "No Report"

 

Whole thing:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=9866

[Neuby]

The one reason I will never buy another word Levine has to say even before this one was his report a couple years back that Hendry had a lunch scheduled with Vlad. Levine said it was just a token vist much like the one Thome had a few years back. When I pressed Levine on it weeks later after no one else reported this meeting he told me he never said it even though others on this board including myself heard his intial report.

[RockTheIvy]

Rock the Ivy: To put it bluntly, we don't have much time left until our pitchers start to become less 'cheap' and more 'insanely priced'.

 

We've really got see if we can make it this year or next year. I think maybe an unproven AA guy for a proven leadoff hitter that can help now is a fair trade.

 

No I agree with you about the "this year" mentality, I just hope Hendry didn't show his hand too soon and offer up too much for Pierre.

[Mark Priors Calves]

From Jayson Stark's chat that just ended:

 

Eric (Chicago): Any legs to this Juan Pierre to the Cubs rumor? If it gets done, would they give up their pursuit of Rafael Furcal?

 

Jayson Stark: (12:28 PM ET ) The Cubs have had longtime interest in Pierre, who looks extremely likely to get moved. And the Marlins are one of the teams that has always been intrigued by Corey Patterson. So watch that front closely. But I don't see that impacting the Cubs' pursuit of Furcal, because they view him as the sure-thing SS/leadoff force they need most. Pierre, on the other hand, is more of a question mark after last year. But the way he bunts and handles the bat, he could easily hit second. He and Furcal would be one intriguing top of the order.

 

In short, "No Report"

 

Whole thing:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=9866

 

If the Cubs land both Furcal and Pierre, I can already picture the every inning when Furcal leads off. Furcal reaches base and Pierre bunts him to second.

[Wheelimus]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

[CubinNY]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

Maybe they can hire Baylor as the hitting instructor/bench coarch. That sounds like "Donnyball"

[goonys evil twin]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

But more often than not, Furcal won't even be on base, so Pierre could just try and slap one through the hole.

[radarluv1]

wouldnt it make more sense to put the guy w/ more pop in the #2 position, with similar OBP?

[Gunned]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

But more often than not, Furcal won't even be on base, so Pierre could just try and slap one through the hole.

 

Yeah, because Furcal puts up such awful OBAs from year-to-year.

[TheDude]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

But more often than not, Furcal won't even be on base, so Pierre could just try and slap one through the hole.

 

By your standard of "more often than not" that would require a .501 OBP. When was the last time that happened ;)?

 

In all seriousness, I'd be very surprised if Pierre in the 2-hole behind Furcal resulted in a bunt sacrifice before the 8th inning. Maybe earlier against a top 3 pitcher for the league as well.

[goonys evil twin]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

But more often than not, Furcal won't even be on base, so Pierre could just try and slap one through the hole.

 

Yeah, because Furcal puts up such awful OBAs from year-to-year.

 

I didn't say that. But somebody said Furcal would get on every time. He's only a .350 OBP guy. His addition doesn't cure all woes.

 

 

Giles would cure a whole lot more.

[gflore34]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

But more often than not, Furcal won't even be on base, so Pierre could just try and slap one through the hole.

 

Yeah, because Furcal puts up such awful OBAs from year-to-year.

 

I didn't say that. But somebody said Furcal would get on every time. He's only a .350 OBP guy. His addition doesn't cure all woes.

 

 

Giles would cure a whole lot more.

 

Dusty' boy Nefi mentioned him getting on base 2-3 times over 5 at-bats...

[cheapseats]

 

By your standard of "more often than not" that would require a .501 OBP. When was the last time that happened ;)?

 

Barry Bonds. 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.

[Diffusion]

At least Pierre would be trying to leg out a hit from the bunt :lol:

 

Plus sometimes Furcal would steal 2nd and we'd bunt him to 3rd 8)

 

But more often than not, Furcal won't even be on base, so Pierre could just try and slap one through the hole.

 

Yeah, because Furcal puts up such awful OBAs from year-to-year.

 

I didn't say that. But somebody said Furcal would get on every time. He's only a .350 OBP guy. His addition doesn't cure all woes.

 

 

Giles would cure a whole lot more.

 

Dusty' boy Nefi mentioned him getting on base 2-3 times over 5 at-bats...

 

And Neifi knows all there is to know about hitting...

[CubsWin22]

I hate when this happens - Bruce saying the trade isn't close now...

 

Gets my hopes up for nothing....I wish it would hurry and go through...this is the most exciting time of the year for me with trades going on and Cubs TRYING to improve the team...but it's also the most frustrating sometimes...(No Beltran last year).

[sonicdethmonkey0]

maybe this deal not going down is a blessing in disguise, and it will let us pry Wilkerson from the Nationals.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

maybe this deal not going down is a blessing in disguise, and it will let us pry Wilkerson from the Nationals.

 

Can someone fill me in on everyone's love affair for Wilkerson? I've seen him play, I've seen his stats, and I walk away from him with no fondness. I don't get why, when there are a lot of better options available, everybody is salivating over an average player.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't get why, when there are a lot of better options available, everybody is salivating over an average player.

 

You talking about Wilkerson, Pierre or Furcal?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

You talking about Wilkerson, Pierre or Furcal?

 

I'm talking about Wilkerson. I don't understand the love affair. Maybe using "a lot" was an exaggeration, but there are definitely better options out there.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

maybe this deal not going down is a blessing in disguise, and it will let us pry Wilkerson from the Nationals.

 

Can someone fill me in on everyone's love affair for Wilkerson? I've seen him play, I've seen his stats, and I walk away from him with no fondness. I don't get why, when there are a lot of better options available, everybody is salivating over an average player.

 

Wilkerson had a down year in 2005 and still managed to hit 248/351/405. His batting average and power dipped, but he still got on base at a 350 clip which shows his ability to draw a walk. From 2002-2004, he hit 257/368/456. For a CF that's respectable production. I still believe if you get him healthy and out of RFK he will get on base at a 360 or better average and still hit 30+ HR's. He would be a very good CF and better than average as a RF. He's only 28, so he'd fit well within the core of young position players the Cubs have acquired. Also, since he's coming off a year in which he struggled in the power department, he might come cheaper than he would have after one of his better seasons. I like the prospect of buying low with him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You talking about Wilkerson, Pierre or Furcal?

 

I'm talking about Wilkerson. I don't understand the love affair. Maybe using "a lot" was an exaggeration, but there are definitely better options out there.

 

For center field? He had a down year and still was above average for a CF, and better than other options like Pierre. He's still only one year removed from an .874 OPS, which is outstanding for a CF. He plays average defense, he's still young and relatively cheap. There's not much downside, considering even if he stays at last year's down level he's about as productive as someone like Pierre was in their best years.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I like the prospect of doing better.