What about Millwood?

[E.J.]

I haven't heard much news regarding Millwood lately. Last I heard he was offered a contract by the Indians which he quickly shot down, but that was a while ago. Anyone heard anything? Do you think he's on Hendry's radar?

[Omar]

I think starting pitching should be the least of our worries. Face it, the organization is built around it. The Cubs should focus more on outfield, shortstop, and maybe even bullpen if the Eyre trade is not satisfying. Until those are completed, then they should focus on SP. (Of course, if theres any room to.)

[stitchface]

I think starting pitching should be the least of our worries. Face it, the organization is built around it. The Cubs should focus more on outfield, shortstop, and maybe even bullpen if the Eyre trade is not satisfying. Until those are completed, then they should focus on SP. (Of course, if theres any room to.)

 

I think Millwood would be great, but who does he replace? Maddux? Rusch? Wood? I don't really agree with the argument that we have to improve our offense to win, if we improve our defense (meaning pitching and fielding) we can also win. The idea is to score more than you allow so you can win by preventing runs as well as scoring them. So, I like the idea of signing Millwood. He is a far better option than Rusch. The biggest reason I would opt for offense instead of pitching, is that hitters are far more reliable - they are more likely to continue producing at career levels and not get hurt than pitchers. I also sense that pitchers cost more per win added than hitters. But, Hendry has a poor record in obtaining hitters so perhaps our best hope is to obtain pitchers.

[JeffH]

Please stay away from Kevin Millwood. Please.

[stitchface]

Please stay away from Kevin Millwood. Please.

 

Why?

[JeffH]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

[wilk]

I don't see how people could be scared away from Burnett but want Millwood. Burnett has been the better pitcher the last two years and Millwood has had more injury problems in that time than Burnett! Burnett has a pretty bruised history, but since returning from TJ he's had no real arm troubles and has the best K/BB of his career. He pitched 209 innings, started 32 games and was amongst the league leaders in complete games... how's that for an "injury prone" starter? Millwood on the otherhand has had "this and thats" with his elbow, back, groin and shoulder. They had comparable years last year and Burnett was much better in 2004. If anyone had an unexpected year, it's Millwood. And he'll be right in the price range of Burnett... it seems if we were to go after a top starter, Burnett should definitely be the focus. Believe it or not, sometimes surgery is successful.

[nilodnayr]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

 

I would welcome Derek Lowe, he would be great in Wrigley (despite the odd amount of HRs last year), especially if we have an improved middle infield. I'd trade Walker and JVB for Lowe and Bradley. You have to sign furcal. I'd then trade for Abreu and if reports are correct that Bradley may not be ready by the time the season starts then also get Michaels. Patterson, Mitre, Williams, a pitching prospect and (if its in the next ten days) Greenberg. I wouldn't mind going into next year with this roster

 

Furcal

Bradley/Michaels

Lee

Abreu

ARam

Murton

Barrett

Cedeno

 

Z

Prior

Wood

Lowe

Maddux

 

Dempster

Williamson

Eyre

Wuertz

Ohman

Rusch

 

Michaels/Bradley

Perez

Hairston

Blanco

Sweeny

Branyan (or RH equivalent, Wigginton?)

 

That puts us at the 110M range and acheives Hendrys vision of having a surplus at every position. Frankly the only way he can do it is to slightly raise the payroll.

[noisesquared]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

 

Is there someting wrong with Matt Morris besides his Cardinal-ness? The more I think about it, he should come cheaper than Millwood or Burnett, and would be nice 3 or 4 starter.

[HoopsCubs]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

 

Is there someting wrong with Matt Morris besides his Cardinal-ness? The more I think about it, he should come cheaper than Millwood or Burnett, and would be nice 3 or 4 starter.

 

Funny you mention Morris.

 

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/85836E98A93E1474862570BE001A0AD2?OpenDocument

 

This report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that an undisclosed NL team made a 3 year offer to him. And it wasn't the Cardinals. It could be the Giants, who are considered favories along with Baltimore to get him. But I wonder if it was the Cubs? Early in the offseason, his name was mentioned as someone Hendry liked. And despite the Rusch signing, I am convinced that Hendry will sign or trade for a 200-inning starter, and will trade Rich Hill and Jerome Williams.

 

Zambrano

Prior

Maddux

Rusch

Mystery Player

Wood

 

Those will be your six in the rotation. If there are 2 injuries, we'll see Angel Guzman.

[RynoRules]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

 

Is there someting wrong with Matt Morris besides his Cardinal-ness? The more I think about it, he should come cheaper than Millwood or Burnett, and would be nice 3 or 4 starter.

 

Particularly based on Rothschild's recent comments, that makes some sense. I don't dislike Morris as some do. I recall that he and Wood were considered the future aces of the NL not so long ago. Plus, he now has a ton of playoff experience with an organization that does not tolerate excuses or nonsense. I like that about him.

 

I am wary of how much cash we might give him, but 3 years sounds fine, especially since this will be Maddux's final one with us.

[Andy]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

 

Is there someting wrong with Matt Morris besides his Cardinal-ness? The more I think about it, he should come cheaper than Millwood or Burnett, and would be nice 3 or 4 starter.

 

Particularly based on Rothschild's recent comments, that makes some sense. I don't dislike Morris as some do. I recall that he and Wood were considered the future aces of the NL not so long ago. Plus, he now has a ton of playoff experience with an organization that does not tolerate excuses or nonsense. I like that about him.

 

I am wary of how much cash we might give him, but 3 years sounds fine, especially since this will be Maddux's final one with us.

I wouldn't mind having Morris, although I am sure all the Cards fans here on NSBB would roast us for getting him. :wink:

[noisesquared]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

Brutal.

 

If Hendry wants to add a high salary starter and is scared off by Burnett, consider Derek Lowe ($28.5/3) or Javier Vazquez ($18/2).

 

I don't want either of those guys, but please stay away from the wildly overrated Millwood.

 

Is there someting wrong with Matt Morris besides his Cardinal-ness? The more I think about it, he should come cheaper than Millwood or Burnett, and would be nice 3 or 4 starter.

 

Funny you mention Morris.

 

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/85836E98A93E1474862570BE001A0AD2?OpenDocument

 

This report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that an undisclosed NL team made a 3 year offer to him. And it wasn't the Cardinals. It could be the Giants, who are considered favories along with Baltimore to get him. But I wonder if it was the Cubs? Early in the offseason, his name was mentioned as someone Hendry liked. And despite the Rusch signing, I am convinced that Hendry will sign or trade for a 200-inning starter, and will trade Rich Hill and Jerome Williams.

 

Zambrano

Prior

Maddux

Rusch

Mystery Player

Wood

 

Those will be your six in the rotation. If there are 2 injuries, we'll see Angel Guzman.

 

If Angel Guzman is healthy and Rusch stays in the rotation, injuries or not, there's a problem.

 

The Post Dispatch article claims that SF is one of the teams interested in addition to the 'mystery' team, so I don't infer from that article that the Giants made the offer. Would the Post Dispatch avoid calling out the Cubs by name (if they made the offer) even if the Post Dispatch knew, to avoid riling up StL fans?

[somechick]

Isn't Morris' wife a Cubs fan?

[nolanwood]

I would take Morris or Lowe in a heartbeat. I'm a cubs fan in STL and Morris is one of the few Cardinals players I respect.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would take Morris or Lowe in a heartbeat. I'm a cubs fan in STL and Morris is one of the few Cardinals players I respect.

Morris is damaged goods. We would do best by staying away from him. You actually respect Morris the biggest whiner and the one who said he would throw the Astros games on purpose so the CUbs wont make it to the playoffs in 2003? Interesting.

[nolanwood]

I would take Morris or Lowe in a heartbeat. I'm a cubs fan in STL and Morris is one of the few Cardinals players I respect.

Morris is damaged goods. We would do best by staying away from him. You actually respect Morris the biggest whiner and the one who said he would throw the Astros games on purpose so the CUbs wont make it to the playoffs in 2003? Interesting.

 

Yes I do :) I don't consider Morris damaged goods either - he goes through a dead arm period every year, but he has bounced back from his surgery very well, imo. I don't think there's a snowballs chance in hell he'd be coming to the northside, though.

 

I also kinda like Oswalt as well - and YES, I've witnessed his hatred for the Cubs on numerous occasions. Bottom line, I respect the performances and could give a crap about the other superficial trash talk b.s.

[CoolHandLuke]

I would take Morris over most guys just because of the price tag. I think anyways, I guess in this market he could get 8+

[YearofDaCubs]

Morris started off the season very well and the lack of velocity didn't seem to effect him but when it was all said and done he was getting rocked towards the end of the year and his ERA went up to 4 if I'm not mistaken. When somebody loses that much velocity and at the same time was getting rocked towards the end maybe it is dead arm or maybe they figured him out. I personally would stay away from him.

[noisesquared]

Morris has made at least 27 starts and pitched no less than 172 innings in each of the last 5 years. Regardless of what he's said about the Cubs in the past, I'd take that kind of durability on a Cubs team that desperately needs another starter that pitches lots of quality innings.

[nolanwood]

Morris started off the season very well and the lack of velocity didn't seem to effect him but when it was all said and done he was getting rocked towards the end of the year and his ERA went up to 4 if I'm not mistaken. When somebody loses that much velocity and at the same time was getting rocked towards the end maybe it is dead arm or maybe they figured him out. I personally would stay away from him.

 

You make a very good point.....they may very well have figured him out by the end of the year and is something I had not considered. I think it possibly had something to do with the fact that he started the season 8-0 and received absolutely no recognition for it - all you heard about was dontrelle and garland, etc.....cause' Morris started the season a few weeks later. Hell, I live in STL, and even the Cardinals fans made no noise about it as well! He's always had the dead arm period towards the end of the year, which is what would worry me the most. Those 5 consecutive losses in September when wins matter the most would definitely concern me.

 

His stats from last year:

 

14-10

4.11 era

117k

37 bb

1.28 whip

 

I really like that K/BB ratio. His #'s last year are as good or better than Maddux, and I've been perfectly satisfied with Maddux's role. The interesting factor is Morris has been known to give up the long ball numerous times, and last year he only gave up 22 homers through 192 ip's - a DEFINITE improvement.

[JeffH]

Where's goony to tell everyone how dumb it would be to spend $7-$8 million a year over three years for Matt Morris when Jerome Williams is already on the team and we have no outfield?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I don't have anything against Morris b/c he's a cardinal or a "whiner" as some have called him. I just don't want him based on his pitching performance the last 2 years.

 

I'd rather take a chance on Jerome Williams in the rotation than a chance on Morris.

[nolanwood]

Where's goony to tell everyone how dumb it would be to spend $7-$8 million a year over three years for Matt Morris when Jerome Williams is already on the team and we have no outfield?

 

I was satisfied with Williams production last year as a 5th man, don't get me wrong. But Williams is a far cry from the production of Lowe or Morris at this point in the game. And it's a fact that quality pitching will when you more games than offense. Yes, I think our offense/outfield needs to be addressed first. But, I think both issues could be solved within our budget. And a rotation of:

 

Prior

Z

Wood (barring a healthy season)

Maddux

Morris / Lowe

 

.....would be absolutely devastating!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Where's goony to tell everyone how dumb it would be to spend $7-$8 million a year over three years for Matt Morris when Jerome Williams is already on the team and we have no outfield?

 

I was satisfied with Williams production last year as a 5th man, don't get me wrong. But Williams is a far cry from the production of Lowe or Morris at this point in the game. And it's a fact that quality pitching will when you more games than offense. Yes, I think our offense/outfield needs to be addressed first. But, I think both issues could be solved within our budget. And a rotation of:

 

Prior

Z

Wood (barring a healthy season)

Maddux

Morris / Lowe

 

.....would be absolutely devastating!

 

Williams as a Cub: 3.91 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 109 ERA+

 

Lowe: 3.61 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 113 ERA+

Morris: 4.11 ERA, 1.27, 104 ERA+

 

That doesn't look like a far cry at all. In fact, he was better than Morris.