And it gets worse

[NorthsideAvenger]

The Cards are close to signing AJ Burnett, and have talked to the Reds about Kearns and Pena.

 

I think AJ Burnett will be a bargain for the Cards. I know he is going to get "good money for mediocre numbers", but let's face it....he's got Yadier Molina (one of the best catchers in baseball, game-call, and defensively) behind the plate, and he could be wearing a Cardinal across the chest. Possibly getting him signed for 10 mill a yr, will be a bargain for the Cards (if they do actually sign Burnett) within 2 yrs.

 

St. Louis Dispatch(via Rotoworld), is where I got the info..

[da bears]

The Cards are close to signing AJ Burnett, and have talked to the Reds about Kearns and Pena.

 

I think AJ Burnett will be a bargain for the Cards. I know he is going to get "good money for mediocre numbers", but let's face it....he's got Yadier Molina (one of the best catchers in baseball, game-call, and defensively) behind the plate, and he could be wearing a Cardinal across the chest. Possibly getting him signed for 10 mill a yr, will be a bargain for the Cards (if they do actually sign Burnett) within 2 yrs.

 

St. Louis Dispatch(via Rotoworld), is where I got the info..

 

I hate baseball.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

How is Yadier Molina, he of the 146 career games behind the plate, a superior "game caller"?

[NorthsideAvenger]

How is Yadier Molina, he of the 146 career games behind the plate, a superior "game caller"?

 

I didn't say "superior", I say one of the "best catchers in the game." You saw how the pitching staff went through a rough stretch when MolinA was out? He was actually the one key player the Cards ill-afford to lose.

Edited December 4, 2005 by NorthsideAvenger

[Hosak8]

How is Yadier Molina, he of the 146 career games behind the plate, a superior "game caller"?

 

I didn't say "superior", I say one of the "best catchers in the game." You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

If you're JH, do you sweep in and beat the Cards offer, and then use Williams in a package to acquire Abreu? I'd look hard at that.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

ERA by Catcher:

 

Molina: 3.39 (111 games)

Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games)

Diaz: 3.76 (30 games)

 

It doesn't look like it to me.

Edited December 4, 2005 by Transmogrified Tiger

[BCVM22]

Matheny: 3.56 (21 games)

 

Mahoney.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Matheny: 3.56 (21 games)

 

Mahoney.

 

Him too. It's too late/early.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I might make an offer for Burnett considering he's the one premiere FA left and we have money to burn. I wouldn't go any higher than 5/50.

[Hosak8]

I might make an offer for Burnett considering he's the one premiere FA left and we have money to burn. I wouldn't go any higher than 5/50.

 

Believe me... I have a whirlwind of thoughts happening right now. Would LA take Maddux, Patterson and, say Hill for Lowe and Bradley? Even money and they get a prospect and get out of Bradley. I say yes. So, then we turn and deal Lowe, Mitre, and someone like Dopirak/Sing etc to the Phillies for Abreu. Add something else if necessary, but get it done.

 

That gives us an infield of Lee, Walker, Cedeno, and ARam. And, an OF of Abreu, Bradley, and Murton.

 

Bat them: Bradley, Walker, Lee, Abreu, ARam, Murton, Barrett, Cedeno.

 

Our starting pitchers would be Z, Prior, Burnett, Rusch, and Williams.

 

It keeps StL from adding Burnett, and only adds 15 Million or so to our payroll.

[ChiCubsFan]

I might make an offer for Burnett considering he's the one premiere FA left and we have money to burn. I wouldn't go any higher than 5/50.

 

Believe me... I have a whirlwind of thoughts happening right now. Would LA take Maddux, Patterson and, say Hill for Lowe and Bradley? Even money and they get a prospect and get out of Bradley. I say yes. So, then we turn and deal Lowe, Mitre, and someone like Dopirak/Sing etc to the Phillies for Abreu. Add something else if necessary, but get it done.

 

That gives us an infield of Lee, Walker, Cedeno, and ARam. And, an OF of Abreu, Bradley, and Murton.

 

Bat them: Bradley, Walker, Lee, Abreu, ARam, Murton, Barrett, Cedeno.

 

Our starting pitchers would be Z, Prior, Burnett, Rusch, and Williams.

 

It keeps StL from adding Burnett, and only adds 15 Million or so to our payroll.

 

Where can I sign up? Improve LF, CF, RF, SS, SP, RP from last year's team. I don't think LA will want Maddux and I'm not sure if that package would be enough to get Abreu anyways. However, from the Cub's perspective, it looks great.

[A New Era]

Does Maddux have a no trade clause? I know I get criticised for thinking with my Heart. But I wouldn't want to do that to Maddux. I mean atleast we know he will probably pitch all of his games and post a ~3.50 ERA.

 

Now Wood, I would do that to. Too bad he has a no trade and his value is low now.

[NorthsideAvenger]

You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

ERA by Catcher:

 

Molina: 3.39 (111 games)

Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games)

Diaz: 3.76 (30 games)

 

It doesn't look like it to me.

 

Considering that LAST YR (2005) was his FIRST full season as the Cards starter, and still adjusting to certain pitchers, pitches...I say that is dang fine. And he is expected to get better. Why else do you think the Cards let Matheny go? Because they feel...Molina is Matheny with a better offensive game.

[Outshined_One]

Does Maddux have a no trade clause? I know I get criticised for thinking with my Heart. But I wouldn't want to do that to Maddux. I mean atleast we know he will probably pitch all of his games and post a ~3.50 ERA.

 

Now Wood, I would do that to. Too bad he has a no trade and his value is low now.

 

Maddux has been in the league long enough that any trade involving him requires his consultation and approval.

[ChiCubsFan]

Does Maddux have a no trade clause? I know I get criticised for thinking with my Heart. But I wouldn't want to do that to Maddux. I mean atleast we know he will probably pitch all of his games and post a ~3.50 ERA.

 

Now Wood, I would do that to. Too bad he has a no trade and his value is low now.

 

Maddux has been in the league long enough that any trade involving him requires his consultation and approval.

 

Anyways, I believe he does have a NTC.

[A New Era]

Good, I don't want to get rid of Maddux. He is way overpaid true, but he will be servicable again next year. We just need a high quality guy as backup for wood. And if Wood is ON, then we truely will have a strong SP line of guys.

[dbeider]

I generally am relatively patient about transactions, understanding that it's not about doing a bunch up front, but getting what you need done over a period of time.

 

That being said, ever since the last couple months of the 2004 season, I've been getting this gut feeling that the Cubs are just behind the ball. There was a guy consistently sitting behind me that during games would yell one thing,"DO SOMETHING." This lasted through most of last year I think, while the Cubs couldn't drive in a man from third with noone out, etc.

 

Now I'm feeling it's translated to the offseason and transactions. Yes the Eyre and Howry deals got done, and I'm glad they preempted other teams for top middle relief, and thought they would continue, but this Furcal nonsense and this Cardinal news is disturbing, I will continue to have faith in Hendry, and not pass any judgement. If during the meetings however nothing happens, and other teams deal and sign, I will start getting worried.

[brfahey]

You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

ERA by Catcher:

 

Molina: 3.39 (111 games)

Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games)

Diaz: 3.76 (30 games)

 

It doesn't look like it to me.

 

Hey, I thought catcher's ERA was a BS stat. It sure was with some here when Barrett's defensive deficiencies were being pointed out.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

Does Maddux have a no trade clause? I know I get criticised for thinking with my Heart. But I wouldn't want to do that to Maddux. I mean atleast we know he will probably pitch all of his games and post a ~3.50 ERA.

 

Now Wood, I would do that to. Too bad he has a no trade and his value is low now.

 

Maddux has been in the league long enough that any trade involving him requires his consultation and approval.

 

That's not correct. The veteran trade rule is for 5 and 10 guys--at least 10 years in the league, with at least the last five with the same club.

 

I believe Maddux may have a NTC, but it is because he negotiated for it, not because of the amount of time he has been in the league.

[Balsa]

Well Maddux has 19 years with 8 years as a Cub.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

ERA by Catcher:

 

Molina: 3.39 (111 games)

Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games)

Diaz: 3.76 (30 games)

 

It doesn't look like it to me.

 

Hey, I thought catcher's ERA was a BS stat. It sure was with some here when Barrett's defensive deficiencies were being pointed out.

 

He said that the Cardinals pitchers struggled when Molina was hurt. CERA is the easiest way to show what the pitchers' performance was. The problem is when you take that and say that Mahoney isn't that much worse defensively than Diaz. It's one thing to use it to prove a fact(that the Cardinal pitchers didn't really struggle without Diaz), it's another to use as an evaluation of a catcher.

[CubinNY]

You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

ERA by Catcher:

 

Molina: 3.39 (111 games)

Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games)

Diaz: 3.76 (30 games)

 

It doesn't look like it to me.

 

Hey, I thought catcher's ERA was a BS stat. It sure was with some here when Barrett's defensive deficiencies were being pointed out.

 

He said that the Cardinals pitchers struggled when Molina was hurt. CERA is the easiest way to show what the pitchers' performance was. The problem is when you take that and say that Mahoney isn't that much worse defensively than Diaz. It's one thing to use it to prove a fact(that the Cardinal pitchers didn't really struggle without Diaz), it's another to use as an evaluation of a catcher.

 

Nice. Perfect use of statistical data to prove one's supposition. WTG!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molian was out.

 

ERA by Catcher:

 

Molina: 3.39 (111 games)

Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games)

Diaz: 3.76 (30 games)

 

It doesn't look like it to me.

 

Considering that LAST YR (2005) was his FIRST full season as the Cards starter, and still adjusting to certain pitchers, pitches...I say that is dang fine. And he is expected to get better. Why else do you think the Cards let Matheny go? Because they feel...Molina is Matheny with a better offensive game.

 

Those numbers don't mean anything in evaluating those catchers, it was just proving this statement wrong:

 

"You saw how the pitching staff, went through a rough stretch when Molina was out."

 

Molina's a good defensive catcher, I'm not going to contest that. However, it bothers me when people throw out stuff like "best game callers", especially when he hasn't played more than a season of major league baseball.

[JC]

Does Maddux have a no trade clause? I know I get criticised for thinking with my Heart. But I wouldn't want to do that to Maddux. I mean atleast we know he will probably pitch all of his games and post a ~3.50 ERA.

 

Now Wood, I would do that to. Too bad he has a no trade and his value is low now.

 

Maddux has been in the league long enough that any trade involving him requires his consultation and approval.

 

That's not correct. The veteran trade rule is for 5 and 10 guys--at least 10 years in the league, with at least the last five with the same club.

 

I believe Maddux may have a NTC, but it is because he negotiated for it, not because of the amount of time he has been in the league.

 

And, the five years with the same club must be continuous, right? He doesn't get the benefit of his first Cub stint.

 

Regardless, I'm pretty sure he has a NTC like you said.

[chopsx9]

Well Maddux has 19 years with 8 years as a Cub.

 

The five years are the last five, so he doesn't qualify.