KingKongvs.Godzilla

I remember reading a few years ago that it's actually a really good thing for a pitcher to have a healthy amount of meat on their bodies. It's got to make some sense...Your body is taking an absolute beating overhand throwing a ball off of elevated ground. I guarantee there are very, very few good, healthy pitchers who rock a 6 pick. Look at Rich Harden...dude was cut as all heck and it did nothing for his durability. Meanwhile CJ Wilson, similar height (6'/6'1"), is built like a fire hydrant and hasn't had an arm injury since '03 or so.

All within the past 5 years. This is a good thing. I have no idea why you're going with career numbers when the guy is mid-career...prime actually...right now...and clearly he's been better than his .333 career OBP in recent years. Much of that .333 OBP is based on the ~2500+ PAs he made in the majors before he was 25. Since then he's been a much better offensive player with a varied TOL skillset. That's not even touching the fact that Crawford is a SIGNIFICANTLY more efficient base stealer(74% Pierre, 82% for Crawford), a SIGNIFICANTLY better defensive OFer, and he's got more power than Pierre ever did. Believe it or not, you don't need to be ultra patient to be highly valuable. There's more to baseball than that, and Carl Crawford has one of the best all around skill and tool sets in the game. That's why he got paid significantly more than Pierre did when Pierre was getting enough love to get a big contract. He's better, he's significantly better, he'll age better, and oh yea he's better. The only legit comparison between them is that they're both fast black OFers....otherwise we're talking two completely different players. BTW: Whoever started this "everyone falls off a cliff after 30" trash in sports...I realize there's a point there that is significant (particularly with full time RBs in that caveman sport)...I'd really like to punch that guy in the face. Just because someone is 30 or past 30 doesn't mean their end is coming and it's coming fast. Plenty of high end talent survives well into their 30's...and always has. A huge plus for a guy like Crawford is 1. that he's been a pretty valuable starting player since he was 20 years old 2. he's never been significantly injured and 3. he's a ridiculous athlete for the sport. Those are traits you look for in guys because those are traits that pop in guys who last long in this sport...He's all around a far better investment than Juan Pierre ever was, this past season be damned. I don't get how it's anything less than highly impressive to call a guy a 10 year veteran in any sport or field at 30...

That was the little joke I was making...I feel like that fear should only exist to the point that it's acknowledged that there is some risk in giving guys alot of years and money. We're talking about giving money to top of the line guys with little to no statistical flaws or injury history...things guys like Soriano and Zambrano had to burn the Cubs (and really Z's deal was below market anyway, it was stupid because the Cubs worked him hard as a young pitcher and he's never been a fan of fitness). I feel like that risk can be mitigated by who these guys are, what they do for themselves as athletes, and of course building an organization that promotes an atmosphere of constant growth, health, and development for their players. Also, they're stuck with the two huge contracts for 2 years at the longest, if they even keep both guys. I also think you're not giving them enough credit as to what they think they want to do...I think they want to get better in 2012, period...and with the resources the franchises has they can blend youth and veteran talent to build a team (which is how a team should be built anyway). All that said, we seem to agree that the Cubs will target these guys and it'll be fun to see. CC in a Cubs uniform would legitimately be an exciting situation for the franchise...he'd wreck [expletive] here and give the Cubs a horse who can go toe to toe with a machine like Carpenter or Halladay.

I'm going to make sure this deal happens this weekend: The longer this takes the less likely this is to happen.

Why? Is he legitimately out of shape or are you just uncomfortable with the number? You'd think his weight would have gotten him when he was heavier and sloppier in his young days (maybe 18-23?) and his joints weren't as developed, no? What if in 4-6 years from now he's already helped the Cubs to a WS or two (the goal of collecting elite talent)?

Just to go through the reasons *NOT* to bring in any of the best available talents this offseason: Prince Fielder - Not chiseled from marble. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. Albert Pujols - At whatever his age is he's old. So old that he's only put up a ~.950 OPS over the past two years. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. CC Sabathia - Not chiseled from marble, has thrown alot of pitches and innings. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. Yu Darvish - A few Japanese pitchers before him didn't do as well as many thought. Probably has thrown alot of pitches. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. CJ Wilson - Reliever turned starter = Injury risk. Almost threw an inning after a rain delay. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. Jose Reyes - Injuries. Already have a SS. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. Carlos Beltran - Old. Yankees/Red Sox might get in the way, and therefore we've already lost anyway. Expensive. Man oh man how long am I going to have to wait to see a good team field by the Cubs again....all these reasons/excuses not to go after talent. I didn't even include guys like Cuddeyer or Kubel (just no interest at all in bringing either to the NL), or Grady Sizemore (who legitimately might be interesting on the low), Brandon Phillips, Jon Broxton (see Sizemore), or Edwin Jackson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji-cT58rgNc

I'd rather they go a little more OBP focused and less speed focused than Crawford. Having a couple guys like him would be good, but much like Juan Pierre, guys with speed get overpaid considerably. A .300 hitter who can put up a .350 OBP, play spectacular D, hit doubles, and basically be a strong #2 hitter is not someone I'd shy away from, particularly since guys with Crawford's skills and athleticism tend to age better than most. He's hit .300 with a .350+ OBP in 3 of the past 5 season...most of that in a pitcher's park ....this is a much, much better player than Juan Pierre just based on having more power and defensive ability at his position. Why would we be "likely" to get 2-3 awful years?

Wouldn't a guy this good be the 1 time out of 10? We're not talking just any pitcher here....We are talking about an elite player and pitcher, which would seem to not be a 9/10 situation, no? His weight is a superfluous issue...1 because he's never ever had an arm problem and 2 he's heavy because he's a huge human being (that 290 sits on a 6'7" frame). He's more LT than G when it comes to athleticism...as we've seen for a decade+ now and NL Central fans were treated for half a season.

Solo stuff? Tommy mattola lives on the road He lost his lady two months ago Maybe he'll find her maybe he won't Oh wonder that love Brothers try to pass me but none could match me No girl can freak me i'm just too nasty Lost on the dance floors i'll attack you all Snuck through the back door guess who they saw? Goldie and ghost black african rose Star-studded low lenses plus the mural was dope Airbrush w b's stop (shake your body body) And cop a couple of these (she's a hottie hottie)

Here's a big name FA we don't talk nearly enough about due to Yankee fear. Joel Sherman, one of the triers out there in sports journalism, wrote a pretty interesting article on the possibility that the Yankees be better losing CC to the competition: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/chasing_cc_if_ace_opts_out_yanks_lALLyYUWkj8NrQKHZBZcwJ/0 His point applies very well to the Yankees, who really might shy away from going more years more money with him. To me, this only represents opportunity to welcome a truly true ace to the Cubs. This is a guy who has been a high end pitcher since he was 20 years old. He is someone who could legitimately be in a HOF conversation one day. He's someone who thrived in the NL Central when he came over for half a season. He's someone who's admitted to enjoying the NL game, and he's not an idiot with the bat in his hand like most pitchers. At 31 he's still in his prime as a pitcher, and guys like Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay show that an elite talent can thrive well into their 30's (as many have done before tbh), especially in the good 'ol NL. Is there any reason this guy shouldn't be the #2 target behind Pujols amongst all FAs for anyone? He's a legitimately elite pitching talent who'll hit the open market...Any reason not to compete for his services beyond the usual fear that the pitcher has emptied the clip in his arm? The Yankees have been very, very careful with his arm...in 3 years there he's thrown 120+ pitches 7 times...to me he's a ridiculously durable pitcher with a frame and skillset that will allow him to age as well as you can ask a pitcher. Other questions: - Should the Cubs wait for an ace to develop through the system instead? Why? - If Sabathia isn't the kind of pitcher you go after in FA, who is? Is there a bargain pitcher in FA besides for the injured guy who might come back with some patience and hard work? - How much easier or harder does having a Sabathia make it to build a rotation?

War of the masses, the outcome, disastrous Many of the victim family save they ashes A million names on walls engraved in plaques Those who went back, received penalties for the axe Another heart is torn as close ones mourn Those who stray, niggaz get slayed on the song

You chill with the feedback black we don't need that It's ten o'clock hoe, where the [expletive]'s your seed at? Feeling mad hostile, ran the apostle Flowing like Christ when I speaks the gospel Stroll with the holy roll then attack the globe with the buckus style the ruckus, ten times ten men committing mad sin Turn the other cheek and I'll break your [expletive] chin

Screw you guy I just saw your post. Go [expletive] a goat! Edit: [expletive] there was alot of time between yours and mine. Well then.... http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh1ynuYaAU1qzgeob.gif

I bomb atomically, Socrates' philosophies and hypothesis can't define how I be droppin these mockeries, lyrically perform armed robbery Flee with the lottery

I wouldn't be all that disappointed if we lose out on Epstein. The main thing is that Ricketts really knows what he's doing. I'm sure his second choice would be just fine. Nice, that's pretty much where I am. There's plenty of people I'd like to see get the job. The most important thing is who else comes along too, as we'll learn and follow all those names and the roles they take on.

I know I'm putting myself in the position to be called a dick but what happens if this doesn't go through? I feel like so many people have set their hearts on Theo Epstein and his one of a kind ability to use scouting and numbers to build a farm system and consistent ML contender. Does anyone notice that Boston's farm system right now isn't anything special?

I haven't kept careful track, but I bet Zeke DeVoss is doing really well the whole time. That guy is going to be useful one day... Dunston Jr. OTOH has been pretty meh from what I remember reading.

If Boston were to want even ONE of our bad contracts for Crawford I would do it, so long as Ricketts is still willing to spend and the Red Sox send some cash for the extra years/dollars we'd be taking on. I think Crawford would do really well here and in my head I think he fits the kind of athlete the Cubs would like to put on the field. The only reason a Crawford deal would suck is that we're almost done with those contracts while his is just getting started. The only reason I'd be interested in Lackey is because I really like the way AL East to NL Central has worked out for a few pitchers. Personally, he's thrown like crap for two years.

They don't have Theo anymore. I'd be surprised if anyone left in that front office knew what OBP was much less WAR. WAR? What is it good for? Evaluating baseball players. Oh Literal UMFan! Ha ha!

Yeah they should be falling over themselves to hand over young power pitching because he failed to live up to the obligations of an overslot draft pick. He was probably the best reliever on the team in the second half...and he's clearly still growing as a pitcher. I'd rather not give up major league talent. I think it's dumb to do so.

Castro Garza Marshall Soto Shark Ramirez? But really everyone but Castro...though I think the talent of the team is underrated due to the poor finishing record. Because most of the talent to keep is young or early prime I'm not sure they can't help this team get going again faster than is percieved. I think a good GM would see room for a quick turnaroud given the teams monetary resources and not unappealing farm system.

[expletive] Billy What'shisname. No Ryne Sandberg for manager.

Tyne obvious answer is Pujols.

Yeah he's not in my top 20 either, unless it's barely. Just sounds interesting...it's still just the DSL and instruction leagues...