CubinNY

On XM 175 they are saying that Baldelli may be avaible if TB moves Upton to CF. He's going to be 25 next year but is comming off an injury. He's not an OBP guy but plays a pretty good CF, is cheap and not in his prime yet. I have no idea what it would take to get him, but I'd be interested. Anyone else?

No kidding. This is where the throwing around of $2-4m deals to mediocre (or worse) replacable players hurts you. If a far superior pitcher costs only $5m more than the other guy, go with the better pitcher. I agree with both of you, but I think the stiking point is years not money. If Lilly gets 4 years I don't think he's any less of a risk to fail than Schmidt at 4 years. I'm on board. How do we convince Hendry?

No kidding. This is where the throwing around of $2-4m deals to mediocre (or worse) replacable players hurts you. If a far superior pitcher costs only $5m more than the other guy, go with the better pitcher. I agree with both of you, but I think the stiking point is years not money.

Then they're bad businessmen. The LA times is a horrible business opportunity as a stand alone product. There is little growth potential in print media. yeah, i'm sure those 2 billionaires are bad businessmen. Or you are mistaken.

It's funny that you mention that, I heard or read somewhere (I can remember where) that Church is very religious and use to openly proselytize in the clubhouse. Don't know if it is true.

The Cubs are also trying Eric Patterson in the OF. Since when? Not this year in AA or AAA or in the AFL. It was mentioned in today's Tribune. Sorry for jumping on you there, you are correct they mentioned it the possibility, I mean they've thrown the idea around before, but this is the first time I've seen a quote from someone important about it. But he's also not played CF at all in the last couple years... I hope this is only temporary. If it's not Patterson just lost a lot of value as a prospect.

I to the B to the L

It's the new normal. The super-rich get richer and the rich get richer. To qoute our super-rich VP "A rising tide lifts all boats" Except the fan who wants to bring a family of 4 to a ball game, he gets a lifesaver made of swiss cheese.

His shoulder is a concern, but his potential value to the Cubs should be something Hendry considers. I don't thinkt the Cubs have enough talent to acquire Colon. His weight is more of a concern that his shoulder. He is Ruben Quevedo fat.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/churcry01.shtml You can look at the numbers if you would like. Baseball is the ultimate insiders club. Sometimes the club works in mysterious ways.

He can ask for whatever he wants. But everyone knows Church isn't one of the organization's favorite players. And nobody will trade much for a guy that has never played a full season in the MLB. It's frustrating to think that Chicago probably could have gotten Church and a prospect or two if they had offered Pierre last year. Very

He won't get a lot in return becuase he has basically ruined whatever market he could have gotten by demoting Church and then never playing Church (well that one was on Robinson). And now making it known to the media that Church is not a "team player". It's right out of the Jim Hendry playbook. Not coincidentely, a reason why I don't think the Cubs will be interested.

A coup is getting a gold-glove shortstop for an aging pitcher with an 82 mph fastball. Viva la Hendry! That is awsome! :D :D

You know Lilly's mechanics? They can fix a carb on a '72 GTO 4 barrell worth a damn.

Why not Adam Dunn? Because he's a terrible baseball player? I really have no idea why his name is continually brought up. We really need a sticky thread with all the reason why Dunn is a good player so we don't have to have these converstations periodically.

They'd probalby want Pie + a young starter like Hill. I wouldn't do it. But if they wanted Pie + Marshall and some other quality arm from the farm I would do it. If the Cubs could talk them into taking Dempster or Ohman that would be better than one of the farm hands. I'd put Murton in RF

What CFer is avalable that is left handed and has power assuming Soriano is in RF? If the Cubs use Soriano is CF I'd like to see them go after Dunn if possible. To me it makes much more sense to put Soriano back at 2nd, but that isn't going to happen. The Cubs are put together like a Piccaso painting from his Cubist period. Piccaso was Cuban? Jones is a CF with power, or at least he could be. I can't imagine Lofton or Lugo playing any better defensively. I agree. I don't think they will find a left handed CF with more power than Jones.

What CFer is avalable that is left handed and has power assuming Soriano is in RF? If the Cubs use Soriano is CF I'd like to see them go after Dunn if possible. To me it makes much more sense to put Soriano back at 2nd, but that isn't going to happen. The Cubs are put together like a Piccaso painting from his Cubist period.

And why can't you do that just because you have a platoon? Seriously, you are making zero sense. I don't think I am being clear. There are a number of variables to consider. However, one cannot just use career splits to determine if a platoon will be effective. Using career splits assumes regular playing time. This is one case (perhaps the only case) where I agree with the conventional wisdom crowd. I cannot see how a straight platoon would be better than just having one guy who hits reasonably well against both lefites and righties. If a team has to use a platoon, I'd like to see the short end guy be pretty cheap, have a good power and good plate coverage at the very least. IMO, that rules out the vast majority of bench players becuase if the guy had all those things he would likely be starting. My thinking is that in a platoon situation it is axiomatic that one guy is going to be relativiely inefective for some portion of the time. For that portion of the time it really doesn't matter that he's on the bench at all unless he's going to hit for the pitcher. In which case I would assume that there is better option to use off the bench. I am not saying a bench player shouldn't ever start. I am not saying a team should never use a platoon. Necessity may dictate that they should. What I am saying is that why would a team like the Cubs, flush with cash, and with tradeable assets go into a seaon plan to use a platoon.

On XM radio from the Winter Meetings, Tom Verducci is ripping the Slappy signing. Ripping it to shreds. Everything we've all said.

Using an aburdity does not futher your positon. It only weakens it. A bench and platoon are not the same thing. The very idea of a platoon is that a player is going to be inefective for a certian portion of the season (N - 1/3 for a lefty and N - 2/3 for a righty). If one is in the game the other is not going to be effective. So having the inefective player on the bench is worthless. A bench is for scoring runs, primarily. Now, having two guys on the bench with some power that can hit either righty's or lefty's is a good idea.

So why didn't 8 for Soriano get same reaction? If we do it for Soriano please do it for Schmidt. He's a 33 yr old pitcher with a history of injuries, and we are a franchise with long history of injured picthers. Since 1997 Schmidt has made 25 or more starts in every season except 2000. He's been pretty durable. I agree with Tim. I don't think the Cubs want a 37 year old pitcher making 10 to 15 million dollars. If I were the Cubs and I really thought he'd be a difference maker I'd agree to take the money he'd make in the fourth year and amaterize it into a 3 year contract. More money, less years.

A platoon is not a weakness. A platoon is a necessity to counteract the weakness of individual players. A platoon is how you make the most of a less than ideal situation. This is like saying "studying hard is a weakness" if a student doesn't just immediately absord everything he is taught. It is a wekness becuase a team is paying two guy to play one positon.

I don't know, but if the Cubs trade JJ they will need to get a slugger or a high OBP guy for SS or CF. The angle I'm seeing is that they'll trade Jones for some pitching, then turnaround and sign Lofton and Trot Nixon (Mr. Miles' pick). Soriano will play RF, Lofton in CF and Nixon and Murton platoon in LF. That would be a terrible, terrible offensive team.

I don't know, but if the Cubs trade JJ they will need to get a slugger or a high OBP guy for SS or CF.