CubinNY

Craig Wilson is a guy I wouldn't mind having off the bench. I don't want the Cubs to platoon anybody. If they are going to trade JJ, find a suitable replacement who can play against any pitcher. Using a platoon is a weakness, not a strength.

I don't disagree, but I'd rather have the better talent for the money (within parameters). The inequalitiy of the talent is the key here.

Depending on who the Cubs could get for Jones, it would also make them an even worse offense. Nixon is a sexy name but his best baseball is behind him. Now, if the Cubs could get him as 4th outfielder/1st guy off the bench/spot Lee a game or two at 1st/ for around $1 m for 1 year. I would applaud Hendry. I loveD Nixon, but I know he has regressed significantly. However, my point is not that Nixon>Jones, my point is that Nixon+platoon partner>Jones playing against righties and lefties. Who would be the platoon partner? I'm not a big fan of platoons, unless the partner is young and inexpensive. I just don't like having two guys on the roster for one position. IMO, in the NL platoons severly limit a teams flexibility. They make much more sense with a DH.

Depending on who the Cubs could get for Jones, it would also make them an even worse offense. Nixon is a sexy name but his best baseball is behind him. Now, if the Cubs could get him as 4th outfielder/1st guy off the bench/spot Lee a game or two at 1st/ for around $1 m for 1 year. I would applaud Hendry.

Carlos Lee got 17M a year after putting up an average of under 120 OPS+ over the last 4 years, Schmidt has put up an average of over 130 ERA+ over the same period. While Schmidt is older, Lee dresses up like the State Puff Marshmallow man for Halloween and every other day of the year and signed to a longer term contract than Schmidt is rumor to be signed for. The way this market is going with such low depth at all positions, I wouldn't doubt he would recieve an offer in that range. I just hope Hendry is smart enough to not offer him a contract that exceeds 45 million. I would also doubt that he receives an offer in that range. Also, I think he would receive an offer in that range. I also do not doubt that I am doubting that someone will offer Schmidt a $60 million contarct. But I don't doubt it can happen.

I don't really see the point of acquiring Nixon unless he is a 4th OFer. Murton doesn't need a platoon partner. Nixon doesn't fit the Cubs needs. Then again neither did Soriano at the position he will play. If the Cubs planned on playing him a 2nd he'd fit.

You're right. Z Lilly Hill Westbrook Miller won't contend in the NL central at all next year, with. Soriano Murton Lee Ramirez Jones Barret Derosa Izturis :roll: You can roll your eyes all you want. But that team is maybe a .500 team. If everything breaks right they could contend for the division. But with a top 5 payroll I expect more.

My wife is going ape crazy over the USM/Houston game right now. Two beers and I'm starting to get worried about her. "Break his arm" "Kill him" Anyway go USM. If they win her friends come to Memphis for the New Years.

Yuck. Please Jehova, Allaha, Vishnu, Buddha, Len and Kent, make Mark Prior healthy. Thanks for the deity spelling help.

Cause "not that good of a player" >>>>>>> Izturis you forgot one > Izturis would be fine if you could hide him in the 8th slot, but the Cubs don't have that luxury. Who is going to hit in the 8th slot if not Izturis?!?!?!? I wasn't clear, sorry. If you could hide him the 8th slot and not expect much offensive production from him. Something like this A. Jones Soriano Lee Aramis J. Jones Murton Barrett Izturis Pitcher

Cause "not that good of a player" >>>>>>> Izturis you forgot one > Izturis would be fine if you could hide him in the 8th slot, but the Cubs don't have that luxury.

Because Jones is the new Walker. Nobody knows why he must go. But dammit to hell, he's got to GO!! Well, Jones is supposedly getting traded in this deal, so CF would be open. But why not just look for another CF and put Lugo at SS? This is so crazy. It's Hendry being Hendry. Instead of looking to make the team better he goes and gets a player, a lead-off hitter. I'd be ok if Hendry would have gotten Soriano and put him a second base. He defense is not good, but I'd put up with it. Now that means they need a CFer. Target one. Instead they want to get Lugo. Lugo would be fine at SS. At CF, not so much. I'd be somewhat ok with an everyday starting 9 ofL Pitcher Barrett -C Lee - 1st Soriano - 2nd Aramis - 3rd Lugo - SS Murton - LF CF? Jones - RF If they could find a way to trade for A. Jones, and Hudson I could be ecstatic. Instead the Cubs are like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces that don't fit.

I still have hope for Harvey. Hopefully the second half of the year marked a turning point for him.

I agree, Podsednik was the reason the Sox won the WS. He has the grit, the intestinal fortitude, the hustle and moxie that really pushed them over the top. I also heard that Pods gives gold coins to the Salvation Army instead of regular change. He's the bestest.

My question to Rosenthall and other who won't vote in McGwire is: Will they vote for Clemens or other pitchers who pitched in the steriod era on the first ballot? Why limit it to hitters?

:Wets pants: :Runs away screaming:

Well, if that was the intent of the question, it was poorly worded. Neyer doesn't talk about that end of the business, and really, how the heck would he know? He talks about the productivity of players, and their relative value against one another. Asking Neyer want kind of pressure Hendry has to win, or whether the team is for sale is pretty silly. I understood the question, and it looks like most of the people in this thread did as well. Neyer's answer was very plainly a bad one, because it didn't even come close to addressing the question. It really doesn't matter if Neyer is right or wrong on the OBP issue, his answer was completely useless considering the question. That's your opinon. Mine is that he politely said [paraphrasing] The Cubs problems aren't ginning up the value of the franchize or handing out big contracts. The Cubs problems are the GM doesn't know to how to properly build a team.[/paraphrasing]. He's basicly saying the question misses the point.

It's quite obvious to those paying attention. But it's still something that needs to be plainly written out. There's still a large contingent bewildered about Pierre not returning. Many people think the Cubs problem is a lack of small ball and poor defense. It's not saying a lot, but it appears to be an answer to a chat question, and it's a 100% accurate statement. It's plenty accurate, but it's kind of silly to not even answer the person's question. The question about the contracts and the impending sale was perfectly legitimate, and Neyer just brushed it off completely with a completely different issue. I think in a way, Neyer did answer the question. And the answer is all the concerns mentioned in the question are not a real big concern when it comes to winning and loosing. OBP certianly is.

go away Please? Isn't it time this guy was banned. He's done nothing but troll since the first day he posted on here.

Do you think they will look for a lefty shortstop, or a lefty CF and deal Jones? They like Izturis a lot so I don't see them trading him. The latter is more of a real possibility. This is what absolutely kills me. How can someone like a no hit-slick fielding SS a lot? They are a dime a dozen. The Cubs seem to have employed seemingly just about every single one of them over the last 3 or so years. If they went out and grabbed a JD Drew type for the last spot in the outfield and then picked up a Mark Loretta type to play 2b, I think the Cubs could get by. Maybe that's the plan, but with Vernon Wells or someone of that caliber rather than Drew. I've seen Izturis play enough that I just don't understand the manlove he's getting. And after a nearly 2 year layoff, he's bound to be even worse than he was before. Maybe we should sign Marquis. At least then we can count on more offensive production from the pitcher's spot than wherever Piniella decides to bat Izturis. Ughh. #-o I've written it numerous times, Hendry wouldn't have traded Maddux if he didn't think he'd get a good player in return. It sucks. Hendry is still behaving as if it is the 1980s.

Of course they do. Teams that win impressively are often moved ahead of teams that don't win impressively. This in turn effects the BCS. The same goes for losses. If someone beleives that Michigan didn't play as well as the score indicated, then sure, it does matter. When and where? Before you go looking don't waste your time. It is impossible. There are too many variables in play to make such an argument. Did Michigan lose spots when they barely beat Ball State or OSU when they barely beat Illinois? A ND fan could probably tell you the exact occasion(s) but I believe ND dropped in the polls one week after winning that weekend. ND dropped in the polls (2 spots) after beating GT in week 1 because it was determined that they didn't win in an impressive enough fashion. They then dropped again after they beat UCLA because they didn't win in an impressive enough fashion-it was 2 spots again-one team they dropped behind had beaten Alabama by 3 the other week, and the other team they dropped behind was off that week. After Army, they dropped again for the same reason (although this one has a possible other explanation depending on how the pollsters put Rutgers the week previous, who lost to Cincy that same week). A team can most certainly drop after winning unimpressively-ND has shown it can happen multiple times this year. ND beating up the weak sisters of D1 did not happen in a vacuum. I'm not that interested to go ook in to it any further but there probably where other variables in play that could explain dropping in the polls, like who the teams behind them beat, among other things. The entire BCS is a travisty. No, it is a sham. No a mockery. It is a travishamockery.

No, not really. I think his arm will be fine since he hardly throws any breaking balls, and he kept the ball down last year. He strikes me as a good pitcher - not the kind of guy who falls apart when he loses a tick or two off his fastball. Well it should. A decrease in velocity and the decreasing length of a pitchers stride are two of the biggest keys to a shoulder injury. throwing less hard makes a pitcher hurt his shoulder? interesting. no. It's a symptom of shoulder injury. he threw over 200 innings last year. Shmidt is a fastball/change up pitcher. Although I don't like the abuse he's taken over the last several years those types of pitchers are very durable. BTW where does the "decrease in stride length and decrease in velocity" come from? I mean on what information is this observation based? Schmidt used to throw mid 90's. He was down to 88-90mph at the end of this season. Now, a variety of things can be the reasoning for this. Over worked is the main reasoning, however. Over worked usually means the pitcher becomes tired, and when the pitcher is tired his mechanics begin to take a nose dive. Which means he is more favorable for a arm injury(Kerry Wood). If a pitcher is losing length on his stride, it usually means his shoulder cannot keep up with the length the pitcher is taking. Schmdit is known for his absolutely insane length on his stride. Probably the longest in the game today. When he has to shorten that stride, it possibly means his shoulder cannot extend out to the point it used too. He had an ERA+ of over 100 last year and pitched over 200 innings. If he was hurt or is hurt he certianly didn't show it last year. I really have a hard time discovering on what facts you base your opinions. Just take a look at his career numbers. http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/schmija01.shtml

No, not really. I think his arm will be fine since he hardly throws any breaking balls, and he kept the ball down last year. He strikes me as a good pitcher - not the kind of guy who falls apart when he loses a tick or two off his fastball. Well it should. A decrease in velocity and the decreasing length of a pitchers stride are two of the biggest keys to a shoulder injury. throwing less hard makes a pitcher hurt his shoulder? interesting. no. It's a symptom of shoulder injury. he threw over 200 innings last year. Shmidt is a fastball/change up pitcher. Although I don't like the abuse he's taken over the last several years those types of pitchers are very durable. BTW where does the "decrease in stride length and decrease in velocity" come from? I mean on what information is this observation based?

That sounds reasonable, but accouding to Bruce Miles the Cubs are looking for 2 SP, if they pony up that much money for Shmidt that may preclude signing another with the going rate for mediocre pitching being what it is. However, the Cubs seem to be spending like a sailor on shore leave this year so...

No frozen pizza is great, but the best I've tasted is California Pizza Kitchen. But it is also the most expensive.