CubinNY

Ok, it's late and I've had a few pops but my logic looks like this: If the Cubs cannot sign Shmidt or Lilly. Heck, even if they sign Lilly, they will probably need someone better to get them over the top, so to speak, to the playoffs. If the Cubs are in the mix in June who may be available? I'm thinking both position wise (2nd, CF, and SS) and starting pitching. Would Hendry be smart not to spend all the loot and wait to see who is available to put the team in a position to win it all? I'm thinking yes as I look out and see who is availabe now. Am I drunk and looking too far in the future?

Let chaos reign! Let it reign!

Actually, the loss should prevent them from going to a BCS bowl, but it won't.

Hahahahahahaha! Go UCLA! Now Florida has to win and chaos will reign!!!! Take that BCS

Either USC isn't as good as they looked in the ND game or ND wasn't as good as they looked in the UCLA game. If USC wins, they will get destroyed by OSU. Go UCLA and Go Florida!

If a team has two guys for one postion it is ineficient based on a 25 man roster. I suppose, if the guy on the short end could play other positons that would be ok. However, he is still only valuable N -2/3 of the time becuase of his poor splits. If the palyer is inexpensive the differnce is less. Last year Nixon made $7.5 JJ makes $6 million Last year Craig Wilson made $3.3 million you're making it sound like the guy not starting that day doesn't get to dress for the game. He might as well not dress if he isn't valuable. There are many games when I wish Neifi didn't dress. Suppose you have the guy on the bench who cannot hit righties. The other team puts in a lefty pitcher. The guy gets up and they take out the lefty.

If a team has two guys for one postion it is ineficient based on a 25 man roster. I suppose, if the guy on the short end could play other positons that would be ok. However, he is still only valuable N -2/3 of the time becuase of his poor splits. If the palyer is inexpensive the differnce is less. Last year Nixon made $7.5 JJ makes $6 million Last year Craig Wilson made $3.3 million

It is meaningless to pay two guys to play one postion and to pay one guy to sit on the bench @100 games a year? The opportunity costs: The platoon player is taking a roster spot that could otherwise be filled by someone better You have one less player to use on your bench How do you propose to get "people on board"? Assuming the guy is good enough to be worth platooning, odds are you aren't going to be finding many better bench players. With people like Nixon, who hasn't been a full-time player in several years, it should be pretty easy to convince him to participate in such a situation. Guys like Jones, who play most games but stink against one type of pitcher would probably put up a fight. But that's what managers are for, to do what's best for the team. You don't have one less player to use on your bench. It's not like the guy who is not starting that day is ineligible to play. The first couple times through the lineup he's going to be facing the same pitcher, and you don't even have to think about pinch hitting. In many games I wouldn't even sub-in the platoon if they bring in a new pitcher. It doesn't have to be, and really, it can never be, a 100% strict platoon. But it doesn't have to be much of a problem either. I understand. I think it is a philosophical disagreement about personnel use. I can see a platoon if you have an iexpensive player on the short end of the platoon situation or if you are small market team, or even in the AL. My belief is that if the Cubs need to platoon Jones then they have a problem. However, in the case of Nixon he would platooning with Murton and not Jones. I'm not against getting Nixon for a 4th OFer and the first guy off the bench, depending on how much he'd cost.

It is meaningless to pay two guys to play one postion and to pay one guy to sit on the bench @100 games a year? The opportunity costs: The platoon player is taking a roster spot that could otherwise be filled by someone better You have one less player to use on your bench How do you propose to get "people on board"?

That doesn't make any sense. Why? This isn't fantasy baseball. All things being equal platoons are a sign of weakness. You are paying two guys to play one position, not to mention most players don't like being platooned. I understand the logic, but in this instance you cannot just use the numbers to justify a platoon. There are opportunity cost problems all over the place. If I'm better at putting and you are better at driving, then wouldnt it stand to reason that we would combine for a better scramble score than if we played separately? Yes, but this is baseball we are talking about and not golf. Why would a team try and use a platoon if they didn't have too? Especially a team with a top five payroll? There are only 25 roster spots. One guy is going to play 70 to 80% of the time and the guy who can't hit righties is almost usless.

That doesn't make any sense. Why? This isn't fantasy baseball. All things being equal platoons are a sign of weakness. You are paying two guys to play one position, not to mention most players don't like being platooned. I understand the logic, but in this instance you cannot just use the numbers to justify a platoon. There are opportunity cost problems all over the place.

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.