CubinNY

I agree with you to an extent. But the Cards are in a far better off position then the Cubs to begin with. When you have Albert, Scott, Edgar (in the past), and Jim it is much easier to fill the holes with the likes of Taguchi, Matheny, et al. In the recent past the Cubs had Sammy and not much else.

Or Cedeno starts off on the bench because Johnny B has to "pick his spots" and hits .353. And Johnny B takes credit for Cedeno's success and at the same time refuses to play him regularly because of said success in picked spots. Checkmate for Johnny B. He can never be wrong.The logic is irrefutable. :pukel:

That maybe because Leo doesn't pull any punches with them on the mound. A coach isn't there to be a buddy, confidant, babysitter, or an appologist. He/she is there to help the player reach his/her potential. No one can argue with Mazzone's success. I'll take him as my pitching coach any day.

Slappy Sidewayshat and the Murtonator

I think Hendry looks at the value that a player would bring to the entire organization, not unlike an investment banker managing a portfolio of loans and investments. The contracts with Rusch, Howry, Eyre, and Dempster allow Hendry to trade the organization's strength (pitching prospects) for established position players. Neifi! is a hedge in a market (SS) with few alternatives and high prices. The contracts with Neifi!, Howry, Rusch, and Eyre look overvalued individually but have more value when looking at the entire "portfolio" of players and prospects. By maximizing and storing value, Hendry can pounce on undervalued assets that become available during distress sales (e.g., Ramirez, DLee, now Tejada). I really, really, really, wish this were true. But Hendry has spent this entire off-season looking for a "lead-off hitter". Which means he overvalues the value of a lead off hitter and he overvalues speed. Because he has a guy on the team who is just about as good as a leadoff hitter as Slappy Pierre and he has let eveyone this side of Brisbane Austrila know he is looking to trade him (i.e., Todd Walker). Far too ofthen he seems to undervalue OBP and walks in general. In other words, he buys too high and sells too low (where is goony when you need him?). To me the entire portfolio looks like an 85 million dollar 75 to 80 win team. Likely, not a good return on investment But there is plenty of time for him to shore up his holdings and get some production for his dollar. Abrue or Tejada would go along way toward that.

Don....do you really think Baker is going to play Murton and Cedeno? I like Abreu too but IMO he is going to take a couple of major league ready players just to start the Phillies talking. Since the Cubs have 2 #1 starters and 3 number 5's I think that hurts the chance of this deal happening. supposedly Baker doesn't want an extension in Chicago, so there is only one more year left of his vet love. Where'd you hear that? from the San Francisco Chronicle. link Phil Rogers also had a scathing write up re: Johnny B. wherein he hinted that he thinks Baker is not too happy in Chicago. But it is Phil Rogers, so take it for what it is worth.

Given the contracts handed out to Perez, Rusch, Howry and Eyre I have to wonder. I can remember a couple of years ago the Cubs hired a guy to do statitical analysis but I cannot remember his name. In addition, Mr. Miles mentioned that Hughes is not anti-stat.

No disrespet to Mr. Miles, but how is Chicago any different? In fact, I've listened to both and NY is much more credible than Chicago in terms of sports talk. But as I said, only time will tell. I guess untill or if he is traded we can all have fun talking about it.

Why do you say that? Teams trade withing the division all the time. Sean Casey, the Captian of the Reds was just traded to Pittsburgh for a left handed pitcher. The Mets are most definately a player for Tejada. The sports talk radio here is polluted with the rumors. I've read numerous reports all saying that there is no way Angelos trades Tejada to Boston, period. And I've read numerous reports all saying that there is no way Angelos trades Tejada, period. Only time will tell.

Why do you say that? Teams trade withing the division all the time. Sean Casey, the Captian of the Reds was just traded to Pittsburgh for a left handed pitcher. The Mets are most definately a player for Tejada. The sports talk radio here is polluted with the rumors.

all the tobacco chewing.

I agree, but who is to say Abrue wouldn't cost just as much?

Why would we do that? Where is Tejada going to go that it will benefit us in a 3-way trade? Not Philly. Not Cincy. Not Texas. The only way the Cubs would give Stockstill some of his prospects is if the Cubs were to get Tejada. Otherwise those pieces would be used to get us a stud RF who couldn't come in a Tejada 3-way. Cubs gets: Manny Boston gets: Tejada Baltimore gets: A crap load of near ready major league pitchers.

Yes all players are evaluvated by how much they make relative to their production. Professional baseball is a busines. What does Sammy Sosa have to do with Miguel Tejada? I took your previous post to mean that Tejada was a great player because he made more money than other players at his position. Hence, the reference to Sammy (not a great player last year, despite making tons of money). I may have misunderstood you, if so, I apologize. I guess I don't understand the point of this statement: Are you saying that we can't argue that Tejada isn't a top 10 player because his contract is reasonable compared to contracts signed by other SS's (Furcal, for example)? If you want to argue that Tejada gives you the most "bang for your buck" so to speak - that's one thing. But if you're talking simply the top 10 players in the league (which I think was the question), why does it matter what he's paid? This is realted to my last post. It matters because even if money were not an object an owner couldn't fill his team with the best nine players. That is not the case with pitchers though (the owner could acquire the best 5 starting pitchers, if money were not an object). For example both Manny and Bonds play left field and Vlad plays right, but none of them could play center (maybe Vlad could but that is stretching things a good deal) So when I talk about the "best" I am saying the best at one's position. Now one could argue that Tejada isn't the best at his position. But given his production for the money he makes in relation to Jeter, Rodriguez, Furcal, Renteria, Eckstein, Garciparra, and others he is right there.

I guess I should make myself more clear. I would rate players by position b/c that I how I see it. To me the best nine players would all play different positions. The reason beying I couldn't put Barry Bonds at SS or Jason Veritek in CF. I agree he is not worth writing a blank check to acquire too. So I don't think Z or Prior should be traded for him. But I would certianly part with any three or four minor leaguers (including Williams, Murton, and Cedeno) for him. Something like this Baltiomore's pick of: 2 pitchers + 2 position players 1 pitcher + 3 position players ------ A bit off topic, but I have to think that signing Pierre makes Pie more expendable. I'm not saying I agree with it at all or even a little.

Yes all players are evaluvated by how much they make relative to their production. Professional baseball is a busines. What does Sammy Sosa have to do with Miguel Tejada?

It is a fine filler story in the middle of the winter to help us starving baseball fans. Maybe I'm too critical. In fact, I am too critical. However it is not news. And again, and for the final time, the story could have been written about anyone. I would love to read a story about what Patterson is doing to try to rebound from his horific season. About what he is thinking about his appearent departure from the Cubs. About his decision not to play winter ball. To me that would have been much more interesting. They could have spun it anyway they want to.

I think a pretty good arguement could be made that he is not one of the top ten players in the game. If he is not he is close. And he is the best SS in professional baseball, until Rodriguez decides he wants to play short again. Tejada was 39th in MLB in OPS, and he plays average at best defense. And what were his offensive numbers compared to other SS? I'll take average defense with the numbers he puts up. You are going to have to break off this obsession you have with demonstrating that Tejada isn't that good. It does not hold water, especially given his contract in compairson other top of the line SS.

I think a pretty good arguement could be made that he is not one of the top ten players in the game. If he is not he is close. And he is the best SS in professional baseball, until Rodriguez decides he wants to play short again.

It is a puff piece becuase it is not news, nor is it news worthy. In addition, it could have been writtten about the vast majority of all professional baseball players. As I wrote, what would people be saying if the story was about Patterson rather than Pierre? Patterson spent last offseason in Mesa working out so he would be ready for the 05 season. A fat lot of good that did him. Whether I like the trade is competly irrelevent. I find it beyond my scope to comunicate how foolish it is to think that professional athelets don't work hard. The people that fit the profile I bolded in your above post usually don't stay around long no matter how much talent they have. Nor would they ever make it to the majors.

The Mets are said to be intrested too. I think they could put a package together that could compete with the Cubs. However, if Anehiem wants to part with a few of the studs they have on the farm no team will be able to compete.

C'mon, don't take things out of context! It's pretty much saying, "If, in the unlikely event that Miguel Tejada is traded, the Cubs are the early frontrunners." I guess that may be viewed as optimistic, but I was really expecting something else when I read the topic title/message... So the real early favorite is Baltimore? :D Weren't the Cubs the early fav for Furcal?

I am confident in my assumption that the puff piece written about Pierre could have been written for just about any professional ballplayer. They all work hard to get to where they are whether they be the lowest guy in A ball or a perenial all-star in the majors. What would people say if one changed the name from Juan Pierre to Corey Patterson? EDIT: Working hard is a pre-requisit for the job. I wish someone would have told Bush that 6 years ago.

I agree with that point, BUT look at the state that leaves Houston's pen in. They have nobody. It's no worse than the state of their offense. If Clemens doesn't come back, it could be a long season for the Astros even if they trade Lidge for a bat.

This is a smart move IMO. "Closers" are the most overvalued commidity in baseball.