CubinNY

Slappy and Red

Let the propaganda machine begin.

Would Hildalgo accept a bench job? Would Dusty know he is a bench player? I like those two for the bench.

I agree Vance. I think Pittsburgh is going to be better than last year too. If the Cubs don't land Tejada or a big bat for the outfield I will be very worried about fighting it out for last place with Cincinnatti.

Choi would be a middle class version of Adam Dunn if a team would give him 500 PAs in a season.

To the Moderators, Is there anyway to condence these three threads?

Because she knows more about sports than me and is hot. She is not just a talking head like the others. You can talk sports and have fun in the bedroom all at the same. That is a win/win in my book, fellas! :D

Who is everyone? It is more than likely that his numbers took a dip b/c Baltimore was hopelessly out of the playoff picture and he had to field endless questions about steriods, thanks to our ould pal Raffy. These guys are professionals. I cannot understand anyway it would even be remotly possible that one player disliking another could ever affect how that player produces.

Not to try and hi-jack this thread. The 1984 Chicago Cubs were the best Cubs team in my lifetime (born in 1969). It is a pitty, as I think even if they could have gotten past San Deigo there was no team that was going to touch the Tigers that year. ------ I'll take Abreu and Lugo too.

If the Mets get Tejada Reyes would have to be sent to Baltimore along with a pitcher and another prospect. IMO, Reyes is on the Corey Patterson track. He was rushed to the majors, has great tools, and won't take a walk.

Oh My Len. If Hendry could get Tejada this offseason would be close to smashing a success. I am not getting my hopes up. Williams Pawelek Cedeno Dopiark (he is destined to be a DH anyway) That would be my offer.

That's extremely freaking arguable. I know. We just had about 30 pages worth. I wish the Cubs would have aquired arguably the best player in baseball.

Go bucks!

I wonder if 5 million dollars would change his mind? Give him the money in unmarked bills in a garbage bag on his way to Philly.

Why do you say they were going to suck. Before the fire sale they had one of the best pitching staffs in the majors. They also had a top 5 outfielder a very good 2nd baseman. They would have compteted, especially with what is going on in Atlanta. I totally disagree with that.

No kidding. The runaway choice for best team in the PCL is now limping. I think Brownlie is destined for the bullpen. I wonder if JC is still his biggest fan?

I think we have a winner. Give that man a cupie doll.

The off season is far from over but I would say Flordia, Atlanta, Baltimore, and the NY Yankees have had the worst off-seasons so far. The Marlins will be terrible next year. I would say the Mets by far have had the best off-season, it is not even close. If they get Manny it will be even better. After that I think Toronto has a good off-season as have Boston. I think the Cubs have upgraded the bullpen and in CF but must get a big bat for right field. To date I would give them a solid C+. But they need an A for the off-season to be a success.

And even easier to greatly overvalue, which is something the Cubs have been doing this offseason. how do you know when the value has not been completely or accurately measured. I had a similare debate with you when I first came here regarding clutch. the gist of my argument was clutch may not exist but the way sabr has attempted to measure it doesn't tell the whole story. I was treated as a blasphemer. http://www.sabr.org/cmsfiles/underestimating.PDF while Matt critiqued some of James' methods, the point is clear, sabr is a new science, and accurate formulas for measuring it do not yet exist. there are gaps in the information guys, and like I've said over and over here, the true measure of speed is not stolen bases alone, but most of the studies on the impact of speed focus solely on the stolen base. come on? blasphemer? I don't think anyone has ever written that a "saber" approach (whatever that is) has all the answers. I think people base their opinion on the best available evidence and adjust their opnion accordingly when new evidence is presented. There is a difference between statistically significant and meaningfully different. Pierre is faster than Wilkerson, no dobut. But I think the important question is: Does the atvantage of foot speed outweigh the disatvantage in other areas. To me it does not. In the other thread on Pierre in baseball discussions DK has a great post in relation to Juan's value. http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=27305&start=20

Probably less than 5 and more than 0. In otherwords, an insignificant amount. helping me to demonstrate my point about failing to measure everything or measure everything accurately. 'it's probably X, so let's not attempt to measure and conclude it's insignificant' while preventing this type of out isn't as valuable than avoiding an out while in the batter's box, over the course of 700 plate appearances the difference between a .325 and a .350 obp is 18 outs prevented. the difference between a .350 and .375 is 17 outs prevented. so let's say the number of times Pierre does this is 5, but you have to diminish that because its not as valuable as an out prevented in the batter's box. so let's say those 5 are as valuable as 3 outs prevented in the batter's box. then you have to add to that the number of reached on errors that Pierre will have over Wilkerson. give him 5 more. that's 8 outs prevented. just with those two items alone, Pierre closes the a 25 point gap in obp by half. look, adherents to sabr can pick apart each individual point I have made, but it doesn't take a statistical genius to come to the conclusion that speed is a very valuable commodity, the true value of which has yet to be measured and is therefore easy to ignore. Where do you get these assumptions from? They bare no resemblence to reality whatsoever. Wilkerson is not Mike Lowel. I think cpaptterson20 already mentioned Wilkerson has only hit into a handfull of DPs in his career. Peirre doesn't take the best advantage of his speed b/c he is not that good of a base stealer. However, it's fine if you think Pierre is a better leadoff hitter then Wilkerson.

Why do you say that? It is not just Stone who says that. All one has to do is watch him pitch.

You could be right. But to me taking time away from baseball was the best thing for him. Sometimes they way to solve a problem is to back away from it for a while, regroup, and try again. I do not believe that Corey has been sitting at home and working on his stamp collection. He probably has found someone he trusts and has been working on things. I am rooting for him, but I think the best thing for him and the Cubs is to part ways. I don't think he is stupid, stubborne or any other personality disorder peopel ascribe to him. I think he has gotten this far on talent alone and has been trying to rely on what got him to the show. It is a pitty he didn't have better teachers.

Probably less than 5 and more than 0. In otherwords, an insignificant amount.

I have nothing to say other then I think it is important that I make a statement in support of this move.

It's been written here before so this is nothing new. I'd see if Nomar is willing to play in the outfield. Side-arm thrower or not, he is likely better then who the Cubs will put out in RF or LF next year.