CubinNY

Where is your proof? The only quote that I have read from Hendry that had anything to do with Giles at all was this http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051116 cubs,1,1236145.story?coll=cs-home-headlines I need proof for saying I think Hendry asked about Giles? Are you serious? you are the one who is saying he did. From everything I've read, seen, and heard Hendry did not pursue Giles this off-season. To my knowledge there is not one story that would suggest he even talked to Giles agent. Meanwhile the newspapers were lousy with Furcal being wined and dined by Hendry. All this after Hendry makes it his business to go out and resign Neifi and Rusch lickity-split. After that it was on to setting the market for medicore relief pitchers. Meanwhile Giles was available the whole time. In each of the aformentioned signings there were corresponding news reports. I'm no Perry Mason but it dosen't take a slueth to surmize that Hendry didn't target Giles. Now you say he did. I say how do you know?

Where is your proof? The only quote that I have read from Hendry that had anything to do with Giles at all was this http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051116 cubs,1,1236145.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

I agree. He seems to have rubbed the wrong people the wrong way since they signed him. Which is why I don't undersdand why the resigned him. Some team is going to get a steady if not spectacular 2nd. I bet auggiedoggy is happy somewhere out there in Cubland :D They resigned him because he was a valuable trading piece to be used later on. I think it is pretty disingenious to say that it is stupid to trade him when you don't even know what he will bring in return. I don't think any player should be untouchable. While I love Walkers offense his defense is not that good and he is horrible in turning the double play and when you give up as many walks as the Cubs pitching staff tends to do it is important to have someone who can spin it at second. auggie doggy that is you.

I would hope so.

Your wish came true. Seriously, Barrett is the most underrated Cubs player I've ever watched. Absolutely no one on any message board seems to think he's any good. That is because he is not a good catcher. He is a decent hitter for a catcher though. Behind the plate he sets up too late, he hops around, he has bad footwork, and an inaccurate arm. I can't fault him for his pitch calling as I don't know if he calls the pitches.

I agree. He seems to have rubbed the wrong people the wrong way since they signed him. Which is why I don't undersdand why the resigned him. Some team is going to get a steady if not spectacular 2nd. I bet auggiedoggy is happy somewhere out there in Cubland :D

You forgot Hendry starts every sentence with "obviously". If it is so frickin obvious then do it. Do it.

What makes you think that if the Cubs got Lugo Cedeno would start at 2nd?

What is a "true" leadoff hitter. Paint a picture for me. Give me some numbers to work with.

If the Cubs trade decent prospects for Slappy color me upset. Crimson red to be exact. And on a side note. Why is Hendry taking every opportunity to dis Walker when he is trying to trade him?

I fume every time I hear about Walker possibly/probably being traded. we have one fee agent, ONE, over the 30 years I have followed baseball that took less money because he wanted to be a Cub. and he's a fine player, and exactly what the team needs. so we send him packing. Andre Dawson gave the Cubs a blank contract and told them to fill it in. But I agree. For some reason they don't seem to like him. Maybe he speaks him mind to them. You can't have insubordination on a World Series callibur team.

Mr. Miles, Why is Hendry targeting a SS?

I disagree. I just think those that know their antics won't be tolerated, or in some respects have been banned because of, are a little jealous of the contacts that this site has developed. Jealousy runs deep for some. Nah, they're not jealous - they just don't care. I visit both here and Desipio, and for different reasons. I was just pointing out a personal opinion with the sychophantic comment - but I really believe it, people love to jump on bandwagons here. In 03, love dusty, love hendry, - now, hate both. up until 2005, love corey - now, hate him. Everyone's always asking Bruce Miles questions when I think cpatt20 (even though I disagree with him on 99.9% of stuff), vance, diffusion, etc., know just as much if not more about the Cubs. edit: I will say congrats to the mods of this website for developing the contacts they have - it's very impressive and shows the amount of time put into this site. I just wish people had more of their own opinion sometimes, and were more supportive of the Cubs, example: booing Corey, how is that going to help anything when he's still a Cub? because everyone on this site, who all share the same opinion, have gotten together and decided it was a great idea to boo Corey. I missed the memo, because I still like Corey. I thinkt there is no way he can have as bad a season as he had last year. I'd give him one more shot and let him bat 8th. Pie will be up in 1.5 years. Why make a change now? But like I said. I missed the memo.

Please, someone help help me to figure out why Hendry is targeting a SS. Does he think Cedeno can't cut it?

ERA by Catcher: Molina: 3.39 (111 games) Mahoney: 3.56 (21 games) Diaz: 3.76 (30 games) It doesn't look like it to me. Hey, I thought catcher's ERA was a BS stat. It sure was with some here when Barrett's defensive deficiencies were being pointed out. He said that the Cardinals pitchers struggled when Molina was hurt. CERA is the easiest way to show what the pitchers' performance was. The problem is when you take that and say that Mahoney isn't that much worse defensively than Diaz. It's one thing to use it to prove a fact(that the Cardinal pitchers didn't really struggle without Diaz), it's another to use as an evaluation of a catcher. Nice. Perfect use of statistical data to prove one's supposition. WTG!

Last night BK and Diffusion did some figuring in this thread http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=27103&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=80 See Bob's Keeper post about 1/2 down. Boy that was a fun thread. Not what I'm looking for. Last week I asked what happened to hitters when they went to the 8-spot (in the NL), and bob answered that they lost slg and added obp. I'm asking the same thing this time, except from 2 to 1 specifically. Now, if he had, say, split pierre's PA's into his 1 and 2 spot numbers, that would be something OK. Someone with more access to data then I will have to answer that question. However, in the NL last year the "lead off" batter only lead off 41% of the time. I'd say those results suggest to not get too caught up in the need for a leadoff batter and just get a guy who has good OBP at the top of the order. But that's just me.

Last night BK and Diffusion did some figuring in this thread http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=27103&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=80 See Bob's Keeper post about 1/2 down. Boy that was a fun thread.

Me too.

We're top 5 in payroll and I'm sure Hendry is going to get someone on the cheap like Huff to play RF. Complete joke. How about making a splash by trading for a big bat, Mr. Hendry??? The thing about Huff is that he has been labled as "lazy" by sweet Lou. He had a very down year, but is a very good player (potentially). He can play a number of positions and is "getable". This would be a good example of buying low. In other words low risk high reward. If the Cubs can get him for one of the surplus arms in the pen I'd be real happy. Huff is one of those "in need of a change in scenary" type players. Playing in the "Friendly Confines" might help him turn the corner. If Hendry could somehow manage to get Kazmir at the same time I would symbolically kiss his feet. Williams, Brownlie, Sing for Huff and Kazmir. Before you scoff. I read somewhere that Tampa has soured on Kazmir a little. There are questions about his "make up" and mechanics.

We're top 5 in payroll and I'm sure Hendry is going to get someone on the cheap like Huff to play RF. Complete joke. How about making a splash by trading for a big bat, Mr. Hendry??? The thing about Huff is that he has been labled as "lazy" by sweet Lou. He had a very down year, but is a very good player (potentially). He can play a number of positions and is "getable". This would be a good example of buying low. In other words low risk high reward. If the Cubs can get him for one of the surplus arms in the pen I'd be real happy.

he'd be priority #1 I don't know if he is available. If the Mets get Manny he might be but he is a LFer. I have much hetero man-love for Dunn. I would at least talk to Cin He would be great for CF or RF Not worth the money It could happen. I'd like him, but for CF I think he still has a NTC? I could be wrong How can one not love a guy named Trot? But he is a platoon guy Not an upgade from Burnitz and more expensive I like him See Gibbons Good young guy, but isn't he a 1st baseman? He won't leave surf country thanks but no thanks to all the above. I have no idea. I'd go after Abrue, as if my job depended on it.

DISCLAIMER: TO ALL NEW PEOPLE CPATERSON20 HAS NOTHING AGAINST YOU. DON'T GET UPSET. THIS IS A JOKE. THE POST WILL AUTOMATICALLY PUT IN YOUR NAME. IT IS KIND OF LIKE A MAD LIB. You can go back to laughing at the Dodgers now. They are paying Furcal and Drew 25 million dollars a year for the next four years

Give the guy a break, it was his agent that said it "wasn't about the money", not Furcal. Standard agent-speak for press consumption. I say bully for Furcal, I'd do the same thing, and if honest with yourself, you likely would too. He's getting nearly $4MM/year more from LA than the Cubs would have paid him (3/39.5 vs. 5/47), that is one HECKUVA lot of money. I'd take the dough. Maybe so, we'll never know for sure. But I have to believe playing 1/2 his games for an extra year at Wrigley would inflate his numbers. He could also get hurt in year two (but then insurance would pay a large portion). Anyway, If I'm playing I take the years over a few million dollars. My next contract could always be my last.

13MM/ year versus longerterm security means its about the money... It's pretty obvious that it was always about the money. If it wasn't he would have re-signed with the Braves a long time ago. I think it is about the money but I think he is stupid at the same time. If he takes the Cubs offer (and I'm beside myself in joy that he didn't) he actually would have had more money. Now he will play in a pitchers park that will likely hurt his numbers and likely supress the value of his next contract. Not a smart move IMO.

I agree. The offseason isn't lost yet. Sign Abreu and get a decent stop gap for Pie (although I worry Pie will never live up to what we want him to be) CF-Lofton 2nd-Walker 3rd- Aramis RF-Abreu 1st-Lee C-Barrett LF-Murton SS-Ronny With Z and Prior the Cubs have the 1-2 punch needed to win in the playoffs. If they get anything from Wood it is gravy. The bullpen looks better and Dempster continues to have success. This team will win consistently.