FergieJ31

Mizzou I'm with ya ... and that's a VERY steep price for the D-train. If I were Walt I woulnd't do that deal as it stands. I've been impressed by Reyes so far - he looks like the real deal.

Keep track of his Walks and Home runs too... He's basically playing defense-independent baseball. I think you guys are on to something - a new stat, we can call it DMAWBS (defense may as well be sleeping): DMAWBS = (BB + SO + HR) / PA Dunn eclipsed the 50% level in 2004: 51.2% So far this year he's on pace to do it again: 50.9% Compare with McGwire, who in '98 had a 56.8% DMAWBS, then a whopping 57.9% in 2000 and 55.5% in '01. Don't forget to include ground rule doubles. I also forgot HBP. And another technicality, like in-the-park HR's and GR doubles: some K's require a 1-3 putout. I really intended DMAWBS as nothing but a joke, but it is interesting to see the >50% cases like McGwire and Dunn. The last two instances before Dunn and McGwire were Jack Clark in '87 (DMAWBS 55.6%) and Jim Thome in '01 (54.5%), minimum 500 plate appearances. I was a little surprised Bonds massive '01 year wasn't in the top 5, at only 53.7% (he simply didn't strikeout enough). And TT, yes I'm aware of DI stats and Tango's work, though I'm more familiar with McCracken's DIPS study. I've been following Bill James and sabr since the mid-80's. FWIW, my presumption of everyone on NSBB is that they are generally aware of things like DI stats -- this is a smart crew. And it's never acceptable to "poke fun" at anyone via someone's post unless they are trolling (in which case just ignore the post altogether).

Yes indeed, just uber-idiotic. And who can ever forget Walker's walkoff walk against the Sox Jul 4 2004, completing the sweep ... good times.

Does that mean he only hits the ball 400 feet instead of 500? :wink: But really, what happened to his power this year? Only 4 dingers in 112 AB, playing in Fenway? His average is great but IsoD is still only 0.050. I'd pass on WileyMo but I love the idea of Betemit. What would a fair trade be - what would Atl want? Am I dreaming to think Ronny + Marshall might get their attention?

Hawkins was much better than Novoa. Agreed. Thirded. Some people forget that Hawkins was a stud in his first few months with the Cubs, until Dusty started trotting him out for the 9th inning.

Maybe you're just comparing it the Cubs ability to turn perfectly good lemons into rotten ones? That's not intended to be a slam, but when's the last time the Cubs saw improvement from players they've signed? And in all fairness, the Cards have definitely had their share of bad signings. People seem to remember the drastic turnarounds, but there are none to be seen this season. Jones, Barrett, Lee, Walker (the 04-05 versions), Ramirez, Rusch (in 2004), Neifi (late 2004-early 2005). And that's all in the last two and a half seasons. The Cubs' problem is that they don't know when to let go and quit while they're ahead, while STL does. I'd add Grudz to that list -- his numbers as a Cub compared to his Dodger years after '99. (Also better than his Cardinal 2005 year.) But I definitely intended my post to be a backhanded compliment to the Cards ... I don't believe it's luck that they tend to get the most out of mediocre players. It pains me to say it but it's superior coaching and a generally higher baseball IQ than the Cubs have.

This ballclub would drive me to drink too. Especially if I were the only coach that had a clue.

I know it's just one start but maybe - just maybe - the Cardinals' "turn lemons into lemonade" success rate isn't 100% after all...

As an offensive stat? I thought it would be obvious DMAWBS was suggested tongue-in-cheek. Gee, thanks for the flagrant insult.

This is true and I have proof! It is a strange planet called 'National'; here they are in their native garb watching the mother ship land: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/2006/07/10/mwF5xYhk.jpg

Keep track of his Walks and Home runs too... He's basically playing defense-independent baseball. I think you guys are on to something - a new stat, we can call it DMAWBS (defense may as well be sleeping): DMAWBS = (BB + SO + HR) / PA Dunn eclipsed the 50% level in 2004: 51.2% So far this year he's on pace to do it again: 50.9% Compare with McGwire, who in '98 had a 56.8% DMAWBS, then a whopping 57.9% in 2000 and 55.5% in '01.

What does that even mean? Why is he a gamer and not a "grinder" whats the difference? :x All semantics, but to me a grinder is a gamer minus the talent, or potential talent. They both hustle, but the gamer probably has more skilz. I <3 Freel and would LOVE to see him as an everyday player for the next 2-3 years. He's a Lenny Dykstra-type that would immediately help the Cubs at the top of the order and with his versatility on defense. I wish Hendry would actively pursue him but it won't happen.

It wasn't luck. It was good pitching. Remember that horrid 2002 season? The team scored 706 runs and posted a .321 OBP that year. In 2003, they weren't much better. They scored 724 runs and posted a .324 OBP. They made some strides in 2004 by improving the OBP to .328 and increasing their run output to 789, but they fell off dramatically last year with 703 runs and a .324 OBP. They weren't lucky in 2003. The pitching was so good that they won games in spite of the poor hitting attack. If you had great pitching, you might be able to get away with what Houston and the White Sox accomplished last year. But, it's risky to do nothing to improve a bad offense and assume your pitching will carry you. And right now you are seeing why that is such a risky game plan. The White Sox didn't sit on their hands after winning the World Series by living and dying on a strong pitching staff. They went out and improved the offense this offseason while also working on improving the pitching staff. Hendry had an average pitching staff at best last year. He had a horrible offense. Instead of focusing on improving the offense, he focused on speed and defense. Gee, why is this team 20 games under .500? And I'm no rocket scientist. I agree 100% with your analysis with respect to the White Sox and Astros. And I didn't know the diff between the Cubs' 2002 offense and 2003 offense was so marginal. Great post.

I agree with CubinNY. My forecast? High 90's. Just like the Cubs 2002 slogan.

Bummed but not too surprised. I do expect to see some coaches' heads start rolling soon. Wonderful news - very relieved to hear Z survived the Cora-ttack. Z is one tough hombre.

even hungover i bet he could still go yard on glendon.

My thought exactly -- an indictment of that jerk will be a bitter consolation prize but we'll take it.

That would be an order that even Dusty couldn't mess up! :D Actually he could .. he has enough man-love for Neifi to bat him 2nd even in that lineup :D

Teams avoid making big announcements during the ASB as an unwritten rule, but even if you extend your 'Dusty survives' time frame to a week from today I'd still be on your side. I don't see Dusty getting fired unless (until?) they go into another long funk, 5-6 game losing streak at least.

TT, how do you feel about the idea of signing CLee for LF and platooning MM and JJ in RF? Not a huge fan of Lee. Not great at avoiding outs, and he's going to get an outrageous amount of money. Murton/Jones in LEFT field would be okay I guess, but I'd still want/need someone along the lines of Abreu(or the like) at the other corner. That would be wonderful. As the trading deadline gets closer I'm rooting for the Phils to keep falling further off the pace to increase the likelihood of a trade. Bobby A would look awfully good patrolling RF.

TT, how do you feel about the idea of signing CLee for LF (assume a reasonable contract, not the silly 5/75) and platooning MM and JJ in RF?

No offense, but there's only one sig here that I really enjoy seeing ... OleMissCub, where are you? Bring back that sig of nine ridiculously hot sorority girls and let's have a thread to arrange them in a batting order :D

There will probably be several ex-Cubs to root for as the pennant races start gearing up. Right now I'm actually rooting for the Dodgers to win the west just for Nomar's sake (Lofton and Mueller too). Of course, if Maddog is shipped to SD I'll have a dilemma ...

I saw that and was disapointed as well. This team needs to be run by a witch or something since we believe in hexes, curses, and the evil media curse. The writer wrote that part of the article as though he were kidding...at least the Trib article. I think its ok to joke around a little now that the season has been saved. :roll: The SunTimes article highlighted that particular comment. It's hard to know the context or how it was said -- tongue-in-cheek, throw-away comment, etc. -- but it's really disappointing to hear Prior reference the goat / jinx thing, even jokingly. When players talk about it it only fuels the superstition. Lord knows we've all seen the goat enough on FOX Sports alone, complete with obnoxious graphics.

Seconded.