biittner77

The usual script for this type of move is Kendall has a good month, Hendry signs him to an extension than he stops hitting completely. If he came at a reasonable price and he's backed up by a cheap option like Soto then it's not so bad.

Considering the way Pie has been playing for us, I agree. Pie in the game means better all around OF defense. Any ball Pie gets to that Jones or Pagan couldn't means turning an XBH into an out.

Much as I like Matt Murton I dislike the idea of batting him middle of the order when his biggerst strength-OBP- is so desparately lacking at the top of the order.

Thank goodness. He's still rapidly approaching Earl Cunningham-land. I'd say he was already there but he hasn't bought a house yet.

The truth is that the Cubs are an easy target until they win and that sports analysts are lazy. The Cubs winni ng would give them a great story for maybe as much as a year. The Cubs not winning gives them a well of crap to talk and write about for many years. Thinking of new things to write and or talk about takes creativity and work. The Beano Cook's of the world can just pull up the Cubs are cursed story from their files. Changes a couple names and they're set.

Random thoughts: I'm surprised Bonds hasn't gotten drilled much this last week. If I were a pitcher I'd rather be the guy that got suspended for putting a 4 seamer in the middle of his back than the guy that gives up 755 or 756. For those that like Bonds' OBP consider the wear and tear that must have on his legs. Why didn't Dusty Baker talk about Bonds clogging up the bases? Speaking of Dusty, I watched the first 4 innings of last nights game and he didn't mention that he was in the on deck circle when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record. People who use the "Bonds never failed a drug test" logic to defend Bonds are beyond dumb. That's like saying someone has never guilty of speeding since they never got a ticket- and nevermind the radar dectector on the dashboard. Barry Bonds is the modern day Ty Cobb.

Maybe the Pirates think they can flip Morris to a contender sometime this month. Morris certainly clears waivers given his salary. That would turn this deal into Davis + PTBNL for some other prospects that presumably are farther away but have more upside.

I would like to invoke my rights under the 18th amendment and not respond. Or as Barry Bonds might say, "I don't even know what a slumpbuster is"

Most HOF players are largely forgotten. That we're still talking about Joe Jackson and Pete Rose is proof that there really isn't any advantage for either of them to actually be included.

The Cubs themselves could make all of this easier by not chosing again and again the mediocre veteran over the talented but unproven rookie. Last night for example, why did they put Floyd in against a LH starter when they have Fox on the bench? If they brought Fox up for a look see when would they find a better opportunity to see what he could do? I don't pretend for a second that Jake Fox is the answer in RF but if Murton can't play RF because he lacks power well Fox has more power than Floyd, Jones or Pagan. So why is he rotting on the bench? The answer is simple. Cliff Floyd groused about not getting PT and only injuries have kept him out since. Forget Murton, forget Fox. Pagan has outperformed Floyd. Angel fricking Pagan has better numbers than Floyd. The problem is that the Cubs are dumb and they pander to vets even when they don't perform.

You forgot the half hour dedicated exclusively to Yankee and Red Sox highlights.

Isn't Garland "pitching through pain" right now? Why would anyone trade for potentially damaged goods. I doubt anyone not named Jim Hendry would give up very much for Marquis. The Cubs have a much better chance of making a noticeable upgrade in RF or CF.

He's on the 15-day DL with a bad hamstring and won't be able to come off the DL until after the trading deadline. But he'd come off the DL within a week of the deadline so if Hendry really wanted him his DL stint probably wouldn't make a difference. There's no league rule against trading for a player that's on the DL. That's how the Cubs got Rondell White and how he became referred to as RonDL White.

Couple thoughts: against LH pitching: Cedeno SS Theriot 2nd DeRosa RF Against RH pitching: Theriot and Cedeno split time at SS- how much depends on Cedeno Derosa and Fontenot split time at 2nd 60/40 The Cubs haven't promoted anyone to "showcase them for a trade". That might happen with a pitcher sometimes, I suppose, but I can't see what you'd learn from watching a guy play in the majors for a couple weeks. Any team interested in Fox for example would probably rather scout him in AAA then have the Cubs start his option clock just to see him get a couple spot starts. Pie has been up and down twice and has struggled. Yet he is the first guy that other teams ask about when they talk trade with Hendry.

IIRC Dunn and Kearns were close friends when they played together for the Reds. That and several truckloads of money could get Dunn to sign in DC. I don't see Dunn and the face of the franchise type player. His skills don't appeal to traditionalists who see the Ks and the batting average and don't care about none of them "new aged" stats that bloggers living in their parents basements make up. I could see Dunn signing with the Tigers in the offseason. There he could play 1st base or even better DH, make lots of money and still have a chance to win a championship.

Is Theriot that much better than Pagan though? In that scenario, I'd rather have DeRosa play second and Pagan CF. The offense would be similar between Theriot and Pagan (and right now possibly even a small edge to Pagan), and the defense of course would be much better with DeRosa at second and Pagan in CF. Pagan's OPS vs. LH pitching is a little below .800 which isn't bad provided he continues to slg over .500 against them. That doesn't seem very likely based on what he did last year. Theriot's OPS vs LH is about .750 with a good and more likely sustainable OBP of ~.375 I'd rather have Theriot's .375 OBP batting 2nd aginst LH than I would have Pagan batting 7th. Theriot only has a .346 OBP against left-handers this year, not .375. If it were just a battle between the two of them offensively against LHP, I wouldn't mind if the answer was Theriot-the two of them are very close in that department. When you consider the defensive ramifications of putting DeRosa or Theriot in CF though, that makes it much more of an edge for Pagan. Huh, I overestimated his OBP and under estimated his slugging. In the end I was still pretty close with his OPS. Anyway, I don't see Pagan as being much more than adequate in CF. The fact that they kept Jones in CF and Pagan in RF while Floyd was out suggests that the Cubs aren't exactly in awe of his CF defense either. I guess based on experience Pagan does have the edge defensively. He justs makes too many outs.

Is Theriot that much better than Pagan though? In that scenario, I'd rather have DeRosa play second and Pagan CF. The offense would be similar between Theriot and Pagan (and right now possibly even a small edge to Pagan), and the defense of course would be much better with DeRosa at second and Pagan in CF. Pagan's OPS vs. LH pitching is a little below .800 which isn't bad provided he continues to slg over .500 against them. That doesn't seem very likely based on what he did last year. Theriot's OPS vs LH is about .750 with a good and more likely sustainable OBP of ~.375 I'd rather have Theriot's .375 OBP batting 2nd aginst LH than I would have Pagan batting 7th.

There are pitchers in the HOF that admitted to throwing spit balls. There are probably at least 5 guys in the HOF that used ampetamins. The question is not whether Bonds took steroids, he did, the question is do you really care/ does that negate the HOF resume he already had before he broke the HR record? My guess is that the guys from the 70s (like a certain ESPN "Analyst" who is quick to remind everyone that he is the HOF) aren't going to keep Bonds out because if they had steroids in the 70s players would have used them and they know it.

While we're floating unconventional ideas out there, can Derosa play CF? He wouldn't have great speed but if he could not embarass himself it would be much more useful than having Pagan be the RH part of a platoon. Assuming Cedeno replaces Moore the lineup against LH pitching would be Soriano Theriot - 2nd base Lee Ramirez Derosa Fox Cedeno .100 hitting catcher du jour pitcher Didn't the Cubs toy with having Theriot play CF in ST?

What do the Cubs really need? A droid that understands the binary language of moisture vaporators

The Cubs have needed a RH version of Matt Stairs for several years now.

I disagree, Wood's career has a Sturm und Drang quality that is undeniable.

If I understand my rules, the PTBNL cannot be Nady. Hmm why is that? PTBNL can't have played in the same league as the team he's going to for more than x number of games. The PTBNL will be a hard throwing zero control project that we'll never hear from again. Not sure if anyone's mentioned this but if the Pirates actually start Izturis will they consider picking up his option? That would be beyond dumb.

The O's are potentially a dumping ground for Izturis. Izturis and a PTBNL for Bynum. The PTBNL would be Bynum.

I'm going to take a shot at guessing why someone would vote Ichiro- besides the super cool acting stupid on purpose that's become so fashionable here lately. Ichiro wouldn't have to change positions. He also would push Soriano out of the leadoff spot thus readjusting the lineup to maximize talent. Meanwhile Arod would have to return to a more difficult position mid season. That argument is logical except for the fact that Arod is much better than Ichiro or anyone else in MLB for that matter.