RynoRules

I still don't understand why you feel that way. If they ink Schmidt and manage to deal for a corner OFer of value, will your opinion change? No. MLB is currently giving birth to a flock of albatrosses. This pattern of giving so-so players superstar contracts based on one great year is going to come to an ugly end. There's no way this level of stupidity can remain unacknowledged for long. Understood and agreed - but why does that mean we should not spend and try to improve now? If you are worried about cash, the Cubs likely have been sitting on tens of millions in profit for years. They must have enormous operating income between tickets, concessions, merchandising, etc. I still do not understand why you feel this way.

I said it before and I'll say it again, I have no problem with this opt-out. Agreed. By the time the opt-out is an issue he will be on the down-side of what will (hopefully) have been a great career, and his production will likely no longer justify his salary, largely b/c he plays a position that is brutal on the body. Look at Scott Rolen.

Dumbest. Contract. Ever. Not. Even. Close. Are you talking dumbest in hindsight, or dumbest at the time the decision was made? To me this is plainly a terrible deal, no hindsight necessary. How about both? The Dreifort and Neagle deals were dumb "ab initio" (at the time they were made).

Stay away, Jim...don't be drawn in by the light...

Dumbest. Contract. Ever. Not. Even. Close. I was thinking the Dreifort contract; maybe the Neagle deal. Burnett may join their ranks eventually.

I still don't understand why you feel that way. If they ink Schmidt and manage to deal for a corner OFer of value, will your opinion change?

Wow. I still think pierre's was worse. At least Matthews can hit for some power.

http://edbatista.typepad.com/edbatista/images/2005/02/Dr%20Evil.jpg

Wolf I get. Counsell I don't get, unless Bynum and Cedeno are goners.

Definitely the exception and not the rule in the last 10-15 years.

Yankees Do you mean the 50's Yankees? :wink: Depends on how you define "mainly", Tim. if "mainly" is "half or more", you have to look back to the 96' team to get close. Here are the major contributors from that year, position players first: C Joe Girardi - nope 1B *Tino Martinez - nope 2B Mariano Duncan - nope 3B *Wade Boggs - nope SS Derek Jeter - yup LF Gerald Williams - yup CF #Bernie Williams - yup RF *Paul O'Neill - nope DH #Ruben Sierra - nope Jim Leyritz - yup Darryl Strawberry - nope Tim Raines - nope Cecil Fielder - nope Andy Fox - yup Ruben Rivera - yup Charlie Hayes - nope Total Position Player tally: "Nopes win", 10 - 5. Now the picthers: SP *Andy Pettitte - yup SP *Jimmy Key - nope SP *Kenny Rogers - nope SP Dwight Gooden - nope SP David Cone - nope SP Ramiro Mendoza - yup CL John Wetteland - nope RP Jeff Nelson - nope RP Mariano Rivera - yup RP Bob Wickman - yup RP *Dale Polley - yup Brian Boehringer - yup Jim Mecir - nope Total Pitchers tally: "Nopes" and "Yups" tie, 6-6 Total Roster Tally: "Nopes" win, 16-11. Therefore the majority of the Yankee's 1996 roster was not homegrown. Off hand, I'd wager that you'd have to go back to the 90' Reds or 91' Twins to find a roster where the majority of players came up with the team.

I am in your camp - let someone else be won over by GMjr's 1 good year (out of 10) in the bigs.

YES! hope its true Sweet Holy Moses, do my eyes deceive me? Is this a dream? He'd be nuts not to say "yes" to 15 per year! We appreciate you resignation more than ever, Mr. MacPhail. EDIT: And the more I see her, the more I believe that Muskat is nothing more than a tool of the org used to diminish expectations. "They are talking trade. I wish I knew with who." Nice job of reporting there, Carrie. Its a sort of "agent of the system" thing, for you Matrix fans.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: LOL, this guy seems to be the only one who seems to "get" it. Heh, some of those reactions are pretty funny.

Did they really give him 5/45? Did I read that right?

Too bad we don't want him, but if its true that LaRussa, Cox, and Little (who put up pretty well with a free-spirited Red Sox group) couldn't deal with him, I think that there might be something to his rep. I also think Hendry is gun-shy because of his injury history (though not recent); we haven't had too much luck in that dept as of late.

Holy cripes they have a lot of bullpen guys. They must want Eyre or Dempster. How about both of them for Arroyo, then the Reds can use their plethora of relievers in every inning of the game.

Please make this happen Jim! You have given us reason to believe it can!

I'd much rather deal Eyre and free up some salary space, but I hear what you are saying.

There are a couple of advantages to this signing beyond batting. His defense was actually better then league average (I can't remember what factors were considered in this), his speed of course can replace the speed of Pierre mostly (but the importance of speed is of course a huge huge debatable discussion), and the thing I'm most impressed about is his 22 OF assists last year. A strong arm is a BIG help. How many times did we give up the extra base because of our crappy OF arms? Not just last year either.

Agreed. A guy in my office said Michael Kay had Lou on his radio show for a half hour Friday. He was talking about getting a young bench. Floyd doesn't seem to fit that bill. But, if he was a bench guy, I'd live with it. He also said they have an offer out to Gary Mathews to play CF. GMj scares me. His 2006 was worthy of a $10 million deal, but his career screams 4th outfielder. He's just so inconsistent. He's been abysmal in some years, but has had some good years as well, only in hitters parks. I agree but Mathews would just cost money while another CF may cost players. If the Cubs have the cash let them spend it and keep their players old and young and then trade the players to aquire the guy they want. IMO, it leaves the resources free and open. Yes, if cash is limited then you do the player trade. I'd rather spend on FA than trade myself. But, Mathews is a guy capable of completely crapping the bed next year. I've heard he might get $10 million. To me, if Drew is getting $14 then you've got to take him over a $10m GMj. If the list of possible CFers includes Roberst, Lugo and Matthews, GMJr goes to the very bottom of my list. If I could spend another 4 mill and get Drew, or trade for Manny and put Alfonso in Cf, by all means do it.

Why would I ask the Mets? Omar Minia is a spend-whore if ever there was one. That team was dead as recently as two seasons ago, and just got off the mat by outspending the entire league. They aren't winning based solely on Wright and Reyes.

If the payroll is now $120M, they should be able to get him. If it's still in that $110-115M range, then it would seem they would need to dump 2 of the following 4 salaries for some margin: Dempster, Eyre, Jones and Izturis. For argument's sake, I am assuming Barrett and Howry are going nowhere. The only name I have read to be listed under the "safe" column is Murton. Thus I think Jones and Eyre are strong candidates to be traded. Jones has a very reasonable contract, and Eyre is a member of an exclusive fraternity of overpaid baseball players known as left-handed relievers. Dempster is also good trade bait with Wood back in the fold, especially after Jim gave him that unsolicited vote of confidence last week.

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight. Vance and I are agreeing on way too much these days. If Jim lands Schmidt I might even be able to forgive the DeRosa signing.

Agreed.