RynoRules

funny, from what i've read the phillies wish they didnt sign him to a no trade clause so they could trade abreu. I'm just shocked by that. He's one of the top 10 players in the game.

Hey, the Cubs were not mentioned as a suit in the Lee trade until the day it happened. Its pure speculation. You never know.

i dont want to tear it down but is hard to watch the changes. i agree it just isnt the same! Well if we want to be literal, Wrigley didn't have bleachers at all when first built, so our Wrigley isn't even the real Wrigley. BTW, I have a brick from Old Comiskey. I guess I consider it a part of Chicago. (ducks flying tomatos)

I see what you're saying about the re-treads, but there is some merit to having an ex-player manage. My business is crawling with creepy consultants. Many have not spent any time at all in my shoes. Yet they think they know how to do my job. Now I don't completely dismiss their suggestions. But I've been doing what I'm doing now for 14 years. And I've done pretty well for myself. I have a fairly good idea of what works and what doesn't. And it is hard to take orders from someone who has no clue about my job and how it's done. I think the same principle applies to managers. Players want to hear from a guy who's "been there, done that." They don't want to listen to someone who hasn't walked in their shoes. Right. Which is why catchers tend to make very good managers. They have both been there and have been in charge of executing the manager's wishes and strategy on the field. Yet another reason to dump Dusty in favor of Girardi.

Agreed w/ all of the above.

i know an astros fan that despises him. That person should check the Astros record more carefully. And then he/she should have to deal with Baker for a year.

I guess I disagree, but you are certainly entitled to your opinion.

I thought that at first too, but haven't they been giving up some passing yards recently? On the flip-side, Indy hasn' ben letting anyone move the ball at all, so I am nervous about Alex Smith in his first start trying to throw against Freeney and company.

Terry Glenn vs. Dal Anquan Boldin vs. Car Joe Horn (Quote: "Theres no dount I will play this week) vs. GB Brandon Lloyd vs. Ind LJ Smith v. Dal Pick 4.

BTW, the Alderson/Beane philosophy I cited is not speculation on my part. You can find it yourself in the book "Juicing the Game", which I am currently reading. Alderson refers to managers as being even less than middle management, that they are fungible, and that the GMs are the true face of an organization. Sounds a bit like a man whose nickname is "Crumbs", and who is currently a scout for the NY Mets.

I believe he was resigned or extended on Monday. And he deserves it: he coaxed good seasons out guys named Ohka, Turnbow and Doug Davis.

Agreed. Macha's entire roster has been turned over on him in the last three years, and he had rookies in seemingly a dozen positions, yet they challenged for the div. title up until the last 10-12 days. Not bad. The truth is that the Alderson/Beane philosophy is that managers are fungable and not worth keeping if they don't get with the program.

That's a load of poop. I negotiate deals all the time in my practice - that's not a significant gap. More likely that they had a falling out.

Okay, so there is only one person in all of baseball that you would want more than Brian Giles. Good. And I agree, that Giles is likely more "getable". Manny may be on the block, but the Cubs don't have the players to trade for him. Are you gonna trade DLee to get Manny? And as far as the purpose of our discussion, which is RF, Manny cannot play RF by any stretch of the imagination. So, to get back on topic, is there any other RFer who is "getable" that is better than Brian Giles? Probably correct, but getting him would allow us to move my new favorite player, Murton, to RF, where Dusty can test his theory that he has no arm. That was the point of suggesting Manny, but I digress. And I do not see Abreu getting moved anywhere. He is the most underrated player in the game, and the Phils would essentially be pulling out a 97' Sox-like white flag in terms of their chances in 06'. They won't do that - they are only a no. 1 starter away from being a serious contender, IMO.

Bingo - thus I am starting Ronnie Brown over Davis until it is evident that Capers is not full of it.

Williams will get some carries, but Brown will still be the feature back. He's the long-term there in Miami. Williams will be gone after this year one way or another. That's pretty much what I was thinking. As for Wayne, I have two front-line WRs in Moss and Horn, plus I have Glenn, Chambers, and LJ Smith, so I figured I could take the risk (and now Boldin as well). Again, I am just hedging that one of the two RBs will pan out. If they do, score one for me. If not, I am probably in no worse spot than I was before.

Thanks to Tim et al. for letting me be a part of this place and sounding off. Also thanks to the numerous members whose points of view have enlightended me in several ways.

Which Giles do you mean, Vance? I'd take either one!! I am guessing that Vance means "Brian", who is being strongly pursued by most of the amatuer GMs on this Bd. He's definitely someone I would like to have if we can't have someone a little younger.

Interestingly, I have all three players you'd trade on my own fantasy team. I'd hesitate to do the trade because of all the touchdowns Davis has been getting (second in the league after tonight's game). Ya know, I went ahead with the deal after I saw what Davis did. My team is 1-3 and I need a boost. Davis isn't getting any yardage so he's not an-all-around fantasy back anymore. I am taking a risk that either Davis or Brown will go nuts here in the next few weeks, and Boldin is probably a safer fantasy bet at this point than Wayne (at least based on the first 4 weeks of the season). Cross your fingers for me.

Team name = "Coached By Dusty" OK, pretty weak, but I'll think of something better.

I receive: Dominick Davis Ronnie Brown Anquan Boldin I trade: Reggie Wayne Stephen Davis Eli Manning Note: I already have Joe Horn and Randy Moss at WR, and Kerry Collins at QB. Yay or nay?

assuming the accuracy of your stats, that's the best and most lucid argument re Dusty's incompetence that I have read...ever. You just sold me big-time. Well done. =D>

I agree with one exception - I stopped loving Sammy when he walked out on us last year and then lied about it. I had defended him on all counts until then. Off topic, but still.

I guess I disagree. If he wants 4 years, he gets 7-8 mill from me. I'd happily do 2 yrs at 9-10, with an option for a 3rd at 11 or so. RR, have you looked at Giles' numbers? Not only are they outstanding in their own right, but they are exactly what the Cubs offense has been lacking. Did I mention he bats left-handed? Has an above average arm for RF? He is a hard-nosed player who leads by example and generally keeps his mouth shut. What more do you need to hear? Now that you know that he isn't 36 or even pushing that number, the likelihood of him producing his normal numbers for the next 2-3 years goes up. So if you are still not on the Brian Giles bandWGN, then who's are you on? Who is better than Giles? First, let me correct myself: he is pushing 35, as his b-day is in January. Here are his stats, and I agree that they are very good: Season 158 545 92 164 38 8 15 83 13 .301 .423 .483 Career 1360 4656 863 1393 297 47 246 858 93 .299 .413 .542 Here are Manny's: Season 152 554 112 162 30 1 45 144 1 .292 .388 .594 Career 1686 6124 1178 1920 411 15 434 1411 34 .314 .409 .598 I just love Manny's consistent production. I don't dislike Giles - in fact I think he'd be a very nice addition. I prefer Manny b/c he is a once-in-a-generation type, IMHO, and his last 5 years have been akin to Frank Thomas' run in the eary and mid nineties. I admit it: I am drinking from the Manny Kool-Aid. Giles may be more realistic in terms of his "get-ability", that is unless his affinity for So-Cal is more truth than supposition.

:lol: My guess is that Sammy's ample ego won't allow him to retire into obscurity a la McGwire. He'll hand around, and if Japan is the only option, he'll go there.