Bruce Miles

In a heartbeat. I just don't see it happening anymore. Meh. If a team wants him they will still need to give Hendry fair value. He is under contract so the Cubs can always just keep in the pen as a mop up reliever / spot starter instead of give him away for nothing. A "you take my problem, we take yours" trade with Boston of Marquis for Crisp, however, would seem to look more likely. But I think Hendry has been looking to move him all offseason so this new development probably doesn't change his plans much. You would think Baltimore would want him in the Roberts package (maybe to help the Cubs offset Payton's salary). They seem to love Tracshel and Marquis is actually a step up from him at this point (sad as that may be). This is exactly right. There have been scouts through spring training already, and they've formed opinions on Marquis and others and have voiced them to their organizations. This little tempest really doesn't change anything as far as trade value goes. Disagree. Regardless of what a scout reports to his boss, a player's trade value generally goes down when he makes an outburst like this. If you can prove that, I'll agree with you. But Marquis already had run afoul of two of the most respected managers in the game: Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa _ because of performance. This makes three. And let's remember, teams weren't exactly lining up to pay him $21 million last year. If a team feels you can help it, they don't care what you say to reporters. I don't know if we're talking about the same thing here. I'm not saying that Marquis' comments are going to change whether or not a team wants him. What I am saying is that when it comes down to negotiating an actual deal, these comments hurt Hendry. Think about it. If Hendry and another GM were discussing a Marquis for players X, Y, and Z trade yesterday, the opposing GM, knowing what was said by Marquis and Lou today, now has the upper hand and can pull player Z from the equation. It may be minimal, but I do think that when comments like these are made, it hampers Hendry's ability. I don't know, but I see where you're coming from. I can tell you this: Even before a pitch was thrown this spring, scouts were downplaying Marquis' value. He is what he is, and everybody knows it. I can see it playing out like this Sunday: Marquis goes into Lou's office and says those troublemaking reporters blew this out of proportion. (We all have voice recorders, and I'd be glad to play the entire transcript of our interview with him; my guess is he's already seen the writing on the wall and chose to use us to grease the skids out of town.) He and the Cubs make nice for a while, and Hendry continues to try to trade him. Somewhere along the line in spring training, some team's pitcher gets hurt, and they're desperate. They need a guy who can eat up 200 innings, and they might even be willing to OVERPAY (in a sense) to get him. Guess who fits this bill? That team gets their guy, the Cubs get rid of a problem and a guy Lou really doesn't have much use for in the first place and everybody goes home happy. The Cubs might have to eat less than what they'd have to eat to get rid of Marquis in such a scenario. Bottom line: You can always find somebody to take your problem (somebody mentioned Hundley), and you can blame it on the media in the end. Then it'll be up to the pitcher to perform in his new city. And the cycle starts again. Just sayin'.

In a heartbeat. I just don't see it happening anymore. Meh. If a team wants him they will still need to give Hendry fair value. He is under contract so the Cubs can always just keep in the pen as a mop up reliever / spot starter instead of give him away for nothing. A "you take my problem, we take yours" trade with Boston of Marquis for Crisp, however, would seem to look more likely. But I think Hendry has been looking to move him all offseason so this new development probably doesn't change his plans much. You would think Baltimore would want him in the Roberts package (maybe to help the Cubs offset Payton's salary). They seem to love Tracshel and Marquis is actually a step up from him at this point (sad as that may be). This is exactly right. There have been scouts through spring training already, and they've formed opinions on Marquis and others and have voiced them to their organizations. This little tempest really doesn't change anything as far as trade value goes. Disagree. Regardless of what a scout reports to his boss, a player's trade value generally goes down when he makes an outburst like this. If you can prove that, I'll agree with you. But Marquis already had run afoul of two of the most respected managers in the game: Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa _ because of performance. This makes three. And let's remember, teams weren't exactly lining up to pay him $21 million last year. If a team feels you can help it, they don't care what you say to reporters.

In a heartbeat. I just don't see it happening anymore. Meh. If a team wants him they will still need to give Hendry fair value. He is under contract so the Cubs can always just keep in the pen as a mop up reliever / spot starter instead of give him away for nothing. A "you take my problem, we take yours" trade with Boston of Marquis for Crisp, however, would seem to look more likely. But I think Hendry has been looking to move him all offseason so this new development probably doesn't change his plans much. You would think Baltimore would want him in the Roberts package (maybe to help the Cubs offset Payton's salary). They seem to love Tracshel and Marquis is actually a step up from him at this point (sad as that may be). This is exactly right. There have been scouts through spring training already, and they've formed opinions on Marquis and others and have voiced them to their organizations. This little tempest really doesn't change anything as far as trade value goes.

Cubs go this-a-way: Pie, CF Fontenot, 2B Fox, DH Hoffpauir, 1B Murton, LF Soto, C Cintron, 3B Cedeno, SS Fuld, RF Marquis, P That darn Dusty and his forfeit lineups. 8-)

Had to go to the clubhouse to talk with Z and Hill. Cubs are up 4-3 heading to bottom 6. The writers usually lose track about this time because we're back and forth between the clubhouse.

It's Spring Training. I'd say he's got a shot at making the team. One-Two of Theriot, Fontenot, Cintron and Cedeno has to go so Bruce, which one goes, and WHERE do they go? The Cubs don't even know yet. Fontenot is hurt by being able to play one position. If no one is traded, he may go to Iowa. Too early to tell.

Top 4 Alfonzo strikes out Leone singles Ochoa strikes out Leone steals second base. Pinch hitter Felmy grounds out 1-3 Hill: 19 pitches, 13 strikes Total: 38 pitches, 26 strikes

It's Spring Training. I'd say he's got a shot at making the team.

Bottom 3 Fukudome walks and takes second on E1 (errant pickoff attempt) Lee flies to right Fontenot walks Pie flies to left Cintron loops single down LF line, scoring Fukudome and sending Fontenot to third; Cintron to second on throw Blanco strikes out Cubs 4, Giants 2

News flash: Fukudome leads off bottom 3 with a walk.

Top 3 Roberts singles Velez singles, Roberts to third; Velez takes second on the throw as Fukudome's throw shorthops third baseman. (Strong throw, though) Lewis pops out down the line to SS Harper hits sac fly, scoring Roberts Schierholtz called out on strikes Cubs 3, Giants 2 Hill: 19 pitches, 13 strikes

Bottom 2 Zambrano grounds out 1-3 Soriano flies to right Theriot grounds to first unassisted. Rich Hill coming in to pitch.

Top 2 Leone flies to right Ochoa called out on strikes PH Baker grounds out 1-3. Z: 15 pitches, 11 strikes Total: 34 pitches, 24 strikes

Bottom 1 Soriano walks Theriot strikes out Fukudome walks Lee singles to RF, Soriano scores on E9; Fukudome to second Fontenot hits a ground-rule double to deep left-center, scoring Fukudome Pie strikes out Cintron hits and infield single to second, scoring Lee Blanco flies out Cubs 3, Giants 1

Top 1 Roberts grounds out 4-3 on nice play by Font over the middle Velez reaches on E1 as Z fumbles bunt Velez steals second and goes to third on WP. Lewis strikes out swinging Harper loops single to left, scoring Velez Shierholtz bloops single to center Alfonzo pops out. 1-0 SF Z: 19 pitches; 13 strikes

With a couple quotes from Lou: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=144681&src=152

Cubs go this way: Soriano, LF Theriot, SS Fukudome, RF Lee, 1B Fontenot, 2B Pie, CF Cintron, 3B Blanco, C Zambrano, P

If not Zell, the next group would sell the naming rights, too.

So basically Hendry will get extended by default, because there's noone around to make any other decision. They have little other choice at this point. The new owner probably won't be in place until the next calendar year. Where are you going to get a different GM before a new owner is in place? Who would take the job, not knowing if he's going to be around in less than a year? And if Hendry turns in three playoff appearances since 2003, that will be seen as success by a lot of people, many of them potential buyers. So it's conceivable he could stick around a lot longer than just next year.

I may have to columnize on this later in the week, but the Cubs probably have little choice but to extend Hendry. The ownership situation is up in the air, and it's not likely to be resolved until sometime next year. Someone will have to oversee the free-agent and trade market next fall and winter. If the Cubs manage to get to the playoffs and go far this year, Hendry likely will be extended by whomever owns the team anyway. He's respected within the game to begin with. I'll have a few other twists and possibilities for you guys to chew on. Just some speculation on my part. But I'd look for Jim to be around for 2009 and maybe beyond.

It's OK, really. I hit Ryan with a lot of tough questions and all the numbers and said the stats say unkind things about him. That's part of this whole sausage-making process nobody sees. (Yes, I get a little hung up on the anonymity thing, probably because as a beat writer, it's a point of pride that if you write something critical, you show up the next day and are accountable. I'll stop short of calling some of these anonymous writers "cowards" because I do understand the the blogging world is different, but I do think it's easy and cheap to make fun and then hide behind a screen name. That's just me. And just like I'm one of the few beat writers to "get" and understand the whole statistical viewpoint, I actually like most of the blogs and get a kick out of them. Andy Dolan over at Desipio pokes fun now and then, but he puts his name on things, and I got to admit he gets me to laugh at my own expense a lot.) Ryan didn't like all the points I brought up, and he gave his response. He did so in a very friendly and professional way, too. I've pointed out his OBP and OPS for a long time. Let's remember: Knowing Lou, Ryan will either perform or they'll get somebody else. Whether they should have addresed SS during the off-season is a whole other story. They got what they got now.

This is like being torn between two parents. Can I just say that I love you both and hope you won't make me play favorites? Or is this coming to come up during the divorce proceedings? Wish I could tell you but I'm dealing with a phantom writer over there. When he or she puts his or her name on what he or she "analyzes," I'll have a better idea. Not a phantom writer. He's a writer and co-producer of NBC's The Office. He also used to write for Saturday Night Live. Didnt know any of that until today. Didn't see it until it was linked here. Don't really have a problem with it, but one still should put one's name on what one writes _ all the time.

This is like being torn between two parents. Can I just say that I love you both and hope you won't make me play favorites? Or is this coming to come up during the divorce proceedings? Wish I could tell you but I'm dealing with a phantom writer over there. When he or she puts his or her name on what he or she "analyzes," I'll have a better idea.

Not a chance I'll let 'em get to me. I simply went to Theriot and told him what the numbers said and asked for his response. People don't see the interview process, but I hit him with stuff he didn't like. And unlike some of those people who like to analyze other people's work, my name goes on what I do. And I show up to face the people I write about.

I think Bruce's silence on this indicates we'll soon hear a BIG announcement. I think it meant Bruce was at dinner and then didn't turn the computer back on once he got back to the condo. :D Don't know what the odds are; it all depends on what MacPhail wants to do. A trade late in spring training is more likely than one happening now. The Cubs will continue to try.