nilodnayr

Sure it is, I don't see them having the resources to make any big splashes until they trade for someone like Renteria. Which I don't consider that big, unless you expect to contribute like he did last year compared to his career norms. We got a 640 OPS out of SS, so even if you expect a 756 OPS from him, thats a big improvement. I don't think he'll repeat his 860, but his 2006 performance of 797 is not unreasonable.

Liberty Media bought the braves in Feb and decreased their payroll by a couple million. This is actually a good proxy for the cubs. IIRC there was unknown and such and it really handcuffed the braves in the offseason.

National League Champtionship Didnotplays?

dumb. I don't understand comments like this. It's not like the organization doesn't want him to be a second baseman or is only moving him because he's blocked by someone. They understand his value is higher at 2B than in LF. It's pretty clear that there isn't much hope of him being an adequate 2B. Just because we wish we could have his bat in the middle infield, doesn't mean the scouts and coaches are wrong. Also this wasn't just directed at you. I compared it to BJ Upton earlier, and I think the same thing applies here. The DRays gave Upton EVERY opportunity to take over an infield spot, it ended up he couldn't do it and they moved him. I think the frustration is that the Cubs are pulling the plug too early. I'm not on the coaching staff, I don't see him play, but his optimal value is in 2B, I'd rather pull the plug late on him there than early.

I would love to take advantage of the messy situation and incompetent management in LA and land as many of their young players as possible. Loney, Kemp, and Ethier are all there for the taking. Billingsley hasn't been involved in the controversey, but up until very recently was clearly undervalued by the team. Its been mentioned before, but we should offer up Lee + for Loney, Kemp, and whoever else we can get. Kershaw isn't realistic, but DLee still is a big name and signed to a fairly resonable contract. We could not only clear out a lot of money, but also improve the team if we take advantage of the situation.

Maybe if we had missed the playoffs this year we coul talk about trading our franchise players and blow up the organization so we could rebuild the right way. Since we made the playoffs, we are pretty much stuck with making whatever moves we can around these guys and their contracts that will increase. You are right. I did mention that Hendry would never do it. Maybe a new owner will bring a new GM who may be much more progessive. I'm not really even sure it's a Hendry thing. There's not many owners/GMs that would. However it should have been done last offseason, because other than Soriano we had those same trade chips. Maybe the new owner can get Shapiro from Cleveland. DEPO

It will be interesting to see what the market is for closers/top relievers this winter. Its looking like the supply is going to outweigh the demand, so I'm not sure we'd be able to get full value for Dempster. Although, I hope its something the FO will at least explore.

I hope we do not sign a FA for CF. Hunter, Jones, Cameron, and Rowand are all going to land boku bucks. If we are going to go outside the organization, I'd like to see them get Covelli. The BoSox are most likely going to move him to make room for Ellsbury. They aren't really looking to upgrade the major league team so we can probably dish some pitching prospects for him.

Gotta love Jones' 5.6% HR/FB rate. If EVERY ball he put into play was a fly ball, he would have had 21 HRs with that rate. PATHETIC.

I'm guessing he'll sign for around 8M. Thats a good point about the Braves having to clear salary. They are dropping 13.5M from Andruw. Tex is probably going to eat up about all of that. Huddy increases 7M, Smoltz increases 6M. I assume Dotel will decline the 5.5M option, and even if he doesn't the braves can still void it. Thats pretty much all of their major differences since most of their players are pre-arbi. So basically, they need to clear 13M to keep their salary around the same, NOT including Glavine. Renteria has to go and he has to go for a pre-arbi player(s).

if we honestly believe soriano hits better with no one on base, we should probably keep leading him off and letting him start the game and bat behind the pitcher I'll amend your statement slightly and say that if we honestly believe a hugely expensive power-hitting free agent hits better with no one on base, we shouldn't sign him. Since we did sign him, I'd like to see him drive in someone other than the invisible man. 70 RBI is pathetic for a .560 SLG. If some of his personal numbers suffer a bit I'd be willing to accept that if his RBI's go up. Propping up personal stats of a selected player is not a valid reason to reduce run production. i completely agree that we shouldn't have signed him. that being said, i do not in anyway believe that he forgets how to hit as soon as there's a guy on base. he should be hitting lower because he's a high-power low-obp guy, not because of any false situational silliness. If he wants to lead off so badly, I say we pull a TLR and bat the pitcher 8th and someone else 9th.

What? So soon? His days as a prospect are numbered then too. Not if he can play center. His bat would play at either position. Exactly, his bat is as valuable at CF. But then his days in the organization might be numbered. Again, this isn't 100% but it's just the impression I've gotten - he was listed as a CF when he was called up (and is listed as an OF on the 40-man) and he played CF the last 2 weeks at Iowa when there were other CF options and no 2B options with the I-Cubs. Why was he switched in the first place? Was he pretty rough defensively? Yeah - his range is good but his glovework and footwork is horrible. It was bad enough that the Cubs were getting him OF time to make him a utility guy but now he might be sticking in the OF (he has the range, arm and speed to stick in CF if he can learn the position). Think B.J. Upton. but not as good. We can reunite Eric with Corey for Tejada. Of course Corey has to resign with Baltimore, although I doubt he will be demanding a huge contract. But now they are both CFs. Maybe Eric can replace Corey.

He is, he stunk it up in the PCL. He was out OPS'ed by every regular on the I-Cubs.

For reference, the Cubs game 239/304/369 from their catchers this year.

What? So soon? His days as a prospect are numbered then too. Not if he can play center. His bat would play at either position. Exactly, his bat is as valuable at CF. But then his days in the organization might be numbered. Again, this isn't 100% but it's just the impression I've gotten - he was listed as a CF when he was called up (and is listed as an OF on the 40-man) and he played CF the last 2 weeks at Iowa when there were other CF options and no 2B options with the I-Cubs. Why was he switched in the first place? Was he pretty rough defensively? Yeah - his range is good but his glovework and footwork is horrible. It was bad enough that the Cubs were getting him OF time to make him a utility guy but now he might be sticking in the OF (he has the range, arm and speed to stick in CF if he can learn the position). Think B.J. Upton.

Andruw

I'd say its about 75/25 he goes to ATL. I hope that doesnt get in the way of the Marshall for Renteria trade I'm hoping for.

Blanton's interesting. I was wondering who would be a good option to put in the rotation should the Cubs trade away a bunch of young arms for offense. Beane was asking the world for Blanton earlier. But why shouldn't he. I don't know what the new inefficiency is going to be, but injury history sure didn't work out that great this year. I don't think hes going to do a 180 completely, but rather create the right mix of dependable players and injured/high upside guys. Basically, Blanton is the ying to Harden's yang. Of course Beane will listen to offers, but I think he'll have to be blown away.

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade. I don't see alot of payroll being cleared up. They owe an additional 20 mil worth of salary to Z, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, and Derosa compared to '07. That's more than salaries of the FAs that would leave. They'd have to unload salary to take on additional salary. They already have to have a large increase to keep a somewhat similar roster, adding someone like Renteria/Tejada, without them taking on salary doesn't seem like it fits. Which is unfort. b/c this team is still one (great/Arod) to 3 (good) players from becoming good enough to contend. I would strongly consider dealing away Jones. I think Marquis might actually be tradeable. And a black horse candidate for money saving potential is DeRosa. He's had a nice year, but nice isn't what this team needs. He's basically a slightly over 100 OPS+ guy the last two years, but a bit below for his career. He'll be 33 as well. I don't think he's a lock to repeated his 2007, in which case, I'm not convinced the Cubs would be unable to get similar production out of Patterson, Theriot, Fontenot, Cedeno. Plus, I think DeRosa would actually be valued relatively high on the trade market, as opposed to being a salary dump. They could actually get something for him, and save some millions in return to spend on a real SS, RF or CF. I agree, Marquis might be tradeable. If you look at the other pitchers available like Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva who are going to command in the range of 4/32, Marquies at...son of a backloaded contract. Well, he'll be getting 8M per, but it will only be for 2 years. That might be attractive to teams.

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade. I don't see alot of payroll being cleared up. They owe an additional 20 mil worth of salary to Z, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, and Derosa compared to '07. That's more than salaries of the FAs that would leave. They'd have to unload salary to take on additional salary. They already have to have a large increase to keep a somewhat similar roster, adding someone like Renteria/Tejada, without them taking on salary doesn't seem like it fits. Which is unfort. b/c this team is still one (great/Arod) to 3 (good) players from becoming good enough to contend. Well Tejada and Renteria really aren't in the same boat. Renteria is 6M, Tejada is 13M.

So, I fell asleep during both games. I would blame the game times, or my comfortable couch, or my girlfriend sleeping on me, but I blame the cubs.

I love the look on the batters face.

The tribe have fallen in love with Cabrera, and Peralta has had a decent resurgence coming off the sophomore slump. The easy thing to do is to get rid of Barfield and use Cabrera at second. Shapiro knows its selling low, but this a really good team that doesn't need major overhaul, so why not just tweak. Peralta is actually an interesting study. His 2006 and 2007 peripherals are nealy identical, save for HR/FB. The 14% he posted this year is probably more inline with what you can expect going forward as opposed to his 9.2% last year. And really, hs 2005 peripherals were nearly identical as well except for HR/FB (18%) and BABIP (about 20-30 points too high). He strikes out in 1/4th of his ABs so he never going to hit for much average. Basically I think he is what he was this year, a below average ranged SS with a 270/340/430 line. A little more pop and a little more patience than the average SS, but nothing spectacular.

I'm done being nice Man, I don't think you know the exact meaning of donkey punch...

I think Soto needs to sit them all down and have them watch his ABs and tell them what hes thinking. "You see that pitch right there? It did not appear as though it was going to cross the white hexagonal rubber thing in front of me inbetween my knees and my letters so I did not swing. Thats allowed in this game" "See, look at that, that happened 4 times in that plate appearance, and I was awarded first bases. Sori, see how I'm jogging gingerly down there, I know your quad is hurting, if you do this you don't even have to run!" Sori replies "But, but, but, I thought that if the pitch is at your eyes you have to swing?!?!" Soto rewinds the tape...