samhainn77

So do I and all the options are bad except finding a CFer or keeping JJ. Keeping Jones and playing him in CF is not a bad option. It's a mediocre option, but not bad. I think that's what he was saying, the options are bad except .... keeping JJ. I think the bad options are using DeRosa in the OF and playing Theriot everyday, or starting Pie. Jones in CF is the best realistic option at this point, unless some trade target becomes available. I would have liked to have seen Jones/DeRosa platoon in Right, Soriano Center, and Marcus Giles at 2b. At least then Izturis in the 8 spot would be our only completely useless hitter.

I just want to get a RH platoon partner for Jacque in CF and call the OF done. Yep. Heck, I'd still put Soriano in CF and get a guy like Craig Wilson to platoon in RF with Jones. Easily the most productive and reasonable option remaining. I wonder if the thought has even crossed hendry's mind.

If they were healthy they should bump Marquis, the worst of the group, from the rotation. But that won't happen. exactly that would be the logical move but it wont happen so would a 6 man rotation throw off all the pitchers rythem and preparations to much to go with it? Oh, I should have added, yes, a 6 man rotation would be bad. I wouldn't want guys with control issues (pretty much all of them) changing their routines and risking further problems. Zambrano on 5 days rest doesn't excite me. If you did something crazy, like pair Hill with Miller and try to get 5 out of the starter and 4 out of the 2nd guy, then maybe you could. But I think that would be hard to get right. Has anyone even heard anything about Prior? I mean even with Woody you're hearing that he's going to be throwing from a mound soon. Prior just kind of disappeared. Do we even know if he's going to be throwing in ST?

I'm not ready to toss Prior out yet, just too much upside. Why not Pie, Jones, and Marmol for Andruw? Hopefully an extension would be part of the deal...with Murton, Jones, and Soriano, Pie would be blocked for quite a while. Damn you Vance! Why did you make me think about this trade that makes so much sense but will never happen?

the problem is, there's probably no way hill pitches like he did in the 2nd half. BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! dude, i've been pimping rich hill since you were in diapers. but even i'm slightly less optimistic about his 07 than some of projections i've seen for him. So there's absolutely no way he pitches like he did in the second half, huh? No way? I disagree. He's done nothing but dominate at every level above low A, including the majors. He's fully capable of putting up a sub 3.00 ERA. He did it in A ball. Almost did it in AA. Did it in AAA. Did it in 1/2 a season in the bigs. I don't think it's a reach at all to think Hill can put up those type of numbers in 2007. Given the type of absolute domination he laid down in AAA the last two seasons and how he brought it with him to the bigs in August and September, it is completely legitimate to say that he can keep it up. I think it would be risky to expect him to, however. It is much safer to expect some regression, but the question no one seems to be answering is just how much regression should be expected. No team in the NL last season was able to claim 2 pitchers who had an ERA under 4 and pitched around 200 innings. Z is practically a lock to do so. If Hill can do that as well, he could legitamately be called a #2 starter. Is an ERA under 4 and around 200 innings a reasonable expectation for Rich Hill given the numbers he has put up with consistency over the last two seasons? I'd feel a lot better about Hill's 2007 if he showed up to camp with another pitch in his arsenal. Sure the curve is eating people alive, but once the league starts waiting for his less than overpowering fastball...it's going to be a little less pretty. I know he was dabbling with a change. Hopefully he brings it fully developed next year. I think it's possible to maintain dominance with 3 pitches, much less likely with 2.

Couldn't agree more. Izturis should rot in the 8 hole. You mean the 8 hole, in Cleveland.

maybe im the only one who finds this unlikely No, but I was overwhelmed with wrongness and I froze up.

I like your proposal a lot, but how about this: Murton - LF Drew - CF Lee - 1B Ramirez - 3B Soriano - 2B Barrett - C Derosa/Jones - RF Theriot - SS Since we're already saddled with Derosa, we might as well put him in the closest situation to success as possible...the right hand side of a platoon.

3/$15m right fielder 3 good prospects + $5.75m + potentially many more millions of dollars $2.8m Do you seriously need this explained to you? I don't think he ever asked for you to explain anything to him. Patterson's lack of plate discipline and situational hitting cancels out his OPS in my opinion. Stolen bases from the 6-slot in the order aren't critical to a team's offensive production either. Jones, however, has just as bad discipline and situational hitting and also plays a very easily replaceable corner outfield position. I think Pierre would be better suited as a 2-hole hitter due to his ability to make contact and lay down the bunt. As far as the 2007 leadoff and 2-hole hitter for the Cubs, I have no idea. The title of the thread is "Please Educate me"... I believe he wanted an explanation. You can talk about plate discipline and situational hitting (the latter of which I feel could be renamed "wasted at bat") all you want. Compared head to head, without a consideration for what it took to get Pierre, I'd take Patterson over Juan any day of the week. I would have said the same thing last year. An out is an out, unless it's a double play. How exactly does Juan have a far superior plate discipline when he refuses to take a walk? A groundout to 2nd is the same as a strikeout unless there is a runner on first...then it's likely worse. Yet Patterson has the edge in SLG, Defense, Age, throwing arm, and upside. Throw in what it took to get Juan and what we got for Patterson and you're looking at a huge net loss, especially when you consider Pierre is a FA this year.

What a deal! Now if we can only figure out a way to lock Neifi up for a similar price. Already been done. Hehe, check your sig. ;)

What a deal! Now if we can only figure out a way to lock Neifi up for a similar price.

Thanks for the giggles...you failed to mention defense here which is where Grudzielanek has it ALL over Todd Walker. OPS alone is not the way to judge a player. You must look at the COMPLETE player...but I know how you stat geeks are. Oh and it helps that Grudz knows how to keep his yapper shut and play the game hard. Character guy... What a huge loss for the Cubs when they lost Grudz. grudz is good defensively? good one. and since when is todd walker not a character guy? you have been listening to too much sports radio I don't listen to sports talk radio. It is rubbish. You stat geeks here amaze me. Funny how any game I watch that the announcers for the other team seem to really like Grudzielanek as an all around player. Trust their judgement over you stat geeks. Oh and one more thing...from the KC Star: No-error ball: Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, going into Saturday night's game against the Mariners, had no errors in 46 games while handling 173 chances. Including last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Grudzielanek had a string of 64 games without an error. Let me guess, you love Scott Podsednik and David Eckstein. Those guys are gritty and gutty! Also, were you pretty fired up about the Pierre trade? He's a gamer, speed never slumps! I'm with you man, Gut feelings and guys who have been around the game a long time are much better than cold hard numbers and "Geeks" who probably never made it past high school ball. I primarliy watch sportscenter and the wednesday night DH in order to find out the top players of the game. Numbers don't tell you enough about a player, you have to see how they look at the plate...do they sacrifice, hit the ball to the right side of the infield to move runners, etc. :shock:

Nah, it's much more simple than that. No conspiracies going on. The fact is Jim and Andy don't have a clue about what is wrong with the Cubs and what needs to be done to fix it. I don't really think Jim and Andy think there is anything wrong. It's just all bad luck. Wow! That might actually be true. It would explain some things. If this is the case, the Cubs may never be a contending team year in and year out. Judging from MacPhail's comments in the herald it's not that far off. Our big problem is "Timely hitting"

You mean Uecker or the TV guys? Uecker does a pretty good job. TV Guys, I'd love to listen to Uecker. One of the TV guys sounds like Norm from Cheers.

I agree, we could have that pathetic attempt at a broadcast team that's on the south side. The Brewer's team is pretty tough to stomach as well.

By "the team" do you mean the Cardinals? Len is infinitely better than Chip.

Must be Murton and Jones because Pierre is SOOOO tough to strike out AND has the 3rd most hits over the last 3 years.

As soon as I picked him up on my fantasy team he's gone 0-fer Drop him already!!! WTF!?!

Excellent point. Fans are not supposed to know any better....but Hendry and his bunch get paid well to know legitmate talent when they see it. Patterson was going to be a superstar....5 tools....on and on......you never heard a "maybe" out of any Cubs people with regards to Corey. Choi, Hill, Patterson,......were going to be the future of this team. Not only are they NOT the future....they are barely major leaguers. Prior is the latest "can't miss".....and he's not exactly rock solid at this point. Will he be next? This team has proven that it cannot develop its own position players. It can't do it! Egads it's painful to be a Cub fan. I was pro-Choi, very pro-Corey, not sold on Hill...but I have no idea how you can even begin to put Prior in the same bunch as these 3. Other than after the horror show line drive last year he's been nothing but dominant in his very brief career. It hasn't been like Juan cruz where the stuff is there but the brain is not. He comes into the game and has a great approach and takes control of the game. Other than Z, Prior has shown this team that he has the makeup that most other major leaguers can only dream about. To date the only question about Prior is can he stay out of fluke accidents.

Good Lord, wtf is going on? Is Hendry in a contest to see how badly he can mismanage available funds/prospects/young phenom pitchers? This offseason has been a nightmare.

And then went to a restaraunt!

And what makes you think Prior won't bolt the second he hits free agency? And what makes you think he will? Besides, the Cubs have Prior under control through 2008. Tejada can demand a trade one year after being traded. Damn your quickness!

And what makes you think Prior won't bolt the second he hits free agency? What makes you think that Tejada won't exercise his right to opt for free agency after he is traded? Ignoring the fact that I feel that Prior is more valuable than Tejada straight up. 3 years of Prior is much more valuable than one year of Tejada.

Omg, please let this go away.

I just wish the nightmare that is this offseason would be over with. In late october I had dreams of Brian Giles OBP in front of lee and ramirez, Furcal's glove and cannon at short, Todd Walker's low cost high value contract at 2nd. A few months later and I'm praying that somebody kick the cell phone out of Hendry's hand. It just keeps getting worse...all I want to do is have a shred of hope going into the season. I've been trying so hard to stay positive Eyre and Howry sign, decent arms but overpriced...whatever they can contribute. Neifi reups...*puke*, but if we snag furcal and Ronnie/Walker outperform him, maybe dusty won't have a choice. No Giles...ouch, ah well Milton Bradley might be a decent alternative. No Furcal...I was positive, at least hendry didn't break the bank. Pierre...We gave WHAT for Pierre? Well it's possible that he'll bounce back. No Bradley...wtf Jim, who's gonna play right. Jaque Jones....Jaque Effing Jones? This is our right fielder? I even tried to stay positive with Jones...I watched some footage of him on MLB.com. Made some good plays, has a good stroke when he connects, plays with a lot of energy. Now this...You're threatening to take Captain Calves away from us. There are two things that would break my spirit as a Cub fan. Take Z away from me, Take Prior away. They are really the two bright spots of this organization. Hell, trade Lee before you trade Prior. It's like Hendry has been trying harder and harder to ruin my winter. Every step of the way, "What, you're still not mad? You still have a shred of optimism? You still have a shred of faith in me? Take this!" Well I give up, Jim. You win. You are a terrible GM and I apologize for being proud of some of your moves pre 2004. Please, call off the dogs, NO MAS! Do not trade Prior, I give.