BigbadB

I vote we move up Opening Day to February 4th.

Wow, looks like someone is having a bad case of the Monday's. :D Here you go:

Thank you. Ryan Theriot is the weakest link.

No. Let's get back to talking about everything else that's going on right now.... Oh wait, nothing else is happening.

You forgot to add that Hendry hates that a guy who has been so helpful to the Cubs organization is sitting there all unemployed and stuff.

Washington sure is stocking up. I wonder if they know there is a 25 man roster limit? 1b- Nick Johnson, Dmitri Young 3b- Ryan Zimmerman, Aaron Boone SS- Felipe Lopez, Christian Guzman OF- Lastings Milledge, Wily Mo Pena, Austin Kearns, Elijah Dukes, Ryan Langerhans, Nook Logan, Kory Casto

Yeah, he's such a problem that San Diego surely didn't want him back. Oh wait......

Exactly my point. These guys are getting paid to play everyday and they pretty much want to be in there everyday. There are days off built into the schedule. Yes, occasionally there are long stretches of the season where you might want to rest a couple of the starters. In that case, take DeRosa out of the SS spot and move him around a little bit and give those players the necessary rest. Lee won't be suspended and hopefully Soriano is over his leg injury. Typically, Soriano averages over 150 games a season, as does Lee. And if Lee does actually take a day off, are people honestly going to tell me that DeRosa will start at 1b over Daryle Ward? I just don't see where DeRosa gets enough at bats filling this made up "super sub" position.

I mentioned this way, way back in the other Roberts thread, but I have a real problem with this idea that DeRosa would somehow get that many at bats with this potential line up. Let's just say the Cubs get Fukudome and Roberts. Fukudome, Soriano, Roberts, Lee and Ramirez basically all play the most ideal positions that DeRosa would supposedly sub. Which of those guys do they realistically expect to give a day off each week to start DeRosa? Some of these guys are 8 figure salary per year guys. There are days off scheduled all season long. And if DeRosa is sitting on the bench everyday because none of these guys are coming out of the line up while Theriot is starting everyday at SS, I'm gonna be pissed off. Ramirez and Soriano each spent time on the DL last year. Lee spent time day-to-day with nagging injuries and was suspended for 5 games. Roberts has had a significant injury history. Also gotta figure Derosa will start vs. all LHPs, either in RF w/ Fukudome moving to CF, with Pie on the bench in the above scenario or at 2B for the LH hitting Roberts. So, we are assuming all those same things will happen again this coming year? That's what makes DeRosa on the roster a good thing. But, you can do the same thing with him when he's needed elsewhere other than SS. Ramirez is known for being slightly brittle and having to play hurt. Giving him a day off every other week, might keep him healthier longer and maximize his potential. Prior to last season, Soriano played almost everyday, but he's in his 30s now and it might be a smart thing to sit him down every other week or so, as well. Injuries happen, they always do. Acquiring Roberts allows DeRosa to fill in for that injured player without Cedeno or Fontenot entering the line-up. True, if DeRosa isn't given a minimum of 400 ABs and hopefully more, that will definitely limit the impact of acquiring Roberts. But its not just the Cubs big contract guys that he would be covering for. With Pie playing CF, the Cubs will want to sit him from time to time against the tough lefty or if he struggles and move someone (hopefully Fukudome) over to center which opens up right for DeRosa to play. He would also be giving Roberts a rest when the match-up warrants it. Depth on a ballclub is important. With the ability to keep Ramirez, Soriano, Roberts and even Lee fresh on top of his major role of filling in for Fukudome in right when the Cubs sit Pie, it seems rather likely that DeRosa will get a minimum of 400 ABs. And if anyone should get injured, he will approach the same amount he had last season. I agree 100% that depth is important. But, they have the depth regardless of whether DeRosa is playing SS or sitting on the bench. If Aramis needs a day off, DeRosa slides to 3b and Theriot gets the nod at SS. If DeRosa needs a day off, Theriot gets the nod at SS. The depth of the squad doesn't change one bit whether DeRosa is labeled the super sub or Theriot is labeled the super sub. Offensive production changes a lot if DeRosa is sitting on the bench regularly and Theriot is playing regularly.

I mentioned this way, way back in the other Roberts thread, but I have a real problem with this idea that DeRosa would somehow get that many at bats with this potential line up. Let's just say the Cubs get Fukudome and Roberts. Fukudome, Soriano, Roberts, Lee and Ramirez basically all play the most ideal positions that DeRosa would supposedly sub. Which of those guys do they realistically expect to give a day off each week to start DeRosa? Some of these guys are 8 figure salary per year guys. There are days off scheduled all season long. And if DeRosa is sitting on the bench everyday because none of these guys are coming out of the line up while Theriot is starting everyday at SS, I'm gonna be pissed off. Ramirez and Soriano each spent time on the DL last year. Lee spent time day-to-day with nagging injuries and was suspended for 5 games. Roberts has had a significant injury history. Also gotta figure Derosa will start vs. all LHPs, either in RF w/ Fukudome moving to CF, with Pie on the bench in the above scenario or at 2B for the LH hitting Roberts. So, we are assuming all those same things will happen again this coming year? That's what makes DeRosa on the roster a good thing. But, you can do the same thing with him when he's needed elsewhere other than SS.

Here's my question...... San Diego offered Barrett arby. He's likely to get about 5m if he wins his arbitration case. That's an awfully expensive back up C for San Diego. Isn't this the identical thing that the Padres did with Todd Walker last year? So, when Barrett wins or loses his case, yet still takes his chances that he'd make more accepting arbitration from the Pads, they can elect to just cut him rather than give him the 5m? This really angered me with how Todd Walker was treated last year. They offer him arby in the hopes some team is dumb enough to give up draft picks to sign him early. Nobody does, Padres lose in arby and then just dump the player like yesterday's news, and aren't responsible for the arby amount ordered. I don't get that. And not only did the Padres dump Walker and his arby judgment, but they didn't decide to do it until after they landed Marcus Giles, thereby limiting Walker's options of landing a decent gig somewhere else.

Nice haul by the Mets for Glavine.

How are the Cubs going to afford Fukudome and Santana, or are you just going to let Santana walk after 2008?

I mentioned this way, way back in the other Roberts thread, but I have a real problem with this idea that DeRosa would somehow get that many at bats with this potential line up. Let's just say the Cubs get Fukudome and Roberts. Fukudome, Soriano, Roberts, Lee and Ramirez basically all play the most ideal positions that DeRosa would supposedly sub. Which of those guys do they realistically expect to give a day off each week to start DeRosa? Some of these guys are 8 figure salary per year guys. There are days off scheduled all season long. And if DeRosa is sitting on the bench everyday because none of these guys are coming out of the line up while Theriot is starting everyday at SS, I'm gonna be pissed off.

Unless we are moving one of Howry, Marmol or Wuertz, I dont understand why we would want Lahey. He'd be nothing more then a throw-in in a trade and that team would still have to keep him on the big league roster. They could have just picked him themselves if they wanted him that bad. Then asked the Cubs for some other prospect. I think I am going to stop trying to understand anything we do at this point. Relievers are the easiest type of player to stash on a big league roster. ETA: Shane Lindsay wasn't selected by anyone. Call me braindead, but what exactly is your definition of ETA? I've always associated ETA with Estimated Time of Arrival, but that doesn't make sense where you have it. You're braindead. I know you are, but what am I? :D

Unless we are moving one of Howry, Marmol or Wuertz, I dont understand why we would want Lahey. He'd be nothing more then a throw-in in a trade and that team would still have to keep him on the big league roster. They could have just picked him themselves if they wanted him that bad. Then asked the Cubs for some other prospect. I think I am going to stop trying to understand anything we do at this point. Relievers are the easiest type of player to stash on a big league roster. ETA: Shane Lindsay wasn't selected by anyone. Call me braindead, but what exactly is your definition of ETA? I've always associated ETA with Estimated Time of Arrival, but that doesn't make sense where you have it. You're braindead. But I have no idea what he means by ETA here. I believe ETA in this case means, "Edited to Add". He's just pointing out why he edited his post. Ah. That makes sense.

Sorry. But, me too. That picture might be the funniest thing I've seen on NSBB, and I've seen a lot of funny stuff. But, then again, I could just be delirious.

Unless we are moving one of Howry, Marmol or Wuertz, I dont understand why we would want Lahey. He'd be nothing more then a throw-in in a trade and that team would still have to keep him on the big league roster. They could have just picked him themselves if they wanted him that bad. Then asked the Cubs for some other prospect. I think I am going to stop trying to understand anything we do at this point. Relievers are the easiest type of player to stash on a big league roster. ETA: Shane Lindsay wasn't selected by anyone. Call me braindead, but what exactly is your definition of ETA? I've always associated ETA with Estimated Time of Arrival, but that doesn't make sense where you have it.

You're in Fantasy Land (a.k.a College) and you don't have time to read 24 pages? show me where I said I didn't have time. I just don't have the desire. Why would someone desire NOT to read the greatest thread ever? The sea lions alone make this the greatest thread ever.

http://www.cnn.com/ You're welcome Well played, goofball. :D

Welcome aboard. Yeah, the team itself is torturous enough, must we die a little bit more every moment of the offseason?

Prior, Pie and Cedeno is too much. It sounds like Cedeno is in the Roberts package anyway, and that deal is probably all but done except for Angelos approving the deal. Whoa, whoa. It is? Any word on who is going to go Baltimore's way? Cedeno is the only name anyone has actually mentioned as being part of the trade, but it's also assumed that Gallagher is the pitcher the Orioles are after (and it has been mentioned that the Orioles would be getting a pitcher in the deal).

Huh? How do you figure? If it's at 38 and they add Roberts, they'd be at 39. Are we now giving up 4 guys for Roberts? I thought it was 2 guys.

Seems like there would be a 2b missing in there somewhere.