BigbadB

It's going to happen. Lou is discussing it right now.

The Cubs don't have any deferred contracts. They have locked in contracts for the next several years, but that's not the same as deferred. Arizona is STILL paying for guys who played on the 2001 World Series champion team and are not and have not been on the team for several years now. Randy Johnson is still receiving deferred payments from his previous stint with the D'Backs and he's back with the team again this year. Arizona is still in a financial mess from Colangelo. Yes, but he had a much smaller fanbase, far less revenue, and was starting from scratch. He did mortgage the future to get a World Series win, but I think it's most important that he actually got the championship. It wasn't just spending money -- it was spending it on the right players to win. I'd rather have Cuban because I'd love to see that kind of shakeup, but I wouldn't be upset with Colangelo. In my mind it would sure beat a big corporate owner, even though he'd need financial partners to pull it off. Mine was just in response to your question about deferred contracts. The biggest obstacle Colangelo faced was no tv deal in the first 5 years of the Diamondbacks existence, IIRC. I'm not really making a pro or con statement about Colangelo. Just pointing out the quandry that the Diamondbacks state of affairs became under his watch.

Anyone see a pattern here?

If Jeff Loria can own a major league baseball team, anyone should be able to own a major league baseball team.

The Cubs don't have any deferred contracts. They have locked in contracts for the next several years, but that's not the same as deferred. Arizona is STILL paying for guys who played on the 2001 World Series champion team and are not and have not been on the team for several years now. Randy Johnson is still receiving deferred payments from his previous stint with the D'Backs and he's back with the team again this year. Arizona is still in a financial mess from Colangelo.

While one guy could hold up his value in a long term contract, it's not a gamble worth taking. We've watched the Cubs give big money to Alfonseca, Fassero, Gordon, Remlinger, Hawkins, Eyre and Howry. None has really been worth their value. In 2002, the most effective guys in the pen were Juan Cruz and Joe Borowski. The big money pen guys were Fassero and Alfonseca. In 2003, Borowski, Farnsworth and Guthrie were the most effective guys in the pen, and the big money pen guys were Remlinger and Alfonseca. In 2004, Hawkins and Mercker were the most effective pen guys, and the big money guys were Remlinger and Hawkins. In 2005, Dempster and Ohman were the most effective guys in the pen, and Hawkins, Remlinger and Borowski were the big money guys. In 2006, Wuertz, Howry and Eyre were the most effective bullpen guys, Dempster, Eyre and Howry were the big money pen guys. Most of the more effective relievers have been the cheaper guys. It's a very fickle bunch.

Stick a fork in him.

When you skip the 5th starter, he becomes a long man in the pen. So, it's not like Miller won't get some work in the next few games between his starts. In other words, both will have opportunities to be evaluated as they come out of the pen.

I don't think it sent any kind of a message that the Cubs like Miller more than Guzman by giving Miller the 5th spot. Both pitchers are on different career paths even though both have been through numerous injuries the last few years. I think the decision to give Miller the 5th spot was the hope that Miller would get better with more innings. I don't think the Cubs feel like they are in a position to just cut Miller. Miller's ultimatum made the decision more easy for Hendry and Piniella. Not having Miller at all weakens the competition for the 5th starter spot. Prior is nowhere near ready to jump into the rotation, Cotts has been horrid, and Guzman is probably equal to Miller in ability to get hitters out at this time. Miller didn't earn the 5th starters spot. He is the seat warmer to the guy who will earn it. Luckily, they are able to skip the spot occasionally because no one is really making a claim for that spot right now. The hope is that Miller pitches well enough in that spot to net something in return in a trade. At this point, he's not going to bring anything in trade and he'd simply have to be cut. Guzman will eventually grab that spot if Prior doesn't get there first. Each pitch Guzman throws is one pitch farther away from his rehab from injuries. He's hitting 95+ with his fastball and his breaking pitches have plenty of movement. Now more than anything, he needs experience getting major league hitters out, which is can work on from the bullpen. I'm fine with Miller getting a few more starts. I understand management's decision to go with Miller. I think Guzman will be a very good starter eventually, but he isn't there yet. I also think that the best thing for Guzman is to stay as far away from 200 IP's this year as possible. Maybe 200 in 2008 after building up more stamina. But, starting every fifth day in 2007 and logging too many innings on his rebuilt arm is just asking to shorten his career significantly, IMO. I think that also might have factored into management's decision to go with Miller to start the year. Spring Training games do not tell the whole story of whether someone is or isn't ready to get major league hitters out. Miller's first outing showed zero promise in that first inning, but there was a bit of promise in the latter innings. The lack of speed and movement on his fastball is very concerning. But, one outing is not enough evidence for me to kick him to the curb.

What kind of deal do you suppose Cleveland worked out with Milwaukee for use of the stadium?

Ortiz still needs his big payday. Papelbon won't be cheap to keep. My guess is Miguel Cabrera ends up in Boston.

Wasn't Keisler a top prospect in the Yankees system about 5 years ago?

Probably because it typically rains a lot in the warm weather cities at this time of the year. :P It's April showers bring May flowers, not April snow brings May flowers. :D

And they've already cancelled the double header in Cleveland today. Wow. 4 days to play with, and they don't get a single game in. That's gonna create some problems down the road.

Looks like old Lucky Pierre is leading the leauge in outs again - what a suprise :shock: You say that with a shocking look on your face as if it surprises you?

So, they did do an MRI on him afterall?

And as time goes on and the demand for HD tv's is way down, the prices will drop drastically just like everything else that ever hits the market. You can buy 42" Plasma tv's (the new one's that don't wear out so quickly) for less than a grand now. A bar owner friend of mine bought 2 of them for $799 at Costco. One of those brand new when they first came out were thousands of dollars.

That was one of the few located pitches Eyre threw the whole inning and Barrett dropped it. Yeah. I think Barrett was shocked he got a pitch that wasn't in the dirt.

In what way is it expensive? From what I've gathered, it's like $5.00 a month more on the cable bill to receive HD signals. Is that not accurate? HD tv's, on the other hand, do seem pretty expensive still. But, I'm hoping to buy one soon since they aren't nearly as expensive as they were when they first came out.

Agreed. If you watched the play closely, the runner had every intention of taking Cedeno out. Had Cedeno left his leg planted on the bag at the time of the catch, he would be on the DL ala Todd Walker/Carlos Lee last year. That's the main reason umpires allow the phantom tag. To prevent needless injuries.

Everyone will eventually be digital. DirecTV plans to have the widest selection of HD fare sooner than the competition, but at some point they'll catch up. Didn't I hear at one point that there is a set time frame for everything to be digital, or am I thinking of something else.

Eldred plays some outfield? I thought he was strictly a 1b?

Won't everyone be HD at one point or another? My cable company has hundreds of HD channels already, just not MLB EI. No sarcasm. Just asking since I haven't bought an HD tv yet.

I think my team is up to the task. Your pitching isn't going to be as strong this week, IMO. Doesn't sound like Randy Johnson will be back this week. While I won't expect 7 QS again this week, it's still my strength. Part timer Ethier will be taking a seat this week and replaced with Rocco Baldelli. Not even part timer Jonny Gomes will be taking a seat for Ryan Shealy. Hopefully the Indians and Mariners get their double header in on Monday.

Or south to San Diego. :D