BigbadB

If it's a 6 team league, you probably won't do too well. If it's a 12 team league, it's a competitive team, but probably not a top team. If it's a 20 team league, you should win.

This is exactly the way to play it. Phil Rogers just continues to write garbage that only furthers my belief that I would be wasting my time reading anything he writes. If he honestly believes the Cubs should trade Jones even if they have to pick up his entire remaining salary, I'm glad he isn't the GM of the Chicago Cubs. While Jones does not feature the characteristics in a ballplayer that I prefer, he does possess value to other baseball organizations, values that those other clubs continue to prove they value. People get hurt all the time. The Cubs organization should know that better than any other team in baseball. A surplus of talent is something you don't just take for granted. You use it to your advantage. If one of the Cub outfielders gets hurt, you have a decent option to replace that player. If another team loses one of their outfielders, you have a nice bargaining chip in trade.

2 hours of practice a week and 20 games a year is kind of hard to scout talent, don't ya think? Actually, put me down as being interested in filling that scouting position. 5 hours a week of scouting and umpteen hours a week sightseeing and just taking in Australia. :cheers: I hope this kid at least opted for the extra 2 hours of weekly training.

I think Greenberg would have been a decent 5th outfielder for this team last year and this year had he not suffered the HBP.

Errands sidetracked me from getting to watch Guzman pitch all the innings he did pitch. From what I did see (1st and part of the 2nd), his breaking pitch was dynomite. He was spotting it real well. His fastball was consistently in the strike zone as well. Without a change up, you cannot consistently be in the strike zone on each pitch. When you have a guy down 0-2, you need at least 1 throw away pitch. Something outside of the zone. You have to deceive the hitter a little bit. If everything you throw is in the strike zone, hitters will get too comfortable. And nothing looks worse for a pitcher (outside of walking people consistently) than to give up 0-2 hits for extra bases, IMO.

I agree but I don't see Cotts being sent down. It would be like the Cubs admitting that the Sox got the better of the trade (although, Aardsma is in jeopardy of not making their team as well)--I heard Paul Sullivan make this point on the radio-- Cotts may be in the bullpen whether we like it or not. Hendry may force Lou's hand on this one. That would sorta go against the grain of everything Lou has been saying during Spring Training. He said he was going to take the best guys with him to Chicago. Cotts is not one of those guys right now.

If he still has his off speed pitch, he better break it out in his next start if he wants to make the team.

I obviously meant his arbitration clock. Alright, let's look at this another way. Say Jones doesn't get traded and Lou decides to platoon DeRosa in Jones' spot in RF against LHP. Can Pie in RF outproduce a platoon of DeRosa/Jones? No. Would they honestly put Pie in RF when he is the superior CFer of anyone even remotely close to being on the 25 man roster? If Pie did take over in CF, would they honestly move Soriano back and forth between RF and CF depending on when Pie would need a break against LHP? There would be no one else to play CF except maybe Pagan. Trading Jones right now is just making the same foolish mistakes this organization has been making for years. I think they have finally figured that out and won't make that mistake this year. Jones, Floyd, Soriano, Murton and Pie is depth. Trade Jones and put the walking biohazard Floyd on the DL and what do you have? Tomas Perez becomes the 4th outfielder. Or dragging Bynum out of his lounge chair at home to play a few games. There is NO reason to trade Jones or to promote Pie prior to the start of this season.

Speaking of IR threads, I drafted this team in a 16 team H2H league. How funny is this roster. By the way, there is only 1 DL spot. SP- Bonderman SP- Ben Sheets SP- AJ Burnett SP- Randy Johnson SP- Tim Hudson Bench- Mark Prior Bench- Angel Guzman RP- Bob Wickman RP- Ryan Dempster C- Pudge 1b- Derrek Lee 2b- Howie Kendrick 3b- Miguel Cabrera SS- Stephen Drew OF- JD Drew OF- Milton Bradley OF- Andre Ethier U- Todd Helton Bench- Jose Guillen Bench- Dustin Pedroia Healthy, it's a pretty good team. Not healthy, not so much.

I'd like to have Nolasco, Mitre and Pinto in exchange for Pagan. Crappy CF for 3 prospects. Where have I heard that song before?

Bolderdash. I like that word and it fits. The baseball diamond is an oasis where those things matter least. I disagree. There are players that allow outside distractions to effect on field play. It wouldn't be as big of a concern if Tejada had played in a large sports market previously; I don't consider Oakland or Baltimore in that class... In a way, it's like Dusty Baker managing in San Francisco and never being scrutinized only to find his every word (rightly or wrongly) analyzed in Chicago. Or ARod going from Seattle and Texas to NYC. While his overall numbers are impressive he seems unnerved by the off-the-field talk. It's hard to believe, but ARod may actually be more productive if he played in a different environment. The scrutiny in Chicago has everything to do with production. Jacque Jones didn't like it here his first month in Wrigley because he wasn't producing. Sammy Sosa has been in the midst of steroid allegations along with guys like Tejada, Palmeiro, McGwire, etc...infinity. The distractions for Sammy in Chicago weren't steroid related. They were his boom box, leaving early, not making adjustments at the plate that made him an easy out on the outside corner (ie, significant drop in production). Heck, Cubs fans didn't even make a big fuss about the corked bat. The rest of the baseball world did, but Cubs fans didn't. There is a level of loyalty to a guy who produces in a big way. Miguel Tejada might not produce like Sammy in his hey day, but a shortstop that hits like Tejada would be a warm welcome after Izturis, Cedeno, Neifi, Gonzalez, Ordonez, etc... infinity. The likelihood these guys (Tejada, Giambi, Sosa, etc..) ever get busted for using steroids is very slim.

Zero reason to trade Jones at this point. And it would be absolutely silly to have Pie in RF and Soriano in CF. Pie has zero chance of outproducing Jones this year. With that said, there is no reason to turn Pie's option clock on so soon. As well as Pie is hitting, he still has to learn to be more patient at the plate, cutting down on his K's and increasing his walk rate. I doubt if Blum has been discussed in any trade scenarios. The Padres probably won't be interested in moving him since Greene can't play more than about a month at a time without visiting the ER.

I definitely agree with this. What he did as a manager shouldn't have an affect on his ranking among the greatest to play the game. Had he been elected to the HOF prior to becoming a manager, would they pull him back out of the Hall later when he was caught gambling as a manager? I think it's a strong enough punishment to never allow him on a baseball diamond in any capacity. Seems to me like the whole thing could be put to bed by honoring him as an inductee into the HOF on the premise he goes away forever, quietly.

I actually like that. I also like Neifi over Tomas Perez by a long shot.

The writing is on the wall. A-Rod has been the scapegoat the last few years and the fans ride him everyday. At a certain point, a guy is going to say enough is enough. I think A-Rod wants to be happy in New York, but New York isn't allowing that to happen. Therefore, the rumors of coming to play for Lou where the Chicago fans will embrace him.

If A-Rod wants to sign a deal with the Cubs, you find every possible way to make it happen. You worry about how to afford it later. That's the order. Get him, then worry. Trade Lilly, Jones and Eyre and you basically have A-Rod money. Those guys are all potentially replaceable from the farm next year. Add Marquis to the list as well if Prior comes back strong this year and Zambrano gets a deal. The Cubs can go cheaper at C and SS next year as well with Cedeno and ? behind the plate. Maybe A-Rod makes A-Ram expendable. Maybe A-Rod won't be able to play SS anymore. Teams would give up a small fortune in prospects for Aramis. There would be ways to fit A-Rod into this line up. Get it done and then worry about how to make it work later. Too much talent is one of the best problems you could ever have.

Being limited by an injury just makes him cheaper to attain. He can still get enough action the rest of ST to determine whether he'd be a viable option as the 25th man on the Cubs roster. He has shown some pop in the past, but what he's settled into isn't really a whole lot more promising than most of the other options out there. I doubt if there are many utility middle infielders out there that would excite me all that much, actually. Too bad we can't clone Theriot. Of course, a year ago Theriot wasn't even considered an option. I don't know how his defense is, but I've always been semi-impressed with Hector Luna's bat, who I believe is now in the Indians organization. Of course, I like Jhonny Peralta a whole lot more. :D

Hey, easy there pal.

Now they just need to figure out how to get Dempster more than 2 at bats.

I don't understand how people don't see what the problem is. Throwing games is what I would take issue with. Betting on your own team to win doesn't seem all that evil to me. But, there is no way to know whether he bet for or against them.

He's been saying for years that he bet on the Reds to win. That's not anything new. And if that's all he did, I don't see what the problem would be with betting on your own team.

I have that happen on occasion when I have more than one NSBB window open at a time.

I cannot see Jim Hendry making any effort to bring back Todd Walker. Walker also hits wrong handed for the extra infielder the Cubs are looking for. Walker probably isn't getting cut anyway. There will be some spring releases or trades to fill that spot.

I doubt they cut him in the spring out of fear of losing a grievance. I thought the whole idea behind cutting Walker, if they do, is to do it before the end of ST. That way the team would only owe him around $650k. He will be an expensive bench player. If San Diego is going to risk a grievance and cut him, they actually have to do it by the end of tomorrow-we'll know soon if he's on the market again. Their GM said if he was one of the best 25 players they'd keep him-unfortunately, he's made that decision a lot harder (if he is one of their 25 best) by putting up a .227/.261/.273 line so far in ST. Walker won't be going anywhere unless someone will trade for him and take his salary with him. The Padres aren't in bad shape financially, even if they like to cry about it. Kouzmanoff is no guarantee to hit righties at 3b. Giles hasn't had much work so far this spring at 2b. They pretty much need Walker right now. They aren't in a pinch financially after shedding Nevin, Klesko and Park not all that long ago. I'd guess they are right around 50-55m, which is 10m less than they were spending when they were in the old ball park.

Yeah, I could see that, too. Though Tulowitzki would be better. I think the Rockies will look to move Barmes or Carroll once Tulo is confirmed for the starting SS gig.