BigbadB

Off topic, thought this was pretty hilarious from Rotoworld: Free agent Toby Hall isn't interested in returning to the Devil Rays on a minor league contract. "That was funny," Hall said. "I guess it would be a minor league contract because they're a minor league team." Way to burn those bridges, Toby. The club gave you more than 2,000 at-bats even though you never once managed a 700 OPS. Your OBP for the club was under .300, and you never came close to matching the 19 homers you hit at Triple-A Durham in 2001. If the Rays weren't much more than a minor league team during your tenure, well, it's in part because you weren't much more than a minor league player. Source: St. Petersburg Times :D

Cubs payroll. :D

Wonder what kind of relationship Piniella and Rothschild will have regarding the pitching staff?

Maybe not gospel, but there is this quote: It's possible they are using Pie to lower the demands on Church and maybe a few other choice CFers that might be available if the price comes down. I hope so, and I'm actually a big fan of Pie's.

An assistant that is well versed on stats would go a long way towards moving this club into the new millenium. Looking up and down the major league and minor league rosters, Hendry gives me the impression he's anti-stats. That may not be the case, but the list of available players he's acquired (except Murton) over the years sure looks like it.

Yeah, we fixed that problem. :D Okay, back on topic. Going back to my post where I quoted all the Rotoworld excepts on Ryan Church since December, what would be a fair offer for Ryan Church, and is he worth what it would cost? And finally, will Washington continue playing hardball, or will their demands come down the longer he isn't traded. (Using what Bruce Miles has heard through the grapevine as gospel that they are asking for the moon).

The problem is that the infighting amongst posters chases off other posters. And I'm not singling you out. You didn't even start this particular one, but you did pile on. If you go back to one of my other posts, I directed this at everyone, including myself. It just needs to stop. It will never completely stop, but I'm here to attempt to keep it under control.

Yes, he does have more credibility than you or I. I don't disagree. I don't see how that has anything to do with anything.

Am I totally misunderstanding you quote below? Ah, finally some sanity.

Do you mean other than what Bruce "thinks"? Ah, so now Bruce's credibility and knowledge of the inner-workings of these matters is on par with yours and mine? I'm sorry. Do you mean other than what Bruce has "heard". I don't know where you are attempting to go with this, but I have no disrespect for Bruce Miles, and I appreciate that he provides incite to our message board. Are you trying to insinuate something? Because it really just needs to stop. It has nothing to do with the topic.

Why am I calling you out? I wouldn't think I'd have to explain it. Why are all of your opinions gospel, and anyone who thinks Schmidt should have signed with the Cubs crap? It's a little "holier than thou", don't ya think? Why are you sitting there judging what is or isn't appropriate for this message board. It isn't your place. And if you think I'm singling you out, I'm not. This is for anyone who critique other posters. I suppose I am guilty of that myself occasionally. I don't claim to be the model poster. But, we all need to work on spending more time debating the topic rather than insulting the poster. Simple as that.

Do you mean other than what Bruce "thinks"?

You are also welcome to ignore the threads that posters aren't saying the exact thing you would want them to say, which is basically what you are saying.

Criticism does not need to be limited in scope. People need to come to terms with this so that these threads quit going off on ugly tangents like this one has. It was a pleasant discussion with a lot of input from many different perspectives, then we have people claiming this isn't fantasy baseball, etc... It isn't needed or welcomed. I criticize Hendry because he's a tools guy and the tool thing hasn't been working. If the tool thing was working, I probably wouldn't be criticizing. To sit there and tell me that Hendry could not over the last 3 years go out and get some stats guys because they weren't available, and then criticizing my opinion in a way to say I spend too much time playing fantasy baseball is out of line. Just stop already. On a separate note, I am having a tough time understanding why every post must be backed up with facts. This is an opinion based discussion board. Facts are nice, but not required. Quit asking for proof. And finally, below is all courtesy of just Rotoworld. I'm sure I could dig up much more on how Ryan Church is available this offseason, but I should have to. He certainly looks available to me, and we certainly have the arms to get him. If they are asking for too much, then so be it. But, I haven't seen a quote from them either way that they are asking for too much or too little. More Player News Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 13 - 8:43 pm et Chris Snelling's imminent arrival in Washington will likely further increase the chances that Ryan Church is dealt this winter. Snelling and Church are both left-handed hitters who fit best in left field, though they do have some experience in center. It's unlikely that the Nationals will need both, and Church appeared to be on the way out anyway. We're guessing the starting job will be Snelling's to lose in spring training. Michael Restovich could act as his platoon partner. Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 11 - 12:14 pm et New Nationals manager Manny Acta called Ryan Church on Friday to let him know he's still in the team's plans for 2007. "I've always gotten along with Church when I was in Montreal," Acta said. "It's going to be up to him. This is a make or break year for him to show the world what he can do or go in the other direction by becoming a fourth [outfielder]." We're still guessing he's dealt for pitching, as he's one of the few expendable and fairly valuable players on the roster. If he is kept, it sounds like Acta will give him the first crack at the starting job in left field. Source: Nationals.mlb.com Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 10 - 10:46 am et Talks between the Cubs and Nationals regarding Ryan Church have reportedly cooled. The Pirates are also showing less interest in Church. The Phillies may still want him, but it's unclear whether they'll part with Ryan Madson. The Royals and Tigers are among the other teams reported to have discussed Church with the Nationals. Source: Chicago Sun-Times Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 7 - 12:34 am et A source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Pirates are no longer showing much interest in Ryan Church. The team reportedly thinks Nate McLouth and Jody Gerut are nearly equivalent options in left field. Of course, this is the same organization that felt Jeromy Burnitz was a major upgrade a year ago. In the Pirates' defense, they finished with a .500 record as recently as 1992. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 6 - 11:06 pm et The Nationals and Phillies have discussed a trade that would send Ryan Church to Philadelphia for Ryan Madson. Madson might receive another opportunity to start if he becomes a National. The Phillies would use him strictly as a reliever if they keep him. Source: Nationals.mlb.com Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 6 - 4:06 pm et The Cubs are talking to the Nationals about Ryan Church, who could be an option to platoon with Matt Murton. The Nationals will want pitching back, which could mean Angel Guzman, Sean Marshall or Carlos Marmol. The Cubs surely won't consider parting with Sean Hill for the 28-year-old. Source: FOXSports.com Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 5 - 11:31 pm et The Phillies and Cubs have reportedly joined the Royals in looking into Ryan Church's availability. Both teams have the young starters the Nationals desire, though Church isn't likely to bring back a top prospect. The Phillies could offer up Gavin Floyd or Ryan Madson. The Cubs have Angel Guzman or Carlos Marmol to part with. Source: Nationals.mlb.com Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 5 - 4:50 pm et The Royals reportedly have some interest in Nationals outfielder Ryan Church. There hasn't been much interest in either Reggie Sanders or Emil Brown to date, so it's hard to see how the Royals could make room for Church. They're also expected to move Mark Teahen to left field at some point to open up third base for top prospect Alex Gordon. Source: MLB.com Ryan Church-OF- Nationals Dec. 4 - 10:07 pm et Even with Frank Robinson gone, Ryan Church remains in the Nationals' doghouse, sources told MLB.com. The Nationals are upset the 28-year-old declined to play winter ball on the advice of his agent. Church clearly needs a trade and seems pretty likely to get one. The Nationals will likely go with Kory Casto in left field if they move Church. They might choose the rookie anyway. Source: Nationals.mlb.com Respect the other person's opinion, whether you agree or not.

why spring? Because he had a bad winter?

They become free agents. Word is the Cubs have re-signed Harben to a minor-league deal. I would expect the same for Reyes. I'm surprised Buck Coats didn't meet the same fate. Didn't I read somewhere the Cubs signed Koyie Hill to a minor league contract? Maybe Reyes won't be back?

The Pirates would have a really nice line up with Huff at 1b. Just not sure they're willing to fork out the cash for him.

This is the latest from Rotoworld: Though the Pirates need a left-handed power hitter, they haven't been in contact with free agent Aubrey Huff. The Orioles also don't seem very interested in Huff at his current asking price. Unless someone else steps up, Huff might have to settle for a one-year deal somewhere. It's believed he's asking for about $9 million per year for three seasons. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette A 1 year deal would be interesting. I think I read somewhere on here that Piniella wasn't all that fond of Huff, but I don't remember exactly how it was phrased. A month ago, there was talk about Huff staying with the Astros, but I'm not sure where those talks went.

Wherever he wants.

I clearly remember my stance on last year's offseason. I said I could live with Cedeno at SS if the rest of the team was improved, which included a stud RF (Giles/Nomar) and someone to split time with Murton in LF like Huff. I said I could live with Murton in LF if they had a stud bat in RF and a better SS option than Cedeno. I said they couldn't go into the season with both in the starting line up. By doing that, the bench would likely be extremely weak as well as a couple of virtual unknowns getting everyday starts in the everyday line up. Hendry just doesn't understand the need for depth. Is Church our savior? No. But, he's cheap and provides depth and can even step in and be a regular starter. Minnesota has depth in their outfield and they always have. They have been able to absorb an injury to Hunter or Stewart by having a capable back up like Lew Ford or Mike Cuddyer ready to step in. Darryl Ward is nothing more than a bench guy at this point in his career. If Soriano gets hurt, is Ward the guy who Hendry thinks can step in and keep the team competitive? Pagan? After last year, you would think he had learned his lesson with running a thin line up out there day in and day out. I guess not.

I'd rather have a CFer. If they are looking at another corner outfielder, Huff is the guy they should be looking at. He can play multiple positions. Floyd can only play the same positions Ward plays.

Absolutely. It would be absolutely silly to platoon Jones and Murton and have Pagan patrolling CF.

I think that would be awesome. Not sure how the contract part would work, but it sounds good.

I almost always give some benefit to a hitter who plays half their games in an extreme pitcher's park. I haven't done it for Izturis, which probably isn't fair. But, I don't think I'm being completely unfair, because he has missed a significant amount of time over the last 2 years, and that time could definitely hurt his chances of matching what he did in 2004, which is almost a mirror image of Juan Pierre's 2006 season and not very good offensive output for someone earning a major league paycheck.

There are going to be a LOT of question marks with this team if this is really what they plan to open the season with. What team out there doesn't have question marks? Of course all teams have question marks. I emphasized A LOT because I think the Cubs will have more than their fair share of them.