BigbadB

It is not very hard to predict that a guy who gets on base at a much higher percentage is going to score more often. David DeJesus (KC)- 473 plate appearances leading off, 75 runs, .368 OBP Juan Pierre- 676 plate appearances leading off, 78 runs, .331 OBP Can anyone say that the KC Royals heart of the order has been better than the Cubs heart of the order? Cubs #3- .304/.375/.502 Cubs #4- .278/.344/.506 Royals #3- .274/.353/.415 Royals #4- .254/.319/.433 DeJesus- 172 times on base Pierre- 221 times on base KC has a much better AVG with RISP than the Cubs, but we are talking about a difference of 200 plate appearances between these two and only a difference of 50 times on base. DeJesus has lapped Pierre in 200 less plate appearances. OBP factors in quite a bit. DeJesus doesn't steal bases for the most part. DeJesus is a much better option to lead off because of his better OBP. I'll stick by my guns that I'd rather the Cubs gave Alex Sanchez a 1 year contract than give anything above what Alex Sanchez would make in a season (less than 1m?) to Juan Pierre. This team needs to go out and get guys at the top of the order that can get on base. And it wouldn't really cost that much. How much would it cost to sign Lugo and Loretta? Vast OBP improvement at the top of the order will help improve run production from the "meat" of the order.

BA with runners on or in scoring position does factor into the big picture, but how anyone can ignore that: The Cubs rank 29th in MLB in plate appearances with runners on base. The Yankees have had 413 more plate appearances with runners on base than the Cubs, yet only 30 more total at bats than the Cubs. The walk is quite huge in the big picture. And it doesn't take a 200m payroll to build a roster with a good OBP.

This brings me to a different point, which I don't have time to flesh out right now. Is Pete Rose really an all-time great? His career .303/.375/.409, 113 OPS+ line is Rusty Greer-esque. Was he merely a good player who just stuck around forever? I'm not claiming anything either way, I was just shocked by how pedestrian Rose's rate stats were. Those are actually some pretty respectable numbers for the time frame he played in. The HOF really isn't a HOF without Pete Rose. Take off his stats from age 40 on and his career numbers look better.

That's hilarious. Who gets the copyright for "4-3?" Not me, but it is pretty funny.

Is this an indictment of Pierre? If so, how is it? I'm not being a smartypants; I was under the impression that runs are much like RBI in that they are not representative of an individual stat. Basically, it points out that a slow guy can hit lead off and score on a more regular basis than a fast guy. Yes, runs (outside of a HR) requires someone to drive you in. But, it's pretty easy to calculate that a guy who can get on base 40% of the time will score much more often than a guy who gets on base 33% of the time. Pierre actually had decent value when his OBP was over .350. Now, he's really no better than Alex Sanchez, and Alex Sanchez can't land a major league job. If the thought process has anything to do with bringing Juan Pierre back, my suggestion would be to sign Alex Sanchez to the league minimum and save the extra money saved on Pierre and sign or trade for GOOD players. If they wanted to improve run production from the lead off spot, then they need to put someone in the lead off spot that can supply a respectable OBP. Pierre, Izturis, Neifi, and Sanchez do not do that. Alex Sanchez has sort of been a long standing joke at NSBB because his OBP is totally dependent on his ability to get on base via a single. Ironically, Juan Pierre's 2006 very closely resembles Alex Sanchez' career numbers of .296/.330/.372 Pierre- .290/.330/.387 Alex Sanchez' career earnings: 1.25m Pierre's earnings this year?- Way, way more than that Pierre had value at one time. He hasn't had value for the last few years and may never have any value again. If some other team wants to give him a long term contract, let 4-3 go play for that team. It was a poor trade. Plain and simple.

Did you also read Spot on the Wall by Hu Flung Pu Why, yes, yes I did read that one. Slow at the beginning, but quite hilarious at the end. :D

Since I'm not creative enough to come up with anything new, I'll list a few of my favorite books as I was growing up. Under The Bleachers by Seymour Butts Who Peed The Bed by Rusty Bedsprings Runnin' To The Outhouse by Willie Makeit and Betty Dont.

Mark Bellhorn at the top of the order for the Cubs in 2002: 276 AB's/ 60 runs Juan Pierre at the top of the order for the Cubs in 2006: 649 AB's/ 80 runs

That Dodger game was not so good to the dozens of Padres fans that happened to be in the bar I was in last night. :D

Not to throw another wrench in this retiring thing, but can Derrek financially afford to retire at this point? Especially with huge medical bills soon piling up? How long can someone not play before they start losing the skills that got them there?

News Flash: All 32 NFL teams did what they were supposed to do this week and NO ONE lost. :D

I wouldn't mind that trade, actually. Any way to get Giles, too?

I was always under the impression Jones could have started in CF all along, but got moved because Torrii Hunter was better there. Maybe I'm way off. Admittedly, I really don't know if Jones could handle CF, but have always just assumed he could.

That'll only be true if you actually "played the game." Oh, I played the game. Not sure if you were around, but me and some bodies from the 'hood hit the sandlot for some sloppy tackle football one Tuesday afternoon after the snow all melted.

Oh, if I could watch the games, I would. Unfortunately, it will be awhile before I see another Bears game. I have something going on every weekend through October. Hence the reason I actually haven't kept up with football as much as I used to. I'll be a box score stat monger for the next several weeks. But, in November and December, my opinions will be first hand. :D

Cool. I did have concerns when I saw the box score, but I feel much better now. I've never been a huge fan of loose coverage, but if that's why the Bears gave up that kind of yardage, I can live with that. What's the health situation looking like for Sunday's game? I won't be able to watch that one either.

I wasn't able to watch the game. How did Detroit rack up all the yardage? Was it meaningless late game yardage or were they moving the ball well outside of 3rd down situations? New gameplan against Bears defense on 3rd down- PUNT!

Maybe I'm off base (no pun intended), but I think Jacque Jones would be a better CF than Pierre defensively AND offensively.

Must have been a predictable week. After week 1 in Pigskin Pick Em, I was 12-4 and ranked in 2162 place. This week, I'm 11-4 so far and have dropped over 3000 places in the rankings. Weird. Jacksonville to win tonight for back to back 12-4's.

IMO, yes that is unrealistic. Why?

If we could get Lugo signed rather than Pierre, Pie's position for the next 10 years won't be blocked. There's your lead off guy. Either Izturis or Lugo can play SS or 2nd.

If Craig Wilson is a FA, I see him in the AL. He's lost a lot of at bats over the years playing in the NL.

Would it be unrealistic to think the Cubs could add a power corner outfield bat and keep Murton? Slide Jones over to CF and voila.

Pitcher A- 7-16, career pre-2006 (31-37) Pitcher B- 15-6 career pre-2006 (99-89) Pitcher C - 15-9, career pre-2006 (108-71) In what order do you rank these 3 pitchers? Pitcher C has a decent career record and had a good season. Pitcher B has a career winning record, and the best seasonal won/loss record. Pitcher A has a career losing record and had a horrible year. If wins and losses are an important stat to measure their value, let's just see who you would rather have of these 3 guys. Coincidentally, these 3 pitchers have all played together on the same team in the same year.

How about starting with the executive clubhouse. They had to be drunk to give out those ridiculous contracts last year.