BigbadB

I find Murton to be very similar (except age) to Matt Diaz. In 2005, one of the worst teams in baseball cut Diaz. He bounced around to a few teams after that. Diaz has put up a really nice season in Atlanta, but still doesn't really have much of an identity. Considering this, Murton's value is much better served playing for the Cubs.

I'll admit that I wanted a TE in the draft. I was pretty adamant about it. However, utilizing the TE's we have much moreso than they did last year really opens up the defense and allows the long passes. They've proven that the TE's they have are adequate enough to create more offensive options, which in turn will keep opposing defenses off balance. I'm very excited about what this offense is doing.

I think you just won the essay contest.

I'm sorry B, but after the Dusty generation, this statement sares teh lights outta me. I understand. However, I said an established veteran who can produce. I'm not opposed to a Delmon Young or Nick Markakis or Alex Gordon starting next year. But, the likelihood any of those guys will be Cubs next year is slightly lower than zero.

Not me. I've never advocated getting rid of Hill. I brought him up as a potential trade candidate last year while his value was high. But, that was also to net something terrific in return. I can be very patient with the younguns. I'm not ready to give up on any of them at this point, especially Guzman. I like Murton. Actually, I love him in regards to his approach to hitting. He's proven over time (minors and majors) that he can hit. He does still have weaknesses that need to be addressed, but because he will likely have the job in LF next year, what he takes away from the team in weakness should be addressed at other positions, like 2b.

Cubs fans deserve a World Series WAY before Theriot deserves a starting gig at 2b in 2007. If the Cubs starting outfield is Drew, Soriano and Andruw Jones and the rest of the infield is Ramirez, Tejada and Lee with Barrett behind the plate, fans may be willing to concede Theriot at 2b. With guys like Mark Loretta, Julio Lugo, Jeff Kent, Soriano, Ray Durham and I'm sure another small handful of guys that might be on the market, 2b is a prime position to put an established veteran who can produce before you go with a rookie with limited major league experience. That's not to say you do that with any and every rookie. I wanted a Murton/Jones platoon last year with a stud in RF if the plan was to give Cedeno the everyday job at SS. We didn't get that and look how things turned out. Theriot is an inexpensive guy who can plug in at several different positions. I spell that utility. I'm proud of Theriot's accomplishments. I hope he becomes an all star someday. Heck, I hope he's an all star next year. But, he does not have the background that tells me that it's likely he'll be a highly productive 2b and DESERVES the opportunity.

But, the 60th overall pick is a much more sexy pick. :P

Yeah, I sort of hijacked the thread. However, I don't think you'll find factual evidence that AVG with RISP is the reason teams score more runs than other teams. While some players on a team may do better in those situations, there will likely be guys who do worse in those situations on that same team. The way to truly improve runs scored is to increase your OBP, which gives guys (good or bad at AVG with RISP) more opportunities to drive in runs. The same can be said for the info TheDude is requesting. Just in reverse. A team that has the better WHIP will likely give up less runs than teams that have a much higher WHIP. It's tough to gather the information he requests. The Cubs have been very good as a team in not giving up hits. But, walks can be just as damaging and they are horrible when it comes to allowing baserunners. I don't really think it correlates to AVG with RISP as much as it correlates to OBP in relation to runs scored.

It's tremendously ironic. The pitching staff gives up walks at will and runs score at will. The offense doesn't draw walks and the runs scored suffers because of it. How do the execs not figure this out? A few years ago, the execs cried that the team "strikes out too much". And this was when there was decent power throughout the line up. Uh, no. They don't get on base enough. Same problem, different day. This year, the Cubs are right at the top of the stats in least K's on offense, and their run production is even worse. How do the execs not figure this out? Sure, guys need to hit with RISP. But, it's easier to do when they have MORE opportunities to hit with RISP.

A .330 OBP is certainly better than what the Cubs have gotten out of the lead off spot in a few years, but it's still horrible. Couple in his nearly 20 caught steals, and his OBP plummets even more. The Cubs need better OBP in front of the production guys. Lofton would be an upgrade over Pierre. Julio Lugo would be an improvement. Furcal would have been an improvement. Pierre's days of .350+ OBP are over. He is not selective at the plate and his horrible walk rate makes him a very poor lead off candidate. Some other team will value his speed and offer him a big contract. Good riddance. Hopefully, we get compensation considering how much the Cubs gave away to get him in the first place. Lofton would have been less than half the cost of Pierre and he gets on base at a better clip. Oh, and he wouldn't have cost the Cubs any compensation.

You guys sit there and act like it's a bad ballplayer's fault that a bad ballplayer is on a major league team. Do you really think Neifi cares if you told him you hate him to his very face? All he cares about is doing a good enough job to get another 1m+ contract from some idiot who is willing to give it to him. That he gets these contracts is NOT Neifi's fault. The anger is misdirected.

perhaps you should look at what some 1st place teams (oakland, cards, detroit) are trotting out there at 2b and then tell me why theriot could only be a starter for the yankee's at 2b. A team cannot trot out Pierre, Jones and Murton in the outfield, Izturis at SS and Theriot at 2nd base and be competitive. That's 5/8's of the starting offense. See the Cubs current standings as to why they can't. Could they if they put JD Drew, Soriano and Andruw Jones in the outfield next year? Sure. Will that happen? No. 2nd base is one of the easier spots to upgrade going into 2007, so it wouldn't be wise to pencil in what could be a useful and cheap utility player into that role. if they have lee, barrett, aram, a good starting staff & a good bullpen they can. again, look at the OF for oakland, st louis, & the twins and tell me why an of of murton, pierre ,& jones (ops's of .800+, .730+ & .800+) wouldn't be sufficiant? the white sox have dye (who is having an mvp type year) and 2 guys in pod's & anderson with ops's under .700 and they will win 90+ games (even with a very shaky starting staff & bullpen and uribe at ss-again under .700). If the Cubs have Pierre, Jones, Murton, Izturis and Theriot as 5/8's of their offense next year, we won't be arguing about whether they can win, because I won't be here. I'll be taking a well deserved year off from baseball.

perhaps you should look at what some 1st place teams (oakland, cards, detroit) are trotting out there at 2b and then tell me why theriot could only be a starter for the yankee's at 2b. A team cannot trot out Pierre, Jones and Murton in the outfield, Izturis at SS and Theriot at 2nd base and be competitive. That's 5/8's of the starting offense. See the Cubs current standings as to why they can't. Could they if they put JD Drew, Soriano and Andruw Jones in the outfield next year? Sure. Will that happen? No. 2nd base is one of the easier spots to upgrade going into 2007, so it wouldn't be wise to pencil in what could be a useful and cheap utility player into that role.

Of the top 40 in runs scored, only Jimmy Rollins has an OBP below .345 .330/.360 is significant.

As much as I like Theriot, I see him as nothing more than a utility player. 2nd, short, CF and RF are the positions the Cubs should be looking to upgrade this offseason.

Prior's first year out of college (2002) and in the Cubs organization, he logged 167 innings. Normal. In 2003 he had 211 IP during the regular season, 23 in the post season and another 24 in Spring Training that year. That's 258. WAY NOT NORMAL for a 22 year old pitcher. What did he rank in PAP that year? 1st or 2nd? You don't give up on Prior. You give him all the time he needs to recover from screwing him up in the first place. Period.

I'd rather see: Julio Lugo Mark Loretta Derrek Lee JD Drew Aramis Ramirez Matt Murton Felix Pie Michael Barrett Maybe grab Dave Roberts to start in CF if Pie isn't quite ready. If they went with Roberts, Izturis could bat 8th and take an infield spot, though I'd rather see Lugo, Loretta and Roberts. One other free agent signing of someone like Padilla to start and I think they have a competitive team.

Very happy for GMJ. I wished he figured it all out while he was a Cub, but good for him.

Fixed. :D Color me in the Brian Giles camp. I'm not leaving San Diego. Sorry.

It will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do this offseason. They could free up a ton of money to spend on pitching. A Jacque Jones and a prospect for JD Drew trade isn't that crazy, and would free up even more money for the Dodgers to spend on pitching.

The fact he's a Cub is all on Hendry, not Rusch. If I was Rusch, I would have signed that contract immediately as well. Get well, Glendon.

I'd rather stick Nomar in CF than Pierre.

:cheers:

I signed up for Pigskin Pick 'Em on ESPN with no point spread and just one entry. I went 12-4 this week. Not bad. The "experts" on ESPN couldn't do any better than 9-7 and many had losing records. The games I lost: Carolina, Tennessee, Denver and Washington.

That's only true if they are fast. Slower guys can't score. Thanks for that, Mr. Sarcasm. :D