BigbadB

I thought about it. He was definitely hyped and really never deserved a starting job in MLB. I'm enjoying this list. It's probably not fair to list guys who never made it because of injuries, however. How about........ Joe Charboneau I win! Although Ben McDonald is pretty good competition.

I think it's the broadcast, personally.

Prior has major issues with his control.

If Washington is so up to snuff on Pierre's poor throwing arm, why didn't they tag up and take a base on the fly ball?

I would have, but it ended so fast, I couldn't find a place to research just how quick it was.

Alex Escobar

I'm not sure. That's very sad if that is the case.

Just looked it up. Cubs got Jackson Melian for Machado on June 9, 2002. Yeesh. Quevedo was traded to the Cubs in '99. I was way off. Then traded to the Brewers in 2001.

I could have sworn Quevedo came in a straight up deal for C Robert Machado.

That's pretty funny, actually. :D Let me go for OCF: Hee Seop Choi Ben Grieve David Kelton Jason Dubois Etc......

"Toe" Nash

Marshall and Hill both have knee buckling curve balls. More experience is necessary, but I think all 4 of them (including Guzman) can be successful major league starters

I find it weird that I am saying this to a couple of people far more into Moneyball philosophy and SABR than I am, but with Cedeno in the lineup, Jones as an everyday player is unacceptable. two guys that make way too many outs day in, day out. Unfortunately, you'll have to go to the Cedeno regression thread in Baseball Discussions to see my comments on this. I have no issues with Cedeno playing out the rest of this year, but if an impact bat is available at SS, I would trade Cedeno faster than you can say his name. With Lugo possibly leaving Tampa at the end of the season (potentially a Cub?), I'd trade a package of Murton/Hill/Cedeno for one of their stud outfielders. Tampa will be in need of a SS.

Yep, I'm one of those people. However, I also was not a fan of going mediocre in RF and starting Murton AND Cedeno everyday. And I was against bringing Pierre. My thought process was something along the lines of Giles in RF, Lofton/Patterson/Bradley in CF, Aubrey Huff platooning with Murton. With that kind of depth and production in the outfield, Cedeno would probably have been alright at SS.

I'm not fond of the idea of having him on just to boo him either. I'd much rather hear that they were having him on to ask him the critical questions that always seem to get ignored. If that embarrasses him, so be it.

Since I don't think Jones will be in any trade plans, I'm a huge advocate to move him to CF. I think I'd even respect the contract he signed a bit more if he played CF.

I agree with letting Cedeno have the chance. But, if an opportunity arises that would net Tejada or A-Rod, I'd part with Cedeno faster than you can say his name. The Cubs don't have the time to sit there and wait for someone to develop. They could if (as Goony stated in his last post) if they had studs at all other positions on the field. However, that's not likely to happen. The Cubs need to be willing to add whatever impact bats are available (outside of 1b and possibly C).

I have to agree with Goony here. The trades he made were with teams in sell mode (Florida/Pittsburgh) or looking for an improvement for their own stretch drive (Boston). It's ridiculous what we gave up to get Aramis. It's hindsight now, but it's now ridiculous what was given up for Lee. It would take what seems like a ridiculous amount of talent to net the kind of guy the Cubs could use (A-Rod, Miggy Cabrera, Tejada, Abreu, etc...), but I'm not sure Hendry is willing to go down that road. Pittsburgh got rid of a lot of talent the year they traded Aramis. And they didn't ask a whole lot in return. I think their main thing was reducing payroll. Florida wanted to be out from under Derrek Lee the year prior to the Choi/Lee trade, but no one wanted to take on his whole salary and Florida didn't want to pay any part of it. A lot of teams (especially Baltimore) must be kicking themselves after watching Lee break out last year. Nomar's welcome was worn out in Boston. Aramis has been better than advertised (though he has been slumping this year) and Lee was way better than anyone could imagine. The Cubs got lucky with those two trades. They wouldn't be "lucky" to land an impact player listed above. It's going to cost them. Does Hendry have the cajones to make one happen? In regards to prospects, I'd love to see him deal a Phil Nevin for a Franklin Gutierrez or a Maddux for a Joel Guzman or Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier, or a Todd Walker for a Nelson Cruz, or a Cedeno/Murton/Hill package for a Tampa outfielder like Baldelli or Crawford. I worry that he's already waiting too long to move them. I think he would like Dusty to have every opportunity to improve this teams record, something that won't happen by trading vets for prospects (at least in the eyes of Dusty and Hendry). This team needs a major overhaul. With a long list of players to trade in Rusch, Neifi, Walker, Nevin, Maddux, Pierre, Williamson, Dempster, Ohman, Jones and possibly Aramis, and youth in Cedeno, Murton, Hill, Marshall, Marmol, Guzman, Pie, etc... Hendry has the resources to drastically improve this team from now through this winter through trade and free agency. But, I'm very, very skeptical that he'll make the right moves.

Agreed. That would be an awesome start. Both are just turning 22 years old and putting up studly numbers.

Well, I doubt the runner on second would score on a bobble, but I see what you're saying there. One run would score which is better than a walk scoring no one. I've seen Cedeno airmail a routine grounder into the 1st base side box seats. I'm sure other SS's could do it too.

I'll be in Vegas for 12 days next month, but unfortunately, my work schedule won't allow it. Oh, and Cashman would need to be indoor in late August for me to go to a game.

Damn Torii Hunter; he would have to choose a time where I'm without access and unable to replace him for several days to go on the DL. :x Time warp or wrong thread?

The Dodgers are just loaded in prospects right now. Loney is killing the ball in AAA at 1b. He has 23 K's in 288 AB's. Delwyn Young is a top rated 2b, though he has falled off a bit so far this year. Joel Guzman and Andy LaRoche will be battling for 3b. Kemp and Ethier in the OF, and Martin behind the plate.

Can the Dodgers afford to take on Maddux, Aramis and Dempster? They already have some hefty payrolls in Kent, Drew, Perez, Furcal, Gagne and the possible return of Nomar. Penny won't be cheap. Maddux is a free agent at the end of this year and the Dodgers will need to fill holes in their rotation. That's a lot of money spent. I think they're better off grooming their youth and mixing solid veterans like they have done this year. A couple more arms in the rotation and they are a good team. Is Aybar someone the Cubs would target ahead of Guzman or LaRoche? LaRoche is a risk at this point. I don't think Kemp is going anywhere. While it would be cool to see a lot of young stud prospects maturing with Prior and Zambrano, I can't imagine it actually happening. I've yet to see Hendry do this, so I'm a bit skeptical that he would.

I've noticed it a bit, myself. The question to be asked then is "have the players decided to take it upon themselves to be more patient, going against the wishes of a management team that is on it's way out anyway?" Or has management decided to quietly take a completely different approach than they have for the last 3 1/2 years?