BigbadB

Murton: .785 Pierre: .730 lifetime Jones: .782 lifetime Hmm. And we want to get rid of Walker and his .829 OPS last year? Derrek Lee will absolutely need to duplicate his 2005 season, especially if Ramirez misses any time.

It is a contract year for Pierre, so this coming year is as good as any for him to produce at his highest potential. He has a whole lot to lose if he has another year like last year.

Come on, please be reasonable here. It makes no sense to over expose Grissom by having him start over Murton or platoon with him. Even Dusty knows Murton hits well against LHP (I would be concerned if Marquis was lefthanded). Logic dictates that he will split time with Jones I missed this one while I was out working in the garage. Reasonable is thinking that Grissom would play in place of Murton long before he plays in place of Jones when Dusty is the manager. Last year when Murton got called up, he got very little playing time if any. The Cubs used Hollandsworth, Dubois until that proved inadequate. They used Hairston and Gerut while Murton was available. They traded for Lawton while Murton was outproducing all of them. Only once the season was basically over for Cubs playoff chances did Murton get any significant playing time. Jones makes big money. Dusty doesn't sit the big money guys. Same thing with Cedeno. When Cedeno was the best available option while Nomar and Walker were out, Enrique Wilson was brought in and Cedeno was sent down. I watch this team daily too. I've lost a lot of faith in Dusty doing the right thing. Dusty is also the same guy who made the comment that light skinned players can't handle playing most of their games in the hot daytime sun like dark skinned players, so who sits on back to back hot days in the sun? Jones or Murton? Maybe Dusty will prove me wrong. But, until he does, I have every reason to be extremely skeptical at this point.

In the 24 games the Cubs had Lawton, he sat out of 5 of them. In those same 24 games Lawton was with the Cubs, Murton got 5 starts. In the next 12 games after Lawton was traded to the Yankees, Hairston took over in left for a bulk of the playing time. Murton got 14 at bats in those 12 games.

You say Lawton was brought in to address the OBP problem, but if he replaced Murton, he really didn't address an OBP problem, he addressed a rookie problem.

It's okay to think whatever you want. This is a discussion board. No one knows for sure about anything, but half the fun is discussing or debating what would be better. As long as it stays respectful, people shouldn't have to feel like they are being ganged up on. I really don't care if no one agrees with my opinions, but I'm going to give them anyway. It only feels like you are getting ganged up on if your opinion differs from the majority. I've also seen opinions change (including my own) when enough information is provided that makes sense, was well presented and/or educated me more on a topic I didn't really know that much about. CubfaninCa battles with many people here everyday. I think I go to battle with him myself, everyday. I don't have any ill feelings towards him or his opinion, I just don't agree with him very often. Doesn't mean my opinion is right and his is wrong, they just differ. If someone is disrespectful of you and your opinion, PM a mod and we will address it right away. If we didn't have differing opinions on anything, this place would be very boring.

Can't this same argument be made for why they traded for Lawton in the first place? Can't this same argument be applied to the fact that when Nomar and Walker were hurt, Cedeno got sent back to the minors so the Cubs could play Enrique Wilson everyday in his place?

If Murton provided a whole season's worth of stats like he did last year, then we could feel much more comfortable with him as an everyday LFer. Murton would be a great 4th outfielder this year, but not a great platoon partner, because there just aren't many lefty starters in the league. I wouldn't want to see him playing 1/4 of the year and pinch hitting occasionally. I'd like him to get lots of playing time. I do agree with you that Hendry is still shopping for 1 more outfielder. It may end up being Floyd if the Manny thing goes down with the Mets. It may end up being Huff when teams forget Tampa is still trying to move him. It may end up being Gonzalez, but that one is definitely not one of my favorites. Green works for me, but he likely won't void his NTC. It also seems to me that Hendry has some players he still wants to move (Patterson and Walker), and some guys that may need to be moved (Novoa, Ohman and/or Wellemeyer). Jones may have ended up being more of an insurance move, though I wouldn't think you would normally see a team spend 3 years for insurance. Then again, they basically resigned Neifi and Rusch at 2 years each for insurance purposes. If Hendry could land Tejada, the need for another outfielder wouldn't be as necessary, but I'd still believe he'd attempt to bring someone, anyone for a little more outfield protection. And preferably someone better than Marquis Grissom.

I understand that it is based upon numbers and that numbers are color blind. But, true or false, sabermetrics favors or values certain qualities or numbers or stats over others, doesn't it? Not too big on stealing bases but big on walks, for example. My point is is there a possibility that given what it values or on which it places positive emphasis and given what it does not value sabermetrics obviously favors a "type" of player, at least to some extent. All I have been asking is whether or not that "type" is more likely than not to be a white player. I would say no, based on my previous response. For every white player that was a picture perfect model of what a sabermetric player should be, there is a black guy and a latino guy and probably a japanese guy who you can find that compares to that white player.

Grissom ranks right at the top in 1 offensive category. He ranks 2nd in most painful batting stance to watch, right behind Craig Counsell. Some of you have a lot more faith in Dusty than I do if you believe Dusty will sit Jacque Jones and his 5m contract in favor of Marquis Grissom when a lefty is on the mound, meanwhile letting league minimum Matt Murton play everyday. I don't see it. Oh, and just to touch base on the thought process of batting Jacque Jones 2nd in the order. Here are his splits over the last 3 years as a #2 hitter: Jacque Jones as a #2 hitter over the last 3 years: .225/.299/.649 in 160 at bats. :cheers:

For the record, what Rotoworld would do isn't the same as what Dusty would do.

How can you say that? He's hit 9 in his major league career of 3411 at bats. If he gets 3500 at bats in 2006, surely he has the chance to hit 10 HR's. :D :-k i'm just wondering how he got those 9 in the first place. I wonder how many of them are inside-the-park "blasts".

How can you say that? He's hit 9 in his major league career of 3411 at bats. If he gets 3500 at bats in 2006, surely he has the chance to hit 10 HR's. :D

I agree. Would I rather have Milton Bradley or Brad Wilkerson? If "attitude" were not a part of the equation, I'd take Bradley over Wilkerson. Would I rather have Giles or Abreu? Abreu because of the age disparity. For every sabermetric superstar or non superstar, I think you can find a comparable player that's either caucasion, black or latino or any other race that gets added to the equation. Some of the best pure hitters in the game have been black. The greatest player in Saber history has to be Barry Bonds. Bar none. But, pete the dog brings up a very good point with latin players in the fact that they aren't going to "walk" their way off the island. Getting back to Brad Wilkerson, the 3 players that Wilkerson has closely resembled by age happen to be Paul O'Neill, Jeffrey Hammonds and Ivan Calderon. A caucasion, a black and a latin player. Brian Giles has most closely resembled by age Mark Quinn (white), Moises Alou (latin), Bob Johnson (?), Pedro Guerrero (latin), David Justice (black) and Hack Wilson (white). You can use baseball-reference to do these comparisons with a lot of players and get the same results. Sabermetrics weighs a lot of stats that aren't conventional, and I'm nowhere close to having any scientific background, but I fail to see any significance in regards to race in any way.

Well done! Pete The Dog + Davis, CA = Vet School? Just curious.

Fair enough. That is something we can agree on. If anything, I'd like to see another arm added. But, Pie or Hill for Zito doesn't make sense unless Zito's contract is extended beyond 2006.

That's what I put my money. No big deal... Seriously, is there a trade, free agent signing that would upset you? I applaud your optimism, but I'm curious if there is any move that the Cubs could make that would have you join me on the ledge?

Okay, this is getting a bit carried away. Let's just get back to the discussion at hand. Thanks!

Great quote BBB! Thanks! The Marquis Grissom rumor has me feeling quite comical today. :D

Apology accepted. I have no sources. I confirm nothing. I am the king of speculation and the prince of opinion. Nothing more! :D

I think he's starting to sound more like A-Rod.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA This stuff doesn't even shock me anymore. There has to be some Trib shareholders that are huge Cub fans that can inform the powers that be that someone really needs to put a stop to this chirade. I'm looking forward to how much they give Grissom to be the LF start..... uh,er back up to Murton.

Or at the very least, the LA Dodgers. By the way, I have confirmed (just yesterday in fact) that the Cubs had no interest in Giles, and hence, did not even try to talk to him or his agent. I felt it was already confirmed when Hendry was quoted as saying before any serious offers were made that "I'm not going to get into a bidding war for Giles". Yet, he felt like getting into a bidding war for Furcal and Jones. I felt it was already confirmed by the lack of any "news" that the Cubs had any interest. I felt it was already confirmed when Bruce Miles came here and declared that one of the reasons was that Hendry had concerns about Giles age. I felt it was already confirmed when Hendry made his strong play for Furcal. But, confirmed doesn't necessarily change the fact that Giles may or may not have ever wanted to leave San Diego. That's possible. But, just about everyone has a price. I believe Giles price was 13m at minimum to move. Hendry had it to give to him.

That may change soon. As the AL East gets stronger (Toronto looks good), Tampa is a few years away yet, Baltimore, meh..... Teams like Cleveland and Oakland will have a shot at a wild card once again. Didn't Anaheim make it via wild card the year they were in the Series?

Good post! The really hardcore fan won't change allegiance, but there are millions of casual fans that could be swayed one way or another. Winning is a good way to generate interest and excitement.