BigbadB

The Diamondbacks fell for that trick once before. They traded 6 guys for Richie Sexson and boy did that ever backfire. The set up is almost exactly the same as the Sexson deal. Lee will be getting ready for the last year of his contract. The Cubs would want several players in return. I'm not sure the Cubs could put proper value on Lee or get proper value for what he currently provides this team. The small things he does cannot be replaced. The error's and potential runs he has saved Aramis at 3rd base is just one of those things. Aramis is a much better 3b than the guy we originally traded for. But Derrek has certainly helped with that. There are still a lot of errant throws that Derrek gets to that a typical 1b would not. Do I want Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin? Sure. I wouldn't mind having Chad Tracy too. How is Sergio Santos doing these days? But, I doubt Arizona trades anymore than 1 of those guys. I think the Cubs could be players for one of those guys using Glendon Rusch and others as the bait. It will take more than just Glendon, but Arizona would probably be most interested in pitching anyway.

The game day thread featured last night's line up had the game been played. Patterson was penciled in to play centerfield.

Clement is the same pitcher he was last year. Look at Clement's ERA last year and then look at his record. The thing that is wrong is the Cubs lack of offense hurt Clement's standing as a free agent. There is no way he should have been a type "B" free agent. We should have received more compensation for him. I knew Clement had to go. Could you imagine giving Clement 7/8m to continue pitching for the Cubs. That would have meant no Burnitz in RF. The outfield this year would probably then be Dubois, Hollandsworth and Patterson. I wish Clement the best of luck in Boston. The biggest shame is that we were not appropriately compensated for his loss.

Excluding Maddux for obvious reasons, I think Prior has the best shot of having the most success.

I doubt Greg will jump right into a pitching coach position when his time is done. I don't know how any player who spends 15-20 Springs, Summers and Falls traveling all over the country. Especially with kids at home. That's probably got to be the hardest sacrifice all these players make for the big bucks. Worth it. Yes. But, the loss of watching their offspring grow up has to be difficult.

A trade to San Diego makes a lot of sense for both teams. The Cubs have lots of starting pitchers to slide into his place. San Diego is a team that is in a pennant race. Maddux knows he's not doing well, and a move to San Diego could/would knock a whole run off his ERA, which could prolong his career and help him leave the game like the champion he's always been. Most of the home runs he's given up this year are shots that don't even make the warning track in San Diego. I've always been a big Maddux fan, but I'd trade him to San Diego if he agreed to go. I'd certainly talk to him about it before even considering it, out of respect for Greg. But, a deal like this could be a win/win/win for everyone. Cubs free up some salary for next year, San Diego fills their rotation hole, and Greg is in a better situation.

Wally Backman played 2nd base in the majors for several years. I believe he was on the Mets World Series team in 1986. He was hired to be the manager of the (let me know if I get the team wrong) Arizona Diamondbacks to replace Brenly, but was fired hours later when it was found he was a convicted felon (drunk driving) and other stuff he didn't report on his application. Shortest stint as a manager ever.

Very happy to see Jeter sit at home this year. Besides, it would be pretty ugly if Jeter and A-Rod decided to throw down in the middle of the All Star Game. :D Absence will only make the heart grow fonder.

Hi Nathan, It's great to see the Cubs back in Peoria. I went to a lot of games at Meinen Field the last time the Cubs were in Peoria. What do you think of the new stadium? Is it more of a hitter or pitcher friendly park?

I like Raisin's roster, but Gallagher has to be on that team, and Nic Jackson would be on my bench. I refuse to give up on Nic!

If soft hitter means guy who gets on base more than a third of the time, I have to disagree. You counting walks not his hits. He is a very soft hitter. Let me ask you a simple question, if he is so good why haven't all the contenders tried to trade for him? The Cubs would gladly trade him. they aren't keeping him at Iowa for the future. People just don't consider him a major league hitter, not walker. yes, because walks are terrible. all they do is clog the bases. people who walk can't score runs. For all you walk lovers, he plays a position that requires more than walks. He can't lead off, too slow. He doesn't knock in runs and he strikes out. Maybe for your team, but no other major league team seems to want him to play regularly for their team. He's not an improvement. If he were promoted, he wouldn't ever "play". He'd be pinch hitting when needed. Our bench is horrible. Why do you have such a problem with walks? Have you ever noticed that just about every time one of our pitcher's walks someone, that runner comes around to score? It's a huge part of the game. Waiting around for a home run is exactly why this team has been horrible offensively these last few years.

Is Rey Sanchez available? I'd take him over Neifi and Macias. In fact, I'd trade both of them for Sanchez.

It's nothing personal of course, but Rusch has incredible value at this point. I'd be offering him up to San Diego for Josh Barfield or X Nady right now. San Diego needs a 5th starter badly right now. Would Arizona be interested in him for Conor Jackson? I'm surprised that there hasn't been more mentioned about Glendon at this point. All those teams in need of pitching should be knocking on Chicago's door first. If it took a Scott Kazmir to get Victor Zambrano, I want a Scott Kazmir type prospect for Rusch, preferably a hitter though.

Mark Kotsay=Todd Walker Todd Walker as a lead off hitter over the last 3 years (602 at bats) .297/.353/.477/.830 97 runs scored/51 walks. Mark Kotsay as a lead off hitter over the last 3 years (770 at bats) .310/.363/.474/.837 99 runs scored/64 walks. We have a guy just like Mark Kotsay in Todd Walker, and he's had a total of 2 at bats in the lead off spot this year. A quality lead off hitter is certainly a need. But, when the manager of the team can't recognize one when he's right in front of his face, what can you do? I wouldn't trust Dusty to bat Kotsay lead off. One of either Kotsay or Walker will be batting 6th again while the other hits 2nd behind some scrub like Neifi Perez. This is what I would do: #1. Fire Dusty (Chris Speier as interim manager) #2. Bat Walker lead off #3. Bat Hairston 2nd as he switches between LF, CF and an occasional start to rest Burnitz in RF #4. Look for a more permanent fixture for LF (preferably Adam Dunn) #5. Cedeno plays everyday #6. Send a pitcher down and promote Grieve While Lee is hurt, Hollandsworth plays 1b while Hairston plays LF. This gives the bench Hollandsworth or Patterson, Grieve, Dubois and Perez ahead of Neifi. Line up while Lee is out: Walker Hairston Ramirez Burnitz Hollandsworth Cedeno Patterson Barrett

NSBB moderators are awesome. :horse:

I'd rather have Preston Wilson than Juan Encarnacion. But, then again, I don't want either.

It also makes the opposing manager's job easier. Let's see, I can leave in my right handed pitcher to face Jose Macias, who isn't much of a threat with a bat, or I can bring in my lefty to face this guy who has absolutely torn up AAA pitching? Let's leave the kid on the bench by leaving our righty bullpen guy in there. Then we can save the LOOGY for Burnitz, Patterson or Hollandsworth. Some (and even a lot) of MLB players are good at hitting right handed pitching, because they get such a steady dose of it. Cedeno is hitting right handers pretty well so far in his short stint. Keep sitting him on the bench, and I'm sure he'll become quite rusty the next time he gets the opportunity to see one.

Atlanta went out and signed washed up vets in the offseason (Mondesi and Jordan). Mondesi was DFA'd on June 1st and Jordan has received less and less at bats each month this season. Meanwhile, Atlanta is now winning more with the kids than they did with the vets. Sometimes you have to shake things up to make things happen. Atlanta has lost Hampton, Hudson and Thompson from their starting staff. They have energized their team with youth. Not the bench, mind you. But, the starting line up. But, who would want to rip a page out of a notebook from a team that's only won 13 divisions in a row? Bringing up Cedeno was a horrible idea if they weren't going to give him any playing time. Absolutely zero point in it. Let's see: Play everyday at Iowa, or a front row seat to watch Neifi Perez and the Cubs? I doubt Cedeno is enjoying his stay. Meanwhile, rookies I had never heard of prior to this season are enjoying their first season in MLB.

Your dad wasn't around in 1945?

This spells even more trouble for those of us that would like to see Cedeno get any sort of a shot. If Hairston (a veteran) can go out and kick butt as a lead off hitter, and he still can't keep the job, there's no way Cedeno (not a veteran) will get any significant playing time even if he hits like Derrek Lee.

You also need your farm system to provide cheap talent at a key position or two to allow you to afford to trade for guys like Dunn or Mench. If Cedeno and Pie can cover SS and CF, you can sign Dunn to a big contract while holding on to other soon to be expensive, but productive parts like Zambrano and Prior. Untouchable is a loose term for "it would take something real extraordinary to trade him". If the Yankees offered A-Rod (and paid half his contract) for Pie, Mitre and Hill, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Untouchable just means you won't trade him unless you can get a serious impact player in return. Ok...how about something like this... Pie and Mitre for Mench? He's performed solidly at the major league level for several years and has a solid OBP and power. At this point I'm thinking that I'd be open to something like that...just insert trade target (Dunn, Huff, et al...) I think we've really got to consider it if we get a proven young player in return. Personally, I wouldn't make that trade. Mench is a solid player, but not a guy I trade my best offensive prospect for. For Pie, I want a franchise type player in return. Dunn, Beltran, A-Rod, Abreu, B. Giles, etc.... Sure, Pie is not worth any of those guys by himself. But, at the same time, we don't really know what we are getting rid of. Boston is still kicking themselves for trading Jeff Bagwell for an old, inconsistent middle reliever. The White Sox had to be kicking themselves for trading Sammy Sosa for George Bell. The list goes on of great prospects that were shipped off for spare parts that turned out to be superstars. We don't know whether Pie could be the next superstar or the next flop, but I'm not overly excited about watching him blossom into a superstar for some other team unless his net return gave us not just one playoff appearance, but several. The Florida Marlins could have traded their top prospect in 2003 to help their push to the playoffs, but instead, they promoted him and Miguel Cabrera is on everyone's wish list today. I'm looking forward to the day Felix Pie is patrolling centerfield. Until that day comes, I don't want to see his name come up in trade rumors unless it's for a franchise type player. Texas needs pitching, pitching and more pitching. To get Mench, you could offer Mitre and another arm or two and call it good. Now you have Mench and Pie. If Texas wants Pie, instead of Mench, I want Tex. I don't think Texas would want Pie though, since Rich Hill is the lefty of the two that can actually throw strikes. :wink:

There is currently a Chicago grown lad that is currently available that has one of the best OBP's as a lead off hitter in the history of baseball. And he also plays LF. Oh, and he's fast too (just for Dusty). Rickey Henderson

You also need your farm system to provide cheap talent at a key position or two to allow you to afford to trade for guys like Dunn or Mench. If Cedeno and Pie can cover SS and CF, you can sign Dunn to a big contract while holding on to other soon to be expensive, but productive parts like Zambrano and Prior. Untouchable is a loose term for "it would take something real extraordinary to trade him". If the Yankees offered A-Rod (and paid half his contract) for Pie, Mitre and Hill, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Untouchable just means you won't trade him unless you can get a serious impact player in return.

He certainly is part of the problem with this lineup. OBP is OBP. It's needed everywhere. Michael has a terrible approach at the plate. He's talented enough that if he adjusts, he should be fine, but he hasn't shown any indications that he will. The "he's settling into the position" excuse is growing thin with MB. He's 28 years old. He played C exclusively in 2001, 2003 and 2004. He played C virtually exclusively in 2002, with just 6 appearances at 1B. Until he shows that he can be more than a first pitch hack who routinely grounds into double plays because of his tendency to swing at pitcher's pitches designed to ground into double plays, then he will remain part of the problem. Thank you for seeing things dispassionately. The amount of rose-colored glasses wearing in these fora is staggering. It's nice to know that people believe in the Cubs unconditionally, but enough is enough. I don't think I had the rose colored glasses on, I clearly mentioned that Barrett tends to ground into too many double plays due to his approach at the plate. Also, most guys have been catching all through the minors, and didn't Barrett come up as a 3rd baseman? I am not making an excuse for his defense, I didn't say it was good, I just said I thought it could improve. Barrett has grounded into 5 double plays this year. 13 all of last year. Neifi Perez, on the other hand, has grounded into 12 double plays already this year. :wink:

Lawton has a .271/.377/.825 line this year. How would that not be an upgrade? He's not Adam Dunn, but that .377 OBP would sure be nice. I guess I had a misperception about his stats both this year and career. He would be nice to have, but the way Hollandsworth is going, it'd be nicer to find a SS with those same numbers. Finding an Available SS with decent numbers is a much trickier proposition. ronnie cedeno? What, right under our very noses? How could this be? Seriously, what will it take to get Dusty to at least give him more opportunities to prove what he can do at the major league level?