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TB_11

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Everything posted by TB_11

  1. TB_11
    This move was driven by the contracts that starting pitchers have received this offseason. Williams knows that McCarthy is one productive season away from receiving a Ted Lilly or Gil Meche-type contract. Either he gets that season, and then loses McCarthy for nothing, or he loses McCarthy now, gets back two solid prospects, and hopes the pitching market comes down in later years.
  2. TB_11
    We had an airing of grievances last night. Mainly at the bar waitress whose slow service was leaving us without beer.
  3. TB_11
    Assuming the Cubs will eventually sign another outfielder, whether that be Floyd or someone else, Soriano at SS, DeRosa at 2B. That being said, I hope they give Theriot some serious consideration to see if his performance in 2006 was a fluke or reflective of his actual talents.
  4. TB_11
    The Daily Show. Colbert Report is great, but is driven by Stephen Colberts alter ego. The Daily Show can hit you in more ways. The Daily Show has been a springboard for some: - Colbert - Steve Carrell - Ed Helms - Mo Rocca - Craig Kilborn - Nate Corddry Hopefully we'll see Rob Corddry in something soon.
  5. TB_11
    So you'd rather the Cubs spend a bunch of money on a mediocre FA crop and tying the team down financially for the next 3 years while not improving nearly enough to compete for a WS title? When option B is a just-as-mediocre FA crop the following year? Yes. Signing free agents is not the only way to improve a baseball team, unless that team is in a panic to win right away. When the coaching of the team has shown a general inability to develop minor-league talent into major-league assets, it becomes the best way. The Cubs overspent this offseason, no doubt, and they overspent on some of the wrong players. But if the choice is to overspend on free agents or go young, let's replicate the 1997 Marlins.
  6. TB_11
    Pie should start the year in the minors. He came back from an injured-2005 and didn't improve his power or discipline numbers in AAA. He could use some more time polishing his plate discipline before being called up and facing the "win-now" expectations that will be in Wrigley this year.
  7. TB_11
    80-85. Too many things need to go right (a la 1998) for this team to seriously compete for the playoffs.
  8. TB_11
    If everyone is healthy and performs to their capabilities, the rotation should be Z, Prior, Hill, Lilly, Marquis. Miller moves to the bullpen for long relief, or as a fill-in starter when someone misses a start. Ideally we would move Dempster, due to his contract and his shakiness last year. Howry and Eyre are scheduled to get similar pay, but they pitched well last year and should stay on. Even though we just picked up Cotts, his performance suggests he should be the next to go if we wanted to drop to 11 pitchers. Rotation: Z, Prior, Hill, Lilly, Marquis Bullpen: Miller (long-relief), Ohman, Wuertz, Howry, Eyre, Wood (closer) That's the ideal situation. The fact is that not everyone is going to be healthy, meaning Miller or Marshall/Mateo/Marmol may be competing for the fifth rotation spot, and Dempster and Cotts may be needed for relief work, especially if Piniella wants to keep 12 pitchers.
  9. TB_11
    Marquis's main value is durability. He's a 28 year old who has made 30+ starts and 190+ innings in each of the past three seasons, with a career ERA+ of 94. To compare: - 28 year old Gil Meche has a career ERA+ of 96, has never reached 190 innings (he did hit 186 innings twice), and receives 5/55 - 29 year old Adam Eaton has a career ERA+ of 92, has reached 190 innings once, and receives 3/25. - 30 year old Ted Lilly has a career ERA+ of 99, has reached 190 innings once in the past three years, and receives 4/40. Seems in line with the overall market for starters, inflated as it may be. It seems that Hendry had a focus of going after durable starting pitchers this offseason. This has to be a reflection that, aside from Hill, he no longer trusts the farm system to produce quality starting pitching like it did during the late-90s/early-00s. It's hard to disagree with this general track: it's worth ~$20M/year to get two average starting pitchers to contribute ~200 innings each, when the alternative could be repeat performances from Mateo, Marmol, or Ryu. ------------------- EDIT: With the Tribune reporting that it's 3/20 and not 3/28, UK proves to be smarter than me, yet again.
  10. TB_11
    More confirmation that the market for free agent shortstops is officially stupid.
  11. TB_11
    Once you have no cartilage in your knee, it becomes pretty painful to do anything strenuous, like sprinting. The bones are essentially grinding on each other at that point. If Hendry can get Bonds for a 1-year, $10-12M deal it's a no-brainer, but Bonds should end up as a DH in the AL with his knees.
  12. TB_11
    If he could be had for anything less than $12M, he'd be absolutely worth it. He's an injury risk, especially in the NL, but with Murton as a backup fourth OF even 100 games of Bonds would be worth it.
  13. TB_11
    The Cubs had similar tactics in the 2004-05 offseason toward marquee free agents. They offered Beltran 5-$75M, and Ordonez a 1-year deal (the amount escapes me), knowing they would get richer offers elsewhere. I agree it's good that we're trying, but I'm not sure what good going to desired free agents with deals that they will obviously turn away does.
  14. TB_11
    It's a good sign that Prior seems to be clearly committed to this team winning in 2007. With his injuries and the flak he catches from fans and the press, it would be very easy for him to be looking for a quick exit.
  15. TB_11
    With Piniella as manager, a four-man rotation might get overworked.
  16. TB_11
    Let the bashing of a somewhat fragile sports personality by a hostile baseball fan base begin.
  17. TB_11
    Seconded, and it's good to hear this from a Cardinals fan.
  18. TB_11

    Milk

    TB_11 replied to Balsa's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk

    ditto Ditto the ditto. Making the jump from 2% to skim is one of those things that takes a while, but in the end you know it's better to avoid the calories. Similar to the jump from regular soda to diet.
  19. TB_11
    I just came back from a week-long vacation, one of those no cell-phone, no Blackberry, no internet getaways. When I hit my apartment, my roommate told me the Cubs had signed Soriano, and asked me to guess the contract. My guesses assumed Hendry had overpaid, but were still about three years and $60M short. I'm glad this was the first thread I saw when I reached NSBB. I've skimmed this thread and others, and I think every reaction I've had has already been stated except one. At this point, the Cubs have to overspend to make a push for 2007, like the Marlins did in 1997. Soriano, Lee and Aramis will only decline as their contracts mature, Zambrano will face injuries at some point (as blasphemous as it sounds, it's bound to happen), Barrett's longevity is shortened due to the fact that he's a catcher, etc. The only way this deal will make a hint of sense is if Hendry goes out and signs some combination of Zito, Schmidt, Drew, and even Bonds and Clemens. Clearly, the chances of this happening are near zero, but it's the only way this deal will approach being rational.
  20. TB_11
    Changed the URLs. Let me know if they're still not visible.
  21. TB_11
    I picked up seats to Sunday's games. I didn't take too many pictures until the end, but here's what I have. Hope the Bears fans here enjoy them: http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r171/mcgizz/490010663405_0_ALB.jpg TB (in the Briggs jersey) finds fellow Bears fans before the game. http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r171/mcgizz/288020663405_0_ALB.jpg A Giants fan who had been heckling the Bears fans in his area is quiet by the end of the game. http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r171/mcgizz/891510663405_0_ALB.jpg TB gets a picture with the shamed Giants fan. http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r171/mcgizz/530570663405_0_ALB.jpg An empty Giants stadium post-game. http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r171/mcgizz/965970663405_0_ALB.jpg Final score and stats. http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r171/mcgizz/379880663405_0_ALB.jpg In the parking lot after the game, a fan wearing zoo pants.
  22. TB_11
    Will Clark's 89 playoff run was almost enough to warrent HOF induction IMO. Of course if it happened against another team I would not give a damn. It outshined an almost-as-impressive NLCS by Mark Grace.
  23. TB_11
    Accurate assessment. Additionally if upper management is committed to increasing the payroll, this would be a good time to start accumulate proven veterans through free agent signings and trades.
  24. TB_11
    Somebody get Ron Gant on the phone. Is Dave Justice still serviceable? :lol: Sid Bream anyone?
  25. TB_11
    As cocky as the Bears appear in public, hopefully they realize that they haven't been as dominating as other 6-0 teams have been. They destroyed a great Seattle team, but aside from that they've beaten up the Packers (currently 1-4), the Lions (1-5), and Buffalo (2-4), and struggled to get wins on the road against Minnesota and Arizona. If the team is as cocky behind the scenes as they have been in public hopefully they received a gut check with this game.
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