Rob

I just wasted about 3 million potential children.

Man, you're about as much fun as emphysema. Johnny Carson had emphysema. Johnny Carson was fun.

I don't think Adrian Gonzalez was in the list of worst contracts... they just had a list up top of the contracts with the most money left on them. The "these contracts are really shitty" list started a bit lower.

He's absolutely right. Or at least he is about half the time. When the wind is blowing in, our high-powered HR guys do have a very hard time doing anything. Of course, if we didn't have those guys at all, we'd lose every game where the wind is blowing out at Wrigley. For the Cubs, the right answer is probably a mix. Other teams might be able to get away building their team more towards one side of the spectrum or the other. How many guys in baseball let alone on the Cubs are HR or nothing guys. You act like there are dozens of Dave Kingmans that we need to avoid. Did I say there were? I thought I was giving the equivalent response to "you know, stats and scouting makes for a better front office than just one or the other."

He's absolutely right. Or at least he is about half the time. When the wind is blowing in, our high-powered HR guys do have a very hard time doing anything. Of course, if we didn't have those guys at all, we'd lose every game where the wind is blowing out at Wrigley. For the Cubs, the right answer is probably a mix. Other teams might be able to get away building their team more towards one side of the spectrum or the other. So the answer is to get good hitters. I was thinking 8 Jacoby Ellsburys, one of whom could play short.

He's absolutely right. Or at least he is about half the time. When the wind is blowing in, our high-powered HR guys do have a very hard time doing anything. Of course, if we didn't have those guys at all, we'd lose every game where the wind is blowing out at Wrigley. For the Cubs, the right answer is probably a mix. Other teams might be able to get away building their team more towards one side of the spectrum or the other.

Considering the amount of money being paid for the team you'd expect they're going to get a nice payroll bump. Between that and the Friedman rumors, I'm not too torn up over the Astros leaving the division. Still not happy about year-round interleague though.

I went to bed last night certain that this whole Epstein situation was going to turn back into a pumpkin by the time I woke up. I don't know how to be excited and optimistic about the Cubs... but I'm beginning to learn.

And Soriano... and Casey Coleman, Rodrigo Lopez, etc. I think it's just going to be money. I think it's going to be 2nd tier talent. Probably better than what the Marlins gave up for Ozzie, but not someone that should superbly trouble the fanbase. At best, perhaps could see a Flaherty get sent that way. I'll be surprised if it's a better talent than that, unless it's one of our low level kids. Just a guess. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked to see us go as high as Brett Jackson or even Andrew Cashner. And I can't say I'd turn either of those down. i wouldn't be too thrilled about jackson, because he'd be an everyday player under team control for several years, and while he's unlikely to be an all-star, there's a good chance that he's at least a solid regular. i like cashner's arm, but let's be realistic about him - he's 25 and has had arm trouble, and he's likely to be a relief pitcher. even if he turns into daniel bard or whatever, you're getting one of the best GMs in the game and a guy who will shape the organization's future for the next several years. that's really not an unreasonable trade-off. Exactly. The simple fact of it is that while guys like Jackson and Cashner are useful, a solid regular and a good setup guy aren't franchise cornerstones. A good GM (like Epstein) should be able to negate the losses of guys like that pretty easily over the course of his term here.

And Soriano... and Casey Coleman, Rodrigo Lopez, etc. I think it's just going to be money. I think it's going to be 2nd tier talent. Probably better than what the Marlins gave up for Ozzie, but not someone that should superbly trouble the fanbase. At best, perhaps could see a Flaherty get sent that way. I'll be surprised if it's a better talent than that, unless it's one of our low level kids. Just a guess. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked to see us go as high as Brett Jackson or even Andrew Cashner. And I can't say I'd turn either of those down.

you really think that the cubs and red sox would have theo epstein making the decision about compensation for himself? come on. Beane did when he was originally planning on jumping ship to the Red Sox. He and DePo had decided on Youkilis as the compensation. Hanley and Shoppach were being considered as well. really??? that seems completely insane to me. but i am sure that red sox front office people and a's front office people would have been involved. azgm made it sound like epstein would be working the deal out himself. I imagine it would be Epstein and Cherrington making a quick negotiation of it, then Cherrington sending it up the ladder for approval.

you really think that the cubs and red sox would have theo epstein making the decision about compensation for himself? come on. Beane did when he was originally planning on jumping ship to the Red Sox. He and DePo had decided on Youkilis as the compensation.

He's got the tools to stick at SS, but unless he tightens up his defense a bit he probably profiles best at 3B. Likewise, he's got all the necessary tools that his bat could play at 3B... but unless his plate discipline improves considerably he probably profiles best at SS.

I for one am checking around to find confirmation... but everything just links back to Buckley. I learned my lesson from Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy. I can wait a while before getting excited.

I've had no issues since you posted this. Think it may have done the trick. ;) Thanks so much!

Yeah, I'm getting this new error message the last few days (and again just a moment ago).

In the last three years, BJ Upton has amassed 10.5 fWAR. Nobody on the Cubs this year has been that productive over the previous three seasons.

In the very next game, Lake went 3/4 with a 2B, HR, and SB, and Carpenter hit 100 on the gun.

Boo. It's a valid concern. People have been saying "the power will come" since he was in college, but it never really has. And it likely wont unless he completely retools his swing. That's scary.

i go where i want when i want How do you get the ankle bracelet off?

Badler giving LeMahieu 20 power (30 at best) is awfully disconcerting.

I'm having a hard time putting my justification into words... which I guess is a sign maybe I should reconsider it. Lindor has been a good prospect for a while, with a lot of eyes from every system focusing on him. I kinda trust that there's more of a consensus as to his tools and ceiling as opposed to a guy like Hernandez, who probably hasn't had quite the same degree of focus from other organizations.

Win.

My concern with one of the unknowns is the very real chance we end up with a Dayton Moore - a much hyped, well liked guy on this board who came up in a successful organization and turned out to be a horrid GM. I wouldn't complain at all if we got a Cherington, Hahn, or Coppolela, but there's more of an unknown with every one of them as to whether they can build a successful organization under them and whether they properly implement what they've learned or not. With Epstein, Friedman, or Beane we know they have the knowledge of how to build a successful organization and we know they'll implement an optimal organizational philosophy. I think you're looking for the perfect GM, and that person doesn't exist. Don't look now, but Dayton Moore may be putting together a team that's going to be able to compete. There's a whole lot of cheap young talent coming through KC the next couple years... His FA signings haven't been the greatest, but they haven't been awful either. We all may have written him off a bit too soon.