Rob

I'm still gonna call them the DRays.

Dempster's one good year as a starter was back in 2000. If we're using Hendry's logic then we better sign Darin Erstad since he was also good in 2000. Don't even joke about that.

You're missing the meaning. The idea isn't to be removing those factors, it's to be able to properly see how much they help or hurt players. Wouldn't it be real nice if a GM knew what taking a player like Dante Bichette out of Coors Field would do before signing him to a nice contract? Or how about what would happen if you took Chan Ho Park out of Dodger Stadium and put him in Arlington? We already know which players are good and bad. Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez are good no matter what numbers you're trying to use. Neifi Perez and Jose Macias aren't. The metrics are more designed at trying to separate those guys in the middle of the pack, where ballparks and other things the players have no control over can make a much bigger difference. Ok, let's run with this. Jamie Moyer has 230 career wins. Sandy Koufax had 165. Now I'm not going to insult you and try to say that your logic would mean that Moyer is a better pitcher than Koufax. I know you wouldn't buy that. But you know Koufax is a better pitcher because you look past just the wins. You take a look at the ERA, you take a look at the difference in games pitched. That's all these metrics are doing. They're grabbing all the pertinent information and putting them into nicer numbers. They certainly aren't ridiculous. They're just how you separate guys like Juan Pierre (career .301 batting average and not a very useful player) from Joe Cronin (career .301 batting average and an extremely useful player). What is it you "old school" guys like to talk about? The "little things"? Well the little things like ballparks, league scoring environment, etc... all add up to be pretty important when valuing a player correctly. It's how you know Yaz was fantastic in 1968, and how you know Three Finger Brown isn't exactly Pedro Martinez, despite the 2.06 career ERA to Pedro's 2.80. I think it's time to start giving a little more credit to these metrics than you currently do.

Ya know, I was drunk all weekend, but I was pretty sure something was different when I got on here. Kudos Tim, it looks great!

No fisk? I have a weird love of Lombardi. Honestly, he shouldn't be on the list and Fisk should probably slide in at ten... but I stand by my decision.

1. Bench 2. Berra 3. Campanella 4. Piazza 5. Cochrane 6. Simmons 7. Carter 8. Lombardi 9. Rodriguez 10. Hartnett

The Cubs last year?

I wonder if Bruce would chime in on the question of whether or not we tender Prior a contract?

The problem with this line of thinking is that we are assuming we'll act stupid and not install Marshall as the #5.

You'd lose a lot of games with those guys in the field. You'd win more than enough to cover the gap with their performance at the plate.

Realistically speaking, DLee, Aramis, Sori, DeRo, Z, and Lilly are pretty much locks to go into next season with their same old jobs. Additionally, Hill and Marquis are extremely like to keep their spots, and Soto seems to have guaranteed himself the starting catcher spot through the first few months of the season. This leaves the following positions relatively open, and these are the people currently slated to play there: SS - Theriot CF - Jones/Pie RF - Jones/Murton SP5 - Marshall The average NL SS hit .279/.337/.420, Theriot hit .266/.326/.346 The average NL CF hit .273/.336/.426, Jones hit .285/.335/.400, Pie hit .215/.271/.333 The average NL RF hit .275/.344/.442, Jones hit .285/.335/.400, Murton hit .281/.352/.438 The average NL P had an ERA of 4.43, Marshall had an ERA of 3.92. More than anywhere else, the need at SS is really glaring. Pie is likely to get much, much better... Murton is also likely to do a bit better. Theriot and Jones are about where you can expect them, though... and we really can't afford the likely event that Theriot duplicates his 2007 season.

Shame Uehara isn't eligible. He actually stood a chance to be a bargain. At any rate, I guess now is as good a time as any to state my official support for Fukudome. In my little world, I'd be fine with watching Pie cover CF and Murton cover RF for a few years. (Well, I'd rather move Sori to right and put Murton back in left, but whatever) But since I don't forsee the both of them actually getting jobs on this club, Fukudome could work out real well for us. I keep hearing he profiles more as a RF, but that he could play a slightly sub-par CF. Seeing as how Pie is almost certainly getting sent to AAA to start the next season, I'd love for Fukudome to have CF until Pie is deemed ready, and then just move Fukudome over to right.

If Dusty were smart... CF - Hamilton 2B - Phillips LF - Dunn RF - Griffey 3B - Encarnacion 1B - Hatteberg C - Ross SS - Gonzalez Trade Griffey or Dunn after June 15th, bring up Bruce. Trade Hatteberg and bring up Votto.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7358706 Apparently he talks about it in his new book.

Rotoworld is now reporting that MLB was aware of Byrd's purchases, as he has a small tumor at the base of his pituitary gland. Seems like this might be a legitimate medical thing.

No, you shut up. would somebody ban Dibble already? Oh, come on man. A good juvenile joke is something to be enjoyed... not something to be exasperated over.

BA w/ RISP isn't good enough. BA w/ RISP in the 7th inning or later in games within 2 runs, maybe?

This irrational love of Theriot is exactly the reason I'd rather he just be out of town entirely. People are letting emotions dictate their opinions about the man's potential, and that's where we start getting into trouble with guys "saving" us.

No, you shut up.

No, you shut up. Fair enough, you make a compelling argument. That's what we in the persuasion business call an appeal to logos.

say what? 3.1 IP 7 hits 4 walks 16.20 ERA 3.0 IP 6 hits 2 walks 9.00 ERA which one pitched good enough to win and which one failed? Never let the facts get in the way of a good argument.

No, you shut up.

2008 projections courtesy of baseball prospectus. Theriot: .274/.333/.361 Cedeno: .276/.316/.413 Before this season, they were projected to have about equal numbers. Cedeno has a higher ceiling, and pretty much mashed the ball at AAA this season. Theriot's ceiling is being league average (which he isn't even close to now), and he was pretty horrible with the bat all season at the major league level. Next year's projections are going to start reflecting the big difference between their bats, a bad season in 2006 for Cedeno is not going to be enough to make Theriot the better option. I'd prefer ARod, Renteria, or Tejada... but failing at that, Cedeno should get first crack at the starting gig... and I mean a real chance. Not just a short leash based on who does better in spring training.

FWIW, the going price for Lou would probably be Melky Cabrera. Cano is too good to be included, but Melky fits the mold pretty nicely. Then again, from everything I've read, he profiles to be a classic "tweener".

Well, Theriot is better on the basepaths... but not nearly enough better to cover the gap in their value. While I like Theriot, I honestly think our team is better off without him entirely. Lou seems to have developed a huge man-crush on the kid, and let's face it, he has almost no offensive potential. If we sign a guy like ARod to cover short, Lou will be smart enough to bench Theriot... but I don't ever see Cedeno getting another shot at the job, and Cedeno actually has the potential to do something with the bat.