Rob

For 6-8 million bucks (if not more), I'd be inclined to take my chances that one of Guzman, Marshall, Mateo, or Marmol would be able to put up an ERA approximating 4.50. I'd even be more apt to rush Gallagher up to the bigs and take my chances with him than throw money at Padilla. Gallagher has an advanced approach to the game, and I think he'd be able to handle the adjustment fairly well. Veal definately needs some more seasoning, though... Here's my thinking and pardon me if I'm being too harsh or impatient with the young guys. I didn't see anytning in those guys last year that made me believe they are worthy of being in the 2007 rotation. The only guys I want in the fifth spot of the rotation are either Wade Miller or Mark Prior - I'm optimistic that one of those guys will be healthy (and I'm assuming Miller will be back). Figuring Z as the #1 and Hill as the #4 is the approach I would take. Therefore, the Cubs absolutely need to sign a #2 and a #3. Assuming Ramirez is signed, in my estimation, the offseason cannot be viewed as successful if we don't at least have 2 new starters in the fold plus 1 new bopper at either CF, RF or SS and a decent OBP guy playing 2B or SS. If the payroll is truly $115M, the Cubs have ample resources to get it done! I don't disagree with you, necessarily. I realize we need at least one front line starter. I'm hoping it's Matsuzaka, personally. I just feel that Z, Daisuke, Hill, Prior, Guzman looks like a much nicer rotation than Z, Suppan, Padilla, Hill, Prior; and it's most likely be a lot cheaper. Daisuke & Guzman I feel is a better combo than Suppan and Padilla I guess what I'm saying is that while I realize we have some money to throw around this summer, I'd rather spend it on the real difference makers. Aramis, Daisuke, Zito, Bonds, Schmidt, Soriano, etc... the odds of us finding a cheaper replacement that can perform at the same level as those guys is close to nil. The odds of being able to find a player in the bargain bin that can perform at the same level as Suppan or Padilla is a lot higher. I'd rather have a bunch of superstars and gamble that a few young guys can perform than have a whole team of league-average guys with very little chance of spontaneous improvement if it's my money I'm spending.

I'm finding myself unable to turn off XM Home Plate cause I just can't fathom not knowing the second it's official. I'd be happier if Rob Dibble would just shut up though.

Anything is possible... but I don't even see what good that would do us.

For 6-8 million bucks (if not more), I'd be inclined to take my chances that one of Guzman, Marshall, Mateo, or Marmol would be able to put up an ERA approximating 4.50. I'd even be more apt to rush Gallagher up to the bigs and take my chances with him than throw money at Padilla. Gallagher has an advanced approach to the game, and I think he'd be able to handle the adjustment fairly well. Veal definately needs some more seasoning, though...

I'm still not convinced. Don't get me wrong, i am still very happy about this hiring, but something about it stinks to me. I guess I just expect this to be it. I think this is Hendry's way of addressing the problem... just to slap a band-aid on a severed limb. I have the strangest feeling Hendry thinks that Perry can fix the problem in one year, and not realizing that plate discipline is every bit as much part of the player as it is a coaching staff. Izturis isn't going to turn into Jack Cust all of a sudden. Or maybe I'm just overly jaded... I guess only time will tell. But Hendry needs to continue to pursue a more plate discipline oriented team, not figure that "this should cover me."

He's...not...good...?

I love Len. I love Bob. I love Ryan Adams. I think I have to find a way to be there.

Agreed. Matsuzaka and Lilly are my top choices in each category. What in this thread has proved to you that Lilly is the top choice of the second tier starters, the high amount of fly balls and homeruns allowed, or the high walk rate? Personally, this thread helped cement my opinion that neither one of them is likely to live up to their contract, and both should probably be avoided like the plague.

Yeah, now that the paper's finished, I see the joke sucked and that it was not at all obvious I was trying to be over-the-top. Oh well.

I have a hard time believing you. The way I see it, the way you so cowardly folded your principles has one of two underlying causes. 1) You just got tired of people ripping on you. 2) You're the first person in the history of the internet to be swayed by intelligent debate. I'm kinda leaning towards #1, myself. good grief, back off man. there was a discussion and he formed an opinion from it. It was a joke, man. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm in the middle of a 15 page paper right now, but I thought it was a hilarious indictment on the general state of intelligent internet debate.

I have a hard time believing you. The way I see it, the way you so cowardly folded your principles has one of two underlying causes. 1) You just got tired of people ripping on you. 2) You're the first person in the history of the internet to be swayed by intelligent debate. I'm kinda leaning towards #1, myself.

Maybe he can spell Izturis at short... there's a good chance he's a better player still.

Carlos Lee...Beltran money? HAHAHAHAHA. Are you kidding me? Ramirez, I would seriously consider. Soriano, maybe. But not Lee. I'd be hard pressed to give Lee 8 per for 3 years. A contract worth 4-5 times as much? Uh... no.

And now I see they signed Luis Montanez as well. Perhaps we should wait an hour and see who all they stole away before we respond.

I always head into elections with the realization that my vote will simply cancel out someone elses vote. This year, I choose you. Topinka may not be any better than 'Balogna Man', but she cannot be any worse. Vote green then. I was planning on writing-in Ditka. Neither of the bums deserve my vote... but Ditka commands it.

Brandon Sing signed with them too. :cry:

Which is most likely part of why it looks so filthy.

About an hour before I run out of Jack Daniels.

I don't think anybody here is going to debate that Lilly and Padilla aren't extremely close in actual value to a team. A quarter of a million extra floating to either one's contract would make that one less valuable, so close is their production. All things (read: contracts) being equal, I would rather have Lilly. But if I could get Padilla for a $250,000 less, I'd rather do that. Then again, I personally believe if their contracts go above 6 mil per, they aren't worth acquiring.

how in the hell does it prove that? Drugs

Am I completely off my rocker for thinking that Hicks would be a little more timid about throwing money around after the ARod contract crippled his team? I just don't see Texas going for more than about 22-23 million.

That was hilarious!

I want to say sometime Monday... For some reason I so want the Cubs to get this guy. He seems like a can't miss, but I don't really care. I just want them to win something, a bidding war, checkers, anything. I am fired up. Yeah, and with the field having dwindled down like it has, we're actually in a position where we could take this one. From what I can tell, it's essentially down to the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, and us. And 25 mil looks like it might get it done.

I want to say sometime Monday...

If we're giving Pie to the Marlins, the only player I'd want in return is Cabrera... I'm still just not sold on Willis and his ability to stay healthy.