Rob

well then ultimately you see no way we can contend next year at all. which is not bad in and of itself, but the problem here is that the cubs management has been and will continue to be completely inept at recognizing problems then making a plan to overcome those so long as the same figureheads remain. so what is the answer? the only way we ever come close with hendry in charge is to pay aramis that money, hope glendon retires(bad as that sounds), and a few other things fall into place. lovely world we cub fans live in ain't it? sorry if i came off harsh, but in my opinion you were making aramis out to be a greedy monster, and i just can't believe that to be the case. No worries man. I know none of this is personal. I just look at it like a sale. Would you really haggle over 90 dollars compared to 100 dollars. I know if it is me I wouldn't. 10 dollars isn't going to change the world. Just like I think 10 million won't make a big difference if you are already making 90 million. 10 bucks is a lot, man. That's two drinks for the fine lady you brought out for the evening....which can make a huge difference. 10 bucks is the reason I'm still up and typing here, as opposed to being in bed right now.

I'm going to assume this is a pun. If I'm right, you are up WAY too late. Wow. Just, wow.... Even if you're wrong, you're up far past your bedtime

If we've got to find a replacement 3B, I'm looking no further than Morgan Ensberg. The Astros have soured on him so he should be cheap, but he's good for quite a bit of production. ARod is great, but I want him as a SS.... Ensberg would be the best cheap production from 3B.

He takes some very esoteric routes to flyballs out there in right... He's the worst defensive outfielder in the game. Your way of saying it isn't nearly as polite as mine. Besides, Dunn might still be worse... maybe.

And then some. But it's still a wonderful dream.

He takes some very esoteric routes to flyballs out there in right...

Nope. Selig might step in if the top offer is insincere, but the Japanese teams have no control over any of it.

Nah, I just don't have class on Fridays and a buddy of mine came in from out of town. My sobriety (or lack thereof) was out of my hands tonight... On a side note, I type really well when I've been drinking. Granted, it takes a whole lot longer, but it still usually comes out fairly nice.

What a coinky-dink. I'm sloshed as well.

Great news.

I did hear on ESPNews earlier today that the Seibu Lions would meet Friday to determine whether they would accept the high bid. I guess its Friday there now, right? Yes Maybe an announcement will come at noon their time (pure speculation on my part) Which would be 9PM central time. After drive time, that would give me approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes of time to either celebrate or drown my sorrows... Works for me. If you lived on the West Coast you would have 2 extra hours. I've got a few bottles of booze sitting on a shelf in my closet. I'll survive.

I did hear on ESPNews earlier today that the Seibu Lions would meet Friday to determine whether they would accept the high bid. I guess its Friday there now, right? Yes Maybe an announcement will come at noon their time (pure speculation on my part) Which would be 9PM central time. After drive time, that would give me approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes of time to either celebrate or drown my sorrows... Works for me.

Original scoop came from... http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=ml-yankees&msg=260332.1&ctx=0 Yankees punk made it all up. Sorry fellas.

Perfect example of using stats as a drunk would use a light pole. In 2004 Aramis was 4th in OPS in MLB for 3rd baseman In 2005 Aramis was 4th in OPS in MLB for 3rd baseman In 2006 Aramis was 5th in OPS in MLB for 3rd baseman. He is top five 3rd baseman in baseball. Pay him like one. You are incapable of discussion without insults. It's unbelievable. OPS is generally regarded as the most important stat for a player, so I don't see how stating the fact that his declined three consecutive years is a crutch. It's a bloody basic observation on value. I have no problem with paying him good money. But he wants top 10 in baseball money, and he has never been in the top 10 in production. At 5/75 he will be one of the most overpaid players in the league. In 1968 Carl Yastrzemski hit .301/.426/.495 for a .921 OPS. That ranked him #1 in BA, #1 in OBP, #4 in Slug, and #1 in OPS. In 2005, Aramis had a .926 OPS. I already know what you're gonna say. "The AL in 1968 was a ridiculous pitcher's league! You can't compare the two!" Yastrzemski had a 195 OPS+, Aramis a 136. Perhaps I'm being a bit over-the-top in this, but I was just trying to point out that you absolutely have to make adjustments year in and year out. The difference isn't nearly as huge between 2005-2006 as between 2005 and 1968, but there's still a difference. OPS+ adjusts for that.

That was posted at noon today... before the bids were in.

God, I hate Rob Dibble. I'm gonna have to stop listening to XM hoping for updates. "Hey, is Marcus Giles a free agent?" "Yes, yes he is." Dumbass.

I love me some J.D. Drew.

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.