Rob

The NSBB community list?

Called Vitters with the C+. Booyah. I'm debating picking up the Sickels book this year. I gave him a shot about 5 years ago and was unimpressed but everybody deserves a second chance, right?

The #1 thing every talent evaluator will tell you they look at is age relative to league.

Different scenario but that low risk that pays huge dividends. Doubtful that he'd be quite the monster that Ortiz was but if he could go back to what he was from '06-'09 that would be pretty huge. Without looking, how old do you think Brad Hawpe is? Also, how old do you think David Ortiz was when Epstein pulled him off the scrap heap?

I can't imagine it's a possibility Jed and Theo would consider. What would we do with him? It makes a little sense to bring him into spring training. The Rizzo/LaHair competition at 1B could use a little push from a veteran bat. Of course, I sincerely doubt Theo and Jed would give him a spot on the Opening Day roster regardless of his performance. So he probably wont sign with us unless his agent is a total nincompoop or he really can't get an invite anywhere else. If the plan is for Jackson to start the season in AAA, then he could platoon with Soriano or if Soriano is traded he could have left with Reed and Campana as the 4th and 5th. If he could get back to form he'd be our 3 or 4 hitter. The theme of pretty much every acquisition we've made so far had been either if he can regain his old form or if he can finally become what he was once projected to. Hawpe is every bit as much a major league outfielder as Sean Marshall. Just cause a goofy manager puts you out there doesn't mean you belong.

I can't imagine it's a possibility Jed and Theo would consider. What would we do with him? It makes a little sense to bring him into spring training. The Rizzo/LaHair competition at 1B could use a little push from a veteran bat. Of course, I sincerely doubt Theo and Jed would give him a spot on the Opening Day roster regardless of his performance. So he probably wont sign with us unless his agent is a total nincompoop or he really can't get an invite anywhere else.

It's kinda been assumed that if we trade Garza we were going to receive a ML-ready starter to plug into the rotation. If we aren't (or we are planning on trading Dempster also), we will need to fill out a rotation spot. That said, while I like Maholm, I like Chris Rusin nearly as much... and he's gonna cost the league minimum.

FWIW, I asked Callis where Cates would rank in the Cubs system. He said 21-30, near Ben Wells.

I asked Callis where he would rank Cates. He said 21-30 range, around Ben Wells.

LaHair is only getting a few months to try to build up potential trade value while Rizzo gets some seasoning at AAA (and we manipulate his service time and arbitration clock). It's a pretty bearable situation with some moderate potential for a reward and no real risk. LaHair is 18 months older than Prince Fielder, the reward isn't really there. If anything, there's more risk that him hitting .275/.340/.435 for 2 months costs Rizzo some MLB development time, although hopefully that's less of a risk with this regime. I'd rather play Soriano there and give Sappelt or Jackson extra at bats if Rizzo isn't to be on the Opening Day roster. And how has the internet not made a Professor Farnsworth "Tell them I hate them!" captioned picture? That's as outrageous as LaHair breathing the same air as you or me. Scouts have actually come around on LaHair, unlike most AAAA slugger situations. And LaHair has less than one year of service time. If he performs well for the next 3-4 months, there will be scouts who would urge their front offices to give up a couple C+ prospects for 3-4 cheap years of what might be a 2nd division starter or a good backup. That's not much, but it's probably worth it. There's no chance of Soriano going back to the infield to give Sappelt that playing time regardless (and I'm not convinced Sappelt wont start the season in Iowa... stupid Reed Johnson signing). I have zero concern that LaHair will block Rizzo for even a week. When Rizzo is ready for the show they'll bring him up.

LaHair is only getting a few months to try to build up potential trade value while Rizzo gets some seasoning at AAA (and we manipulate his service time and arbitration clock). It's a pretty bearable situation with some moderate potential for a reward and no real risk.

yeah but you'll probably only get something stupid like chris volstad back :lol: That's fantastic.

Still can't believe all it took was Cashner. I had always assumed Cashner would be the main piece going their direction, but I thought it would take another couple pieces... maybe Randy Wells and an interesting C level prospect. The price was much better than I expected.

Edit: Ninja'd. For me, it'll be pretty close to a coin flip situation.

Mike Rizzo has never struck me as afraid to take risks.

Saw this response while lurking on Gateway Redbirds and I had to share it.

Is there a way to transplant cancer?

Something makes me doubt we're gonna sign Fielder.

I doubt it.

Even ignoring the Harper/Rendon stuff, the Nationals have only gotten better this offseason. Ryan Zimmerman and Strasburg should be healthy. They picked up Gio Gonzalez. Werth should bounce back slightly. When people are talking about the team having a chance if they pick up Fielder and other stuff goes right, I don't think it's crazy. It's just not likely.

It's worth noting that Rizzo is still under control for 6 years, whereas Cashner is only under control for 5. And he'd have to be in the bullpen for at least some of that to get enough innings to be stretched back out as a starter.

It'll probably be an open competition between Rizzo and LaHair in spring training. Rizzo will be our starting 1B by Aug 1st though.

Rizzo isn't a perfect prospect... but Cashner obviously has his share of issues as well (not the least of which is we would have trouble finding a place to play him). I think this is one of those rare deals that is good for both teams.

Curiosity has got me...what on earth were you trying to say there? Seconded

I've long suspected that this was the case. I don't subscribe to overblown "chemistry" theories, but I do think Theo and Jed inherited a situation with Z that had become untenable. Theo may not buy into it either, but it the players really do, and they feel really strongly about it, then it becomes an issue. And as it became clear the team wasn't likely to compete in 2012, there was no reason not to trade him. I think it's also likely Miami was the only team that was going to be willing to take him on, largely because of Ozzie. Plagiarizing my article on NSBB's home page, are you? Plagiarism and intellectual property. Interesting concepts. Original thought? Let's try to quash that or copy it. Sound familiar boys? The "old guard" here has a ways to go imho. No offense to you. Rob. Just an observation. I can't figure out exactly what you're hinting at, but the fact you specifically said "no offense to you, Rob" makes me think I should probably be offended.