Jake

What happened ?

I see you guys are as interested as I am.

I Don't think you'll have Cedeno to kick around. He's pull both hamstrings, and is not looking close to playing yet.

I'd comment about it being football season, but the Steelers seem to be taking a page from the Pirates book. When's hockey season ?

Yeah, I know this is old news right now. But, a new twist just popped up to better explain why the Pirates did this trade: (Word of Doug McAlphabet)

Late Bloomer. Dejan Kovacevic in the PG has been referring to him as "The Legend". He put up some good #s in Indy before coming up, too. Seems to not be letting up. I'm hoping he can keep it up next year, too.

This is what they get for Signing Ollie @ 12m/year when no one else wanted him.

I was wrong about bootcheck. NOW is the time to sell.

Last time the CUBS scored 20 runs in a game.... Sat 05 May 01 in an 20-1 win over Los Angeles at Wrigley Go CUBS !! How many beers have been poured on Cutch's head ?

There's hope for the Pirates yet.

Are you still watching the game, Jake? I really am at work. "Watching" it on gameday. I really stopped watching after the top of second until that last post. Wow. I read a lot about Morton's stuff, that he needs to learn to control it and he can be a solid #1. But he seems so far away. Bootcheck - WTF is he doing ? a 23+ ERA? Wow. Bring back Kip Wells. He was never that bad.

I look at Bootcheck's ERA and one thought comes to mind: SELL!

shame there is no puking smiley. it was just 4 last time I looked. I don't want to know. 'Night

The salt man is off to a lousy start, I see. I'm finding more of a desire to work than watch pirates games these days.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?

What they're doing with the money they didn't waste of a guy who wouldn't be #4 in a good year. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/08/pirates-to-sign-eighth-rounder-for-1mm.html Cain is a guy who fell to the 8th round because everyone thought he was going to college. Guess he's not going anymore.

What do you mean by right away? Bay was around for 4+ years. McLouth for 5 or 6? I could go on.

But if the Cubs get draft picks for Grabow (if hey offered arb) then their is a chance the draft picks would >>>>>>>>Ascanio and Harrison. Here's the thing: The only players to accept arbitration last year were relievers. It is not a done deal that Grabow would not accept. Then, if he doesn't accept, another team has to sign him. If he's Type A, would you give up your first pick for him? If he's not Type A, you don't get 2 picks.

Littlefield's involvement, which was obvious and unavoidable considering his history and current position, is probably the scariest part. Littlefield is a very good scout. Seems like a label you can just acquire and then hang onto the rest of your life as long as you stay in the business. He helped build the Expos of the early to mid-90s, and I believe the Marlins of the late 90s. He's shown he's not good at making the decisions, but he's good at helping those in charge with those decisions. Yes, the Marlins. We hired him from there. He was, and probably will be an excellent scout. And, I think, given another chance, he could learn from his mistakes in Pittsburgh. He made some good moves early on - the Todd Ritchie to the Whitesox trade seemed amazing at the time. The Giles for Bay, et al trade was great. Some, which seem decent at the time, don't pan out. The Kris Benson trade - Matt Peterson was the #2 pitching prospect for the Mets. They got Wigginton to keep 3B warm for Jose Bautista, who was reaquired in the trade. All 3 were busts in the end, but the trade seemed decent for an overpaid pitcher who couldn't stay healthy. The bad ones, which outnumber the good ones have been well documented. The thing that really killed him here, though, was the draft. He tried to draft guys who'd make it to the Majors sooner vs. over all talent. That was the logic of Moskos over Weiters two years ago. We see how well that's working out. We'll always wonder how much of this was his fault, and how much was McClatchy's.

That's a really good defensive outfield and you still have Alvarez in the wings. Yes, but their history seems to suggest that if/when those players develop major league value, they will be traded too. In exchange for the next crop of youngsters. Exactly... see: Aramis Ramirez, Jason Bay, Nyjer Morgan Funny you put all three together. All three were traded for different reasons.

That's a really good defensive outfield and you still have Alvarez in the wings. Yes, but their history seems to suggest that if/when those players develop major league value, they will be traded too. In exchange for the next crop of youngsters. In a sense, yes. But, not always. The whole point is to have a continuous cycle of talent coming through the system, and filling the missing pieces through trades of veterans. The reality is, when Frank & Neal took over, there was next to nothing in the system. If you look at all that we've gotten back in these trades, you'll see that players on different levels were acquired. All of these trades, with the exception of the Myjer Morgan trade, made us deeper. That trade was trading an extra CF for a corner Outfielder, which we need more of. I could write more, but I think you all see the picture. There's still a long way to go for us. And, when it comes time, management needs to step up with the money and keep key people when we start winning. But, 1 1/2 years ago we were a marginal team with an outside shot of .500 and few minor leagueres of substance. Now we're a .300 team, but with a semi decently stocked system. Now we wait and see.

The way the Saltman has been pitching, I'd hardley say we didn't get good players for McLouth. The Bay trade is interesting. Here we are a year removed from the Bay and Nady trades. At the time, the Bay trade was lauded and the Nady trade was panned. Now, Ohlendorf and Karstens are productive major leaguers. Tabata is showing a lot of potential. OTOH, Bryan Morris, who was supposed to be the Jewel in the Bay trade can't stay off the DL. Andy LaRoche hasn't lived up to the hype, nor has Moss.

Jake, I am glad to see you have changed your tune since early in the day. Your team is moving in the right direction. I don't think I am the only one jealous over, what seems to be, more competent front office minds than the cubs for sure. The losing (which we did today. Again.) sucks. I think it's 3 of the past 5 games, we haven't scored a run. And we just traded a .300 hitter for a minor leaguer. So, less offense for a team that can't score. While these trades have looked good in terms of the future, when do we get to win again? It's bittersweet.

I like this. I understand the Giants motivation, but I have to say I'm happy. Wow! 5 opening day starters are gone. Many starters in general are gone from two years ago. But, our whole system looks a hell of a lot better than it did when last season started. For the first time, we have competition at just about every position based on people coming up in the minors.

Yeah, but it's all the front office. We still need to win games. This don't mean [expletive] if we don't win. And, we ain't winning.