oldcubsfan

I really want to see a team put together that has good OBP on the top of the lineup and people in place who can drive them in. "69, '84 and the "03 teams had enough to win and didn't, heartbreakingly so. My dad is 85 and has never seen a world series,(in 45 he was overseas in ww2). It is more than frustrating. I guess what annoys me and others the most that occurs here is the juvenile name calling of players, management and the absolute view that only a few here know the true value of players. I must admit, I usually only check in for the minor league updates, it is informative.

I didn't mean you on the flaming, just watch it will happen though. The thought of I told you so, comes from the absolutes people throw out here. Sorry, I certainly didn't mean to offend you.

I thought that Kelton might have been a decent 4th OF and I liked both Cruz and Z and didn't want either traded and may I add Willis to that too. Alou would have been a decent 7th maybe 6th hitter but this team needs and needed more. Little did I know Hendry would do nothing to improve that situation. Look, I agree with you on a lot of what you say. It's just sometime things get really carried away here with the comments. Everyone was on Alou in '04 because the great god Stone was ragging him. I thought Cruz had terrific stuff and have been disappointed in what he has done with it. Last year, nobody really wanted the Cubs to re sign Nomar because we had Murton, who might develop into a pretty good player yet. It just gets hard to take many of the threads seriously with the vindictive posts about about people(players). Look at this year, Jones was being trashed and still is here occasionally. He started slow, but he changed leagues, sometimes it does take a player a bit to adjust, but there was no mercy here. People want time for their favorites to develop but if they don't like someone, he better not go 0-4. Take it for what it's worth, flame away, but many old time posters have disappeared because of it. And the people I know in baseball do not take most of this seriously. I only know a handful, but that is their opinion.

If the search feature ever gets put back in, I'll be sure to bring up the "we got to dump Alou, because we have Dave Kelton waiting" threads, along with some of quality discussions. Maybe even the ones about Hendry traded the wrong guy in Cruz, should have traded Z.

Bobby Hill, Jason DuBois, Hee Sop Choi, Ben Grieve. Never mind, you said active.

Cincy also had more extra base hits which tend to drive in more runs.

I don't see how Walker is a pure OBP play, but Beane has gone after lots of OBP-centric players. He can't go after all of them. He has stayed away from bigtime OBP guys in recent years because they have been earning more and more money as the rest of the league started realizing the value of OBP. Beane isn't an OBP fiend, he's an efficiency fiend. What else does Todd do? Can't run, mediocre defense, no real power and certainly not a big RBI guy.

Someone explain to me why Beane hasn't gone after the pure OBP guys like walker, Choi, Grieve(I know he traded him) who were and are extremely available? Is it because they don't do much else? Of course he would want the offense of Soriano, he does many things.

No The one word response is always good. You seem to understand that baseball is more than one statistic.

Teeeeheheheeeeeee. You think you could even TALK to a GM?!?!?! They ride around in FLYING CARS and pee liquid GOLD and converse only in Latin SIGN LANGUAGE! They know ALLLLL!!! Please tell me who you think the great Todd could play for. The Cubs. About the only team he could. Hopefully, not for long.

Teeeeheheheeeeeee. You think you could even TALK to a GM?!?!?! They ride around in FLYING CARS and pee liquid GOLD and converse only in Latin SIGN LANGUAGE! They know ALLLLL!!! Please tell me who you think the great Todd could play for.

The only joke is watching Walker try to play.

What? Gee, they've had Todd available, but no one jumps. Hopefully, the SF rumor is true and they take him.

The biggest msitake was keeping the LH Walker instead of the RH Grudz. Sorry, but most of baseball agrees that Walker sucks. Maybe in your mind we can get Jason Schin=mdt for him, but I don't think so. Maybe a medium AA prospect but I even doubt that. Please link to a survey or study or list each of the baseball executives you've spoken with. Otherwise, quit making up evidence to support your opinion. Walker, for the last 2 years, has been a great player for the Cubs. His OBP is great for the 2nd spot. He's struggling after an amazing April, but I'm still glad they have him. I'd bring him back next year as well for a similar contract. You'd prefer if we dumped his .360 OBP and let Neifi hit 2nd again? That is really funny. A GREAT player, you really must be kidding. You are the one who should provide links to prove he is a great player. Read a paper over the last year a see NO ONE will give spit for Walker. A great player, that is one of the funniest things I have ever read.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: x infinity. Whatever, I don't see how you can defend him, he's not a good fielder. Today's game not withstanding, the attacks on his defense are VASTLY overdone. VASTLY. That's just ridiculous. He's one of the worst 2B at turning the double play. I'm tired of the argument about his fielding percentage because that doesn't tell the story. He doesn't get to most balls and, again, he usually doesn't position himself well enough to turn the DP which is crucial for his position. His reputation is well earned (and judging by the Cubs inability to move him in the offseason, other teams feel that his offense does not outweigh his defensive miscues). NEVIN! Walker's offense isn't that good either Are you joking? You must be joking. He's conistetnly been one of the top 5 offensive 2B in the game over the last few years. His only knock offensively is that he struggles against lefties. You really must be kidding. It's a joke right? Yeah, you can make the argument for Walker, but all you're allowed to use is batting average, homers and RBIs, because all other stats mean diddly squat. Now try and make the argument, lawl at dusty, you young whippersnapper punk. Well, so me where you think is a top five? In what? Only your secretive selective stats? http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/playerrankings/regularseason/2B

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: x infinity. Whatever, I don't see how you can defend him, he's not a good fielder. Today's game not withstanding, the attacks on his defense are VASTLY overdone. VASTLY. That's just ridiculous. He's one of the worst 2B at turning the double play. I'm tired of the argument about his fielding percentage because that doesn't tell the story. He doesn't get to most balls and, again, he usually doesn't position himself well enough to turn the DP which is crucial for his position. His reputation is well earned (and judging by the Cubs inability to move him in the offseason, other teams feel that his offense does not outweigh his defensive miscues). NEVIN! Walker's offense isn't that good either Are you joking? You must be joking. He's conistetnly been one of the top 5 offensive 2B in the game over the last few years. His only knock offensively is that he struggles against lefties. You really must be kidding. It's a joke right?

Big Z, seems to be the only one who cares.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: x infinity. Whatever, I don't see how you can defend him, he's not a good fielder. Today's game not withstanding, the attacks on his defense are VASTLY overdone. VASTLY. That's just ridiculous. He's one of the worst 2B at turning the double play. I'm tired of the argument about his fielding percentage because that doesn't tell the story. He doesn't get to most balls and, again, he usually doesn't position himself well enough to turn the DP which is crucial for his position. His reputation is well earned (and judging by the Cubs inability to move him in the offseason, other teams feel that his offense does not outweigh his defensive miscues). NEVIN! Walker's offense isn't that good either He doesn't provide a spark like Neifi. He doesn't provide ANYTHING PERIOD. He sucks as an overall ballplayer. He and his brother in law can play catch for all I care.

The biggest msitake was keeping the LH Walker instead of the RH Grudz. Sorry, but most of baseball agrees that Walker sucks. Maybe in your mind we can get Jason Schin=mdt for him, but I don't think so. Maybe a medium AA prospect but I even doubt that.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: x infinity. Whatever, I don't see how you can defend him, he's not a good fielder. Today's game not withstanding, the attacks on his defense are VASTLY overdone. VASTLY. That's just ridiculous. He's one of the worst 2B at turning the double play. I'm tired of the argument about his fielding percentage because that doesn't tell the story. He doesn't get to most balls and, again, he usually doesn't position himself well enough to turn the DP which is crucial for his position. His reputation is well earned (and judging by the Cubs inability to move him in the offseason, other teams feel that his offense does not outweigh his defensive miscues). NEVIN! Walker's offense isn't that good either

Working out good with Walker, Grieve and Choi. When OBP is your ONLY stat, you suck as a player, see the 3 above. Still waiting for the guy pre season tried to convince people that Walker was a better hitter than Tejada because of his OBP and 20 HR potential. Sorry but unless you do something other than OBP you suck.

..and maybe the last time as a Cubs player. Hopefully

Walker finally held on to the ball.

Walker. Let him sit at home with his "OBP" with Ben Grieve.

I certainly hope that is true. Todd Walker is the Ben Grieve of the infield.