Hosak8

i'd probably be bitter if a lousy manager did a horrible job controlling my pitch counts and innings pitched, costing me tens or maybe up to a hundred million dollars in future earnings. then the team that employed that manager insinuated that there was nothing wrong with my arm, sending the message to the team's fans that i'm either faking the injury, or i'm just a pansy who can't handle a little pain. let me be the first to congratulate mark on winning the 2009 or 2010 cy young with whoever he's pitching for. I'll bet you my lungs to a stick of gum that this doesn't happen

Why are some of you guys whining so much about this? It's not like the guy will ever pitch again. What... paying him over the pat 3 years to get NOTHING was not enough for some of you? Good riddance. Go occupy someone else's 60 day DL.

Murton really has value. I wish he would play here, but I get why they are dealing him. He'll likely be part of the package that lands Hendry Brian Roberts. I'd prefer him and Gallagher go toward landing us Blanton, and Pie and Hill and EPatt land us Roberts and Bedard, and Dempster and Marshall and Derosa land us Burnett. (Just listing some of the rumors in this thread!) Imagine, if you can... Zambrano Bedard Burnett Lilly Blanton :shock: =D> \:D/ :pig: :shock: :shock: That could theoretically work. Yeah, it could, though it would empty the farm, and would still leave us short two OF. (A CF and a 4th OF) But, heck, with that rotation, an NL Pennant would seem to be virtually assured. You have obviously forgotten that we have Sam Fuld. He can be the CF and the 4th OF at the same time. Screw it... just put Fukudome in CF, and let Zambrano play RF on his off days. He'd hit above Theriot in the order!

Who do the Marlins have penciled in at the hot corner? Playing with that team could be fun. Playing in that city, for those fans, would blow.

Murton really has value. I wish he would play here, but I get why they are dealing him. He'll likely be part of the package that lands Hendry Brian Roberts. I'd prefer him and Gallagher go toward landing us Blanton, and Pie and Hill and EPatt land us Roberts and Bedard, and Dempster and Marshall and Derosa land us Burnett. (Just listing some of the rumors in this thread!) Imagine, if you can... Zambrano Bedard Burnett Lilly Blanton :shock: =D> \:D/ :pig: :shock: :shock: That could theoretically work. Yeah, it could, though it would empty the farm, and would still leave us short two OF. (A CF and a 4th OF) But, heck, with that rotation, an NL Pennant would seem to be virtually assured.

Murton really has value. I wish he would play here, but I get why they are dealing him. He'll likely be part of the package that lands Hendry Brian Roberts. I'd prefer him and Gallagher go toward landing us Blanton, and Pie and Hill and EPatt land us Roberts and Bedard, and Dempster and Marshall and Derosa land us Burnett. (Just listing some of the rumors in this thread!) Imagine, if you can... Zambrano Bedard Burnett Lilly Blanton :shock: =D> \:D/ :pig:

This Man... how did I miss that? I also think that having Pie in CF will help Soriano, as the LCF gap will not be as big a hole with Pie in center.

Based on DER I'm pretty sure they were, despite the fact on paper they didn't project to be. Last year: RF-below avg. CF-avg. LF avg. 3B-above avg. SS-below avg 2B-avg. 1B-above avg. C-below avg. Throw Everett, Fukudome, Soto, and Pie into that mix. RF-above avg. CF-above avg. LF-above avg 3B-avg/above avg. SS-above avg. 2B avg 1B-above avg. C-avg/above avg. Why the discrepancy?

No kidding. Easily above average at all 3 OF spots, the best defender in the game at SS, an elite defensive 1B, and above average D at 3B and C. Did you really just call Alfonso Soriano "easily above average" at playing defense? Easily?!? He's not pretty out there, but you can't really argue his range (when healthy) and arm. Not so good going back in the LCF gap, though. I probably wouldn't quite say "easily" either, but he's above average. Yeah, it's the "easily" that I am incredulous about.

No kidding. Easily above average at all 3 OF spots, the best defender in the game at SS, an elite defensive 1B, and above average D at 3B and C. Did you really just call Alfonso Soriano "easily above average" at playing defense? Easily?!?

Hint: look at more than 2007. I know I'm new, but why is everyone so condescending and belittling around here? Get used to it.

You can take out the if.... it's when. http://nsbb.baseball.sportsline.com/players/playerpage/127950

Hill(2007) and Bedard(2006) at age 27: 3.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7.84 K/9, 2.48 K/BB, 121 ERA+ v. 3.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8.45 K/9, 2.90 K/BB, 119 ERA+ If the upper line is Hill's, and the lower is Bedard's, then you've actually proved my point. And Bedard did that facing MUCH better hitters. The only advantage that Hill enjoys is an ERA advantage, and that is to be expected from a pitcher in the worst division in baseball versus one in the best. The upper line is Bedard, the lower line is Hill. Either way, they're remarkably similar at the same age. Considering Hill's contract and injury history relative to Bedard's, it'd make sense that he's the more valuable commodity. Oh, there is no question that there are some intriguing similarities between the two, and that relative value seems to favor Hill. However, if I am trying to win a World Series in 2008, and I am only judging players based on what I would expect them to do between the lines, I would prefer Bedard. Bedard's numbers, again, are accumulated in the toughest division in baseball, and in the much tougher league, overall. Hill's have been accumulated in a very weak division. Bedard had 15 of his starts that season come against the Twins, Yankees, BoSox, Angels, and Tigers. Bedard's 2007 numbers are much better than Hill's, as well. The stats at age 27 are a bit deceiving, since they are only a year apart. Comparing 2007's, you see that Bedard had a much better season than Hill. Hill's splits also do not impress me much, as he was much better on the road than at home in 2007. Again, not saying I would trade Hill for Bedard in the real world. In a vacuum, I would without hesitation. Besides, if we can land Blanton or Burnett without dealing Hill, that makes much more sense. Hill should be the centerpiece in a Santana deal.

I'm in there with you. Rich Hill and Erik Bedard are the same guy stat-wise (w/Hill actually a bit better) through age 27. Hill probably won't match Bedard's age 28 season, but then he may pitch after August as well. Hill is a year younger, has a healthier history with no past abuse, has two more seasons under the Cubs' control, and may end up just as good or better the next 3-4 years. I'd be all for getting Bedard, but using Hill to do it would be a step backward. Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it looks like Bedard trumps Hill in every category last year, and Bedard is pitching in the harder league. I don't get why dealing Hill for Bedard would be a step backward? The answer, my friend is bolded. We have a pretty significant history of grossly overvaluing our own prospects. Oh, yes, I've been there. Kelton, Choi, Bobby Hill, Brendan Harris, Todd Wellemeyer, CPatt, Jackson Melian, Matt Bruback... they were all, at one time or another, the next big thing. Truth is, Hill is a solid prospect. But, is trading him for a guy who had better numbers in the much tougher league really a step backward? I don't quite think so. Of course, I am pretty nearly always in the minority here. Hill(2007) and Bedard(2006) at age 27: 3.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7.84 K/9, 2.48 K/BB, 121 ERA+ v. 3.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8.45 K/9, 2.90 K/BB, 119 ERA+ If the upper line is Hill's, and the lower is Bedard's, then you've actually proved my point. And Bedard did that facing MUCH better hitters. The only advantage that Hill enjoys is an ERA advantage, and that is to be expected from a pitcher in the worst division in baseball versus one in the best.

Glad you said it, so I wouldn't have to.

I'm in there with you. Rich Hill and Erik Bedard are the same guy stat-wise (w/Hill actually a bit better) through age 27. Hill probably won't match Bedard's age 28 season, but then he may pitch after August as well. Hill is a year younger, has a healthier history with no past abuse, has two more seasons under the Cubs' control, and may end up just as good or better the next 3-4 years. I'd be all for getting Bedard, but using Hill to do it would be a step backward. Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it looks like Bedard trumps Hill in every category last year, and Bedard is pitching in the harder league. I don't get why dealing Hill for Bedard would be a step backward? The answer, my friend is bolded. We have a pretty significant history of grossly overvaluing our own prospects. Oh, yes, I've been there. Kelton, Choi, Bobby Hill, Brendan Harris, Todd Wellemeyer, CPatt, Jackson Melian, Matt Bruback... they were all, at one time or another, the next big thing. Truth is, Hill is a solid prospect. But, is trading him for a guy who had better numbers in the much tougher league really a step backward? I don't quite think so. Of course, I am pretty nearly always in the minority here.

:lol: YES Imagine Harry trying to get it right.Imagine Harry trying to say it backwards! I don't know.. Emodukuf isn't really all that hard to say. Sounds alot like "emoticuf". "Hey, Steve, did you know Fukudome backwards is Emodukuf?!?"

I have read unconfirmed speculation that it is Bedard. Roberts and Bedard packaged, though that would likely cost us Hill, Pie, and more. "unconfirmed speculation" in other words, an uneducated guess. anyways trading hill in a package for roberts and bedard would be monumentally stupid. All things equal, I'd prefer Bedard. However, all things are not equal. So, Hill will do. I'm thinking it's not Bedard at all, but rather Blanton, which would not require Hill. Excellent. Z, Lilly, Blanton, Hill, pick 'em. Yeah, I'll take that.

I have read unconfirmed speculation that it is Bedard. Roberts and Bedard packaged, though that would likely cost us Hill, Pie, and more.

IF that is all it would take, Jim would be stupid to turn it down. 25+ HR's and stellar defense at SS? It'd be worth it.

I read elsewhere that Offman, when reporting the Fukudome signing, mentioned that a deal for a "prominent AL starting pitcher" was in the works. Can anyone confirm this? And, if so, who is the pitcher? Does the Fukudome signing allow Jim to deal Pie now for pitching? Bedard? Blanton? AJ Burnett? Discuss.

Ichiro is his given name, Suzuki is his surname. He started wearing ICHIRO on his jersey in 1994 on a suggestion from his manager with Orix (NPB) at the time as a means of making himself stand out within his team and providing a marketable icon for the franchise. He brought this over with him when he came to Seattle. "It was during the 1994 season that he began to use his given name, "Ichiro" instead of his family name, "Suzuki" on the back of his uniform. Suzuki is the second most common family name in Japan, and his manager introduced the idea as a publicity stunt to help create a new image for what had been a relatively weak team, as well as a way to distinguish their rising star. Initially, Ichiro disliked the practice and was embarrassed by it; "Ichiro" was a household name by the end of the season and he was flooded with endorsement offers." where did you pull that from? wikipedia? i wrote my entire thesis about ichiro and i can recite his life story from memory. IN JAPANESE. Showoff.

Assuming Brian Roberts is acquired to leadoff and play 2B, why not look at Michael Young as a SS? Not sure what it would take, or that we'd even have enough, but Young is a guy I'd much rather have than Tejada, and I'm not sure that there are really many SS who are available to us at this point. Roberts Lee Ramirez Fukudome Soriano Young Soto Pie (assuming he's still a Cub) Not a bad lineup at all. What would it take, though?

Thank you, I am aware of the Eastern convention of writing full names. I am, however, 100% confident that Kosuke is his given name and Fukudome is his surname. Every scouting report and media story has written it "Kosuke Fukudome," many of those stories written by people intimately familiar with the Japanese game. Furthermore, here is Team Japan's roster from the World Baseball Classic. He's listed as "Kosuke Fukudome" on that roster, elsewhere on which Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, among others, have their names listed the same (Western; given name, surname) way. Not sure about Dice-K, but Ichiro's name is also listed surname, given name, hence the reason he wears Ichiro on his back.

Kosuke is his given name, Fukudome is his family name. He's likely to wear Kosuke on his jersey for the aforementioned reasons. You have it backwards. Kosuke is his surname. Fukudome is his given name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_name