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USSoccer

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Everything posted by USSoccer

  1. USSoccer
    I don't see any team signing Pierre prior to arbitration deadline next year, and I don't see any reason why you would want to offer him arbitration You're assuming he doesn't rebound. If he rebounds, don't they look at 3 year averages to determine FA type? Also, with next year's FA crop you could probably offer him arbitration and he'd likely decline. With any sort of good year he'd command a decent price on the open market. Also, isn't the CBA up next december?
  2. USSoccer
    Their team is going to be so crappy in 3 years. If they dont win a title before 2009, strip mining their system is going to kill them, and it's won't be pretty.
  3. USSoccer
    So now how would Pie and Williams look for Abreu?
  4. USSoccer
    And then what if Pierre has another crappy year, and Pie isn't ready for 2007, and Hendry once again panicks and overpays for his own mediocre players with an undeserved extension? And I'm not so sure Pierre is going to get the Cubs a draft pick. If he sucks again, his rating will decline, and the Cubs would be stupid to offer him arbitration. No sane GM is going to get all giddy about signing him prior to the arbitraiton date. Yes, there is a chance this could all work out. But it's an extremely small chance because, once again, the Cubs have overemphasized a relatively small part of a player's overall game, in this case, Juan's speed. He doesn't catch the ball, so this probably increases the chances that Hendry emphasizes defense in right field, which would again hurt the offense, which is still not good after Pierre. I think the chances of him not sucking are greater than the chances that he absolutely tanks this year. He's going to have to adjust, though, to Wrigley's grass, and Wrigley's dimensions, and tailor his game accordingly. That's actually the biggest worry I have with this. I'm concerned about him becoming more swing-happy at the plate, and our IF grass just killing his game.
  5. USSoccer
    Probably. Now Hendry can over pay for Huff. Yuck. I really am against having Huff in RF now that Pierre is in CF. It was possibly a tolerable gamble if there was above average production in CF. Not now. Maybe now Felix is on the table in a deal for one of the Big 3 corner OF's we've all talked about.
  6. USSoccer
    Why should he? He's not good. He could easily suck again. Those guys could have been traded, along with a Williams or other pieces, for a much much much better player. His career track record suggests some sort of rebound. I do agree with you that this wasn't the best use of Pinto and Nolasco, but it wasn't the worst use of them, either. I feel dirty for defending Pierre, but I think he's a better option than Lofton, and at least an equal option to Bradley. I would have rather had Wilkerson or Michaels, but oh well.
  7. USSoccer
    I do too. I'm trying to look at this in a positive way, as well. I can see some positives in it, and some negatives. I'm choosing to believe the positives. These positives being? -Prevents Hendry from being tempted to rush Pierre to the majors at some point in 2006. No matter how talented Felix is, he needs to improve his plate discipline if he's going to be the player we hope. This gives the Cubs the luxury of patience. -Clears out some space for future 40 man additions -Prevents Baker from ever batting Neifi 1st, and might help to stabalize the lineup. Wilkerson might have been miscast as a 6 hole hitter by Baker, a la Bellhorn. -Does give us at least the outline of a running game on the bases. The SB% needs to be higher, though. -Settles Hendry's lust for a "leadoff" hitter, hopefully aloowing him to move on to the equally improtant black hole in RF. -Probably guarantees Murton's spot starting in LF next year. -Pierre will likely rebound from 2005. -Gives us a type A draft pick if/when he walks next year.
  8. USSoccer
    I do. But don't explain it please. I am trying to make the best of this trade. Why? It's a flat out awful trade, and you know it. The only thing that makes it awful is if Pinto and Nolasco could have been used to get Wilkerson or Michaels, or even as part of a larger package for Abreu. The Nats probably wanted a ML player for Wilkerson, as they are building a fan base there. Philly might have bit for Michaels, but I think they asked for Wang, which would have been like them asking us for Williams. Those 2 teams might not have seen as much value in prospects. Pierre should perform at a decent clip. I don't expect sick OBP numbers, but I do expect a rebound from 2005. Pinto and Nolasco were not going to help the Cubs in the next 2-3 years unless it was through a trade.
  9. USSoccer
    I do too. I'm trying to look at this in a positive way, as well. I can see some positives in it, and some negatives. I'm choosing to believe the positives.
  10. USSoccer
    Thanks I need that. I need some rational thought to calm me down. I hope they make Slappy wear his hat bill forward. BTW, when do you sleep? We're expecting a baby, so I spend a lot of my time taking care of her. I was up to get her ready for work, and decided to check on the Pierre thing really quick. Needless to say, I didn't go back to sleep. :D
  11. USSoccer
    How is this a fair trade for both sides? Aside from foot speed, what does he bring to the team that Todd Walker does not? I love the Cubs. I cannot stand Jim Hendry. Best case scenario he performs to career norms. But then what do the Cubs do when Pie is ready? I was fearfull this would happen. I really really hope I'm worng. It's not that bad. Even if Pierre is a one year rental, Pinto and Nolasco weren't likely to crack to rotation soon, and Pierre keeps Felix in the system for another year, which IMHO is worth it on it's own. If Pie continues to improve, he's ready for 2007, then Pierre walks and we get a type A draft pick, plus a more polished Pie.
  12. USSoccer
    It's a good thing this came down in the middle of the night. Just wait til everyone wakes up, gets to work and sees this thread. The Transactions forum is going to be flooded.
  13. USSoccer
    Because that would be really stupid. You don't put a guy with a throwing arm that rivals Jonny Damon's in RF. Pierre can't slug, can't throw. His value comes from playing CF.
  14. USSoccer
    I think Bradley should be below Pierre in terms of priorities/desirability. He should be the player we'd give spare parts to. Injury history, only a season and a half of good production, clubhouse issues + Baker the Enabler...I'd rather overpay to get Pierre than overpay for Bradley. I assume you mean Bradley's 2003 and 2005 as has one and a half good season. So you aren't counting Bradley's 2004 as a good season (362 OBP, 424 Slugging), but you are advocating Pierre, whos best season is 378/415 (which was in 2001, while he was playing in Coors)? I'm really confused. I was actually referring to the fact that in 3 years he's played about 2 years worth of games. So I should have put in another way. And I'm not really advocating Pierre so much as I'm knocking Bradley down. It's pretty well documented I'm not the biggest Pierre fan, but he's not the worst possible option at this point.
  15. USSoccer
    The only way they'd sign Pierre is if Pie stalled at AAA in 2006. Pie is still really young, so they can afford to keep him down til 2008 if need be. OR, maybe Pie now becomes expendable for Abreu, Manny or Dunn.
  16. USSoccer
    Well, we've filled a hole. I still think Nolasco and Pinto could have been used in a bigger trade, and so I hope we held onto Sergio if only to deal him somewhere else. I do think Pierre will have a better 2006 than 2005. I think that the 2 biggest things to overcome for him are going to be the Wrigley grass, and the fact that the gaps in Wrigley aren't as spacious as in PPS. That will/should cause him to make an adjustment. I'm also a little concerned about him become less patient under Baker. However, Wrigley's OF should help minimize his defensive deficiencies, and this prevents Neifi from ever leading off. It means Pie isn't rushed, which to me means more than Pinto and Nolasco. His day splits are much better than his night splits, too. I'm interested to see what the next move is. If I were Hendry, I'd be content with my middle IF and focus all energy and effort on RF.
  17. USSoccer
    It looks to me like Bradley's been good to outstanding producing at CF for the last 3 years. He's only averaged 105 games in those 3 seasons.
  18. USSoccer
    Huh? He posted a .922 OPS in 101 games in '03. In a full '04 season he put up a .267/.362/.424 line while playing in an extreme pitchers park. Last year he hit .290/.350/.484 in half a season, while again playing in a pitcher's park. The durability is certainly a concern, but those numbers are fantastic for a centerfielder. Durability is a huge concern, though. He's not going to get on base if he's hurt, which he is, a lot. Also, other than 2003, his best OBP in a full season is .362, which is about in line with Pierre's average. I'm no longer sure why people consider him so much better than Pierre.
  19. USSoccer
    I think Bradley should be below Pierre in terms of priorities/desirability. He should be the player we'd give spare parts to. Injury history, only a season and a half of good production, clubhouse issues + Baker the Enabler...I'd rather overpay to get Pierre than overpay for Bradley.
  20. USSoccer
    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4245 Look at Bradley's career numbers. They don't do much to outweigh his personality risks. I'd deal from him only at minimal cost.
  21. USSoccer
    Curious to knwo what his Road/Home splits are. Since coming to Florida his AVG has been 20 or more points worse away from Pro Player, and his OBP and SLG have followed. Do you have his stats at Wrigley? AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB HBP SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Wrigley Field 50 15 14 2 0 0 4 4 3 2 8 0 .280 .368 .320 .688
  22. USSoccer
    Home: .315 .369 .391 .760 Away: .291 .340 .366 .706 those are 3 year splits from 2002-2004
  23. USSoccer
    Bradley misses a lot of time due to injury. His career high in games is 141, then 101, and then it falls off the map. I wouldn't give up these 2 for him. That wouldn't be appropriate value. Wilkerson is a different story.
  24. USSoccer
    Ideally we'd be able to put that in every spot, but considering that we aren't low on players that can slug(Lee, ARam, Barrett), I'll take more slugging from the guy on our team that will get the most PA's. So why not hit him 2nd? That would be a better balance. After all, as the argument goes, a leadoff hitter is only once per game. If it were me, I'd put Walker and Murton 2nd or 6th. but then who hits first? I was operating on the assumption that we land Pierre. If things end up as they are now, the best possible lineup would have Walker and Murton 1-2, but I think we'll end up with one of the 4 "leadoff" guys that are out there. oh, i assumed that we were arguing about walker's leadoff merits because we were seeing if he was a better leadoff option than Pierre. If Pierre is on the team, I guess you hit him first and Walker second. Though, if things play out like last season, id rather do Walker first, Murton second and Pierre 8th. No way Dusty has two lefties at the top of the order. he batted Patterson/Walker a few times 1-2 in 2004.
  25. USSoccer
    I don't care about Pierre's SLG% as much as other do, but if his OPB is below .360 next year then we overpaid. That's a tough call for a guy with a career .355 OBP Although, he's eclipsed that mark 3 times in his career, including 2003. :twisted: Fine, .350. But you get my point :D . He should rebound somewhat from 2005, so it depends on how high the rebound will be, and what effect the Wrigley grass will have on his game.
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