KingCubsFan

Nobody is going to get a billion dollar loan right now. They have no choice if they really want to sell it

It's hard to say how he'd do with less payroll. Before he became GM, he was a terrific minor league director, so he certainly understands the importance of developing from within and can identify young players. At the time it appeared he was, but the results were much worse than expectations. I don't think it's hard to say what he'd do with less payroll. Before they really went from high to really high he had a below .500 record with the Cubs. He also hired Dusty Baker. Fixed it. As a GM. I think Baker had a huge effect on Hendry's ultimate results as a scouting director

You called? Cubs sign Furcal and then trade Marshall, Veal/Hart, and Ceda to Marlins for Hermida and Olsen. Cubs trade Olsen, Pie, Theriot, and Hill to SD for Peavy. Furcal @ SS, Hermida in RF, and Peavy in the rotation. Knew I could count on ya. :grin: Can someone explain why Hill would have any value at all?

It's hard to say how he'd do with less payroll. Before he became GM, he was a terrific minor league director, so he certainly understands the importance of developing from within and can identify young players. At the time it appeared he was, but the results were much worse than expectations. I don't think it's hard to say what he'd do with less payroll. Before they really went from high to really high he had a below .500 record with the Cubs. He also had Dusty Baker.

It's hard to say how he'd do with less payroll. Before he became GM, he was a terrific minor league director, so he certainly understands the importance of developing from within and can identify young players.

If that's all it took, this deal should have been done yesterday. It's going to cost a couple more prospects along with that package. But, it would still be more than worth it. What about a 3 way? Cubs get: Peavy, prospect from Twins or Giles if he waves NTC. Twins get: Khalil Greene, Jose Ascanio or Kevin Hart Padres get: Delmon Young, Sean Marshall, Pie/Fontenot/Cedeno, Jose Ceda/Wellington Castillo, and Mitch Atkins/Donnie Veal/Larry Suarez/Gaudin(if they want a more major league ready guy) That might actually work. Greene could have a good year in Minnesota. They need a SS, and I don't think they are that high on Delmon. Minnesota isn't going to pay 6.5M for Greene after the season he had last year. They're not going to give up on Young after one season either. Wasn't there a rumor somewhere that they'd move him for a third baseman?

Didn't see this anywhere else, but it was on the mlbtraderumors page: http://eastwindupchronicle.com/couple-of-new-korean-cubs/

oh really. He still throws out baserunners pretty well, plays good defense, doesn't hit much, so he's basically just like any other backup catcher except Soto seems to look up to him. He's not worth 3 million, but he should be brought back on a smaller deal.

Blanco deserves to be brought back solely based on the influence he has on Soto

How is that measured? What's included in that? I'm not familiar with that statistic. It uses WPA(win probability added, the basis for those graphs you'll see linked around here a lot.) tOPS+ is his OPS+ relative to his career OPS+ WPA as a stat definitely has its flaws, but as a means of identifying leveraged situations, it's pretty good. So he's better in high leverage situations, but not by a lot (?). How does that compare to people like Pujols?

It's funny that two organizations have now mishandled Prior. Makes you wonder if he's part of the problem.

How is that measured? What's included in that? I'm not familiar with that statistic.

Who hits well in the clutch season after season. Manny has consistently been better with RISP throughout his career Not appreciably so (about 55 points of OPS). That's almost all from him having better OBP with runners in scoring position, which could probably be attributed to pitchers being more careful with him when there are guys on base. Where are you looking? Here's what I found: Bases Empty: .299/.386/.568/.953 Runners On: .330/.436/.620/1.056 RISP: .330/.454/.607/1.061 RISP w/2 outs: .315/.463/.605/1.068 Bases Loaded: .326/.378/.692/1.071

Who hits well in the clutch season after season. Manny has consistently been better with RISP throughout his career

Both of which indicated some sort of knowledge on the subject, which I disagree with. Lord, whoever talked about the semantics arguing starting was right. I also agree with this.

I think you may be overstating Wood's (or any player's) affect off the baseball field on the team's performance. What teams did you play for in the majors? I'm assuming you disagree with him and therefore I ask you what teams you played for I've never played in the major leagues. That's why I find it so difficult to judge whether a player's leadership/personality off the field has little to no effect on team performance. So you disagree with both 5412 and Wade? I don't disagree that Wood is a leader of the team. Numerous players have said as much. I do disagree with any definitive statements regarding how much of an impact his leadership/any player's leadership will have on how a team performs if you've never been in that environment before. We just don't know.

I think you may be overstating Wood's (or any player's) affect off the baseball field on the team's performance. What teams did you play for in the majors? I'm assuming you disagree with him and therefore I ask you what teams you played for I've never played in the major leagues. That's why I find it so difficult to judge whether a player's leadership/personality off the field has little to no effect on team performance.

I think you may be overstating Wood's (or any player's) affect off the baseball field on the team's performance. What teams did you play for in the majors?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-24-series-briteoct24,0,1929370.story It would be so odd to have Brenly managing the Brewers So they don't want him because he speaks the truth? Are we trying to recreate the Hawk/DJ creation?

Wasn't he pulled as closer at the end of the year?

The only World Series I've watched in its entirety was thee 2001 DBacks WS. That was pretty good.

So all those cylinders un-clicked right after they demolished the Cubs? Like I said, "IMO"; and "the right time" being the 1st round of the playoffs. By the time the Dodgers got to the Phillies in the 2nd round, the Phillies had gained their own momentum. I think you're completely overestimating the role momentum has in baseball, but that's just me. If you can't quantify it, it doesn't exist I assume you're being sarcastic, so I'll respond. I'm not saying momentum doesn't exist in baseball, but I don't think it has that big of an impact due to the pace of a game. In football or basketball for instance, it's so fast-paced that a few big plays in a row can get you (and the crowd) going for an entire drive, quarter, game, whatever. I don't have that same feeling with baseball. A big catch or a big strikeout can definitely carry over, but I don't feel that momentum in baseball carries over from game to game all that much. My comment was based on what I had heard about the Dodgers since Manny came over and the team's level of play over the month of Sept. The stats are as follows: Since July 1, all three had similar records: the Cubs were 47-30 , Phils 47-31, and LA 45-34. During Sept. the Phils and LA both went 17-8 and the Cubs just 12-12. During Sept:Dodgers .293, .380, .454, .843 Cubs .287, .350, .446, .796 Phils .263, .329, .483, .812 And the Dodgers went 3-4 while the Cubs went 4-4 in the final week of the season. Most of those stats came from the Dodgers strong streak early in September. Why is it so hard to admit the Cubs flat-out choked in the playoffs? The Cubs could have run into the Royals after a 12 game losing streak and gotten swept with how they played.

So all those cylinders un-clicked right after they demolished the Cubs?

Philip Hughes Jon Rauch (as a starter)

No, no franchise in any major sport has to play with the pressure of the Cubs when they get to the postseason.