KingCubsFan

I'd like to see Hendry go back to running the farm system. Together, Hendry and Wilkin could be really good. I'd also like to see the next GM be someone who has been associated with running the major league team as opposed to another guy promoted from the player development department. No matter what, though: 1. Hendry will be fired at the end of the season 2. A new GM will be hired. His name will not be Billy Beane or Paul DePodesta 3. This board will continue to complain about the new GM, just like Hendry

if hancock wasn't drunk and the tow truck driver/driver was negligent, would you be ok with suing them? Perhaps, but I see no negligence in this circumstance. well, if a guy on the internet who read a couple articles about it doesn't see any negligence then why even have a trial? im sure abuck12345 is an experienced lawyer on the other hand, right? since you want to be a dick about it, i graduated from law school two weeks ago. Congrats and good luck with the Bar. But to be fair, he did say experienced lawyer. Not that it matters - what we are discussing here involves pretty basic Torts class material. What sort of negligence standard does the State of Mizzou utilize? pretty sure it's pure comparative negligence

Going 3-10 in a September callup is far from a huge success. The other teams and GM's who passed on Brown were correct. Beane was the one who was wrong. No offense to Beane, it happens to everybody. Sorry, but I'm still inclined to think the fact that Beane's longshot gave even a modicum of production to the big league club and the fact that Cincinatti and Montreal's sure things at #3 and #5 still haven't made it out of A ball makes this a notch in the win column for Beane. Even had Brown never made it past AAA, it still does show that performance analysis can be just as valuable as conventional tools-oriented scouting... making Moneyball a success. How is that a success at all? Brown was never good, and the only reason he ever made it to the majors was, most likely, because he was a former first round pick. And the only reason Grueler and Everts aren't in the MLB is because of injuries; it happens to every team. I'm not sure how Brown's failure equals a success for performance-based analysis. People before the draft said he sucked, Beane took him and, sure enough, he sucked. Surprisingly, the two legitimate first round talents he took (Swisher and Blanton) ended up being productive players. All the Moneyball draft shows is that, no matter what approach you take, the draft is a crap-shoot, and you shouldn't use one approach at the expense of all others. If you call Brown's draft selection a success, we better keep you away from the Cubs before you give Hendry an extension.

From Phil's point of view, the rumor of moving Dempster to the rotation now (assuming he shows some competency) would assure that the Cubs have 4 starters under control in 2008: Lilly, Marquis, Hill, Dempster. The 5th will be some combination of Samardzija, Marshall, Prior or Veal. I would think that Holliman and Gallagher should be ahead of Shark and Veal on that list. While Holliman is off to a good start this year, I'm not sure if we should be considering him a future starter. Unless his stuff has greatly improved, he doesn't really appear to be anything special.

Nothing is better than weakening the closer role and starting rotation at the same time

Dusty Baker was the worst thing to ever happen to Corey's career. He had good power for a CF, his patience was rising, and then Baker tried to turn him into Lou Brock. If he had just been left alone in the 6 or 7 spot, he'd probably still be hitting .265-.270/.325-.330 OBP with 25-30 HR's and a good amount of steals. Not superstar numbers, but he'd be a valuable player. Maybe so, but I have a hard time putting all the blame for Patterson on Dusty. He came up under Baylor (not a horribly different hitting perspective from Dusty), and he had a lot of other coaches in the minor leagues that never taught him the importance of being a disciplined hitter. Even if they tried to teach him that, he was promoted before the lessons could sink in. Baker certainly didn't help Patterson's career, but it isn't just about him either. Incidentally, Corey has never hit over 25 HR in a season and the only season his OBP was above .320 was 2003, when he only played 83 games. He might have developed into a player with the numbers you suggest, but I think by the time Baker got there, it was probably already too late. Well he hit 13 in half a season in 2003, and 24 in 2004. His OBP was also .329 and .320 in those years, so I don't think it's that much of a stretch considering he was doing that when he was 24, 25 years old. I'm not saying Baker is the entire problem, I just think him and the rest of the coaching staff probably did the most to destroy a useful player. He was obviously rushed (and Hendry should get the blame for that) and he never properly learned any semblance of plate discipline (Hendry should get the blame for that too since was the farm director) but, despite those flaws, he still could have been a useful player without ever reaching his ceiling.

Dusty Baker was the worst thing to ever happen to Corey's career. He had good power for a CF, his patience was rising, and then Baker tried to turn him into Lou Brock. If he had just been left alone in the 6 or 7 spot, he'd probably still be hitting .265-.270/.325-.330 OBP with 25-30 HR's and a good amount of steals. Not superstar numbers, but he'd be a valuable player.

clutch is intangible Have you noticed a lot of players (not just the Cubs) who get into a good situation, say runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out and go up there hacking at pretty much anything? Patience has a lot to do with clutch, I think. Guys have to be calm enough in a situation to not get themselves out. I think this is part of the reason we've actually done well with RISP this year. When Clines was the hitting coach, you would never have to throw the hitters a strike with RISP because they were overly agressive

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=batting&group=8&seasonType=2&type=reg&sort=runs&split=0&season=2007

Really, really, stupid. Dusty wouldn't even do that. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10080CHN2003.htm

How has Zambrano looked? Still injured?

I agree. It's the same old, which is what many expected when he got hired only to be fooled by his bs lies during spring training. why wouldn't he start Floyd, or even Ward at 1B? on what planet would it ever make sense to bat Izturis 2nd? i really can't wait to see Floyd get run out into RF for a week straight so Lou can show him some "respect" now that he's complaining. good times. A lot of you have VERY short memories. This year, Piniella has already removed Izturis from the starting lineup for Theriot, demoted Eyre, removed Miller, moved Murton to right field, and given Wuertz a spot in the bullpen despite barely playing in spring training. I can guarantee you that none of those would have happened under Baker. I'm not quite sure what these "bs lies" were, but I haven't really seen him stray from his promise to play the people who produce. So he started DeRosa at first one game and batted Izturis 2nd. At least Izturis is hitting well, and we were facing a lefty which probably explains why Ward didn't play. With Dusty, we'd be seeing that lineup every day with Lee out, and Izturis would have been batting second the whole year. He's made some bad calls (putting Soriano in CF) but overall he has been MUCH better than Dusty Being better than Dusty isn't good enough, IMO. Izturis is still starting way too much. Theriot should be the full-time SS at this point. Murton has been benched continually for Floyd, Jones and even DeRosa since the switch to RF. He should probably be getting 60-70 percent of the starts at this point, and should never be benched in favor of DeRosa in RF. Beginning the season with Miller as the 5th starter was clearly a stupid mistake and may have costs them a few games. He micromanages too much and ends up having to use someone like Marquis to pinch-hit. Izturis is hitting well right now, which is why he's starting. I don't really have a problem with it unless Lou keeps running him out there when he comes back down to earth. Murton, actually, has not been benched continually for Floyd, Jones and DeRosa since moving to RF. Someone else posted this, but Murton has actually got the majority of at bats in RF since Soriano switched, and Jones now plays a different position so he really shouldn't apply. He didn't have a choice with Miller, as Prior got hurt and Guzman didn't pitch well when given the chance. He should get credit for pulling the plug after 3 starts. I agree with the micromanaging. He subs players in way too much for a manager that wants 12 pitchers

I agree. It's the same old, which is what many expected when he got hired only to be fooled by his bs lies during spring training. why wouldn't he start Floyd, or even Ward at 1B? on what planet would it ever make sense to bat Izturis 2nd? i really can't wait to see Floyd get run out into RF for a week straight so Lou can show him some "respect" now that he's complaining. good times. A lot of you have VERY short memories. This year, Piniella has already removed Izturis from the starting lineup for Theriot, demoted Eyre, removed Miller, moved Murton to right field, and given Wuertz a spot in the bullpen despite barely playing in spring training. I can guarantee you that none of those would have happened under Baker. I'm not quite sure what these "bs lies" were, but I haven't really seen him stray from his promise to play the people who produce. So he started DeRosa at first one game and batted Izturis 2nd. At least Izturis is hitting well, and we were facing a lefty which probably explains why Ward didn't play. With Dusty, we'd be seeing that lineup every day with Lee out, and Izturis would have been batting second the whole year. He's made some bad calls (putting Soriano in CF) but overall he has been MUCH better than Dusty

A bullpen with LaTroy Hawkins as closer<<<<< Any other bullpen

Yeah, it wasn't Wuertz's fault

I'd be OK ending up with Pelfrey or Brandon Wood. I could see the Giants giving up Lincecum if they're in it in July too

Sign A-Rod to play SS and you can just get a defensive catcher

Given that hitting is often a series of hot and cold stretches for most hitters, wouldn't it be wise to keep Murton out there for the time being while he's the hottest hand of the two? Absolutely, and I've never said otherwise. He's one our hottest hitters right now, and Piniella should follow through on his promise to play the hitters that are performing

I don't know what to say. ??? Please enlighten me with your infinite wisdom Every single plate appearance "skews" statistics by your definition. Why should Murton's last 5 or 6 ABs not be considered but a 5 or 6 AB stretch earlier in the year where he did nothing is. It's not misleading at all to say Murton has been more productive this season when his season long stats (all included, it's not like his most recent at bats are weighted more heavily) are better. I was responding to someone who said people had been pushing for Murton because he had been more productive than the alternatives this year. I was showing that, outside of the last 5 or 6 at bats, this wasn't true. If Floyd does well tomorrow, he'll pass Murton. So this argument really shouldn't stem over Murton outperforming Floyd or Jones this year. It should be based more on the fact that Murton is a young player, likely to improve, more important to the future, etc. Piniella has said he'll play whoever his producing. Murton and Floyd are about equal, and they've got basically an equal amount of at bats

Good to see we both agree that determining who is a better player based on a few at bats is stupid By the way: Murton: 70 AB Floyd: 73 AB what? wait. the people who are arguing against murton are always citing his lack of production this season. the people for murton are saying that murton's been more productive than the alternatives this year. that's how i take it. Yes, and prior to his last 5 or 6 at bats, he wasn't as productive as Jones or Floyd. So it's a bit misleading to say he's been more productive this season, when, in reality, his last few at bats have skewed his season statistics. Floyd could play tomorrow, hit a homerun and a double, and we'd be having this argument again. Fact is, they've both been relatively equal this season, and I don't think Piniella's choice for Floyd over Murton in certain games has cost us much, if anything. It's not the same as playing Izturis over Theriot with all things being equal, you should always play the younger guy. I agree with this. The problem is, you'll rarely find a manager that will sit a veteran over a younger player when they're both performing similarly. I don't think it's just Piniella

I don't know what to say. ??? Please enlighten me with your infinite wisdom

Good to see we both agree that determining who is a better player based on a few at bats is stupid By the way: Murton: 70 AB Floyd: 73 AB what? wait. the people who are arguing against murton are always citing his lack of production this season. the people for murton are saying that murton's been more productive than the alternatives this year. that's how i take it. Yes, and prior to his last 5 or 6 at bats, he wasn't as productive as Jones or Floyd. So it's a bit misleading to say he's been more productive this season, when, in reality, his last few at bats have skewed his season statistics. Floyd could play tomorrow, hit a homerun and a double, and we'd be having this argument again. Fact is, they've both been relatively equal this season, and I don't think Piniella's choice for Floyd over Murton in certain games has cost us much, if anything. It's not the same as playing Izturis over Theriot

Why, because it points out one of your corner outfielders is as about as prductive as Neifi Perez with about 1/3 of the ABs. It certainly ruffles the feathers around here to point out the flaws of the boards favorite son. Quick, guess who has the best OPS this year out of Murton, Floyd, and Jones. Hint: The answer is not Floyd or Jones He's had a couple of good games. I hope it is a sign of things to come. Ruh roh, you just backed off! The easiest way to prove that you have no case is to back off the moment stats that make a lot of sense directly ruin your point. If you look at the season prior to the PHI series, Murton had the lowest OPS out of the 3. if you look at the one ab where floyd homered and the one where murton struck out, floyd is obviously better. Good to see we both agree that determining who is a better player based on a few at bats is stupid By the way: Murton: 70 AB Floyd: 73 AB

Why, because it points out one of your corner outfielders is as about as prductive as Neifi Perez with about 1/3 of the ABs. It certainly ruffles the feathers around here to point out the flaws of the boards favorite son. Quick, guess who has the best OPS this year out of Murton, Floyd, and Jones. Hint: The answer is not Floyd or Jones He's had a couple of good games. I hope it is a sign of things to come. Ruh roh, you just backed off! The easiest way to prove that you have no case is to back off the moment stats that make a lot of sense directly ruin your point. If you look at the season prior to the PHI series, Murton had the lowest OPS out of the 3.

Just imagine if you had a whole team full of Jason Neighborgalls: http://www.coppinstatesports.com/multimedia/docs/bbstts07/teamcume.htm