KingCubsFan

John Manuel seems to like him... http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/chat.php?id=2006060601&rnd=4#bottom

Pathetic. They're going to let Buehrle throw a complete game, when everyone knows that the one weakness the White Sox have is their bullpen. The problem isn't just that they're bad hitters. They're bad AND stupid. Since Hendry apparently likes to try and copy the White Sox, I hope he's taking notes today and realizes that major league teams have good offenses when they have players with the ability to have patience, wait for their pitch, and sometimes hit it over the outfielder's head.

Playing only against righties would hardly make him a part-time player. He'd still play in most games. And you woudn't need to pay a player who only plays against LHP 6 million a year. You can find productivity against lefties for much less than that. 5-6 million for Jones (and I think it's less than that in later years because of the signing bonus) really isn't very much if he's used properly and continues to do well against righties. His salary shouldn't be a hindrance to putting a good team on the field.

I agree. If the Cubs want to improve the line-up, they need to make a move that will have a difference after Lee returns. Something that upgrades rigthfield production against lefties is where to look. Of course, that's been needed ever since Jones was signed and yet Hendry continued to ignore the bench. Maybe they finally realized that they need a platoon partner for Jones (could they have actually looked at his splits?), but I'm not holding my breath. But yeah, with Lee back in about a month, that's what Jim needs to be focusing on. Jones v. RH: .312/.349/.597/.947 Jones v. LH: .056/.105/.056/.161 Jones has actually been a good player against righties. If Dusty continues to ignore that Jones simply cannot hit lefties, it may go down as the dumbest (and most incompetent) thing Dusty has done while here, simply because it's so obvious and past history predicted it (and, btw, that list is quite long: leaving Latroy as closer, ending Chad Fox's career, continuing to bat Corey leadoff, etc...) . I think Darren could have picked this one out a few weeks ago.

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Who are these impact players? Thome, Beckett, Glaus, Delgado, from a quick check. There may be more. So a pitcher and 3 postion players who play our two strongest postions?

Who are these impact players?

Atlanta and Los Angeles both build their system around "ceiling and toolsy players" and they have two of the best farm systems in baseball. The decline in the farm system has more to do with, like you said, our recent failures in latin america and asia, John Stocksill's mediocre drafts, and injuries. In Atlanta's case, they also allow their young players to play for extended stretches everyday. They are developed with the intention of them producing on the ML level. They are drafted and generally kept in the role that they're intended to fill, from A ball to the majors. There's a track record of young players being treated no differently than vets by Bobby Cox, and being relied on to produce. For instance, Francour hit in the middle of the order in the lineup in the minors, so Cox kept him in that role in the majors. The Cubs would have had him hitting 7th or 8th, and platooning indefinetly. The Braves set their players up for success, and try and maximize the tools a player has. The Cubs, needless to say, do not do this except in very rare instances, and even then they find ways to contribute to a player failing (Corey Patterson). In LA's, count the number of everyday position players they have that have come from their system. It's not a very big number. They had Izturis, and before that, who? LoDuca? Piazza? It's not as if LA's a factory of productive young players the way Atlanta does. In the minors, the Cubs generally keep players in the role they are intended to fill as well. Every team does. And Francoeur only hit in the middle of the order after he established himself as the team's best hitter. He didn't come up and immediately step in batting third. Regardless, Bobby Cox's usage of young players doesn't change the fact that, as an organization, the Braves draft raw, high-ceiling players consistently and always have one of the top farm systems. So the Cubs problems extend beyond their draft philosophy. As for the Dodgers, Logan White hasn't really been around long enough to have a lot of his players graduate to the majors. But within the next two years, Russell Martin, Andy LaRoche, Joel Guzman, Delwyn Young, James Loney and others will all be in the majors. And they currently have the best farm system in terms of ranking.

Atlanta and Los Angeles both build their system around "ceiling and toolsy players" and they have two of the best farm systems in baseball. The decline in the farm system has more to do with, like you said, our recent failures in latin america and asia, John Stocksill's mediocre drafts, and injuries.

Most athletes aren't clutch performers, so that makes sense that situational numbers will eventually revert back closer to career numbers. As for Manny, I've already illustrated that his extraordinary career numbers are a direct result of his extraordinary ability to hit with runners on base and in scoring position. Without that rare ability, his numbers simply wouldn't be as good.

Orlando Hernandez?

That last number has a pretty small sample size. Manny has pretty consistent numbers with RISP, 2 outs over the last 5 years, though.

Yes, players need teammates to perform in order to get into clutch situations. Whenever someone drives someone in, another player needs to get on base first. I don't really understand how that matters. Anyways, those were last year's numbers, but career numbers paint a similar picture (actually I made a mistake and those were Ortiz's career numbers): Career Bases Empty: Manny: .295 avg/.380 obp Aramis: .269/.316 obp With Runners On: Manny: .334 avg/.437 obp Aramis: .287 avg/.343 obp

MJ is the perfect example of this. I don't know how anyone could watch MJ and say there's no such thing as as a clutch performer. As far as baseball: Bases empty: Manny .236 avg/.332 OBP David Ortiz: .275 avg/.353 OBP Aramis: .279 avg/.313 OBP Runners On: Manny .346 avg/.439 obp Ortiz .290 avg/ .381 obp Aramis: .327 avg/.397 obp These are three people I would consider clutch, and the numbers show they are different batters when runners are on. Aramis said as much a few years ago in an interview.

If you don't believe there's such a thing as a clutch player, you must not watch much sports, and you clearly didn't play many either.

They just traded their best player to get Soriano. I don't think they'd turn around and trade him for Hill and a bunch of cast-offs. Vidro would be a better bet, and a good fit for the Cubs if he's healthy.

Look at Jarrod Washburn and AJ Burnett. 12million seems fair, and it doesn't even seem like ace money anymore. Who are we trading for that's over 30? Tejada is 28, and will 29 during the season. Zito is 27, and will turn 28 during the season. And I don't see how Tejada's contract isn't favorable. It's not cheap, but it's in line with his production. I think we can afford it considering the lack of money being devoted to the outfield. As for Zito, you have to remember he's pitching in the AL. His 3.86 ERA would have looked a lot better in the NL, and his peripherals, at first glance, seem like they were in line with the rest of his career except for 2004. If I recall, 2004 was the first year he was without Rick Peterson and it really had an effect on him.

Just because Nomar broke down doesn't mean every 30 year old shortstop will break down. Tejada has never shown he is going to be breaking down soon. How has Derek Jeter done the past few years? As for Zito, he has a career 3.50 ERA in the AL. I'd call that #2-esque. Just because he had one mediocre year doesn't mean he's horrible. I'd have no problem giving Zito 12 million a year. He's one the few that will actually deserve that type of money in the coming years.

In the end, we're getting the best shortstop in baseball and a 28 year-old former Cy Young winner who is a legitimate #2 starter (and more durable). Yes, we're giving up Prior, but we're also acquiring these two players without giving up Murton, Cedeno and perhaps Pie if he's taken out of the A's deal. I'm not saying we should trade Prior (I don't want to), but if we're going to, I thought this was a deal that might allow us to somewhat replace Prior while still acquiring Tejada. Beane doesn't have to trade Zito, so you'd probably have to give up more than necessary. t

You're right about giving up too much for Zito. Pie probably wouldn't be necessary, since they're already getting Bedard and Hill. But the Cubs do get more than just Tejada for Prior. They also get Bedard, who they spin to the A's.

If we're really going to trade Prior, why not try to do this: A's get: Rich Hill, Erik Bedard, Felix Pie Orioles get: Mark Prior, Guzman, Walker, Brian Dopirak Cubs get: Tejada, Zito The A's get that #3 starter they've been looking for in Bedard, the Orioles get Prior, and we get a #2 starter and Tejada. We'd be taking on a lot of salary, that's why I included Walker, and we'd have to trade Patterson too.

Oh, you mean like how Dubois was supposed to play in left and how Ronny is supposed to play shortstop next year? Face it, if we sign someone like Wilson, they're playing everyday over Murton.

If we're going to platoon Jones (which would be the smart thing to do), we already have someone on our roster who can hit lefties (Murton). Why overpay for another mediocre outfielder who is supposed to platoon with Jones when, in reality, he'll just take away playing time away from Murton anyways. We should still try and trade for Huff, and then platoon Jones and Murton. Together, they might salvage right field.

What bothers me is that we went through the whole offseason apparently rejecting offers including Pie and Hill and, rather than try and open up spots for them either now or in the future, we signed Pierre, Jones and Rusch to multiyear deals. That means either Murton or Pie will have to go in a year.

I don't know what's worse...the fact that we lost all those picks or the fact that the two middle relievers were actually ranked higher than our starting right fielder and, as a result, the lowest pick will go to the Twins