jmajew

I really like the way this Red Sox team works. Assuming they resign Damon they're 1-2 combo is exactly what the Cubs wanted. Assuming they keep the status quo at the rest of the positions their lineup is stacked. Damon, Loretta, Ortiz, Ramirez, Varitek, Renteria, Nixon, Millar, Mueller. I highly doubt they will trade Manny.

I am going to assume that the Cubs are going to trade Walker at some point. Probably for Bradley if the Dodgers don't get Soriano. Would it still be possible to trade for Lugo and play him at 2b and play cedeno at short? Pierre Lugo Lee Bradley Ramirez Barret Murton Cedeno The only reason I"m asking is because I think if we get Bradley by trading Walker we are definitely going to need a new SS or 2b. We do NOT want Nefi getting more than 200 ABs this year.

I think B is the best option. He is just hitting his prime and getting out of Chavez should help his numbers alot. The fact he is a switch hitter and that he can also play center doesn't hurt either. This way if Pierre gets hurt we already have a quality backup. B would be even better if we can trade Patterson straight up for him, allowing us to keep Walker. Question though: Of all of these options who would cost the least to get?

Furcal is better but not much. When you add in the fact that Furcal makes about 8 million more than Lugo will, Lugo is the better player for the money. Enough said. Lugo G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 TB 117 433 58 119 13 4 15 53 35 88 10 3 .275 .333 .427 .760 2004 TB 157 581 83 160 41 4 7 75 54 106 21 5 .275 .338 .396 .734 2005 TB 158 616 89 182 36 6 6 57 61 72 39 11 .295 .362 .403 .765 Furcal G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 Atl 156 664 130 194 35 10 15 61 60 76 25 2 .292 .352 .443 .795 2004 Atl 143 563 103 157 24 5 14 59 58 71 29 6 .279 .344 .414 .758 2005 Atl 154 616 100 175 31 11 12 58 62 78 46 10 .284 .348 .429 .777 From what I gather you are saying that Giles and Furcal were the only two players we could have gotten to help our team. If you save money by not signing Furcal and getting a SS close to the same caliber for 8 mil less you then have 8 mil more to spend on the rest of the team. This would then mean you can make your team even better.

Patterson, Nefi, Burnitz = below average Lugo, wilkerson, Huff = above average By upgrading three positions you make your team better. You have no idea what you are talking about. WE won 79 games with those three last year. You have to assume by upgrading those three positions you would add about 7 wins then when you add in that the bullpen got better you would think we would win about 12 more games this year.

Furcal is better but not much. When you add in the fact that Furcal makes about 8 million more than Lugo will, Lugo is the better player for the money. Enough said. Lugo G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 TB 117 433 58 119 13 4 15 53 35 88 10 3 .275 .333 .427 .760 2004 TB 157 581 83 160 41 4 7 75 54 106 21 5 .275 .338 .396 .734 2005 TB 158 616 89 182 36 6 6 57 61 72 39 11 .295 .362 .403 .765 Furcal G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 Atl 156 664 130 194 35 10 15 61 60 76 25 2 .292 .352 .443 .795 2004 Atl 143 563 103 157 24 5 14 59 58 71 29 6 .279 .344 .414 .758 2005 Atl 154 616 100 175 31 11 12 58 62 78 46 10 .284 .348 .429 .777

I think people don't realize that we already have the two big bats in the middle of the order that all good offensive teams have. All we need now are complimentary players to fit around them. Just look at teams like the Cardinals and Red Sox. Each of those teams are filled with guys like Eckstein, Grudzilanek, Mueller, Trot Nixon, and Kevin Millar. We already have some of the pieces in Walker, Murton, Cedeno, and Barrett. We are very close in my opinion. We are two pieces away from having a good lineup. Those can easily be added through free agency or trade. If you can get one of these three through trade Bradley, Wilkerson, and Huff and then sign either Lofton, Jacque Jones, or Juan Encarnacion I think we can compete.

If you can get Wood to drop his no trade clause I think that would work for the Phillies. We may also have to throw in Sergio Mitre as insurance for Wood though. If Wood gets back to form they have their top of the rotation starter. At worst he pitches like garbage and they have an extra ten million to spend on the likes of Mulder, Zito, and Radke next offseason. Either way I think the Phillies achieve what they want with this deal.

I think you can build for the future without giving up on 2006. We can still trade some of the young pitchers we have who do not fit into our future plans for players that would help us this year. We can also trade Patterson. Yes we will not be great but you never know what could happen. With those trade pieces you can still get Bradley or Wilkerson to play RF and then sign lofton to play center. Then the next year when Maddux and Wood are off the books we will have another 20 million to spend on free agents. A lineup for next season of: Lofton Walker Lee Ramirez Bradley/Wilkerson Murton Barrett Cedeno I think can still compete for the division. I don't see any reason to give up on the season. Then in 2007 you can go after another OF if Pie isn't ready and sign a Top of the Rotation pitcher.

I am so annoyed by this part of the story. Their infatuation with a stereotypical leadoff man is going to bite them in the butt. You can't build a team like this. You have to find players for each position in the field, then let them hit wherever is best. Find a team with quality from 1-8 and you'll be much better than a team that goes hard after leadoff and settles for mediocrity from 2, 5 and 6. Try to assemble the best catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, leftfield, center field and rightfield you can find, then put them in the best order. Don't limit yourself to a spot you've already admitted is close to barren in terms of availability. Hendry and Baker have spoken at length about the complete lack of the "true leadoff hitter" in today's game. That lack of supply drives up price when met with high demand. The Cubs irrationally high demand is making it harder for them to find a guy. Go out and get the best hitters you can find at CF and RF, and don't worry about the order, you'll score more runs and win more games. Goony I think you are right on. It is possible that the best leadoff available may play a position where there are better players available. The perfect example Pierre and Bradley. Bradley is the better player but Pierre can bat leadoff. If the Cubs took your approach they could go out and get Bradley and Wilkerson and call it an offseason. Wilkerson Walker Lee Bradley Ramirez Murton Barrett Cedeno

The Big question is what would we have to give up for Lugo and Huff? I'm think they'd want Williams, Hill and Dopirak.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-cub05.html I think if the Cubs could get both of these guys that'd be a great deal for them. Of course, it depends who we give up. After hearing what Hendry said about our three middle infielders I was kind of upset. He is clearly showing Walker no respect. I also think by not including Walker in our future plans he is diminishing his value. If teams thought we wanted him they may be willing to give up more. However, since it is clear Hendry has no plans for him teams will think they can low ball us. Hendry is giving them the advantage. Not the best of strategies in my opinion. Just to add I also found this on ESPN Insider in its rumors section. They cite this article from the suntimes.

M4D could still be useful. You don't want to burn all of your bridges alla Hendry with Nomar. Maybe we could just plug M4D into short. He can't be any worse than Nefi. Plus since he has such a close relationship with Len we won't have to worry about any of those controversies.

I'd love ot have Walker, Texas Ranger on this ballclub.

I predict the Mets will be the best team in the NL next year. Just look at their lineup. They are going to have one of the best offenses in Baseball, their rotation is solid, and their bullpen now has a good closer (granted that is all they have). I also think the Marlins are doing the right thing. I see no reason for a team to be a mediocore team. You should either do everything you can to win it all or you should do everything you can to be horrible for a year, allowing yourself the chance to stockpile talent. I do not see any difference between juts missing the playoffs by 6 games and by missing it by 30.

I think we should trade for Lugo and Huff. If we give up Williams, Hill and Walker. Then you go out and trade Patterson for Bradley. Because of the Furcal signing the Dodgers now have no need for Walker. Izturis when he is healthy will play second and Kent is moving to first. SS Lugo LF Murton 1b Lee RF Huff 3b Ramirez CF Bradley C Barrett 2b Cedeno/Perez Hairston Perez/Cedeno Mabry Blanco FA Zambrano Prior Wood Washburn Maddux Rusch Dempster Eyre Howry Williamson Wuertz Ohman

13MM/ year versus longerterm security means its about the money... It's pretty obvious that it was always about the money. If it wasn't he would have re-signed with the Braves a long time ago. This situation makes me respect Paul Konerko so much more. He had the option of going to Baltimore and make more money but he decided he wanted to be loyal. I have the utmost respect for him. I don't think teams with mercenaries can win it all. Look at the yankees, once they started to buy everyone in sight they haven't won a champsionship. Guys like Furcal, Sheffield, A-Rod, and Beltran are all mercenaries.

Does anyone know what plan B consists of? Is it Pierre? If so wouldn't it ruin the dreams of getting Milton Bradley. His offensive statistics wouldn't be as outstanding as a RF as they are as a CF. I only see 5 decent options for a leadoff hitter next year on the market. Lugo, Pierre, Lofton, Jason Michaels, and Damon. And to a lesser extent Brad Wilkerson, he could bat leadoff but i think he'd be better at 5 or 6.

I got a gut feeling that Hendry may make a big push for Johnny Damon now. 4 years 40 mil? I don't think it is the best idea but I think Hendry is gonna feel like he needs to make a big splash. Hendry better keep Walker. You can count on him to be in the top if the order and be consistent all year and we are going to need that with Perez/Cedeno at short. Plan and simple Furcal is not worth 13 mil a season. I am not upset the least bit that Hendry did not match or up his offer. Hendry made the right decision on that one.

I'm happy Furcal is atleast showing that kind of respect to these teams. If we don't sign him we will have the full time at the GM meetings to work on Plan B.

With Regards to Zito, I could see him being a part of a three team deal involving the Cubs. Ex: Zito to Philly, Abreu to the Cubs, and Jason Michaels, Rich Hill, and other prospects to the A's. (Hopefully one more from each Philly and the Cubs). We may have to give up a bit more than what I am theorizing but I think I get my point across. I really don't know exactly how it would work out.

No, I wouldn't want him to mortgage what could be several trips to the pennant for one World Series. The best team does not always win the World Series. What if he mortgaged the future, and they fell short of winning the World Series that year? The Cubs, as of 2004, were in a position to be good for a long time. I didn't include 2003, since they did play better than anyone would have imagined. We are still waiting for them to be good. I dont' think that is mortgaging the future. I think right now what we need to do is trade away some of our young talent, our high level prospects. This way we can get players who we know will be able to produce at the big league level. Then as as the young core we have on our team now(Lee, Ramirez, Zambrano, Wood, Prior, etc) ages a little bit you trade one or two of them away to get more young talent. That is how the good teams stay competetive for long periods of time. They know when to trade an aging player and when to trade prospects. I hope this makes sense. I am having a hard time trying to explain it.

When I was saying don't judge until after the season, I meant don't judge his strategy and don't go around calling the guy a moran because he isn't doing what you want him to. You never know how well it may work out. I think it is fair to discuss how much he gave up for certain players; a prime example being 3/11 for Eyre. I think he could have gotten him for a bit cheaper. You can judge him on who he gives up in a trade. If we trade Pie and Walker for Bradley (strictly hypothetical) I would expect there to be a healthy debate on whether we gave up too much. But if we end up winning the world series with that move wouldn't it be seen as a good one still? I guess that is my main point. If the Cubs have to overpay just for one Championship would we be mad? I know I wouldn't. I will not be upset with any of his moves if we win the World Series. I'm not criticizing people for having opinions, I just want them to give Hendry a shot. At least wait til he assembles the team we are going to battle with for the entire season to judge his strategy.

I truly believe that you cannot judge a GM's offseason until after the following season. Meaning you can't judge Hendry's offseason till next October. If I remember correctly, every White Sox fan last year was furioius with Ken Williams for trading for Podsednik and for letting Mags go and signing Jermaine Dye instead. Whether a team is gonna be great is really a craphshoot. We all thought that the Yankees had bought one of the best pitching staffs in baseball last year. Look what happened to that. Granted I am disappointed we did not go after Castillo, however, I am going to give Hendry the benefit of the doubt. I assume he has a strategy, albeit not the same one as mine, and knows what he is doing. Just to add I don't think Hendry has done a bad job the past two offseasons. After 2003 we signed Maddux and kept the rest of the team basically the same. We all thought we were gonna be better. Last year his hands were tied because of Sosa. Yes, he did let Moises go but I think that was because of the Sosa ordeal. Going into this past season I thought we had a good team. The lineup we had seemed very solid to me atleast. Patterson, Walker, Nomar, Ramirez, Lee, Burnitz, Hollandsworth, Barrett. To get back to my point, hold judgement till after the season and don't blame the GM for injuries. These guys aren't able to predict if someone will get hit on the elbow by a line drive, have a freak groin injury, or blow out their elbows. You never know what could happen. Ken Williams was an idiot going into this past season now he is considered a genious.

please tell me you're not a) calling finley a superstar and b) comparing finley (career .781 OPS) to nomar (career .911 OPS) and c) saying that finley, age 41, is bound for a good year because he's in his contract...er...retirement year. No, no, no, no, no. I was hoping that Jim could get another throw-in prospect equivalent to Murton, like he did in the Nomar deal. And the Superstar reference, while used extremely loosely above, was referring to Finley in his best years, which were pretty good (although not as good as Nomar's best though). Murton wasn't a throw in. Hendry said he would not make that deal unless Murton was in it. We would have gotten Cabrera for the same thing we gave up for Nomar and Murton.