goonys evil twin

I'd rather spend it elsewhere. But Gould was pretty crappy, and it doesn't look like they have many options. And if you are going to be a team that relies so heavily on defense, you need a guy who can give you a reliable 3 point try.

KC Johnson thinks the Bears might be looking at D early in the draft. And I have to say I'd like to see that happen. I don't think a TE in the first is going to make all that much of a difference for the 2006 season. If they go all the way, the defense is going to take them there. And as good as it was last year, the D had too many flaws to dominate. You can probably get a TE in the 2nd, as well as O line depth and KR/receiver help later in the draft. And if Little Vick is on the board late on the second day, I'd strongly consider drafting him, but only if they get good reports out of the combine and other meetings.

I think he's saying he hates Mexico. Leave Vick alone.

I commit the schedule to memory 12 years in advance.

.247/.370/.617? That looks fantastic. Wait, what three stats are you comparing in that line? Usually it's AVG/OBP/SLG

That's pretty much how relief pitchers become relief pitchers. It's really not a matter of wanting to convert guys, but the failed starters (and the Cubs will have plenty of those) need to go to the pen to have a chance for a career. I think Browlie needs this to happen ASAP if he wants to do anything.

I once made it to the Mets opening day, against the Cubs. I also went the next day. What I remember: It was freaking cold. Luckily the sun hit us for about 6 innings, which kept it bearable, but other than that it was bitter for a ballgame. Reminded me of "spring" practices in high school, only without movement to keep you warm. There was very little in terms of pageantry (coming off a sub .500 season, the Mets - and in this case the Cubs - had nothing to celebrate or boast about). There was a sense of excitement in the air, especially walking through the gate. Smiles were ear to ear, everybody was happy to be out of work, not to mention to see a season start fresh. Joe Borowski's dad was all giddy in the 6th, waiting in a long line for the pisser. But all in all, it was just another game, probably more like a later season game than a typical April/May game, but nothing crazy.

Nobody is telling you they never try to, what they are saying is that in the end, the theory that 1s face 1s all the time is absolutely bogus. No matter how hard you try, you can't do it. The schedule makes it impossible. Managers might try and matchup against a certain rival that way, but even then, they'll be lucky just to be able to get their 1 vs a top 3 guy, let alone the actual #1. Furthermore, team's real #1s often times aren't labeled #1 because baseball people are slow to pick up on change.

Really it's after the first series that the jumbling begins. Teams have different schedules for off-days at the beginning, and they handle them differently. As for the All Star break, many #1s will pitch in that game, delaying their start to the 2nd half. Some will pitch the last or 2nd to last game of the first half, which will alter if they are ready for the 2nd half. I still don't get why people think teams matchup #1 vs #1, #2 vs #2 and so on. It just doesn't happen. Seasons don't happen in a vacuum.

Caring is one thing. Having it create an effect is entirely different.

If you are somebody who fits Dusty's profile of a major league leadoff man, small and fast, you aren't going anywhere in football. There aren't more small fast football players today than in the past, which negates the whole theory that leadoff men are in short supply because of desertion to other sports.

And if Adam Dunn didn't have plate discipline, he'd have a .270 OBP. And if Barry Zito had an average curveball, he wouldn't be in the major leagues. It's not reasonable to remove a player's most valuable asset in order to show a lack of productivity. That's not what that was about. He was showing that the value of Pierre's speed is measured in his numbers.

It's mostly like the war on drugs.

I suspect that wouldn't even be close to the truth. The vast majority? Wrigley isn't that nice. If that's all people wanted they could go to an actual beer garden with better prices and selection. The real question is what do you mean by like? I like Wrigley, have nothing against it, and probably never will. But I'm obsessed with the Cubs, and in recent years I've been extremely pissed at them. So you could say I like Wrigley more than I like the Cubs at any given moment. I love the Cubs though, so the only reason I get pissed at them is when they disappoint.

Absotively. I'm all for high expecations and whatnot, but let's give it a while before we judge where these guys are at mentally. Every spring you hear stories of increased focus, attention to detail, players in the best shape of their life, and it's not easy, at least for me, to buy this stuff when you've heard it all before.

http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/ This has been the same story for 40 years. Dusty is talking about short fast guys, his prototypical leadoff hitter. Short fast guys aren't moving into football in droves, especially not compared to days gone by. And track is a stagnant sport. If you are small and fast, and an elite athlete, the one sport that you have a chance of making it big in is baseball. This is not why leadoff men are in such short supply. A major part of the problem is that Dusty has such a narrow view of what a leadoff guy could be. If he was more open minded about what roles players could play, I think this would be much less of a problem.

A strong candidate for sure, but not a favorite. He hasn't put together a Cy caliber year yet. Wait for him to do that before he is a preseason favorite. I don't understand this mentality that you have to wait for a guy to do something before saying he could do something. Carlos has put together 3 straight fantastic seasons. The only reason he hasn't been a major candidate each year is because of depressed win totals, which is the one category the pitcher can least control. He is most definitely a favorite. He's not the only favorite, but he is a favorite, and to deny that is to admit either a bias, or a ignorance about the game.

If this is true, then all the worry about Walker not starting shouldn't be a concern! :wink: Sorry, I still don't understand the love Walker gets on here, he certainly doesn't get that kind of love around MLB and the non NSBB Cubs fans (to an extent). While he may be the best available option at this time, I understand completely that 2B would be a position up for grabs for the Cubs. As for the 2 hole, I would think having someone who can move the runners over would be a must. If DLee is having another year like last year, the concern should be more about the guy batting behind him in the order than in front of him. If they keep walking DLee and ARam is driving them in a lot, then teams won't be so anxious to walk DLee everytime 1st base is open. Putting DLee on first should be viewed as a positive, rather than a negative...its one more chance to score! You and a lot of others mistake accepting the fact that Walker is the best option we got with a love for his game. Walker is the only legit 2 hitter on the team. I don't see what makes you think that the concern is more about the guy batting behind Lee. Ramirez is perfectly capable of filling that spot. The real problem area on the team is the 5 hole. However, if the Cubs deal Walker, then go with Neifi/Hairston in the 2 hole, then 2 and 5 could become huge problems.

He's a "mere 6 or 7 hitter" only because Dusty is likely to put him there (or lower). He could hit 2nd, and outproduce Pierre, or hit 7th and outproduce Pierre. Either way, he's better. And when you consider the Cubs at least have Pie in the minors who could be a decent CF to replace Pierre, while they have no corner OF depth, the whole "value" thing could go further in Murton's direction.

Walker is by far the best 2 hitter on the team. Jones can't hit well, we already know that.

Soriano probably is better than Murton right now. But I wouldn't be shocked if Murton finishes the year with better numbers, and I expect him to be better by next year. Regardless, that is not the question. The question is what does that do for the team. That trade would leave you with no LF and a second baseman who is, at best, a minor upgrade to Walker, but may be a downgrade. Not to mention, it's a hell of a lot more expensive and very damaging to the team's future without really helping the 2006 club. Oh, and if you insist on waiting for 4 year of 800+ OPS before saying Murton is better, you'll be very late for the boat. Do you need to wait for Chase Utley to have 4 years under his belt before you say he's better than Brett Boone?

That's fine. But the point is, it was initially written that Murton is likely to be the best OF on the team this year. Others responsed, many in some sort of agreement with that statement. And this guy then called that thought ridiculous, and anybody who thought that ridiculous. If you want to give the benefit of the doubt to a vet, go right ahead. But don't start calling people ridiculous for having a different opinion. Minor league players will outperform established major leaguers when they get the chance. That is not to say all minor leaguers will do that, but it does happen, and it happens quite frequently as a matter of fact. It would be rather foolish to simply assume an established vet will outperform a prospect every time. People who think Murton is likely to outproduce Pierre don't say that simply because he is a kid and because Pierre is a veteran. They think that because they know what Pierre has done in his career, and think they have a pretty good idea of what he is likely to do this year. And people know what Murton has done as a pro, including major league time, and they think they have a pretty good idea what he will do. Suggesting Murton will outproduce Pierre is hardly a major proclamation. Unless your CF is a superstar (which Pierre is not) you better hope your corner OF can outproduce him.

Why do you have a problem saying that? Nobody is saying Murton is going to outproduce Brian Giles this year. They are saying Murton could outproduce Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones this year. Some think he will. Others are unsure. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. The only absurd things to say would be Murton will definitely outproduce Pierre, or Pierre will definitely outproduce Murton.

i don't think it's a mass exodus to soccer, but there's been plenty of kids playing that than other sports. why do you think there's not many prototypical leadoff hitters around anymore? too much emphasis on hitting home runs will get you the big paycheck? perhaps kids in high school, college and in the minors think its better than emulate the adrian beltre's and richie sexton's of baseball than it is to emulate rickey henderson. My personal belief is that the player most associated with prototypical leadoff hitter, short, skinny, fast, slappy hitter, is often weeded out in the filtration process of the game itself. That, and people have started to realize the more important value of overall production as opposed to specialized assets. I think teams have realized how much getting caught stealing can hurt you, so it's been de-emphasized (as opposed to a lack of people who can do it). If teams really wanted short, skinny, fast kids they could find them. They just don' really want many players like that anymore.

That is what I meant. Small fast athletes, what Dusty considers to be prototypical leadoff men, aren't abandoning the sport en masse to another sport. maybe some to soccer, actually when i mentioned soccer, i was being serious. the news has been reporting for some time that younger kids are more interested in soccer leagues than they are pee-wee baseball and football. when those kids grow up, they tend to stay with the sports they were interested as kids. it seems that the juan pierre/david eckstein type of players are going by the wayside. you tend to see players of their height and athletic build in other sports. We've been hearing that same story for 30 years in this country. It's not happening. Today's lack of prototypical leadoff hitters isn't due to a mass exodus to futbol.