Yestheydo

The problem with Murton playing every day is that with Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, DeRosa, the lineup is stacked with righties who will all put up their numbers against mostly the same pitchers, and all struggle against tough righties. I like Murton as much as anyone but he's just not a good everyday option the way this team is constructed. And Tim is right about God; His attitude is suspiciously human sometimes.

I think people are fussing because they don't know what is wrong with Prior (I honest to god haven't heard anything about his condition in a long time) and aren't confident he'll be ready for spring training. I think his injury history warrants extreme caution and skepticism from fans. That's fine. I am cautious too. But IMO people are complaining about Prior asking for a raise becuase he hasn't pitched in that many games. Let me try this one: An electrician is very good at his job. Much better than most with his experience and qualifications. He finishes jobs on time and with high quality. Then one day he is on a ladder and someone hits the ladder he loses ballance and falls breaking both his arms and fracturing his skull and he is out of work for a long time. Should he get a raise based on his performance or should his employer say, "well you've missed six months of work and when you came back with the splints on your work suffered, so I'm not giving you a raise?" His pay should mostly be based on what they believe his performance will be, and what other employers would pay him. Past performance is usually the best indicator of future performance. Prior has firmly established himself as an unreliable performer but he brings such a high ceiling to the table the risk is well worth the price.

Jones for Griffey! Who's with me? *crickets chirping*

Hey Bruce, if you're still reading, do you know if they are considering platooning Theriot in CF with Jones or Pie or whomever winds up there? I notice Pie only had 8 ABs against lefties last year. Just wondering.

Church/ Theriot would be my preference. Lofton/ Theriot is my guess. I'm actually excited that Hendry apparently sees Theriot as a Freel-like supersub. Edited to predict that Theriot plays more major league CF than Pie in 08 as well.

This sounds suspiciously like what everyone was saying about Hill last year. What if --I'm just saying what if-- Hendry and his staff are better at scouting pitchers than the almighty internet geniuses? It could happen.

Since when could Theriot play CF? Since he reminded me of Ryan Freel last year. Hell, they had Soriano and now Lugo there and they haven't done it either. Or get Brady Clark, I don't care. The point is how come no one's talking about Lofton; he's an ideal one year guy.

Does anyone think Kenny Lofton would be a good stopgap? He could platoon with Theriot.

I mean, if they could stick Lugo out there as a stopgap, who's to say The Riot couldn't emerge as a Freel-like supersub? I know they want someone established, but if they can't find anyone and they plan on just going with Pie this year, does anyone think they'd try this?

I don't know; I kinda like it. It makes it easier to wade through all these posts when the least original thinkers identify themselves like that.

Figgins could split CF with Pie and 2B with Theriot. Just need to turn Izturis into Tejada.

Scouts have been saying for years that he could be a very good CF if he'd just agree to try it.

1. Lots of Cubs fans go to their parks and act like a-holes. 2. Unbearable smugness during the pre-injury Wood/ Prior era, when we all thought the Cubs would dominate the division for the rest of the decade. Actually its because of all of the hot babes we pull down. Say, that reminds me: 3. We're completely delusional.

1. Lots of Cubs fans go to their parks and act like a-holes. 2. Unbearable smugness during the pre-injury Wood/ Prior era, when we all thought the Cubs would dominate the division for the rest of the decade.

Why would the Reds ever agree to that? All right, throw in Wuertz or Aardsma. The Reds need to improve defensively; I actually think Krivsky would salivate at the thought of an Izturis/ Phillips dp combo. Phillips can lead off. Denorfia and Hopper both filled in capably for Freel late in the season. I'm sure it would take more than Izturis, but dangle the right pitcher and I bet it could happen.

I like your team. Me too. Makes so much sense it'll never happen. Does anyone know if Theriot could play center? If he's as much like Ryan Freel as he acted last year, I'd like to see him split CF with Pie, and Durham or Loretta at 2nd.

See, to me, this is a problem. Starting the season with two guaranteed question marks is wrong, even if they're at the bottom of the rotation. An ideal situation, I think, would be to sign a #2 and a #3, and have Hill and Prior pencilled in as your 4-5. Bringing back Miller fills a spot that could--and should--go to someone who's established and not a huge injury risk. So Miller OR Prior. Not both. IMO.

What if they signed Lugo, and traded Izturis to the Reds for Ryan Freel? He could share CF with Pie and 2B with Theriot. It idiot-proofs the top of the lineup, and leaves lots of money to spend on the rotation, which is where it really really needs to go. Plus Pie and Theriot get plenty of opportunities to establish themselves as possible everyday players for next year. Freel Lugo Lee Ramirez Murton Jones Barrett Theriot/ Pie

No, they'll get Griffey instead.

Someone else being the scapegoat

That's what pretty much everyone thought about Piazza too though. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that an NL team wanting to make a splash puts in an offer. But realistically, Bonds is going to be A) Very Expensive B) pretty old C) big question mark on his health = perfect Yankee You forgot D) Hated by the fans of the team he plays for. Would you want to be the GM who tells your fan base they have to root for a guy they already hate? Not to mention that the team who signed him would be hated for giving him the opportunity to pass Aaron. It wouldn't surprise me if it was Giants or nothing for Bonds.

Dunn would be a good fit for the Cubs-- big lefty bat, and the patience they've sorely lacked. Reds fans don't like him because he's supposed to be their big franchise hitter who carries the offense but he doesn't. I think they'll trade him because to them he's not worth what he'll be getting. To the Cubs, he'd be worth it, esp. since he's a better first half player and Lee and Ramirez usually aren't. It would take a bit more than Jones, though. Aardsma for starters. And I would happily trade Prior for Dunn, just as I would have happily traded him for Abreu or Tejada, both of which would have looked pretty good this year. Come on. Some guys just can't stay healthy; he's one of them.

When the Tigers beat the best lineup we'll ever see in our lifetime with superior pitching. (Getting ahead of myself, but Monroe just homered) Anything can happen is a short season. Yeah, but it's funny how often "Anything" happens in the postseason.

When the Tigers beat the best lineup we'll ever see in our lifetime with superior pitching. (Getting ahead of myself, but Monroe just homered)

Because he has a high OBP, and OBP is god. Only players with low OBP's are subject to criticism.