baseball7897

None. But as a Angels fan, I have seen Bengie long enough to know how he calls a great game. Damian Miller is up there also.

Cedeno is very inconsistent.

Give me a team of great defensive players with good pitching, and my team would beat your team anyday. Good pitching always beats good hitting. Poor defense can cause pitchers to throw more pitches, give up more runs, and causes the pitcher not to have confidence he would have with a solid defense. Like Carlos Zambrano. I remember he had the idea he had to strikeout every single batter. Which only hurt his chances staying in the game longer.

No they are not. Let me guess, you're going to be using VORP and that other garbage to judge Molina? Stats dont tell you everything. Playing and watching are 2 different things. I hate it when people just use some meaningless stats like VORP to judge a player. Average, Hr, RBI's, OBP, and fielding% are a good way to judge a player in my book. Was your book written by a children's author? My book was written with baseball knowledge. I dont like how stat geeks think they know what they are talking about. All they go by is stats, they dont see the things that happen that dont get recorded in a baseball stat book. For example: a runner at 2b with no outs, the hitter hits the ball to the to the right side of the infield. That is considered a great AB by a person who knowledges the game more than a stat geek. Stat geeks would classify that AB has a worthless AB.

No they are not. Let me guess, you're going to be using VORP and that other garbage to judge Molina? Stats dont tell you everything. Playing and watching are 2 different things. I hate it when people just use some meaningless stats like VORP to judge a player. Average, Hr, RBI's, OBP, and fielding% are a good way to judge a player in my book.

Prove it. So does Sandy Alomar. .Not true. And the Sox won with an abysmal AJP behind the plate. Sandy Alomar is a solid back up catcher. His ability to play quality defense is why he is still around. AJ had a .999 fielding % behind the plate last year. He also has the ability to call a game. The sox won because they played good defense, and I think that staff was pretty good also.

You're right. I forgot to check his contract status... it's a 7.5 million dollar option that'll be declined. He'll probably make about 5. Either way, it's not an insignificant amount. In 2002 and 2003 Bengie may have deserved a gold glove. I've got him coming in at 12 runs over average each year. 2004 he comes in at three below. Yeah, that looks like it might be a statistical anomaly... a sample size issue or something. He had done well in the prior seasons. 2005 he comes in at four below. It certainly decreases the odds that both years are anomalous. 2006 as we've established puts him at eight below average. The pattern has been irrefutably established. He is not longer an above average defensive catcher... and he's getting worse at an alarming rate. And those offensive numbers you posted are thoroughly unimpressive. The only reason he's amassed 15 HR and 46 RBI is that he's been trotted out there for 384 at bats. If Henry Blanco had the same number of at bats this year, he'd have 12 HR and 62 RBI. Playing time isn't the same thing as production... and his .315 OBP is not acceptible production... at least not on an offensive squad as weak as the Cubs already are. Maybe the Red Sox could hide a guy like him in the lineup... but the Cubs can't afford the downgrade. The only argument you've made that I can't refute with numbers is his ability to call a game. And you've got nothing to back up that claim either. 162 game average for Bengie Molina: .273 Average 15HR 72RBI .320OBP. 162 game average for Barrett: .263 Average 14HR 64RBI .320OBP Very similiar production. One thing Bengie has an advantage over Barrett is his ability to call a game behind the plate. Bengie has the reputation around the league for being one of the best game callers behind the plate. I like a backstop of Molina and Blanco for the 07 Cubs. Hendry better be looking to add more pitching depth to this club next year. You win with pitching and defense. If the Cubs were to get Bengie and Wells, they would have one the best up the middle defenses in the league.

The word that I've heard is that Toronto is going to up their payroll in 2007. $100 million is the current rumour. And don't get me wrong, I love Wells... but he's not worth Barrett. Especially considering the fact we could probably get him for Izturis, Pie, and a live arm. Why give up one of the top players at his position for Wells when you can divest yourself of Izturis for the mere cost of an exceptionally talented, but far from sure thing prospect? The Cubs would be improving their team by adding Wells, then signing Bengie. Bengie wont post a high OBP, but he will hit around .275 and drive in 60 runs a year. His ability to call a game behind the plate, and his ability to play excellent defense is why I want him on the Cubs next year. So, your real motivation for wanting to trade Barrett is to open a spot for Molina. While getting Wells would be nice, there are players that could be acquired who are likely equal to or better than Wells that wouldn't cost giving up one of the few bright spots on the team. Barrett > Molina, so if I can improve another position like CF without given up Barrett, that is the better option. Vernon will put up better numbers than Barrett year after year. Then you would be adding Bengie, who will put up similiar numbers Barrett has every year.

He's gotten progressively worse in the field each of the last three seasons... with this season coming in at eight runs below average. Added to the fact that his only offensive advantage over Blanco is about 15 points of OBP, and you have a no-offense/no-defense waste of a roster spot and about 8 million bucks. And let's not forget the aging curve for catchers on the wrong side of thirty. Precipitous declines are the norm, not the exception. Bengie Molina is not a good baseball player, will not become one soon, and should not be treated like one. If you want to say Wells and Soto is a better option than Barrett and Pierre, that could be defensible. But bringing Molina into the discussion is not. Bengie will not be making 8 million a year. He is making 4 million for the Blue Jays this year. To say Bengie Molina is not a good baseball is crazy. He is batting .281 15HR 46RBI with a .315OBP for the Blue Jays this year. He won the gold glove in 02 and 03. I dont know about you, but I value a guy who can call a game and play excellent defense in a demanding position on the field.

The word that I've heard is that Toronto is going to up their payroll in 2007. $100 million is the current rumour. And don't get me wrong, I love Wells... but he's not worth Barrett. Especially considering the fact we could probably get him for Izturis, Pie, and a live arm. Why give up one of the top players at his position for Wells when you can divest yourself of Izturis for the mere cost of an exceptionally talented, but far from sure thing prospect? The Cubs would be improving their team by adding Wells, then signing Bengie. Bengie wont post a high OBP, but he will hit around .275 and drive in 60 runs a year. His ability to call a game behind the plate, and his ability to play excellent defense is why I want him on the Cubs next year.

Opposed to 12 we paid Kerry (noodle arm) Woods? Wood was coming off back to back seasons where he made 30 or more starts, and he pitched over 200 innings. I dont have a problem with Hendry offering Wood that contract.

Mac"Fail" was supposed to be the guy who would bring the Cubs to the world series. Im still waiting Andy.

IIRC, it was Sosa for Soriano, Nick Johnson, Ricky Ledee, and I think Ted Lilly. Just imagine if we had pulled that off. Yeah, just imagine--you'd be plenty upset. Sosa almost got the team in the playoffs in 01, and he was our biggest bat in the 03 run. He also put up some mighty fine numbers in 02 and wasn't bad in 04 even, at least until the last month and a half or so. Meanwhile, Soriano has been hot and cold, Nick Johnson is always hurt, Ricky Ledee is a deadbeat, and Ted Lilly is a dime-a-dozen #4 starter. Sometimes, the best trades are the ones not made after all.... Totally agree.

I'll second this. If they play him in left instead of Murton, I'm gonna flip out. But otherwise, this is VERY good news, even if false. But I know Hendry has been after Soriano for a while hasn't he? He has been after Zito for a couple of years now according to Kaplan.

It supposedly was on fox sports. It was said on TV. Fox Sports net is bush league.

I didnt see it in Rosenthal's latest notes. Im sure it's some false rumor.

This is my favorite pic. http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060910/capt.f3560f587ba4497c92c25e136f2eba91.bears_packers_football_wimg106.jpg

I didnt know Lugo was a FA. I think he will get way more than he deserves. My wants: Giles Zito Molina Wells(Barrett trade) Weaver Payton Mabry Wood Miller

I didn't get to see many of his pitches, but I saw him hit 89 on the gun on the Atlanta broadcast once or twice-have really divided attention though, so don't know if that was normal, high, or low for him though. His velocity will increase when he gets his arm speed back.

He threw a nasty hook at 76mph. That was the only pitch I seen him throw.

So you would take Freel or Clark over Wells? I think you guys are getting to caught up with the whole OBP. I would take the guy who hits around .300 with 30HR and 100RBI a year, over a guy like Freel or Clark who will only put up a .370 OBP. Wells does not hit .300/30/100 a year. And considering the costs, I probably would take Clark and especially Freel. I said around .300 with 30HR and 100RBI. The cost would be Barrett and someone else. Then you sign Bengie Molina.

First start in the big leagues in over a year. I would take a healthy Wade Miller over a guy like Angel Guzman. I think most people would take a healthy Wade Miller over most pitchers. Problem is that he'll probably never be healthy. You would think. But, some people on this site actually would take Brady Clark over Vernon Wells.

Just as expected. First start since August 05. Give him some time.

First start in the big leagues in over a year. I would take a healthy Wade Miller over a guy like Angel Guzman.

Who are these good pitchers you're talking about? And No, Hendry wont sign him to a "big deal". I see Hendry offering him a 1yr contract.