baseball7897

I don't know, but that's what trades are for. It shouldn't be hard to find a lead-off guy with a .330 OBP who is cheaper than Pierre. If Pierre had more of a recent history of a .350+ OBP, I'd be on board with re-signing him. Leadoff hitters are hard to find. You cant just go out and make a trade for one. Not many teams will deal their leadoff hitter. Matt Murton would be just fine as a leadoff hitter if Pierre didn't come back. Yes, he actually would. I would just then have 2 questions: 1) How does Matt feel about batting leadoff? That's something that we can't really know-some hitters are just not cut out for batting leadoff. From our vantage point, it would be hard to tell if Murton is one of them or if he is comfortable in that role. 2)Who do we sign to play center? I'm not sure what options there are that could be had, or how much it would take. Dave Roberts would be cost efficient until Pie is ready. How is Roberts any better than Pierre?

Lester and Hanson are going to have better major league careers than Hill, Marmol, Marshall, etc. If im the Braves, I would ask for Prior, Pie, and a couple of pitching prospects for Jones.

I don't know, but that's what trades are for. It shouldn't be hard to find a lead-off guy with a .330 OBP who is cheaper than Pierre. If Pierre had more of a recent history of a .350+ OBP, I'd be on board with re-signing him. Leadoff hitters are hard to find. You cant just go out and make a trade for one. Not many teams will deal their leadoff hitter.

I can ask for a leadoff hitter who can at least work the count beyond seeing 2-3 pitches and have an on-base percentage of at least .350. Pierre should have his OBP above .350 by the end of the year. There isnt really any leadoff hitter on the FA market. They are really hard to find. So from saying that, I expect to see Pierre in CF next year, and I dont have a problem with that.

I been on the Pierre bandwagon since the trade. He is a hard worker, and plays everyday. What more can you ask for? I think Pierre will be the CF next for the Cubs, and I dont have a problem with that.

I guess defense isnt important.

Izturis would of had that.

Alot of people dont like the deal for Iztuirs, but the majority of people here include Izturis, and not Cedeno in the 07 plan???

I just shot hot coffee out of my nose, thank you. This is the funniest post I've ever read. It could also be the creepiest, I'm not sure. Maybe that's what makes it so damn funny. The thought of bringing Nomar back makes me sick. Yeah he is having a solid year in LA, but he is always injured. He burned the cubs twice in 04, and 05. Cannot count on him for a full season. The only postion where he could stay healthy is at 1B. Last I checked, D-Lee will be the 1B for the Cubs next year.

Prior is guranteed to start the season on the DL. Anything else you can guarantee? I can gurantee you Hendry will make a offer to Zito, but Zito wont except it. Then Hendry will go the cheap way, and sign Padilla. Marquis is a option if you ask me. He is still young, has a live arm, and throws a heavy sinker. I just think he would get a offer he cant refuse from another team though.

Maddux makes his debut with the Dodgers today.

Podthetic is worse than Pierre. He is not a option.

Wood probably has the biggest stones on the Cubs. Only I guy I know who would come back not 100%, and knowing that he could get re-injury his shoulder, for the sake of helping the cubs. Wood has been a Cub longer than anyone on the roster. I would love to see him as Cubs closer next year. He has 3 dominating pitches, and would excell in the closer role.

Yeah I heard that today also. Murphy sounded like he was very upset with Hendry's comments.

The FA market for SP is going to be really bad. Schimdt and Zito will get overpaid. Marquis will get way more than he should. Weaver, Padilla are guys who could be cheap. *edit* Trade for Lackey. :D

Prior is guranteed to start the season on the DL.

Zito

Trot Nixon coupled with Jacque Jones = every team pitching lefties against the Cubs Murton would be there to spell one of them. I guess it would have to be Nixon since Murt can't play center. Nixon's .400 OBP would be nice in the 2 spot, and I bet he doesn't make over $7M in 07. Nixon has a hard time staying healthy. Just what the Cubs need.

Point by point, bolded: -If you're basing your desire to have Izturis on the fact that you need a good glove at SS, why trade for Tejada? He wouldn't play 3B for Anaheim in a pennant race. He's not going to move to 2B for Cesar Izturis in Chicago. If Izturis moves to 2B, what does his glove at SS matter? -Cedeno will sometimes not make the routine play based on what? -The third bolded bit makes you sound like Joe Morgan. He's not fast, but you think he's a good baserunner? Based on what? -Knowing when to run is waaaaay low on the list of qualities you want in a ballplayer. -Again, why trade the cheap guy who would be willing to move to 2B (which you've already implied is the easier defensive position) in favor of the expensive guy who doesn't really hit better than the cheap guy, and only has an advantage as long as he plays SS, which, in your Tejada scenario, he wouldn't? If the Cubs wanted to trade for Tejada, the only scenario where aquiring Izturis makes sense is if the Cubs flip Izturis to Baltimore and move Cedeno to 2B. I can't see us having enough to land Tejada in any case, and I don't know why Baltimore would want Izturis. Keeping Izturing AND dealing for Tejada makes little sense financially and defensively. Cedeno has not made the routine play some times. I watch the Cubs believe it or not. I seen him boot, miss play, miss judge, a flyball, and a groundball, that is routine for the majority of ss in the league. Baserunner is very important. Take it look at Alou, and Jones. Getting doubled off on a flyball to the outfield when standing on second is unexceptable. You can blame coaching, but really its the player who has been taught since day one, to freeze on a line drive or a flyball since. Tejeda is the guy I want to play SS. Im willing to move Izturis to 2b in favor of Tejeda. In my opinion Iztruis is more valuable than Cedeno is. Iztuirs wont throw the ball in the dugout, when time wasnt called. You could blame youth on that, but really that is unexceptable. Cedeno has shown no signs of being a patient hitter. He wont be a big power guy either. If Izturis can return to his 04, and first half of 05 form, then im taking Ituris over Cedeno anyday. When has Izturis been patient or a power hitter? If my aunt had testicles, she would be my uncle. I said, if Izturis can return to his 04, and 05 form, then im taking him. The guy is still young, and you could say the same for Cedeno. But Cedeno has been in a slump since May. His OBP will be worse than Izturis. Izturis probably could hit more HR than him also, and drive in more runs.

Point by point, bolded: -If you're basing your desire to have Izturis on the fact that you need a good glove at SS, why trade for Tejada? He wouldn't play 3B for Anaheim in a pennant race. He's not going to move to 2B for Cesar Izturis in Chicago. If Izturis moves to 2B, what does his glove at SS matter? -Cedeno will sometimes not make the routine play based on what? -The third bolded bit makes you sound like Joe Morgan. He's not fast, but you think he's a good baserunner? Based on what? -Knowing when to run is waaaaay low on the list of qualities you want in a ballplayer. -Again, why trade the cheap guy who would be willing to move to 2B (which you've already implied is the easier defensive position) in favor of the expensive guy who doesn't really hit better than the cheap guy, and only has an advantage as long as he plays SS, which, in your Tejada scenario, he wouldn't? If the Cubs wanted to trade for Tejada, the only scenario where aquiring Izturis makes sense is if the Cubs flip Izturis to Baltimore and move Cedeno to 2B. I can't see us having enough to land Tejada in any case, and I don't know why Baltimore would want Izturis. Keeping Izturing AND dealing for Tejada makes little sense financially and defensively. Cedeno has not made the routine play some times. I watch the Cubs believe it or not. I seen him boot, miss play, miss judge, a flyball, and a groundball, that is routine for the majority of ss in the league. Baserunner is very important. Take it look at Alou, and Jones. Getting doubled off on a flyball to the outfield when standing on second is unexceptable. You can blame coaching, but really its the player who has been taught since day one, to freeze on a line drive or a flyball since. Tejeda is the guy I want to play SS. Im willing to move Izturis to 2b in favor of Tejeda. In my opinion Iztruis is more valuable than Cedeno is. Iztuirs wont throw the ball in the dugout, when time wasnt called. You could blame youth on that, but really that is unexceptable. Cedeno has shown no signs of being a patient hitter. He wont be a big power guy either. If Izturis can return to his 04, and first half of 05 form, then im taking Ituris over Cedeno anyday.

Lets take look at the Cubs here. They start a game at 1:20. Game ends around, lets say 4:00. They dont have to come back to the park untill 9 the next day. Thats plenty of time to recover, regroup, etc. I will never except the day game excuse for not winning a baseball game. That is just a pathetic excuse.

Izturis to me is a better option. At the SS position, you need a solid glove. That is the most important spot on the infield. Cedeno has probably more range than Iztruis, but Cedeno will sometimes not make the routine play. Izturis will make the routine play, and the occasional outstanding play. Iztruis is not that fast. I think he is a good baserunner. He knows when to run, and when not to. If this was my team I would keep Izturis, and I would try to deal Cedeno, and others to Baltimore for Tejeda.

Uhh.... given the current roster, Murton makes a much better option for the 2-hole. I don't see that changing next year -- Murton will still be a better choice than Neifi or Izturis in 2007 too. Murton dosent hit enough to stay in the lineup everyday. He is more of a 4th outfielder on the Cubs. If Murton doesn't hit enough to play everyday, what do Cedeno, Perez, Izturis and Mabry do? The only reason Mabry is starting is because Lee is hurt. Like I said before, Izturis is in the lineup for his glove, and should be used in the 8 hole. You can get by with Izturis in your lineup if you have a solid lineup. The only reason Cedeno plays everyday is because he was the only SS on the roster. Perez starts because he was a better option than Walker, according to Baker.

Uhh.... given the current roster, Murton makes a much better option for the 2-hole. I don't see that changing next year -- Murton will still be a better choice than Neifi or Izturis in 2007 too. Murton dosent hit enough to stay in the lineup everyday. He is more of a 4th outfielder on the Cubs.

I cant believe some people on here are using the "day game excuse" for not winning a baseball game. Back in the day thats all the players played. Their travel schedule was horrible. They would ride the bus for days, then go out and play in the heat. Players these days give some of the worst excuses ever. Like Prior. He blamed the sun, he also blamed the wind for not winning a game. That guy needs to get mentally tougher.