Abe Frohman

The numbers do not support this. Jones OPS last year was .062 points higher than Giles, for nearly half the cost. The OPS+ for Giles was only slightly less than Jones, but it was still less. Granted Jones had a career year, but Giles downward trend is consistent and notable. He is no more likely to reverse the trend than Jones is to repeat his 2006 year. So Giles is far from a 'significant upgrade' over Jones, when his production is likely to equal Jones going forward at twice the price no less. Not much I can add that hasn't already been said - but the numbers DO support my statement that Giles would be a significant upgrade over Jones. Jacque Jones is a very solid RFer, but his numbers are not even in Brian Giles league when it comes to runs scored, BB, RBI, OB%, BA, and even HR. Giles is argueably a better Outfielder than Jones, and a far better offensive force. Do I really need to stack up the statistics? Are you in denial about Giles 2006? Yes, please stack up the statisitics, as several of your claims are outright wrong. How can you claim Jones HR numbers 'are not even in Brian Giles league', when Jones had 27 and Giles had 14? That's 2-to-1! Giles also did not outproduce Jones on BA, there's a .023 Jones advantage. RBI were equal. Of the stats you list (your selective list to make your point, very noticably ommitting the common and important SLG and OPS), Giles only beat Jones in OBP and Runs - but Jones was batting 5th-6th on a last place team and still scored only 10 Runs shy of Giles, who bat in the heart of the order of a playoff team. Jones outslugged Giles by .102 points as well, and had .062 higher OPS in 2005. Brian Giles is not the player he was in Pittsburgh. And at 35, his odds of suddenly recapturing those numbers are extraordinarily slim. I'm not saying he is a bad player. But it's a far stretch to claim Giles is a far superior player to Jones at his current production levels. All Giles has going for him now is staggering OBP that can't even raise to an .800 OPS. Giles production in 2006 was on par with Jamey Carroll, Edgar Renteria, and Ryan Freel, as the only NL players with top 30 OBP and sub-.800 OPS. Giles did not even outproduce Murton in 2006. Look it up. Am I in denial? Hell no. Jacque Jones had his best year in 2006, and it still wasn't a better season than Brian Giles had (despite 2006 being considered a down year). On average, Jones is not in Giles league offensively. Look at their career runs scored, HR, RBI, BB, Average, and most importantly, OB%. You can't compare them. So what if Giles is not hitting balls out of the park as frequently as he used to, he STILL gets on base and scores runs at a better clip than JJones, and if you don't think that Giles (even at the age of 35) will not be an overall upgrade in RF over Jacque Jones - pass me some of what you're smokin there. Giles/Jones 2006 AB-604-533 H-159-152 R-87-73 2B-37-31 HR-14-27 RBI-83-81 BB-104-35 K-60-116 AVG-.263-.285 OB%-.374-.334 About the only thing Jones (career year) smokes Giles (career low) in is batting average (.285 to .263). Considering that fact, Giles still scored more runs, drove in more runs, and had more hits. Most IMPORTANTLY, Giles got on base via BB&H 263 times, compared to Jones getting on base 187 times. That is 76 more times on base, which is also a hell of a lot more chances to score a run - WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. I respect your arguement, but wholly disagree. Jones is solid, but the Cubs can definately improve - and Brian Giles would be an upgrade.

The numbers do not support this. Jones OPS last year was .062 points higher than Giles, for nearly half the cost. The OPS+ for Giles was only slightly less than Jones, but it was still less. Granted Jones had a career year, but Giles downward trend is consistent and notable. He is no more likely to reverse the trend than Jones is to repeat his 2006 year. So Giles is far from a 'significant upgrade' over Jones, when his production is likely to equal Jones going forward at twice the price no less. Not much I can add that hasn't already been said - but the numbers DO support my statement that Giles would be a significant upgrade over Jones. Jacque Jones is a very solid RFer, but his numbers are not even in Brian Giles league when it comes to runs scored, BB, RBI, OB%, BA, and even HR. Giles is argueably a better Outfielder than Jones, and a far better offensive force. Do I really need to stack up the statistics?

Brian Giles is a significant upgrade over Jacque Jones in RF. That is a straight-up trade that I would love to see happen. I don't understand the idea of hitting him leadoff, but he would be a great #2 or #5/6 hitter. His decrease in power doesn't change my opinion of him as a hitter.

I'd rather Barrett hit higher than that, though. Maybe swap him & Jones. All this talk about Theriot starting smacks of Cedeno part deux. I would make him work for the job, not give it to him by default. But then again, we might not really have the option since we need to fill holes in the starting rotation first (accoring to Lou, that's first on the docket). I put Barrett there to keep a lefty sort of in the mix. In addition, I have more faith in Barrett with clutch situations - and the chances are that Jones hits a little better with bases empty (which is highly likely with the hitters in front of him cleaning up). As far as Theriot/Cedeno - I think Theriot proved himself to a degree last season. Cedeno proved he is not ready to play at this level (at least offensively). If Theriot can win the position out of Spring Training - I'd say he earned it based on his production in 2006. What better option do they have at 2nd base anyway? Theriot is solid.

I hope that Hendry goes after Julio Lugo and lands Soriano. Many seem to feel that there is no way that Ryan Theriot can duplicate his performance of late 2006, but he did spend 1/4 of a season in Chicago - and he produced consistantly. Even if his numbers "level off," Theriot has the plate discipline to keep his OB% at a respectable enough level to where he would be a run scorer. He is an above average baserunner who would definately help this team financially and offensively. I would like to see Theriot batting leadoff and playing 2B. Though Theriot can fill in at SS in a pinch, I don't think he is best suited at the position. If the "experiment" fails, you could always stick Lugo at the top and move Soriano to 2B. Izturis could always fill in if he isn't dealt. 2B Theriot LF Murton 1B Lee 3B Ramirez CF Soriano RF Jones CA Barrett SS Lugo

It doesn't take much of a scout to watch this 26 year old pitcher to know he has the talent to be a force in MLB. He has a 95+ mph fastball, wicked breaking pitches, and doesn't seem scared to go after people. Look him up on Youtube. Consider what he did in the WBC. Matsuzaka is legit.

That helps a lot. Thanks - you are obviously very learned. I fractured my scaphoid a few years ago, and have a nice titanium screw holding it together. It was almost fractured all the way through, so I am very lucky that it healed well (considering the poor blood supply to the bone).

MUCH improved. Never did really like the Purple/Turquoise mix. It does look a little too Astro-ish.

Yeah, you guys used to throw batteries and bags of urine at him, didn't you? I used to hate him also. If healthy, and that is a big IF, JD Drew is a huge upgrade to this team. He is worth every penny of $10 million IF healthy.

I have found the best sites for Cub news are right here at NSBB, the Chicago papers on line sites, and occasionally I'll look at a few blogs. Used to like going to Inside the Ivy, but a lot of the good info left with the "breakup." It's pretty academic that the Cubs.com site is not going to have any "breaking" news on it. This place is the best with all the Diehards reporting.

Wasn't that "Mexican losing the ball in the sun" made on a Rey Sanchez botch?

Has it ever been announced exactly what bone(s) he fractured or if he recieved pins/screws during surgery? With HIPAA policies now firmly in place, I know patient rights could prevent this type of information from leaking. I am just interested if anyone knows detail information. There are all kinds of wrist breaks, and degrees of severity. I wonder how DLee is affected by last season's injury. Also, wasn't his big adjustment that he made between 2004-2005 hitting the inside pitch? I remember him getting pretty much owned on inside stuff before 05, and he didn't look as improved on hitting the inside stuff since he came back from the injury last season.

I loved how Harry screwed people's names up. Young Jerry Walton Ryan Kelsall (Klesko) Feel free to add f'd up names that you may remember.

Still the best name in baseball.

I got you by a minute, brudda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryLoUH8pVFg

Oh, my bad. Just switch Hendry's name with MacPhails, and all is set straight.

I think the only thing Jim Hendry screwed up on was giving Aramis Ramirez the opt out clause in his contract. He was paid WELL at that point in his career, as he was an injury prone/rock-hand/inconsistant bat who put it together and got rewarded with a solid contract. When Derrek Lee went down, Aramis was not a force until after the 2nd half - when he went crazy, despite being completely out of the race. Now he is entering his prime, coming off a cold/hot season in which he had GREAT numbers, and is a top free-agent. I have a feeling he will resign with the Cubs, and get about $13 million a year for 3 more, and an option year.

how? They are the same distance from the plate? Are you saying because there are more right-handed batters this makes 3b more hazardous? I don't buy it. They don't call 3B the "Hot Corner" for nothing.

1st base is not quite as physically demanding as Shortstop & 3B (quick movements laterally are not really good for injury-prone hammys/tendons). I am sure Nomar could still handle 2B or 3B. If the Cubs retain Ramirez, there is no real need to get Nomar.

I'd love to see Nomar back, but don't think he is a fit. Also have a feeling that he would probably like to stay on the West Coast. I think signing him to play 2B would be an unwise investment since we have great options there already (Theriot & Cedeno, plus prospects Fontenot & Patterson). Clearly, the Cubs need to improve the Outfield, and let's hope 3B is covered by Aramis Ramirez. If there is a hole at 3B, I'd like to see Nomar back for sure. I have a feeling that 1B kept him healthy in 2006, though.

That is horrible logic. Overpaying one guy does not justify overpaying another. I need to work on telegraphing my sarcasm more efficiently. I seriously do think Figgins would be a great addition off the bench.

If Neifi Perez can get 2.5-3 million for a back-up role, Chone Figgins is worth 4 million a year off the bench. He can provide a lot of things for this team, and with all the injuries the Cubs have dealt with over the past couple years - you need an insurance policy like him instead of Perez, Macias, Bynum, (insert worthless waste of roster space here). I'd think a guy like Figgins would be an asset. Especially if you don't get the guys you need, particularly in CF.

I don't blame Maddux if he was miserable playing for the Cubs in 06 - I was miserable watching the Cubs in 06. He came here to win, and his addition gave the Cubs the best pitching staff ON PAPER that I have ever seen. Maddux came to Chicago to win a championship with a good team, not for the fans. I would think players don't go to teams because of the fans, they go to teams for the fit. Maddux didn't slight the fans, and if the 2006 Cubs didn't make us miserable - we need to check our pulses.

Figgins is also Pierre with about twice as many walks, and a few more runs scored. And a bit more power. I'd take Figgins over Pierre any day. He's a better player, with more versatility. Only problem is we need more run production from our outfield.