Abe Frohman

I was pretty impressed watching Wood out of the pen last year against the Cardinals. I saw the gun show 99 several times, heard he was hitting 101. Don't know if anyone can confirm that, but Wood was making one of the best hitting teams in baseball look feeble. If he isn't going to make it as a starter, I have no doubt that he could make it as one of the games most dominant closers.

Don't forget guys - the Cubs need some left-handed bats. Too many guys swinging from the right side. Sometimes that doesn't matter, though.

If the Cubs could get Soriano, I would hope they would consider Theriot as an option for SS. He can also lead off.

You NEVER want to give the team an out unless you are sacrificing.

I think Murton - given he now has a year under his belt, is going to break out a little in 2007.

2B - Ryan Theriot LF - Matt Murton 1B - Derrek Lee CF - Andruw Jones 3B - Aramis Ramirez CA - Michael Barrett RF - Jacque Jones SS - Cesar Izturis Rotation: Carlos Zambrano Barry Zito Jason Schmidt Rich Hill Mark Prior Is it a tall order to get Schmidt, Zito, and Andruw Jones - yes. But it is possible. I am the GM. As for manager, I would try to get Larry Dierker or Joe Girardi (not likely). I wouldn't touch the bullpen, but would work in Kerry Wood if he would resign for an incentive filled 2-year contract. I'd love to sign Soriano for 2B, but I'd bet he is gone to the AL. If we can get Soriano.... CF - Kenny Lofton/Felix Pie LF - Matt Murton 1B - Derrek Lee 3B - Aramis Ramirez 2B - Alfonso Soriano CA - Michael Barrett RF - Jacque Jones SS - Cesar Izturis/Ryan Theriot

That is good stuff, Lance. Concerning Minor League statistics translating into Major League stats, it is usually hard to tell, but some things don't change. For instance, Corey Patterson never really walked, but did strike out a lot. You won't learn plate discipline in one year at the ML level. Ronny Cedeno and Felix Pie are the same - low BB, high K ratios. That is an indicator that the hitter is not patient, or is totally bewildered. I can't really think of anyone that has really improved a lot in turning the ratio around except for Sammy Sosa. It is pretty easy to understand that a hitter who walks a lot is going to score more runs. Ryan Theriot and Ronny Cedeno is a perfect comparison (as I stated earlier today on another thread). Ronny swings the bat with no discipline, yet has a lot of potential. Theriot swings the bat with more discipline, and less potential. The fact is that potential is basically meaningless unless it is being cashed in. As it stands, Theriot has scored 24 runs in 100 at bats, while Cedeno has scored only 47 in 496 AB's. That's an equivelant of Theriot scoring about 120 runs in as many at bats. I'd go with Theriot until he proves he can't handle the job. Besides, I just like the way he plays baseball and his approach.

That is like splitting up the offense into "getting on base" and "scoring runs." Only the latter is clearly more important.

I assume that's tongue in cheek . . . Very much so.

That's hilarious. Who gets the copyright for "4-3?"

Would love to have a healthy Lofton in CF, but that is about as likely as Pierre walking 50 times in a season. I think the Cubs need to make a serious run for a CFer with a big bat and see if they can keep Soriano in the NL (tall order). If Pierre could be had for $5 or 6 million a year, take him and go after Carlos Lee. Most of all, the Cubs need at least two more solid starting pitchers. They should be easy to acquire because nobody else is going to need starting pitching.

Womack was on fire earlier this year too. There's a simple solution, carry Theriot as a utility IF next year and when he gets a chance to play, see if he offers the same spark he is offering now. If he hits and gets on base, let him play until he shows he can't be a starter. If the Cubs were in contention now, they would be crazy to take him out of the lineup. Expect him to be a utility IF and anything beyond that is a plus. Who is going to start at 2nd base in 2007 if a big player isn't signed? Hopefully, Theriot will be the starting 2nd sacker unless there is an upgrade. I think Cedeno has proven that he needs MUCH more seasoning. His numbers are pathetic.

I think that is one of Dusty's horses he's always gabbin about.

I agree with you there.

Making contact isn't an accomplishment. The 2006 Chicago Cubs are some of the best contact makers in the league, if not the best. And they still suck. That's not ultimate. I'll agree with you there, the 2006 Cubs ultimately suck. Randall Simon was a pretty good guy off the bench, though. A lot better than Neifi Perez.

I am not sure about high OB%, but I think Randall Simon was the ultimate pinch-hitter back in 2003. You knew he was going to make contact.

That is great news. Thanks for sharing. Good to see Peter getting a little bit back to normal. I am glad he is still with us.

Here is the bottom line when comparing Theriot to Cedeno - who has produced? It's that simple. Yes, Theriot is older than Cedeno - but other things are important to. Theriot has an IDEA of what he is doing up at the plate, Cedeno is obviously confused. I think every one of us Cub fans should be about fed up with "expectations and potential." We need RUNS. However you get them, you have to start by GETTING ON BASE. Look at Juan Pierre. League leader in hits, but how many runs has he scored? If Pierre would take a walk, his OB% would be up and he would be scoring more runs for the Cubs. Look at Rickey Henderson - he didn't score all those runs because he could steal a base - he would work a pitcher to get on base. My point is that Cedeno has TONS of potential, but look at his numbers: he doesn't walk, he does strike out, and he is not a hard out. He swings at everything. He could use a year in the minors to work out a game plan of his offense. Until then, find a decent hitting SS and go with Theriot. Look at it this way, in 100 at bats, Theriot has already scored half as many runs (24) as Cendeno has (47) in 493 at bats. Tell me who is producing and who should be playing.

I have a feeling that a lot of you could be wrong. Ryan Theriot is a player who has always had a good knack of taking a walk and finding whatever way to get on base. He scores runs. Always has. At LSU, I honestly didn't think he would ever be anything more than a AA player because of his lack of power. I figured that the wood bat would humble him - but it really hasn't. When I look at Theriot's minor league numbers - though they aren't incredibly impressive, I do see him improving at every stop. One thing hasn't changed and probably never will: Theriot works the count, takes a walk, and understands the importance of getting on base. He is a leader, plays pretty good D, and has wheels. If you can handle about 5-10 HR a year, I think Ryan Theriot will be a great player for the Cubs. Either off the bench or as a starting infielder. I like him at the top of the order. Just look at how many runs he has scored already. At least let him play himself into a bench role.

Has anyone ever run any quantitative studies that actually document steroids improve performance? I'm not saying they don't, but I'm also not willing to just accept that they can make a great player superhuman (or a good player great). They certainly didn't turn Alex Sanchez into anybody's definition of "great". btw - I understand the theory of making the athlete stronger, quicker, yada, yada, yada. But the mainstream is just as convinced a corked bat will make the ball go further and that just isn't the case when they test it. I am sure Brady Anderson just miraculously figured out how to hit 50 HR, but then forgot how he did it. Same for Luis Gonzalez.

I'd rather go after Andruw Jones

Carlos Lee doesn't do much for me. And I think there's no way in heck the Cubs get Lee and Soriano, especially if they're keeping Pierre. But I might be able to live with those lineups. Where are you imagining Jacque ends up? Either Iowa (defensive fundementals) or on the bench. Trade him if you can, but I don't see that happening unless Hendry eats a lot of that salary. He is a solid player, but that was a bone-head signing on Hendry's part. Reeked of desperation, didn't it?

Could you live with this lineup? 2B Ryan Theriot LF Matt Murton 1B Derrek Lee 3B Aramis Ramirez RF Carlos Lee CF Andruw Jones CA Michael Barrett SS Cesar Izturis OR maybe.... CF Juan Pierre LF Matt Murton 1B Derrek Lee 3B Aramis Ramirez 2B Alfonso Soriano RF Carlos Lee CA Michael Barrett SS Cesar Izturis I'd think we'd be back in business offensively.

It's not that Theriot has lost his job. They have said they are going to split time the rest of the season. Bynum starting does not say anything bad about Theriot-it just means they feel the players are close to equal, and they would like to see them both get time. Theriot was hitting significantly better than Bynum when Bynum came back-has that continued? Here are their stats for September (which is about half the time they have been splitting time-a few of their at-bats in August came when they were a DP combo, and yes, Theriot was much better than Bynum in August) Player A (28 AB's)-.250/.382/.500 Player B (17 AB's)-.294/.455/.588 What's the difference between these two players? Who's hotter at the plate? It's hard to tell. It looks like Player B has a good advantage, but the small number of at-bats makes it hard. What can be found is that both players are doing very, very well. BTW, Player A is Ryan Theriot Player B is Freddie Bynum There is a distinct difference in hitting styles between Ryan Theriot and Freddie Bynum. Theriot works a count, takes a walk, and has - so far - been pretty good in the clutch (I am sure someone can dig up the stats, I don't have time right now). Bynum has a worse BB/K ratio, but has good speed and is a "Baker type" because he seems to swing as much as possible. To me, in a pinch I want a guy like Bynum (I thought Randall Simon was the ultimate pinch hitter). Unrelated, I saw where Simon is back in the Majors - he would be a pretty good addition to the bench.

Baker said Bynum played last night because he felt he had a better chance of hitting Lowe. Lowe is going to throw ground balls, that's a given. Bynum is fast. Do the math. The problem is, Theriot is hot. Theriot is not slow either. The way he has been playing ball lately warrants him staying in the lineup. It's justified. It is hard for us to understand why Dusty Baker will sit ONE player, yet allow ANOTHER player a much longer leash. I think it is pretty obvious who should be playing 2nd for the Cubs. I think Dusty Baker has a knack for making and breaking players. I look forward to the end of this era for the Cubs, and finally we can see some of our prospects actually develope into Major League players.