apete6

I want to see the Tigers lose to the Rockies. That would be the worst ratings in the history of baseball.

Like Andres Blanco? ...and someone who can hit. That's why I said that. Good SS prospects who are amazing fielders and can hit aren't exactly common. I don't think we're getting Elvis Andrus or Alicedes Escobar for Zambrano and both of those guys are suspect hitters anyway.

There would be 8 teams to play from the other division (#2) Good call. so it would be 8*6 for 48 games, leading to 160 games. Probably have to come up with 2 extra games somewhere.

Like Andres Blanco?

Good plan. We did the same for the Bears game last year. Rams "fans" didn't even show up and the Bears pounded them.

Agreed. Let's just say in 7 team divisions (AL) you have: 1. 15 games against everyone in your division (6*15)=90 games. 2. 7 games against everyone in the other division (7*7)=49 games. 3. 3 games against an entire 8 team division from other league (8*3)=24 games This is 163 games. I guess they could add a game or just take 1 game off of 1 opponent from the other division? In the 8 team divisions (NL), you have: 1. 13 games against everyone in your division (7*13)=91 games 2. 7 games against everyone in the other division (7*6)=49 games 3. 3 games against an entire 7 team division from other league (7*3)=21 games This is 161 games. I guess they could add a game or just add 1 game to 1 opponent from your own division. Leagues/Divisions: NL East: Mets, Phillies, Nationals, Braves, Marlins, Pirates, Reds, BLUE JAYS NL West: Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals, Astros, Rockies, Padres, Giants, Dodgers AL East: Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Rays, Indians, Tigers, White Sox AL West: Twins, Royals, Rangers, Mariners, Athletics, Angels, DIAMONDBACKS

Have you had secret meetings with Tom Ricketts that no one else knows about? For anyone to speculate anything about the Cubs payroll at this point is pretty much ridiculous. Okay. Please explain why you don't expect the Cubs to add any payroll then. The thing is, they shouldnt have to spend big money considering the talent they have. Soriano, Fukudome, and Bradley should all be producing much more tha they have been and we wont be able to move any without gutting a lot of salary. I dont think that 2008 Soto was a fluke, and I can see him stabalizing somewhere between his 2008 and 2009 numbers, say .265/.350/.475 would be acceptable for catcher. If we could get our hands on Hudson or Figgins for cheap or land Brian Roberts in a trade, thats worth looking into, but if not, you could do worse than a Fontenot/Baker platoon at the 8 spot. The only money that I could see spent is if they resign Harden. Otherwsie, Z, Lilly, Dempster, Wells, and Gorz/Marshall is still a solid rotation. PLEASE dont spend money on bench players again. Between Fox, Hoffpauir, Fuld, Blanco, Hill, and Scales, we already can piece a very nice bench offensively and defensively. Let Miles go far, far away. As far as the pen goes, maybe hang on to Heilman, to go along with Marmol, Gooz, Gaub, Caridad, Stevens, and Marshall/Gorz. If we can resign Grabow for cheap, thats fine. If not, let him walk. Dump Miles. Johnson and Gregg both walk. Completely agree. I would think a responsible/payroll flexible roster for next year would be: C (2): Soto, Hill, IF (7): Lee, Hoffpauir, Baker, Fontenot, Theriot, Blanco, Ramirez OF (5): Bradley, Fukudome, Soriano, Fox, Fuld SP (5): Lilly, Zambrano, Dempster, Wells, Harden (1yr, $8 million with $10million vesting option) RP (6): Marmol, Marshall, Guzman, Caridad, Stevens, Gorzellany Replace Gorzellany with Grabow if he accepts arbitration. You still have Samardzija, Gaub, Atkins, Berg, etc... on the farm to come up and relieve. That way, you have some flexibility for a midseason trade (Halladay or Dunn?) and don't waste more money on guys like Miles and Gregg. Unfortunately, I think the Cubs are going to go this way: Trade Fox to AL for a mediocre overpaid reliever, resign Grabow to 2/7, resign reed to 2/4, keep Miles around somehow, trade Bradley and still pick up most of his salary, sign a year older Bobby Abreu to a bad contract, trade Zambrano for prospects that don't pan out.

Have you had secret meetings with Tom Ricketts that no one else knows about? For anyone to speculate anything about the Cubs payroll at this point is pretty much ridiculous. Okay. Please explain why you don't expect the Cubs to add any payroll then. The new owners (I'm speculating) are going to be busy getting the organization in order first and foremost. I think before they commit to a hike in team salary, I'm going to assume they need time to get a handle on their operations first. Perhaps they come in like gangbusters and blow out the team salary, but I don't see it this off season. I completely agree with that assessment, but I also think that Ricketts wants to win and realizes that the window on the current team is about to slam shut after next year (Lee probably leaving, Aramis with an opt-out, Lilly's contract up, Theriot (and Marmol?) going to arbitration, etc...) and might want to give it a last shot by wasting money on a guy like Figgins and some older bullpen guys. Personally, I hope they don't do that, but you never know.

Have you had secret meetings with Tom Ricketts that no one else knows about? For anyone to speculate anything about the Cubs payroll at this point is pretty much ridiculous. Okay. Please explain why you don't expect the Cubs to add any payroll then.

Have you had secret meetings with Tom Ricketts that no one else knows about? For anyone to speculate anything about the Cubs payroll at this point is pretty much ridiculous.

If those prospects are future all-stars.

All but Jason Bay were traded for Bartolo Colon in 2003 or 2004. Oops.

I did my projections and have the Bears losing the first 3 games but then rebounding to finish 10-6. Figure that if they win 1 of the first 3, then lose to someone randomly bad later to balance it out. Starting 0-3 has mental consequences that could lead the season down a bad path despite all of the talent. Go Bears!

This is a series of 30 writeups that analyzes what MLB would be like if everyone just held on to players they originally signed. Cubs would suck, Mariners would be #1. Very cool stuff. http://bases.nbcsports.com/2009/09/restoring-the-rosters-no-1---seattle.html.php

They'll love it.... ...if they're 19 year old daterapists!

Reyes at SS and Theriot at 2nd or Theriot to somewhere else? My honest guess is that as much as Lou and Hendry seem to love Theriot, he'd almost have to be part of the deal. Maybe something like Theriot/Vitters/Wells/Carpenter/Fox for Reyes? The Mets need cheap, ready to play in the majors talent and sending them Theriot, Wells, and Fox could fill 3 holes for them immediately. Or the Mets don't want to pay him super long term and would take Zambrano and Fox for him. That would be awesome. Reyes SS Bradley RF Lee 1B Ramirez 3B Kosuke CF Soriano LF Soto C Theriot 2B Not terrible. Of course, on a message board, our current lineup looks sufficient.

Here's a great image about the Mets. From the Wall Street Journal. Good times. http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/The-Mets-Messy-Season.html

Why not Iglesias and/or Rideau to the practice squad?

No, god, I'd dump him for a bag of balls if it was possible. I'm taking about the "LET'S MAKE HIM MISERABLE" garbage. Understood, but the way I figure is that despite playing through injuries, has Soriano really worked as hard as possible to make the team better? Why give him the satisfaction of even being able to play? Let him earn his money that he's getting paid for a few seasons 5 years ago while at least feeling guilty for stealing the money. You're taking an injured baseball player's struggles personally. I don't think I need to explain why this is weird. I would say that the several thousand dollars spent on season tickets every year give me a right to take it personally. The money I pay for those tickets is definitely a good portion of my disposable income and I feel I have the right to voice frustration and my opinion on the product I theoretically have paid for.

take a breath, freak I suppose you're in the "let him make $18 million to OPS .720" crowd. Let's hope Tom Ricketts can see a sunk cost a bit better. No, god, I'd dump him for a bag of balls if it was possible. I'm taking about the "LET'S MAKE HIM MISERABLE" garbage. Understood, but the way I figure is that despite playing through injuries, has Soriano really worked as hard as possible to make the team better? Why give him the satisfaction of even being able to play? Let him earn his money that he's getting paid for a few seasons 5 years ago while at least feeling guilty for stealing the money.

Fukudome

take a breath, freak I suppose you're in the "let him make $18 million to OPS .720" crowd. Let's hope Tom Ricketts can see a sunk cost a bit better.

Just [expletive] bench him for the rest of the contract. Who cares? We're going to have to pay it anyway, so at least make him miserable and don't let him go to another team. [expletive] you Hendry and Soriano.

I hope Jim Hendry realizes how much he sucks and just walks away.

No they arent, its hardly audible compared to Bradley Freaking morons.