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PortlandCubsFan

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  1. PortlandCubsFan
    I think Choi would be a great pickup. Apparently, there are some rumors about the Cubs pursuing another Red Sox 1b, JT Snow -- sonsofsamhorn.com poster quoting XM radio. We know that Baker wants Snow, but I'd much rather see us get Choi. Boston really needs a SP. Jerome Williams for Choi makes sense, though I see Williams' value as higher than either Choi or Snow. Cubs would probably want a minor leaguer back in either trade. Boston will probably try to pry away Hill or Ryu, but I don't see that happening, unless we get back a very good prospect along with Choi/Snow. This one has legs.
  2. PortlandCubsFan
    should say: none since '98
  3. PortlandCubsFan
    Best idea yet: Larry Walker. I'd be shocked if Walker actually wants to come back. But if I'm JH, this is my 1st phone call. LW has 81 career games at 1b (though none since '98). But the guy had an .886 OPS in 315 ABs last year even though his health was terrible. Some greats have a very hard time leaving the game. Walker can still get it done if he's halfway healthy, and would obviously be a great 4th OF when Lee comes back.
  4. PortlandCubsFan
    Gload's not a savior, but he would hit .280 with average power. Since 1998 (age 22), he's never hit below .284 when he's got over 200 at bats, at any level. His numbers last year at AAA and in 2004 with the White Sox suggest he can draw some walks. He hit .321, 7, 44, .854 OPS in 258 AB in '04. I guess one question is whether Gload will be appreciably better than Mabry this year, given regular playing time. Since neither has ever been a regular (except for '96 when Mabry had a decent year for the Cards), it's pretty much guesswork. Looking at the numbers the past few years, I would start Gload before Mabry if I had both -- but it's close. Could the Cubs get a better 1b/of for Wuertz (or Novoa or Aardsma)? I would much rather have Gload than Mientkiewicz. There are probably other comparable options out there, but I can't think of any. To me, given the Cubs bullpen surplus, and assuming no better options, trading Wuertz is worth the potential improvement of Gload over Mabry (especially given the fact that Gload can play OF) -- if Mabry is struggling. If I were Hendry, I'd wait 2 weeks on pulling the trigger (on this or an equivalent move) and see if Mabry can hold his own.
  5. PortlandCubsFan
    I like that move. I would think Wuertz would get it done. If not, Aardsma probably would.
  6. PortlandCubsFan
    Thinking about it more, that was the RF the Cubs should've signed. Patience, power, defense (dropped fly ball in 2003 NLDS notwithstanding), and inexpensive, allowing them to pursue another FA OF this year, and C.Lee next year. But it seems we didn't ever really have a shot at him.
  7. PortlandCubsFan
    There is no writing on the wall. Jones is the everyday RF. We'll see. Injuries may force the Cubs to address other weaknesses first. I will be happy if Jones' performance against lefties is the weakest link in July. But if Jones is around his career .616 OPS vs. LHP, and the rest of the team is basically healthy -- of course Hendry will try to find a better platoon player for Jones. IIRC, it was mentioned on another thread that there are 15 LH starters in the Central. The alternative -- keeping 6 MLB-ready pitchers in AAA while your RF bats .220 half of the time -- just doesn't make any sense. (A healthy Cubs staff: Z, Prior, Maddux, Wood, Miller. Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Williamson, Ohman, Rusch, Novoa. AAA: Williams, Hill, Marshall, Guzman, Aardsma, Wuertz.) That said, I'd love for Jones to bat .270 against lefties, and improve his value so the Cubs can trade him, and sign Carlos Lee to play alongside Pie and Murton next year. FTR, my choice for 1-year RF stopgap was Preston Wilson.
  8. PortlandCubsFan
    The writing's on the wall: J.Jones will struggle against lefties this year, and the Cubs will soon have a surplus of quality pitching. Trading pitching for a RF is close to a lock. I can see the Rangers trying to revive Mench trade talks, considering their slow start and the fact that John Koronka is in their rotation. Ditto with the Reds and Kearns. I would still trade a package featuring Williams or Hill for either Kearns or Mench. Another scenario, for a deadline trade, is packaging Jones, pitching & prospects to a non-contending team for a RF, such as Abreu, Ichiro, or Ibanez. Other plausible scenarios? Random note -- I wanted to see the Cubs get Wilkerson in the offseason. But I just glanced at his stats: wow. 19 k and 1 bb in 48 at bats, with a .188 average. I know it's early, but that is remarkably bad.
  9. PortlandCubsFan
    Thanks for the report. I would have preferred to see Aardsma than Novoa take Wuertz's spot. With Guzman and Marshall healthy and pitching well, Hill seems like trade bait to me. My head says that Pie needs the full year at AAA. But I will be glued to the tv when he's brought up after the first significant injury to Jones, Pierre, or Murton, as he inevitably will be.
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