fromthestretch

I would never, ever vote for a DH for the hall. They are hardly even players. If Ozzie Smith can get into the hall for being world class at one baseball tool, a DH has a place in the hall. I think you can make the argument that Smith excelled in two areas, not one. He was phenomenal on defense, and he was a very good baserunner (21st all time in stolen bases, 80% success rate).

He could also play a corner outfield spot every now and then. I wouldn't put him out there daily, but it's one way to get him a few extra at bats.

I really hope that wish is granted.

The vote for Segui might have been a statement from that voter that they aren't opposed to voting for players with a history of PED use. Segui openly admitted to using HGH. That seems so ridiculous, but I'll bet you're right. It's a shot in the dark. Then again, Jim freaking Deshaies got a vote. Of course, he campaigned for it.

I'm kind of glad to see Ventura get a few votes. I don't necessarily believe he belongs in the Hall, but he was solid offensively and very, very good defensively.

The vote for Segui might have been a statement from that voter that they aren't opposed to voting for players with a history of PED use. Segui openly admitted to using HGH.

I think it is a pretty common trait amongst coaches. Weber was an assistant under Keady for a long time and Keady almost never gave freshman good minutes no matter how good they were. Almost never? Keady gave plenty of freshman decent playing time.

On top of that, he seems to have a recurring hand problem.

He's been about a 1-win player. That's pretty darn worthless. Perhaps there's a reason he's been traded three times in under 18 months? Because at least three different teams were interested in acquiring him during that timespan? The Braves got him because they were punting on their 2008 season and were losing their 1B in the trade (Teixeira). The Red Sox got him to be a bench player. Yeah, I'm sure that's why the Braves got him. It had nothing to do with the fact that he's good defensively, was only 25 years old, had good minor league numbers and was coming off a season with an .840 OPS. They traded for him because he was worthless and they needed someone with a pulse to stand at first base. The guy is entering his prime years. He will most likely never be a .900 OPS guy, but there's a legitimate chance he could get back into the mid-.800s, which combined with his defense, isn't bad.

He's been about a 1-win player. That's pretty darn worthless. Perhaps there's a reason he's been traded three times in under 18 months? Because at least three different teams were interested in acquiring him during that timespan?

Ron Coomer over Shane Andrews at 3b? Shane Andrews managed an .803 OPS for the Cubs in 2000. Coomer was nearly 100 points below that. Both played crappy defense.

Bruce, Votto, Stubbs. They also have Dickerson and Janish getting a lot of AB and you could expect improvement probably. Certainly more young talent that could 'break out' than say the Astros or Pirates. The Reds could at least plausibly find themselves over .500 if things go their way. I don't see either Dickerson or Janish really ever becoming an offensive force. Dickerson would be a big improvement over Taveras offensively though.

Fair enough. I was hoping for a little more offense, but that's probably setting the bar too high for a backup middle infielder.

It's impossible to find a bench player from the Cubs during the decade that's worthy of putting on this team as a SS in a backup capacity. Theriot (2008) and Gutierrez (2000 and 2001) had decent seasons as starters, but there really wasn't anyone who served capably as a backup SS. If you go with the Cubs strategy of keeping 12 pitchers on the roster, here's what I've come up with: C - Soto (2008): .285/.364/.504 1B - Lee (2005): .335/.418/.662 2B - Bellhorn (2002): .258/.374/.512 3B - Ramirez (2004): .318/.373/.578 SS - Gutierrez (2000): .276/.375/.401 LF - Alou (2004): .293/.361/.557 CF - Edmonds (2008): .256/.369/.568 RF - Sosa (2001): .328/.437/.737 UT - DeRosa (2008): .285/.376/.481 C - Blanco (2008): .292/.325/.392 1B/LF - Ward (2007): .327/.436/.527 OF - Johnson (2008): .303/.358/.420 2B/3B - Fontenot (2008): .305/.395/.514 SP - Prior (2003): 18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 SP - Zambrano (2004): 16-8, 2.75 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 SP - Wood (2003): 14-11, 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 11.3 K/9 SP - Lilly (2009): 12-9, 3.10 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 SP - Dempster (2008): 17-6, 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 RP - Borowski (2003): 2-2, 33 SV, 2.63 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8/7 K/9 RP - Marmol (2007): 5-1, 1 SV, 1.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 12.5 K/9 RP - Farnsworth (2001): 4-6, 2 SV, 2.74 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11.7 K/9 RP - Van Poppel (2001): 4-1, 0 SV, 2.52 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 10.8 K/9 RP - Fassero (2001): 4-4, 12 SV, 3.42 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 RP - Guzman (2009): 3-3, 1 SV, 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 6.9 K/9 RP/SP - Rusch (2004): 6-2, 2 SV, 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 6.2 K/9 Bellhorn and DeRosa are interchangeable if you prefer one over the other as a starter at 2B. You could easily put Hollandsworth (2004) in Ward's spot or Merker (also 2004) in Fassero's spot. Rusch gives you someone who can relieve or spot start (Marshall would also be acceptable in this role).

I have my doubts about that. I think in the majors his batting average would drop a ton, so his OBP would go way down and his power numbers wouldn't be good. The guys not a everyday player or even respectable one. I would much rather go with Theriot and Fontenot/Baker bats then his. Plus the Cubs don't wanna invest in a 2b long term. Because Theriot will be moved to 2b as soon as Castro is ready. I think Fuld would have simliar power to Theriot in the majors. But I don't think Fuld would be able to keep up the same batting average and OBP as Theriot as in the majors. Lets not forget that Fuld only hit 264 and 284 in Double A and Triple A the last two seasons. I don't see that turning out well with him hitting everyday in the major leagues. Especially with a hitter like him depending so much on batting average, when he has no power. Fuld's walk rate in the minors was higher than Theriot's. I'm not trying to make him out to be some offensive force, but it's not at all hard to imagine that he could match Theriot's 2009 numbers.

Yes. I'd argue no when you consider the limited budget and other places we need help. Obviously Byrd is better, I just don't know for this team right now. That would mean Fuld becomes a full-time player. Probably end up around a .650-675 OPS, maybe not even that good. Compare that with the .800 OPS that Byrd will likely put up. 100-150 points of OPS is a lot. Sure Fuld's defense is better, but not nearly enough to compensate for the difference in OPS. Maybe, I'd think Fuld could be around 700. I definitely understand your point though. I don't know, I'd be more excited doing something with 15 million that moved Riot to 2nd and brought us a SS. Let's see where else the offseason goes to judge this move on the whole I suppose. Where's he hitting? 7? The 20 home runs seems to be the anomaly last year I'm not a huge fan of Fuld as an everyday player, but I like him in a backup role. As an everyday player, I think he could Theriot his way to an OPS in the low .700s. Problem is, you already have a guy like that in Theriot. This offense can't really support two of those.

Considering Byrd hits righties better than lefties, I doubt we'll see much of Fuld in center, which would be wonderful news. Byrd is actually pretty much the same hitter against righties and lefties (only a 10 point difference in OPS over the course of his career). Doubtful they'll platoon him. I'm not talking about a strict platoon, but Byrd has never played 150 games and they will need inexpensive backup OFers. True. Fuld could see some time in CF and LF when Byrd needs rest and when Soriano inevitably gets hurt. Although Hoffpauir could see some of those LF at-bats, and I would imagine they will try to find a right-handed hitting backup outfielder, as well.

Considering Byrd hits righties better than lefties, I doubt we'll see much of Fuld in center, which would be wonderful news. Byrd is actually pretty much the same hitter against righties and lefties (only a 10 point difference in OPS over the course of his career). Doubtful they'll platoon him.

The $5 mil per year doesn't bother me nearly as much as the three-year contract does.

I would say just the opposite. If he was going to press his luck and try to win one with Chicago, by far the most potentially prosperous option at the time, being under 30 was the time to do it. In his mind he was young and had a long career still ahead of him. Post-30, after multiple disappointments and setbacks, when the end of your career is creeping up on you, is the time you start thinking about just going wherever the best place to win is (well, that and your last big paycheck). Problem is that he's now on the wrong side of 30 with a longer injury history than he had following the 2006 season. Back then, he could have received a bigger payday. You are right that he might see his window of opportunity for a World Series ring closing. But I don't think the offers will be quite as high as they would have been three years ago. I guess an AL team might be willing to risk a little more in terms of money and years if they can DH him from time-to-time to try to keep him healthy.

I pretty much agree about Kramer. Barlow definitely has some growing up to do, but I have to keep reminding myself that he's just a freshman. Hopefully, Painter can straighten him out a bit as the year goes on. Grant, however, has always struck me as a class act. This team is going to struggle with foul trouble all season. Much of that is due to their aggressive defensive style, but some is due to some of the young players just not understanding that you have to move your feet on defense. Bade, Barlow, and Smith need to get better at that. Johnson's a shot blocker, so he's always in danger of getting into foul trouble. And not everyone on Purdue's team whines when a foul is called. 90% of that is Kramer. I do think that Kramer plays great defense, but he needs to realize that when you're that aggressive, you're going to get called for fouls. Two of the fouls called on Grant last night were of the phantom variety. Barlow is lucky that he hasn't fouled out of a ton of games already. He's a hack machine.

Yep.

"Loves Chicago." I doubt it. I'm sure it's been as painful for the players as it has been for the fans the last few years (well the last 100 years....but we are just talking about Ramirez). If he gets the chance to go to a bona-fide winner for big money....he will be gone. He had a chance to do just that when he exercised his opt-out clause after the horrendous 2006 season. He re-signed with the Cubs a month later without really testing the market. If he was going to bolt for greener pastures, the time to do it would have been after a 66-96 season, when he was still on the right side of 30.

That really is a good read.

Who is this player to which you are referring? I believe he's talking about Crawford.