AllStarMe

That's a pretty depressing list for the Cubs. Z is the only whose results I can say I'm happy about. Oh if only Hendry could get ahold of a flux capacitor, go back to 02 and do a Juan Cruz for Grady Sizemore swap...

So does this free up David Wright to be traded? :wink:

Maybe a trick of supply and demand? A lot of people who want those item really bad might drive up the cost way more than its worth. I'm sure there are actually people who figure out exactly how many of different types of items are desired at an auction based on the expected demand. For whatever reason they probably figure the money raised from drving up the price of these few items will be greater than selling dozens that go for a lower price. That did occur to me, but it would seem that a variety of items would still elicit a great demand. Maybe a few items from marquis players (not jason) as well a couple of things signed by the whole team? Ah well, I'm sure they know what they're doing and would not intentionally be stingy to charitable causes. Just my two cents.

This is a great cause and I hope they raise a ton of money. But couldn't they have mustered up more fund-raising raffle items than just a jersey and two photos? Seems a little paltry.

Was Peavy acting like a self-important jerk? Was the cop overreacting? Probably a little from column A, a little from column B. Sounds like a breakdown of common sense on all fronts. It's very unwise to mess with airport security in any fashion nowadays. They're forced to be on their highest alert at all times, even when very little ever happens (especially in Mobile). So when there actually is some kind of incident, albiet as minor as this, they will respond as if it were a grave threat.

If they replaced him with a better pitcher he'd probably stand a decent chance.

With all respect, I'm not sure I see why Loretta is obviously preferable. 1. He turns 36 this season, and is getting old. 2. I don't believe his defense is very good. I don't have all the defensive metrics, but his range factor (I know, it isn't great, but it's the easy one to find) has been below-average for the last couple years. By almost half-a-player-per-game his last year in NL. I don't think Loretta offers any defensive advantage relative to DeRosa. 3. Loretta has OPS'd at .706 and .707 the last two years. Given his age, I'd guess that his recent output is probably a better predictor of future than what he was 3+ years ago. DeRosa had an .813 OPS last year. He's not likely to repeat that, but neither is he likely to fall was below his career norm and fall down to Loretta's .707 level. I don't think Loretta offers any offensive advantage relative to DeRosa. Loretta appears to be the inferior player offensively and probably defensively. Which may be why he's gotten so little market. And why Boston didn't even consider bringing him back, despite his modest price. While Loretta is trending downward, his patient approach makes his game less likely to decline as sharply with age as other players whose game is based on speed or power. I guess the age difference is more substantial than I previously thought, but DeRosa is no spring chicken either. The fact that Loretta has demonstrated more sustained success throughout his career made me lean in his favor, as well as his higher BB rate and lower K rate. I didn't really consider the gap in defense to be significant. Neither player is a true diference maker. But I would guess that in 2007, they will probably post similiar numbers if playing full time, with DeRosa having a slight edge in SLG and Loretta in OBP. I certainly wouldn't want Loretta for 3 years, but I think he would've made a decent stopgap for a season, especially at the bargain basement price. Of course I hope that I'm wrong and DeRosa excels while Loretta stinks it up in Houston.

DeRosa at 3/13M or Loretta at 1/2.5M (3.5M w/ incentives). I'm pretty sure I know which one I'd choose. Come on Hendry, WTH?

"Breaking" news... was that intentional?

Helton has been the face of the organization for a number of years, in fact, there have been more years of the Rockies with Todd Helton than without. If he can reclaim his power stroke and put up a few more years with the kind of peripherals he has, he'd be a lock for the HOF. Most likely he'll be the first Colorado player to be enshrined at Cooperstown (Larry Walker is the only other one with an outside shot, imo) so I think he should stay put.

As another guitar player, my impression of many of the GH songs were that some of the rhythms were more closely aligned with the bass drum than the actual guitar part. I've played a few of the songs before in a band and the GH timing can just be counterintuitive after that. Still, I pretty much got the hang of it.

I think Bags should be in the HOF within the first year or two. Amazing stats, team loyalty, good all-around player. That said, his wacky batting stance sure used to piss me off.

I sure like that .440 OBP off the bench, as well as the power threat. He could prove very valuable in some situations next year, maybe pull out a few more wins from close and late ABs that were getting wasted on Dusty's guys.

How fitting that the "Sausage King of Chicago" knows all about cardiac procedures...

That's some pretty blatent false advertising, but it looks an awful lot like the Gracie autograph I got some years ago as a youngster.

I hope some of the sports media will call him out on this crap, maybe on PTI or around the horn. He's complaining about not getting his own individual award after his team just won the world series. How many players would pull this crap? Another thread in this forum asks the hypothetical question, "What would Sammy Sosa have to do to be loved again?". How awesome would it be if Sammy penned an op-ed piece in the Trib ripping Pujols for his selfishness.? He could talk about how he would gladly give up his MVP award if it meant bringing a championship to the Cubs, which I believe is a statement he has already made. That would make him look a lot less selfish in comparison, and I think a lot of Cubs fans would rally around him because it's about the hated Pujols.

But AGon had the reputation of being a stellar fielder, didn't he? If anything, that incident says to me that even a slick fielding, no-hit SS can screw up in a huge situation, but if your team is up by 8 runs then it wouldn't matter. I want an offensive juggernaut. I want Tejada. Lugo would be ok at SS, but not so much a difference maker like Miggy. Anyone but Izturis.

Smash Bros Brawl and Zelda Twilight Princess are all the reasons you need

I'd like to see Soriano in RF, and Jones in CF to begin the year. If Felix Pie is tearing up AAA then we can bring him up and move Jones to try and fill in our midseason needs. The only problem with that is that Jones' trade value is at its highest this offseason, and if he starts out no-so-hot then his stock will plummet. I say keep him unless a deal can be made for a difference maker. He's a much better option than any FAs (especially Lugo, and no counting Drew).

Okay, THAT made me laugh. Yeah I just read that over there and though that comparison was worthy of posting over here. A lot of them seem pretty happy with the pickup. When one poster brought up JP horrendous OPS, it elicited this oh-so enlightened response: "Why do you guys always quote meaningless stats? That's a bunch of Depodesta nonsense. The guy's a winner. He's a great clubhouse presence and coupled with the talent the Dodgers already have he's going to make a big impact on the team. He set the table for the 2003 Marlins -- he's an experienced winning ballplayer with a lot of heart. A guy who has played in all his team's games for the past four years. You can't punch heart and character into a stat sheet. It's those intangibles that help you win games." Sounds exactly like what Hendry was saying about him a year ago. :twisted:

5/45? Congrats to Juan Pierre for getting the most for his completely one-dimensional skill set. And Congrats to Jim Hendry for wisely staying far FAR away.

what about "crab"?

the Dodgers obviously regard Bill very highly to take him on as an assistant to Colletti. All the best to him.

I am a huge fan of Barret, but if he can be traded straight up or as the centerpiece of a deal to Toronto for Wells, I say make the deal, if you can get Vernon to sign for an extension. I like Salty, but for as much as I've heard about him his stats weren't really amazing. http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/584807 He's had one outstanding season, one good season, and two disappointing ones. He is still very young and could have just been initially overmatched when moving up levels. His BB to K and AB rates have shown improvement and are very good. Right now he is tearing up the AFL. I think he still could use a long look at AAA, but I wouldn't mind bringing on Blanco for another year to hold it down til Salty's ready. I'd offer the following deal to the Braves: Howry+Theriot+ 1 of Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Gallagher for M. Giles + Saltalamacchia. I'd rather not give up Pie but if Scherholz insisted on him, I'd want the Braves to include a young OF, 1 of Langerhans/Diaz/Johnson and take back some salary. The Braves would move Giles contract and get the bullpen help they want, as well as another young starter. McCann is blocking Salty, so they can part ways with him. Theriot could vie for 2B job in Atlanta, or could help them off the bench. If we did the Pie deal, we'd be exchanging top prospects who are both coming off disappointing seasons. Then I'd probably make the lineup something like: Murton Giles (much better in the 2 hole) Lee Ramirez Wells Jones/DeRosa platoon Blanco/Saltalamacchia Izturis (prefer he be dealt) That'd be a pretty potent lineup I'd think, especially if Cesar could be traded for a better hitting SS, in which case I'd move the C spot to 8th.

After Z, that rotation is totally ill.