Backtobanks

I read a rumor that some team (I don't remember) was turned off by Cleveland's asking price for DeRosa.

I have suggested going after Sanchez or Cantu with some of the prospects that we were saving for Peavy. Either player could cover 3B and then slide over to 2B when Ramirez returns. After acquiring one of these players, trade Miles for a low-A ball player to any team willing to take on his contract. Sanchez would cost an extra $2 million for the 2nd half while Cantu would cost an extra $1 million.

The keys are Soriano and Bradley. If they can get their groove back things would be much better. Soto and Fukudome need to get more consistent. I'm not sure where you're going to get a bat to replace Miles. I suggested a while ago going after Freddy Sanchez or Jorge Cantu to fill in at 3B and then slide over to 2B when Ramirez returned, but many posters shot down the idea. We were saving our prospects to get Peavy, but now that he's injured we ought to use some of them for offense.

doing something for the sake of doing something, without really caring about the quality of the decision is pretty horrendous managing. It happens all the time in the business world to show that management is doing something about the problem. I'm not saying it's right, just that it's true. So make one that matters. Is Gerald Perry the problem, or is having too many guys like Aaron Miles the problem. What about David Patton. Typical Cubs move. Getting rid of Miles and Patton isn't going to change the offense unless you're bringing in Utley to replace Miles. Of course, replacing Perry with Joshua may not improve the offense either, but we can hope it does.

As others have posted, this is a move just to make a move. Whether Joshua or Perry is the better hitting coach is irrelevant, something had to be done.

Fire Sinatro and replace him at 1B with Dejesus. Fire Quade for not getting enough runners home in the last few weeks. If Ryno is being promoted, tell him to bring his bat and mitt. I don't think Perry will be fired, but he ought to be doing a lot of sweating.

The problem with Lopez (and some of the other "slight upgrades") is that he isn't an impact type of player to possibly spark the offense. I don't think there's anyone out there that could provide the possible impact we need, especially with the discussion of no money to spend. Someone like Edmonds, Gaetti, etc.

The Cubs won't be sellers because the expectations are too high and no team is running away with the NL Central. On the pre-game show, they pointed out that the Cubs were 2 1/2 games out when Ramirez went down and they were still 2 1/2 games out before today's game. As bad as they've looked, I do think Lou is right in saying they will hit. I have trouble believing that Bradley, Fukudome, Soto, Fontenot, Soriano, and Ramirez won't produce some runs when ARam returns. Of course, then the pitching will go south.

Milton Bradley or Aaron Miles.

Milton Bradley! Unfortunately, it looks like the Cubs' season is dependent on him unless some money gets loosened up.

I would question how long you've been a fan of this team if you think Lou is the best thing to happen to this team.

With all of the talk about Holliday, how about Jermaine Dye? He has been a consistent slugger for most of his career and is outperforming Holliday this year. His contract is $11.5 million (Holliday's is $13.5) with a $12 million mutual option ($1 million buyout) for next year, so with the buyout the money is about the same. Ken Rosenthal doesn't think will be price (in prospects) will be very high because of the money involved. Dye's numbers this season .276/.341/.542/.883 which are pretty much in line with his career numbers.

It always seems to come back to the stupidity of trading DeRosa in the first place. DeRosa over the past 28 days: .308/.378/.508/.886 His current season OPS is .777 and rising. But he hits from the wrong side of the plate, and in the end, thats all that matters. The key is the first three words in your post. With the way the offense is going, who cares which side of the plate he hits from. As for worrying about the playoffs, let's get there first.

I repeat what I said earlier, at the trade deadline Street will get a good prospect and a mid-level prospect at best. (Remember, you're only getting a few months of Street.) So you're telling me that we trade a good prospect (Ascanio), a mid-level prospect, and Ryan Harvey for Street and Atkins? I'll take that deal.

As I've tried to point out, Atkins has negative trade value, so I don't understand why we're increasing the package to get a few months of Street and a sub-.200 hitter with a ridiculous contract.

Taking Miles would be their punishment for giving us Atkins and his contract. =D>

Actually it was a single prospect and our garbage. So it wasn't swapping veterans for veterans. It was some of their garbage, for some of our garbage, swapping out relievers with reasonably decent careers so far, with them saving money and getting a prospect. Maybe throw in another prospect if you insist. come on - the originally proposed deal was just terrible. It wasn't garbage for garbage. Atkins has been brutal for 2 months, but Street has been very good. You don't just give away closers with good numbers in the last year of their contract for Miles and Heilman. My original post suggested Miles, Heilman, and a decent prospect. Other posters have suggested adding a second prospect. If you think you're going to get better than 2 prospects, a reserve IF, and a ML reliever from another team for a very good reliever and a brutal hitter with a terrible contract at the trade deadline, you're crazy. They might get 1 good prospect and 1 decent prospect for Street and still be stuck with Atkins and his $7 million contract.

Yeah, I'd think they'd want prospects who could help them in the future as opposed to swapping veterans for veterans. I'd think they'd be interested in cutting some costs, and getting prospects, which is is what the original post already noted. Actually it was a single prospect and our garbage. So it wasn't swapping veterans for veterans. It was some of their garbage, for some of our garbage, swapping out relievers with reasonably decent careers so far, with them saving money and getting a prospect. Maybe throw in another prospect if you insist. The problem is that they can get some decent value for Street in a trade. They don't need to just dump him. They'll probably have 5-6 teams knocking on their door looking for another good reliever at midseason. And if some contender's closer goes down or is ineffective, they could most likely get a steal for a guy like that. So even if those two prospects are a good enough haul for Street (and a decent pitching prospect and a throw in prospect are not going to do it) that still leaves you with Atkins for Heilman and Miles. The analysis of that trade? Getting rid of Atkins saves the Rockies about 4.7 million as of today. Heilman would be due about 1.08 million and Miles about 1.47 million. Then you add in Miles's 2.7 million next year, and that makes this part of the trade a salary swap of 4.7 million this year for 2.55 this year and 2.7 next year. The money is a wash. So they aren't really dumping salary (because Street can always be traded to another team for value) and they aren't getting nearly enough value for Street. Plus now they have Miles already putting a small dent in next year's budget, and the Rockies have less room to pay utility players that then the Cubs do. I see no reason why the Rockies would consider that deal. So according to your numbers, Miles for Atkins saves the Rockies $.5 million salary (plus they have Miles as a reserve IF for 2010). That leaves Heilman plus a prospect for Street (and the Rockies saving > $1 million). I'm not sure what other teams would be offering for Street at the trade deadline, but I would imagine it wouldn't be more than one good prospect plus a mid-level prospect. I think it's a pretty reasonable trade for the Rockies.

From Ken Rosenthal @ Foxsports: The Rockies cannot give away third baseman Garrett Atkins. They are likely to keep first baseman Todd Helton. But right-hander Jason Marquis, closer Huston Street and outfielders Brad Hawpe and Ryan Spilborghs are among the players who could get moved. Instead of a deal centering on Atkins, how about going after Huston Street with Atkins as a throw-in. Since both have big contracts (Street - $4 million and Atkins $7 million), maybe we can dump a little bit of salary their way. Miles, Heilman, and a decent pitching prospect for Street and Atkins. The Rockies save about $3.5 million and get a reserve IF and 2 pitchers. Hopefully Atkins can perk up some until Ramirez gets back and Street can get into the 7th/8th/9th inning mix.

Ozzie has to make sure his relatives have a paycheck.

If Soriano goes on one of his hot streaks during October he could carry a team to a World Series title. i can't imagine a playoff pitching staff being stupid enough to let soriano beat them that many times I can't imagine pitching staffs that throw him strikes in his first at bat or pitching staffs that throw strikes to Zambrano either.

Marmol is still the best arm , no question. He just needs to get his confidence in his stuff back. When hes thowing strikes, he makes even the best hitters look lost. He might benefit from a few innings of mop up duty. Marmol needs to find his release point. His release point is so inconsistent, it's ridiculous.

For the umteenth time, the playoffs are a crapshoot. While the Cubs haven't looked good all year, things have been improving. Fontenot, Bradley, and Soto are all better than they have shown this year. Ramirez has shown his importance to this lineup by his absence. Finally, Soriano is the epitome of a streak hitter and if he gets hot during the playoffs, he could carry the team alone. That explains the playoffs, whichever team is hot at that time wins.

Then they need to seriously and realistically re-evaluate what their goals are this season. Offense seems to be the main thing they need to improve for the rest of this season, though even if they do that there's still the bullpen to potentially blow too many games. It very well might come down that a big trade of any kind simply is not the the smart thing to do. I don't think a big trade is going to happen to help the offense. Fontenot has improved some lately and each day that goes by puts us closer to ARam's return. As long as the Cubs keep their head above .500 and no team starts running away with the NL Central, I think Hendry will wait it out and save his trade chips for Peavy.

I hear that the Indians are nearing the selling mode. How about we offer the 3 pitchers we got for DeRosa to them for DeRosa and Vizcaino.