Backtobanks

Why wouldn't the Nats do this? They're going nowhere and have had Johnson on the trading block forever. Trade him before he gets injured again.

I don't understand Lou wanting to keep him in the lineup, but talking about "resting" some of the other slumping regulars. It's not like Fontenot has a proven ML career where you can be sure he will snap out of it. The other slumping stars have better backup options. Between Font, Scales, Freel, and Miles, at this point, we need 2 of them in the lineup every day. As unpalletable as it may sound, Fontenot is the closest thing to a good player out of the bunch. Even if we do give Scales the nod at 2nd and ride out whatever magic he has left, theres still a 3 headed monster at 3rd. Id rather wait for the off chance of Fontenot breaking out than wait for Freel or Miles to stop being Freel and Miles. I agree that Fontenot is better than Scales/Freel/Miles, but not when he's in the middle of a slump. Try Scales/Freel/Miles because they can't do much worse than what Fontenot has done in May.

While I would love to have Peavy, the price would have to be right. Starting pitching isn't a problem with this team now or in the foreseeable future. Look at this Cardinal series and the two playoff series and ask yourself whether Peavy would have made a difference. If we can get Peavy without giving up Vitters, then I'm all for it.

I don't understand Lou wanting to keep him in the lineup, but talking about "resting" some of the other slumping regulars. It's not like Fontenot has a proven ML career where you can be sure he will snap out of it.

Apparently, Lou and Hendry think it will work as long as we can stay close in the NL Central. You do have to be optimistic about the offense rebounding when Lee, Bradley, Soto, and Fontenot return to anywhere near what was expected of them and Ramirez comes back from his injury. As frustrating as they have been, their record isn't bad considering all the injuries and slumps they have had. When you have Theriot, Fukudome, and Hoffpauir carrying your team offensively, you know you've been struggling.

Yeah, especially if they have to give up a boatload of good young players. Konerko, Thome, Dye, and AJ aren't getting any younger.

With our offensive struggles, I'm willing to keep Vitters, Marshall, etc. and look for some offensive help. Starting pitching in 2010 looks to be okay with Marshall, Shark, Wells, and possibly Harden (re-signed) to fill 2 spots.

With the way they've been struggling, you have to wonder how much longer they can leave Jake Fox at AAA.

Ascanio + Miles for DeRosa.

I think Patton has to stay or go through waivers, but I agree that Fox makes more sense than Cotts/Patton/Ascanio or Miles/Freel. Maybe they will call him up when they get to inter-league play to use as DH. Of course, by then he will be slumping or injured.

If the Cubs make the playoffs and get swept again, what would your reaction be? "Oh well, it's just a crapshoot, go get 'em next time fellas..."? Anybody who has paid attention to the recent playoffs should realize that the playoffs are a crapshoot. It's just a matter of which team is hot at that point. Look at how many times the "best team", the "best hitters", and the "best pitchers" fail in the playoffs. Look at the number of times a mediocre team, hitter, or pitcher is successful in the playoffs.

I've been a fan for 55 years and I'm always amazed that the baseball "experts" (managers and pitching coaches) haven't figured out that you can tell if a closer is having a good/bad day by watching the first two batters. Also, it's ridiculous not to have another pitcher warming up after watching the first two batters. I've heard managers say that it's an insult to your closer to have somebody warming up. I thought the idea was to win games and not worry about somebody's ego.

It would be great to have Fox coming in to pinch hit instead of Miles/Johnson/Freel. As one poster pointed out Fox/Hoffpauir would look great at DH for interleague games.

Heard a story about Theriot do weight training and having a bet with Lou about hitting 10 HRs. Maybe it's true. :-k

Gonzalez/Peavy would probably cost you DLee (plus cash), Marshall, Vitters, Castillo, Soto, and Marmol.

Now that one certainly qualifies.

Lee for Greinke! \:D/ \:D/ \:D/

Put Theriot, Johnson and Freel on the field at the same time and watch the grit fly. We would lead the league in grittiness and be last in runs scored.

I agree with the poster that stated that we ought to quit dreaming because Freel will be our 3B until Ramirez comes back. Of the other players mentioned, Wigginton or Loretta (probably not available) would be the best choices because of their versatility. A trade for Cantu would decimate our farm system. Players like Beltre and Mora would be useless once Ramirez comes back. Huff and Blalock probably can't play well enough defensively. Atkins and Kuzmanoff might be decent fill-ins if their asking price was really cheap.

Freel + $3million for Gathright might make it worthwhile. At least he has some experience backing up 3B.

It shouldn't be too big of a surprise when Lou uses Zambrano as a PH and Harden as a pinch runner over him.

I agree with your analysis, but I still think that the pitchers that the Cubs received were part of the overall plan, either to be part of the package or to replace the pitching prospects in the deal.

McPherson would have been a nice pickup, but I thought the Cubs should have signed Aurilia when he was available.

The real question is how much the Marlins would want because we can't afford to give up 2-3 good prospects for either of them.

What does this even mean? The "expectations" for Soto right now are generaly somewhere around "please don't be awful." Pretty sure he's talking about the manlove for Soto from last year. Where people would quote Geo 10 times. Fickle fans, very fickle. I can't wait to see these guys after Kosuke goes in a slump. Read the game threads, KF is a monster, once he goes 2-20, he'lll be a bum, and Fox should play RF, with Bradley beeing sccotted over. And yet again, people have reason to be critical or wary of Soto so far this year. This about as slumpy as a slump can get, if it's even that. He's had the weight struggles, the issues with his hand when batting and now the shoulder troubles. Offensively he might as well not even be in the lineup and now also defensively he's playing below adequate levels. Most here clearly did not expect Soto to repeat last year, but this is waaaaaaaay below expectations. It has little to do with being "fickle." Its not like hes knocking the ball into some hard outs. Its bad plate appearence after bad plate appearence. He just looks bad at the plate. Brenley has pointed out that Soto seems to be playing through some nagging injuries. His hand injury has eliminated all of his power and his shoulder injury has hurt his throws on stolen bases. I thought Lou was going to sit him for a few games, but he played yesterday.