Backtobanks

The Yankees need Zambrano more than the Red Sox, but any team in the majors could make room for a #1 starter if they had the money.

I found the book "Baseball Between The Numbers" raised some very interesting questions. For the first half of each chapter it was pretty interesting, but the second half of each chapter seemed to over analyze each question with mind-numbing statistics.

I would assume he died of old age. It really drives me crazy that reporters need to find a cause of death when someone dies at 85 or 90 years of age.

I think we can all agree that the Cubs would be better off with Soriano batting in the middle of the lineup and playing RF. Since Lou has made it perfectly clear that Soriano is going to bat leadoff and play LF, I don't understand why we should even discuss it.

especially after this last road trip.

no you don't. Correction: You want a closer that has stuff that is totally dominating. If you look at the best closers in history, most of them had at least one pitch (95+ mph fastball, splitter, etc.) that was nearly unhittable.

Trade Dempster for Borowski. Only kidding, these two were always on the brink of disaster. You need a closer that has stuff that is totally dominating. I think Howry for now while easing Marmol into the role and then Marmol for 2008.

He'd be quite a bit worse. I don't agree. Burrell misplaying a ball is better than Floyd not getting to it at all. I literally think it would be impossible to do worse than him defensively, his range is completely nonexistent. It's pointless to argue unless they both play it and we can actually compare, but I definitely disagree. How much Burrell have you watched? I'm willing to bet not enough and you're making an intelligent guess based on how poorly you feel Floyd's been. It might be hard to believe but Burrell is worse and Wrigley's right isn't going to improve anything for him. I think Burrell is easily worse than Floyd or Murton out there. You could put a coatrack with a glove and a Cubs hat on it in Floyd's place and it would be an improvement. Unless Burrell does things such as throw the ball into the LF bleachers on a play at the plate or flirt with Burrell's Girls after making a catch instead of hitting the cutoff man, I have a feeling Burrell would have to actually make a conscious effort to be worse than Floyd is out there. That's a pretty good description of Burrell in the OF.

Hendry needs to explain to Kenny Williams why Podsednik got through the whole AL and most of the NL without being claimed. It's because he sucks and the White Sox ought to be glad somebody is going to give them anything for him.

For all of the criticism of Jones, he is an adequate hitter and it's not surprising that he has improved since his terrible 1st half by playing regularly. I think the same will happen with Murton if he is given the chance to play everyday. Unfortunately that probably won't happen. Most players, when given enough playing time, will end up near their norm.

It's all those day games, plus Kaspar and Brenley as announcers that are killing the Cubs.

Yeah, let the Yankees have him because if he's in the NL he will shut us out every time we face him.

If Aram is out of the lineup, Zambrano probably could bat 4th. He certainly has more power than most of the lineup.

Apparently he has given it to all of our hitters.

I would give up Ohman in a heartbeat -- he has little value. Don't you believe that for a second. Ohman is a Loogy who has had 2 bad outings in a row, but has been pretty good for the last few years. Pretty good Loogies have long careers and are in demand most of the time.

You answered your own question. It's pretty obvious that they're having enough trouble finding room for the first Matt Murton on the team.

while we do have problems against lefties.... 1. we face way more righties 2. defense is not the problem, offense, namely power, is. dunn remedies this. 3. we have some tradeable commodities. 4. soriano goes to right, dunn stays in left. yeah...soriano went down earlier in the year...moved from CF to LF...so...it is only natural to assume...given the soon to be acquisition of Dunn...that he will move to RF upon his return to the club third time is a charm, right? i like soriano in left, i really do. but dunn is much more valuable in left, and soriano is more valuable in right. sorry, sori, you're ours for as long as the cubs want you, so you'll do what you're told. I agree that Soriano in RF makes a lot of sense, but messing with Soriano's psyche may throw him into a funk. We can all say that it shouldn't and he should be able and willing to make the change, but we saw what happens when he's taken out of the leadoff spot. The bottom line is that you have to cater to these prima donna players somewhat whether we like it or not.

With all of the negative comments that I've read about Pena, he should be very cheap. The Red Sox have been trying to dump him and basically gave up. I would offer a middle prospect and no way to Murton or Ohman. If you're going to trade Murton or Ohman, you can package them this off season and get something of value.

He is starting to hit, but don't mention catching the ball or throwing out runners.

My opposition to Dunn is that he doesn't help against lefties, he's horrible in the OF, he would probably cost way too much in trade, and he would have no position when Soriano comes back.

The Sox are pretty much screwed for the next few years. They are clearly not as good or as young as the Indians, Tigers, and Twins. Unless the Sox throw up the white flag and trade players like Garland/Vasquez, Dye, and Konerko now or during the offseason, they won't be doing much for the next few years.

Seems pretty safe to assume that KW wasn't proposing that as a straight-up trade. Contreras would simply be a salary-balancer. That's even worse, sending them a player that has no value and then making them pay $20 million. Why doesn't he just tell the Orioles that he will take Miggy off their hands and they can pay his salary.

Cubs Considering Outfielders Multiple readers have emailed me about a radio report on WSCR 670 The Score out of Chicago today. According to the report, the Cubs are considering multiple trade possibilities to fill the monthlog gap left by Alfonso Soriano's quad injury. On the radar: Craig Monroe, Matt Stairs, Jeff Conine, and Adam Dunn. Additionally, Cubs GM Jim Hendry came out and said today that he's working the phones to find some help. Contract situations of each player: Monroe - $1.5MM left in '07, should earn $5MM+ in '08 before reaching free agency Stairs - $267K left in '07, free agent after season Conine - $630K left in '07, free agent after season Dunn - $3.3MM left in '07, free agent after season if traded Monroe is the right-handed Jacque Jones, contract situation and all. He'd be a poor and mildly expensive addition. He'd probably clear waivers. Stairs is doing what he does best, mashing righties. He's having his best season since 2003. He's not earning much and has no '08 commitment. He played for the Cubs in '01 and did a decent job. The problem? He might be claimed off waivers before he gets to the Cubs. Jim Hendry really should've made this deal in July. Every AL team will have a crack at him first on waivers. Plus the Jays might fancy themselves contenders at six games out of the wild card. Conine is on the last leg of his career and doesn't really offer anything Matt Murton doesn't. I don't really see the point but this pickup seems most likely. Dunn is the most intriguing and also by far the least likely option here. The Cubs would have to give up some good players and pay out a decent chunk of salary for less than two months of Dunn. They'd also have to do something ugly like put him in right field when Soriano comes back. I don't see this happening. Nothing new, but some pretty miserable options. None of these players are worth trading for unless you're looking for bench help.

Tejada deal falls through with ChiSox GM Kenny Williams offered a polite "no comment'' Monday when asked about an ESPN report that the White Sox claimed Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada off waivers. The Sox have shot down Tejada trade rumors the past few seasons. According to ESPN, the White Sox and the Orioles were unable to work out a trade after the waiver claim. Tejada, who recently returned from a wrist injury that kept him out a month, is owed $26 million over the next two seasons. If there was some interest from the White Sox, it likely was based on Baltimore taking struggling starting pitcher Jose Contreras, who is owed $20 million over the next two seasons. -- Daily Herald I think Kenny Williams ought to get a gig at Zanies. People think we come up with crazy trade rumors.

If Murt cant even get in the game after losing a starting OF and over a left handed 2nd baseman, then I think its safe to assume Murton isnt going to be seeing a lot of playing time. I still don't understand playing and calling up infielders (Derosa & Patterson) to play the OF while regular outfielders (Murton & Pie) don't play or get called up. I guess we'll have to wait and see since most of what Lou has done this year has worked out pretty well.