Backtobanks

I did get a kick out of Dan Plesac during Saturday's game emphasizing the Cubs and their new patient approach at the plate and then applauding the agressiveness of these young hitters coming to the plate swinging.

There's no way Lieber is worth Tracy, much less Tracy and Cruz. I could fathom the Wilkerson deal, but Brad is having a good spring and may be rebounding. While Ensberg for Lieber seems to be over-paying too, the Astros back-end of the rotation is abysmal and could use some help. In this morning's Tribune, Phil Rogers suggests that the White Sox might look at Lieber and wonders about Lieber and Rowand in a deal involving Crede or Fields. Not any speculation, just thinking out loud on his part.

Maybe I'm underestimating Lieber's value, but Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus offers these trade scenarios: To the Diamondbacks for Chad Tracy and Juan Cruz. Josh Byrnes has been very protective of the D'backs' pool of young talent. However, both of these players are older, about to become more expensive, and moving them would create space for younger, less expensive players such as Alberto Callaspo and Tony Pena. It’s arguable whether the Diamondbacks need to add another starter, although a winnable NL West would be moreso with Lieber, rather than Edgar Gonzalez, in the #5 slot. The Phillies would get an excellent platoon partner for Helms at third base and a true power arm for the seventh and eighth innings. To the Rangers for Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson’s value is down, coming off an injury-plagued and power-free 2006 campaign. If healthy, he’s a good defensive outfielder and a source of OBP and doubles, a player who allows Victorino to stay in his natural fourth-outfielder role, pinch-running and being a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell. The Rangers still need to fortify the back end of their rotation to challenge in a soft AL West, and they have an assortment of corner outfielders who may approximate Wilkerson’s production. To the Astros for Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg’s low batting averages and high strikeout totals have made him an undervalued player in Houston, even as he remains the team’s second-best player after Lance Berkman. The Astros have Mike Lamb, who's not better than Ensberg but a good player in his own right, as well as Mark Loretta, who can also play third base. The back end of their rotation is very shaky, with Wandy Rodriguez and Matt Albers. It's not terribly likely that the Phillies would trade for a right-handed-hitting third baseman—they’d probably have more interest in Lamb—but Ensberg would be a significant improvement over Helms, especially against right-handers and in the field. There are other teams that could be matches if there was enough motivation, including the Red Sox (Wily Mo Pena or Kevin Youkilis), the Yankees (Melky Cabrera), the Nationals (Ryan Church and an arm) or the Brewers (assorted corner outfielders). Whether to one of these teams, or to one that I haven’t considered, trading Lieber would better align the Phillies’ talent and make them an even stronger threat in the NL East. Personally, I would think the Phillies would jump on any of those deals with the exception of the Wilkerson deal.

Unless someone is traded, I look at who has options left as to which players will make the team. Possibly trading a player out of options for someone with options remaining.

Until Prior proves otherwise he's going to have his doubters. Which is pretty much everyone outside the org. I wish people would wait until at least March 15th (or another trip to the DL) before writing off Prior.

No way to the original deal mentioned, but something like Jones and Marshall for Ichiro would be worth thinking about. Murton is going to be an excellent player and including him in a deal would have to bring back someone like Cabrera.

It will be interesting to see if Pie stays hot as to whether they try Soriano in right. I think I read somewhere that Soriano doesn't want to keep changing positions especially since he seems to have trouble adjusting to different positions (LF last year, CF this year). Also, if he has had problems reading the ball off the bat in CF, how long will it take him to learn the hooks and slices in RF? Then again, putting Pie in a different position (RF) might affect his hitting. I don't think Soirano is a disaster as an OFer...pretty far from it, actually...but I worry about him in RF at Wrigley. That's a notoriously tough spot to play. Everything I have heard or read about Soriano pretty much agrees that he's not great at "reading" a ball hit to the OF, but his speed, athleticism, and strong arm probably makes him adequate as an OF. Yea, RF in Wrigley could be an adventure, but as I stated, I wonder if playing RF for Pie (to accommodate Soriano) would affect his hitting.

It will be interesting to see if Pie stays hot as to whether they try Soriano in right. I think I read somewhere that Soriano doesn't want to keep changing positions especially since he seems to have trouble adjusting to different positions (LF last year, CF this year). Also, if he has had problems reading the ball off the bat in CF, how long will it take him to learn the hooks and slices in RF? Then again, putting Pie in a different position (RF) might affect his hitting.

Without him opting out? I guess the only way I could see that happening is if those three teams do pull off a 3-way trade, and the Cubs and Yankees kick in some cash to entice Texas. The Rangers best case scenario is ARod opting out. The Yankees want to keep ARod without opting out, or trade him for value. Theoretically, the Cubs would have to decide whether they want to trade for him, or wait and hope to just sign him next year. I really don't see any realistic way in which the Rangers get out from what they owe without ARod opting out. I'm not a genious on contract stuff is why I'm asking. I know we don't have unlimited funds, but what if we absorb a little of the money owed by Texas. I know these scenario's are unlikely, but I'm not on board with there is no chance either. Yanks get Blaylock Cubs get Arod Rangers get cash and prospects Not that this would work, but something similar. The Yanks come out getting a bit of the shaft, but at least they would get something for him. Of course, it all comes down to Arod wanting to play in Chicago. I don't think the Rangers would only want cash and prospects for Blaylock. The Yankees could send someone some cash with all of the money they would save on Arod. As I said earlier, the deal would have to be tweaked with other players (prospects) and/or cash.

By the end of 2008 many teams might have different financial situations. Of course, the Yankees might be out from under ARod's contract. I could see the Mets and the Angels really upping the ante too.

This has probably been discussed in threads. But dammit, this makes me smile. I love how it's only ST and Piniella is speaking strong words about sloppy play already. What would dusty say in this situation? "My teams have always played good fundimentals in the past". Sorry to get on his back about that but it's such a refreshing change. link HE ACTUALLY SAW SOMETHING FROM THE DUGOUT!! I don't know what Lou has against fish.

How about a three way trade with Texas and the Yankees. Cubs: get ARod Texas: get J. Jones, Scott Moore, Marshall Yankees: get Blalock, Eyre Obviously it might need to get tweaked a bit with other players and/or money, but this could be the basis for a trade.

The Cubs will probably hike your ticket price $5 no matter who is playing SS next year.

Remind me to bring a ball to the next game if it will shut Ronnie up.

This is an example of why some of us (traditionalists with a few of the newer stats) are traditionalists. If I have to spend an that much time reading and digesting what some obscure statistic means, then it becomes work and not enjoyment. As I stated before, some of the newer stats are one way to compare players, but you don't need a bunch of statistics to see that Pujols is a great hitter and Neifi Perez isn't.

Your post was the closest to my feelings on the subject. I do think many people go overboard with some of these statistics. I'm a firm believer in just watching and enjoying the games and figuring out the "best" players by watching instead of overanalyzing statistics. I do enjoy reading and comparing statistics, but some people go completely overboard.

that would lead to some really mediocre players getting in. Yeah, mediocre like Santo, Rice, Hodges, Wills, Kaat as opposed to players like Mazeroski and Ozzie Smith. Some of the names mentioned in these posts could be enough for the veterans committee to put in 2 per year for the next 3 or 4 years. if they were forced to put two in a year, do you realize the quality of player that would be getting in 10-12 years from now? bret saberhagen would get in. The whole point of the veteran's committee was to correct injustices of the past. What you have is a bunch of arrogant former players who think that the HOF should remain an exclusive club because they got in. I have no problem with putting in a temporary rule to put in 2 per year for the next 5 years and then reviewing the policy. That's 10 players before a review and every one of us could come up with 10 players that belong in without even thinking about it.

that would lead to some really mediocre players getting in. Yeah, mediocre like Santo, Rice, Hodges, Wills, Kaat as opposed to players like Mazeroski and Ozzie Smith. Some of the names mentioned in these posts could be enough for the veterans committee to put in 2 per year for the next 3 or 4 years.

They need to change the voting system. I think they need to make it more like the NFL. For the regular voting make it the top three vote getters with a minimum of 60% of the votes cast. With the veterans, the top two vote getters get in period.

I know you weren't honestly comparing the talents of Carlos Delgado with Jason Marquis. Florida is well versed at spinning off talented players for prospects. The Cubs are not, even though they SHOULD be, considering the amount of times they finished in the bottom half of their division. I would have taken George Kottaras off of the Padres hands for Maddux. Ethier, Kemp, Loney, Guzman, Delwyn Young, Andy LaRoche, Scott Elbert, etc..... The Dodgers played hardball with Hendry one too many times, and Hendry let Colletti walk all over him again on the Maddux deal. Simply amazing. Let us count the ways: 1) Outbid Hendry on Furcal, the only player Hendry wanted that offseason. 2) Signed Nomar, who Hendry had basically kicked to the curb. Nomar went on to have a stud-like year. 3) Cubs need for an outfielder like Milton Bradley had Dusty flying out to LA to meet with Bradley personally. Colletti traded him to Oakland instead. 4) Maddux for Izturis. 5) Signed Kenny Lofton, who would have been better than Pierre at nearly half the price. And I'm sure Hendry would have taken any of those guys too. The problem is they weren't offered. As for signing Nomar, the Cubs didn't have a position for him contrary to everyone's opinion that he could have played RF. Can you imagine Nomar's sidearm throws from RF?

I would think Hill would start the season in the rotation. If he continued pitching poorly, he might get yanked at the end of April. A bad spring in the Arizona spring training league usually doesn't mean much, especially for a pitcher.

He not only is one of the most underrated players, but until this season he was one of the most underpaid. Every so often one of these players comes around and I can never figure out why all of the GMs can't see his value.

Only diehard Cub fans could understand the importance of this thread by the title. Can you imagine some foreigner wondering why we get excited about a pitcher throwing off of a mound. The foreigner would probably think that future posts would include "Murton catches flyball" and "DLee hits a fair ball in batting practice".

He's done alright with landing A-Ram and D-Lee for a pile of junk. Sure, he's had his share of bad moves as well, but he has secured four players who are likely all-stars this year (D-Lee, A-Ram, Soriano and Barrett. He gets way too much credit for Aramis and Lee. Both were salary dumps. Luckily, Hendry had the necessary parts and budget to fit both guys in. No one wanted Derrek Lee the year before Hendry traded for him. Baltimore was the most interested, but Florida wouldn't pick up part of the salary, and a deal never happened. Aramis was about to get expensive for Pittsburgh, and they were dumping anyone making any decent money that year. These were not big coos on Hendry's part. I'm happy the Cubs were the team that landed these two players, and I'm even more thrilled that it cost very little in talent to get them, but those guys would have been traded to someone regardless. Why is it that some posters can't give credit where credit is due? If Hendry misses out on someone, people jump all over him. I don't understand why some GMs are considered geniuses for making a good deal, while Hendry is considered "lucky" for picking up two great players for very little in return.

Today's Tribune quoted Kenny Williams as saying that the Sox are going to let Buerhle, Iguchi, and Dye become free agents at the end of this season. The way Reinsdorf and Williams pinch pennies means that it's highly unlikely that Buerhle and Dye would be back and possibly Iguchi as well. In my opinion, Iguchi has been one of the unsung heroes of the past few years. They would still have some good young pitching for 2008, but I'm not sure who would provide much offense if they lose Dye and Iguchi and with Thome getting older.