Backtobanks

Dempster has been successful as a closer, but he scares me to death. I think the walks and hits he gives up will eventually come back to haunt him. Next year, I'm sure Kerry will be in the rotation and I'm hoping for the Cubs to sign Wagner.

I agree with you, but everyone wants to argue this same point when I defend Maddux. People bring up WHIP and ERA and say a starting pitcher's W/L record isn't the best way to judge him. Well, if you look at all those special stats, Maddux and Dempster both suck, but the bottom line is Maddux finds a way to win and Dempster finds a way to save the game. Unless he's gone south since I last checked, Dempster had very good peripherals in the closer role. Dempster for the season: 1.58 WHIP & 3.98 ERA Career: 1.56 WHIP & 4.92 ERA Last 7 days: 1.67 WHIP, 3.00 ERA, & .357 BAA I hope Dempster keeps on saving games, but I do think that the walks and hits he gives up are eventually going to catch up to him in the closer's role. That's why I would love to get Wagner.

I agree with you, but everyone wants to argue this same point when I defend Maddux. People bring up WHIP and ERA and say a starting pitcher's W/L record isn't the best way to judge him. Well, if you look at all those special stats, Maddux and Dempster both suck, but the bottom line is Maddux finds a way to win and Dempster finds a way to save the game.

There is no way that those 3 will be the starting OF for the Cubs next year, especially if Baker is still the manager. I'm sure they will go after 1 established OF in a trade or through free agency. Pie will probably spend one more year in the minors. As for Corey, let's hope he gets his act together. I would like to see the Cubs call in Walt Hriniak to work with Patterson and teach him patience at the plate.

Damon was on the list, but the writer thought he would resign with Boston. Also, his prediction had Damon getting more money and more years than the Cubs want to deal with.

Also, I would expect the Cubs to sign him to some sort of personal appearance contract (show up at the Cub Convention, sing the 7th inning stretch, come to 8-10 Cub games, etc.) .

I'm sure Wood will be back in the rotation next year, but bringing in Wood after Maddux or Reuter would be mind-blowing for the other team.

I'd love to get Mackowiak as a utility guy. I don't know how much money he would command next year.

There's an article in Strike Zone at rotoworld.com evaluating all of the free agents and possible trade prospects for the off season. Looking at the comments about OF, I think there are some good possibilities. First, this guy predicts that the Cubs will sign Preston Wilson (2yrs./$12 million) and Matt Lawton (2 yrs./$12 million). As for trade candidates, he thinks Payton, Wilkerson, Huff, Mench, Kearns, Catalanotto, Church, and Mackowiak are possible trade candidates. I realize this guy is only speculating, but I see lots of good outfielders on that list of trade candidates.

He could be next year's Fred McGriff. Somebody might offer him a contract just for the 600 homer attraction.

Also, when a veteran player gets claimed and pulled back, it might open trade talks in the off season if a team like the Yanks & Mets decide to switch directions and rebuild.

The Sox need to get him or else they will be killed in the playoffs. The Sox should have traded for Randa before he went to the Padres. As for the Cubs, I'm sure they don't want any part of Griffey's contract (unless the Reds are picking up a pick chunk).

11M is only a few million more than elite closers are paid. It would suck to overpay for a closer, but it's preferrable to putting Wood in the rotation and having him land right back on DL again. People, including myself, are going to speculate about this stuff. That's what message boards are for. Except Kerry Wood is not an elite closer. He's not even a closer. And you still want to pay him "a few million more" than an elite closer? It's more of a risk having him close than putting him back in the rotation, in my opinion. The only reason Wood is not an elite closer is because he hasn't been one yet. If he is moved to closer -- and I'm not saying he should be, he's more valuable as a starter -- he'll immediately be an elite one. Woods as an elite closer? He's not even an elite starter when he's healthy. I think Kerry has a lot to prove in the areas of health and [/b]consistency before he has a label of "elite" anything.

I think the wording will be very important (i.e. kind of a mutual decision to release Baker for another job). I don't think they will use words like "fired" or "quit" as both sides will say wonderful things about each other. Of course all of us will know the truth.

I think both the Cubs and Baker are playing kind of cat-and-mouse game to figure out a way to get Baker out of Chicago after this season. Many people have pointed out that Baker & Hendry are not on the same page, as much as they both try to deny it. Hendry had been pushing for the kids to play and Dempster to close all season. Hendry has pointed out that it's Baker's job to run the day-to-day, on-field activities and he (Hendry) isn't going to interfere. I think it is going to be an interesting off season for the Cubs.

Let's hope this is the start of his comeback. If nothing else it ought to help his morale.

Maybe for the rest of the season he could be tried as a LOOGY. It seems like he doesn't have the fastball to go with the big curve to face hitters a 2nd and 3rd time in a game. Use him and Ohman as the LOOGIES and put Rusch back in the rotation.

I posted in another discussion that I think Maddux might retire this offseason (with some kind of settlement from the Cubs). I think he has too much pride to be a below average #4 or #5 starter and tarnish his HOF credentials.

I agree completely. One of Hendry's faults is that he lets the manager handle the day-by-day on field issues and he has said this many times. Everyone wanted Hendry to sign Beltran, Benitez, Percival, trade for Dunn, Wagner, Huff, etc. Every one of those players have been totally overpriced and wouldn't have made a difference this year. This year has been a disaster, but if anyone is going to get us out of this mess, I think it's Jim Hendry. I think there will be some settlement with Baker and he will leave to go to greener pastures with both the Cubs and Baker saying good things about each other. Of course, both sides will be glad that Baker is out of Chicago. I do think there will be a lot of changes during the offseason. I think the Cubs might reach some kind of settlement with Maddux for him to retire. I think Maddux has too much pride to hang around as a below-average #4 or #5 starter and tarnish his reputation. As you said, the real problem is Baker and his philosophy clashing with Hendry's. If Baker had given the kids a chance and used Dempster as closer from the beginning, our record might not be any better, but at least we would have a plan for next year. Unless Baker changes his philosophy, the Cubs go into next year with questions about 2B, SS, LF, CF, RF, #3,4,& 5 starters, bullpen, and Murton and Cedeno's ability to play in the majors.

If the Reds would accept this trade, Dunn would have been a Cub back in July.

He followed the fat lady by about a week.

Well at least we could see what the kid can do (or not do) without there being any real ramifications for the team if he does badly. I don't think too many people are thinking in terms of getting back in the race at this point. Now is the perfect time to test our kids out, so we have a better idea of what we have to work with going into the offseason. It would be the prudent thing to do. I agree, play Murton for the rest of the year. According to Stone, Burnitz won't be back, so let Murton play everyday. If he does okay, you have a cheap, young OF with a decent OBP. If another young OF (Mench, Kearns) becomes available in the offseason, you package Murton with some pitching to obtain the player you want. Having him sit for the rest of this year doesn't answer any questions about the future.

But Rogers will be back tomorrow, will the Cubs?

I don't understand why people get locked into the stereotype of a corner OF has to hit for power. You need some speed, some guys with a high OBP, and some power. If you get the power from a non-power position (like Sandberg), obviously you can get by without power at one of the traditional power positions. The Red Sox seem to be doing okay with Mueller at 3B (a power position) and the White Sox seem to be doing fine with Posednik in LF (a power position). You just need to balance out the lineup with speed, OBP, and power.

Are you trying to say that Baker didn't use him properly? All of us in Cub nation know that Remmy is a LOOGY.