Backtobanks

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.

We could offer a combination of Mitre, Rusch, Williams, Guzman, Hill, Welly, etc. I'm all for developing players, but it isn't often that a young, cheap, power-hitting OF becomes available. We would have a lot of available money to fill in the other holes if we can go young and cheap in the OF. I'm not sure those guys appeal to the Rangers. None of those, except maybe Guzman if he's healthy and he hasn't been, have the ceiling of the Rangers top three guys in the minors. With Danks and Diamond on the way, the Rangers will be looking more for a high ceiling guy or a player who has proven himself in the majors. I wouldn't count Rusch as we don't know if he'll even be with the Cubs next season. Williams might fit the bill, but the Rangers may feel they can do better than him in FA. I love the idea of getting Mench, but I don't think we have the players the Rangers would want to acquire him. In the Rangers eyes, Mitre is no better than C.J. Wilson. Wellemeyer isn't better than Matt Roney. Diamond is a better prospect than anyone on that list. Danks is struggling a little in AA this season, but he could contribute in Texas very soon. Dominguez is a lot like Mitre. He does well in the minors but has gotten lit up at the majors. I don't see the Rangers giving up a hitter of Mench's caliber in order to acquire a pitcher similar to one they already have. I understand the desire to get Mench. I have the same desire for a lot of players...namely Brad Wilkerson. I just don't think Mench is a realistic possibility for the Cubs unless we build a package around Zambrano which we won't. You're right about some of those pitchers may not be better than their own prospects, but their prospects haven't proven themselves yet. Also, if they are going to trade him, we might be able to offer more than most teams in the way of pitching. If they sign a decent FA pitcher added to their own pitchers and prospects supplemented by 2-3 good young arms from us, they might be ready to contend.

The Cards called up a rookie to pitch Tuesday so LaRussa can line up his pitchers for the Cub series. If LaRussa had been paying attention, he could have used the rookie against us and saved his real pitchers for some other team.

I can't speak for others but my feeling is the kid is hitting 400 and has a 500 OBP so let him get a chance to prove he does or doesn't belong. The Macias types have already proved that they stink so let Murton play for the rest of the season and see what happens. Have you seen the production of Lawton, Hollandsworth, Macias, & Burnitz lately? They can't hit, can't catch (except Burnitz), and can't throw (except Burnitz). That's why Murton deserves a chance.

We could offer a combination of Mitre, Rusch, Williams, Guzman, Hill, Welly, etc. I'm all for developing players, but it isn't often that a young, cheap, power-hitting OF becomes available. We would have a lot of available money to fill in the other holes if we can go young and cheap in the OF.

The only team desperate enough to be interested in those guys is the Cubs. These are the kind of guys that Baker would be asking Hendry to pick up for the Cubs.

"The Rangers could trade OF Kevin Mench this month, says the Newark Star-Ledger. Texas had been working on a three-year contract extension with Mench but pulled its latest offer off the table, increasing speculation that it might be about to deal him. " (CBSsportsline Rumor Mill) Jim, here's your homework for this month. It might be too late for this year, but there's always 2006 and beyond. An outfield of Mench, Pie, and Murton looks good for many years to come.

I blame Baker and Hendry for this not the players. Macias and Perez were never that good and for them to be put in this situation proves that Baker has no clue and if they (Baker, Macias,Perez) remain Hendry should leave the GM post as well. I'd keep Perez as an extra Inf but no way ever should he get the PT he has been getting. I'd just release Macias unless the Cubs get enough talent so he wouldn't play more than once every 2 weeks. But that's the point, the Cubs have enough talent so he doesn't have to play (Murton). Perez was brought here with the intention of being the extra infielder and has played because of Nomar's injury and Baker's reluctance to play Cedeno.