jersey cubs fan

Any chance Gregg is a Type A after next season if he performs decently? Not that I have any faith in our drafting crew, but 2 1st round picks and a year of Gregg for Todd Walker (via Ceda) would be a good return. He could be, yes.

Hitting is by far the most important aspect of any postition player, so there's no distinction there. But it's not the only thing. You don't think a "good" player with below average defense could become a "very good" player with elite defense? not a freaking 1b. Okay, do defense shouldn't be accounted for at all just because he's a 1B? That's basically what you're saying right now. So Jason Giambi and Derrek Lee put up identical numbers next season. By your logic they should both be rated equally even though when is great defensively and one is a nightmare. Nice. Not accounting at all is not the same thing as hitting being the most important thing for a 1b. And Lee is nearly as good defensively as his reputation suggests.

I can't imagine them wanting Gregg. I could imagine the Mets wanting him, or even the Yankees*, and the Cubs getting something from them that SD or another team would want. I think it is much more likely that they acquired Gregg because they plan on losing either Wood via free agency or Marmol via trade, than to include him in a deal to SD. *Wouldn't it just be so awesome if they spun Gregg to the Yankees for Melky to get that athletic lefty (switch hitter) bat in the lineup?

I have a problem with it because I freaking hate overpaid veteran relievers and Hendry has had an absurd obsession with these guys for years. I believe he's in his final year of arbitration before free agency. He's been an okay pitcher who has racked up save totals the past two years, so he's going to get paid in a manner that is out of whack with his actual performance. Plus, I hate oversized ex-Marlins relievers.

Hitting is by far the most important aspect of any postition player, so there's no distinction there.

I couldn't imagine them wanting Gregg, maybe they are insisting on Marmol.

Yeah, probably above league average 1B does not make a player very good.

The timing of this deal tells me that something else has to be brewing. Yeah, Wood can start negotiating with other teams soon.

But he has also hosed them Lee for Choi was a salary dump. Not sure that's the best comparison. And Willis et. al for Alfonseca/Clement is debatable. It doesn't matter if it was a salary dump, they still got crappy players back for a very good player. Except Lee wasn't very good when they got him and he's only had one very good season as a Cub. He's been a not at all special first baseman for the vast majority of his career.

He better be moving Gregg. This is a waste of valuable trade bait. An over 30 second tier reliever approaching free agency who is already making millions. ByebyeWood.

that was my thought, too, especially since the wrigley renovations would seem to be far more expensive and time-consuming. Really? More expensive than dealing with permanent left field and right field bleachers, and not just one level, mind you. I doubt they'd have to do much of anything to the structure itself. right, it's not like they'd be moving fences back, needing to do something about seats. If they move fences in , say, 10-15 feet (I have no real idea), what really needs to be done other than moving the walls. If you give an MLB owner another 10-15 feet of space where you can put extra seating, they're probably going to take advantage of that. I think they would probably alter the lower bleachers so they could add a few more rows, but the extra ticket sales would probably pay for that over time. Your only going to have extra ticket sales if you are selling out games and then increase your ticket sales. I don't think they are or will be the next couple of years. Exactly. This was a 99 loss team with Peavy, Hoffman, Greene and Giles. They won't be needing extra seating in '09, that's for sure. The local San Diego sports station is talking to Dave O'Brien (Atlanta) right now, but I'm not listening to it. They can do a couple things, one, leave the new space empty for a potential expansion later. Two, they can use that new space as an open space for people to walk around in, like they have in the outfield already. Three, make it a bar/restaurant or other potential revenue source.

that was my thought, too, especially since the wrigley renovations would seem to be far more expensive and time-consuming. Really? More expensive than dealing with permanent left field and right field bleachers, and not just one level, mind you. I doubt they'd have to do much of anything to the structure itself.

http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/2008-11-FOX.html Bears/Packers get the Buck and Aikman pairing, but it's not going to be seen in that much of the country due to a whole bunch of rather lame games airing at 1 eastern on Fox.

Very few teams, if any, solely go after one type of player. You can be into sluggers while at the same type being open to having Theriot-type players at SS. Who is looking for players with absolutely no power and little range at their positions? Teams with payroll issues are looking for guys who can provide adequate performance at their position for little money. That is Theriot, for now. Pretty soon he'll be making millions and be a complete waste.

Very few teams, if any, solely go after one type of player. You can be into sluggers while at the same type being open to having Theriot-type players at SS.

Yeah I remember reading that too. They said they wanted a MI, a speedy OF, and close to/if not already major league ready pitching. Building a team based on power is never going to win in that park. Speed, defense, and pitching is what will win playing there. On the other hand, being interested in a slugger doesn't mean building a team based on power. You need some power, unless you can magically find a whole bunch of punchless speed guys who get on base all the time.

If they don't pay Wood, my fear is we'll see Remlinger/Hawkins/Howry/Eyre 5.0 and waste much of that room on second tier relief arms. It makes logical sense to let Wood walk, but I'm pretty sure I would prefer they just bring him back at some reasonable rate.

Not sure we're drooling. It would be a nice experiment, with no guarantee payoff by any means.

That was my point. It was as if they tried their hardest not to boo.

This begs the question, how is a guy labeled as toolsy when none of his tools can be describted as anything but above average? Okay, he's got a "plus" arm, big deal. Remove the bolded comments and none of his description comes close to positive. Quick bat, average power, barely above average speed and a plus arm that struggles with the bat sounds like a career minor leaguer and potential 5 OF someday.

It makes sense, but it's Rosenbloom, who is contractually obligated to paint the bleakest picture imaginable at all times.

I wouldn't say negative but it's got to be close to zero. He's owed a good chunk of money for a team that can't afford to keep him, and he's coming off a horrible year. Most big money teams, the ones that would consider taking him on, are pretty much set at SS, either with guys who are producing, expensive guys they can't/won't replace or their own hot prospect. Greene is essentially a guy that's only attractive to a team that can afford to throw money around and that doesn't have decent internal options. Maybe somebody like Pittsburgh or KC, always good for an occasional "why would they waste their money" move, would be willing to take a chance. But I don't see SD getting a bunch of offers for the guy.

I do have to say that I don't think it makes a lot of sense that Hendry would trade Theriot in a Peavy deal without getting Greene back. They don't trust Cedeno, and they don't have the financial muscle to go out and spend like freaks. SD is desperate to be rid of contracts and a Peavy/Greene addition isn't going to kill the Cubs plans (although I do think it ends talk of Dempster returning).

Their size and popularity has never stopped ESPN from reporting nonsense as absolute fact. I don't think there is such a thing as "too big" a blog to post the occasional garbage story.

Tax planning is not tax evasion.