abuck1220

from a muskbag... did this guy sleep through last season or what??

Based on what? His history of signing mediocre players. Name me the last signing of Hendry where you said "Wow, that was proactive. Hendry was really a step ahead of everyone else with this one." That is exceptionally selective memory on your part. Every year Hendry has made a proactive attempt to fix the bullpen through FA, with names like Hawkins, Howry, and Eyre. All three were solid, proactive signings to fix an annually ragged bullpen. Alfonseca wasn't the best acquisition, but at the time (without the value of hindsight), he was expected to be solid. that's not forward-thinking at all. that's looking at the list of available FA middle relievers, picking the one with the best era the previous year, and then throwing a bunch of money at him. that's the definition of playing it safe...there's no advanced philosophy at work there. Thanks for quoting only half my post and omitting all the other examples, that's a fine way to present a case. The question posed was to list acquisitions that made you think the GM was proactive, and I answered it. The Cubs bullpen was a major issue in 2005 and the GM went out and addressed it immediately the next year. That is pro-active in my book - identify the problem and waste no time addressing it. The challenge before that was to suggest signing/posting a Japanese player was too forward-thinking for the GM. I answered that as well, and my answer went completely ignored, probably because there isn't a valid counter argument that will stand up to scrutiny. Folks can continue to pick one example out of the context of the enire issue if they want to, but it does nothing to answer the original question and my original response - why is signing a Japanese player too forward-thinking for the current GM? sorry, i didn't know i had to fully address everything you said in a post in order to respond. anyway, i don't care how you slice it, going out and signing recognizeable names to huge contracts the year after your bullpen sucks is not, in any way, proactive, forward-thinking whatever. and the problem wasn't addressed when he signed remlinger, hawkins, eyre or whoever was the middle reliever coming off the best season because the bullpen still sucked, and in most cases the specific guy he got sucked or was average at best. an example of a forward-thinking, proactive move would be to build your bullpen through the farm system or get guys like howry, remlinger, and eyre just before they have their big season instead of letting them cash in at your expense.

Based on what? His history of signing mediocre players. Name me the last signing of Hendry where you said "Wow, that was proactive. Hendry was really a step ahead of everyone else with this one." That is exceptionally selective memory on your part. Every year Hendry has made a proactive attempt to fix the bullpen through FA, with names like Hawkins, Howry, and Eyre. All three were solid, proactive signings to fix an annually ragged bullpen. Alfonseca wasn't the best acquisition, but at the time (without the value of hindsight), he was expected to be solid. that's not forward-thinking at all. that's looking at the list of available FA middle relievers, picking the one with the best era the previous year, and then throwing a bunch of money at him. that's the definition of playing it safe...there's no advanced philosophy at work there.

i guess that's the difference. it kinda feels like the player gets screwed in all of this, but i guess it's similar to being traded, and i have no problem with that.

I don't know. With an open auction, you wouldn't have the high bid be $30M and the next highest be $10M as abuck described. i guess that's right...but it seems like, overall, both the bidders and the japanese team would benefit in most situations by having a more open system. but i obviously don't know that much about it...

i think that's how it should be anyway. that way it's more like free agency. it's stupid that the yanks could bid $20,000,000 and could be beaten out by a cub bid of $20,000,000.02. I don't see what's so stupid about that. In a sealed bid, the highest bid wins. If they were willing to bid $20,000,000.03, they should have (although they aren't going to lose by $0.02, there is probably some sort of incremental requirement). There is a problem if certain bidders get to view others' bids. The other option is for an open auction, but that doesn't even happen in regular free agency. then why not do sealed bids for all free agents? i don't see the difference. also, it would really be unfair to the cubs if they bid 30 mil to get the rights and the second highest bid was 10 mil. i'm assuming the cubs would have to pay the full 30 mil...that's not at all like free agency either.

i think that's how it should be anyway. that way it's more like free agency. it's stupid that the yanks could bid $20,000,000 and could be beaten out by a cub bid of $20,000,000.02.

i'd love to have derosa as a backup. and if i had to choose between derosa and izturis starting in the infield, i'd love to have derosa as a starter.

if the posting process wasn't so stupid, tampering probably wouldn't be a problem.

only in baseball can an 80 year old be considered refreshing.

sorry, deion's not doing inscriptions.

other signers who have since been added... sparky anderson, killebrew, tony perez, andre dawson and sutter. more quantity than quality this year.

yeah, that was alllll baker.

all i need to know about clutch is how to install one on my truck Is it Rear, Front or Four wheel drive. If its 4 you may have to get David Ortiz to fix it. its rear, should be a relative snap That reminds me..... I gotta get mine adjusted !!! i'm glad some good came out of this special.

Actually he's very talented, he just hasn't picthed well. I think there is a difference. how hasn't he pitched well? two straight 80+ inning seasons with whips of 1.14 and 1.16. bunch of k's too. i don't think he's a bad pitcher, i just don't want to give up a ton for him. i'd be all for getting him if he didn't cost too much. he could serve as a bullpen arm or a much, much better insurance starter than the cubs have had over the past few years.

actually, my question is the elbow.

from the trib...

little as in skinny. and i don't care what scout.com says, he sucked out there this year.

joe nathan sweats a lot, and we all know that equals clutch.

zambrano got jobbed. he's clutcherrific. one time someone asked him if he got nervous for big games and he said no. clutch!!

congrats to chase utley (.258 BA with RISP and 2 outs)!

someone should count the number of flat out untrue things they say during this special. and they've said the word 'clutch' 313 times in the first 25 minutes.

for those that believe in the tooth fairy and such, espn is having a special to reveal the 2006 ALL-CLUTCH team! right now, they're explaining 'the essence of clutch' with some japanese type music in the background.

If you're thinking along those lines go with: Burrell (LF) - Jones (CF) - Murton (RF) --OR-- Burrell (LF) - Pie (CF) - Sheffield (RF) Scary defense, but how many runs would it really cost you? Pagan makes a passable late-innings defensive replacement. i've never understood how crappy hitters that are little and fast get labeled good defenders regardless of their actual ability. pagan is a hack out there. not that i care about late inning defensive replacements.

how is he half a player?