davearm2

This thread is bizarre. My strong suspicion is that Hendry has outlined in clear terms the different packages of players he'd be willing to give up for Roberts, and so far none of those packages have been to MacPhail's liking. Meanwhile MacPhail has probably pitched some trade offers that Hendry has declined. Are Hendry's packages still "on the table"? I suppose you could say that, since what Hendry was willing to pay yesterday (or last December), he'd probably pay today too, if MacPhail were to reconsider. Of course the same could be said about MacPhail's counteroffers too. A deal's just a phonecall away whenever Hendry feels like meeting MacPhail's price. Now if what Hendry is willing to pay is about to drop, then (and only then) does it make sense for Hendry to put a drop-dead date out there. Putting a deadline out there to try and gain leverage implies, "the deal I'd take today, I won't take tomorrow." As has been mentioned, Hendry better darn well not take that tact unless he means it. If his bluff is called, then he's either tanked a deal that he wants and could possibly still get, or he's put himself in a position of having to go back on his word. The bottom line is that by now both guys ought to know where the other stands, regardless of what's officially "on the table" or whatnot.

Seems pretty unlikely that the Cubs will carry only one IF on the bench. You'll see two of Patterson, Fontenot, Cedeno, Cintron make the team. Plus Ward, plus Blanco. That leaves one spot for an OF. Murton or Johnson/other (unless Lou goes with a 6-man pen, which seems highly unlikely IMO). Murton's ticketed out of town -- either to Iowa, or traded.

Meh. Not sure why this is Marquis/Dempster/Lieber situation is generating so much hand-wringing. You can throw a blanket over all three guys.

BBB already showed that Theriot is worse, but even if he weren't, Pie's particular weakness in approach has a larger chance of getting exploited by hitting 8th. With his ability/potential, it doesn't make sense to put him there. Pie's weakness will continue to be exploited until he figures out how to adjust. It really doesn't matter if Pie hits 1st, 2nd, 7th or 8th - pitchers are going to throw him sliders in and high fastballs and he'll continue to get himself out until he figures out how to lay off those pitches. The scouting report from the opposing pitcher doesn't change just because he's hitting 7th as compared to 8th. If/when he starts outhitting Theriot and he starts to suck, as many of you consider a foregone conclusion, then slot them accordingly. Until then, hit Pie in the 8 hole. The 8th spot is the one spot in the order where there can be a significant difference in how you're pitched, because there's an automatic out behind him(whereas there's varying degrees of danger in the other spots). I'm not saying Pie is going to OPS 900 in the 7 spot and 600 in the 8 spot, but when you have a chance to shield someone as talented as Pie because there is a hitter as bad as Theriot to hit 8th instead of Pie, it's a relative no brainer to do it. Seems to me that if Theriot is so bad, then having Pie bat 7th and Theriot 8th creates the same problem as having Pie bat 8th. Quite a Catch-22. Theriot is really bad, but he's still not at pitcher-level. Hanging around here, sometimes it's hard to tell. Regardless, Theriot being ondeck is not going to force pitchers to throw Pie fat fastballs, either. In fact other teams should be expected to pitch Pie the same way with Theriot coming up next as they would with the pitcher coming up next. The bolded above is really onpoint. If Pie is susceptible to getting himself out by expanding the zone, then the only thing that will prevent that from happening is if there are serious consequences waiting in the ondeck circle if a BB is issued. Theriot certainly ain't a serious consequence, especially if he's truly as bad as everyone is making him out to be.

BBB already showed that Theriot is worse, but even if he weren't, Pie's particular weakness in approach has a larger chance of getting exploited by hitting 8th. With his ability/potential, it doesn't make sense to put him there. Pie's weakness will continue to be exploited until he figures out how to adjust. It really doesn't matter if Pie hits 1st, 2nd, 7th or 8th - pitchers are going to throw him sliders in and high fastballs and he'll continue to get himself out until he figures out how to lay off those pitches. The scouting report from the opposing pitcher doesn't change just because he's hitting 7th as compared to 8th. If/when he starts outhitting Theriot and he starts to suck, as many of you consider a foregone conclusion, then slot them accordingly. Until then, hit Pie in the 8 hole. The 8th spot is the one spot in the order where there can be a significant difference in how you're pitched, because there's an automatic out behind him(whereas there's varying degrees of danger in the other spots). I'm not saying Pie is going to OPS 900 in the 7 spot and 600 in the 8 spot, but when you have a chance to shield someone as talented as Pie because there is a hitter as bad as Theriot to hit 8th instead of Pie, it's a relative no brainer to do it. Seems to me that if Theriot is so bad, then having Pie bat 7th and Theriot 8th creates the same problem as having Pie bat 8th. Quite a Catch-22.

The coaches understood they were getting the $40K, until someone came along and told them that no, they aren't. Sounds exactly like a misunderstanding to me.

Pie better not be going anywhere if he's only going to be successful at a 62% clip like he was in the minors.

The way they have it set up now, they play over there, then get back to the states with a week to transition back, and then start up again with real games. Silly would be expecting these teams to spend a week in Japan, play on the 31st, and then a day or two later be playing again 12 time zones away. you have your view and i have mine Put yourself in the players' shoes and ask yourself if going to Japan a week early, and then having a week at the backend to get reacclimated (work through jetlag, reset your body clock, transition back from Florida/Arizona to your in-season home, etc.) would or would not be preferrable to spending an extra week away from home at ST, and then jamming this Japan trip right up against the start of the season. Seems like an easy call to me.

The way they have it set up now, they play over there, then get back to the states with a week to transition back, and then start up again with real games. Silly would be expecting these teams to spend a week in Japan, play on the 31st, and then a day or two later be playing again 12 time zones away.

I'm right there with you. Upgrading from Murton to Thames as the 4th OF, injury insurance guy? At a cost of an effective BP arm like Wuertz? Pass.

this other poster thinks Roberts' OBP could be is just solidifying his status as unreasonable/unreadable. Again, he never said could, or I wouldn't have said anything. He said would. There's a difference. Yep. There's indeed a difference. It's about 10% as large as you're making it out to be, but it's there. I see it as a top-of-mind guesstimate, not the sort of stone cold lead pipe lock you're apparently perceiving it was meant as. Nobody here is speaking literally when they throw these forecasts around.

It had to be said. Originality/comedic value: D "One of the guys" factor: A

Amen, David. This dextermorgan person sure seems to be operating under the misconception that he's coming off positively here, as some sort of champion for the cause of intelligent baseball thought. Fact is, he's just dragging himself through the mud and becoming less and less tolerable along the way. This ridiculous fixation with an offhanded comment about what this other poster thinks Roberts' OBP could be is just solidifying his status as unreasonable/unreadable. Just skimming past all posts by both guys seems to be the smart choice here.

Oh that Jimbo is SOOO slick!! Just another way of saying "Your move, Andy" It's been Andy's move since Nashville three months ago.

Fair enough. However, I haven't deemed him worthless. He'd make for a decent 5th outfielder. He's 26 years old and doesn't bring enough to the table to be a solid starting CF candidate. And I think that conclusion is very premature. Earlier I gave Brian Roberts' very similar MiLB line. Here's another. .300/.370/.379/.749 with 76 XBH in 1423 MiLB ABs. Ages: 11th round pick out of Arizona as a 21 YO. A- and A @ 22 A+ @ 23 AAA @ 24 MLB @ 25. This guy has starred in the bigleagues for the last 16 years. He's Kenny Lofton. Now am I saying Fuld is the next Kenny Lofton or Brian Roberts? Obviously not. My point is, there isn't even the first Kenny Lofton or Brian Roberts if guys with this resume are pigeonholed as 5th OFs and utility MIs before they've even set foot in the majors. lol, kenny lofton and sam fuld are on such different scales as far as athletic ability that it's hilarious What we're discussing here, though, is baseball ability.

Fair enough. However, I haven't deemed him worthless. He'd make for a decent 5th outfielder. He's 26 years old and doesn't bring enough to the table to be a solid starting CF candidate. And I think that conclusion is very premature. Earlier I gave Brian Roberts' very similar MiLB line. Here's another. .300/.370/.379/.749 with 76 XBH in 1423 MiLB ABs. Ages: 11th round pick out of Arizona as a 21 YO. A- and A @ 22 A+ @ 23 AAA @ 24 MLB @ 25. This guy has starred in the bigleagues for the last 16 years. He's Kenny Lofton. Now am I saying Fuld is the next Kenny Lofton or Brian Roberts? Obviously not. My point is, there isn't even the first Kenny Lofton or Brian Roberts if guys with this resume are pigeonholed as 5th OFs and utility MIs before they've even set foot in the majors.

Fuld was 25 years old in AA last year. Fuld did this in AA: .290 .372 .388 760 Pie was 20 in AA. Pie did this in AA: .304 .349 .554 903 Career minor league numbers for Fuld: .296 .377 .417 794 Career minor league numbers for Pie: .300 .358 .468 826 Pie did better in AA at 5 years younger. I stated quite clearly that Pie should get the first crack at the CF job. However the main point I was making is that dismissing Fuld as basically worthless, as some here have, strikes me as foolish. Showing Pie's better MiLB numbers does nothing to change my mind on that. Pie's considered an elite prospect and Fuld obviously isn't, so Pie's numbers ought to be better. That doesn't leave Fuld worthless though.

I find it interesting that everyone is writing off Sam Fuld as a worthless 5th OF before he's even gotten a chance with the Cubs. Onbase skills like his tend to translate pretty well to the bigleagues, and his defense and baserunning will be assets. Now don't get me wrong, Pie absolutely deserves the first crack at the CF job, but Fuld isn't exactly trash. And as opposed to Theriot, Fuld could actually be a nice fit in the 2 hole. And just for kicks: Sam Fuld in 1184 MiLB ABs: .296/.377/.417/.794; 105 XBH, 52 SB/17 CS Brian Roberts in 1097 MiLB ABs: .281/.377/.372/.749; 73 XBH, 111 SB/29 CS Good thing the O's didn't blow off Roberts as a worthless utility IF and just stick with Jerry Hairston instead.

What a strange article. Basically a who's-who of injured players with big contracts. Not real sure I'd equate getting hurt with being overpaid though. Overpaid is when you're producing numbers that could readily be gotten from another player for a fraction of the cost.

I've really been warming to a Roberts Lee Fukudome Soriano Ramirez top half, rounded out by Soto Pie Theriot. That said, I like Soriano Roberts Lee Ramirez Fukudome too.

What did the Padres give Prior? Was it $1M? And what did the Mets give Johan Santana? A little bit over that, right? Somehow I think Mark Prior is even more pissed off about how things went the last few years than any of you guys are. Now obviously we'll never know what the "but for" world held for Prior, but it's quite plausible that the guy is signing a deal with a couple more zeroes on it this offseason if not for the abuse he suffered as a Cub. Hard to blame a guy for wanting out of an organization that might've cost you $100M or so in earnings.

When can guys be placed on the 60-day DL? Perhaps the O's solution to their roster crunch is to wait until that date, and create space by putting a few guys there. I don't know all the details, but I believe they have a few guys that will likely be out for awhile.

In Iowa, maybe.

I'm sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to have to agree with david. Soriano hit 7/8/9 as a rookie with the Yankees. His 2nd and 3rd years in NY he led off. Then he spent two years in Texas, hitting primarily 3rd one year, and primarly 5th the other. In '06 and '07, with WAS and CHC, he was returned to the leadoff role. Amongst the six after his rookie year, Soriano's four best years were the four he spent leading off (OPS+'s of 129, 126, 135, and 123). His two worst years were the two he spent in Texas, not leading off (OPS+'s of 100 and 109). The above points are exacerbated when one considers that Soriano's home parks in NY and WAS were pitcher-friendly, and his home park in TEX is hitter-friendly. The obvious takeaway here is that this whole "move him down in the order because he's a power hitter not a leadoff hitter" strategy has been done before, by Texas' braintrust. It failed. So I'm wondering why some are so intent on abandoning that which has worked repeatedly, in favor of that which has failed repeatedly.

I thought Santana came out and said he would only waive his NTC to go to an east coast team. There's the reason why no LAA, LAD, SEA, etc. Heck if Santana was an option, you'd have thought the M's would be thrilled to avoid having to deal with BAL for Bedard.