Clem Fandango

LOL, seriously?

Didn't see this posted anywhere, if so, please lock... Discuss EDIT: Original story

This sentence is the exact opposite of logical. If he was young and his talent was catching up with him, the likelihood of last year being a fluke would be lowered. The fact that he is older and has been around is a negative. Yeah, you're right. I didn't really think that sentence through. But still he spent the 4 years prior to 2008 preparing himself as a reliever. When he got the word he was gonna be a starter he stepped it up and worked on every facet of his game to make sure he was as good as he could be. I mean just by watching him you could tell he changed a lot in his mechanics in 2008 than 2007. Perhaps those kinks he worked out is what allowed him to be an effective starter as opposed to the his past endeavors as a starter? I don't know, some guys don't like to change their windup or their mechanics because that's how they've always done it and they're too stubborn to do it (I vagueley recall MArk Prior being this way a few years back? I'm probably wrong though). I think Dempster realized he needed to change something in order to succeed and he ran with it and it paid off. I don't know, I think he's going to be just fine. Definitely not the ace quality stuff we saw last year, but I think he'll put up numbers that would be worthy of a #2 or #3 on a normal teams staff. But if we get Peavy, he's gonna be bottom of the rotation, which means if he can put those numbers up it would be insane to think he's our #4 or #5

shut it...he wasn't even the best choice from the red sox Sure he was. Yeah, who was more deserving on the Red Sox? Youkilis? Drew? Youkilis is the only argument I'd listen to, but you've gotta give him theoretical credit for the ability to play 3B, which I don't think he deserves. It's not his fault that the Red Sox deployed him at 1B when he could handle 3B, but I can't give him credit for theoretical position advantage. Why not? A guy who puts up MVP caliber numbers and can fill in at a position where a gold glove void was left and play gold glove caliber defense isn't more valuable than a 2nd baseman just because he was naturally a third baseman before being the first baseman? I would think that flexibility should give him the clear edge in MVP voting

shut it...he wasn't even the best choice from the red sox Sure he was. Yeah, who was more deserving on the Red Sox? Youkilis? Drew? Youkilis? Yeah. Since you know, he was better than Pedroia in almost every facet of offense, plus he provided much needed defensive flexibility when Mike Lowell became injured. Youkilis should've gotten the consideration over Pedroia, IMO. People can say it's because of the position he plays which makes him so valuable. If that's true then Chase Utley, who puts up a line of .292/.380/.535 33HR 104RBI 14SB, probably shouldn't have come in 14th place in MVP voting this year I do not endorse this decision, not that my endorsement means anything

If we still get Peavy, Dempster becomes our #4 or #5 (depending on is they choose to move him in front of Lilly). If Dempster can win 13-15 games with a 3.75-4.00 ERA and a 1.20-1.30 WHIP out of the #4 or #5 spot, I'll be satisfied. But I think we're all being a little too harsh on his "fluke" season. I personally don't think he can put those numbers up again, but it's not like he's young and his talent is catching up with him, he's been in the league for 11 years and he did work extremely hard last offseason to prepare for starting and it paid off. Maybe he really is that good and maybe he isn't, but I don't think it would be out of line to expect and ERA between 3.20-3.50 I have some faith in the guy, but I'll admit it's because I like him as a player and a member of the Cubs. I'm a fan of getting him back here. The money however will be an issue when we find out how he pitches next year. Based on last year, it's a bit of a steal. Who knows if it will remain that way next year?

Likewise. There's no reason to believe the Cubs won't explore trading for Jake Peavy, especially since all signs point to the two teams trying to work out a deal still in the midst of this Dempster signing news. With the latest quote from Towers, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the Cubs landing Peavy. If they do in fact sign Dempster and do in fact trade for Peavy, all other issues will probably have to be resolved through more trades. Surely they can't have more money to spend after acquiring these two on a FA RF'er?

Better yet, why was a new one started? I'm guessing because there was still plenty of healthy discussion available about Peavy, as is evident by this new thread, but once the other Cub bloggers started posting all hell broke loose and the thread's last 4 or 5 pages had nothing to do with Peavy

Playing IN San Diego and playing FOR San Diego are two totally different personal desires, and based on what we know, I'd be willing to bet Peavy is more of the playing IN San Diego camp. I mean have you been there? The weather is perfect. I'm surprised free agents don't clamor to sign there... But it's probably because they like playing for contenders, which San Diego most certainly is not, and which is why I'm also willing to bet Peavy is dying to go to a real team that can contend for a championship, which is why I can see him agreeing to a trade to the AL if it's the Angels (since they won't trade him to the Dodgers) Peavy makes enough money that he can move his family no problem, I'm sure. And if Donnie's story is true, it doesn't sound like they really care where they go to as long as it's a contender (or Atlanta [orToronto]). why would he consider toronto? In the AL East they fail to sign burnett or any other FA pitchers why would he even bother they then even with peavy at least two bats and probably arm away from contending with the Rays or Bo Sox let alone a re-arming yankees. If the Bo Sox are able to get involved with any gusto he's heading there. Too many overhyped prospects and overhyped players not for it to happen. DonnieD's story talked about how his wife said "I'll follow him anywhere, I'm just along for the ride. Just as long as it's not Toronto" or something like that, if you so choose to believe the story, which I personally choose to

yeah, but you'd get to watch Cubs games for free. Or would they put you in a room to watch a monitor since you couldn't see pitch locations from the birds eye view. The pay actually would probably be reasonable. Nothing too much, nothing too little. Acceptable, for a part time job anyway. Plus the real perk is you get to get in early and hang around Wrigley. One of my best friends lives like a mile away from Wrigley, I might apply for this if he plans on being there during the baseball season. It really would be an awesome job, regardless of pay. The experience alone would set you up for a better job within MLB if you so choose to pursue a career in stuff like that

Playing IN San Diego and playing FOR San Diego are two totally different personal desires, and based on what we know, I'd be willing to bet Peavy is more of the playing IN San Diego camp. I mean have you been there? The weather is perfect. I'm surprised free agents don't clamor to sign there... But it's probably because they like playing for contenders, which San Diego most certainly is not, and which is why I'm also willing to bet Peavy is dying to go to a real team that can contend for a championship, which is why I can see him agreeing to a trade to the AL if it's the Angels (since they won't trade him to the Dodgers) Peavy makes enough money that he can move his family no problem, I'm sure. And if Donnie's story is true, it doesn't sound like they really care where they go to as long as it's a contender (or Atlanta [orToronto]).

From rotoworld... Julio Lugo = Dontrelle Willis? Seriously? I know Dontrelle has had a horrendous past few seasons that keep getting worse, but wouldn't he be someone worth while to take a chance on, especially they would trade for someone like Cedeno for him straight up, and I would assume they'd throw some cash our way to cover some of his remaining contract? Despite his troubles, should a player like Cedeno for Willis straight up be a no brainer? Cedeno and Lugo were pretty close last year in offensive production. Cedeno is also cheaper and younger, and will be riding the pine on our team.

Anyone, we'd be better off with ANYONE over Griffey. Corey Patterson begs to differ

I'd shart myself if we could pry Markakis away from the O's [/factless hope]

I'd rather have Samardzija make a smooth transition from middle reliever to 5th starter, rather than middle reliever to closer. If he remains effective, there's no point in wasting his ability in a 9th inning save situation. At least if you transition him to #5 starter and lose his contribution to the late innings, he still serves a major purpose pitching the first 5 or 6 rather than waiting for the run support to kick in and stay there till the 9th Gregg should probably go there, even though with a pitcher like him no lead is really safe. Marmol will probably get it, but like someone said on here elsewhere, he'll probably be getting a lot of 2 inning save opportunities unless we can get a good reliever to replace the void left by Wood. I wonder if the Angels would ask for a King's ransom in exchange for Scot Shields

I don't see the Pirates trading McLouth at all, and if they do, they certaintly wouldn't trade him for a package where Theriot is the center piece. McLouth may not repeat his performance he had this year, but his performance this year alone should be able to net them at least somewhat premier player/prospect. He's a major league ready center fielder, a gold glover (debateable), and coming off of an impressive year for a CF'er. There's no way they trade that for a dime-a-dozen shortstop and prospects, unless one of the prospects is top tier

I'm sensing a pattern here :-))

I remember a few years back ESPN did a piece on the best hitting pitchers in baseball, and they deduced that Jason Jennings was the best hitting pitcher because he could hit BP home runs farther than Todd Helton... Here it is: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=1981270 Jennings has 2 career home runs despite hitting in Colorado for 6 years. Weak.

It is true, because they can turn on it and snap it off if it's an unwelcome visitor. Thanks. Tip your bartender. Try the veal

Actually, Milton Bradley is a very good player, he's just never healthy enough to prove it over the course of a full year. Anyone's splits playing for Texas will be lopsided. His production numbers from previous years playing in regular parks and such are still impressive if stretched out over the course of a full year

ESPN has the hot scoop... Hot off the presses, LeBron thinks Sabathia will sign with the Yankees. I would say it's a slow news day, but let's be honest, ESPN creamed their jeans when they heard this

The bluntness of this statement awesomely hilarious

So reading this forum causes drops in brainwave activity now because someone questioned a rumor on another website? Awesome.

Involving the Red Sox seems unnecessary. The Padres could use a sharp young catcher as well. All they got is Nick Hundley and/or Michael Barrett. Padres get Ramirez, Marshall, Pie, Cedeno, Beavan Cubs get Peavy Rangers get Greene, Veal, and... Screw it I suck at this

We have a section for Polls, you know? It's in the Polls forum! Oh, and none of them, we're going to steal the Necronomicon and bring Rod Beck back from the ashes of mother earth to ride eternal in the 9th inning of every Cubs lead