weitliz

I get images of using bright-orange colored bases (similiar to golf balls) Can't see the regular ones in the snow! :P

Doh! Grammar....and they call me a college grad. :oops:

:lol: I actually laughed out loud when I got to this point. Why am I annoyed so much by the grammar in his first sentence of that paragraph?? oh, the irony Tell ya what, give me an editor like Simmons supposedly has and I can stop annoying you with grammar infractions. Even I could spot the issues with Simmons' sentence.

I suspect that is why the researcher qualified the measurements with these comments....

:lol: I actually laughed out loud when I got to this point. Why am I annoyed so much by the grammar in his first sentence of that paragraph??

:lol:

Thought this was funny from Bill Simmons... "...the Big Papi gimmick is slightly more unique, especially when you consider that "Papi" is a Latino phrase of endearment that women use for their husbands or lovers and has, umm, romantic connotations." http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060802

Speaking of which, I was listening to the XM version of ESPN radio at about 6:30-7:00pm today. The host was interviewing Coletti about the moves the Dodgers had made at the trade deadline. Coletti explained that the Dodgers had been in talks with the Cubs re: Maddux for about a month. Hendry had initially expressed interest in Izturis at that time but the Dodgers were unprepared to make that deal due to the infield injuries they had suffered (i.e. Kent). The host questioned if the asking price was lowered as the deadline neared. Coletti said that on trade deadline day the Cubs were asking for 1-2 prospects (expressed that one being asked for was one of the Dodgers very top prospects) but that the Dodgers didn't feel comfortable trading that top prospect. The Dodgers were later approached again by Hendry re: Izturis for Maddux, at which time they hastily arranged the Lugo deal Coletti was unable to comment whether the asking price for Lugo had been lowered from previously because that was their first discussions regarding Lugo. Anyway, thought people might find that an interesting tidbit from the Dodgers GM.

:lol: :? :cry:

I believe the request was for active players! :P

For a moment this post really bugged me...braggart!! Then I realized that I do, too! :oops:

Thought this was funny... I do not like what it says about Hendry though! :cry: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=2483498&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos3

To be honest, I think about those threads where posters railed against Hendry for seemingly not even attempting to sign Matsui whenever I hear the name 'Kaz Matsui'! Not that any of us could have actually predicted he would be quite this unproductive. Hopefully getting out of New York will do him some good.

When I played fantasy baseball for the first time, I think 2003, I was researching players for drafting and came upon quotes from some coach with the Marlins who was drooling over Encarnacion's potential for the year. If I remember correctly, the coach was expecting a 30/30 year for Encarnacion. I think I kept Encarnacion on my team for about 2 months before wising up!

But on the upside, we might also be treated to the Matt Clement face. I realize this is a Bill Simmons rip-off, but there isn't a more accurate phrase to describe the look on Clement's face after he has just walked two on balls that dove low over the outside corner, then gives up a three-run homer. That face always annoyed me....

:P :twisted:

Why wait until the midseason? Who is to say the Cubs won't be hopelessly out with the lineup you proposed. If they are in it, the price tag for any player will go up. In addition, some targets may not be on the market due to the team also being in contention. If you are correct in your assumption, I would just as soon fire Hendry now. Perhaps I should have used the term "in-season" instead of "mid-season". As the season progresses, more and more teams fall out of contention and the urge to shed payroll and acquire prospects increases; I see this trend almost yearly. Aside from the Great Florida Fire(sales) of 1997 and 2005, few teams completely dismantle themselves during the offseason. Many don't want to tick off the paying customers before they have purchased their tickets. And with the weak free agent class this year, many seller-teams seem (initially) to be holding out for highly beneficial trades. Of course there will be players unavailable due to their teams being in contention during the season, but others will be available. My point was not to point out the possibility of acquiring Tejada or Schmidt per se, but to show that Hendry may be planning to improve the team enough to stay competative but then strike a spectacular deal during the season. Strike at the proposed line-up all you like, however. :P I don't like it either.

Perhaps you are correct. But I can also see the possibility of Baltimore being well-seated into 4th place in the division with the improvements Toronto is making. Who knows...maybe Burnett will actually perform up to his (potential) contract. What if Baltimore attempts to position themselves for the rebuilding period of the Yankees and Red Sox? Tejada would be their most valuable trade piece.

Picking on the particular examples is fine by me...those are not the goal of this post. I am suggesting Hendry is going to improve the team to the degree to which he is able via trade or signing so long as it does not hamper his ability to improve during the season. We have all seen that Hendry seems to shine with midseason trades. (No debate on this point needed for me...I have seen the debate many times on this board already without my restarting it) We have heard rumblings that he has the full support of MacPhail and the Tribune; it is not as though he is approaching this off-season needing to make a grandiose move. Perhaps he is setting himself up nicely to once again wear the "Trader Joe" hat?

Please don't misconstrue my line-up posting with acceptance of the policy. Just a realist when it comes to Dusty :(

Please allow this lurker to add his thoughts to the Hendry discussion. I have read umpteen threads regarding Hendry and formerly possible moves (signing Furcal, Giles, trading for Piere or Huff, etc.) I have kept waiting for someone to voice this possibility, but have not yet seen it. My turn. :wink: Is it possible Hendry has planned for the contingency of being spurned by the major free agents and shunned by most trade partners? We have seen deals made for players that could have improved the Cubs, but that are not a good value for the Cubs. 3/40 for Furcal? A possible 5/55 for Burnett with that injury history? :shock: We have witnessed trades netting the Marlins good young talent for higher-priced major leaguers. I also know the Cubs have a ton of available payroll that is burning a hole in the pocket of some posters. Heck, even a relatively subdued signing or trade would mollify many. What if Hendry has made it his plan this offseason to explore trades and signings that improve the club, but don't hamstring his ability to upgrade down the road? Here are the facts as I see it: 1) Weak free agent class 2) Tons of payroll space available 3) Plethora of Rule 5-eligible minor-leaguers 4) TONS of pressure from fans of every team to make improvements in the offseason. (to which some GM's cave; Dodgers, anyone?) I foresee Hendry making the trades that make good baseball sense (according to his wisdom) and signings that fill holes for the beginning of the season. What are the possibilities, however, if he has 15-20 million in payroll available during the season? How about at the trade deadline? Would signing Lofton (strange we haven't heard more regarding him) and trading for Wilkerson be enough to keep the Cubs in contention until the All-Star Break? 1. Lofton (CF) 2. Perez (SS) 3. Lee (1B) 4. Ramirez (3B) 5. Wilkerson (RF) 6. Walker (2B) 7. Barrett © 8. Murton (LF) Now what if Baltimore is in 4th place and wants to shed payroll (Tejada)? How about San Francisco realizing Bonds is on his last leg (hehe) and begins rebuilding (Schmidt)? Or Texas comes to the realization that they simply must have some young pitching in their system (Young)? You get the point...endless possibilities. Please set me straight... 8)