The Other 15

Fukudome is still in the lineup (against RHP, so for the majority of the games) so Bradley isn't replacing him. He's basically replacing Edmonds. Fontenot is replacing DeRosa. I'll play nice but, as usual, you're fixated on semantics. It really doesn't matter who replaced who where, it's about the overall effect on the offense. If you believe that Bradley is better than 2008 DeRosa and that Fontenot can is better than 2008 Fuku, you have to say they got better. CF platoon notwithstanding. Obviously health will be a much bigger issue than CF production.

I don't get the worse lienup talk. DeRos production replaced by Bradley and Fukudonems 2008 production replaced by Fontenot isn't enough to call the lineup worse. Different, balanced, younger yes. Worse? Not until proven so.

You wonder why I respond to your posts? Come on, you're easily the best comic relief here as unintentional as it may be. Offended by [expletive]? Why, it's about the only way to describe your posting persona without getting profane. By any small chance, could any "reasonable" person understand that my post was meant to be exactly the opposite of Hendry bashing but rather a look back at how his moves looked good after the season was used as a measuring stick? And by any chance, could you put that together and understand that, without saying it directly, I was showing how past moves needed time to be proven good and that these moves deserve the same measure? I know you worked long and hard to be the Commissioner of Taking Every Post Literally Division. It hasn't gone unnoticed by some of us.

As long as you deem them to be reasonable, right?

Ok, what were the good moves after good moves last year? How many moves does the Harden trade account for in the "good move after good move" quote? Name the rest of these good moves that were popular at the time he made them? Dempster starting? Yeah, that was met with excitement. Edmonds? My, oh my, how we clamored for him before he was signed. So in order for a move to end up being good, it has to be popular at the time it's made? Yeah, that's exactly how what I wrote should be understood. In fact, if my statement was read correctly, it means the exact opposite. Oh, I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt your feelings by replying to one of your posts. At the risk of starting another three pages of you crying how you're so smart and everyone else is so stupid, it's posts like the one above that label you the [expletive] that most think you to be. Good lord, what is your deal? I knew as soon as I tried to discuss something with you you'd flip out, go crazy, and sart calling me names. My mistake. And yeah, my post made perfect sense. He said Hendry made a lot of good moves last year. You implied he shouldn't receive credit for those because they weren't percieved as good moves at the time they happened. I think it's pretty obvious what you meant and pretty obvious what my post ws saying. Just like it's obvious that you're trying to start stuff. Whatever. Of course yours is the only post that made perfect sense. I wouldn't expect anything otherwise.

Ok, what were the good moves after good moves last year? How many moves does the Harden trade account for in the "good move after good move" quote? Name the rest of these good moves that were popular at the time he made them? Dempster starting? Yeah, that was met with excitement. Edmonds? My, oh my, how we clamored for him before he was signed. So in order for a move to end up being good, it has to be popular at the time it's made? Yeah, that's exactly how what I wrote should be understood. In fact, if my statement was read correctly, it means the exact opposite. Oh, I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt your feelings by replying to one of your posts. That's just so creepy. At the risk of starting another three pages of you crying how you're so smart and everyone else is so stupid, it's posts like the one above that label you the [expletive] that most think you to be.

Ok, what were the good moves after good moves last year? How many moves does the Harden trade account for in the "good move after good move" quote? Name the rest of these good moves that were popular at the time he made them? Dempster starting? Yeah, that was met with excitement. Edmonds? My, oh my, how we clamored for him before he was signed.

Winning less games while still making the playoffs seemed to work for the Cardinals. Yeah we aren't the Cardinals. Case in point, Mark Prior isn't jacking 30 homers a year for us in centerfield either. You're right, we're not the Cardinals. Prior won't be hitting 30 hr's and the Cubs will be in first place instead of third.

Things have calmed down significantly since the 4th page of this thread. If one read just the reactions to this trade and not the names involved, one would have thought the Cubs traded Vitters for Neifi. Cedeno and Pie were out of options and more importantly (at least for Pie) out of luck to make this team. Everyone and their grandma knows this so I would imagine other GMs knew it as well. What were the Cubs supposed to get for them? They netted Heilman. Admittedly, one has to say yawn but let's not get crazy by pretending that Cedeno and Olson offered so much more. Why can't Hendry get the benefit of the doubt by now?

He'll end up a Cub before ST is over. Padres really have to move him, he really wants to play with the Cubs, and Hendry wants to add another starter. We're just seeing Hendry hold out and try to get the deal done without Vitters or Marshall.

With his lackadaisical approach, I would bet that Soriano allows more runners to reach second than the top fielding Left Fielders. However, with his arm, I would also guess he keeps runners from going to 3rd base from first base than most top fielding LF's. Like everything with Fonsy, you have to take the good with the bad.

:hello: And does Blanco really have "considerable" playoff experience? I guess he does if you consider 14 career playoff AB's last of which came in 2004.

Doesn't Boras represent like 7 of the top 10 guys for this years draft? The Cubs might be lucky to have one of those guys fall to them if other teams are scared of the price tag. I remember the Weiters thing scaring teams and all, but he was going to get paid regardless he was the best college hitter in the draft and plays a premium position for offense. I do think Laporta signed a reasonable contract with the Brewers though. IIRC, the Cubs do have a good working relationship with Boras, correct? Yes, it's been said that Hendry and Boras have a good relationship. However, it should be noted that the only Cub that is currently rep'd by Boras is Mark Pawelek (a 20th overall pick). The strong relationship is likely due to the fact that they haven't had to deal with him when it comes with big contracts. That might be more than just coincidence. I would assume that unless the player is an absolute can't miss stud, if all things were equal, one would be better off picking the guy who is not a Boras client.

Weiters and LaPorta (who could have been used to make Lee more expandable) had Boras as agents. Teams are weary picking his guys in fear of them not signing. Weiters ended up getting a higher signing bonus than Price.

I'm just stunned how poor dex is so misunderstood. Don't worry dude, like Galleleo, you'll be proven right that 2+2=4. It has to be bothersome that in every thread, with any discussion, you find people believing it's 5. Oh, the struggles of a visionary.

Jerome Williams was the pitching equivilent of Matt Murton for message board experts. Everyone was so convinced that their partial seasons meant translation to season long production. Sadly, baseball got in the way of those predictions.

I'd like the best player possible to back up Soto but short of trading for McCann, there is nobody that will cut into Soto's playing time.

Was that really necessary? You get mad for no reason. But really, you think Peavy was signing autographs "Go Cubs"? Okay. Mad? I love conversing with you. It's always good to get the final word from an all knowing entity. I become so much smarter. What the hell does it matter what I think? It was reported, but since you don't believe it it must not be true? Makes perfect sense. EDIT: I forgot the,... "Okay (eye-roll included)"

Yeah, I agree. I'm pretty sure if something doesn't jibe with your versions of reality, it must be false. Or, at best. a 50/50 shot at being true.

Has this been confirmed or is it just rumor? Confirmed. http://blogs.suntimes.com/fullcourtpress/2008/12/jake_peavy_wants_to_be_a_cub.html Did you read the original post? That guy said that Peavy was signing autographs "go cubs go", not singing "go cubs go." Huge difference. The rumor is that he was singing the song, no signing autgraphs, and I give it about a 50/50 shot at being true... if that. That article doesn't really confirm anything. To make this silly argument more silly, that guy said signing autographs "Go Cubs" not "Go Cubs Go". "According to a report from Yahoo Sports, "the Cubs remain optimistic they can acquire Peavy." He wants to pitch for the Cubs but "that deal became too complicated, involving three or four teams and numerous players." XM Radio also reported on Thursday that Jake Peavy was signing autographs with 'Go Cubs' included while he was in Las Vegas earlier in the week." Seriously, that small detail needed to be debated?

Not so fast. CHICAGO -- Cubs officials denied a report that the team was close to signing Japanese left-hander Ken Takahashi. (MLB.com)

I'll play nice and just make conversation. I'm not sure Lowes road splits mean anything more than that he doesn't pitch well after not sleeping on his mattress. I don't think it was Dodger Stadium. His career road line is 4.25/1.36 while his career home line is 3.26/1.18. That includes 3 years in LA and about 8 in Boston which is not a pitcher friendly park. His sick GO/AO ratio will make him a good starter wherever he signs his next contract. He gets blown out fairly often but he's also shut down good for weeks at a time when he's on. Personally, I don't think he's a top of the line starter so $16 per for 3-4 years would end any interest from me.

Comparing Sheets to Hampton and Fidrych followed by racially themed martyrdom? Ouch.

Peavy was signing autographs with "Go Cubs" in Las Vegas. He and his agent were very upset with the way the negotiations were handled with the Cubs. No way that change in ownership goes through for at least another year. They have no options but to trade Peavy because they know they are not in position to pay one player 25% of their payroll. None of this suggests he will be traded to the Cubs but he will be traded. Since the Cubs have a history in Peavy negotiations, it isn't out of hand to assume they may end up being involved. My guess is that Peavy is traded near the end of spring training when the Padres will feel the urgency to field a better team than last year by using Peavy to get a couple of pieces. Coincidentally, the Cubs ownership picture will look clearer by then.

I don't think Edmonds would have taken a bench role, and even if he considered a bench role it likely wouldn't be with the team who wouldn't offer him a starting spot after he performed so well. Plus I could see it being a disaster PR wise. If Edmonds is on the team, it's going to be really hard for fans to see that Fukudome, who was getting booed for large parts of the 2nd half of the year, should be the starter over Edmonds. And honestly for 2009 he probably shouldn't. But the Cubs have to start Fukudome for the purposes of 2010 and 2011 and so Edmonds really couldn't be a part of the team. I don't know. I think Jim knows his limitations at this stage. I think there would have been plenty of ABs for him between the 3 OFs missing time. I'd rather those ABs go to Edmonds than Miles, Hoffpauir or Gathright. He would save the Cubs having to play Aaron Miles ever in the OF. He doesn't effect the playing time of Johnson, who would still play vs. all LHPs. Edmonds could also get time at 1B to rest DLee. Edmonds' bat slowed down as the season progressed. I don't know if this has anything to do with this thread, but I'd like to see Hoffpouer get more AB's early in the season just to see where he stands If everything absolutely fell apart in CF, I would guess that Edmonds wouldn't be too tough to reacquire if the interest was there.