Benchwarmer

Nah Dext, think I'll be here. Just like the demise of Rita, anxious to see how the next episode turns out.

Five years ago, you could still believe in wins as a stat and simply be considered behind the times. But if you don't have some sort of evidence that you were in a coma, monastary, or frozen Encino Man style, we have to assume that you're choosing to remain ignorant rather than attempt intelligent conversation. Stop wasting our time. Sorry, Rob. But you and your confused ilk have yet to provide any stat that is more important than wins for a starting pitcher, especially one that is paid over $18 million a year. What's more important WHIP? :wink: Other stats have importance but not to the degree of wins. Your expectations seem quite low and indicative of your understanding.

Cano isn't a bad hitter and I think he'd make a great Cub. How about Z for Cano and 2 of the Yanks best minor league OF? Wins continue to be the best statistic for measuring the success of a starting pitcher. Still waiting for any proof that the really great starting pitchers average less than 14 wins for their career. You obviously don't have an answer.

And I'll add you to the list of 'I'm satisfied with 102 years of losing' fans.

Addition by subtraction. I would absolutely trade Z, but don't know if Hendry has the smarts or a plan to pull it off. I don't want poor contracts and some banjo-hitting second baseman back in return.

Cardinal third baseman David Freese was stopped for DUI in St. Louis over the week-end. Be interesting to see what the punishment will be, since they let their manager skate free.

All the talk about acquiring a CF, a LH bat and some speed, makes me think of Tyler Colvin. Is he ever going to make it as an everyday player or simply a fill-in?

If we can find someone who will take his contract(at least 80%) and we don't have to take the same one back, I'm pleased. I just hate the thought of paying $11-18M for him not to play for us.

Wasn't Sutcliffe there in San Diego for awhile?

How did that prove your point? Zambrano has a better winning percentage than 41 of the the 68 pitchers in the HOF. Are you saying that Zambrano is a HOF pitcher? $2 million+ per win in 2009. What a bargain, Hendry. Oh wait..his VORP and WHIP were great. =D> =D>

Bruce Sutter, Rollie Fingers and Satchel Paige. He did say STARTING pitchers. Sutter had exactly zero major league starts, and Fingers and Paige had few enough starts they weren't considered starting pitchers. Regardless, this was the key part of his response to benchwarmer's asinine thinking: Thanks for also proving my point. Still waiting for that HOF pitcher list to enlighten me.

Wins have been the #1 standard for the effectiveness of a starter since baseball began. Not true. And wins are a team statistic and a completely useless stat when used to measure a pitcher's effectiveness. The number of times a team won and a pitcher was arbitrarily awarded a win aren't interesting. K, BB, K/9, BB/9, K/BB, WHIP, IP, RS, OBP/A, and ERA (+ inherited runners scoring for relievers) are much more interesting and telling. But that's just me. "Wins' completely useless? :P Wonder why Kerry Wood is looking for a job.

Wins have been the #1 standard for the effectiveness of a starter since baseball began. Really? The Cubs had a pitcher last year that was 0-3 after 7 starts, which also happened to be his first ever 7 starts. They should have just kicked him to the curb because he sucked, eh? In 5 of those games, he left giving up 2 runs or less. Think about that for a minute. His ERA was very young Greg Maddux like during that entire 7 games and he didn't win a single one of those games. He ended up 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA, 10th best ERA in the National League. Joe Saunders went 16-7 this year with a 4.60 ERA, and his record was better than Zack Grienke's 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA, so by your calculations, Joe Saunders is better than Zack Grienke. Awesome! :stickman: Name 5 HOF starting pitchers who do not have winning records. Go ahead..we'll wait.

Wins have been the #1 standard for the effectiveness of a starter since baseball began.

It will take a miracle for Zambrano to earn his contract. He is at best break even production vs salary now and it is much more likely his value goes down before it goes up. More importantly giving a long contract like that to any pitcher is a bad idea. Fukudome it is still too early to tell but I think that one will work out ok. Both Z and Fuku contracts are bad. Z has shown he's not even our best pitcher(Lilly probably is). Fuku has been a major disappointment. I keep hoping he'll got back to Japan and decide to stay there. But it goes back to the Hendry regime having no plan and being unable to evaluate talent. It's not Z's fault that Lilly has pitched out of his mind since coming to the Cubs. Z has been a very good pitcher for the Cubs for multiple years and is only 28. Just because another pitcher is excelling doesn't make Z's contract a bad one. As for Fuku, he's had OPS' of .738 and .796 so far with the Cubs. He's also been worth more than his salary for both his seasons as a Cub. He's certainly not been a major disappointment and with another season like he had last year, his contract will look pretty good. Z has been an above average pitcher, not a very good one. I wish he was consistent, acted like a leader on the team and acted more mature. He has not. We're paying him to win more than single digit games. I'd see what he could bring on the open market. Fuku is an above average fielder, with a weak arm. He doesn't hit for power as a corner outfielder. His windmill swing and failure to change it just proves my point. He has good speed but hardly steals bases and has made numerous base running mistakes. Other than that...another Hendry mistake.

It will take a miracle for Zambrano to earn his contract. He is at best break even production vs salary now and it is much more likely his value goes down before it goes up. More importantly giving a long contract like that to any pitcher is a bad idea. Fukudome it is still too early to tell but I think that one will work out ok. Both Z and Fuku contracts are bad. Z has shown he's not even our best pitcher(Lilly probably is). Fuku has been a major disappointment. I keep hoping he'll got back to Japan and decide to stay there. But it goes back to the Hendry regime having no plan and being unable to evaluate talent.

He obviously knows enough to get hired by a MLB team and turn down offers from another. Cue the Wavin' Wendell Kim highlight reel.

I guess the rumors are that Pujols is going to see Dr. Andrews next week and possibly be looking at TJ surgery. I believe he was told last October, when he had minor surgery, that TJ was needed and he put it off. He apparently has 2 years left on his contract and would certainly have it done before he becomes a FA. Even if he has it today, he probably wouldn't be ready to go until next June at the earliest. If Holliday doesn't sign and Pujols is out for 3-4 months, could be a break for us.

Newspapers? Uh, they've only got one at this point and that one is pretty bad. Bad news for Miklasz-the free pressbox buffet is closed until April. Jenny Craig Time!

Lest we forget that Chip sounded great..when he was matched with Joe Carter. Oh right, anyone would sound good next to Joe Carter.

I'd be very interested in what she could do to rehab Wrigley. I'm all for keeping the Cubs there as long as it's possible, but eventually Wrigley Field will have to replaced completely. Too expensive to build in another part of the Wrigleyville area but feel it's part of the charm of a 'neighborhood' park. Weren't they going to build offices across Addison, where the Starbucks etc.. are located? Wrigley is a destination, like Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park. Never heard anyone say they went specifically to see Busch 2, 3, 4, 5...XXV or Petco Park. Why would they? The Cell is an average park at best. Remember Reinsdorf was going to move to Tampa or the western suburbs(where more White Sox fans live) before the State of IL. cut him a deal. The big change Ricketts needs to do first is fire Hendry and his incompetent staff. Then we'll talk about Wrigley.

Zambrano has said alot of things, but he fails to back anything up. The White Sox can't afford his bloated contract, besides Hendry would want players we don't need like Fields, Rios, Konerko, Garcia or Rios. I'm all for unloading Zambrano but I want young prospects, not another bad contract or failing veteran back.

To anyone who heard Zs tone of voice, he sounded upset about the talks and like he really doesnt want to leave the Cubs, but if they dont want him, he'll accept a trade. This does not need to happen. Who cares about his tone of voice? How about pitching like you have the talent to do. We heard the same whining about not getting rid of Kerry Wood for years. Zambrano has shown he is inconsistent, is not a leader and very self-absorbed. All this cutesy stuff may please some, but I want 20 wins and 30 quality starts on a consistent basis for a guy I'm paying $18M.

Ronnie trying to remember the movie where Drew "jumped around alot" was very sad.

What are you looking at? Get rid of him. He's no ace. He's a $18M drain on this club. Let someone else worry about his head, lack of heart, etc.. Another over-hyped Cub who fizzles out before our eyes. Are there any more Pattersons left for Hendry to sign?