soapy

I think that was the only moment in that game where I really believed they would win.

Similar here. Wood retiring isn't really surprising, and I didn't really think the actual moment would really matter much to me personally. I was in meetings all afternoon and snuck a peak at twitter in the latter parts of the game and saw references to Wood's final appearance coming up. Then I had to see on At Bat the strikeout and I was so freaking pissed that I couldn't experience that moment as it was happening. Watching the video was brutal. One of my favorite Cubs ever. So many great moments. I hate to see him go out on a struggling team like this, but he has had a fantastic career.

Haven't posted in a long time because of a job change resulting in far less time, but I'm...tipsy?...and wanted to chime in on a few things. 1. If Rob had a blog (preferably with a twitter feed), I'd be all over it every day. I would encourage that, whether it's through NSBB, or independently. As stated, most of the people from the minor league forum would be great contributors. If the front page will be featuring more blog-like articles, I'll be checking in more often. 2. I'm really glad the Cubs avoided this Fielder deal.

Hell yes, Tom. Hell [expletive] yes. The only down side is that I had to wait until now to start drinking and open this thread in celebration. With my new job, I can't really check the site at work. Goony's orgasming every half-page was priceless. I hope to top his level of inebriation before the night is through. CHEERS

So I didn't catch it during the game last night, but the Justin Timberlake mocking of Joe Buck during his interview was somewhat amusing. http://deadspin.com/5820817/justin-timberlake-at-the-all+star-game-drunk-sarcastic-drunk+sarcastic-or-just-obnoxious

But they knew how to bunt and totally would have in the right situation (which for them, was never).

Bunting is for people who can't hit. Sac bunting is. There's definite merit in bunting for a hit, for certain players. How true. All the great players know how to bunt. According to STATS, Babe Ruth had 113 sacrifice hits and Lou Gehrig had 106 sacrifice hits. They knew the fundamentals and when asked by their manager to lay one down, they did it. They also played in the deadball era when 1 run meant a whole lot more than it does now. Right. In a situation where you are playing for one run, it can make a lot of sense to sac bunt. If I remember the statistics right, having a runner at second with one out (vs. having a runner at first with no outs) increases the chances that you will score a run, but it decreases the average amount of runs a team will score.

brb, need to go post in "5 people you want to punch in the face" thread.

Does he always do that annoying thing where every sentence is its own paragraph?

DOTC 2nd and Soto 8th. Good stuff.

Honestly I don't know what would be a "decent return" for Soto but that is sort of my point. If you automatically say he's off the market you'll never know. The people that are saying that he is untouchable are ignoring the fact that there may be teams that are willing to overpay for a guy to fill a position of deep need. PURE SPECULATION: If the Royals offered just Montgomery, would you do it? How about Moustakas? Again I'm not saying that I would do it either, but it at least has to be considered. Soto cannot be untouchable on a team that has a pile of needs. Ok, but I think you can say that for every player. I don't think anyone is saying that Soto is untouchable. Nobody is untouchable. It just doesn't make any sense to trade him unless you get blown away with a great offer.

.262/.354/.458 career for a catcher (even including his "bad" 2009 and 2011 so far). In other words, not lousy. Given that the position is a weak around baseball, I would think that he would fetch a decent return. He's 100% expendable in my book provided we get decent return. Jesus [expletive] Christ. "100% expendable?" Congratulations, you've just created a whole at catcher to go with the one in the starting rotation, RF, 1B, 2B and 3B. Anything else we want to add on there? If the Royals offered you Moustakas, Hosmer and Montgomery for Soto, you wouldn't do it? I'm NOT saying that they would offer that but I am saying that unless your answer to that question is "No" then Soto should be considered available. Unless you put him out there and negotiate you'll never know. This team is going NOWHERE and any assets should at least be considered. ok, but you said "decent return"...twice.

.262/.354/.458 career for a catcher (even including his "bad" 2009 and 2011 so far). In other words, not lousy. Given that the position is a weak around baseball, I would think that he would fetch a decent return. He's 100% expendable in my book provided we get decent return. Depends on how you define "decent return". Given his low cost and above average production (particularly at his position), I don't see why you look to move a guy that could be a big part of your near-term future. They are going to have multiple holes to fill. I don't see a reason to add another for (what I would call) a decent return. They need more guys like Geo, (productive, low-priced, good defensively, can take a walk) not fewer.

.262/.354/.458 career for a catcher (even including his "bad" 2009 and 2011 so far). In other words, not lousy.

Would you extend him for two? I would consider it, but I was drinking at lunch.