CubfaninCA

and working in underwriting is exactly the same as being on a baseball team. I think his point - that co-workers with poor attitudes can have a negative effect on the work environment - is universal. How much of an effect I think depends not only the type of employment but also on how beligerent or nasty the person is. Lots of talent can overcome some bad apples is universal as well.. Unfortunately, lots of the Cubs talent was sitting on the DL. :( So, you're arguing both sides? :? No. I'm triangulating. ;)

you never worked with a jerk who was awesome at what he did, made the company a lot of money, and was avalued employee? jeez, you make it sound like these people do nothing but think up ways to show off their bad attitudes, while avoiding work. being nice isn't exactly the first priority for a lot of people in the working world. i'm sorry to break it to you. Thanks for "breaking it to me." *shrug* I don't ever recall Walker being awesome, but do recall an egomaniac named Sammy who put up some awesome numbers that greatly benifitted his team. The lack of interest for Walker this offseason provides more evidence as to why he's a $2.5 million player.

and working in underwriting is exactly the same as being on a baseball team. I think his point - that co-workers with poor attitudes can have a negative effect on the work environment - is universal. How much of an effect I think depends not only the type of employment but also on how beligerent or nasty the person is. Lots of talent can overcome some bad apples is universal as well.. Unfortunately, lots of the Cubs talent was sitting on the DL. :(

The improved morale really helped results form 2004 to 2005. If Walker hurt the team's morale, and thus hurt their chances, a less stupid GM would have chosen to stay with that gutty team guy Grudz when he had the chance instead of resigning Walker. Yep, should have kept Grudz. Too bad Hendry went the Moneyball route. :(

Players w/ crappy attitudes affect team morale/performance. Those who have been in the workforce for some time can surely agree. Not every GM in baseball is a moron.

I really like Hairston as a utility guy, but he lacks the durability to be relied upon as an everyday player.

Jones ops versus righties ~ .814 Wilson ops versus righties ~ .756 & half those AB's came as a Rockie. Fwiw Wilson's overall ops dipped from .813 w/ Colorado to .771 / Washington. Since the Cubs can always move Jones after this year, the Wilson signing isn't far superior...

Adam Greenberg was on his way to becoming one of the game's best fourth outfielders? The fact that not a single team claimed him a few weeks ago strongly suggests otherwise and is telling of how much we (Cubs fans) overvalue our own guys at times. Yep. You've done a nice job in this thread. it really bugs me when people compliment each other for arguing the right points or whatever it is that is happening here. Just giving the man props. You must be bugged often then.

Weren't the Cubs eyeing Kennedy last year??? Kennedy seems like a Hendry guy. He can hit (.300 BA), steal bases (19), and has a real good glove. The only thing Walker tops Kennedy in is power.

Adam Greenberg was on his way to becoming one of the game's best fourth outfielders? The fact that not a single team claimed him a few weeks ago strongly suggests otherwise and is telling of how much we (Cubs fans) overvalue our own guys at times. Yep. You've done a nice job in this thread.

He would not be at the end of the bench. He'll be 39 years old. He doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt that he'll go back to the way he once was. His age 38 season was awful, and while it may be due, in part, to being injured, that's what you expect from mediocre players as they get old. And if you look at Dusty's history there is no way he properly uses Grissom in a platoon with Jones, none. Jones is the starting RF, he'll play almost every day if healthy this year. And I'm not saying that he does deserve the assumption that last year was a fluke and he'll automatically be healthy and albe to hit lefties well again. This goes back to the fact that it's a minor league contract and he'll have to EARN a roster spot. And this goes back to the fact that he's an ancient veteran who will only have to be able to stand upright to "earn" the spot. :roll: You're entitled to your own opinion. One that's already been proven by the previously outlined Lenny Harris situation. small sample size..

But, if we trade Walker's 2.5 for Soriano's 10, I don't know that we could afford Odalis's 7.75. Williams is a renewable contract, so he's cheap as well as effective. I'd like another bat too...but if I'm trading young players or prospects, I want a better long term value than Soriano or I want one that is cheap in regard to player cost. Soriano is neither. If Luis Gonzalez could be had for a mid-level prospect, I might take him as a decent option. I'd still attempt to dangle Hill and Pie with others to the Reds for Dunn. I think the 5 hitter could come from LF and it won't be Murton. I'd love for the Cubs to get Dunn, but can't see Cincy dealing him to the Cubs. Is Dunn a FA after this year?

Too bad that Coletti has a poor relationship w/ the Cubs. It sounds like Odalis Perez can be had on the cheap, especially if LA resigns Weaver. Then Williams could become more expendable, although I really like him. I think Jock will be solid versus righties, but would much prefer him batting 6th and the Cubs getting one more slugger. :(

But the cost of Williams and maybe others to upgrade to Soriano isn't worth the upgrade. So who do you want batting 5th?

Yeah. Someone explain to me what the big deal is? Some have suggested platooning him in RF. I have no idea how good his d is.

Soriano has a career .500 slugging %. That's in Burrell, Matsui, Floyd, Carlos Lee and Sheffield territory... The Cubs best 2 opb guys are Lee and ARam & I liked to see them score as often as possible. I prefer Soriano over Walker's .441 career slugging % in the 5 hole or Jock Jones batting 5th. And I like Sori's 40 home run potential too. That beats the heck out Walker's 15 homer potential. Bat Murton or Cedeno 2nd. They can probably come close to matching Walker's .355 obp, which is nothing spectacular.

Walker is a better offensive player than Soriano. His 45 point advantage in OBP is much greater than Soriano's 35-30 point SLG advantage. I know you've made that point before and you have the numbers which you believe establish and I do not want to recreate that thread but I remain steadfast in my opinion that your statement would be found incredible by most. How? It's been proven that a point of OBP is more valuable than SLG, and even if you count them equally Walker has an advantage in OPS. If you don't like OBP Walker had nearly 40 points of AVG on Walker. This doesn't even include that Soriano had astonishing discrepancies in his home/road splits, and he was worse than Neifi away from hitter's haven Ameriquest. That generalization may be true, but isn't obp more important in the 1-4 spots than 5-8. Considering Jones & Murton may be batting 6-7, I want a guy w/ high slugging % batting 5th. I have a feeling Jones will strand a good number of baserunners.

Why do the Cubs need a 5 hitter to take a bunch of walks??

Interesting take & quite possible. When it comes to trades Hendry's no amateur. Sure, when it comes to taking salary dumps from other clubs, save the Hundley deal.....although insurance paid the majority of his contract during his time back in LA, Karros played ENTIRELY too much and Pudz was kept another year(too long) because of that trade as well. Color me unimpressed. Hendry has some major faults, but he has been quite good @ acquiring talent via trades. How many GM's have traded for 2 guys as good as ARam & Lee the past 3 years w/out giving up anything?

Interesting take & quite possible. When it comes to trades Hendry's no amateur.

Thanks for the info Bruce. Nothing wrong w/ giving out a non-guaranteed minor league contract & trying to catch some lightning in a bottle. Jmo but Murton's too good to get replaced by some vet on his last leg. I'm usually highly suspicious of Cub hitting prospects too. Murton showed A LOT last year.

Here's our first bet. ;) Alright I'm out.

Alright Happy New Years Eve to all. Even you JC. :) I'm out. Don't anyone start boozing excessively cause you're scared to death about Grissom in LF everyday.

Um I think Juan Le Pierre is more in jeopardy than Murton. Jeopardy of what? Losing his job? He's been the centerpiece of their offsesaon. He's their ideal candidate for the much coveted speedy leadoff man. Dusty is on record stating that he will play the guy with the bigger contract because that is why the guy got the contract. Couple that with his history of favoring older players, and all the positive things he has to say about older players, and that Murton was one of the few guys who Dusty openly criticized by name in the press, and it's pretty safe to assume that Murton will be the odd man out of the current OF. Playing time. Gotta love the obsessing over Hendry gutting the team by dealing Prior & the speculation over Grissom in LF. Can't wait to see what's next. Can't you maintain a freaking discussion without using crap like "paranoia" and "obsessing"? What is this compulsion to constantly backhandedly run down other posters and their opinions? Jesus Christ its annoying. You make some interesting arguments, but I never take them seriously because you seem more interested in engaging people like me or Goony and simply being contrary than really staying on the merits of the discussion. LOL @ me being contrary. The argument that Grissom will play over Murton is contrary to common sense and basically hyperbole. As much hyperbole as Neifi Perez playing over Cedeno or as much hyperbole as Hollandsworth playing over Dubois or Murton. Yeah right man anything is possible with Baker at the helm. Murton > Cedeno Murton >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DuBois

You say Lawton was brought in to address the OBP problem, but if he replaced Murton, he really didn't address an OBP problem, he addressed a rookie problem. I should have been more specific and said leadoff obp.