wade

Not to nitpick, but Peter Gammons specifically said that Nomar was his favorite to win the MVP in the NL right before the start of whatever year that was. Then Nomar started like 2 for 30 and tore his groin all to hell.

It's not an onerous contract, but it's one that San Diego wants out of. The pressure is on them, not the team they're trading him to. If they have special circumstances, perhaps the Cubs felt like taking all the money and getting them out of that (as opposed to many other deals, where some salary is paid by the team trading, or they take back salary in return) meant giving up less in talent.

I probably missed it somewhere in the long thread, but part of Towers' demands that might have been deemed to much by Hendry could be the taking on of the salary in its entirety. Am I nuts, or do the teams looking to get out from under a contract that's too big for them usually offer to take on some of the money to get better prospects in return? Towers wanted the Cubs to take the whole contract and offer up a lot of guys. I guess I'm thinking of the Rangers paying part of A-Rod's salary in their trade, Rockies and Hampton, etc. Maybe if Towers ate 4 or 5 off the last year or two, when it really escalates, Hendry would have been more likely to trade the extra players.

Should I take all this to mean that Bradley (and fill-in for DL time) in RF would more than offset any potential decline from Edmonds to Fuku in center?

DONT YOU LEAVE ME HANGING They left me hanging. I'm putting ESPN radio on here at work to see if they say anything else. All that stuff above was said, but I missed the context. And, it's Mike Tirico, who I don't know anything about any kind of insight he may or may not have. He could be parroting one of the many reports for all I know.

Mike Tirico just said something about Peavy, Chicago, very close, this afternoon, first domino now in place. Didn't catch it all. What the hell was he talking about? Domino? The trade for a RF?

The Detroit Free Press says Wood's contract would be around 20 million for two years.

Committing, say, $30 million of the 2011 payroll doesn't cause you to blink the slightest eye? not if it's for a pair of talented players And not if the payroll is 170 million by then. The Cubs have the luxury of 'overpaying', they might as well take advantage of it and get really good players when they can.

Well, to begin with, regression to the mean is almost always a good assumption. Then add in age, difference in workload, etc. and it becomes an even even better one in this case. Yeah, Dempster's always been sorta wild and last year he really cut down on that (the one playoff game notwithstanding). I'm def. afraid he'll walk more people in 2009, which will make it very hard to duplicate 2008.

Oh, and am I nuts, or don't most players have better stats at home?

I'm not Kyle, but I disagree with that statement as worded. I really wish people would learn the word "dominant." Life would be so much easier... I feel like a jerk in some ways for calling it out, but it drives me freaking crazy.

I'm not Kyle, but I disagree with that statement as worded.

5 bucks? We have to do that just for giggles. I get every Cub reliever EXCEPT for Marmol and Samradzija and you get Howry. Now, what is our IP threshold and what metrics do we use to measure? Oh, and this'll be 2009 vs. 2009, right? What up? I've got a 5 spot burning a hole in my pocket.

I don't think Kyle is saying that the Cubs wouldn't have the best 1-5, but that the Cubs wouldn't have as much dominance at the top of the rotation as people here think they would have. Besides, after the last 2 post seasons, who really cares about 1-5 rotations. We can't even get to our 4th starter in the playoffs... Well, I care about 1-5 rotation strength, because it really helps you get to the playoffs in the first place.

5 bucks? We have to do that just for giggles. I get every Cub reliever EXCEPT for Marmol and Samradzija and you get Howry. Now, what is our IP threshold and what metrics do we use to measure? Oh, and this'll be 2009 vs. 2009, right?

I'm not sure I found them all (though I think I did), but here is my examination of Henry Blanco's PH appearances in 2008- 04-09 PH in the 13th, 5th guy off bench, after Zambrano PH already earlier in the game 05-07 PH for Soto in a 9-0 loss 05-23 PH for Ramirez in 9th of a 12-3 blowout 06-13 PH for Edmonds in 8th of 3-2 loss vs. lefty Scott Downs - Reed Johnson and Ronnie Cedeno also pinch hit in this same inning. This fits your earlier claim, but Blanco was sent out with every other righty this instance. None got on base. 06-20 PH for Hoffpauir in 8th- Derosa, Murton, Cedeno were already in - this fits your claim 06-24 5th guy to PH, came in for Eric Patterson 07-26 bunted for Marmol in 10th 08-01 PH for Marmol, 4th guy to PH this game 08-10 3rd to PH, in for Shark in a 10-2 win 08-17 Edmonds announced, lefty brought in, Blanco PH for Edmonds, walked and Cubs score 8 runs in the inning 08-25 PH for Rammy in a 12-3 win 08-26 PH for Marshall, 3rd PHer of game 08-31 PH and singled for Howry in 8th 09-02 PH for Fontenot in 10th, 3rd PHer of game 09-05 PH for Guzman in 7th of a blowout loss 09-16 Ward announced, Blanco in to face lefty for Ward, Blanco singles So, according to what I found quickly, Blanco came in for lefties rarely and actually did a pretty good job when he did. He mostly came in after other options were used, or for pitchers, or for Ramirez in a blowout.

That surprises me because I thought his OBP was up this year.

This is just the beginning- as rotoworld says- "The Colts have San Diego, Cleveland, Cincy, and Detroit coming on the schedule. Addai is going to help you win your fantasy league." http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=3646

attaboy, Joe. My faith never waivered!

And injured. As bad as Addai has been, I'm glad at this point I skipped Jackson and went with Joseph in my draft. Really? Jackson's still been much better than Addai this year. I picked up Jackson in my draft, but if he had been gone, I would have taken Gore over Addai. I didn't trust him this season for some reason. Well, they've had the same number of t.d.s- so I wouldn't say Jackson's been much better (my league is heavier on scoring than yardage, though). Jackson's yardage is better, but he won't play this week while Jo has Houston and should at least get 75 and maybe a t.d. Plus, I had some Rams last year and I was afraid that team would suck bad again this year. I also thought about Gore (and now wish that's who I'd taken), but I thought Indy would be better and San Fran worse, meaning Jo shoulda been better. Hopefully the soft schedule coming up will help Addai.

And injured. As bad as Addai has been, I'm glad at this point I skipped Jackson and went with Joseph in my draft.

I'll take the over. What about under 1.25 WHIP on the two? The last time either of them had a WHIP that low was 2004. You mean a WHIP that high? Oh...yeah. I'm an idiot. So, you're taking the under? :D

I'll take the over. What about under 1.25 WHIP on the two? The last time either of them had a WHIP that low was 2004. So, you're taking the over?

I've stuck with him. I traded for Rhodes after Addai was hurt, so I've got him if I need him. But, like cubcoltpacer said, Addai gets some bad defenses in the coming weeks. And, they usually feed him in the red zone, so even though his yardage has been abysmal, he has still got in enought to not kill me, even though I picked him 5th. Not a good year for top picks overall, really. Tomlinson's showing his age, Westbrook has missed time, Brady done for the year, Steven Jackson is on a crappy team, etc.

I'll take the over. What about under 1.25 WHIP on the two?