don_kessinger_was_good

1. What wasn't I right about? 2. I like how it's fine to belittle my original idea, but when I retort back, it becomes personal attacks. The double standards at this site are a joke. Have fun, at least Al's site is more evenhanded.

If you're equating Mike Wuertz to Rafael Betancourt, you're a fool. i agree. betancourt is a middle reliever who's 33 years old and is making $5.4M over the next two years, and has been horrendous this year. his LD% is a disturbingly-high 25.9%, and he gives up twice as many fly balls as he does ground balls, which is really a bad thing if you were to put him in a place like wrigley field. his great numbers last year were mostly a result of an unsustainable BABIP and LOB% (86.4!) along with a really abnormal home run rate - only 6 all year, or just 4.7% of his fly balls. he pounds the strike zone, but his ability to throw strikes hasn't been as good this year. meanwhile, wuertz is a pitcher who allows more ground balls than fly balls. his command is more spotty, but he has had a solid K-rate up to this year, and his velocity is still as good as it has been in previous years. he threw his fastball on 40% of his pitches in 2006 and 2007, but only 26.5% this year, while his slider rate has increased from 42.6% in 2006 to 62.1% this year. his pitching coach and catchers should probably be working with him on throwing a more even mix of pitches, rather than relying so heavily on the breaking pitch that often bends out of the strike zone. Still, given his age (29) and cheapness ($860k), combined with the profile of a ground ball pitcher at a hitter's park, he provides more value for the dollar than betancourt. i'm assuming that's what you meant when you said anyone comparing the two guys was a fool, correct? You're more than a fool, and you're always antagonistic, to boot. Look, relievers are notoriously streaky. You're willing to dismiss Betancourt as a loser due to two bad months, but in the same breath, you're willing to dismiss Wuertz' underperformance--simply because he's cheaper? Betancourt is so far superior to anything Wuertz has (or has even the remotest chance of) accomplishing, it is absurd. Over the last five years, the guy has an ERA+ of 206, 111, 150, 119, and 312. 312!!!!!! You wouldn't take the option of him having a bad couple months is all, in favor of keeping Mike Freaking Wuertz? Yes, you are a fool. So you swap the two, and throw in Colvin, who is a complete bust. So much so, that I'm fairly certain Cleveland wouldn't take him, so we'd need to offer someone with a bit rosier future, like Patterson or perhaps Ceda. And I'd do that alternative in a heartbeat, too. Betancourt, Marmol and Wood = lockdown. Hendry could then do a follow-on trade to move Howry to someone like the Yankees (who could desperately use him), and maybe we could get an Ian Kennedy for the future. Howry plus Pie?

If you're equating Mike Wuertz to Rafael Betancourt, you're a fool. Tyler Colvin will not be missed, yet another Cubs 1st round bust. Wilken needs to go.

How about a more modest trade with Cleveland? Rafael Betancourt is a much better reliever than he has shown so far this year. I wonder if he has "Latroy Hawkins" disease--a guy that excels in a setup role when there is no pressure, but wilts when he is forced to become the go-to guy. We do need another setup man to take some pressure off of Marmol, and Betancourt has great stuff. Wuertz and Colvin for Betancourt?

You can get the Royals to take Marquis off our hands to help out on the Meche contract, and as I've said before: Meche > Marquis. Obviously, I'd really really like to see the Cubs get CC or Harden, but seriously, you know that won't happen. Just hang up the phone if the conversation includes the names Randy and Wolf.

Newsflash--Rickie Weeks just isn't any good. If I'm Baltimore, I demand LaPorta or Gamel to be included.

Remind me to ask for you as my opponent litigator the next time I have a contract dispute case that hinges on the contract's verbage. Or should I just say "wording" in lieu of verbage, does that makes things easier for you?

You're a real class act. I'll buy you a Funk & Wagnall's--you're such a witty guy!

Where is it written that you can only be a successful pitcher if you throw 95 mph gas, or have a plus-plus offspeed pitch? Gallagher impresses me because he's progressed smartly through the system, one level per year, and just wins games at each level. I'll take that over the hype (and utter, complete failure) of a Pawelek or Samardzija with their superior "stuff" all day long. That said, Gallagher and family aren't the ones that should feel disrespected. He's in the majors with no prior starting experience at this level. The guy that is getting ripped off is Sean Marshall, who IMO is the 4th best starting pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. Did he kick Lou's dog or something??

Ronny Cedeno and Sean Gallagher for David DeJesus and Leo Nunez.

Hardly. Edmonds wants to stick it to the Cardinals in the worst way. He feels slighted about being dumped, kind of like Grace did when the Cubs let him go.

geez, you're obnoxious. Well, since you volunteered to be such a smart ass without being addressed......your mindless tripe never has any meaningful baseball insight. Have you ever even played the game? Or do you just like watching it in mom's basement?

Is the "Pie-Should-Play" wailing-and-gnashing-of-teeth crowd the same group still crying over the Cubs not playing future Hall of Famer Matt Murton? Just curious. Send Pie to Iowa so he can improve his bat confidence and rebuild his trade value (if that's the route the Cubs choose). Give Edmonds a month to show whether he can contribute or not; if he can, then move him in July somewhere else. If he can't, then release him. What's the big freaking deal? I don't think trading one 600 OPS guy for another in the everyday lineup really matters much one way or the other. Pie is the future, terrific. He ain't the present. Let's move on to the next issue.

In fairness, Rhodes put up cartoonish numbers in the US as well before he tailed off after one game. That was one helluva game. Hope Tuffy has it on tape for his kids' sake.

I agree with the bench Fontenot, put DeRo back at 2B, Reed and Pie in the OF plan.