UMFan83

He's trying to raise that trade value. With a 1:1 Balls to strikes ratio

Awesome. Do it.

Pretty sure the Trachsel deal last year didn't go on for very long and also the Tejada deal this year didn't drag on and on. It was rumored for a couple of weeks but went down pretty quickly. Not nearly as fast as the Renteria trade went down, but it certainly didn't drag on like "every deal the O's make" like you are saying. The Trachsel trade was a minor one, although they got a great return for him. Tejada dragged on for a couple of weeks with false reports, but they wanted to hurry and trade him before the Mitchell Report came out so they had a deadline in mind. The Bedard and Roberts trades will shape the face of the franchise for years, so they are taking their time with it. Understandable, but its getting a bit ridiculous at this point.

I didn't hear/see the report, but I'd be more scared that the White Sox are making a late play for Roberts.

Nevermind pitching himself out of the closers role, Howry is pitching himself off the roster.

Can someone PM me when there is some updated news about Roberts? I promised myself that I wouldn't view this thread for 3 days anytime the wrigley23/soriano/leadoff issue was brought up.

What's to discuss? Can we discussed if Brian Roberts it the long lost brother of Eric and Julia? Or is Dayton's Brian Roberts a clone of the Orioles Brian Roberts?

All this is going to do is confuse everyone.

Oh how everything comes full circle

I'm sorry if Hendry is held accountable for the players on the field, then I just don't get it. He's not the MANAGER. Now if Hendry doesn't do everything in his power to improve the holes on this team, then yes, I would him accountable. But to hold him accountable for the players on the field, is simply wrong. What on earth are you talking about? You're right. General managers shouldn't be held accountable for how their teams perform. Or not. If you spent $120 million on a baseball team and they don't win 80 games, you can and should be held accountable. I don't care if all the players hit 50 OPS points below their average or give up a run more than their career averages. The GM must be held responsible for that. Fire the manager too if you have to.

Because now they are looking at him.....WITH THEIR EYES!

Those were my words, sorry about the confusion. From what I gathered, most of the players are available. Oh gosh. Not that Hendry would ever do this, but please please go after Lincecum. Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssee Jimbo.

I don't know if you were joking about senior citizen discount or if you meant that they are only shopping their older players, but I think Cain or Lincecum would look pretty good. However, even in the Giants current state, and the value that those guys could get, I wouldn't trade them. Well maybe Cain, but not Lincecum.

=D> =D> =D> =D> That's kind of what I wanted to say but you said it 100 times better than I could have ever.

ridiculous. Howry and Donaldson for Crisp? If Hendry does this I am going to blow a gasket

DLee and collisions are never good...are they ok? Edit: Eyre and DLee were involved the last time DLee collided with someone WTH?

He didn't really have heart surgery, he was secretly transforming himself into a lefthanded batter. Expect to see a series of these "heart surgeries" in the future so that Hendry can finish his master plan of an all lefty lineup.

I guess taking called strike 3's and check swing k's is part of the territory when you have an elite OBP guy. I wouldn't know because I'm a Cubs fan.

That's just their regurgitating of what was posted a couple pages back from Stark.

And Theriot for another starting SS after I kidnap him.

I really hate when people post info a day late, but I don't remember seeing this. If it has already been posted, ridicule me From SI.com's Jon Heyman yesterday

Bye bye Shingo, you certainly served your purpose

Todd Walker for Jose Ceda I am mostly kidding though because anyone can trade 10 Todd Walkers and you will maybe get 1 decent prospect like Ceda. It is looking like a nice move but it could have easily been David Crouthers. Hendry is a slightly below average GM who looks good based on his resources and the weakness of his division. Would we have nearly as good of a bullpen if we couldn't just throw millions at Howry and Eyre 2 offseasons ago? Would most teams have already cut their losses with Kerry Wood and allow him to rehab and convert to a reliever on another teams buck? Would most teams be able to 'fix' a dysfunctional team (built by the same GM) by throwing $136 million at the top FA hitter, and giving mildly outrageous sums to 2 starters? A good GM robs another team more than he is robbed in trades, and consistently can find value in places where other teams cannot (and are not willing to pay for). The DLee and Ramirez trades were fantastic and literally shaped the franchise for the next decade. The Cubs have certainly dealt with adversity during his tenure as well (Wood/Prior, Mueller blowing out his knee, etc). But the bottom line is trades for "veteran starting pitchers" for 2 decent prospects when our starting 5 was not a problem, and throwing all your eggs in a basket for a player who doesn't play a position of need, while other positions remain a problem are not signs of a competent GM.

You think? I figure Soto will produce more than Barrett/Kendall did last year. You gotta figure Pie/Fukudome will be more productive than Jones/Floyd were for us last year as well. This is definitely a better lineup than last year, IMO. In addition, you really would think at least 1, if not 2 or all 3 of Lee, Ramirez, Soriano will have better years than last year.

I agree with everything that has been said thus far but IMB, the Cubs clearly have the best line-up in the NL Central. Milwaukee is a close second. I'm almost positive he was kidding. There is just no way the Cubs are worse off than the Pirates. I don't agree the Cubs clearly have the best lineup in the Central. The Brewers up and down have more sure things in their lineup than the Cubs, and their 2 biggest thumpers (Fielder and Braun) are probably better than the Cubs biggest thumpers (some combo of Soriano, Ramirez, Lee). I think it goes 1. Cubs/Brewers (tie) 3. Reds 4. Astros 5. Cardinals 6. Pirates Sorry Jake