Outshined_One

It's remaining at $92m. Accounting for the changes listed in the thread, STL might only have about $20m to play around with despite having some big need positions. They don't have the farm system to effectively fill those holes from within, so if they get Giles, they will potentially be short-changing their potential to fill holes in the rotation, bullpen, and in the lineup in a big way.

Apparently the Reds are going to be sold to new owners by the end of the year. Link 1 Link 2 One wonders what effects this will have on everything.

Funny, I was thinking other side of the age spectrum: Pat Gillick. Is Depodesta still unemployed?

It'll be really interesting to see what direction the Red Sox take in hiring their new GM. Will they continue with a Moneyball-type of approach? Also, I was starting to think one of these two deals with AZ was going to happen if Epstein hadn't quit: Conor Jackson & Luis Gonzalez for Manny & Cash or Chad Tracy, Carlos Quentin, & Luis Gonzalez for Manny, Cash, & Prospects But now? I'm not so sure about that.

And thus life gets really interesting for Boston.

Remind me again how long we had Moises Alou in left.

It's subscriber-only content, so I'll sum it up in my own words. Best Pro Debut: LHP Mark Pawelek & CF Davy Gregg -Pawelek was on limited pitch counts but performed well. Gregg showed excellent speed on the basepaths and good contact for Boise. Best Athlete: SS Dylan Johnston & C/OF Yusuf Carter -Johnston is toolsy, but needs polish. Carter is rather athletic. Best Pure Hitter: SS Dylan Johnston & OF Johnny Defendis -Defendis doesn't stand out tools-wise, but he makes consistent contact into the OF. Best Raw Power: C/OF Yusuf Carter -Strong frame could see him develop into a good power threat. Fastest Runner: CF Davy Gregg -He has plus-plus speed. Best Defensive Player: C Jake Muyco -Excellent catch-and-throw, needs to work on his hitting. Best Fastball: LHP Mark Pawelek, RHP Scott Taylor, LHP Donald Veal, and RHP Mike Billek -Pawelek pitches at 94-95 and can hit 97. The other three can hit 93-94. Best Breaking Ball: RHP Mike Billek, LHP Mark Pawelek, and RHP Mark Holliman -All have good curves. Most Intriguing Background: C/OF Yusuf Carter, C Michael Brenly, IF Kyle Reynolds, and 3B Brandon Taylor -Carter's uncle is Joe Carter. Brenly and Reynolds both have fathers who were former all stars (Cubs' broadcaster Bob Brenly and Craig Reynolds). Taylor hit for the cycle twice in one season at BYU. Closest to the Majors: RHP Mike Billek, RHP Mark Holliman, C Jake Muyco, or LHP Mark Pawelek -Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed. Muyco's D is good enough for the majors and he could shoot up if his bat comes around. Pawelek has a "special left arm". Best Late-Round Pick: RHP Michael Phelps (11), and LHP Jayson Ruhlman (23) -Phelps has three potential plus pitches and slipped in the draft due to a horrifying Matt Clement-like accident this past season when his catcher accidentally plunked him in the head in the season opener. Ruhlman could be a crafty lefty and showcases a 90-93 mph fastball. The One Who Got Away: OF Tyler Graham -The Cubs signed 28 of their first 30 picks. Graham will re-enter next year's draft as an eligible junior. Assessments: Veal and Pawelek are "dynamic". The hitters the Cubs selected need time to develop, though. If you want a more detailed report, as well as reports on other teams, click here.

Honestly, if Nomar wants to extend his career and be at less risk for injury, a move to LF for the rest of his career would be in his best interest, imo.

"Mr. Hendry? Walt Jocketty in St. Louis just offered me a five year deal worth $70 million."

Batman was the best lines. To Superman: "The last time you ever inspired anyone...was when you were dead!" From All Star Batman & Robin: "Why? Because I'm the g-d Batman." Although, Spidey's lines always crack me up. Bendis has given him some great ones in Ultimate Spidey and in New Avengers.

Fernando has his own country now? :-k

Announcing that he's been officially canned, according to the article.

Looks like the Depo firing is official: Link

I'm guessing that since the White Sox won the WS with a (s)crappy and speedy leadoff hitter at a corner OF spot, the Cubs should do the same in Paul Sullivan's world. If this is true, I'm trying to think of some guys who fit this mold that the Cubs could realistically acquire. Maybe it's Juan Pierre! :shock:

Plus it's a cheap Dempster-like option, if memory serves me. I wonder if Hendry sees Williamson as being Dempster's primary setup man?

Yep, that's what I'm implying. In terms of young & cheap players with good upsides, Williams and Hill would probably rank 2 and 3 respectively on any team's wish list in a trade with the Cubs (with Pie at #1, although you could make cases for Murton and Cedeno in that mix). I rank Williams and Hill higher because both have good upsides as pitchers, which a lot of teams covet. What everyone seems to have forgotten with Williams this season was that he did not play this past season at full capacity. Remember, he was fighting weight issues along with a lot of grief on his shoulders (father's illness, mother dying, etc). In the offseason, he is going to have a chance to go on the Carlos Zambrano Broccoli & Cottage Cheese Diet™, get back into shape, get his mind in order, and come back ready to go. Also, he is still fairly young (24 next season) with four above average pitches. Hill, on the other hand, was never given an opportunity to adjust to major league hitters and situations. There's a difference between pitching in Des Moines in front of 3,000 people and pitching in Wrigley in front of 32,000 people. We know a few things for certain with Hill: his curveballs are incredible and his fastball is at best decent and at worst below average. He's still developing that third pitch; whether or not it ever comes about is an important issue. However, with his curve ball, you figure he'll at worst become a quality LOOGY/setup man, which is an important cog to have on a team. The BBs and HRs are a problem, but he could cut down on those with time. Williams could be a key part of any deal, Hill could be a big part of any deal with a team in a pitcher's park. I would not be surprised one bit if Hendry traded one or both of them in a deal (or deals) for offensive help.

I'm a fan of picking up the options. Williamson is filthy when healthy and Walker has been solid.

I have to wonder something. Hendry should know by now that Rusch is at his best as a regular starter. However, this makes me curious... Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddux, Hill, Williams, and Rusch can all start next season. I'm thinking that guys such as Pinto and Nolasco will also be ready for the rotation if called upon during some point next season. Yet, there's only a 5 man rotation. I'm thinking this deal just made Rich Hill and Jerome Williams much more expendable...

Well if the Cubs get Burnett, at the very least, when the inevitable Kerry Wood injury and Mark Prior freak accident happen, they'll have some one to make pillow forts with in the clubhouse while Burnett nurses blisters/elbow soreness.

Please stop it with that moniker.

Welcome aboard!

Depends on how their OF situation shakes out in the offseason. They don't have much in the way of good options in terms of CF options plus they have their share of contracts to unload.

Yep.

The funny thing is, I never even gave a second thought to the White Sox until I went to high school about a mile south from downtown. Since it was a Catholic high school and had a good reputation, it attracted people from all over the city and surrounding suburbs. Freshman year, 1998, the Cubs were in the Wild Card chase and eventually made the playoffs. These guys who were from Beverly, The East Side, and Bridgeport gave me so much grief over being a Cubs fan that I was almost shocked. The Cubs and White Sox played in different leagues. They weren't even in the same division. Yet, here these guys were, ripping me for being a Cubs fan. It never made much sense to me and it still doesn't. I've come across plenty more people like that up here at UW-Madison, to boot. This bitterness and hostility is aimed more towards them than anyone else. Oh, by the way, Jabroni sends his love to everyone.

I know that was not your intention in this post, but I think almost every single Cubs fan I have ever met thought that the Curse of the Billy Goat was just bunk. Most Cubs fans know that this history of losing can be attributed to cheap ownership, lack of development of an effective farm system, and sheer ineptitude of players, management, and the front office. The irony of it all is that the Cubs have had a better overall history than the White Sox. More overall wins. More World Series appearances. More playoff appearances. And so on. Yet, here we are today. And, up until recently, I have come across an incredible number of White Sox fans that hated the Cubs more than they loved the White Sox. To them, the best days in Chicago are when the Cubs lose and the White Sox win. Do you want to know how many fun IMs and voice mails I got from White Sox fans after Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS? There are four reasons I'm cheering against the White Sox. First off, AJ Eyechart is one of the more despicable people in baseball from everything I've read. Every single controversial play that he's been involved in during the postseason has made me want to vomit. Secondly, Mark Buerhle is a classless tool. Way to accuse Greg Maddux of throwing a spitter, champ. I'm sure White Sox nation will love you when you bolt for the Cardinals in free agency. Secondly, Ozzie Guillen is an incredible jerk. He's perfect for the White Sox; a guy who will happily bully umpires, make the choke sign to opposing dugouts, and just generally acts like a tool. But, most of all, it's their fanbase. You want obnoxious and classless jerks, visit the Cellblock some time wearing the gear of an opposing team. Take a gander over at White Sox Interactive, where they have an entire forum dedicated to Cubs bashing. Yes, there are people over there who are respectful, intelligent, and mature. But, from my experience, these people tend to be the exception more than the rule. Using a comparison with the Red Sox, Yankees, and their respective fans, I liked Bill Simmons' use of having the Yankees being your top rival in high school who always got the hottest women, seemed to have everything easy in life, ended up going to a top college, and pushed you around at his leisure. The comparison in Chicago is that the White Sox was the obnoxious jerk at your high school who was dumb as a box of rocks, was not particularly well-liked by most people in high school, and who made a habit of picking fights and stuffing people into lockers. After he graduated, he went into a dead end job, became an alcoholic, and now spends his days engaging in schaudenfreude, reveling in the misery of others despite being a drunken, fat loser himself. Only now he's won the lottery. That's pretty much how I feel right now. Ugh.