TheDude

Firing Hendry in the offseason makes no sense at this point, whether they make the playoffs or not. The team that is currently headed into '08 and even '09 is the team Hendry built, with all the critical pieces locked-up long-term under his watch. All 5 rotation starters are the Cubs property for at least the next 2 years. 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, CF, and LF as well. The bullpen probably all returns, or kids fill holes. By replacing Hendry in the offseason, all a new owner will be doing is adding a GM that will fill 2 positional starters and the bench, and work any mid-season deals. It's also possible the new owner forces flat salary, so the 2 positional starters come from the farm (Murton, Soto), so at the lowest expected margin a new GM would have only the bench to fill. Hendry detractors needed him gone last offseason IMO. The team he has currently constructed has his fingerprints for several more years regardless of whether or not he gets replaced.

The problem with that is Lou's plan was to bunt the 2 runners to 2nd and 3rd in which case you'd probably like your faster runner on 2nd to score on a hit rather than on 3rd for the sac fly. That makes no sense. If you pinch-run for Fontenot before Ward even hits as I suggested, you can't predict the Ward hit and Kendall bunt scenario. You're basing decision making on future known results. Right after Fontenot's hit, I was looking for the fastest guy on the team to replace him on the bases as the tying run. Play to tie.

He should have taken ball 4. But I don't have a problem with Lou's hit and run attempt. Managers aren't required to go by the book every time, and if he was going to try that gambit, Kendall was as solid a hitter to try it with as any. My real issue with Lou's decision making that inning was pinch-running Pie for Ward. I really thought Pie should have pinch-ran for Fontenot, even before the Ward hit. DeRosa was available to play 2nd, Jones slides to RF and Pie in CF should the game tie or better. Pie might have been safe whereas Fontenot was not, but who knows.

Murton looked better last night, but his trouble, along with Pie, has been over-aggression at the plate. I don't recall 2006 swinging at the first pitch nearly as often as 2007 Murton. And there are times both these kids hack at the first pitch when a guy is struggling to find the plate, thereby doing the pitcher a great favor. I hope Murton gets a real shot in 2008 somewhere, but I don't see it for the Cubs. He's one of the pieces that will be traded for a 'big bat'.

Not only out, but way out. That looked like a 420'+ blast off the bat.

I thought this thread might have a ridiculous amount of overreaction. Monroe replaces Fox/Pagan as the right-handed OF power bat off the bench and does so at virtually no cost to the Cubs. He has an expiring contract at the end of the year. Even with his terrible OBP, this is the guy who will come in to PH when the runners are already on and Lou's looking for the long ball, not when the bases are empty. Lou's already got his favorites established for that PH role.

Anyone have the pythag record difference for Texas from before the game and after? Just curious.

There are a bunch of guys on that team headed toward career HR totals. That's all it takes. If the Cubs had performed up to expectations, the team total wouldn't be too far behind the Brewers. At least 160. But while many Brewers are headed toward career highs, at least 5 Cubs are having major off-years on their HR numbers, including all 3 prime sluggers.

The new Kendall, yes. The pre-Cubs 2007 Kendall isn't. It really looks like the trade has rejuvenated this guy. He looks like the Kendall many Cubs fans wanted in the early 2000s.

Pure speculation. However, TB can't Crawford soon, and the organization's best move is to deal him sooner to improve the value of the return package.

I'm all for going for Crawford. He would without a doubt be an upgrade. I just don't know how you would set up a lineup with him and Soriano. To me they seem to be very similar players. My preference is to trade for Burrell who will only be 31 next year. I'm pretty sure a deal of Murton and Marshall could net us Burrell. Then we would have an ideal lineup of Theriot, Soriano, DLEE, Burrell, Ramirez, DeRosa, Soto/Kendall, Pie. In my mind the mistake we made this offseason was signing Soriano over Carlos Lee. I would have much preferred a lineup of Theriot, DeRosa, DLEE, CLEE, Ramirez, Floyd, Jones, Kendall over a lineup of Soriano, Theriot, DLEE, Ramirez, DeRosa, Floyd, Jones, Kendall. But hindsight is 20/20. Regarding Crawford, having him and Soriano in the same lineup is one hell of a good "problem" to have. Some combination of Soriano, Crawford, Lee, Ramirez, and DeRosa makes up 1-5. Soto 6. You could drop Pie and Theriot to 7-8 to ignite the bottom of the order with speed and hustle. The lineup is stacked with both amazing speed and very respectable power, and it's a excellent defensive team on top of that, which is gravy. The problem with your Burrell suggestion is the team suddenly looks old. Murton and Marshall are cheap and productive talent, while Burrell is an anomalous, aging, expensive talent. Simultaneously, adding 31 year old Burrell to a core that is already 29+ (Soriano, Lee, Ramirez) and you've shortened your window for success a bit and downgraded defensively. The real point is the Cubs have a window for success right now, and to maximize that window you give up the best of the farm that is blocked or replaceable for a 26-28 year old stud that figures to make too much for its current team.

If RF is the big bat acquisition, then Pie plays CF everyday. With Pie's range, the RF doesn't need anything better than average or even slightly sub-average defense. I think possibly he meant the OF's are all CF's (Hunter, Jones, etc.), correct? Kind of. Even via trade, try to find someone that you think would be a big offensive upgrade in RF who wouldn't make you cringe every time a ball is hit his way. I've done a fifty-yard dash through MLB and there aren't any guys like that. I suppose you could sign one of the veteran CFs and play Pie or Jones in RF, but that doesn't appeal to me. Dunn-Pie-Soriano Burrell-Pie-Soriano Sounds like you're strictly talking FAs, otherwise you're then saying there isn't a RF upgrade in all baseball. I'm advocating the Cubs deal from farm strength (pitching) to get an OF (either CF or RF), then plug Murton or Pie in the remaining spot. Or include Murton in the deal and plug Pie RF if the target is a CF. There are quite a few options out there, and they don't have to be over the hill. A team stocked with young OF (say TB), but short on pitching might be willing to deal, even if the Cubs have to overpay a bit. Hell, I'd offer Hill and target Crawford, for example, then run Soriano, Pie, and Crawford as the fastest OF in baseball (with 60+ HR expectation).

If RF is the big bat acquisition, then Pie plays CF everyday. With Pie's range, the RF doesn't need anything better than average or even slightly sub-average defense.

I really like this team right now looking at '08. An infield of Lee, DeRosa, Theriot, and Ramirez is solid, and DeRosa, Lee, Ramirez makes for a good 2-4 lineup. Theriot can work as an everyday player provided other things happen in the offseason. The outfield is probably the biggest project. Soriano is clearly penciled in, but CF and RF are up in the air. Hopefully Hendry tries to move Jones and Eyre and puts the money into a quality OF. This will be the one real offseason move. Use that pitching depth in the farm system to make it happen. Go with cheap production in Pie or Murton in whatever OF slot doesn't get filled by the other OF move. A starting three of Zambrano, Hill, and Lilly is also very solid. Marquis is likely there because he is signed, and is a serviceable #5. Use a Cubs farm product at #4. The bullpen is still pretty solid, and the Cubs have a stockpile of good young arms. This is the area where the Cubs can save the most money. I'd like to Soto get a shot at everyday catcher, again saving money. That's a start I can excited about for certain.

Couldn't have pulled the trigger last Monday Mets? Rassa frassa...

do you really think this could have a negative effect, though? I don't see it. I think it just feeds the irrational and unhealthy fan attention to the situation. The guy has a long way to go before he'll be able to help the team. Yet with the huge contract, unjustified promotion already this year, and a potential call-up, fans are going to be expecting him to start next year in Wrigley and be good. We've already seen how little patience people have with other young players, there's no need to throw-in the added burden of expectations that a September call-up would bring. Generally speaking I think you are right, but this kid is probably an exception. He played college football at Notre Dame as a star player. I don't think fan burden from a September call-up will get to this kid the same as any other pitcher. He's already been exposed to more pressure than he might ever see in his baseball career.

Are you trying to say that Blanco isn't an experienced catcher? Because Blanco exactly fills the role of your faux quote. How does it not make sense?

I hope so. Saturday they waited just over an hour instead of calling the game in the 8th with the Cubs winning. They need to let this one play out as well.

Ward is a damn sharpshooter for that basket.

Yeah, that was pretty crappy No kidding. The Cardinals are catching all the breaks in this game in terms balls in play.

That's not going to change in the 2-spot.

Hendry has certainly made some dumb trades and ineffectual signings, but nobody can ignore the fact that the core of this team (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, DeRosa, Zambrano, Lilly, Hill) is all Hendry. The record over his tenure isn't there, largely due to last season alone, but the core of this team is locked up long-term and it looks damn good. I'm expecting the team to be a playoff team several times over the next few seasons.

He's gone. Hendry screwed this up, like he does everything else. No he isn't. He wants to stay with the Cubs and SOMEHOW they'll get it done.Sure, except he isn't going to wait until our sale gets sorted out. We had our window and we blew it. You really have no idea what you're talking about. Nobody here has the inside scoop on this.

The worse part is the Cubs put up practically the same number of base runners as the Astros in the 3-game series (34 for Cubs, 35 for Astros), but were out scored 15-5. That 2-for-33 with RiSP was something wicked brutal.

A seven month rental should cost at most a B prospect, even Dunn. It's only 7 weeks of value. Go get a bat Hendry.