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TheDude

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Everything posted by TheDude

  1. TheDude
    I think the Rays are better off trading Upton for a top-shelf pitching prospect of equal value and keeping Lugo as a respectable SS. The Rays have lots of young hitting and need more pitching.
  2. TheDude
    It's not a fair question. You're listing a 2nd option at SS with a 1st option in RF, then a 1st option at SS with a 10th option in RF. To make it an even statement, I go with Furcal and Floyd. [edit - smelling pistakes] No, it is a fair question. Lugo/Giles will probably cost about the same amount as Furcal/Encarnacion. Furcal/Floyd would cost more. The money doesn't matter for the Cubs now regarding these two positions. These are the two prime offseason offensive upgrades. The Cubs have plenty of money. [edit - Besides, Furcal + Floyd = 17 million, Giles + Lugo = 16 million]
  3. TheDude
    Tell me why, if you don't mind? A career WHIP of 1.46 and ERA of 3.97 doesn't show me much. K/9 and K/BB are promising, but not dominating.
  4. TheDude
    McDougal is a puzzling target for Hendry, though I think he has been after him for over a year now. McDougal doesn't seem to be any more reliable than gambling on our own in-house youth IMO.
  5. TheDude
    I used an earlier example: Lofton. Lofton 3 year splits (35-38 age): .303/.362/.428/.790 Besides, Ichiro is also the exception, not the rule.
  6. TheDude
    It's not a fair question. You're listing a 2nd option at SS with a 1st option in RF, then a 1st option at SS with a 10th option in RF. To make it an even statement, I go with Furcal and Floyd. [edit - smelling pistakes]
  7. TheDude
    Fair enough, but at age 32? I'll buy this argument 3 years from now.
  8. TheDude
    Both are capable of hitting up to 15 homers. Both are capable of stealing 30+ bases. Both will most likely put up an OBP of around .340 or higher. They are very similar defensively, although Furcal has the better arm. Both have had some off-field problems in the past. The only real differences are that Lugo is a couple years older, costs less salary wise, and would require the Cubs to part with a prospect or two to get. Lugo is less likely to hit 15 HR. He hit 13 HR the last 2 years combined with 1197 ABs. Lugo has only ever put up high SB totals in one year - this past. Lugo has less range and a weaker arm. Furcal is the better player and is right at the age for peak production 27/28 breakout.
  9. TheDude
    Anytime now. Though there isn't usually immediate signings. And with the lack of quality depth in the FA market, you can expect the bigger names to hold-out longer, because there aren't many alternatives.
  10. TheDude
    Are we just bidding against ourselves for Furcal? Probably in terms of priority. But in terms of dollars, the bidding is against the market value established for SS over the last 3 years. SS are overpaid, there is no way around it.
  11. TheDude
    Lugo is not Furcal, so let's just squash that idea right now, because it isn't enough of an upgarde over Cedeno's potential. Lugo played way above his head this year, and is a respectable SS, but doesn't have the ceiling of Furcal. Lugo would have to put up a 2nd career year in a row to slightly out-perform Furcal's career norms in AVG and OBP, but still would produce less power. I expect Lugo to regress to .335 OBP and .730 OPS. And Neifi is not going to be traded either.
  12. TheDude
    Right :roll: . The man is 32 and keeps himself in excellent condition. Very few people have sharp declines at 32, and those that do aren't nearly as talented as Ichiro. I wonder how many people said Kenny Lofton was due for a sharp decline 6 years ago, or Finley 8 years ago, etc. And those guys aren't as talented as Ichiro. If Ichiro bats .280 next season, then you essentially have Neifi Perez. I'm just saying it's due. It might not happen, but I wouldn't be shocked. I'd be more than shocked if Ichiro put up Neifi numbers. It's pretty ridiculous to make that claim, IMO. There is a bloody .076 point difference in MLB career OBP and .138 difference in OPS. Ichiro .332/.377/.819 Perez .270/.301/.681
  13. TheDude
    There was never any doubt that Matsui was not going to be a Yankee. There is more than just his production wrapped in that contract.
  14. TheDude
    I agree and it smacks of Pie being a player in this deal. No it doesn't.
  15. TheDude
    Right :roll: . The man is 32 and keeps himself in excellent condition. Very few people have sharp declines at 32, and those that do aren't nearly as talented as Ichiro. I wonder how many people said Kenny Lofton was due for a sharp decline 6 years ago, or Finley 8 years ago, etc. And those guys aren't as talented as Ichiro.
  16. TheDude
    It really is too mind-boggling to consider a Cubs front five of Pierre, Furcal, Lee, Ramirez, and Dunn. It's infuriating to realize the Cubs can actually afford to do make this happen knowing how fantasy it seems.
  17. TheDude
    More than that, have you noticed it takes an almost Cy Young rotation for any of the teams in the bandboxes to be successful? Houston needed Oswalt, Clemens, an over-achieving Petitte, and a surprise Backe to get there. Philly, Baltimore, and Colorado are a long ways from the pitching needed to overcome the small park. Personally, I think the ballpark in Detroit is killer. More like that please.
  18. TheDude
    I disagree. Vazquez posted some solid numbers for a losing team. His K/Walk ratio is alomost 4/1, and his WHIP and ERA were respectable. If he chops that HR total down he's not from being a stud again. He's worth a gamble for a team with money to spend.
  19. TheDude
    If the Reds required the Cubs to take on Milton's contract to get Dunn, do they do it?
  20. TheDude
    If you narrow your need down to an impact, left-handed, corner-outfield bat, your list is going to be very short. You have to accept a RH alternative.
  21. TheDude
    I was never able to understand what the attraction to Bradley is, exactly. While his 3-year splits show a .380 OBP, they also show 14 HR/53 RBI totals in 500+ ABs. Those will suffice out of a CF, but not a corner OF (not with Murton in the other corner). So if the stance is Bradley in CF, it's ok. But in RF, he isn't nearly enough of a power impact to bat 5th.
  22. TheDude
    In a word, No. Start big before settling small.
  23. TheDude
    You can't blame Florida for asking right - anyone would ask. But after you've already announced you're dumping salary, you can't expect to get more for Pierre than the Cubs got for Sammy Sosa in a salary dump.
  24. TheDude
    How so? Hendry has stated before he isn't trading Pie. I think all indications are that Hendry will not make this deal including Pie.
  25. TheDude
    Cedeno starts over Perez according to Hendry. You can continue to espouse this belief that he won't if you like, but it gets tiring to see that you state it as fact everytime the topic emerges. The fact is the GM promotes Cedeno as starting and Perez signed as a back-up super-sub for 2B, SS, and even 3B. Perez likely gets a lot of PT of the bench in that super-sub role under Dusty. Last year Hendry promoted the idea of DuBois starting in Left. That lasted until Baker got to fill out the Opening Day lineup. Dubois had a respectable shot. In April and May he had 93 at bats (Hollandsworth had 104) and he struck out 33 times with only modest power numbers. It's not like Hollandsworth was any better during those months...neither one of them stepped-up and claimed the job. In June Hollandsworth got hot, and that was it for Dubois. It's true that Dubois didn't start the season as the everyday LF, but then I don't recall that he was handed the job as confidently as with Cedeno.
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