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TheDude

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Everything posted by TheDude

  1. TheDude
    Can you guys tell at this point in time whether this Gallagher kid is the real deal? If he makes it to the majors, how far out is the current projection? 2007?
  2. TheDude
    It is more than just that the Cubs didn't score. Bases loaded and nobody out with no runs scoring isn't unheard of. It is that the first two batters in that situation couldn't even put the ball in play to give the team a chance. Even a bloddy double play ground out from Corey scores a run if hit deep enough. Heck, I'd like to see Corey drop down a squeeze even. Something. But no, those first two batters struck out, the absolute worse outcome in that situation. All anybody asks for is to have the ball be put in play.
  3. TheDude
    Pat and Ron sound as disinterested and lifeless as I have ever heard them. Ron in particular sounds like he "broadcasting through the pain".
  4. TheDude
    I guess those Manny Ramirez comparisons aren't that far off.
  5. TheDude
    Can we refer to Ryan Dempster as Dempster, and BJ Ryan, as Ryan? The liberal use of Ryan for both players is confusing me. Anyway, I would look to keep Dempster at 2/10. He certainly surprised me. I have long held that guys like Dempster (and even Wood) will not be successful closers because they often are wild while they are finding rhythm in the first inning they pitch. First inning walks are common with these guys. Can they be dominant? Absolutley. 1 inning shut-down though? I don't know. I'd rather have a guy with 2 great pitches who throws strikes at a much higher clip.
  6. TheDude
    Pitching Staff Walks 29% Low OBP in 1-2 holes 26% Lack of Situational Hitting 11% Key Injuries 10% Poor fundamental fielding/decisions 8% Questionable Mangerial Decisions 7% Bad Defensive Placement of Reserves 5% Bad bench lineup 4% The top two say it all for me. The Cubs pitching staff had one of the lowest BAA in all of baseball, and yet gave up a ton of walks (one of the worst in baseball). You can't give away baserunners and win this game. Period. You can't let your 3 hole MVP candidate hit with nobody on base. Period.
  7. TheDude
    You do not have to show that link. If a corporation repeatedly misses earnings estimates, but each time they do so there is a seemingly innocent reason why, do we say it's a healthy company. The trend is your friend. Anybody who was genuinely surprised that Nomar suffered a serious injury in 2005 should be ashamed of themselves. Then you cannot exclude Prior from your analysis. You can't call Prior's elbow "flukish" because he has a history as well.
  8. TheDude
    I couldn't disagree more. Some things are flukes. You first have to show that Nomar's injury history has anything to do with the current injury before a causal link can be established. Injury History: 1996 Ankle (minor leagues) - brief 1998 Shoulder - brief 1999 Elbow - brief 2000 Back - brief 2001 Wrist - first major injury 2004 Achilles - 2nd major injury 2005 Groin - 3rd major injury Note that none of these are surface-related. I would consider both the groin and wrist injuries to be "freakish", but I don't know enough about the others to comment.
  9. TheDude
    That just says that the stuff is still there, but he's not as sharp with his location. Sometimes he's missing off the plate, but sometimes he's catching way too much of the zone. Wouldn't that statement be true of most pitchers who's ERA is high? The second part of the statement is really meant to be considered to be in combination with the first part. Given his K/9 and BAA, Prior's stuff is still way above average. He just has been susceptible to grooving more pitches than in the past. It goes hand in hand with the walk totals. With his stuff, all he has to do is get ahead of hitters, and the ace shows up.
  10. TheDude
    AL East: Boston Red Sox AL Central: Cleveland Indians AL West: LAA Angels AL Wildcard: Chicago Whitesox NL Wildcard: Houston Astros
  11. TheDude
    Way too much money. I would offer him 2.5 to 4 mil with incentives. He has a lot to prove, and this brief stint from the DL doesn't do it for me. I will go on record as saying there's no way he signs that cheap. The only question about him is health. He's shown since he's come back from the DL that he can perform. Somebody, whether its the Cubs or not, will guarantee him five million. That I am sure of, and I'd probably put the figure closer to seven million. I think the Cubs have a better chance of getting him at five than any other team would. It's not a question of whether he still has the skills; it's a question of whether he can stay healthy. The history of FA signings indicate there's no way that Nomar signs for less than five. Look at the contracts that have been handed out to players over the years. No way Nomar signs for less than five. I will back you up. It is unreal to think Nomar will get a base salary less than Guzman. Sorry folks. It will take 5m plus incentives up to 8 or 9.
  12. TheDude
    I agree with you completely. There is no way pitchers should be shut down right now based on pure speculation. That really makes no sense. You want these pitchers to maintain arm strength. Prior has not been "bad". He has been average and inconsistent over the last 6 weeks. He has walked more batters than he should have, and struggled with control, particularly that high fastball, exactly as a previous poster noted. IMO, what Prior needs is more reps and rhythm. He has stopped and started so many times that he has been able to start games in a rhythm - the first inning has been a particular struggle for him. Shutting him down only slows down his progress back to ace-form.
  13. TheDude
    His name was never in need of clearing anyway.
  14. TheDude
    I don't see the Cubs getting in on any of the major blockbusters that could take place. The AL and NL east will drive pretty much all of the major blockbusters. Baltimore trying to snag both Delgado and Lowell makes a lot of sense. They could then try to move Lowell/Gibbons/Mora/other for a pitcher. I also see them signing Burnett.
  15. TheDude
    This is the only thing Steriods might have done to improve Barry Bonds' game. Durability. If he took steriods, as he likely did, they impacted his game minimally outside durability. There is no denying he is the best hitter in baseball, and maybe the best hitter ever.
  16. TheDude
    Not true. When a lot of people talk about "fundamentals", they refer to defense and play in the field, baserunning, hitting the cutoff man, as well as bunting, moving over a runner third, or generating a sac fly.
  17. TheDude
    What about key pitching stats? Isn't it just a chicken and egg question?
  18. TheDude
    That article only highlights what most of us already know. Johnny Damon in CF leading off and Giles RF hitting 5th are the answers. Just slap me awake please.
  19. TheDude
    If you have the kind of money Giles has, there is nothing crappy about Southern California. Also, his current team is likely to make the playoffs, while Chicago clearly isn't. From a non-Cub-biased view, the Padres are already home, already a "contender", and probably will make a good offer. If he leaves SD for Chicago, there is a legitimate argument that can be made to say he goes only for more money (and not because he wants to win).
  20. TheDude
    I think it is improbable because I don't see the Cubs have any marquee piece of the deal that the Red Sox want, assuming Chicago doesn't dangle Prior or Zambrano. The Red Sox don't have to dump Manny's salary. And knowing what the FA market looks like, and knowing they are still a top dog in the AL, they will require a marquee impact player in the deal.
  21. TheDude
    Not as the first or even second probable scenario, no. I would see both Garciaparra and Cedeno starting at 2B before Neifi, if you approach it with the attitude of who has first dibs. This all assumes a SS comes in as a priority offseason acquisition. With Aramis's and Garciaparra's health, Neifi is a solid bench option. He will get at 150-200 at bats behind those two. He'll probably get that many at bats behind Cedeno as well, just because of Dusty.
  22. TheDude
    99 At Bats, 5 HR, 2 2B, 2 3B. That leaves 24 singles. I know Murton is hot topic around here, as everybody looks to nest year. Some want to gamble on him, some want to see a major acquisition. My question is this: from the sampling Murton has showed this year, what is your assessment? For my part I am impressed, but I am also confused as to why some of those singles haven't been stretched to doubles. I thought Murton possessed better-than-average speed, but maybe not. I can live with 20 HR power out of the kid. A .333 avg and .404 OBP is pretty solid for his first 100 At Bats.
  23. TheDude
    Big League teams will not make such a decision based on a AA potential that is years away. If they can get a high production player at 2B for the next two years while EP grows and learns, they will. Even if it means signing the player for 3 or more years. At that point they'll let EP stay in the minors for the extra year, or trade away the player in his last year and bring up the kid.
  24. TheDude
    I should be clear, I am not advocating the Cubs make this move. I am curious as whether it will loom as a legitimate possibility. Just asking the question doesn't make you a proponent. All things being considered, upper level management, no matter the business or industry, loves to hire "proven" guys, to the point that underlying faults, luck of the prior successes, or surrounding environmental factors get overlooked. I don't think it is a stretch to think the Trib would look at Torre as an upgrade.
  25. TheDude
    There are a number of threads already discussing the Walker topic. In summary, there are two prevailing stances from folks on the board: 1 - His productivity for salary is awesome and he should be kept and made the definitive starter at 2B and 2-hole hitter. Why trade him when he has solid OBP and productivity? 2 - Walker is the best trade chip the Cubs have this offseason, because of his productivity for cost. 2B is a position the Cubs can readily replace (Hairston, Cedeno, Garciaparra all talked about). So why not trade Walker while his value is at his highest to fill a position the team can't as easily replace. Personally, I fall into camp two.
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