UK1679666180

http://www.protrade.com/insight/InsightArticleDesjardinsBestOutfieldArm.html Interesting article concerning arm strength... Notice the btm 3 and their potential impact on the FA market.

I think he'd run pitchers into the ground if they were productive enough down in TB. Price held him back in Seattle, but he still managed to overwork pitchers like Garcia. I forgot about Garcia. He seems to have a better handle on whom to use in the pen at any given time than Dusty, but that doesn't seem hard. He can manage a bullpen very well.

I think he'd run pitchers into the ground if they were productive enough down in TB. Price held him back in Seattle, but he still managed to overwork pitchers like Garcia.

Injuries and two corner OF'ers by the name of Sosa and Alou. Those are the reasons why it took Dubois so long to get to the majors compared to Murton. If the Cubs had some stability at LF-RF like they did w/Sosa and Alou, you might've seen a jump from AA to the majors.

He's a better manager than Baker, there's no doubt about that. But, I think we would've seen the same things regrading Perez over Cedeno, Hollandsworth over Dubois, and then Hollandsworth over Murton as we did w/Baker. I think Lou would treat the pitchers the same as Baker has as well. He'd just be a better in-game manager and take responsibility if the Cubs underachieved in back to back years.

The question to me is... How did Bonds have the quickest bat in MLB long before his HR totals shoot thru the roof as well as the re-definition of his bodt?

Hughes was hired by Hendry after Hendry became GM. Hughes did play a huge role in Hendry's career progression, dating back to the Marlins.

I wish the thread still existed of the predictions back in March. I believe I had... Florida-E STL-C LA-W ATL-WC Clev-C NYY-E Angelsa-W Bost-WC

In keeping my Larry Brown tendencies, I'll have to call it quits. But, I feel I gave that team a foundation in its present state and in the future by rebuilding the farm system. Player prodcurement in the Frontier League and in a new League forming in '06 down in TX will absorb more time.

Bat speed and running speed are completely separate. Bonds had the quickest bat in MLB long before he was accused of juicing, there's a reason for that. The best hitting mechanics since probably Ted Williams.

Heh, I'm to be impressed by beating UK football? The Peanut gang could beat UK at football even with Peppermint Patty as the holder.

Meh, I'll be in the tropics right around the start of ST.

Builds muscle mass.... It doesn't generate bat speed, it provides more explosive energy during the muscle movements of the swing. You'd think Bonds with his power and the "steroid use" would be a stiff like Kapler, but he's extremely fluid throughout his swing. It helps you hit the ball farther, that's about it.

Neifi starting is the wrong spot. The only reason he didn't strike out was the same reason he didn't walk. He swung at everything. At usually, early pitches are pitcher's pitches. Which is why he leads the team in GIDP. So you would have went w/ Cedeno instead? Just curious. Not trying to start shhh. I would've... When Cedeno proved he could hit AAA pitching at a high clip with a large enough sample, Neifi was coming down from his early season high. Despite Neifi's great start, he managed an OPS under .700 and an OBP around .300. His defense hasn't been able to sway me from thinking the Cubs would've been better off giving Cedeno the 8th spot in the order and playing him 4-5 games a week. I don't know if Cedeno would've been more productive, but I sure would've liked to have found out as it was worth the risk.

Wait, he's lost 20+ lbs how can he do it? Oh yeah, he's still got the quickest bat I've ever seen. Odd how that works for some... Still the greatest ballplayer I've ever seen.

Assuming Baker is back, I'd rather see Hairston over Perez. Give a pyro a match and gasoline and he'll burn down a house. I really would want to see Cedeno start over Perez, Dusty wouldn't start someone like Woodward or Gomez over Cedeno, but he could start Perez over Cedeno.

The Cubs can't afford to hope he builds up his value. The only way to do that is to throw him out there everyday and they can't do that if they want to win it all next year.

He could, I wouldn't want him to though. I'd rather see him as a utility player off the bench in a role occupied by Macias right now. They need a quality 4th OF'er, I think someone like Cruz provides that more than Hairston.

I wouldn't mind seeing Lofton. I just hope some fans realize the starters' ERA may go up a bit because his defense is shaky as we saw at times in 2003. I think Lofton and a platoon partner like Jose Cruz Jr. would do well together. Lofton and his 38-39yo body could rest against LH'ers and Cruz could see plenty of actions as well in CF.

What about after the Lawton trade to the Yanks? There was a window there that showed Murton hitting well in a small sample and Hollandsworth continuing to not hit before being traded? That's not throwing Murton to the wolves, that's doing what is best for the ballclub. You know what you had in Hollandsworth and yet he still started a large % of games after the Lawton trade, until he was traded.

The Cubs have around 35-40 mil to spend with holes at 2 OF spots and 2 spots in the bullpen. Millwood would be a luxury at this point, but he could fall into the Cubs budget especially with Maddux and Wood off the books approx. 1 year from now. Allocate 13 mil towards the pen (Dempster), 12 towards OF (Giles and Lofton), rebuild this bench (5mil), pay the arbitration players and you'll not only keep the payroll even, you'll improve this team dramatically. If the Cubs have any left over money, I wouldn't mind seeing them trade for Lugo or bring Nomar back. I think Cedeno can be solid SS defensively and a solid #8 hitter as he progresses. But, the Cubs have the ability to build a 95 win team for next year. I have little doubt in my mind the Cubs will have a new CF'er next year.

Guzman needs a year of clean health before I start projecting him into the rotation. Hopefully, he has a solid AFL starts '06 at AA then makes it up to iowa and possibly a Sept. callup. When I seen him at the end of August, there were glimpses of a future #2 starter.

What is the over/under of the #2 hitter bunting the runner on 1B to 2B and then the oppsition walking Lee?

They need at least one more stud in the pen, I want BJ Ryan, if they could get him as well as Sauerbeck as well as bringing back Dempster, I'd be content. It sould likes a difficult task, but they will have cleared around 11mil with Remlinger, Borowski, and Hawkins off the books. I'd be content with Walker and Murton hitting 1-2, there's no speed there obviously, but you leadoff hitter who could get on base and a nice 32 hittre in Murton who is a good situational hitter as well as someone who get on base and drive in runs when needed. I agree, you can't go into next year expecting MVP numbers from Lee. You have to get at least 1 top hitter for the OF spot, I like Giles, be impossible to sign him, but they should make every effort ot get him and bat him behind Lee and stick him in RF. I think they can go cheap in LF (Murton), CF, and SS (Cedeno) and still compete. I want Langerhaus from ATL or Stern from Boston (for Rusch?)via trade, you just need a solid 4th OF'er in case they falter (Jose Cruz Jr.). I would have no problem with them signing Lofton to a 1 yr. deal either. Onto the rotation... 1st 4 are set barring some unexpected retirement or trade. I'd like to see Millwood, I'd have no problem with Williams or Hill competing for the #5. But, there's no doubt in my mind someone from the rotation will get injured. Want to compare yourself to the Cards and not see any separation, that's how you do it....

If Baker's inability to develop position prospects was the only strike against him, I would have problem with him coming back. Larger factors into the equation are his inability to be an in-game manager, he has little concept of how to manage a bullpen or bench and he is too careless with pitchers.