UK1679666180

I'm having a hard time deciding on what I want the Cubs to do concerning next year's OF. Burnitz has an option for next year, Patterson, Lawton, and Murton. That is a bland group all the way around, Murton is intriguing b/c of his low salary, Patterson is a huge "?", Burnitz and Lawton are probably avg-below avg. corner OF'ers.

1st, you should be applauded for being able to pitch despite the vision setback. 2nd, how difficult was it being in a military family and having had to move to various locations as far as being able to play baseball and new teammates/friends every couple of years?

Can you describe your signing process? You were signed right after the draft & being a non-drafted senior, did the Cubs area scout mention the possibility of signing as a FA as well as did you have a choice of possible teams to sign with? I'm just wondering if being an Illinois native as well as a Cubs fan factored in your decision.

When a scouts signs a player, they often mention that no matter what, that player can always talk to them regardless if they play for another team. Now that you're in organization not represented by Dana Brown (who besides signing you with the Pirates also suggested that the Expos trade for you after he went to Montreal), have you still been in contact with him about various issues since his recent promotion?

To continue the Nomar angle, how was it playing along side your favorite athlete? Also having playing in the WAC, was Aardsma the toughest pitcher in the WAC you faced?

Harvey is extremely gifted, probably 2nd to Pie in that regard in the Cubs system. But, sometimes I wonder if he's too pretty out there for my taste. For a reference point, I said the same thing about Drew when he was a younger player. He makes it look too easy out there, if there's such a thing. I agree with that article, he's going to have to learn how to hit an off-speed and breaking pitches.

Bob Dernier had a great game as well, not many remember how well did that game. Of course, he is my fav. Cub of all-time.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/5511/splits?year=career&type=Batting

Don't forget that his curve makes his FB look that much better. The more mental adjustments a hitter has to make about his curve, the better his FB will be.

I think Hairston is out of the starting lineup as well, I don't see Murton starting though.

As far as them still being in the playoff chase as well as every team West of the Rockies in that division, I can't understand why they'd trade him. But, if they want to get more in return for Giles than compensation draft picks if they lose him as a FA, then they should trade him and get a couple of prospects or what ever it takes.

Congrats on returning to the minor leagues. How difficult of a process was it having been released by Toronto and then playing 2 seasons in the Central League? Also, did you change anything this past off-season that led to your hot start in Edinburg and then carrying it over when you were sold to the Cubs?

As far as '06 Illinois prospects, not much in the HS level to speak of. Connor Powers is the best out of Benet Academy. I was at a showcase in Naperville yesterday which featured some of the better prospects in state, but 2 of the top players in state who were supposed to be there weren't. Overall, it wasn't worth my time. Only 1 player caught my eye, a kid out of Andrew HS.

As Rawaction mentioned your 1st managerial position was in '93, I would like to elaborate on that more... The Rochester team you managed was quite talented with Damon Buford, Mark Parent, A. Rhodes, Manny Alexnader and Jeffrey Hammonds, but what was it like when Fernando Valenzuela was sent to AAA? Also, how much has it helped relating to various players having been known as a utility player late in your playing career?

I can't see the Cubs trading Pie, not that the Cubs wouldn't trade him if the right deal came along, but Soriano doesn't appear to be one of those deals and neither does the other rumors (Huff, Kearns, Dunn). But, I'm sure other teams have asked about Hill and Pie, which is probably the angle they're formulating that statement from.

Not all managers tolerate it, some more than others. Just look at who's in Atlanta as far as someone who won't tolerate it. You see more dogging it/hot-dogging in the IF than any other spot, even more than the OF.

LaTroy is on another team, now that he is on the visiting team, I have no problem with them booing him or yelling "he sucks". I didn't like it while he was on the team, that in Lee's term should be considered "classless". But, players need to be quiet about it to the public. It is unwise to be critical of the fans and instead of having a manager to be critical of the comments from players like Dempster and Lee, Dusty does the same stupid thing. As an employee of the Cubs some things shouldn't occur, being critical of the fans is one of them. If you recall when the O's went thru that horrible start of the season, it was pretty much non-stop booing, but you never heard Ripken or Frank Robinson being critical of the fans. You want to recieve some love from the fans, get your behind out of the dugout and sign autographs before the game, there is enough downtime to do so.

Walker has played well for the majority of the season, every player has off games, Walker has had more games where he has been on than off. He's been an asset more than a liability for this team. They certainly wouldn't be better off not having him in the starting line-up (which I can't say for 2 out of the 7 remaining positions).

http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Prospects/2005RankingsTranscript.php Someone else has been fond of Marmol. :D

http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14920433&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478568&rfi=6 Everything hinges on Burnett. The Cubs are likely to be buyers as far as starting pitching, if they have no intention on using Rusch in the pen, I'd throw flyers out there before his trade value drops even further. If you can get a pitching prospect for Rusch, I'd pursue it, despite the current need for a starter (although, I'd like to see Hill remain).

As far as whether or not a person has seen him and determining his prospect status, similar situations occur everyday in the scouting world. Many times a scouting supervisor will only see a player take 2 to 3 ABs ot pitch 3-4 innings before writing him off, that's coming off a rec. from an associate scout. If a scout is there past the 7th inning, I wonder if he locked his keys in his car. It's the nature of the beast, too many players in too little time. But, if there are eyewitness accounts of the majority of his ABs, use them. Personally, I've seen a couple of times, but I rely more on the reports from BA and his numbers (especially since they are further up the ladder) and use that more than my eyes. With HS players, I rarely look at a player's stats.

The worst I've ever seen them was with Derrick May when he returned with the Astros and hit a bomb off Trachsel at the end of the season. I enjoyed players that would talk back... Dante Bichette once asked "How McDonald's could let all of us have the day off?"

Gerut has not passed up Murton on the ph chart. You're going overboard now. If the first pinch-hitter up is against a lefty pitcher, do you really think Gerut would get the call? They both have to stand in line behind Macias! :x I don't know why some people get worked up when Macias is the first off of the bench in the middle innings of a one-run game, or a blowout. That's when I want a weak hitter hitting. Thank God he wasn't available in the ninth inning to hit! If he is the 1st one off the bench in a 1 run game, I fail to see how that is not an important AB even if it is the 6th inning. Macias has almost 3X the PH ABs as Hollandsworth who is in 2nd with 14 PH ABs. Macias is 8 for 35, with 1 BB and no power. The most productive PH'er, Grieve, he's done much more in about 10ABs than Macias in 35. Dusty uses Macias in any PH situation whether it is close and late or early and done. He has used Macias way too often, there have been examples throughout the year where he used Macias over Dubois (who despite not performing, was more productive than Macias) and Murton. If Macias is the 1st RH option off the bench, I can say that Dusty is not assuming there are two situational LH'ers. Dusty is thinking that Macias has been a PH'er for a bulk of his career and has a better chance of getting a hit coming off the bench compared to Murton or Cedeno.

Speaking of that, how well has he hit the off-speed and breaking pitches, in your opinion?

How does that compare with other teams this year, and other teams in previous years? I don't know - perhaps UK studied that as well. Pretty standard bell curve, IMO.