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i think teams would be willing to take on lilly's contract in a heartbeat Yeah, for his performance thus far, I'd say teams will be more than willing to take him and give up quite a bit for him. I have trouble buying into it being a good idea to deal him (assuming we fall from contention, which I don't think is all that likely).

That article just says that Hendry wanted Ethier or Broxton. Just because Hendry was trying to get those two guys doesn't mean Colletti was willing to trade them for Maddux. Exactly. I was just showing that the person who said Hendry passed up on Ethier in favor of Ceaser perhaps was remembering wrong. There was quite a bit of confusion at the time of the trade as to what Hendry could get for Maddux. Some reports claimed Hendry targeted Izturis from the start and that Colletti was willing to give Kemp or Ethier for Maddux, but Hendry wasn't interested. Others reported that Hendry went hard after the two, but Colletti wouldn't give in - thus Hendry dropped his demands and got what he could get. I'm honestly not sure which account to believe, but it's hard to imagine passing up on Kemp or Ethier considering what it appeared they'd become at the time.

.878 OPS 127 OPS+ .307 eqa What's not to like about Kosuke? People remembering last season. Yeah, that's the only explanation. Kosuke might be our best offensive player this year (since Aramis is hurt).

Noway Lee makes it with the 1st baseman in the NL. Pujols, Gonzalez, Loony, Fielder, Votto, Sandoval, Helton, Nick Johnson, all should make the All Star team before Lee. I get everybody you listed except for James Loney. How does his .729 OPS make him more deserving of an All-Star bid over Lee's .802? Brainfart, I thought he was hitting better than that. Honestly, I'm surprised he's not doing better too.

Noway Lee makes it with the 1st baseman in the NL. Pujols, Gonzalez, Loony, Fielder, Votto, Sandoval, Helton, Nick Johnson, all should make the All Star team before Lee. I get everybody you listed except for James Loney. How does his .729 OPS make him more deserving of an All-Star bid over Lee's .802?

.878 OPS 127 OPS+ .307 eqa What's not to like about Kosuke?

You're only making your offense worse by putting a guy who cannot get on base or hit for power or average in the leadoff spot.

Sure it's fair to say it has hovered around 800. I'm just saying the general trend has been down since about the middle of April. Like a stock index it seemed to pause after falling below 800 and briefly go back up to the low 800s, but he's got a 600-something OPS in June and his overall OPS has only been 800 on one day in June. Pushing 800, to me, sounds like a guy on a verge of breaking over that mark due to recent success that is generally expected to continue. We know he's not an 800 OPS guy. I just don't see the point in "justifying" his approach by suggesting it has created an 800 OPS, when in reality its trending down and it's a safe bet that it will stay below 800 (even if it climbs over that one day this week). If anything, he should maintain that pull conscious approach on occasion because it's unlikely he can maintain the numbers he put up last year if all he does is shoot it to right. Everybody seems willing to say a power hitter has to go the other way on occasion, to take what the pitcher is giving you. I don't know why you can't say the same thing about an inside out hitter like Theriot. Sorry, it was perhaps poor terminology on my part. By "pushing .800" I meant he's close to it - which he is. I'm also not arguing that he's definitely an .800 OPS hitter. But, he's better than he was last year with this approach and, like you, I hope he continues to pull pitches he can and show some power. His slugging has, after all, improved nearly 100 points so far over last year while sacrificing around 30 points of OBP (which he may have sacrificed anyway). I'm fine with his new approach because I think it'll make him a better overall hitter than he has been - or would be with the same approach he took last year.

His slugging is nearly 100 points higher than last year and his OBP is still respectable (.358 - 30 points below last year). With an OPS pushing .800, I'm fine with what he's become. Especially since last year's OBP wasn't based on discipline and patience as much as it was a high BABIP.

It's already been established that 2B is one of the very few areas in which the Cubs could feasibly add any offensive help. Assuming the money could be worked out - would anyone here part with Wells or Marshall plus a throw-in or two for Freddy Sanchez? He's only under contract for this year (6.5MM) and he's put up some really good numbers this year (826 OPS). If there is one area the Cubs have depth it's SP. Trading Wells now would be the epitome of selling high. Fontenot would then become the number one backup MI/3B and hopefully Miles would rarely see anymore playing time. The Pirates have already indicated that they are forfeiting this year and looking towards the future. I don't believe I'd consider giving Marshall for a 31 year old second baseman who's never had much success before this year (one other year with an OPS over .800 and a couple over .700). I'd probably trade Wells for him, though.

Two comments: 1 - What's the incentive for the Rockies to trade a guy (Barmes) making just over $1.5 million unless we offer more than he's worth? 2 - Phillips would be fantastic, but I can't imagine the Reds dealing him, especially to us. Nice thought, though. And of course the pesky fact that the Reds are ahead of us in the standings. That and his general inexpensiveness (for his production) are the reasons I don't think they'd have any interest in trading him.

Two comments: 1 - What's the incentive for the Rockies to trade a guy (Barmes) making just over $1.5 million unless we offer more than he's worth? 2 - Phillips would be fantastic, but I can't imagine the Reds dealing him, especially to us. Nice thought, though.

Maybe they'd take Miles in the Tejada deal?

Tyler Smith is returning to Tennessee for his senior season.

Cantu is hurt and they're considering a DL stint for him. They used him to pinch hit in the 9th today Hm, interesting. I read it on Yahoo this morning (I think they get their info from Rotoworld, though).

Cantu is hurt and they're considering a DL stint for him.

He's played 4 games there this season and started 2 of them. He's not a good shortstop by any means, but his reputation is that he can play it. He's also the official backup SS. It's just that Theriot plays there pretty much everyday, so nobody else on the Cubs plays it with any regularity.

If the Astros fall out of it, it makes more sense to trade him to a division rival than any other team. Tejada helps the other team like the Cubs for 2009, but then the loss of prospects hurts the Cubs every year after 2009 (when Tejada is probably not re-signed). Since the Astros wouldn't care about 2009 at that point, it's in their best interest to weaken one of their division rivals for upcoming seasons. Even if the Cubs won it all in 2009 because of that move, why would the Astros care? They weren't going anywhere anyway. I dont think its about weakinng the rivals, if a team is out of it, it doesnt really matter anymore if he goes to someone in or out of their own division. You just want the best offer possible. I tend to agree, with the only exception being a young stud player who could help his new team for many years to come. If, for example, the Brewers traded Ryan Braun to the Cubs. If the Cubs knocked them out with an offer then they'd probably accept, but it'd likely have to be more than they were demanding from others - primarily because Braun would help the Cubs for 10 or so more years so they'd have to make sure they did some damage to the Cub farm system in the process. But for a rental like Tejada, I don't think the Astros would think twice. Thats pretty much what I meant. Its in regards to rent a players, where you just want the most you can get, and it doesnt matter who he goes to. As far as young players, any team would be crazy to trade a player to their own division who could be a star for years to come like a Ryan Braun, Joey Votto, or Aramis Ramirez. :D Thank you Pittsburgh. A team wouldn't be crazy for trading a young star inside the division, but they better scrape clean the opposing farm system in the process. If you can give up one very good young player for 2-3 likely very good young players, it's in your benefit to do so - if they bust, though, the trade will look even worse.

What the heck are we going to do with him? The guy just keeps hitting. We can't find room for Hoff to bat enough, let alone Fox. Not a bad problem, but a bit frustrating, especially since our corner OF spots are locked down for the next 2 years. Hopefully when everyone comes back, Scales is sent down and I guess Blanco down as well. Freel will be DFAd, no? That would leave 13 position players as follows: Soto, Hill, Ramirez, Theriot, Fontenot, Lee, Miles, Soriano, Johnson, Fukudome, Bradley, Fox, Hoffpauir Although I'm sure we'll never be 100% healthy, so that will mix and match. There is literally no reason Blanco shouldn't stay and Miles shouldn't be DFA'd. Blanco can hit almost as well as Miles and play MUCH better defense at two positions whereas Miles plays mediocre defense at one. Of course, that won't happen. Miles actually plays mediocre defense at three positions - 2B, SS and 3B.

What the heck are we going to do with him? The guy just keeps hitting. We can't find room for Hoff to bat enough, let alone Fox. Not a bad problem, but a bit frustrating, especially since our corner OF spots are locked down for the next 2 years. Hopefully when everyone comes back, Scales is sent down and I guess Blanco down as well. Freel will be DFAd, no? That would leave 13 position players as follows: Soto, Hill, Ramirez, Theriot, Fontenot, Lee, Miles, Soriano, Johnson, Fukudome, Bradley, Fox, Hoffpauir Although I'm sure we'll never be 100% healthy, so that will mix and match. There is literally no reason Blanco shouldn't stay and Miles shouldn't be DFA'd. Blanco can hit almost as well as Miles and play MUCH better defense at two positions whereas Miles plays mediocre defense at one. Of course, that won't happen. Other teams can cut ties with unproductive veterans who is making millions (ie the D'Back a few yrs ago with Russ Ortiz), but the Cubs has to hold onto the unproductive veteran to justify the contract. Miles was going to be unproductive when he signed. They're not cutting Miles because they like him.

If the Astros fall out of it, it makes more sense to trade him to a division rival than any other team. Tejada helps the other team like the Cubs for 2009, but then the loss of prospects hurts the Cubs every year after 2009 (when Tejada is probably not re-signed). Since the Astros wouldn't care about 2009 at that point, it's in their best interest to weaken one of their division rivals for upcoming seasons. Even if the Cubs won it all in 2009 because of that move, why would the Astros care? They weren't going anywhere anyway. I dont think its about weakinng the rivals, if a team is out of it, it doesnt really matter anymore if he goes to someone in or out of their own division. You just want the best offer possible. I tend to agree, with the only exception being a young stud player who could help his new team for many years to come. If, for example, the Brewers traded Ryan Braun to the Cubs. If the Cubs knocked them out with an offer then they'd probably accept, but it'd likely have to be more than they were demanding from others - primarily because Braun would help the Cubs for 10 or so more years so they'd have to make sure they did some damage to the Cub farm system in the process. But for a rental like Tejada, I don't think the Astros would think twice.

No idea, but I've seen it done with numerous coaches. It's a way to abbreviate the name, I guess.

Right. That's my understanding as well.

If Alabama forfeits the wins, it just means CNS didn't want those wins anyway. But I thought Alabama was the cleanest program ever to have lived? And what the hell is CSN? CNS = Coach Nick Saban No idea what CSN is though.

It always seems to come back to the stupidity of trading DeRosa in the first place. DeRosa over the past 28 days: .308/.378/.508/.886 His current season OPS is .777 and rising. But he hits from the wrong side of the plate, and in the end, thats all that matters. Apparently.