XZero771679666304

Eh, he'd be justified in moving Dempster to a setup role if he acquired a comparable or better closer in the offseason. I don't think anyone would be mad about that. The thing is, if you look at his numbers as a closer, there aren't too many better out there. You can't make much of a case for bumping him for a guy like B.J. Ryan. Billy Wagner maybe, but you're going to have to pay lot more for him. If you give Dempster's jobe to B.J. Ryan, I would bet the farm Dempster would be pissed. If you ask me, signing another closer would just be redundant, especially if that closer isn't markedly better. We have a very good closer at a good price, and we have other problems to throw money at.

Even with his injuries, I think some team would give him as much or more based on his track record.

The cubs paid Hawkins almost $4.5M/year to set up. And Hawkins was easily the best set-up man on the market at the time. And you don't give a guy a raise after a top notch performance as a closer just to make him a set-up guy. If Hendry pulled Dempster from the closer's role after how well he has done, he would look like a real slime to other players, IMO.

Which I suppose, begs the question: Is Williamson's option a foregone conclusion to be picked up for 2006? I hope so. It's a low risk/high reward situation, IMO. You know Williamson is going to get more arm strength back over the offseason, and he is filthy when healthy. I also think that another proven arm needs to be picked up.

What more does Dempster have to do to establish himself as a closer? He just went almost a full season only blowing 2 out of 35 save opportunities, and in the two blown saves, he got the win! If his name were Ryan Gagne, would you consider him more established? Just having a little fun with you, snood. I'm guessing you'd like to see him do it for more than just one season, and I can understand that. But, for me, I've seen enough. In my mind, he's established. Where we do agree is on the need for an established set-up man. I don't want to go into '06 with Novoa pitching the 8th. With BJ Ryan available, I have no problem solidifying the bullpen even more by signing him (though given how much Dempster will make, that would tie up too much money in the pen). It's not what Dempster has or has not done, it's how to improve the team. BJ closing and Dempster setting up could be a better investment than Dempster closing and someone else being brought in to set up. Perhaps, if you think you can sign Ryan for equal or less money than you could a good set up man, which I doubt. I think Ryan is going to sign for 8 or 9 million somewhere, and I don't think he's worth it. Regardless of who you like more, with Dusty managing you know Dempster would be closing games. And I see Dempster signing so early as Hendry getting things out of the way before the offseason starts, after last offseason's mess. I would bet that Hendry has just crossed closer off his to get list, and that will be the end of that. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

After a quick calculation (could be wrong), since becoming the closer, Dempster is 33/35 in save opportunities with a 2.04 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Those numbers are comparable to/slightly better than B.J. Ryan's. IMO, Dempster is the closer next year barring injury, because I seriously doubt the Cubs are going to pay him 5+ million to set up.

What makes you think Corey isn't going to be awful again next season? Nothing but the knowledge that he's a much better player than he's shown this season. And I firmly believe that Lofton could really fall off a cliff at any time, too. In general, I'd rather be hoping that a young player will recapture his form from the past couple of years than hope an old player doesn't experience the decline his peripheral numbers point to. I don't want Lofton either. But I have been a big supporter of Corey in the past, and I am through with him. If he was the least bit serious about becoming a good or even decent player, he would have agreed to winter ball with zero hesitation. I cannot rationalize his behavior anymore, and if he keeps screwing himself at this rate I expect to see him out of the game in a few years.

Patterson has been fairly good for a CF in the past?? LOL!!! He's had one fluke six week stretch of good baseball in a 5-year career. The opposite holds true for Pierre because already in his career--he came up to the big leagues the same time as Patterson! (2000)--he has three times put more than 200 hits up in a year, three times put an OBP of 360 or better on the board out of the leadoff spot, and EVERY year (including this one) put 45 or more SBs on the board. He had an off year. The evidence suggests he's capable of much more, unlike Patterson. The total numbers he posted last year were above average for center fielders. He was very good for 10 weeks in '03. Other than your unabashed hatred of him, there was nothing to suggest that he would be as awful has he has been this year. Now at this point I am totally in favor of getting rid of him, but your assessments of him are riddled with hyperbole and personal bias. And what "evidence" suggests Pierre is capable of "much more"? If anything, we have seen the best Juan Pierre is capable of. If we wanted a .350+ OBP out of our leadoff hitter, Walker should have been it. And the ability to steal bases is a bit superfluous on a Baker managed team. Pierre's SB percentage is nothing to get excited over anyway. Not to mention Pierre is a average defensive CF at best, with a feeble arm. I'd just trade Patterson, sign Furcal and a stopgap CF until Pie is ready. I want no part of Juan Pierre.

But Palmeiro tested positive for stanozol, which is not B-12. The implication, I think, is that there was more than B-12 in the injection Tejada gave him, making Tejada a cheat and a liar. Basically, it's Raffy grasping at straws and smearing his teammate in the process, IMO. Really quite bush.

I agree for the most part, but if a player's head suddenly significantly increases in size, there really aren't too many possibilities as to why. You can bulk up any numer of legal ways, but a burgeoning skull has very few explanations.

Only if every fan sent two of them.

Yeah, I'm sure all of Pujols' hits have been clean. :roll: Anyway, didn't you get enough of this the first time? Even the people on CardsTalk didn't agree with you.

I'm just going to say that I don't think either will ever again experience the same level of success they have this year.

If the Sox were going to take back some measure of momentum after clawing out a game last night, they would have done it tonight with Garland going against Elarton. Garland got roughed up, and Elarton has shut the Sox down cold. The White Sox have the stench of death on them.

I've said it before, but I would pay to be in the booth with Hawk when/if the Indians overtake them.

Exactly! I'd say the same thing about Cedeno. i agree with both of you. it appears that these players just know how to play without having to think too much. ballplayers, billy beane would call them. i could live with murton in left and cedono getting siginificant time in the middle infield spots, preferably backing up nomar and walker. murton also provides a cheap option that affords us the luxury of spending big in right field, centerfield, and getting another sp and reliever. i think the only possible way that we don't land giles is if giles simply does not want to play anywhere other than crappy southern california. we have the most money to spend and hendry knows that he has work to do. Why is Southern Ca crappy?? The chances of the Cubs giving Giles enough money to leave SoCal is slim and none. i've just never had any use for it. i've always counted the hours of my departure whenever i've been there. anything north of santa barbara is cool, though. Don't worry Sulley, we have no use for you either. Don't take it so personally, Raisin. Not everybody likes smog, violent crime, horrible congestion and superficiality. :P

I think they will offer him one, and he will turn it down so he can go to a team where the fans aren't so mean and unfair to him, and will appreciate his razor sharp intellect.

As close as the WC is, if Cleveland passes the Sox, the Yanks will as well. Of course, I really want the Yanks to stay home in October as well, so I am kind of torn on this one. Well maybe not so much. :twisted:

Oh, I want to look. I want to pull up a chair and watch every minute of it, because you know if the roles were reversed, the Sox fans would love it even more. If/when the Sox choke their division lead away, I would pay good money to be in the booth with Hawk.

Alternating QBs is just a bad idea altogether. I agree that it's a bad idea. However, even if they want to alternate QBs that was stupid because Ainge was settled. Fulmer's answer was to the point of "we chose to alternate". No offense, but winning games is more important than making sure you alternate quarterbacks. Yeah. IMO, alternating QBs cot OSU that loss to Texas last week. Chosse the better QB and stick with them. Neither QB is going to be able to stay in rhythym getting yo-yo'ed in and out of the game. It's just poor strategy.

Alternating QBs is just a bad idea altogether.

Try wearing Cubs gear to the Cell and see how the situation changes. Of course, you might just have sitting in the midst of some nice people, but I have been to several games at the Cell, and my experiences have been less than ideal.

In Ohio no less. Yes, I hate OSU with a passion, and even though Texas is rivals with Mizzou, I was pulling for them all the way last saturday. Plus I want them to be ranked #2 or #1 when they come to Columbia. Ever since I moved to New Mexico, I have been surrounded by Texas fans/alums, and they are perhaps the most arrogant and beligerant fans I have ever seen. Therefore I root agains the Horns in nearly every situation. Trojan fans/alums have them beat. By a mile. I'm going to have to disagree with you. Having said that, I think fan beligerance increases relative to their proximity to their home campus/city.

In Ohio no less. Yes, I hate OSU with a passion, and even though Texas is rivals with Mizzou, I was pulling for them all the way last saturday. Plus I want them to be ranked #2 or #1 when they come to Columbia. Ever since I moved to New Mexico, I have been surrounded by Texas fans/alums, and they are perhaps the most arrogant and beligerant fans I have ever seen. Therefore I root agains the Horns in nearly every situation.

Point being, who was available? He made a double switch, which was basically pinch hitting. Unless Nomar has said he can play SS, we really didn't have another viable option. He could have PH with Grieve, who is a far better hitter than Macias anyay.