Bluescale

They must be nihilists...no other explanation... :P Opening day even got me to come out of hiding to post again, I'm so darn excited!

Just because Theriot doesn't swing and miss a whole lot doesn't mean he's disciplined. He just makes a lot of weak contact.

Where are you getting those changeup percentages from? I'd love to be able to look that up somewhere...

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet. I wouldn't really be surprised by the low end of those numbers. .280/.360 with 18 HR? He'd have been one of the best hitters on the team last year... He actually probably would have been. Here's to being hopeful...

If the asking price is Pie, yes, he's worth it. Roberts Fukudome Lee Ramirez Soriano Green Soto Pitcher

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet. Yeah, next season I see something more like: .270/.340/.420 10-15 HRs If he's catching every day in the majors, I'd be pleasantly surprised if he breaks .260 with a .330 OBP. And I'd be fine with that from a rookie. 10-15 homeruns sounds about right. Boy do I hope I'm wrong, tho...

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet. I wouldn't really be surprised by the low end of those numbers. .280/.360 with 18 HR? He'd have been one of the best hitters on the team last year...

I'm as on the Soto bandwagon as anyone else, but those numbers are very unlikely to happen. Those are ROY numbers. While it's possible, I wouldn't pencil it in just yet.

He has baseball abilities, just not real toolsy (not real fast, avg. arm, ok hands) I tend to brush hitting mechanics to the side, if he can center the ball and drive it, which Derosa does well. I don't mind them looking @ Roberts (depending on cost) as it gives the Cubs needed depth espec. as a bat off the bench and a good player who can play mult. positions. This team will suffer injuries next year and he will have value in that role. I'm telling you that a guy who personally does training lessons with Mark DeRosa told me that he lacks a lot of the "baseball ability" and makes up for it with his athletic ability, this is not my quote this is a guy who personally trains him, so I'd say that it's gotta be pretty accurate. Is your friend in the majors?

yeah you told us it wouldn't happen last year, solid forecast there It's a fair statement to expect some regression from someone with a BABIP above .340. As far as whether or not he should stick as a starter, there's no doubt, even if he regresses to league avg. (around .260 EqA for 2B), he'll be miles ahead of Cedeno, Theriot, and Fontenot. But not Roberts. That's the person who will push him from the starting lineup. Cedeno, Theriot or Fontenot will not start at 2B. And I don't buy that DeRosa can play an acceptable SS.

I don't know about Farnsworth, but I'd love to have LaTroy in the bullpen. Just not for 3.75M. He was decent when not closing games for us. Then he flipped the F out against the Cardinals in 04 and never really was decent after that. Man...just took a closer look at his numbers. When did LaTroy forget how to strike people out? And how did he do so well in Colorado without such mediocre k #'s?

I don't know about Farnsworth, but I'd love to have LaTroy in the bullpen. Just not for 3.75M.

Defensive metrics sucks. Just some more than others...

Jeter's career FRAA is -129. Saying Greene is better than Jeter defensively is like saying that Ryan Theriot is better offensively than Cesar Izturis. Could you link me to something that explains FRAA? I'm really interested in Sabermetrics, and while I have a good understanding of most offensively, i'm still learning. it's just Fielding Runs Above Average. A guy with a FRAA of 0 is an average shortstop. Jeter's -129 FRAA means that as a result of his defense, the Yankees have allowed 129 more runs than if they had an average shortstop. This assumes, of course, that FRAA is a perfect stat, which it's not, but it's miles better than the more commonly used fielding statistics like errors, fielding percentage, zone rating and range factor. Thanks. But doesn't this stat rest alot on how good your starting pitching is? It seems like it should, though seeing a guy like Jack Wilson that high proves otherwise. I mean if a SS gives up a baserunner due to subpar defense but his pitcher always seems to get out of it with no runs, wouldn't it be a little misleading? It seems like the Redsox SS for example would be ranked alot higher than the Pirates SS (though that doesn't seem to be the case). I have a feeling I might be wrong though and it deals more with MLB offensive averages than individual team averages though. FRAA is much more complex than that. Have a read: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2620

:D I know I'm late to the party and all...

This would open up a spot for Fukudome...

Wut? Hamilton has never been accused of roids. He had a problem with coke. I know that now, 2 people have already mentioned that. I knew it was something and saw "suspended for banned substances" and forgot which it was. Not only did he have major drug addiction issues, but he actually quit baseball for 4 years I believe. The closest he came to playing ball was mowing baseball fields. He got some help, got things turned around, was amazing in half a season last year.

With that in mind, should the Cubs declare that Hill is on the market for the right package? While he's not quite as attractive as Haren, I bet every team out there would love to have Hill. Maybe someone will bowl them over.

Nady would be a starter and he's light years better than Murton Why? Because he'll hit for a little more power while showing no patience at the plate? The Cubs need less hitters like Nady, not more.

Agreed. For Miggy, they get anyone, and I include Soto, although losing him would hurt the club.

Source? Not that I doubt you, just curious...

Perhaps this a business decision rather than a baseball decision. Maybe Hendry was ordered to get the Cubs into the Japanese market to generate additional revenue. Signing Matsui guarantee's the Cubs are in the market even if things fall through with Fukudome, and at the same time makes it easier to sign him. Not saying I like it, but the Trib is trying to increase the value of the team as much as possible before the sale. The potential hit to their W/L record won't have enough of a negative impact to offset the market share they will gain in Japan. Just a thought...

Wow...Marquis is having a better season that I thought, and his run support must be worse than I thought...

If the Cubs traded for Jr., wouldn't they be on the hook for all the deferred money on his contract? Doesn't that come out to something insane like 50M+?

Wow...they went to arbitration over that small a difference? I can't believe neither side could find a solution there. I also have a hard time believing Cabrera won't win that contest. He posted a .998 OPS last season.