Transmogrified Tiger

I think it is a pretty common belief that tearing your groin running out of the batters box is a fluke injury. CPatt...If the Cubs offered Nomar a deal of gauranteed 5 mil with 7 million in incentives you don't think he would have taken that over the gauranteed 9 mil? If he truly believes he is healthy I think he would have taken it. I know this is all speculation and we can't do anything about it. I just think we have no good options left for Right and I feel like we didn't give Nomar enough look at Right. I'm just talking out of frustration. No, I think the last 2 years would've proved to Nomar that the chance of 3 million more with incentives isn't worth risking 4 million more guaranteed.

Of course, but since Nomar knows the worst that he can do in a hearing is near his old salary, you probably won't get much of a discount. One of MacPhail's prided points is that he has never gone to a hearing with a player.

It does feel sort of like we are emptying the shelves, doesn't it? Only of the oldest prospects. Cedeno is expendable if you are trading for a stud SS. I'd like to keep one of either Hill or Williams, because I see them contributing to the team this year. Guzman's best value to the team might be in a trade for stud, going to a team that wants a guy with huge upside. This would open up several 40 man spots for the next wave of young prospects coming through, and it also keeps all of the youngest prospects, like Pie, Harvey, Pawelek. The only good bat leaving is Cedeno, and they would still be left with lots of arms in the system. I might try and get them to take a combo of Ryu and somebody else instead of one of the arms, but, it's still intriguing. You would have to get another starting pitcher, somehow. If you make that deal, there is no next wave of prospects coming through on the 40 man. Maybe Marshall, Marmol, or Ryu, but when you trade away Pinto, Nolasco, Mitre, Hill, Williams, Cedeno, and Guzman, there isn't a lot coming up.

If I'm Hendry, here's how I outline a package for Tejada. Pie is in the deal. Pick one of Williams/Hill/Guzman. If you pick Williams, then a lower level prospect finishes the deal. If you pick Hill, pick between Harvey/Dope/EPatt. If you pick Guzman, Cedeno is the 3rd player. So, they have Pie, Williams, lower prospect, or Pie, Hill, Harvey/Dope/EPatt or Pie, Guzman, Cedeno. EDIT: If they are interested in Patterson, try to substitute him in as necessary, starting by substituting for Pie and on down until you reach a deal.

I would not say it is logical. Nomar's groin tear last year was a freak injury. When he came back he was playing like his old self. Granted I don't think he can handle playing short more than three times a week but he still would have been a good fit for this Cubs team. Hendry should never have closed down all possibilities with Nomar. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2223720 There is no doubt he would have been solid in the Outfield this year for the Cubs. His OPS after he returned from his injury was right around .900. That is better than anything we would have been able to get in the free agent market. I think Hendry dropped the ball on this one. It seems to me that he was focusing on one thing all offseason, a leadoff hitter. I am upset about this because I think by not giving Nomar arbitration we took away a very good option for this team. Hendry made a mistake and burnt all bridges with Nomar when he told him he needed to find a better fit. Now we are looking at Jacque Jones, Juan Encarnacion, and if we are lucky Reggie Sanders in Right. The Cubs could have resigned Nomar played him at once every once in a while but most of the time play him in right. If he stayed healthy for the first half of the season we coudl have traded for a new rightfielder and moved Nomar back to short if the offense needed a boost. A lineup with Nomar and Pierre would have looked pretty good to me. Pierre Walker Lee Ramirez Nomar Barrett Murton Cedeno The logic to me would have been to keep all options open. I don't think Hendry did this. Hendry either had to sign Nomar by December 7th, which wasn't going to happen, or offer him arbitration. Nomar would almost be guaranteed to accept since he wouldn't get an offer where he was virtually guaranteed his salary from last year anywhere else. Another year of Nomar at the same price, when it's unclear whether or not he's capable of SS, is not the gamble I would take last week. It's a logical decision on Hendry's part.

Well, at least Oakland gave up a top prospect for him. Wonder what this does to Oakland's OF situation. Are they going to go into the season with Swisher, Kotsay, and Bradley?

*Insert Rant about Tejada not worth selling the farm over, and leaving us with no trading chips here*

Less than if he were in CF, but he has the potential to be a very good corner OF.

Parity. BTW, I'm winning this biyatch! David Garrard will prove to be too much for you yet again. I'm taking this despite losing McNabb, TO, Jackson for half the year, Julius to injuries/platoon, even freaking Akers going down. That's depth, fools. you will win again if I get another 0 and -1 from 2 of my RBs. I swear I've had at least 8 weeks with at least 1 RB scoring less than 2. I have the 6th highest number of points, I've had my share of low scores.

Mench could be a nice platoon partner for him. I can't believe I just said (typed) that. I'm going to go vomit now. I like Mench more than most. I'd use him as more than a platoon player. If I already had him in the fold, I'd certainly wouldn't get Jaqcue Jones to platoon with him. Of course, one might say the same thing about Wilson, but he's not a very good defender, and hasn't been a full-time player, so depth may be better in that instance.

Parity. BTW, I'm winning this biyatch! David Garrard will prove to be too much for you yet again. I'm taking this despite losing McNabb, TO, Jackson for half the year, Julius to injuries/platoon, even freaking Akers going down. That's depth, fools.

Hopefully, this will open the Mariners up to the possibility of trading Ibanez. The article indicates the Mariners are frustrated in their attempts to obtain pitching. I wonder if they would consider a deal built around Williams for Ibanez? Even if they sign Everett, trading Ibanez would leave them short a LF. They'd have Reed/Everett/Ichiro, if they wanted to deal Ibanez.

I think he slept with Ryno's wife. It could be that or maybe something else that the Cubs know about that we don't. Steroids are another possibility....I'm not saying he did do them but how are we to know. Given the Cubs moves the last year or so, I think incompetence is much more likely than steroids.

Of all the winter sports in the Olympics, skiing, hockey and figure skating are the only sports unless there's one I'm forgetting. Figure skating isn't a sport. All the skiing and skating races are sports. Curling too.

Wow, Jon Garland and Chris Young would be way overpaying That would be a bad, bad trade. The Sox should do it. I don't know much about Young howver Garland is a great sell high candidate. Young is one of the best prospects in the minor leagues. 3rd in the Southern League last year IIRC. .277/.377/.545/.922 in a full AA season at age 21. BA said in their prospect handbook that the Sox consider him a MLB caliber defensive CF already.

Burnitz can give you .280/.355/.470? He hasn't done that outside of Coors this millenium.

Indeed, I never would've guessed my Buccaneers allegiance would've saved me here. So, when (if) Patterson is gone, are you changing your screen name? Probably, I've thought about changing it before, so that may signal time for a change.

To be fair, if Jones never saw a LHP, then he'd be good for an .800-.815 OPS and great defense in RF. That wouldn't be an abomination if we had a great platoon partner for him, say Craig Wilson. Then you'd be getting around an .840 OPS from RF with very good defense on the whole. Could be worse I guess, but it's definitely not what we should aim for.

I think you could make the argument that a good portion of the Winter Olympics are not sports.

Yeah, I have a tough time seeing the organization outright giving up on him, but who knows. Did you see my earlier post in this thread CPatt? Indeed, I never would've guessed my Buccaneers allegiance would've saved me here.

Yeah, I have a tough time seeing the organization outright giving up on him, but who knows.

fixed Bradley WON'T even play but for half the season! He's only played over 100 games TWICE in all his years. Has someone put some special tonic y'alls juice that makes you fall in love with a guy who A) Is a proven headcase and a cancer in the clubhouse and B) averages ONLY 76 games a year!! This would be THE typical Cubs pickup! Just say no! I'm not saying Jones is a better baseball player, but i DO know that he more than likely isn't going to call reporters "uncle tom's" or throw things at fans, scream at umpires, and i DO know that he'll more than likely play OVER 76 games this year. 76 games a year? That's some fuzzy math for sure. 2000: 42 MLB games, 88 at AAA, 120 total 2001: 77 MLB games, 35 at AAA, 112 total 2002: 98 MLB games, 9 at AA/AAA, 108 total 2003: 101 MLB games 2004: 141 MLB games 2005: 75 MLB games, 5 AAA games, 80 total Last year was the first year since he broke into the Major Leagues that he didn't play 100 games.

So, he's a lot like Semrau?

The Downtown Athletic Club has just announced that Brady Quinn has been awarded the 2006 Heisman Trophy. *pumps fists* Gets rid of a Heisman AND a national title contender. Pfft, it's a battle for second place after Chase Daniel. Mo Drew disagrees. So does AD. DID THEY WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN HIGH SCHOOL? Game, set, match.

See, here in Missouri we hope that Smith goes nuts enough to cover Pinkel's screwups.