Transmogrified Tiger

This goes on to suggest the Dodgers wouldn't want much in return for Bradley, especially if they might non-tender him. The Cubs should be all over him. I like Bradley, and think Dusty can handle him. But we have to think like the Cubs: given a choice, you figure the Cubs would rather sign Kenny Lofton as a free agent than trade players/prospects for Milton Bradley. I hope not. And if Bradley is non-tendered, giving up players for Bradley is a non-issue.

Can TO & Ron Artest play OF? Sign them too, Jim! Baker's one remaining "strength" is supposedly the ability to keep a clubhouse together and keep guys like Bradley under control. If the player cost is Mitre or something like that, it's worth taking the chance. Besides, has Bradley ever had a problem with teammates? Jose Guillen wasn't even allowed on the postseason roster last year because of some falling out, then he went to Washington and people raved about how good a guy he was.

Incomprehensibly stupid on the Dodgers part if true. Please get Bradley, so we don't have to listen any more Lofton or Wilson rumors.

I don't think Carrie Muskat knows what she's talking about at all, when it comes to baseball, or about what the Cubs are going to do.

Lots of talk but not much action. With so little decided in free agency and such, I think the GM meetings are more the groundwork of all the action you'll see in Free Agency and the Winter Meetings.

Giving up Pie for Abreu, who's leaving his prime, wouldn't be sound. I'd try some other avenue short of giving him up. I agree. There's a difference in the comparison to the Choi-Lee trade. Lee was 28 when we acquired him, Abreu will be 32.

I agree. Both stadiums are significant, for different reasons. I'm not sure why anyone would try to make an argument otherwise. Then why are you perpetuating the argument for one side? On second thought, don't answer that. This topic needs to die.

That OPS is largely SLG-driven though, only a .336 OBP. However, it's not out of the question to see him with a BABIP around .290, which gives him a .290/.350/.500ish line. Solid, but I'd like to aim higher than Mench to start out with. Unless of course you acquire Mench, then use him or Murton as a chip in getting a better OF.

Why is this still going on? This is the dumbest "debate" ever.

Mench's minor league numbers are worlds better than Burnitz's.

I like your 8 Cuse(WVU shouldn't be in there, but automatic bids are automatic bids). Here's how I'd rank the rest in terms of taking a spot. Georgia Florida Ohio State Oregon UCLA Florida State Notre Dame Auburn Louisville

Senior Day at Faurot Field, Mizzou needs one more win to be bowl eligible, and in all likelihood clinch 2nd place in the B12 North. Hopefully Baylor continues to slide, and Brad Smith can go out with a bang.

I think there's something wrong with that smiley.

FWIW, Mench had a real low BABIP this year, .263. Of course he was at .275 last year, so he may be a guy who never has a high BABIP.

He's not a CF though.

Neifi is a much better defensive SS (as compared to other shortstops) than Corey is a defensive CF. Patterson is not in the same league as Hunter, Jones, Cameron, Edmonds. let edmonds, hunter, jones, and cameron play with a brick wall behind them. it's a completely different game. edmonds? oh no, you didn't. FRAR for the past four seasons: Patterson: 1, 6, 21, 13 Edmonds: 26, 20, 28, 34 I'm sure it's all the brick wall. :roll: I appreciate your patronizing tone, though. It might be less offensive if you had a clue about that which you're speaking. Don't you think that's a little over the top for a response as ambiguous as his? As much as I hate Edmonds, he's a fine defender, but fielding statistics are far from being as refined and conclusive as offensive numbers. I also would like to start a movement to never use the eye roll emoticon again, ever, by anyone. Anyone with me?

Neifi has no business on our baseball team ever. You can find someone better, cheaper, younger, or all of the above really easily. He never should've been signed in '04, he never should've been retained, and we shouldn't be talking about bringing him back. I understand that is how you feel. I'm asking why. I don't understand how he could be considered to be so utterly worthless. Can you help me understand? Neifi is utterly worthless offensively. This season, as bad as he was, is one of (if not the) best of his career. Neifi should never be an option to start for a period of time, he's too terrible on offense. This is a catch-22, because Neifi's only value is playing good defense, which is mitigated when he's in a bench role. Cubbieinexile articulated this point very well earlier. Neifi isn't young, he has little to no upside. His production can be replaced very very easily. The only way he should be on a team of the Cubs' caliber is if they are absolutely ravaged by injuries(Think Nomar and Cedeno going down for the season) and he should be brought in as a backup to some other alternative(trade, younger signing, minor leaguer already in the system, etc.). Just to make sure I'm understanding you. You are saying that offensively, he worse than almost every other back-up SS in the major leagues, thus being utterly worthless. And that his above average defense doesn't count because he would be coming off the bench. He is also older and has no upside. Did I miss anything? You may be able to find a SS worse than Neifi offensively, but that doesn't change the fact that he's terrible. The lack of upside is a huge thing. Someone may give you worse offensive production than Neifi over a short period, but it's worth the risk with a younger player to A) Find out what caliber player they are B) They have the upside to be good/much better than Neifi offensively and C) They can do it for the minimum/cheaper than Neifi.

Has there been a lot of talk of moving Walker to left field? His defense is below average (to be nice) at second, I don't think it would be anything better than poor in left. Walker played LF for one game, and it was comedic gold. I don't think it can be realistically considered.

Neifi has no business on our baseball team ever. You can find someone better, cheaper, younger, or all of the above really easily. He never should've been signed in '04, he never should've been retained, and we shouldn't be talking about bringing him back. I understand that is how you feel. I'm asking why. I don't understand how he could be considered to be so utterly worthless. Can you help me understand? Neifi is utterly worthless offensively. This season, as bad as he was, is one of (if not the) best of his career. Neifi should never be an option to start for a period of time, he's too terrible on offense. This is a catch-22, because Neifi's only value is playing good defense, which is mitigated when he's in a bench role. Cubbieinexile articulated this point very well earlier. Neifi isn't young, he has little to no upside. His production can be replaced very very easily. The only way he should be on a team of the Cubs' caliber is if they are absolutely ravaged by injuries(Think Nomar and Cedeno going down for the season) and he should be brought in as a backup to some other alternative(trade, younger signing, minor leaguer already in the system, etc.). i'm going to have to disagree. Neifi has a continually declining batting average and OBP as the season progresses (or after substituting him partway through the season). he's good offensively when using him as a short term starter. just look at the game logs for each of his MLB seasons. his D is solid. neifi is a good player when used properly, which Dusty obviously can't do, but that doesn't mean he is "worthless." overpaid for how dusty uses him? of course. blame that on both JH and Dusty the Fool. Neifi's career OPS by month April: .679 (631 AB's) May: .730 (800 AB's) June: .669 (816 AB's) July: .663 (839 AB's) August: .672 (885 AB's) September: .677 (759 AB's) There doesn't seem to be much wearing down. He's terrible offensively, there's no getting around it. He's one of the worst hitters of the era because he's managed to get so many at bats.

Neifi has no business on our baseball team ever. You can find someone better, cheaper, younger, or all of the above really easily. He never should've been signed in '04, he never should've been retained, and we shouldn't be talking about bringing him back. I understand that is how you feel. I'm asking why. I don't understand how he could be considered to be so utterly worthless. Can you help me understand? Neifi is utterly worthless offensively. This season, as bad as he was, is one of (if not the) best of his career. Neifi should never be an option to start for a period of time, he's too terrible on offense. This is a catch-22, because Neifi's only value is playing good defense, which is mitigated when he's in a bench role. Cubbieinexile articulated this point very well earlier. Neifi isn't young, he has little to no upside. His production can be replaced very very easily. The only way he should be on a team of the Cubs' caliber is if they are absolutely ravaged by injuries(Think Nomar and Cedeno going down for the season) and he should be brought in as a backup to some other alternative(trade, younger signing, minor leaguer already in the system, etc.).

Neifi has no business on our baseball team ever. You can find someone better, cheaper, younger, or all of the above really easily. He never should've been signed in '04, he never should've been retained, and we shouldn't be talking about bringing him back.

As a college football fan, as well as a Northwestern fan who saw them early in the season, let me tell you that they could very easily have two by now. Well yeah, but they didn't win the Northwestern game on a play with one second left after Paterno whined to the officials to unjustly get a couple seconds put back on the clock earlier.

Penn State. They really shouldn't have a loss to begin with.

Well, except that they just pasted the living crap out of an unbeaten Va Tech team that looked to have a stronger profile than Texas up to that point, and they did it on the road. Other than that I wholeheartedly agree. Who has VATEch beaten? I've never been too impressed with them. The Miami game was just confirmation that they aren't a top team. Georgia Tech and BC at home look like the biggest wins to VT's credit.

yup. millwood is leaving. that's $7M off the books right there. 9.5-7=2.5. The Tribe doesn't have that luxury. Their payroll isn't going much of anywhere, and they have 11 million dollars in raises guaranteed to players, plus a couple arbitration eligibles and a bunch of renewals that'll get slight increases. They simply can't take on that salary while losing cheap production in Sizemore. They're going to have to cut weight just to try to keep Millwood and Wickman/Howry.