Transmogrified Tiger

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.

Nope. As a second baseman Hairston is an average defender, and he's not an abomination at the plate.

Abreu home/road splits in '05 (even worse that Burrell's): Home: .304/.423/.535/.958 Away: .268/.387/.417/.805 check this out (click on the different tabs to compare OBP, K/BB, etc): http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=949&position=OF&page=0&playerid2=945 '04 Abreu Home: .314/.451/.552/1.004 Away: .290/.405/.535/.941 Burrell Home: .286/.398/.519/.917 Away: .231/.336/.399/.735 BABIP Abreu 2004: .334 2005: .335 Burrell 2004: .310 2005: .341 IMO, Burrell's year is a fluke, as are Abreu's splits from this past year.

The Phils give up two great offensive players and a quality SP and get a similar SP, and two borderline starters in return, plus they pay money. I don't think that's a very good deal at all.

Pat Burrell in '05 Home: .293/.416/.557/.973 Away: .269/.358/.447/.806 BABIP: .341 Caveat emptor

Wow, that's ridiculous(best score thing). I think OSU and Florida are in a pretty appropriate spot in the polls, I wouldn't argue much either way if they were higher or lower. Take OSU for example. They lost a tight game to an undefeated powerhouse at home(much like ND), and a tight game to another top 10 team on the road(much different than ND). The record of the teams OSU has beaten is one game under .500, ND's is 13 games under, neither have a real high profile win. Now Florida, two road losses to top ten teams, one close, one not. The record of teams they've beaten is 5 games under .500, and they have a high profile win, handing Georgia their only loss. If ND is BCS/Top 10 caliber, then I think you have to put OSU and Florida in there, and probably in front of them(not saying you are saying the opposite).

I disliked their roles and not them. ditto. both are solid bench players. oh, and i'd like to add Dusty Baker, Tony LaRussa, and ARod to my list. Actually, I don't even think Macias is a solid bench player. He really has no business even being in the majors. The Cubs pay him nearly a $1 mil/year to suck. So yes, I hate him. he makes wood and prior feel good during all their sim games. keep your studs happy. Didn't he go 0-7 during a A or AA spring training game? He makes all the pitchers happy.

The Indians don't really have a lot of(any?) high walk guys. Betancourt K's a lot of guys, he's the only one that K's more than one per inning.