Transmogrified Tiger

Dempster has been good, but i still find a way not to believe in the guy. My heartbeat increases when he goes in the game depending on if hes wild or not. When he gets ahead he is a very good pitcher. I think he never will be a dominant closer. I really think we should go out and get a guy like Billy Wagner this offseason or switch to wood because i believe he will be dominant, its worked with Gagne, Smoltz, Schilling, Dotel (sort of) Dempster has done very well so far. There is no gaurantee that he can be dominant, but it's worth a shot. There are better ways to spend 6-8 million dollars than on a closer, and if Wood's surgery is successful, he can probably help the team more in the rotation than from the bullpen. Without him, the Cubs' 2006 rotation looks like this: Prior Zambrano Maddux Williams Hill I don't know about you, but I don't think that's going to be enough. I completely agree with your sentiment, but Dempster is a free agent after this year, so he may be commanding 6-8 million to stay around. That's an interesting thing to keep an eye on this winter, how Dempster's contract demands compare to better options like Ryan and Wagner.

If he's in the pen, someone better hang a sign in the dugout that tells Dusty that he can't be used every stinking day. I'm all for Dusty getting fired yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But if he's still around having Dempster and Williamson as solid relievers will help. Tell that to Wuertz. Dempster and Williamson weren't around for much of Wuertz's overuse, just Hawkins.

Lee was booed by the entire stadium at Busch before his every AB. It wasn't as noticable because he's the player that drew the most cheers from the Cubs fans in attendance.

If he's in the pen, someone better hang a sign in the dugout that tells Dusty that he can't be used every stinking day. I'm all for Dusty getting fired yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But if he's still around having Dempster and Williamson as solid relievers will help.

I'm not really sure at all, but my guess is a third of a season, like 54 games.

Who you want to replace him with for $1 million?? If Nomar stays healthy, Cedeno's not going to get many at-bats. Might as well let him see regular pitching in Iowa. Frese, maybe Fontenot, and they both cost the minimum.

Walker has been very good at 2B, and has a very cheap option for next year. I wouldn't worry about 2B for next year unless it comes in conjunction with another upgrade.

That's pretty illuminating stuff. Where did you get the list for everyone's OPS since April? That's definitely something I'd like to have access to. It's not for everyone, as I said above. I wish I had access to that too. I guess I could separate for the other 39 players, but I think the point gets across that without his monstrous April, Neifi is one of the worst SS in the game.

Is this sarcasm? It seems many quality OBP guys are to be had for a decent salary, it's more a problem with a GM's and Manager's appraisal of these players. I think it's actually the high average/high power guys that (rightly or wrongly) will command more in the market. So . . . if it is sarcasm, then I agree :). What quality obp bench players were available in the offseason and could fit into the Cubs budget?? The Cubs allocated about $5-7 million for their bench hitters correct?? I like that Neifi's a solid defender. Can't just win games by drawing walks. You can't win games by stopping runs either. The Cubs could do much better than Perez's pathetic .287 OBP. As for Macias, I pointed out in another thread that only 3-4 non catchers have been worse offensively this year. Perez has an ops that's better than Jack Wilson, Adam Everett, and Cesar Izturis, and he's only a few points off from Reyes and Clayton. Heck the 4th best SS in the NL, Greene, is only 50 points better than Neifi. I don't understand why Neifi and Macias are everyone's favorite whipping boys. It's not like Neifi signed for $8 million dollars, and sat on the DL all year. He's a $1 million player who's a middle of the pack hitter for SS, and one of the better defensive SS's. As for Macias, he can play multiple positions and his obp's better than the great white hope, DuBois, who can't defend any position. Neifi is 12th of 14 NL SS in RC, and that includes his ridiculous April. His .611 OPS since April is 37th of 40 MLB SS(125 PA minimum), and his .267 OBP since April is 38th of 40. He's about as bad as it gets, unless you are Cristian Guzman or Wilson Valdez. Again, only 4 non catchers in the NL are worse offensively than Macias. I think that speaks for itself. Cmon you have to include April in the 40 SS analysis or do the numbers not backup the anti-Neifiers?? That's better number cooking than the Bush Administration. :) Unfortunately I don't have the time to separate the April numbers for all 40, but I'd have to assume that very few of them would see their OPS drop 55 points or their OBP drop 40 points by removing their April.

Jones is intriguing. If Patterson gets dealt this offseason, I think he would be a good stopgap in CF. Problem is, I doubt he would go for a reasonable 2 year deal. This would also require a manager that could phase Jones out of CF in 2007 while phasing Pie in.

Put him in the bullpen next year. Let him start to get his work in this offseason in the fall league, then let him make the major league pen. Since he won't have as heavy a workload in the pen, he won't get worn down from pitching this offseason thru next year.

Is this sarcasm? It seems many quality OBP guys are to be had for a decent salary, it's more a problem with a GM's and Manager's appraisal of these players. I think it's actually the high average/high power guys that (rightly or wrongly) will command more in the market. So . . . if it is sarcasm, then I agree :). What quality obp bench players were available in the offseason and could fit into the Cubs budget?? The Cubs allocated about $5-7 million for their bench hitters correct?? I like that Neifi's a solid defender. Can't just win games by drawing walks. You can't win games by stopping runs either. The Cubs could do much better than Perez's pathetic .287 OBP. As for Macias, I pointed out in another thread that only 3-4 non catchers have been worse offensively this year. Perez has an ops that's better than Jack Wilson, Adam Everett, and Cesar Izturis, and he's only a few points off from Reyes and Clayton. Heck the 4th best SS in the NL, Greene, is only 50 points better than Neifi. I don't understand why Neifi and Macias are everyone's favorite whipping boys. It's not like Neifi signed for $8 million dollars, and sat on the DL all year. He's a $1 million player who's a middle of the pack hitter for SS, and one of the better defensive SS's. As for Macias, he can play multiple positions and his obp's better than the great white hope, DuBois, who can't defend any position. Neifi is 12th of 14 NL SS in RC, and that includes his ridiculous April. His .611 OPS since April is 37th of 40 MLB SS(125 PA minimum), and his .267 OBP since April is 38th of 40. He's about as bad as it gets, unless you are Cristian Guzman or Wilson Valdez. Again, only 4 non catchers in the NL are worse offensively than Macias. I think that speaks for itself.

Is this sarcasm? It seems many quality OBP guys are to be had for a decent salary, it's more a problem with a GM's and Manager's appraisal of these players. I think it's actually the high average/high power guys that (rightly or wrongly) will command more in the market. So . . . if it is sarcasm, then I agree :). What quality obp bench players were available in the offseason and could fit into the Cubs budget?? The Cubs allocated about $5-7 million for their bench hitters correct?? I like that Neifi's a solid defender. Can't just win games by drawing walks. You can't win games by stopping runs either. The Cubs could do much better than Perez's pathetic .287 OBP. As for Macias, I pointed out in another thread that only 3-4 non catchers have been worse offensively this year.

Double posts are the coolest!

I want Pie in AAA until '07, and Patterson is a great example of why.

No worries there, we love making fun of Alou. :D And at least he knows its not pronounced "Pi" Granted, it doesn't quite work the way I wanted it to. Is it "Pee-eh" or "Pee-eye?" Pee-ay But how do you say "ay?" Like "eh?" Or maybe like, "Aye me maties!" like the canadian "eh"

No worries there, we love making fun of Alou. :D And at least he knows its not pronounced "Pi" Granted, it doesn't quite work the way I wanted it to. Is it "Pee-eh" or "Pee-eye?" Pee-ay

No worries there, we love making fun of Alou. :D

Yes, I'm a Cards fan. I've already 'admitted' to that. Another word of advice. People tend to be more reactionary in Game threads. While we welcome fans of opposing teams, NSBB is first and foremost a site for Cubs fans. As mods have said before, opposing teams fans might be best served to tread lightly in the game threads, especially when you haven't posted elsewhere. BTW, Welcome!

There are several Cards fans here that are respected quite a bit. From what I've seen, you've started your posting career here at the beginning of a Cards/Cubs series, and haven't exactly been congenial. Tone matters, get off on the right foot before responding with sarcasm, it will go a long way.

Why does it matter? The All-Star game is long past.

Because he hits left handed pitching like a schoolgirl. The bullpen is taxed, Maddux doesn't have an extreme pitchcount and he has a big lead. Leave him in to eat some innings(weeps for the option).

He was awesome in the first half of 2004 and all of 2003.. what happened? I wouldn't go that far. He is 13-5 with a 2.4ish ERA in his last six starts (obviously before today). Wow, 18 decisions in 6 starts is impressive.

Probably Maddux in his first go round with the Cubs. I think I remember him having one.

and a walk too! :w00t: