Transmogrified Tiger

Without putting a ton of thought into it... 1) If Teixeira is truly on the block, get him. If you need to do something similar to Z for Tex(both would be traded for fear of not extending them, so conditions would be made so both would need to be extended by their new teams), then do that. If they would rather take a combination of prospects/non-superstars, then do that. 2) Make a deal with the Angels. If we've dealt Zambrano for Tex, then use Murton to get a SP or a SS prospect. For the sake of simplicity, let's say that we send Pie, Gallagher, and one of our failed high ceiling guys(Pawelek, Dopirak, Harvey) for Teixeira. As for Anaheim, let's say that we send Zambrano and Murton for Wood, Santana/Weaver, and Mathis. I think it's fair that we're sending a premium for Texas's top player, and that we're getting back a premium for our top player plus a young outfielder. 3) Send Blanco to a contender for a minor leaguer. Potential destinations include the White Sox, Tigers, and Yankees. We don't expect much in return besides salary relief, a low minors guy with at least a little promise works. 4) We need a center fielder. With the amount of money we have available to spend up in the air, and the fact that the previous moves don't exactly scream "win now", I say we send Dayton Moore an arm(nothing top of the line) for Joey Gathright. He's not going to hit a ton, but he'll take a walk, has the minor league history to be passable offensively with his SB ability, is one of the best defensive CFs around, and won't be arbitration eligible for the first time until after 2008. 5) If at any point Scott Eyre or Jacque Jones play well enough that we can trade them without paying them to leave, or we can get something relatively useful for them, then do it. 6) Barrett, Izturis, Floyd, and Ward are not brought back. Arbitration is offered to Barrett and maybe Floyd So, we end up with: Soriano RF EPatt/DeRosa platoon 2B Lee 1B Teixeira LF Ramirez 3B Barrett C (Wood hits here in '08, playing SS) Wood SS (Mathis/Soto combo hits here in '08, playing C) Gathright CF Hill, Lilly, Santana/Weaver, Marquis, Marshall/Guzman/Marmol/Veal('08 possibility) Dempster closes, Wuertz and Guzman set him up, Howry and Marmol in middle relief, with Ohman as LOOGY and Eyre as long man. If Guzman or Marmol end up in the rotation for 2008 they are obviously no longer in the bullpen.

Thanks for having a huge zone today, Eddings.

wtg Z

Did Vasgersian just say it was miraculous for a player to hit for a high average as a Cub?

Z is a hoss

I never realized Ned Colletti was mustachioed. Somehow that makes his incompetence even more amusing.

haha Z

He hasn't rarely batted leadoff. In fact, he has batted leadoff most of his career. He has 2186 at-bats in the leadoff spot, and the next highest number from any spot is 630 from the 3rd spot. Oh, I guess I overlooked the Yankee years. But are where are those stats from? There are a lot of hitters who would bat better in the Yankee lineup, regardless of where they hit. I still think its absurd. There is plenty of protection in the lineup from Lee and Ramirez. There's just no need to put a pitcher and #8 hitter in front of him. 2004(Texas): .907 OPS batting leadoff(~75 PA's), .808 OPS total 2005(Texas): .781 OPS batting leadoff(~110 PA's), .821 OPS total 2006(Washington): .956 OPS batting leadoff(~675 PA's), .911 OPS total 2007(Chicago): .859 OPS batting leadoff(~145 PA's), .817 OPS total

Haha, someone peg Danley with a foul ball again. Not even close.

IT'S A SINKING PITCH, DON'T SWING IF IT STARTS AT YOUR SHINS

I'm getting really tired of half our hitters swinging feebly at pitches that don't even start in the strike zone.

Wuertz needs to be the guy who pitches in the 8th inning. Has been the entire year.

Pierre hits a ball further than he's ever hit it in his entire life to drive in a run. We needed a Patented Pierre Comebacker there.

He is a significantly better hitter in the 1 spot. He has an OBP over .360 in that spot this year. It's really not a problem.

Ohman gave up the hit not Lou. An entirely predictable, and therefore avoidable, result.

Really, Barrett?

That run is entirely on Lou's ego, or whatever you want to call him being too stubborn to burn Ohman to get rid of the LH batter and then bring in Guzman to mow down the righties.

Lou, you have to burn Ohman here. Do you not understand how much trouble you are risking by leaving him in to face a RH?

Give us Guzman.

In little league. As well as Major League Baseball.

Wuertz is stud-tastic

Wuertz? Marmol pitched. Don't interrupt my diatribes with your "facts". Next you're going to tell me that Wuertz and Marmol don't look exactly alike.

Wuertz in the 5th inning. You're a couple 120 pitch outings from a starter from being on Dusty's level, Lou.

Izzy is better then Theriot. At what? Defense. Agree to disagree.

Izzy is better then Theriot. At what?