CaliforniaRaisin

Heh, if hometown discounts were the norm, they'd be the real market value. And then we could get new hometown discounts and repeat this cycle!

Loria and Beinfest have some great people skills.

+1 You can add me in as well. plus 3 As long as the return is nice, I wouldn't mind trading Z. I don't think this team is going to make the playoffs anyway and I am readily expecting Z to get hurt this coming season. If he doesn't, I still expect a decline after the wear and tear on his arm at such a young age. That said, Hendry is in a situation where he must re-sign Z so I don't see him trading Z away.

seriously? Sarcasm.

Yeah, b/c hometown discounts for an org that drafted and developed you is completely out of line. Bastard Cubs organization. Worthless arrogant SOBs. It's a negotiation tactic. Hendry is in a situation where he basically has to re-sign Z, I honestly don't think Z is gone in 2008 (for better or for worse). I'm not sure why Z should be chastised for not taking a hometown discount - especially not talking about it now that negotiation time is near. Just like both Aramis situations, I think some people are overreacting a bit (granted I was in on the Aramis overreacting the last time).

Or linebacker... Perfect replacement for Briggs!

Because the Angels won't deal their top guys, or because you think Hendry will go after the toolsiest prospects in their system? They're about as toolsy as you get in the Angels' system as a hitter and a pitcher.

The trouble with waiting is that the Cubs are unlikely to be out of it come July. It will be impossible from a PR perspective to deal Z in July if you're within 4 games of 1st. You deal him now, you can weather the storm of criticism if you end up contending. Call Bill Stoneman. Ask for Weaver, Kendrick and Adenhart. Call the Yankees and ask for Hughes, Sanchez + Tabata. Let them know the Angels are considering the other package. I don't think either team would bite, but if I didn't get the packages I'd simply hang on to Z and take my chances. Define "take my chances" 1. Go to arby and let him walk after 2007 or 2. Take my chances that I can get him to sign a long term near Zito deal Let me be more precise... I'd be working two separate paths at the current time. 1a) I would be working aggressively to get him signed to a hometown discount contract in the range of 5 years, $80M 1b) I would be working the phones with the teams that had a set of three premier prospects to get a trade that I was convinced improved the overall talent level of the organization If neither of those paths bore fruit, I would complete the season with Z on the staff. If, in the unlikely event that the Cubs are completely out of it in July, I'd look to trade Z. I don't think that's going to happen, though. So next October I would: 2) work aggressively to get Z signed to a hometown discount deal 3) If that didn't work, I would offer him arbitration and take the draft picks when he signs elsewhere And hope he doesn't get hurt. :?

Check out my avatar. :D

Correct.

.330 OBP last season.

How do you know this? That would be fantastic. I'm really looking forward to ST. Hopefully we'll see Gooz dominate and move into the big league rotation. Oneri/Wilken and some other second hand stuff from scouts in Venezuela. Does he have a change Raisin? I thought he did but I wasn't sure. I'd rather see him use that if he does. Yeah, he has a change.

How do you know this? That would be fantastic. I'm really looking forward to ST. Hopefully we'll see Gooz dominate and move into the big league rotation. Oneri/Wilken and some other second hand stuff from scouts in Venezuela.

Mine will be all done late tonight (Monday night).

Forget Hank White and Ronny, I want Angel to replicate those stats, esp that sexy K/BB.

Haha, good to see I'm not the only one who does that.

Great road win, even if the Suns didn't have Nash.

The refs in this game sure love blowing the whistle. I hate games like this where everything is called.

Awful way to close out the quarter. Gordon and Hinrich need to go to the rack more.

Sweet, Darren Collison (shoulder) and Lorenzo Mata (hip flexor) cleared for the Arizona games.

Linebackers will carry a franchise tag of $7.206 million and a transition tag of $6.493 million. - from the Boston Herald

Final VWL Stats (Regular Season and All Playoff Games): Henry Blanco (Navegantes): 57/245, .233/.295/.335/.630, 21 BB, 35 K, 3 HBP, 13 2B, 4 HR, 4 E Ronny Cedeño (Tigres): 57/215, .265/.317/.437/.754, 1 HBP, 20 BB, 47 K, 6 HR, 3 3B, 13 2B, 1/5 SB, 5 E Robinson Chirinos (Navegantes): 3/15, .200/.294/.333/.627, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2 2B, 1/1 SB, 1 E Buck Coats (Tigres): 20/95, .211/.294/.326/.620, 11 BB, 15 K, 1 HBP, 2 2B, 3 HR, 2/2 SB, 1 E Tomás Pérez (Navegantes): 68/269, .253/.298/.297/.695, 17 BB, 28 K, 3 HBP, 12 2B, 2/3 SB, 5 E Carlos Rojas (Caribes): 1/6, 1 BB, 1 K Chris Walker (Caribes): 27/126, .214/.303/.286/.589, 16 BB, 26 K, 3 HBP, 6 2B, 1 HR, 18/22 SB, 1 E Thomas Atlee (Caribes): 21 IP, 9 ER, 22 H, 13 K/12 BB, 2 HR, 3.86 ERA, 1.62 WHIP Cory Bailey (Aragua - reg season only): 68.1 IP, 17 ER, 63 H, 45 K/4 BB, 1 HR, 2.24 ERA, 0.98 WHIP Angel Guzmán (Navegantes): 30.1 IP, 9 ER, 22 H, 26 K/5 BB, 2 HR, 2.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP - and his curve is back :) Isaac Pavlik (Caribes): 22 IP, 14 ER, 26 H, 15 K/12 BB, 3 HR, 5.73 ERA, 1.73 WHIP

Final Dominican stats (regular season and playoffs): Mario Mercedes (Cibao): 0/1 Felix Pie (Licey): 27/125, .216/.263/.296/.559, 4 2B, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 7 BB, 25 K Jose Reyes (Orientales): 14/60, .233/.258/.333/.591, 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 8 K, 4 PB Jesus Valdez (Escogido): 1/6, 0/1 SB --- Juan Mateo (Licey): 13.1 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 13 H, 12 K/3 BB, 3 HR, 2.03 ERA, 0.98 WHIP Carlos Marmol (Licey): 13.1 IP, 16 ER, 21 H, 13 K/5 BB, 2 HR, 10.80 ERA, 1.95 WHIP Roberto Novoa (Licey): 3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 K/1 BB, 9.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP Joel Santo (Escogido): 3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 K/2 BB, 12.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP

I was shooting for something a smidge more realistic than BBB and Tim :) In reality we'd be lucky to end up with Willits. Reality is that Wood will rot in AAA behind Orlando Cabrera, and Jones can help them now. Hey, if they don't want to part with Wood, we'll be happy to run Cesar Izturis out there everyday. Oh, wait....maybe happy isn't the correct terminology. Wood will move to 3B when he comes to Anaheim. He can play SS, but 3B will be where they need him.

Sinking fastball sounds better than a fastball with no movement, and I've heard that it has some good sink on it from a few different places now.