CaliforniaRaisin

Haha, good call. I forgot about that.

He made 30 starts and threw 211 innings in 2003. He was on the DL that year too. Which means he has never pitched in a full season without being hurt. Plenty of people who aren't hurt throw less than 30 starts or 211 IP. It's really nitpicking to say he didn't pitch a full season. He hasn't pitched in a full season without being hurt. IF he didnt get hurt in 03, then he would have pitched in a full season. He missed a month of baseball because of that injury. Of course by a month, you mean, 2 starts. I believe it was 3 starts, but your point still stands and I completely agree.

Thanks. So Walker being a Type A free agent will not play a role in his next contract unless the Padres offer him arbitration.

I hear he has great leaping ability. :) It's tremendous. Oops, I meant tremendous. 59-30 at the half! :D

Have the rules changed? I thought the Padres had to first offer arbitration for the draft pick situation to even matter?

I hear he has great leaping ability. :)

Don't hate. He went to UCLA. 8-)

Pie is fantastic at CF, why shift him over? It's not like someone's forcing the move at the big leagues.

Ben Wallace hits his first FT! :shock: Good start.

The whole celebration thing for the Heat is lame, but it was way cool to see a guy I played pickup basketball with just go get his championship thingy (Jason Kapono).

I didn't see that one coming. Of course, offering Maddux arbitration would have been to risky a decision. Ceda is close enough to the equivalent of a first round pick, imo, given his stuff and age.

Mesa loses 6-3, box: 2B E. Patterson 0/4, R, BB (6), K (7) 3B S. Moore 1/4, 2B (6), K (13), E (2, throw) C J. Fox 1/4, 2 K (8) RP L. Holdzkom 1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 K/0 BB, 1 GO-0 FO, 18 pitches (10 strikes) Overall: Eric Patterson: 20/61, .328/.388/.492/.880, 6 BB, 7 K, 6/8 SB, 6 E Scott Moore: 15/55, .273/.365/.545/.910, 8 BB, 13 K, 4/4 SB, 2 E Jake Fox: 8/36, .222/.243/.306/.549, 1 BB, 8 K, 1/1 SB, 1 E Lincoln Holdzkom: 12 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 10 H, 12 K/2 BB, 3.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

Halloween for minor leaguers. "We had a dentist in the neighborhood who always handed out toothbrushes, and if you were lucky you'd get some floss too." -- Kevin Melillo, 2B, Oakland Athletics What are your plans for Halloween this year? What are you wearing? "Every day of the season I dress up as a pitcher and sometimes I manage to fool a few people." -- Travis Driskill, P, Houston Astros

He has the athleticism to play CF but LF is an easier position to learn. I for one hope the Cubs can try to keep him at 2B because he's much more valuable there. He has the range and talent to play 2B, he seems to be pressing big time right now and hopefully that is all it is.

Lee was out most of the season. Why focus on only two months of that time? In fact, Lee played the first half of April, so really you're talking about one and a half months of the season and using that to dismiss the need for the Cubs to hold on to their most productive offensive player over the last three years because all you "remember is him dogging it and slacking." Sound reasoning. Ramirez in 2006: April: 71 ABs; .197/.321/.394 (Derrek Lee had 44 ABs) May: 109 ABs; .266/.296/.495 (Lee had zero ABs) June: 105 ABs; .276/.325/.476 (Lee had 22 ABs) July: 96 ABs; .344/.414/.750 (Lee had 53 ABs) August: 111 ABs; .333/.400/640 (Lee with 12 ABs) September: 98 ABs; .306/.346/.551 (Lee had 44 ABs) Ramirez was VERY productive. He played in the most games of his career and he improved greatly on defense. Oh, I guess he's just a "second tier" guy though because of the few grounders he didn't bust ass down the line on. IMO he is a 2nd tier guy because when the cubs needed him, he was invisable....according to some in sports radio, he even asked to be moved down in the line up.... maybe he has been the most productive offensive player in the last 3 years, but remind me, what did the cubs win in 2004, 2005, and 2006?? i want all the players to play 100% him included.... How is Derrek Lee a first tier player there? He completely disappeared when the Cubs needed him in September 04 (Aramis was the only viable offensive threat then). This seems to ignore the fact that baseball players go through hot and cold slumps and Aramis (like Derrek Lee outside of 2005) seems to start the season off cold.

AZ Phil's analysis of the Cubs in the AFL thus far. Summary: EPatt: Better pitch selection. Freddie Bynum-esque at 2B and might need to move to the OF. :( Moore: Fantastic. A Hank Blalock comparison. Fox: Horrible behind the plate, struggling at the plate. Not ready for AAA. :( Holdzkom: Been great outside of that one 50-pitch outing. Lock for the 40-man. Dibble comparison. Rapada: Classic LOOGY, lock for the 40-man. Mike Myers comparison. Pignatiello: Re-born as a reliever, not quite a LOOGY but has a great arsenal of pitches from his starting days. Harben: Lots of pitches, no plus pitches. Ceiling of a 4-5 starter or a middle reliever.

Chicago Cubs: Signed 2B Gary Cates Signed C Casey Kopitzke* Signed LHP Carmen Pignatiello Signed SS Albenis Machado Released RHP Cedric Bennett Placed C Olin Wick on voluntarily retired list - Baseball America *expected to be a roving C instructor

Miguel Tejada is on the downslope of his career, and I can make a very strong case that Aramis is a better player right now. ARod is better, but the odds of matching up with NY in a deal are very, very low. Add to that the player cost of ARod and the fact that you aren't *that* much better with ARod over ARam, and you get a bad 2007 team. Add Tejada or ARod to a team with Lee and Aramis, and now you have something. And FYI, Aramis's OBP is comparable to Tejada's. Without the high strikeout total. Tejada is older, that is true. But he offers similar production, is LESS expensive in $$, and he fills a more difficult position. I'd rather have Tejada at SS and Iwamura at 3B than Ramirez at 3B and Izturis at SS, for example. I'm not on a "Hate Aramis" mission, I just recognize the many holes on this team and I'm struggling with whether (1) Aramis is really part of the long-term solution, and/or (2) whether the money he'll demand is a wise investment. The guy HAS shown a tendency to persistent, nagging injuries. And BTW, I have no idea what you're talking about on "high strikeout totals." Tejada the last three seasons has K'd 73, 83, and 79 times, and that's with 650 ABs/year. Ramirez is at 62,62 and 63 times, but on average roughly 100 less ABs per year, too. I'd say they're both pretty good at making contact, and Tejada is not more prone to the strikeout. While Tejada is less expensive salary-wise, he'd cost the Cubs tradable assets that could be used elsewhere if Aramis is re-signed (or on Tejada himself so the left side of the infield can have Aramis and Tejada).

NL West No Cub made the Draft All-Stars (a.k.a. Best Pro Debut). Some Cubs made the rankings overall throughout baseball: BEST ATHLETE 1. Drew Stubbs, of, Reds (1) 2. Jeff Samardzija, rhp, Cubs (5) 3. Desmond Jennings, of, Devil Rays (10) 4. Derrick Robinson, of, Royals (4) 5. Jermaine Mitchell, of, Athletics (5) Baseball Relative Division 1. Jeremy Papelbon, lhp, Cubs (19) and Josh Papelbon, rhp, Red Sox (48) 2. Cory Rasmus, rhp, Braves (1) 3. Preston Mattingly, ss, Dodgers (1) 4. Kyle Drabek, rhp, Phillies (1) 5. Cole Figueroa, ss, Blue Jays (9) and Cory Figueroa, 2b, Blue Jays (42) BEST LATE-ROUND PICK 1. Lars Anderson, 1b, Red Sox (18) 2. Tommy Pham, ss, Cardinals (16) 3. Desmond Jennings, of, Devil Rays (10) 4. Chris Huseby, rhp, Cubs (11) 5. Brandon Holden, rhp, Pirates (13) And BA rated the 5 best drafts as of now as: BEST DRAFT 1. Red Sox 2. Yankees 3. Diamondbacks 4. Orioles 5. Twins Jim Callis was have a draft-related chat at 2 pm ET, get your questions in now.

I think Hendry would do this whether or not Piniella was the manager. Hendry's job is on the line, he's going to feel obligated to do whatever he feels will save his job which is win this year - signing Piniella was part of that plan.

Nice. :)

Thanks Cuse. We'll be saying the same to you in the next few years. you must be still drunk from celebrating Agreed.

No.

Opening day! Bulls @ Heat at 7 pm CT on TNT tomorrow (Tuesday).