NorthsideAvenger

Hendry isn't going to say anything new, and try and hype the players he sign this offseason as being better players then the players he let go. So don't count on Hendry saying anything useful.

If anybody needs further confirmation that the WBC is already a joke, here it is... I could see Piazza playing for the Italian, or David Aardsma for the Dutch, but how does one come to the conclusion that Dan Haren is even a possibility for the Dutch? 100% Irish Father, 100% Mexican mother, so how does Haren get on the roster of the Dutch? WBC is a joke.

My offensive breakout player is Eric Patterson. I believe Eric will elevate himself into the ELITE offensive middle infield prospect status after the yr. My pitching breakout player is....Angel Guzman. I know he is a special case, but I believe he will be a tremendous help for the Cubs this yr. Thus, with very few people are expecting anything from him, I expect him to have a VERY big yr. Other candidates: Pawelek, Veal, Johnson on the mound. Gregg, Fox, and Ryan Harvey. I expect Harvey to DRAMATICALLY improve in all areas.

Stop calling me Shirley. :roll: oh great........and AIRPLANE reference.... :roll:

subscriber Link Wow. The Jays could really contend next year. They'll be good, no doubt. But not good enough to overcome Bos/Ny They'll be the best third place team in baseball. I would not be surprised to see the Blue Jays pass the Red Sox this year. Really? Based on what (serious question)? How about the fact that the Blue Jays---on paper---have a better OVERALL offense then Boston. Or how about Toronto's pitching staff can match up with Boston's. Or the fact that Toronto will have LESS holes fo 2006, then Boston. It's not a stretch to believe that Boston is significantly worse off then 2004/2005, and that the Red Sox could be bumped to third in the AL East.

I didn't know the Cubs were playing meaningful games in 2000. I still back that statement, the 2000 USA team would have beating the 2000 Cubs. No questions.,

Yeah, I don't think you are going to get a top 15 prospect for a 5th starter. Yes, but what about Williams? He's a 3 starter at worst. Williams will be a very solid back of the rotation starter for the next xxxx of yrs. You can pick up one of those kind of pitchers in the draft, FA, or a lower type trade. But to trade a back end of the rotation pitcher for an Adam Dunn type power prosepct like Wood, who may be the next Alex Rodriguez at SS, that you don't do. Jerome Williams MIGHT be able to fetch Erick Aybar or Albert Callapse (or however you spell his lat name), but to get Wood (no jokes, plz) you have to offer a BIG temptation, say Mark Prior or Carlos Zambrano.

For the full article, click here. Don Buford? Isn't that Damon Buford's father?

You guys are going to be SO LUCKY. I am leaving the country for 6 months without any computers, or anything to keep track of baseball.. :( I won't get to follow the Cubs for a WHOLE 6 months.) But then again....as Martha Stweart would say, "That would be a good thing." But oh well...... No baseball for 6 months. I guess I am going on an EXTREMELY long version of LENT.

First: The WBC is a TOTAL joke, and so is Bud Selig for believing this "World Cup" would be taken seriously. When you have guys like ARod who can't make up his mind for which country to play for, or Mike Piazza automatically gets put on the Italian team because his last name is Italian (he's from Penn), and there is other stories like that, then you know the WBC is a total scam. And then you have the hole will they be allow/not allow to play Cuba scandal, and this tourny is already a joke. And the players know it. The ONLY ones taken it serious are the Dominican. Second: Bonds is a scam, but he's a scam you rather trust, then Selig/WBC. If Bonds is pulling out because of injury, fine, don't need to see him or hear stories about him 24 hours a day, before I have to. Third: Why don't they just used amateur players anyways. One of the greatest sports moments is when Team USA defeated Team Russia in the 1980 Olympics. And Team USA was filled with players who were hungry for respect, and for the gold medal. Heck even when Team USA defeated Cubs in th 2000 games in Australia, that was magical, because you have a team hungry players who played for the name on the front, instead on the back. That team had Ben Sheets whooping Cuba's bootay for 9 innings. Great memories. Just wish, they would take professional players out of international competition and return it back to AMATEUR COMPETITION. Sorry about the mini-rant, but this topic really boils my blood.

Ohman is a commodity. I do that in a heartbeat. But then I need to dump Pierre. BTW, Michaels hits righties just fine. Lefties who can get outs in the late innings are more valuable the 4th OF (besides we have Mabry/Grissom/Restovich :roll: ) who would force Murton to the bench. Murton is a very similar player to Michaels, and the best things is....Murton is 7 yrs younger then Michaels. So while his numbers may look great, I don't buy into the Michaels hype. This is a player who couldn't BEAT OUT the likes such legendary players like Ledee, Chavez, Lofton, Byrd.... And no, I wouldn't do a Ohman for Michaels deal. Maybe Bartosh and Wellemeyer but not Will Ohman.

I also read in the paper (or maybe Bruce Miles posted here) that Hairston improved his relationship with Baker as the year progressed. If that is true, then having Hairston start (if Walker is traded) would be ideal. Hairston would be the perfect compliment between Pierre and Lee. And a Cedeno/Hairston would be a outstanding defensive middle of the infield. But I am not holding my breathe on Baker and Hairston having a good relationship, tho.

First: How does firing Dan O'Brien adds to the Reds considering moving Adam Dunn? My math isn't too good, but I know firing O'Brien doesn't add to the Reds entertaining trade proposals for Dunn. Second: They traded Sean Casey to open up a spot so that the Reds COULD KEEP Dunn, Kearns, AND Pena. T he next player to possibly go is Ken Griffey, Jr--and not Adam Dunn-- and Junior's contract makes him virtually untradeable. Third: Considering that he is a PURE threat at the plate, and that he has the certain Mark McGwure/Barry Bonds type presence, I highly doubt they'd be interested in package you mention. Now if say the Cubs offer Prior or Zambrano, Rich Hill and Matt Murton (Brian Dopirak), then who knows. But Hill/Welly/Murton/Williams (or Guzman, and Harvey) simply WON'T get it done. Fourth: Something tells me....the Reds are not OVERLY excited about trading Dunn to the Cubs or any other NL Central team, in fear of facing Dunn 19 times a yr. Call me crazy, but there isn't package that the Reds would be tempted to deal Dunn for, UNLESS Prior or Zambrano is in the deal. In other words....let's look at SOME realistic possibilities, cause Dunn ain't happening.

Am I the only one who remembers the fact that Hairston fell out of flavor with the Cubs (especially Baker) with his behavior? My guess...Nefti Perez will be the favorite to win the 2b job in ST. :evil:

Well he did work for Baltimore, but it is PETER ANGELOS who has ruined the Baltimore Orioles. It has got to be a real pain in the bootay for the Orioles fans, that the previous franchise that went by "Baltimore Orioles" has 26 world championships, and the current "Baltimore Orioles" have a messed up owner in Peter Angelos.

As who promised? Some NSBB folks? Rhodes is a respectable arm that Philly needs. Michaels is a spare bench player. Rhodes, like all relievers, is inconsistant. Michaels is a spare bench player with a .380 career OBP. If the Cubs had a lineup full of "spare bench players," they'd have one of the better offenses in the league. The fact that the Phillies are settling on Arthor Rhodes for Michaels, tells you the value Jason Michaels has around baseball. He couldn't beat out the likes of Glanville, Ledee, and Bryd, for goodness sakes.

The Baltimore Sun is now reporting that the Orioles have offer Luis Matos (their version of Corey Patterson) to the Cubs for Todd Walker, and a Matos to Boston for Graffanino. All I can say is....YUCK....

Fact: The Cubs have eight guys who can be classified as starters. Ficiton: The Cubs have eight starters. The Cubs have two dependable starters--in terms of health-- (Z and Maddog) 2 iffy (Wood and Prior) and several UNKNOWNS/???(Miller, Hill, Rusch, Williams). If the Cubs can get Prior/Z/Maddux to be healthy and contributing, I don't care what they get out of Miller/Hill/Rusch/Williams, if Prior/Z/Wood/Maddux are not health and being productive...then the Cubs are up the creek. This is decent move, nothing more, nothing less.

Here is the facts: Michaels have been with the Phillies on a significant basis since 2002 (2001 he had a couple of coffee witht the team). And since 2002 here is the list of players the Phillies have trotted out to CF (excluding Michaels): Doug Glanville Ricky Ledee Marlon Byrd Eric Valent Kenny Lofton Endy Chavez Shane Victorino Two things: If Michaels couldn't beat the best of the scrubs that are on this list, what does that tell you about Jason Michaels: The ballplayer? And second: If Philly is willing to settled for Arthur Rhodes for Jason Michaels, what does that tell you about Michaels VALUE as a ballplayer. Now, his numbers are impressive, but apparently other teams were not knocking on the door to get Michaels, and that has to raise concerns about a player's value. Look people here are overrating Michaels. Michaels played in one of the most friendliest players for a hitter, and he still only put up 1 homerun in 131 at-bats at home. Again his numbers are impressive, but apparently not impressive enough for other team GM's to want him badly. Think about it: The MARLINS need a CF, but they didn't talk about Michaels, sriously. The ORIOLES needed a CF and settled for Corey Patterson. The ANGELS needs a CF, but are prepared to put Erstad back in CF. The Yankees needed a CF, and overpaid for Damon. The Red Sox needed a CF, but elected for Coco Crisp. You see where I am going....There were alot of teams needing a CF, but none seriously considering Michaels...hmm...I wonder why that is? :-k Outside of the numbers of prospect used to get him, I am fine with Pierre.

I could pitch over 200 innings. That doesn't mean the Cubs need me. In ONE season, B? :wink:

Probably a minor leaguer or marginal ML player. Considering the lack of interest in Walker this offseason, I think Hendry will gladly take any offer he can get. Futhermore, I think Hendry wants to make room for Lugo at 2B. How about we get Lugo first before we trade away our best alternate option? IMO Walker> Lugo. Hendry would be downgrading. Again. Just about everybody knows that erik, but you know Hendry isnn't looking for or to keep hitters, he's looking for guys who can catch the ball.

Team names in Japan generally make reference to the corporation that owns them. In this case, the Fighters are owned by Nippon Ham. Good thing that DOESN'T apply to MLB cause there would be some off-the-wall names. Names like the New York Fighting Steinbrenners, or the Atlanta AOL Time Warner Braves,etc, etc.

Michaels career: .291/.380/.442/.822, 113 OPS+ Pierre's best season ever: .326/.374/.407/.781, 107 OPS+ Michaels has been the superior offensive player. The only argument you could make is that Michaels for some reason wouldn't duplicate those numbers over the course of a full season. His numbers v. RHP are pretty much the high end of what to expect from Pierre, so his splits aren't any help in that aspect either. Has Michaels ever played a full season? Big difference between playing part time or in a platoon and being the everyday guy. PA's by year: 121, 125, 346, 343. Like I said before, he hits LHP better than RHP, but his numbers against RHP(.278/.361/.411/.772 the last 3 years) are still plenty good for a CF. Jason Michaels will be 30 YEARS OLD in 2006. IMO, he's an OLDER Matt Murton. I mean why do people like Michaels but give Pierre CRAP? Michaels doesn't have the speed to play CF, nor does he have the POWER to play a CORNER OF spot. In other words, Michaels is a GREAT 4th OFer. Michaels Rates as an above average defensive CF, Pierre below average. Michaels is the superior offensive player, and is cheaper in money and players. That's why people prefer him to Pierre. Then it MAKES you think why haven't Michaels been giving a chance to play everyday. The fact is...he is pushing 30 yrs old, and while he does have that Brady Clark fill to him, he is still classified more of a 4th OF/pinch hitter, then a starter. Michaels would have been a nice STOP-GAP, but he didn't really fill a specific need, other then having a NICE OBP in limited time. Remember Hairston, Jr had a nice OBP in limited time ,too. That doesn't mean he is something special. Bottomline: Philly has had NEED for CF for the last couple of yrs, rather it was Ledee, Lofton, Bryd, Chavez....they needed a CF, and Michaels never step up regardless of what his numbers say. Michaels is a tweener OF, who is better suited to playing ALL three spots in a pinch, then starting. Pierre (Regardless of 2005) fits a need, and he will succeed.

And I WAN'T exactly thrilled with him, either. I don't really like TWEENER players. Wilkerson WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE if the Cubs had gotten a POWER bat for RF, or LF depending on the player. And obviously Wilkerson is a better option then Jones, but still when you put the cards on the table, I prefer players in EXACT roles....Pierre in CF/LEADOFF, etc, etc...Michaels and Wilkerson. Besides it don't matter, Murton will be similar to either player before the yr is out....the conversation will be moot.

"That's a good idea" "I agree. It's better than Morgan/??????" Molinero=Miller.