NorthsideAvenger

:-k Now don't get me wrong, I think the Erye signing was solid, but dang if Romero was available for this cheap, I would had prefer to go after Romero instead of Erye...Kendrick or Wood would have been out of the question, but the Twins could had easily gotten Erick Aybar, Alberto Callaspo or Maicer Izturis for Romero. And now the Angels get another very good, yet LEFTY reliever to go into that already top level bullpen. :-k For the Twins =D> For the Angels

First: Soriano must be the most selfish, least understanding ballplayer in the majors. If he stays at 2b, while a unique talent for the position, his value is limited to a few teams. Now if Soriano would play the OF (and add that to his resume) he would add more value and thus have more teams after him. At least in the OF Soriano defensive shortcomings could be hidden. Ron Gant's value went up after he went from the IF to the OF. Sheffield's value went through the roof, when he move from 3B to RF. And heck even Robin Yount value skyrocketing after he move from SS to CF. Soriano simply don't understand marketability. Second: On Vidro....just keep Walker. I like Vidro, but I prefer Walker to Vidro any day of the week. Not to mention we have a nice looking, better suited for the majors Patterson coming up that plays 2b. No thank you on Vidro.

No, he apparently wants a trade. Then we argued about Tejada. actually, about walker Sorry to hijack the thread....but Conine is close to rejoining the Orioles (2 stints with the Royals, two stints with the Marlins, and NOW 2 stints with the Orioles....what a nut). I wonder if that will change Tejada's mind about leaving? :roll:

He gone. I don't think Manny is as "gone" as people think. I personally believe Boston is gonna tell Manny to sit down, shut up, and enjoy the vastly overpaid contract he got fro Duquette and stop acting the fool. The Red Sox simply can't get FULL VALUE for Manny, thus...Manny stays.

True...and the Mets offer would lived them with KAZ MATSUI (or Grudzielanek, if he signs) as leadoff, and that would be very mediocre. I'm just saying the Mets are the only team that I see that could rival the Cubs, in terms of being able to absorb the contract, and offer the right young players (and no Baltimore wouldn't trade Miggy to Boston). So Baltimore would have to weigh possibly alienating their fan base .v. getting rid of a possible "problem." But considering who they HAD in 2005, I bet there is nothing Tejada could do that would embarrass the Orioles, the way Palmeiro and Sosa embarrass the team.

Regardless, of what people think, I believe the Cubs have enough to tempt the Orioles (Pie, Cedeno to begin with) into moving Tejada. But a couple of questions would have to be asked: 1: Even with Tejada requesting to be dealt, does Baltimore have the courage to move the current face of the franchise? 2: If they do contemplate moving Tejada, will this be vindication for Tejada and and justified Tejada's comment, that the Orioles lack a "direction?" 3: With the Nats having a great first season in the area, and Orioles coming off a very rough season, does the mini-Steinbrenner---Angelos---wants to alienated more fans by moving Tejada, which in turn would drive "Orioles fans" into the arms of the Nationals? I do think it is a long shot for the Orioles to move Tejada, but I do believe if they are going to move him, the Cubs do have enough to tempt him. The biggest "rival" for Tejada would be the Mets. I mean Reyes (Cedeno), Milledge (Pie), Nady (Dopirak) would be just as equally as tempting as the Cubs offer. But it doesn't hurt to ask.....

I am not enomored by the move, but like I said in the thread about his acquisition, people have been pretty absurd in trying to diminish his skills. I remember a year ago when arguments were being made about Walker leading off for the Cubs, some people who are currently bashing the deal were making this point: obp in a leadoff man is most important, but how often the batter reaches second base is critically important as well when it comes to scoring runs. in that respect, you compare how often Pierre is able to reach second base on his own to Wilkerson or Walker, it adds value that Walker and Wilkerson can't necessarily bring. for a rough calculation, I'll use 2b + 3b + HR + SB(x.9). 2005 was a down year for Pierre and Wilkerson and an injury year for Walker: Pierre 85 Wilkerson 67 Walker 41 (in 400 ABs, let's say 61 over 600 ABs) 2004 was by far Wilkerson's best year, arguably for Pierre too, and a illogically benched year for Walker Pierre 77 Wilkerson 85 (do have to give a huge edge for all the dingers, but will he ever repeat that? shouldn't the homers he didn't hit in DC have turned into doubles last year? they didn't.) Walker 38 (about 61 over 600) for some reason I don't see the people that advocate Wilkerson, and bashing Pierre, pointing to the value reaching second on your own has to scoring runs even though many of them spoke of it last year when advocating for Walker for leadoff. I don't like Pierre's stolen base percentage. I think it should be in the 80s to be an effective gamble. last year Pierre attempted 74 stolen bases. to have an 80 percent success rate he would have needed 60 sb. he had 57. three outs (sure, there are probably some pickoffs to work in there.) big deal. I'd much rather have him on second or beyond on his own at the rate he does get there. also, to diminish his skills, everybody is acting like the sole aspect of speed is the stolen base. while wilkerson, and to a lesser extent walker, are both good baserunners, Pierre brings the following more regularly than the Ws: score from second on a single go from first to third on a single score from first on a double score from third on a groundball or flyout turn dps into fc to first go from second to third on a groundball up the middle Walker is probably my favorite Cub, and I would love to add Wilkerson, but the lengths people go through to say that they would be every bit the leadoff hitter that Pierre is goes a little far. let's look at the entire picture, not just the additional slg and leave it at that. obp is the most important factor for a leadoff hitter, but Pierre's speed in the leadoff spot will lead to alot of scoring opportunities and avoid alot of outs, that would have been runners stranded and outs if it were Walker and Wilkerson out there. So essentially what your saying in the simpliest form is that, "any time Pierre reaches base, he is automatically in scoring position." Works for me....and I do expect Pierre to get back to his career norms of .305/.355 (and no I am NOT worried or concern about power from Pierre, cause that is not his game)

I'd gladly let the Blue Jays get Bradley, if it meant the Cubs landing Miguel Tejada.. :lol:

With the Dodgers closing in on Bill Mueller, Todd Walker becomes LESS viable for the Dodgers. But, I highly doubt the Dodgers are interested in Batista, simply because Batista isn't that good. I still say Bradley will end up with the Cubs...

Bring back Mark Grudzielanek?

Hey, if the Cards are feeling "LEFT OUT" (pun intended), I think the Cubs have a spare crappy lefty that they could call "specialist." I think Hendry would be persuaded to move Bartosh, Koronka, Rohlicek (if not selected in the Rule 5/V draft), heck, I would throw-in (oh what a....)RUSCH.....

Prolly trying to see if there is a better (or a team interested) deal out there then Patterson (or Walker).

Personally, I think Patterson will be dealt straight up for Bradley, to be honest.

LETS HANG THE BLASPHEMER! (Looks to the left....Looks to the right).....Who me? Don't you know who I am, son....I AM Macias's agent, and I have to protect the interests of my client.....nah....just kidding, who wants to be a dirty agent. And to get M&P to "not talk" to me....brings a :lol: to my face.

:( I love being in the minority, but I am actually going to miss Macias, I thought he wasn't as bad as people say he was. If Baker would had kept him in the 7th/8th spot in the lineup, when Macias was schedule to play. Macias would have been fine. Good luck to you, Mr. Macias.

Brazelton for Burroughs? Oh now....this is the end of the Alex Gonzalez era in Tampa Bay, has it really been a year? How will the DRays ever find a guy to replace Gonzalez..... Just kidding.

Am I the only one (hope not) who feels that Pierre won't be the only transaction the Cubs make? Because a Mench for Mitre deal is starting to spread, abit.

Nobody thought Hendry would be able to pull Murton from the Red Sox, also. So it wouldn't surprise me if Kensing, Vargas, or Olsen is coming along with Pierre. Which would be fine with me.

Man, that picture makes him look like Dave Chappelle.

How did the Trib fire Bayless, and yet the SunTimes keep the equal enept Janie Mariotta on the payroll, shows you why the SunTimes is considered a second rate paper. I swear (not cussin, mind you) that if Mariotta isn't ripping the Cubs, either through tv or thru his article, he would be one unhappy, and lon....what a minute...he is already one unhappy, and lonely dude. Jay really does need to take a course of "creative writing" cause there isn't anything creative about what he writes. Same verse, different day.

:-k aw....yes...spread :D Now all we have to do is get Anna Benson and Luis Montanez's sister together and we got baseball's first cheerleading group.

I don't know....did it work for the Diamonback with Richie Sexson, or the White Sox with Wells and Colon (in separate deals)? My guess is...it wouldn't be worth 3 prospects, but if the rumor is the Cubs are only sending Nolasco and Pinto and getting a prospect with Pierre, then yeah, it will be worth it. Knowing Hendry's ability to work a trade...it wouldn't surprise me if he walks away with either Kensing, Vargas, or Olsen with Pierre.

TECHNICALLY, Furcal is the 3rd highest SS in baseball behind Jeter (and come on...ARod ain't a 3rd baseman, he is a SS). And how is anybody surpise that a WRITER for FOXSPORTS (key word Fox) wrote a favorable grade for the DODGERS? That's would be like Phil Rogers writing a favorably article (which he is incapable of doint, btw) for the Cubs.

Some metrics(not that I necessarily agree) have Dunn rated as the better fielder than Abreu. And despite Dunn being a big guy, he really isn't all that slow. Abreu is a poor defender. How in the world he won a Gold Glove is beyond me. Poor range and laziness shouldn't get you a GG. 24/102/31/.286/.405/.474 that is why he won the GG. You didn't know that winning a gold glove is ALL about the offense?

I'm more SURPRISE that Nefti Perez is actually going to represent the DR when candidates like Jhonny Peralta, and Rafael Furcal are still out there. Now that is.... :shock: