NorthsideAvenger

IF Manny is traded (going on his 1.2 billionth trade demand) my guess is unless the deal is between the Cubs/Red Sox or the Angels/Red Sox, or even Dodgers/Red Sox, I think it would be easier for Boston to move Manny in a three team trade.

Take your best stuff to the Hill, Rich.

All managers/coaches, they are nothing but highly paid babysitters. I realize that is an oversimplication of what they do, but to me that is what they are. There are three things a manager/coach have to do that is part of their job descritpion: 1: Fill out the lineup card and make sure the players get to their right positions. 2: Speak with the media. 3: Smooth out any potenial in house troubles, behind close doors. We know, Baker does two of the three things, with #3 he refuses to do. I also believe that being good at “in game strategy” is about as overrated as “the strikeout” or “speed in your leadoff guy.” The fact is half the time the “decision” will work, half the time the “decision” won’t work, but 100% of the time it depends on the players on the field to make the manager’s “decision” work or not. So again, I think the “in game strategy” is abit overrated description for the manager. So any “questions” about Girardi’s, Fredi Gonzalez, or Dusty Baker’s “in game strategy” is abit useless in debates. Baker is just a bad manager as he doesn’t have nor hold accountability, or regardless of what the players say, Baker has NO respect among the players in the clubhouse. With that said, why are there some people here who think Fredi Gonzalez would be agood hire, and others think Girardi would not? Is it because Fredi has coached under Bobby Cox? Name one quality coach that was under Bobby Cox that went on an found success elsewhere? Maybe Ned Yost, and right now his success in Milwaukee has been limited. I can’t think of another. But what about Joe Girardi? He got to learn under Joe Torre, a HIGHLY respect manager in his own right. And Willie Randolph turned out to be a very good coach, atleast better initially then Ned Yost. And Joe even has one yr of managing up on Gonzalez, so Joe would still be classified as a “young manager.” So I don’t get the pro Fredi Gonzalez, and the not-so-pro Joe Girardi groups. I think both would be a solid choice for manager. But I slightly prefer Joe since he knows the Cubs, their organization, and how to deal with the Chicago market. I fear a little that Fredi might be in over his head abit if he tried to managed in Chicago, after coaching in a little pressure market like the Atl.

And right now, I believe Hendry doesn't think OBP is even a viable stat, much less an important one.

Yeah, but dude, Carlos Lee does have a triple. And with that kind of speed you can expect Carlos Lee not to be clogging up the basepaths.

. (I didn't see this anywhere, and if it was, then I apologize) This was in Sullivan's latest "Q-n-A". Notice the bold part? No wonder Baker and Hendry are a match made in heaven. So, I expect the Cubs won't be addressing the "lack of OBP" anytime soon.

I think many of us are agreeing that Hudson may not be worth $11M a year, which is why I put the $11M cash clause in the mock deal. Hudson is due to make $6M in 2007, $13M in 2008, $13M in 2009 and $1M buyout in 2010. If the Braves gave the Cubs $5M cash in 2008 and $6M in 2009, the Cubs would owe Hudson $6M in '07, $8M in '08 and $8M in '09. Plus, they get Jones to play CF in 2007 (and maybe beyond). It's a great deal for the Cubs, and a huge salary relief for Atlanta if they want to re-build or re-load. Again, just attempting to think outside the box and improve the offense and rotation simultaneously. If Hudson/Jones require giving up a prospect like Veal/Gallagher/Pawelek/etc, etc, I don't see the upside of getting Hudson/Jones. Now if the Cubs could get them with kids like Mateo/Johnson/ and maybe Marshall, fine...

Soriano scares the heck out of me. He could be Carlos Beltran in 2007, or he could be Adrian Beltre. Now, if Hendry decides to go after Soriano, I pray to the baseball gods, that Hendry does his homework on Soriano.

And Les Walrond. Well played. Ryu kidding? I Juan Jim to Rusch Glendon out the door, and Mabry I'll buy tickets again. Howry we gonna compete? That's Rich. Ohman. Somebody's drunk. :D

I am one that will stay in Prior's corner. I still believe Prior will become the best pitcher of his generation (I know, I know), after he battles through his early career adversity. I know people are going to say I am overly optimistic about Prior, but I still hold out hope to seeing a dominate one-two punch of Z and Prior.

Since 03, Hudson has become MORE hittable, he gives more walks, he strikes out few and few. In other words....as of 2006, Tim Hudson is a VERY MEDIOCRE #2 pitcher, and more likely at this stage is closer to being a #4 pitcher, then a #2. Wade Miller can give same type of production at a fraction of the cost. So unless ATL is willing to eat over 60% of Hudson's contract, I wouldn't even talk about trying to get Hudson. That's just not true. 2003 was a career year for Hudson, using that going forward as a comparison to show a decline is pretty deceiving. His K's have stayed similar, his walks have stayed similar since coming to the NL, and his BAA has been similar. His peripherals show his 2006 ERA and WHIP are pretty unlikely to repeat, that he's more than a 4 starter, and that he's most certainly better than Wade Miller. No matter how you spin it, Tim Hudson at this stage of ihs career is more of a 5-8 million dollar pitcher, NOT an $11 million dollar pitcher. So if the Cubs are interested in Hudson, ATL has to eat alot of money. I would rather just sign Jason Schmidt.

Since 03, Hudson has become MORE hittable, he gives more walks, he strikes out few and few. In other words....as of 2006, Tim Hudson is a VERY MEDIOCRE #2 pitcher, and more likely at this stage is closer to being a #4 pitcher, then a #2. Wade Miller can give same type of production at a fraction of the cost. So unless ATL is willing to eat over 60% of Hudson's contract, I wouldn't even talk about trying to get Hudson.

Jeff Weaver and Russell Branyan are the ONLY two on that list, I would even consider. And with Wade Miller slowing regaining his health, Weaver would become redundant. And Branyan, I would love to add to the bench, along with Eduardo Perez (via trade).

That's your opinion, not fact. People are perfectly welcome to talk about it if they want. And I am not stating my opinion as fact, but more like, it's something that is LIKELY to happen. That's probably what you INTENDED to say, but not what you DID say. The wording you used did imply fact, not opinion, since you didn't use wording such as "probable" or "likely." I'm sorry if you read it wrong and the fact I typed too fast to put my whole thought in, instead of half a thought. But I went back and made the correction. It now has an opinion being stated, not fact. Even tho, I believe it is fact that Dunn won't be coming to Chicago, and continuation of this thread will likely stalled with every angle about Dunn will be exhausted. So in other words you think it is a Dunn deal that he won't be coming to the Cubs. :D Like I said, I think it's unlikely, but it can't be completely ruled out. Yes, it's a "Dunn deal" that Adam won't be coming to the Cubs from the Reds. Now I'm not saying Dunn won't come from another team in a few yrs, but coming from Reds, HIGHLY unlikely.

I don't understand what they did wrong? The pitching staff went south. Who knew that Buerhle would crumble? . They didn't do anything wrong, per se, because they are still going to finished the season over .500 and prolly close to 90+ wins. The problem is....the White Sox as a team didn't have their "hunger" or "urgency to win" they had last yr. Last yr they a sense to need the win in the worst of ways, this yr, winning was AS important. That was their problem.

That's your opinion, not fact. People are perfectly welcome to talk about it if they want. And I am not stating my opinion as fact, but more like, it's something that is LIKELY to happen. That's probably what you INTENDED to say, but not what you DID say. The wording you used did imply fact, not opinion, since you didn't use wording such as "probable" or "likely." I'm sorry if you read it wrong and the fact I typed too fast to put my whole thought in, instead of half a thought. But I went back and made the correction. It now has an opinion being stated, not fact. Even tho, I believe it is fact that Dunn won't be coming to Chicago, and continuation of this thread will likely stalled with every angle about Dunn will be exhausted.

"Walk this way" by Ronnie Cedeno "It's Aww-hell, not Angel, Pagan" by Angel Pagan "Home plate: not just a serving dish" by Dusty Baker "The Importance of Being Earnest." by Jim Hendry "How to survive in the manager's doghouse" co-authors Matt Murton and Ryan Theriot. "Baseball for Dummies." By Dusty Baker "John Mabry: The life and times of baseball's Vanilla Ice." By Me. "Almost Famous" by Bruce Miles.

Theriot has 5 HR in over 2300 Minor League plate appearances. His IsoP is an almost humorous .066. He was old for his leagues too, he simply hasn't shown any ability to hit for power. Well, power isn't the "end all/be all" to making a ballplayer. There are plenty of solid players with little to no power...guys like David Eckstein, Mark Loretta have made careers out of playing the game hard, and playing it right. Besides power is a requirment out of 2B, unless you have a Jeff Kent/Jose Vidro/ type 2b. Theriot for 2b in 07.

Marshall/Pie/Marmol .v. Hudson/Jones With the Braves paying $11 million over the next 2yrs, and the Cubs eating ALL of AJ $13.5 mill, am I correct in your scenario Hoops? http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4084 Here's is Huddy's numbers, and it seems to me that Hudson has gotten worse since 2003, and I believe he is BADLY overrated. So right now, Hudson's "numbers" suggest he is closer to a #4, then a #2. So, if---by under you scenerio---the Cubs are interested in Hudson, and help ATL money situation, the Braves would have to: A: Eat about 2 to 3 million on AJ's contract.....or B: Settle for lesser pitchers then Marshall/Marmol. I'm fine with trading Pie (provided AJ signs an extension), but unless the Braves eat more of both Hudson or AJ contract, the Braves would have to settle for say....Juan Mateo/Grant Johnson/Adam Harben/Jose Ceda type young pitchers. I'm not saying Marmol or Marshall are untouchable, but I wouldn't trade either of them for a mediocre #2 pitcher. Now if the Braves added Marcus Giles to the deal, maybe, but only AJ and Hudson, I'd pause if I was the Cubs.

LaTroy and CPat may disagree. Cade McNown, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, Wood and Prior, Sosa... .....Hundley, Alf, Crawford, Enis, Arnason............ And Paul is clueless, if he believe Chicago fans don't blame the athletes.

Come on you know what the Cubs stand for? Complete and Utter Bull S (you fill in the rest)

What also brings a :D to my face, is that with the way Hill has been pitching, he's basically took what Guillen said---"Tell that Triple-A [bleep] to shut up. Tell him to start throwing some strikes or he's going to get Dusty fired."---and shoved them back down that jerks mouth. WTG, Rich, way to make Guillen look/sound like an idiot. Good job.

Here, here. I'd admit, that while I am a Hill fan, I thought of him as a spot starter/long reliever, Glendon Rusch type. Looking bacK...comparing to Rusch was a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE decision by me. And I apologize for doubting Hill. With that said...Hill still needs to developed that cut fastball that can run into a lefty, and away from a righty. And if he does that....all I can say is....Zito, Zito who?

That's your opinion, not fact. People are perfectly welcome to talk about it if they want. And I am not stating my opinion as fact, but more like, it's something that is LIKELY to happen. So again...we've beat the Adam Dunn debate to death. We've talked about every friggin' angle that can be talk about. This board is split in half...those who want him, and those who don't. And chances are, this debate will continue on with NOTHING NEW being added.

But dude, Hank White is my best hitting catcher i have healthy, so I got to get him in the lineup. Starting two catchers is my version of the two tight end set, Dude. 8)