soccer10k

Actually, I think the next stat to look at is SLG. Beat me to it.

Absolutely. I'm with Vance on money in place of a prospect but if this was the only offer on the table I wouldn't think twice about making the deal.

The 2005 Cubs were 9th in BA, 20th in runs scored. Their OBP was 20th. The 2006 Cubs are 17th in BA, 30th in runs scored. Their OBP is 29th. Game. Set. Match.

I certainly agree that that was a questionable signing. I agree it was a questionable signing but everybody makes mistakes. Billy Beane is not immune to this. But tell me, what is worse, Beane signing Loiaza or Hendry signing Perez and Rusch? I think we all know the answer to that. Beane's signing is only wasting one roster spot, not two. I'm not criticizing Beane. As has been mentioned several times in this thread, his team wins. I'll certainly question some of his moves (like the Loaiza signing), but his team wins, and that's a fact that can't be questioned. Fair enough.

All I can hope for is a good pitching performance by Marmol.

Given Giles' is 35 years old, that's a heck of an assumption. Agreed. Giles's power has completely disappeared (.389 SLG this year) and even though he still shows the ability to get on base (.392 OBP) I think Jones is the better option for the next couple years. perhaps giles was on the juice after all. I'm not even going down that road.

I certainly agree that that was a questionable signing. I agree it was a questionable signing but everybody makes mistakes. Billy Beane is not immune to this. But tell me, what is worse, Beane signing Loiaza or Hendry signing Perez and Rusch?

Beane is definately a top 5 GM in the league. His A's teams contend year in and year out so what's not to like?

obvious metal fan? How am I an obvious metal fan? Is it really that big a stretch to say that Metallica is one of the most influential bands of the past 25 years? I don't know if you're a metal fan or not, but Metallica in the top 8 is probably a bit high. So which #3 seed do you put above them? Nirvana, The Eagles, Queen, Radiohead? None of those bands can touch Metallica musically. I obviously voted Metallica.

Hendrix. I'm not much of a REM fan.

Wow. Still not walking but when you're hitting .364 that doesn't matter as much.

He also had this one: We know Buster's stance on Dusty Baker.

Made by the same guy as well.

Great video. I love it.

It's called implying a correlation between the comments about Todd Walker and the Gay Games.

Did a little mining this morning, I certainly wish the Cubs looked as old as the Yankees do right now! :lol: BCB If the season ended today, even with their recent hot streak, they would not be in the playoffs. Either way, they are getting old. They're only 0.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East (tied in the loss column) and only 2.5 games behind the White Sox in the Wild Card (2 back in the loss column). They're definately not done yet.

Definately Nomar. Farnsworth only because of the potential for him to destroy somebody in a fight.

"And today it was announced that Sean Marshall has been sent back down to AAA".... "Sean Marshall will now be working out of the bullpen" would be worse. At least in AAA, Marshall would still be getting starts. I like this move. Marshall has already pitched a career high amount of innings. The season is lost, no sense in ruining the kids arm. Now Marmol, Guzman, and Hill can all get a chance to show what they can do, plenty of arms that can pick up the slack. I would also send Novoa down and bring back Wuertz to give Eyre and Howry a break. Marshall needs to get as many starts in the majors this year as possible. The guy can flat out pitch and is still very raw. One of the few positives regarding this season is that Marshall and Marmol are getting ample time to develop without worrying about mistakes or one bad inning (like last night). The games from here on out are meaningless from a standings standpoint, but not from a development standpoint. I would much rather let them taking their lumps against major league hitters than dominate AAA pitching. So you want Marshall to go from a career high of like 130 innings pitched to see if he can top 200 innings this year? I just don't think that will help his development at all, I think that is just begging for trouble. Marshall has gained plenty of experience and I like the fact he will remain on the big league club so he can still soak up as much as he can from Maddux. Finally a little forsight by management. Yes, I want him to prove tht he can pitch a full major league season, just the same that is expected of every major league pitcher. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe that Marshall has some of the same problems as Wood, Prior, etc. I've never heard anybody complain about his mechanics and if I remember right, his injury last year had to do with his finger. As someone pointed out earlier, its not as if he is pitching 100+ pitches per game on a consistent basis. Marshall is currently on pace for 176 IP this year, not over 200+. He is only averaging 89 pitches per start this year and has only topped the 100 pitch mark three times with a max of 102 pitches. This is hardly considered to be overworking a pitcher.

You cheer for Rusch? Well, on second thought, his starts are quite comedic but nevertheless I wouldn't consider that cheering for him.

Finished with 4 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

Uh, that makes no sense wouldn't we send over Ramirez as well? That's what I would think. My guess would be to sub in Ramirez for Prior. I would say something like ARod for Jones, ARam, and a reliever or two.

Given Giles' is 35 years old, that's a heck of an assumption. Agreed. Giles's power has completely disappeared (.389 SLG this year) and even though he still shows the ability to get on base (.392 OBP) I think Jones is the better option for the next couple years.

Why, you expect the Cubs to even make an offer? Why waste team talking about a player, when you KNOW in your heart the Cubs have no interests in. Meaning even if Ichiro is available, the Cubs ain't interested. Willy Pierre Juan Taverez Makes me no never mind. I expect the Cubs to acquire SOMEBODY else with Taverez to make a deal worthwhile, I would love to take Brandon Backe off their hands. why are you so sure the cubs aren't interested? He's fast, a great defender and bats leadoff - all things the cubs value. How about the fact that Ichiro has a career .377 OBP, and the fact that the Cubs simply don't understand that getting on base is the object of the game. They would view Ichiro as a baseclogging, and instantly deem him "not a good fit." I would love to have Ichiro, but with the current regime, he would be tremendously WASTED. The quote was, "unless you can run, walks just clog up the bases for the guys who can". Not that it matters cause it was a stupid quote, but everyone gets it wrong. Not to mention the fact that Ichiro isn't known as somebody that walks very much. His high OBP is due to him getting hits rather than walks.

Yeah, let's get a guy with less power and less of an ability to get on base than Juan Pierre. Brilliant. If Taveras comes to the Cubs, I guarantee his nickname becomes 6-3.

Like most others in this thread, I really don't see the Cubs as having the slightest chance at Zito. On another note, "so he could sell his music" ? Never heard that as a negotiation point. :) Forgot about the Mets as a potential suitor.