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this is awesome

I don't think it would be about that. From the articles that came out a couple weeks ago on those business websites, it sounds like he just can't afford it Well that's what I meant. Why would he buy the Cubs if he couldn't maintain the team as it is. He saw the books, he knows the Cubs have a large payroll and several long term contracts to deal with. Well nobody said anything about reducing payroll. We're talking about adding more big contracts Right now we are. If Rich Harden pitches awesome this year and the economy is still in the crapper, does the new owner resign him or replace his salary? That's the stuff that worries me

I don't think it would be about that. From the articles that came out a couple weeks ago on those business websites, it sounds like he just can't afford it Well that's what I meant. Why would he buy the Cubs if he couldn't maintain the team as it is. He saw the books, he knows the Cubs have a large payroll and several long term contracts to deal with. Well nobody said anything about reducing payroll. We're talking about adding more big contracts

I'd try to fit Sharp in there for the roofer, but no doubt Khabi was #1. What more needs to happen for Q to come off this rotation business? If I have to watch Huet flail around Friday night, I'm going to be one unhappy human. It's fine to want Khabi to start every game, but you need to stop acting like Huet sucks Well... he doesn't suck... but he sure hasn't shown his true colors this year I don't know what that means, but he has above average numbers Huet is not a great goalie. He pisses me off a lot too, especially when he tried to play the puck. I just don't understand why everyone here trashes him non-stop. Big contract or not, he's an above average goalie. I vehemently agree with you... he is an "above average goalie"... but with two goalies with an enormous contract... the better goalie at the time (Khabi) is going to get the love and the one who isn't as good/consistent (Huet) is going to get the hate. I think us, as knowledgeable Hawks fans hate the contract more than the person. We see Huet making money we could have spent elsewhere. EDIT: And I guess I should admit I was incredibly excited about the Huet signing at first, because I figured he was taking OVER for Khabby, not "platooning" with him. Like I said, I have no problem with people wanting Khabi to start every day and I can live with people being pissed about Huet's contract. I just don't understand why people still acting like he's gabage even though the numbers prove that to be false.

I'd try to fit Sharp in there for the roofer, but no doubt Khabi was #1. What more needs to happen for Q to come off this rotation business? If I have to watch Huet flail around Friday night, I'm going to be one unhappy human. It's fine to want Khabi to start every game, but you need to stop acting like Huet sucks Well... he doesn't suck... but he sure hasn't shown his true colors this year I don't know what that means, but he has above average numbers Huet is not a great goalie. He pisses me off a lot too, especially when he tried to play the puck. I just don't understand why everyone here trashes him non-stop. Big contract or not, he's an above average goalie.

Do you have anything conrete on this supposed shoulder tear? It's weird that after the article came out, we've heard basically nothing about it. I read some article a couple weeks ago that suggested he might not be ready for opening day, but I remember the source being questionable. So what's the deal? Is he going to be ready for opening day, barring a different injury?

I'd try to fit Sharp in there for the roofer, but no doubt Khabi was #1. What more needs to happen for Q to come off this rotation business? If I have to watch Huet flail around Friday night, I'm going to be one unhappy human. It's fine to want Khabi to start every game, but you need to stop acting like Huet sucks

I don't think it would be about that. From the articles that came out a couple weeks ago on those business websites, it sounds like he just can't afford it Then why spend 3/4 of your family net worth on a baseball team? Here's one of the articles I was talking about...

Khabi wins

unbelievable save

I don't think it would be about that. From the articles that came out a couple weeks ago on those business websites, it sounds like he just can't afford it

Huge break there.... that was clearly a goal. The puck was 2 feet deep in the net before it came loose

This is my sentiment. This is the first time in many, many years that players have become the bargains they are this offseason. Hendry should not be faulted for signing Bradley regardless of what Dunn or Abreu signed for. The Miles signing is bad because it's a 2-year deal for Aaron Freaking Miles, not because of the other bargains to be had. I don't really think anybody is faulting him for signing Bradley in this thread. I noyl brought him up because that guy brought up outfielders and how they is no market for them. I'm talking about Miles being a bad signing.

All I know is that he said Mike "spends a lot of time with Hendry every day... sometimes all day", or something like that.

Whomever those some are, are drunken idiots. He's a friggen OFer. Is outfield defense not that important now? Yes. Of course not. but the frequency of chances is a lot less than in the IF and the opportunities to make plays that others wouldn't is pretty significantly reduced. Said another way, Bradley (or any other corner OF this side of Carl Crawford) isn't going to be making significantly more plays than Abreu. It's a distinction without a meaningful difference. Defense is the new OBP. Except the OBP thing was really important and the defensive stuff is just nonsense (with notable exceptions on both sides of the curve). We've all been through this before I'm not going through it again. I've made it known on this board that I'm not a fan of defensive metrics and I don't understand the sudden infatuation with defense, but come. You really don't think there's a meaningful difference between Abreu and an average to above average defender? Really?

All player salaries are related, regardless of position. It only is if that player will join your team for that same salary. Everytime people see a guy sign a deal, they assume he would have signed with the Cubs for that salary. Does anyone really think Abreu signs with the Cubs for 5m? Also if were complaining about Miles for 2.2m next year, shouldn't the Mets fans be complaining about signing Alex Cora to a 1y deal at 2m? They could use Abreu alot more then us, right now. Samething goes for the Reds who signed Jerry Hairston to 2m deal. There's a bunch of teams that signed middle infielders to simliar contracts that could be saying the samething right now. Again to bring up Miles and Abreu topic is just more pointless complaining. I'm not picking on you Dexter, just that people are even talking about this is silly. Simple fact is there was a market for back up middle infielders this offseason, and not one for ageing corner outfielders. Timing is irrelevant to this conversation. A GM has the ability to wait out a market. It's his job to get the best deal. To excuse him for potentially overpaying for a guy because of the way the markey shaped up doesn't make sense. In that case, it's the GMs fault for acting too quickly. Does anybody think Abreu signs with the Cubs for 5m? If the Cubs were interested in him right now, why not? Were the Cubs forced to sign an outfielder in January? Of course not. Thata rgument makes no sense. Also those guys you mentioed as comparisons all got less than half the total money Miles got, so I don't get the comparison. Why did we have to guarantee 2 years when they only had to guarantee one? Why do you always criticize people for "complaining just for the sake of complaining"? Which is worse....voicing reasonable complaints, or being determined to give Hendry and the Cubs FO a free pass? It's okay to question their moves you know. Also if you say there was no market for corner outfielders, why did we pay so much for one?

Whomever those some are, are drunken idiots. He's a friggen OFer. Is outfield defense not that important now?

I never said that, I said they don't use it as the be all end all that us fans use it as. If a guys OPS is below 750 we usually call that player bad or supbar, depending on the postion. Most GM's don't believe every player has to hit for power, and are happy with them if they hit for average and get on base. Otherwise explain why guys like David Eckstein, Luis Castillo, and many many others have started for major league teams and made alot of money over the years. Thats why I mentioned that Theriot might have to be moved to 2b at some point. His defense as a 2b would most likely be average at worse, and probably pretty decent. But that still doesn't change the fact that as long as he hits for average and gets on base. He will have a everyday job in the major leagues on some team. As for Theriot at SS next year, the Cubs seem ok with his defense. It's never been a problem or we haven't heard many behind the scene stuff about the Cubs wanting to move him to 2b. Like I said, I agree that he'll be at short. We were never questioning where he'll be, just what we'd like to do. My point was that a very bad defender at shortstop never has a secure spot at that position unless he rakes. Theriot is a nice hitter, but it's highly arguable whether or not his projected offense makes up for his poor defense.

I wasn't sure where to post this so I'll put it in here. Churchill mentione din an e-mail to me that the (potential) new owners were bring "really unreasonable". I asked him for details and he said this- Who knows if this is at all true, but it definitely makes you worry. Also it would explain trading Olson

It does because major league teams value what Theriot did higher then fans do. Us fans rate players on OPS and a bunch of other stats and compare them to other players. The Cubs knew from day one that Theriot has no power, and they are happy with him if he hits for average and gets on base at a high rate. Very few major league teams have more then 5-6 hitters who hit for power, and honestly alot GM's(more old school ones) like having a few hitters who don't hit for power in their line-up to mix things up. As long as Theriot is hitting hitting 290 plus and gets on base at a 350-360 plus rate, he will have a everyday job in the major leagues for some team, even if they have to move him to 2b. Thats why guys like Luis Castillo and David Eckstein hit towards the top of the order on World Series winning teams from 03-06. I'm not saying it's right or I agree with it. But you can be a SS/2b hit for average and get on base with no power and still be a everyday player year after year. Once again you're leaving out the most important factor, which is defense. I've already said he was fine offensively, despite the lack of extra base hits (and that doesn't just mean HRs by the way). I don't really see how you can say GMs don't use stats like OPS and it's just for fans. That's kind of silly. But again, I'm mostly talking about defense. You keep failing to mention that. GMs and managers highly value defense, as they should. If Theriot lost his job, it would be because of his poor defense. Also, we're not debating what we thin will happen. We're debating what we want to happen. I think we all understand that Theriot will be the starting shotstop next season. I don't see anybody debating that.

All player salaries are related, regardless of position.

Well I think awful was a strong word, I don't think he's awful. Is he good no, and yes subpar there at times, but I wouldn't say awful. Plus the baserunning isn't his fault IMO, his SB/CS rate was due to Lou running him so much early in the year. There's a reason why he was a good base stealer in 06 and 07 and not one last year. I was never trying to say Theriot is great. I'm just saying in the major leagues players don't lose everyday jobs after hitting 307 with a 387 OBP in 580 AB's, no matter what their OPS is(especially midlde infielders). Alot of major league teams value more then just a players power, even though thats often us fans rate a player. So it's not realistic for a major league hitter to hit that well and not have a everyday spot the next year. Sure they might move him to another postion, but he's still playing everyday. If he's not awful, he's really bad. Saying he was "subpar there at times" is really generous. He's bad. As for the baserunning, I'm not just talking about CS. I'm talking about baserunning in general. He is a poor baserunner. That's not really a huge issue, just another detail on his game. Theriot wasn't a great base stealer throughout his minor league career either. I don't think he's as bad as he was last year and I don't think he's as good as he was the year before. He's probably average. Either way, I don't think one good-but-not-great season offensivelt gurantees you a full time spot the following season, especially when you're a poor defender playing an important defensive position. All that said, I'm fine going with him at short to start the season, considering there aren't many attractive options out there.

It's not realistic, what team would make Theriot a platoon player after the year he had? Especially part of a platoon that won't get many AB's? Theriot had the 7th best OBP in the NL, 2nd highest OBP/BA among SS. He was even 8th OPS in the NL and 10th in the MLB for SS. Now he probably won't be as good next year, but he should still be pretty good. So there's no way he's gonna lose his everyday spot. You're leaving out his awful defense. And despite the pretty batting average and OBP, a .745 OPS from a shortstop with really bad defense and baserunning is far from special. I want an actual shortstop who can defend. Also I'm not convinced that Theriot can suddenl hit RHP when he never could throughout his professional career.

Fontenot getting the bulk of playing time at short sounds like a really bad idea

Wow, I didn't hear that Abreau was signed to play backup infield. That is a steal even at $5 mil base with incentives that will likely pay him near $10 mil. Yeah, I'd much rather have Abreau backing up Font and Theriot even if it is for a few mil more. Just because they don't play the same position doesn't mean you can't correlate their price tags.