Jehrico

It indeed is significant looking at the big picture. Hendry overpaid for Remlinger. He went after the oldest guy in the lefty set-up man pool and thought he was setting the market. In fact, the lefties to sign later that offseason, e.g. Chris Hammond, Mike Stanton, to name a couple, never signed contracts as wealthy as that signed by Remlinger. The bloated contract he signed him to forces him to pay someone to take him if he wants anything in return (such as a mediocre minor leaguer). It was a bad contract from start to finish. EDIT: Chris Hammond is two months older than Remlinger. It wasn't necessarily that bad of a contract if you considered all factors. First, we were at a time when no one had faith that the company was going to try to field a winning team, so we had to pay a premium to get people to come here. He wasn't THAT old when we signed him, it's not like we offered a multiyear deal to a 39 or 40 year old. Remmy had an ERA in the low to mid 2.00s combined over the last few years before we signed him, and was one of the elite relievers in the league. However, Dusty never did figure out how to use him properly, and he was plagued by injuries. Sometimes when you sign people, things don't work out. It's easy to criticize moves after the fact, but considering all of the facts that were available at the time, it wasn't a bad move by Hendry to sign him to the contract that he did.

The farm serves two purposes...to create future cheap position players, and to develop value that can be used in trades to improve the team. We've done a good job at developing cheap, quality pitchers, and we've used the rest to trade for good players. We developed prospects that brought us DLee, ARam, and Nomar. I won't complain about the system. Every system has its share of busts, we've had ours, but our team is not lacking in talent right now as a result.

Morgan saw the reaction, but not the speech itself? Sounds to me like he refuses to read/hear/watch Sandbergs speech, just like he refused to attend the induction. The guy is just petty.

Does everyone still think Dope should be protected? After the down year he is having, I don't think anyone is going to bank on him sticking on their 25 man roster next year, unless he rebounds in a big, big way to end the year. That may be one less name we have to worry about protecting this year (not to imply that that is a good thing though...). If Dope keeps up the kind of year he is having, I wouldn't blame Hendry for not protecting him, he isn't close enough to being ML ready for someone to claim.

I think Abreau will flop the hardest. My pick to win it all: Choi. I don't know why some people don't think he'll do well. His problem is he has a big hole in his swing inside, and he doesn't handle curves that well. But he has enormous power when he makes contact. The books out on him though, and the pitchers know how to pitch him. Since this is like batting practice, that doesn't apply. Choi isn't the best hitter, but I think he has the as much power as anyone else, and that's what counts for the HR contest.

I don't think I would have a problem with that. Once the Jaxx season is over if they wanted to call him up to be a pinch runner and get the occasional spot start, it could be good for him. I really hope they let him finish his season at West Tenn. though. If they're going to give him only spot starts, I'd rather they didn't. I'd rather not start his FA clock ticking for that. If they're going to bring him up to play him every day and have a solid idea of what they have going into next year, then that is a different story.

I wouldn't put Jeter in that champion category...he is a pretty boy, above-average offensive shortstop, but not an elite, top-tier player like Arod or Tejada. The Yanks aren't winning anymore because they have too many players like him, and not enough like Paul O'Neill, who led the team before they started trying to buy championships.

I forgot he was hurt. It doesn't sound too bad though...if he comes back from his injury playing like he was, he could force himself into AAA this year, maybe on the big team next spring. Everyone says he needs more seasoning, but I see this kid forcing his way onto the roster sooner than later (assuming he doesn't have any other injury bugs...).

Why not just bring up Felix Pie now? Some guys are destined for greatdom, and there's no point in holding them down. The Marlins brought up Miguel Cabrera in 2003 when he was 20, ARod came up about that age too. The Cubs brought up Wood and Zambrano when they were only 20, so the precedent is there for the Cubs as well. Everyone seems to think that Pie is destined to be one of the elite. He's hit everywhere he has been at, and he's tearing up what is considered to be a strong league for pitchers. Plenty of guys have successfully made the jump from AA to the bigs and had success. I'd rather not trade Corey for another CF. Bring up Felix, and if he does well in the next couple of weeks and you're bent on trading Corey, see what elite reliever or corner OF and prospects you can get in return. I think it's time the Cubs took a gamble on Felix, and I think he's shown enough to where it shouldn't be considered rushing him too much. What do you all think?

I didn't know you were having an issue with this. I'll get rid of the graphic from my profile to help out (although, I know it's not much help...)

Unfortunately the secret's out. We all know that your screen name on the other board is Hogcard8. :twisted: SSHHHHH!!!! Don't tell anyone else! Naw, I couldn't be hoggy. If I were him, I would have shot myself long ago, and wouldn't physically be capable of being here typing on my 'puter here today...lol

I prefer not to say. I'm starting anew, I don't want anyone connecting me with my old moniker back on the evil board... :wink: