Jehrico

Don't.

Sure. Why not? Reminds me of an old line about lawyer jokes. Do you know what's wrong with lawyer jokes? Lawyers don't think they're funny, no one else thinks they're jokes.

I'm glad we're finding that out about him in Iowa instead of up here.

esp a recent cy young...

I'm to the point where I can't see us landing a legit #2 or better without including someone like Lee or Aramis (obviously not going to happen). There's a greater chance of someone from within stepping up and performing like a #2 by the end of the year than there is of us acquiring one. I hope Hendry serves me a big ol' dish of crow on this one.

I'm surprised no one mentioned #46: Depth. Depth is certainly not our problem, we have as good of an all-around bench as I've ever seen, and our pen has been excellent.

This is the full statement, you are referring to. He's not laughing at a trade to the Cubs, he's laughing off the swirling rumors of a potential trade. It's clear he hasn't been asked to waive his NTC. Because I would find it hard to believe that Gil Meche, a guy a one time All-Star with a career 4.50era/1.41Whip would turn down a trade to division leader. But I doubt that's true, considering he once considered signing with the Cubs. With that said, I'm not really in favor a pitcher (Meche), who according to baseballreference closly resembles both Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis in terms of career numbers. I thought the Cubs should get an upgrade, not another "like" pitcher. So, I hope the Cubs go for bigger fishes then Meche. He had a very good offer from us (reportedly) and chose to sign with KC over us for a little more/longer. I don't know if you can really use what I bolded above to assert that he would have some interest in coming to us if he were asked. Either he's really about the little bit extra money KC gave him, or he was never really crazy about the idea of coming to us to begin with.

Normally, I don't mind getting rentals because we have an excellent history keeping players that we want to keep. Fuentes wouldn't be a keeper though. He's a closer, someone will pay him to be a closer. With Wood and Marmol, he's not going to do that here so he won't be back next year. Someone will pay more for him based on the belief that they can retain him to close for them next year. We'll have to pay more than we should for a two month rental to get him. For that reason, I don't see this happening.

Even in a Cubs vs WSox world series, I still couldn't give either team better than a 25% chance.

What more can you say than "to each his own." Have fun losing 90+ games, Gil.

I hope he suffers an unprecedented long term affect of not being able to swing the bat very well against the Cubs only. Outside of that, happy hitting to him.

In the post he was quoting, I noted Marshall or Hill are still options. I'd prefer one of those guys get the call first (and soon) but who knows what Lou and Hendry think about Marshall for sure, and if they'll ever trust Hill again this year. I think some people are confusing my intent...I don't want them to go out and make a move for Redding, but I also think the sentiment that he's Trachsel-bad is flat-out wrong. I wouldn't be mad if they made a move for him while giving little if anything up.

So he can't physically move?

Haha @ most of those guys, especially Tim Redding. Since the break of last year (when he came back from being out for most of the last 3 years with injuries), Redding's put in over 150 innings, 3.88 ERA, with a 1.38 WHIP. His BBs are down and Ks up from last year, thought not still great obviously. Marquis's career best WHIP is 1.35, but is currently around 1.65. I don't think I need to rehash his ERA or other peripherals. Considering we wouldn't have to give up Pie or anyone like that, I could live with Redding so long as he displaced Marquis from the rotation. If he can't stay healthy (his main problem), then Marshall (or Hill if he gets his act straight) replaces him. Either way, we upgrade from Marquis, who is a good bet to physically last the year and not go down (while ironically taking us down). If we can't get a bonafide # 2 starter (which should be our #1 priority), then I would look for a *cheap* option to improve the #5 slot in the rotation (assuming someone in house hasn't stepped up and pushed Marquis out yet). Redding is an upgrade over Marquis, and should be as cheap as any other alternative out there. That said, if I'm Washington, I know I can't get anything good for Redding with his injury history, so I ride him while he's pitching decent. You act as though a 1.38 WHIP is good. Redding might be a small upgrade over Marquis, but what would be the point? The Cubs don't need another mediocre back of the rotaiton type starter, they need a front of the rotation guy. Redding isn't even better than Marshall. No, I don't act as though that WHIP is good. I said the WHIP is an upgrade over Marquis. Some people on here are acting like a 1.38 WHIP from a pitcher is tantamount to Dusty giving Macias or Neifi a starting job. It's not good, but it's not as bad as people are making him out to be. Read my post again. I said IF we can't get a bonafide #2, then the next option should be booting Marquis out. Redding could possibly be the cheapest replacement out there for Marquis. I'd give up alot for a #2, but I wouldn't give up alot just to push Marquis aside, and that's why I would be open to looking into Redding. I'm just trying to temper the unfounded attitudes that seem to think Redding is as bad as someone like Trachsel when he's not.

That and there's no way in hell the Cubs win the division by 25+ games, which they would have to do in order to clinch by September. Well, there's always that. You don't have to clinch though. You can build a big lead, then rest in September and wait for the next team to lose enough to knock themselves out, like the Mets last year.

That's true, Edmonds numbers were supressed by PETCO, while Griffey's in a hitter-friendly park in Cincy. I'd still give him a slight edge, but not enough to make up the difference in defense after considering that. I hate not being able to keep throwing Edmonds under the bus... i think the slight edge that griffey has in obp is made up for the difference in salary and players we'd have to give up. That's why I said I'd only do it if it was Edmonds for Griffey straight up, with them making up the salary difference. No way Cincy would do that, someone will offer them something worthwhile for him.

Even if they trade him, I think Cincy would still be on the hook for that, as that is money due for services already rendered.

That's true, Edmonds numbers were supressed by PETCO, while Griffey's in a hitter-friendly park in Cincy. I'd still give him a slight edge, but not enough to make up the difference in defense after considering that. I hate not being able to keep throwing Edmonds under the bus...

I would even if they didn't allow it. What are they going to do, make them forfeit the game? Might be a good chance to test Hill out in front of a major league audience if he shows some improvement back in AAA...

Griffey's OBPing .365 and OPSing around .780, while Edmonds is OBPing around .284 with an OPS under .600. Griffey's defense is worse than Edmonds though, but I don't think it's so much worse to make up 80 points of OBP.

Haha @ most of those guys, especially Tim Redding. Since the break of last year (when he came back from being out for most of the last 3 years with injuries), Redding's put in over 150 innings, 3.88 ERA, with a 1.38 WHIP. His BBs are down and Ks up from last year, thought not still great obviously. Marquis's career best WHIP is 1.35, but is currently around 1.65. I don't think I need to rehash his ERA or other peripherals. Considering we wouldn't have to give up Pie or anyone like that, I could live with Redding so long as he displaced Marquis from the rotation. If he can't stay healthy (his main problem), then Marshall (or Hill if he gets his act straight) replaces him. Either way, we upgrade from Marquis, who is a good bet to physically last the year and not go down (while ironically taking us down). If we can't get a bonafide # 2 starter (which should be our #1 priority), then I would look for a *cheap* option to improve the #5 slot in the rotation (assuming someone in house hasn't stepped up and pushed Marquis out yet). Redding is an upgrade over Marquis, and should be as cheap as any other alternative out there. That said, if I'm Washington, I know I can't get anything good for Redding with his injury history, so I ride him while he's pitching decent.

I would do an Edmonds for Griffey if they pick up the $ difference in a heart beat, just to get rid of Edmonds.

If you're equating Mike Wuertz to Rafael Betancourt, you're a fool. i agree. betancourt is a middle reliever who's 33 years old and is making $5.4M over the next two years, and has been horrendous this year. his LD% is a disturbingly-high 25.9%, and he gives up twice as many fly balls as he does ground balls, which is really a bad thing if you were to put him in a place like wrigley field. his great numbers last year were mostly a result of an unsustainable BABIP and LOB% (86.4!) along with a really abnormal home run rate - only 6 all year, or just 4.7% of his fly balls. he pounds the strike zone, but his ability to throw strikes hasn't been as good this year. meanwhile, wuertz is a pitcher who allows more ground balls than fly balls. his command is more spotty, but he has had a solid K-rate up to this year, and his velocity is still as good as it has been in previous years. he threw his fastball on 40% of his pitches in 2006 and 2007, but only 26.5% this year, while his slider rate has increased from 42.6% in 2006 to 62.1% this year. his pitching coach and catchers should probably be working with him on throwing a more even mix of pitches, rather than relying so heavily on the breaking pitch that often bends out of the strike zone. Still, given his age (29) and cheapness ($860k), combined with the profile of a ground ball pitcher at a hitter's park, he provides more value for the dollar than betancourt. i'm assuming that's what you meant when you said anyone comparing the two guys was a fool, correct? PLUS, "Betancourt" is the same surname as the guitar player from the band Extreme...so he has that going for him. Hard to apply a metric to that! That and the fact that Betancourt doesn't rhyme with Worst.

Yup...and we all know that rumor denials are definitive...so clearly the Brewers aren't interested... If we can read it on the internet, it must be true!

I hope you're staying indoors and keeping a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, axe, gun, and penicillin handy.