vance_the_cubs_fan

Rice has an interesting case. He has one MVP. He was top ten six times in batting average (highest finish third), eight times in slugging (1st twice), and top ten in OPS six times (highest finish 1st). His 502 career slugging is 85th on the all-time list. I think sometimes it is relevant to compare a candidate's numbers to other HOFers. In this case, I'll compare him to Billy Williams. The two have extremely similar numbers. Batting Average Rice: 298 Williams: 290 SLG % Rice: 502 Williams: 492 OBP Rice: 352 Williams: 361 HR Rice: 382 Williams: 426 RBI Rice: 1451 Williams: 1475 Williams has better numbers in the counting stats like HR and RBI, but Rice has a better batting average and slugging percentage. I'd put Rice in, but I think it is border line. He was a feared hitter in his day. To most Hall voters, Rice falls in the group with Dale Murphy, Andre Dawson and others. A very, very good player that doesn't meet the standards of the Hall. Sometimes I wonder if Rice is being penalized because of his icy relationship with the media.

Jim Rice poll is now up.

Next, up: Jim Rice. Rice is in his twelfth year on the ballot after receiving 59.5% of the vote in 2005. Here's the Baseball Hall of Fame's excerpt on Rice.

That's key. He needs to be in the opening day rotation. I don't mind them having someone around to push Reyes. I like the signing, Ponson is the type of guy Duncan could do wonders with. I guess it's ok for Ponson to push Reyes, but if he stumbles and falls on top of him, I don't think Reyes would survive.

Sutter, like Gossage and Smith, are interesting candidates. It seems the voters don't know what to do with closers. Only two closers are currently in the Hall. Looking at his comparables like I do with hitters is problematic with relievers. He isn't likely to compare well with other HOF pitchers since there are few pitchers who pitched in his role in the HOF. My feeling on Sutter, and I have the same feeling about Gossage, is that if you think any closer should be in the Hall, then Sutter belongs. He has been one of the best closers in the history of the game and was as dominant a reliever as you could find. I'm going to have to vote yes on Sutter.

I used this site.

But you also have to consider this: Tejada- 12 million. Prior- 3.5 million. Even if Tejada is a more valuable player, which I would debate, the price tag makes Prior a better value for ability.

Here's the numbers I worked with. C Michael Barrett- 4 million 1b Derrek Lee- 8.667 million 2b Todd Walker- 2.5 SS Ronny Cedeno 350K 3b Aramis Ramirez- 10.5 Lf Matt Murton 350 K Cf Juan Pierre 5.5 (arb estimate) Rf Jacque Jones 5.33 SP Kerry Wood 12 SP Mark Prior 3.55 SP Carlos Zambrano 5.5 (arb estimate) SP Greg Maddux 9 SP Glendon Rusch 2.75 Bullpen CL Ryan Dempster 5 Scott Williamson 2 Scott Eyre 3.7 Bob Howry 4 Will Ohman 400K Micheal Wuertz 400K Bench John Mabry 1 Jerry Hairston 2.5 (arb est) Corey Patterson 3 (arb est) Neifi Perez 2.5 Henry Blanco 1.5 That's 24 players at 95.997 million. Now, if Patterson and Walker are traded, there's an additional five million removed.

I think we could get a better deal than Tejada + Bedard. Tejada is a great player, but I'm not sure he's a difference maker. If you want to trade Prior, I'm fairly certain there are a number of teams (like 28) who would have interest in him. While some teams likely wouldn't offer the talent needed to get him, I think if Prior were actively shopped, a better deal could be struck. Prior is 24 years old and has posted ERA's of 3.67, 4.02, and 2.43 the past three seasons. He's still very affordable and will be under whichever team trades for him control for at least 3 more seasons. Getting a number one starter through trade, especially one who has yet to reach his prime, is practically unheard of. I think if he were openly shopped, a much better deal could be had...especially if the Cubs packaged him with players such as Murton, Patterson, or Walker. What would the Yankees offer for Prior? Would the Red Sox trade Manny and Papelbon while picking up a portion of Manny's contract? Would the Rangers give you Texeria along with other players? Could you get Dunn along with other players? Would the Phillies give you a package of Abreu, Floyd, and others for him? Would the Devil Rays give up Lugo and Delmon Young for Prior? I think the possibilities are endless. I really don't want us to trade Prior, but if we do, it's imperative to get the maximum value for him.

If Hendry really is serious about trading Prior, and I hope he isn't, he should make it known to all 30 clubs that he's available and see what offers come in. Somehow, I think there may be some teams willing to give us far more than Tejada and Bedard.

These rumors are interesting to say the least.

The poll on Bruce Sutter is now up.

The first player on the NSBB is former Cub reliever Bruce Sutter. From the Baseball Hall of Fame web site, Do we elect Sutter? See theHOF post in Baseball Discussions for a complete explation of rules.

As must of us are getting ready for the upcoming season, I thought it would be fun to see who we would elect to the baseball HOF if we were the voters. What I'm planning is creating a "yes or no" poll on each of the eligible candidates. Certainly, some will be an easy no, but we'll give each member on the ballot their chance. I will begin with the returning players on the ballot in the order of their finish in the 2005 election and then move on to the newly eligible players in alphabetical order. I think it would be fun if we follow the same rules for selection that the BBWAA follows in choosing HOFers. As I begin each poll, I'll post a link in this thread. I think it also would be best if we keep discussions of whether or not players are HOF worthy confined to the polls that deal with that player. The polls will run approximately one week. Just like the BBWAA ballot, we'll need 75% of NSBBers that vote to vote for a player for us to say he belongs. The BBWAA ballot also restricts persons for voting "yes" for more than ten players. While I have no way of knowing how many each person votes for, I'm going to ask that you honor this. So, please once you've voted for ten (if you vote for that many), don't vote yes on any more. Just so you can look ahead, here is the complete ballot:

By my calculations in the 2006 Cubs thread, there's about 9 million left assuming a 105 million payroll.

If and when that happens, you got it. Seems to me Walker is one of the bigger bargains on the team right now. :cheers: Bruce, you're not the best beat writer in Chicago for nothing.

Sounds sincere to me. He's content on turning it around. I hope this signing works out well. Apparently, you have little experience with addicts. They say that stuff all the time....many of them still continue to make the same self destructive decisions.

Somehow, SF beats the odds and even though I thought it was impossble for them to get older, they do it. Finley, Bonds, and Alou. That is one old outfield. Do you think they'll all go out to supper together before games to get the "early bird discount"?

That's why it's a good thing to have lots of picks. Many won't pan out, but the more high ceiling picks you have, the better your odds are of getting a good major leaguer.

320 > 5.22 Remove the decimal...522 > 320. But however you want to look at it. In comparison to averages, those are all big numbers. Or in Ponson's case, obese numbers.

Not having but one pick in the first four rounds will put more pressure on the Cubs to up their efforts in signing international players. Unfortunately, that's not an area they've done very well in lately.

I'm happy atleast one reporter is saying it. I hope it starts to come out in the Chicago Media. It has come out in the Chicago media _ if you're looking at the right paper. I don't think the letters OPS were printed in any paper but the Daily Herald today. The issue of OBP and OPS were prominent in my story and they have been ever since the Jones discussions began. Thanks for the opportunity for the shameless plug. Bruce, can I look forward to a scathing critique of this regime if and when Walker is traded for trash?

So are we still taking bets on what will be higher: Ponson's ERA, weight, or blood alcohol level. I predict ERA, but only by a little. ERA- 5.22 Weight: 320 Blood Alcohol 2.3 Those are my pre-season predictions.

Bruce, why is Hendry still set on moving Walker? If he were the trade chip for a rightfielder, I could understand...but that spot is filled. What beneift could the Cubs get from trading him? Is there something about him that we don't know, or is Hendry that clueless?

Another question: What will be higher in 2006, Ponson's ERA,his weight, or his blood alcohol level ?