vance_the_cubs_fan
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Everything posted by vance_the_cubs_fan
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The key for the Giants is the health of Bonds and Schmidt. If those guys are healthy (big f), then the Giants will be ok. On the other hand, you get the idea. As of now the same could be said of the Cubs. If Wood, Prior, and Zambrano are healthy all season, the Cubs are likely contenders. If not, well...hello fourth place.
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Ok, let me begin by stating my premise here. If we miss out on Furcal, that means the Cubs will have missed on two of the big three of FA's this offseason (Giles, Furcal, Burnett). The Cubs will still have a lot of money left to spend (25 million by some accounts), and except through trades, have few commodities worth spending it on. Could the Cubs, if losing out to Furcal, sign Burnett to the 5/50 they were offering to Furcal. That would make a rotation of Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddux, Burnett, and Rusch with Williams and Hill on the outside looking in. The Cubs could make smaller deals to bring in Bradley or Pierre and maybe Castillo. But to make a big splash, the Cubs could finally offer a frontline starter for Abreu. The Cubs could trade Zambrano to the Phillies for Abreu and Padilla. Padilla would give the Cubs another potential starter and we know what Abreu provides. Zambrano would be the Cubs frontline starter. I love Zambrano as much as the next guy, but this is something that I think should at least be considered.
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Well maybe I was wrong on Dotel, as it now appears he won't be ready for Spring Training. Link With this news, I can understand why Hendry went with Howry over Dotel. Of course, I'd still love to sign Dotel to a similar deal we gave to Dempster and Williamson.
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According to the papers in Miami (Link), Castillo is definitely going to be traded. The Twins (as discussed in another thread) are hot on his trail, but so are the Cardinals, Red Sox, and Mets. If the Cubs are serious about the middle infield defense, they should make a run at him. If the Cubs sign Furcal, they could use Cedeno and/or Walker to go after Castillo. With Furcal locked up for five years as is being reported and Castillo for two more, I wouldn't have a problem trading Cedeno. If Furcal isn't signed, I'd rather offer Pinto plus others for Castillo than for Pierre. If we acquired Castillo and then traded for Bradley we'd be better off than going after Pierre.
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Link I found some interesting rumors while reading that article this morning. Some of them have been mentioned, some I found quite intriguing. 1. Detroit offers catcher Ivan Rodriguez to the New York Mets for right-handed pitcher Kris Benson. I thought this one might have legs. The Mets want a catcher and have been rumored to have shopped Bensen. Pudge has ties to Minyana from their Texas days. Pudge fits into the Latin flavor the Mets have pursued. 2. Minnesota and Oakland pursue free-agent designated hitter Mike Piazza. Oakland also has interest in Frank Thomas as a DH. Oakland could be a good destination for Thomas. 3. Toronto would trade right-hander Miguel Batista to Texas for outfielder Kevin Mench. This could be a good deal for both teams. I'd place a high liklihood that this one happens. 4. If the Chicago Cubs fail to sign Rafael Furcal, they would consider sending a package of right-hander Jerome Williams, outfielder Corey Patterson, second baseman Todd Walker and a pitching prospect to Texas for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and Mench. As mentioned elsewhere, this rumor scares the beejebus out of me. 5.St. Louis would offer right- hander Jason Marquis to Florida for outfielder Juan Pierre. Now, that's interesting... :-k
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Will 2006 be Bruce Sutter's HOF year??
vance_the_cubs_fan replied to don_kessinger_was_good's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
This year will be an interesting year for the voters. None of the new class looks to get in, so the voters will take a hard look at some of the hold-overs. Guys that deserve consideration: 1. Bruce Sutter 2. Bert Blyleven 3. Goose Gossage 4. Lee Smith 5. Andre Dawson 6. Jim Rice 7. Dale Murphy If I had only vote to cast from that group, I'd probably cast it for Blyleven. I would love to see Dawson make it from a sentimental standpoint, but I'm not sure he has the credentials. I view Sutter and Gossage about equally. If I voted for one, I'd have to vote for the other. Rice belongs. Smith, maybe? It all depends on how you value the save. Murphy was great, but he just didn't do it long enough. -
When I went in 2004, I think I enjoyed watching the game at the Brewers' park in Maryvale the most. Small crowds and I even got Ryne Sandberg's autograph that day.
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Better yet...let's get Rubby here for a Q&A!
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Link Having lost out on Giles, the Yankees are still in a search for a centerfielder and may turn their attention to Pierre according to a New York Post article. I think the Cubs could beat that offer if we wanted to, but I'd prefer to pursue Bradley.
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The Pirates have expressed interest in acquiring Nomar to play thirdbase. Link. The good news is if the Pirates sign him, it shouldn't be much trouble to pick him off the AAAA team if we need him in July.
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It definitley appears that it will take a "front-line" starter to land Abreu. Link.
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Quotes by Kinzaer lead me to believe that this decision will not be made before Monday's Winter Meetings begin.
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I'm not a fan of getting Finley unless that's a very good prospect coming in return. There's no need to "dump" Patterson for a bad contract. Patterson can just be non-tendered. I'd rather sign Lofton to a one-year 3 million dollar deal to platoon with Hairston than to pay Finley 7 million for the same function. Just say no to Finley.
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Now it looks like the Rangers have jumped into the bidding for Farnsworth. Link The article goes on to discuss the fact that there's some discrepancies on whether or not Farnsworth called the Braves and said he was signing with the Yankees. But 19 million for Farnsworth?!? :shock:
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Are the Phillis dumb enough to consider Maddux a top of the rotation starter? :-k
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Would Hendry have interest in Alou Part Deux?
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Van Buren, like Leicester before him, didn't figure into the Cubs plans. Nothing surprising here.
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To add some validity to the 3/17 rumor, Ken Rosenthal has now reported it as well. Link.
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Konerko will resign
vance_the_cubs_fan replied to RynoRules's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
It's official. Kornerko signs with the White Sox for a 5/60 deal. Link I'm guessing it will take a similar deal to lock up Derrek Lee. -
For starters, here's the deals that have gone down so far. Billy Wagner to the Mets: 4/43 Bob Howry to the Cubs: 3/10 Scott Eyre to the Cubs 4/12 B.J. Ryan to the Blue Jays 5/50 Kornerko back to the Sox 5/60
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If Hendry is smart, and I'll assume he is for the time being, he'll realize that he doesn't need another "speedy" lead-off hitter if he signs Furcal. Part of the justification for ponying up for Furcal is he's a "rare" lead-off type player. Why spend the premium in prospects or dollars to acquire another one in Pierre if you're signing Furcal to a mega-deal? It doesn't make sense. That doesn't mean you rule out Pierre if you sign Furcal, it just means that getting a "proto-typical" lead-off hitter for CF is no longer a necessity. Hendry, if he realizes that, may feel getting Bradley in a one player swap is a better option than spending three high ceiling prospects for Pierre. Hendry may erroneously believe Pierre is a better player than Bradley, but still would rather not spend the prospects to get him. Also, Bradley would be a serviceable option in right or center, allowing Hendry to look at multiple players to round out the outfield.
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I'd prefer Bradley to Wilkerson if only because I think Bradley would be cheaper to acquire and that he gets more of his OBP via the basehit. Both have some pop, though Wilkerson might have the potential for more power, Bradley brings more speed and better defense. Wilkerson lacks the off-field incidents and that's in his favor. I think I'd give the nod to Bradley, but either would be nice players. If we sign Furcal to lead-off, I'd rather have Bradley/Wilkerson than any combination of Pierre and the other.
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I think that's the one.
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These offers to Kornerko will make Derrek Lee's next contract very, very expensive.
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NSBB is being slow
vance_the_cubs_fan replied to Roast's topic in North Side Baseball Issues & Suggestions
Does anyone have info on what is causing the problems?