vance_the_cubs_fan

That would be an excellent move, Walker is a defensive liability & the Cubs do have Hairston & Neifi who can play 2nd along with rosters expanding on Sept. 1st. I've been hearing that knock on Walker for awhile and yet I've not seen anything definitive to prove that point. From what I've seen, Hairston was more a defensive liability at second than Walker has been, and whatever defense Perez may bring does not make up for his blackhole of offense. Walker's defense + offensive contributuins > >>>> Perez's defensive + offensive contributions.

I agree the season is done, but what's a more prudent move: rewarding a career minor leaguer who has no future with your big league organization or letting a player who may have a future with the team get a longer look at major league pitching? I think the answer is obvious which is why I can't fathom this move. I like McClain. He seems to be a hard working, nice guy. But, Fontenot is a player who likely has a greater future with the organization and these could be valuable at bats for him.

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

I agree. Even with work I make it a point to check once in the morning and once at night, so as not to keep people waiting for too long. Were in the 7th or 8th round now, no need to carefully think things out for hours at this point. Well, even those that do need to carefully think it through, they have the time. Just when it is your pick, you need to think it through and make the pick before getting offline unless you know you'll be back on with the hour. I usually have a list of guys I'm looking at and surely other picks influence that, but I don't see why it should take someone hours to make a pick. I'm usually on in the nights to make my pick...day time, it's hit and miss.

Mr. Fantastic would be a better base stealer than Flash. He could stretch his leg all the way to second before taking his foot off first. And he'd make some hell of a catches in the outfield. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/sef4reed.jpg Mr. Fantastic!

Once again, let me re-state the case for Matt Murton. Since we aren't disqualifying players for major league service (and if we did that would include Cedeno and Hill as well), let me restate the case for the exceptional Mr. Murton. The 23 year old from GA Tech has done it all. Murton's numbers at AA West Tenn: 342/403/498. Add to that 8 HR and 18 SB in 78 games played. That in itself is impressive enough for him to warrant serious consideration. Keep in mind that he also held a .400 avg well into the month of May. And would have been on the SL all-star team had he not been called up to Chicago. Murton also proved that his minor league numbers were no fluke as he nearly replicated his rate stats in his major league cup of coffee going 339/415/464. (While I know that major league numbers shouldn't be used to make the case for "minor league" player of the year, they are given to refute any who want to claim that he couldn't replicate those numbers at a higher level.) Since being sent back to Iowa, Murton is hitting 400/464/560. Once again, he is showing patience at the plate combined with a 464 OBP at AAA. Any player that can produce those numbers at 23 at the highest level of the minors should be the POTY. There's not a player in the Cubs system that is playing that well. You want to compare him to the other candidates? He's had success at a higher level than Patterson. He's younger than Sing and has proven he can maintain his success at a higher level. He's done more in his major league tryout than Cedeno and Hill. He's been more consistent than players like Harvey and Dopirak. He hasn't gotten hurt like Pie. At three levels, Murton has consistently kept his OBP over 400. He's kept his BA over 300 and hit over 400 for awhile at every level he's played. He's a great all around baseball player and was one of the first minor leaguers to agree to do a Q&A for NSBB. He's got some kicking red hair and has become the poster child for why we need to get rid of Dusty Baker. What more could you ask from the guy? The only way to disqualify Murton is if you want someone with less major league experience. If that's the case, Cedeno and Hill should be out as well. But since we haven't made eligibility rules based on major league experience, how can you punish Murton for the fact that his minor league numbers earned him a month and a half at the big league level. You can argue that players like Sing and Patterson did it over larger sample sizes, but that argument doesn't hold water. Murton proved that his ability was no fluke as he continued his numbers at the majors and then again in Iowa after his demotion. Murton's numbers speak for themselves: He's hit above 300 at every level along with providing 400+ OBP. At AA, a 901 OPS and at AAA a 1024 OPS. Murton should be the run-a-way winner of this award.

It's been three days since my last pick and that's entirely too long!!! At this pace, we'll still be picking reserves when the season starts. Note to everyone: If you're going to be gone for a long stretch or so, please send a list to someone you know is online a lot so they can pick for you. I also would be in favor of a 24 hr clock. If you don't make your pick within 24 hours, we skip you and you can simply pick whenever you get online.

I agree on both accounts, but that's b/c I agree with Hoops that Pie should get his shot in 06'. How many times have we seen guys like him make the jump from AA and set the world on fire? Pie's patience and plate discipline at AA were worse than Corey's and we saw how rushing him to the majors worked. There are certain talented players who can and should make the jump. Pie isn't one of them. Felix has all the skills needed to become an elite player, but he isn't ready for that just yet. Added to that is he hasn't played even at AA since June. He needs more time. I would say we don't see guys "like him" make that jump and set the world on fire, because guys with plate discipline "like him" usually get eaten up by major league pitching.

What I don't get is why we would bring McClain up who has no future with this team when we could get a look at Fontenot. It makes no sense to me, which is starting to be expected from this organization.

Nothing impressive here. I wonder if McClain is going to get some starts at 3B with Ramirez out. I'm not sure the sample size here, but I did notice this tid bit about Berg on Cubs.com Once again we've stockpiled another mediocre arm for the minor leagues. We must be running a market on these guys. I'm not too upset at giving up Lawton at this point. He wasn't coming back, and the season is over. I guess if I look at it as Dubois for this Berg kid, I would get angry...but I've long since stopped fuming over us trading Dubois. I am still angry that Murton got demoted, however.

If he's costing that many runs, maybe. I just don't think that's the case. He may cost the staff a run here or there, but I don't think it's that big a difference. CERA is an unreliable stat and I've yet to see anything definitive that shows Barrett defensively is any worse than a league average catcher. He is far and away above league average for catchers offensively. That isn't disputed. I just think there are many other ways to improve this team than jettisoning Barrett and Walker who are very good and affordable at their positions.

Alright? I think you at least have to admit that he's been a great offensive catcher this year. Again - not that he's untouchable, but he's been one of our most consistent producers this year. I didn't like trading Miller away either. But the offense would really be hurting if you subtracted Barrett's .857 OPS and replaced it with Miller's .710. I think we can admit that Barrett has good looking numbers. He does seem to tighten up at the plate when the pressure is on (eg, Tuesday night, struck with the bases loaded in 2-0 game and then doubles with the bases loaded in an 8-1 game; Wednesday, strikes out looking as the tying run at the plate on an 0-2 pitch). Also, he is not a good receiver, is very lazy at times about moving his body to block pitches. if another position is upgraded offensively, I would trade Barrett and replace him with a defensive-oriented catcher. This team seems to have no spark and has had none since '03. I think Barrett and Walker, despite their good-looking offensive numbers, are part of the problem and not part of the solution. His stats are great for this year and pointing out 2 situations in which he has not come through in a tight game proves nothing. He lead off the 9th w/ a single in a 2-run game last night, so does that prove he's a great clutch hitter? After last night he's hitting .292 with a .357 OBP and .503 SLG. It's just not plausible that all his hits, walks, and power come only when the Cubs are in a blow out. Barrett (.292/.357/.503) and Walker (.302/.351/.468) are part of the problem? I'm sorry, but that just doesn't make sense to me at all. I'm going to agree with you here. When looking at Barrett and Walker's numbers, they are definitely NOT part of the problem. The problem has been inconsistent starting pitching and an outfield of atrocious production. I don't see why people continue to want to unload the third and fourth best hitters on a team.

The other Maddux. seconded. Hear! hear! The Cubs would be better served with GREG Maddux coaching next year rather than pitching. We still probably have to pay him the $9M though and if most of that will go towards Maddux improving the rest of the staff, then I'm all for it. I don't think Maddux the competitor is ready to hand over the ball just yet. I'm all for Greg as a pitching coach when he decides to stop playing. I just don't think he's ready to do that. If Ray Miller leaves Baltimore, he has a pretty good rep as a pitching coach. I think Dave Stewart did a nice job as one, but then, he's more interested in working in a front office I think. Hershiser would be a nice choice, but I think he likes working with Buck.

I'm against trading the third best hitter on the team when we hold an affordable option on him.

I'm hoping the PTBNL will be either Matt DeSalvo, Phillip Hughes, or Bronson Sardinha.

No. Personally, I won't vote for Cedeño or Murton because they didn't play as much as others like Patterson or Sing (it's not their fault for being promoted to the big leagues but having to sit on the bench, but what Patterson and Sing did is more impressive because they had more minor league ABs). I personally won't be considering major league stats because the award is for minor league accomplishments. Even without his major league numbers, Murton has put up a .400 OBP at every level this season. AA, AAA ? It doesn't matter to Annie! He gets the job done.

First, are we disqualifying players who have played a certain amount of time in the major leagues? If not, let me make the case for Matt Murton. The 23 year old from GA Tech has done it all. Murton's numbers at AA West Tenn: 342/403/498. Add to that 8 HR and 18 SB in 78 games played. Murton also proved that his minor league numbers were no fluke as he nearly replicated his rate stats in his major league cup of coffee going 339/415/464. Since being sent back to Iowa, Murton is hitting 400/464/560. There's not a player in the Cubs system that is playing that well. You want to compare him to the other candidates? He's had success at a higher level than Patterson. He's younger than Sing and has proven he can maintain his success at a higher level. He's done more in his major league tryout than Cedeno and Hill. He's been more consistent than players like Harvey and Dopirak. He hasn't gotten hurt like Pie. At three levels, Murton has consistently kept his OBP over 400. He's kept his BA over 300 and hit over 400 for awhile at every level he's played. He's a great all around baseball player and was one of the first minor leaguers to agree to do a Q&A for NSBB. He's got some kicking red hair and has become the poster child for why we need to get rid of Dusty Baker. What more could you ask from the guy? The only way to disqualify Murton is if you want someone with less major league experience. If that's the case, Cedeno and Hill should be out as well. As it stands, choosing anyone but Murton makes this whole thing a farce!

Len has been to da lounge too.

At least it's not Macias.

My biggest issue is rushing Pie to the majors when he clearly isn't ready. I'm also not sure we need to make the trade for Riske. Rather than trade for Riske, could we not use that money to bring in a stop gap CFer such as Lofton to play for one year while we allow Pie to develop more in Iowa. Other than that, I like the roster your moves create. I'm skeptical that we could Zito for the price you've indicated, though.

I think Hendry is going to surprise us with an offseason acquisition to join the rotation. My tea leaves suggest that Barry Zito could be on the radar. Just like the deals Beane did with Mulder and Hudson last year, I think he could do the same with Zito this offseason. It would cost us Corey Patterson and Rich Hill (and perhaps another prospect). And with Wood and Maddux free agents after 2006, there is enough money to sign Zito to an extension. While other GMs are jockeying to get AJ Burnett, Hendry should swoop in and grab Zito while no one else is looking. Hoops Hoops, is your speculation based on words from sources or just a hunch?

It really sounds like Hendry is looking at acquiring a FA closer. I'm thinking he may have interest in Wagner, though I hope the interest is in Ryan.

See what happens when you take the time to think about it instead of just ranting. Well thought out, consise, and to the point. Probably closer to what I would have written had I taken the time to think it out rather than react. Of course, as a habitual lurker, I probably wouldn't have posted at all if I wasn't ticked. Nicely said. I've been thinking about if for sometime. (Just ask Fred. I expounded on this subject with him for about 2 hours during a rain delay in Atlanta back in July.) It was during that losing streak that I realized how flawed this team actually is while at the same time realizing we have the cornerstones of a very nice future. As much as I was electrified by the run in 2003, I think it may have done more harm than good in the long term plans of this franchise. I also think we hired the wrong manager, but that is a thread for another day (or at least those already exist in other places.) Living close to Texas, I've had the advantage of watching Hart and Showalter attempt to build that franchise. While many have clamored for them to trade some of the young talent for pitchers to prop up a run the past two seasons, they have resisted. I think they will be proven wise in this regard. I'm not saying we need to take the same long-term approach, but I would like to think we have a plan and not just reacting all the time.

Unfortunately, the only way I can get pictures is to steal them at the moment, which I'm not willing to do. So, not at the moment, unfortunately. You could post pictures that members have taken and have given you permission to use. That way everyone wins. Good by me. If anyone has pictures, lmk. I'll try to email some pics I took this summer when I get back home this afternoon. You're welcome to use any and all of them if you choose.

I don't think the Cubs need to "blow it up," but I do think they need to assess the talent they have and develop a 2-3 year plan for this team. The Rangers have done such and have yet to deviate. They expected to become contenders in 2006 and that goal has kept them from making short sigthed trades that might have asissted thime in this year or last. Whether that plan will pay off remains to be seen, but at least they have one. I believe after 2003, this organization lost focus. Going into 2003, no one expected a contender right off the bat. We had some young talent coming down the pipeline and there was a plan to let that talent develop and to contend in 2004 or maybe 2005. We got so close in 2003, that the plan was scrapped and much talent traded and money spent to make a run in 2004. Those moves set up the utter collapse of 2005. It's time to regroup, see what we have, and make some realistic assessments about which direction this organization needs to take. We have some good cornerstones, but there are flaws.