vance_the_cubs_fan

I agree. If I had to use Patterson to acquire someone like Dunn, then I could see going after Lofton to fill the CF void. Other than making a move like that, Lofton isn't a player I have much interest in.

Yes, my original post suggested a 3-way trade in which we ended up with Mench and Rogers went to another contender. I think it's great that Hart & Showalter want to keep the kids together, but they desparately need pitching for this year and in the future. Trading an offensive "kid" for 2-3 pitching "kids" certainly would help make them contenders next year and in the future. Besides, they have lots of offense. I agree that they need pitching, but if they trade one of the core five, they have a certain type of pitcher in mind. They would want a can't miss major league ready 1-2 type starter or a young pitcher who has demonstrated success in the major leagues? We don't have any in the first category. And we really don't have anyone in the second category. Mitre? Not enough sustained success. Williams? He'll have to prove he's the pitcher of 2003. Zambrano is asking too much. The Rangers would trade for quality but not quantity. That's the problem. We can overwhelm someone with quantity, but we lack the blue-chippers needed to give them what they're looking for. My guess is Mench stays put. In fact, I'm fairly certain of it...at least for the 2005 season.

Well, let's tinker with the deal a little bit. Mitre, Dubois, & Welly for Mench & a prospect. I've stated in numerous threads that the Rangers aren't interested in moving Mench unless they get a can't miss stud pitcher. Volume will not overwhelm them. If we asked for Mench, they'd ask for Zambrano and the discussions end right there. The Rangers are quite obviously off their rockers then. As good as Mench is (and he's good enough for my fantasy team, 3 HR, woo!), he's not that good. He's also already 27. I didn't say the Rangers expect to get Zambrano for Mench. But they would want a young starter that has seen success at the major league level if they were to trade Mench. (They have no intentions of trading him.) The Cubs just don't match up there. Mitre hasn't seen enough success. Williams will have to prove he's found it again. Those players don't have the ceiling that the Rangers would want. Our farm hands aren't high enough ceiling or don't have enough experience. The Rangers would seek to look elsewhere. The plan the Rangers have were to be contenders in 2006 with the young core of Mench, Nix, Tex, Young, and Blaylock. They prefer to keep all five of those. They will look to develop pitchers from their system or sign others or trade without giving up one of those five. To trade one of those five you're going to have to blow them away with quality not quanity.

I've said this in numerous threads. The Rangers aren't trading Mench this year. They will make a deal but not one for one of the core young offensive players of Mench, Blaylock, Tex, Young, or Nix. I see your point, and you're a lot closer to the Rangers media coverage. The hard part of finding the right player is that the Cardinals want him to be a "young" outfielder. Older outfielders are going to be much easier to come by at the deadline. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if Walt is smoke screening and really going after pitching. Jason Schmidt anyone? Yes. Word out of Texas is that 2006 is still the plan. They don't plan on mortgaging that to make a run this year. They would trade Delucci, Soriano, or Hidalgo if it could help them this year and in the future. If the Rangers trade Mench, they're going to want a good young pitcher that is major league ready. They aren't likely to do it during the season. Rather than trade from the core, they would rather wait and see what could be done in the offseason when they can pursue many more avenues.

That is one god-awful statistic. But hey, a K is always the same as every other out eh? So would you think more of Dunn if his 19 hits the past 3 seasons with a runner on 3rd less than 2 outs were actually just routine flyballs to center-field? Would he be more valuable if instead of having 6 HRs in this situation, those homeruns stayed in the park instead of leaving? I know you're thinking Dunn must be a horrible player with a runner on 3rd less than 2 outs because of his lack of sacrifice flies, but once again, the stats show that Dunn is awesome. .268/.433/.620 and he has 57 RBI in 71 ABs. but yeah i agree since dunn drove in runs by slugging the ball instead of hitting flyouts he sucks and is overrated Good job Rocket. I was just going to get those stats but got sidetracked by a crying child. He has had 95 PA over the last three years with a runner on third and less than 2 outs. In those 95 PA, he's had 19 hits, 24 walks, and six homeruns. He's K'd only 25 times in that situation. As Rocket has posted, that equals a 268 BA, 433 OBP, and 620 SLG for a remarkable 1053 OPS in that situation. It helps to know the numbers before making ridiculous statements. But hey, why let facts get in the way of bashing a great player?

I've said this in numerous threads. The Rangers aren't trading Mench this year. They will make a deal but not one for one of the core young offensive players of Mench, Blaylock, Tex, Young, or Nix.

Let's just say I'd have to miss work the next day... Hell, I might have to miss work the whole week.

Here are some quality examples of trolling from just tonight. I could go back every night of a Cardinals loss and find similar instances. http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=266564 http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=266539 http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=266575 Unfortunately, unlike this board the moderators over there pay absolutely no attention to trolling and these guys won't get banned. And yes, I agree that is trolling...but bringing up that kind of argument in a thread because you don't like the fact that Cub fans are ripping on LaRussa is trolling....just a more subtle form of it. It's pushing the envelope knowing that it will "turn the dagger" so to speak. OK, so I get this straight, now we have to know not to bring Baker up in context (i.e. stupid remarks) for fear of rubbing the salt in Cubs fans wounds who don't like Baker? Did you really need to say that three times?

I'll look for you on tv, Vance. Prior sure knows how to pull the pitching matchups. Hopefully, I'll get some air time! :D I'm planning on making a sign, but everytime I say that, I never get around to it.

Walt says his priority is to trade for an impact bat in the form of a young outfielder that can help us now and in the future. Maybe they'll get somebody who can hit lefties. So who's he going to trade to get that? Reyes or Wainwright? Likely one of those two. He said that in trade talks teams are asking for pitching from us and that right now we have pitching depth at all levels of the organization. It would be nice if we could keep both those guys but getting a serious outfileder will probably take moving one of them. It will be very interesting to see how it shakes out. A young impact bat will. An aging impact bat would be cheaper. But teams who have young impact bats aren't under as much pressure to trade. If I were one of those teams, I'd insist on Reyes.

Here are some quality examples of trolling from just tonight. I could go back every night of a Cardinals loss and find similar instances. http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=266564 http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=266539 http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=266575 Unfortunately, unlike this board the moderators over there pay absolutely no attention to trolling and these guys won't get banned. And yes, I agree that is trolling...but bringing up that kind of argument in a thread because you don't like the fact that Cub fans are ripping on LaRussa is trolling....just a more subtle form of it. It's pushing the envelope knowing that it will "turn the dagger" so to speak.

Walt says his priority is to trade for an impact bat in the form of a young outfielder that can help us now and in the future. Maybe they'll get somebody who can hit lefties. So who's he going to trade to get that? Reyes or Wainwright?

Awesome! I have row one seats behind the Cubs dugout for the Prior-Smoltz match-up. That's going to be great. I'll be at the first three of that series. It's going to be fun.

Does anyone know what will be the pitching match-ups for the Atlanta series? I'm guessing it will be: 7/4 Wood 7/5 Maduux 7/6 Prior 7/7 Williams I don't know who we're facing, but I'd appreciate it if anyone knows.

It would have to be Delucci because they aren't trading Mench.

Well, let's tinker with the deal a little bit. Mitre, Dubois, & Welly for Mench & a prospect. I've stated in numerous threads that the Rangers aren't interested in moving Mench unless they get a can't miss stud pitcher. Volume will not overwhelm them. If we asked for Mench, they'd ask for Zambrano and the discussions end right there.

The Rockies must have been stealing signs. :roll:

You'll probably post a few times, flip out in a thread in "rivalries" and get banned. Wait, did you mean on the field or on this board? Leave it to IMB to cut to the chase.

I think both Ramirez and Prior have a chance. Dempster wasn't the closer long enough to get enough interest. A lot will depend on the players that are selected in the player's vote.

Seriously, I'm unaware of any "charge" of Pujols supporters. In STL, Lee being the starter is not an issue, or even anything worth wasting a minute debating.... Sorry to disappoint you, but if Lee wins the starting spot, The Cardinal fans I'm associated with - won't mind at all. Not according to Al Hrabosky on the last few telecasts I've listened to. I think his plea was that it would be a shame if Pujols wasn't the NL starter at firstbase.

Beckett needs to ask Alou for some urine.

Have a great time and drink an Old Style for me.

Spoken like a true 'blue' cubby fan. and it could happen. by the way, i consider your signature photos child abuse. :wink: Well at least I'll teach her to capitalize the pronoun I. 8-[

Cubs will clinch the wild card behind some great pitching by Wood, Prior, and Zambrano. The Cubs will make a trade for an impact bat. The Cubs will start the play-offs as the wild card and be the fourth straight wild card team to win the World Series!

Ok..I finished today casting around 850 votes. I think that's been my highest daily total to date. Hopefully, we held off any last minute charge by Pujols supporters. It would be nice if we overcame the 250,000 deficit Aramis faced, but I'll be satisfied if Lee is the starter.