vance_the_cubs_fan

He was used as the closer for Mississippi last year and made the Southern League All-Star game. He was fun to watch.

I'm hoping we can take another one from the home team tonight.

Yeah, I know it's earlier, but it's never too early to start thinking about who the Cubs could add in a trade this July. This is a purely speculative endeavor. While it's clear that some teams are out of the running such as San Francisco and San Diego, other teams are harder to pin. The Brewers are struggling but would likely have to lose a lot more before having a fire sale. The Reds are on the fence as well. The Marlins are surprising people and right in the thick of it. So, I'm just guessing on the teams who would unload and players that could be had. The Cubs biggest need in my opinion is another starting pitcher. While a key injury could change this, I could easily see the Cubs targeting a starter. So, who might we look at? 1. A.J. Burnett. A.J. is injury prone, is making a lot of money, and so far has struggled with a 86 ERA+ so far this year. Toronto is floating at 500, so they would likely have to continue to fall before thinking about trading Burnett. Burnett likely would be one of the top starters on the market, so the price could be high. He likely tops my list of obtainable players. 2. Rich Harden. Harden is good when healthy, but he's already made one trip to the DL. At the moment, I doubt the A's move him, as they are right in the thick of the AL West race despite Billy Beane selling off more assets this offseason. Also, Harden is signed to an affordable 9 million option for 2009. Beane might seek to deal him, but it's going to take a load of prospects to get him. If he's available, he makes the perfect 1b ace to slot behind Zambrano. I'm not worried about his durability so much as the cost to get him. 3. Ben Sheets. Yeah, I know. Not likely. But if the Brewers continue to slide, I think they would have to consider trading Sheets. He has injury concerns just like Harden and Burnett, but imagine a rotation of Zambrano, Sheets, Lilly, and Dempster for the post season and tell me you wouldn't like to have him. It would hurt to send valuable prospects to the rivals to our north, but Sheets would be a tempting player if he's put on the market. 4. Vicente Padilla. Risky, risky, risky. The Rangers are bad, and they might be willing to trade Padilla if they got a young starter in return. Padilla is also owed 12 million for 2009 and has a 12 million option for 2010 (1.5 million buy out.) He has decent stuff and has a 129 ERA+ so far this year. Of course, he also had 78 ERA+ last season. He's inconsistent and up and down. He's probably an improvement over Marquis, but I'm not convinced he would do much to help solidify the playoff rotation. 5. Kevin Millwood. Millwood is a lot like Padilla. The Rangers could move him, but they may choose not to. He's expensive in that he's owed 11 million for 2009 and 12 million for 2010. He's been less successful than Padilla the past two seasons as well. I'm not sure he's better than the options we currently have, and I'd pass. If the Cubs look to add a bat, I think we would look at CF. There aren't a lot of options there. Milton Bradley could become available. But in reality, there's not much there. The Cubs could look toward Brian Roberts again or maybe another second basemen, but somehow I don't see that as a priority. If a deal is made, I look for it to be in the rotation.

The creature is back which means all is well in the universe.

One of the rubber bands must have snapped. Welcome to the Cubs, Ascaino.

What's the point of that? Starting pitchers aren't going to play anyways. Yeah, I have had the same thought when I've heard people discuss it. Every team would just have their SP who aren't starting be the inactive players. But I don't think you will see a 26 man roster unless the players give something up. Teams will just have to adjust or pitchers will have to go deeper. There are a number of things that could be bargained for the extra spot..ie giving up the DH, lower minimum salary, some for of salary cap...etc.

One option that has been tossed around is to expand rosters, but still only allow 25 men to be active for a particular game. So, teams could deactivate the starting pitchers who weren't going to be used or players who might be a little dinged up but not on the DL.

Welcome back to the creature!

I think the move to a 26 man roster could be the compromise that gets rid of the DH.

It's just like fishing. You're going striped bass fishing. You've got birds on top and you follow the birds. Where the birds are, the bait fish are below that. Below the bait fish are the striped bass. That's what you want to do. That's how you want to do your lineup. That way they can't escape. That's how I try to make my lineup out so the opposition can't pitch around this guy or that guy and that guy and can't escape. You try to get them in the crossfire.--- Dusty Baker.

Paul DePodesta wrote about this in his blog on Friday. I found it today as I caught up on my reading. Link. I'd reccommend reading the whole blog, but here are a few highlights.

Damn Ronny!

Cedeno walks. I'd love to see Soriano put one in the Crawford Boxes and then we could safely use Eyre or Fox.

I think that's why the Cubs don't tally as well as you would think for a team that has such great attendance. I never saw a ballot in any of the four games I was there last week. But if you go to Minute Maid or most other parks, they are passing out ballots and then collecting them as well as having promos on the jumbo tron.

Really doesn't matter as you have to bid for the rights to talk to him with his current team, not to mention all the bids are blind. That bid alone is going to be $60 Million+ and doesn't include his contract which will be huge. I understand that but all Fukudome has to do is pick up the phone and give him a call. Players are always encouraging other players to join their team. Yes, but again, it doesn't matter. Darvish wouldn't control the team that gets his rights, it's a blind auction. If the Cubs manage to win the auction then yes. The only thing useful Fukudome do now is talk to potential owners about ponying up the $70 million posting fee to have the rights to negotiate a contract with him. Actually we might be better off filling Cuban's blog with emails about this guy and how he is the next Dirk of baseball or something of that nature. My guess is that if Cuban were to buy this team, he wouldn't need us to tell him about Darvish.

I can feel the grit all the way out here in Algonquin !! :wink: I'm even feeling gritty in my pants.

WTG Lee!

I leave Hooters and the Cubs are up 3-1, and by the time I get home we're only up 3-2. Maybe I should go back to Hooters.

My favorite station is whichever one they are on. I'm not picky; I'm just happy when I get the games.

I found a little bit of enjoyment watching Biggio get plunked in the helmet.

If there's a limit on tickets only being sold for face value, I think you will end up with lots of people looking and very few people selling. The only people selling would be those who either are selling at the last minute or season ticket holders looking to unload tickets to the less popular games. Occasionally, when we have seasons like 2006, you might find people unloading tickets to games they bought but then have grown disgusted of the team. But people who paid for tickets in advance that they could make 15-50 bucks over face aren't usually so noble to sell them for face when they have other options.

I always thought it would be a good idea to require a nominal fee, maybe $5 to post an ad in such a forum.

Just thought some of you would like to know.

I like that ballot. :good:

There was a line about his mascara as well.