vance_the_cubs_fan

Where are you hearing this "word"? Link or source please?

Other than possibly Moore we really don't have any kids that could provide good power off the bench. Pagan might provide okay power, but not the kind of power I would want when I need a big hit late. One or possibly two, depending on Moore vets would be useful for that purpose. As far as the bolded part, I don't think thats neccessarily true. If you go after a bench player who has had only one or two good seasons that both came in the last 2-3 years then it would be true. If it is a guy who has consistently put up solid numbers off the bench other than one or two years he is a better bet to do well than a rookie who is not used to coming off the bench and is used to being an everyday player. That's pretty much why I said "Unless the Cubs can get somebody likely to put up an 800 OPS, and/or dominate against LHP or RHP specifically". If you can find a guy who has consistently put up solid numbers, go ahead and get him. I guess where we differ is our believe in the ability for the Cubs to find those players. Hendry's record has shown he wont, with Hollandsworth being his only good bench signing. I think there are enough good bench guys out there, they just need to have a big hit in a playoff game so Hendry will notice them. Technically, Todd Walker was a bench signing by Hendry also, but I understand your point that the bench has been consistently pretty bad. Blanco is a very good back up catcher. Probably the best back up catcher in the league. I really hope Jim holds on to him. We have our backup catcher. His name is Geovany Soto. He'll be a much cheaper option than Blanco and we can use the money that we used on Blanco at someone more useful. Soto is not ready yet. Blanco handles a pitching staff very well. Why is Soto not ready? He's played a full season at AAA and word is that he handles pitchers well. With Barrett, the back-up catcher is only going to play every fifth or sixth day. There's no reason to spend 1.25 million on one when you have a player with equal skill set ready to take over.

Clemens losing 2-0 in the sixth.

Oh god....Stone might be a worse manager choice than Baker.

If Dierker does get the job I think he owes you a commission check. If Dierker gets it, that will be satisfaction enough.

Why does someone get his panties in a wad because some fans don't like Clemens? We didn't say he wasn't any good. He's likely one of the top five pitchers of all time. I respect his ability, but I've never been a big fan. I think Pujols is the best hitter in the game, but I'm not a fan of his. I think Bonds is the best hitter I've ever seen play; I'm not a fan. I don't like Jeter either, but he's never done anything to me personally. Some people are tired of in every playoff for the last two years hearing the Roger Clemens drama and watching the tip of the hat and the spiel about how we may have watched a legend pitch his last game. Is he a good pitcher? Definitely. Are we sick of him? Yep~

No, we are using statistical evidence to back up our argument, and mg420 is simply saying "no". There's a large difference there. of course every one knows that statistics are the only thing that really matter in baseball and there is no way to interpret them to your advantage. all hail the mighty numbers! well it sure beats all hail the unsupported opinion....

i disagree Then you're wrong again. perhaps it's a matter of opinion that doesnt have a right or a wrong answer. then again perhaps the notion that you could be incorrect is unfathomable to you. It's the fact that a pitcher can pitch over 200 innings while limiting baserunners and extra base hits at a superb rate and yet it's not a "great" season. That's freaking ridiculous. I don't care who puts up those numbers, when he does, it's a great season. A pitcher who does it consistiently is an ace which you can build around. In most years, you won't find but a handful of pitchers at that level. That is a "great" season.

What made you beleive that? That simply is not true. God does not "give" anything, he does not intervene in that way. God didn't give Jada a disease. She was born with it. God sent plagues. Could he not also give diseases? /canofworms

Mike Piazza says hi.

The only thing I'll miss with Dusty is his misguided use of similie. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2607545 And that is why I hope he gets a job in the ESPN booth.

i disagree Then you're wrong again.

i disagree So, what would you consider a great year in regards to those areas?

Larry Dierker, plz. Curious, why? I haven't read his book Find the thread that I posted back in July or August. He has some great philosphies. Not too old school, but since he was a player he has more credibility than others who might try a more stats based way of making decisions. Furthermore, I like any manager who knows how to use a run expectancy chart to assist decisions. Ah...here it is!

Larry Dierker, plz. Curious, why? I haven't read his book Find the thread that I posted back in July or August. He has some great philosphies. Not too old school, but since he was a player he has more credibility than others who might try a more stats based way of making decisions. Furthermore, I like any manager who knows how to use a run expectancy chart to assist decisions.

my point is that teams can get to the playoffs and win despite their offense. if the cubs are going to be a better team it will be because of their starters & bullpen imo. Some teams do, some don't. My point is the Cubs should build the best all-around team possible. They shouldn't settle for a middle tier offense because someone else sneaked into the playoffs with one. They should build the best club, with as much offense and pitching as possible. Especially, if they are wielding a 100 million payroll. I've never said they shouldn't improve the pitching; they should. But to get the offense into the 7-5 rank that it should be, it's going to take more OBP and more SLG. We have limited places to acquire that. Ideally it would be at second or centerfield. If not there, the next place to look is left.

A season in which a pitcher has a 203 BAA, allows only a 312 OBP and a 333 SLG is a great year by any standards while throwing 211 is a great year by any standards. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.

Larry Dierker, plz.

So, no one has made a joke about the [expletive] getting beat? I'm so dissapointed.

The White Sox should be focusing on Juan Pierre instead. Seconded.

To further illustrate, the Cubs were 15 of 16 in the NL in runs scored. While we were dead last in OBP, we were also only 10th in SLG. Improving the OBP is important, but more SLG is needed as well. To look at the three teams you mentioned that do well without SLG; they don't. The Padres are 13th in RS. Their success is not due to their offense. They're winning in spite of it. The Twins are 8th in the AL in RS. The rank 8th in SLG as well. Below average. Once again, the Twin are relying on other areas, and don't have a potent offense. The A's have the same situation. They are only 10th in RS. I'd contend they aren't in the playoffs because of their offense. If the Cubs are going to be a better team, they are going to have to do more than just penciling Theriot and Murton. They need one legitimate bat. If they can acquire Jones for CF, then the Cubs might can make do with Theriot and Murton. If not, one of those will need to be replaced for the Cubs 2007 to matter.

I'm just ready for the hot stove league so at least I can hope for improvement.

why is having alot of power so important? look at oakland, san diego & the twins. none of them have much power at all but they win with good pitching and a balanced line up. when lee, aram & barrett are all back healthy, this team should have enough power to win if they can get good pitching and a solid closer. trading murton would come back to haunt the cubs big time imo. Well, if you read closely, trading Murton is something I'd prefer not to do. That's why I'd like to add power through signing Soriano for secondbase. That way I keep Murton in left and add power at second. My second option would be to pursue a player like Jones for CF. Failing there, I think the Cubs would have to look at LF as a place to have a better bat in the line-up. I think both OBP and SLG are important. As it stands, the Cubs don't have enough of either. and again, i dont think that adding more power is that important. i think a .300 25 hr season is reasonable to expect from murton in 2007. i dont think there is any way they sign soriano to play 2b especially at the $ he will want. i would rather they follow brenly's philosophy of using the young players they have to win rather than getting older overpriced guys like jones & soriano. If we go into next year with the same team and pencil in Theriot and Murton, we will be lucky to finish in third place. Slugging is more than HR's, it's hitting the ball with enough authority to get extra base hits. This team lacks it. Murton is definitely not a lock for 25 HRs. He might do it, but he's just as likely to hit 10-15. And 25 HR's while not bad, isn't any great shakes either. I like Murton. But the team does need to improve its SLG. We were abysmal in that area this year. To further illustrate, the Cubs were 15 of 16 in the NL in runs scored. While we were dead last in OBP, we were also only 10th in SLG. Improving the OBP is important, but more SLG is needed as well. To look at the three teams you mentioned that do well without SLG; they don't. The Padres are 13th in RS. Their success is not due to their offense. They're winning in spite of it. The Twins are 8th in the AL in RS. The rank 8th in SLG as well. Below average. Once again, the Twin are relying on other areas, and don't have a potent offense. The A's have the same situation. They are only 10th in RS. I'd contend they aren't in the playoffs because of their offense. If the Cubs are going to be a better team, they are going to have to do more than just penciling Theriot and Murton. They need one legitimate bat. If they can acquire Jones for CF, then the Cubs might can make do with Theriot and Murton. If not, one of those will need to be replaced for the Cubs 2007 to matter.

So does Ramirez. Should we not pay him the big bucks because of it? Yes, and here is why. A-Ram plays 3B, a position that is at a failry high premium compared to outfielders. Also, I don't think A-Ram's numbers fluctuate as extremely as Adam Dunn's. Aramis' month of April was brutal, but that has been about it. I don''t think you can really compare the two in regards to your question. I'm not arguing that he is worthless or unproductive, he is certainly productive. But at the same time, he has some pretty big flaws and his lack of consistency holds him back from being a truly elite player, imo. So, you criticize Dunn for not showing up when you think his team needed him most, yet don't find the same fault that Ramirez didn't start playing until his team didn't need him. Ramirez in April: 197/321/394 Dunn in Sept: 145/330/250 Both are pretty bad. Ramirez in May:266/296/495 Dunn in August: 188/284/416 Both had two horrible months. Ramirez began his season with two bad months, while Dunn ended his with two bad months. Season stats: Ramirez: 290/350/558 Dunn: 233/366/493 Ramirez has had a better year, but not substantially. Ramirez may play third, but he plays it nearly as bad as Dunn plays left. Furthermore, a bad play by the 3b likely affects the team more than a bad play in left. Your argument that advocates signing Ramirez while piddling away his first two months while using Dunn's last two months as proof not to acquire him lacks as much consistinecy as Dunn or Ramirez combined. I'm advocating signing Ramirez because he is the most productive player the Cubs currently have, they need to keep him. I'm not dogging Dunn, but I don't think the Cubs should give the farm for him either. I would explore other alternatives through FA before committing a lot of young talent towards acquiring Dunn. I do thnk Dunn has hurt his team the last few months, the numbers show it. The Reds have had the equivalent production of Nefi Perez playing everyday in LF since August, well maybe not that bad, but pretty close. Dunn hasn't hurt his team any more than Ramirez hurt his in April and May. And there aren't a lot of options in FA except for Carlos Lee and Soriano. Both of those will be paid more than Dunn is due in the next two years. Dunn is also younger and likely to outproduce them. And based on his last two months, now might be the time to acquire Dunn who is just now entering his prime.

The silver lining for the Lees is that it doesn't appear from what I read that this condition is life threatening. It is surely life altering, but at least it doesn't seem that Jada is in any danger.