vance_the_cubs_fan

I'm about to switch over to the Mavs game. This sucks.

This game isn't going to end well.

I wish I could have made them trip to Nawlins!

May have been his best chance to reach base.

He'd go back to Vegas. I just checked this out, LaRoche was promoted to AAA Las Vegas yesterday. Sorry, Vance. Damn. So, give me a quick list of who's supposed to be worth a damn.

Not a very good start for the kid.

I'm guessing lots and lots of meth.

Don't forget Andy LaRoche and Tony Abreu with Jacksonville. Escobar should be very exciting to watch; Saltalamacchia has had a down year thus far. I got Saltamalaccia's auto earlier this year. I'm taking my nephew if we go and was wondering who we should ask to sign... :lol:

That's an excellent question.

Link no longer works.

I never turn down an opportunity to watch MLB baseball, regardless of who is playing.

Just let me know...I'm always around.

I may be making a trip on Thursday to see the Mississippi Braves take on the Jacksonville Suns (Dodgers). Who on those teams are top prospects for their organizations or who bear watching?

Here's a note on it. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/061306rangersbriefs.12a07bb0.html

Mench hasn't been good over the last week, but his season line of 291/344/515 is really nice. His home/away spilt isn't that dramatic either. Home: 309/361/609 Away: 271/324/406. He still hits on the road, but his slugging drops dramatically. He would still be under Cubs' control for the next two seasons, so he's not a player I'd be opposed to acquiring. Koronka has fallen off the table, so pitching may interest the Rangers since they've lost out on Clemens. DeRosa has been hot, but I can't believe the Rangers really believe they are better off starting DeRosa over Mench. While he's not going to be an all-star, for the right price I'm all for acquiring Shrek.

Are you counting the homers that were hit at 0-0? Dunn has a bunch of those. As I think I've shown above, that's flat out not true. But hyperbole is a wonderful thing.

Excellent article, Bruce. Keep up the good fight!

While I agree with you, maybe there is a 3rd team that could facilitate this. How about this crazy idea... Cubs Get: Dunn Reds Get: Todd Helton, $2M/year for the rest of his deal from Colorado, Scott Williamson (I love Helton, but the decrease in his HR numbers the past 2 years is somewhat troubling) Rockies Get: Guzman or Hill, Aardsma, Murton, "Top 5" prospect from Reds system The Cubs do this to get the high power, high OBP, high OPS bat they need between a healthy Lee and Aramis. If Dunn has fallen out of favor with the Reds they do this to get Helton who has a better OBP, good glove, and has shown fantastic power in the recent past. They also add a bullpen arm to help them contend this year. The Rockies get a starter to plug into the rotation, a bullpen arm they would control for 4+ years, a starting outfielder, and a good prospect in exchange for a player who really isn't helping them contend at this point. In the offseason the Cubs can then focus on adding one of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt; and improving the bench. 2007 Cubs: C Barrett 1B Lee 2B Walker SS Cedeno 3B Aramis LF Dunn CF Pie RF Jones Zambrano, One of Zito/Mulder/Schmidt, Prior, Marshall, Marmol 6th starter either Hill or Guzman, 7th starter Gallagher or Jerome Williams. If Colorado were playing poorly, that idea may work. Right now the Rockies are in the thick of the NL West race and aren't likely to trade Helton for the package you mentioned. Furthermore, the Rockies are likely going to want statements of faith from Aardsma, Guzman, and Hill. I think Murton has already expressed his Christianity so he should fit in ok.

Congrats to Sean.

But do you have enough after raises to Zambrano and Lee? I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your idea, I'm just not sure the money is there. What the Cubs decide to do re: Pierre will also impact this I guess. I definitely think so. Lee's raise isn't terribly dramatic. Zambrano will get a nice raise and this may be the year they discuss long-term with him. I'm not running the payroll numbers, but I think if the Cubs went with a 100-105 million payroll, they could easily afford to add some players this offseason.

I'm glad there's off days. It helps me rest up for more profanity laced outbursts.

Until this team gets to 500, we shouldn't be looking to add players that won't be around after this season unless that is the type of player we're giving up. Trading prospects for a guy who is going to walk at the end of the season is futile unless the move puts you in a good chance to make the postseason. We aren't there....we're 10 freaking games below the break-even mark. If we like Sori, we can sign him this offseason when it will matter and keep our other prospects for another deal. We should be unloading right now not taking on more.

1) Zito's a FA after this season. We're not contending so there's no reason to trade a bunch of guys for him now. 2) Where's the A and B in your list, cuz I don't know that Brownlie or Sing fit in either category? And the A's are in contention. They won't unload Zito unless they think they make themselves better this year too.

Exactly. A couple of things here. 1. We aren't in the race. Staying in the race shouldn't be a concern. 2. Hill needs to be pitching in Chicago. If he can't cut it, we need to see that over a season. 3. If he can't cut it as a starter, the Cubs will have to decide whether he can be a loogy or whether he's toast. Either way, he needs to be here pitching.

Miller isn't signed beyond this year, so I wouldn't include him in any future plans. Pitchers the Cubs would have under their control going into the hotstove talks would be: Zambrano, Prior, Marshall, Ryu, Guzman, Marmol, and Hill....and of course Williams. To trade Prior, I'm going to want a big name. I'd probably do a form of Prior for Abreu or something along those lines....but it would take a big time bat for a deal like that to happen. With Wood and Maddux's money coming off the books, I'd like to pursue one veteran pitcher (Schmidt, Zito, Mulder) and then go after some hitters. Assume Schmidt, then I'd have the rotation anchored with Zambrano and Schmidt. Two of Marshall, Ryu, Guzman, and Hill could be put with Prior. If I dealt Prior for a bat, I might pursue another pitcher. A lot depends on how these guys throw for the remainder of the season. With Wood's 13 million and Maddux's 9, there's no reason we shouldn't add one of the big name starters coming out there and still have the money for at least one or two bats.