vance_the_cubs_fan

My guess is that the Cubs thought it would be nice to let passer-bys look into the park on game days, but after much thought on the issue, they may have realized the safety and logistical problems that it would cause. The Cubs may not be willing to invest the resources in manpower needed to keep the orderly flow of pedestrians in the area and to ensure the safety of those looking through the knot-hole on game days. I think the Wrigley Field area is probably a difficult place to have such a feature. Unlike a lot of ballparks, there is a large amount of traffic around the ballpark on game days that you do not have at other venues.

shocking !!! are you saying that people drink around Wrigley Field?? Let alone before the game?? :roll: Wow..adding "rolling eyes" almost ...just almost makes that post informative and add something to the discussion. Almost, but not quite.

Walton was a starter from day one. Smith, if my memory is correct, didn't get many at bats until Dawson went down with injury.

I think one thing that has been noted is that Krivsky isn't looking for band-aids or quick fixes to the Reds problems. That being the case, he isn't going to be interested in Jones or Walker in any deal. Those players don't help the team in the future. If they trade Dunn, it will be because Krivsky wants to acquire players to help down the line. I think a deal is possible, but the Cubs will overpay. Houston would love to get Dunn as well and would likely offer a package that includes Lane or Burke along with a pitching prospect like Hirsch. Krivsky would likely push for an arm like Patton from the Astros or maybe Pence for the outfield. Hirsch is a nice looking prospect and if the Astros offered him in a deal for Dunn, the Cubs would really have to step to the plate. Furthermore, we have to look at what other teams might offer for him. Would the Red Sox jump into the bidding, possibly dangling prospects like Lester or Pappelbon? Would the Cardinals offer up Reyes along with another player or two to get him? Would the Dodgers have interest and how much would they pay? The Reds are going to want pitching in any deal. They are also going to want the jewel of someone's system to trade him. In order to get Dunn, the Cubs will have to offer Pie and whoever the Reds rate as our best pitching prospect. That being said, This line-up: CF Pierre 2b Walker 1b Lee Lf Dunn 3b Ramirez Rf Jones C Barrett SS Cedeno/Perez would look awfully good.

He becomes the fourth outfielder/platoon partner with Jacque Jones or he's moved in another trade. I would have included Murton in the trade, but I'm thinking Pie and some pitchers would interest them more.

Blocking it could be a good idea though. Can you imagine the congestion along the knothole on days of "big" games. I could see a fight starting as drunks jockey for position along the knothole.

Now that the Reds have hired Krivsky, I've seen a lot of speculation in the media that he is going to follow the Twins model and build for the future with a focus on pitching and defense. There's also a lot of speculation that he'll trade off parts that will be too expensive down the road in order to have a strong foundation and that he won't try the "quick-fix" moves meant to appease a restless fan base. In all of these speculations, there is some thoughts that Dunn, Griffey, and Milton will be put on the block. Some think this could happen soon, while others think it may be a longer process. But anyway...I think it's time for the Cubs to make a play for Dunn. I'd offer a package of Pie, Dopirak, and two pitchers from this group: Marmol, Ryu, Williams, Wellemeyer, Gallagher, Marshall, or Guzman. Depending on what other teams put on the table, that sort of offer could be tempting to Kivsky as he builds on the future.

In his most recent article, Ken Rosenthal opines that Krivsky could trade both Dunn and Griffey in order to bring prospects which the Reds could use to rebuild. Link. Dunn, please.

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice? You initially said that you liked your chances Walker and Hairston will play enough. Another wild card in the equation is Spivey gets off to a slow start or loses his starting slot due to injury, no there's no telling if Luna or Miles will steal time from him. How about this? I'll take the wager with your injury caveat as long as the bet is cancelled if Walker is traded before the end of ST. OK, the above stats, BA, OBP, SLG? As long as you're open to addtl. wagers if the bet is canceled :D ? So we have deal is void if Walker is traded or Spivey is injured for longer than 3 wks. No other caveats, if it's close in the three stats, how do we decide? Prize is Cubs or Cards hat of choice. Sounds good. The above stats work. Tie breaker can either be VORP or WARP. Not to complicate matters, but are we just going off best 2 or 3 categories? Or look at all three stats and agree who was the best player? We can look at all three. Why not take BA and OPS (as OPS combines Slg and OBP.) If those are too close to call, we move to WARP. I'm not opposed to OPS, but I don't want BA to get too much weight (and it shouldn't anyway), as Spivey most likely will lose that category to any of your three. I'm fine with BA, OBP, SLG though. Ok. We can use all three categories.

Apparently, the deal the Nats are offering isn't a guaranteed contract. They were saying on MLB XM 175 that Sosa may choose to retire.

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice? You initially said that you liked your chances Walker and Hairston will play enough. Another wild card in the equation is Spivey gets off to a slow start or loses his starting slot due to injury, no there's no telling if Luna or Miles will steal time from him. How about this? I'll take the wager with your injury caveat as long as the bet is cancelled if Walker is traded before the end of ST. OK, the above stats, BA, OBP, SLG? As long as you're open to addtl. wagers if the bet is canceled :D ? So we have deal is void if Walker is traded or Spivey is injured for longer than 3 wks. No other caveats, if it's close in the three stats, how do we decide? Prize is Cubs or Cards hat of choice. Sounds good. The above stats work. Tie breaker can either be VORP or WARP. Not to complicate matters, but are we just going off best 2 or 3 categories? Or look at all three stats and agree who was the best player? We can look at all three. Why not take BA and OPS (as OPS combines Slg and OBP.) If those are too close to call, we move to WARP.

I'm pretty sure it was around the same time that it was discovered that Todd Walker can't turn DP's, and that Grudz was a striped bass. Grudz wasn't the stripped bass; he was Dusty's girlfriend. Mark Prior plays the trombone, however.

I got through after about 30-45 mins and was able to score tix to the Sunday Red Sox game.

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice? You initially said that you liked your chances Walker and Hairston will play enough. Another wild card in the equation is Spivey gets off to a slow start or loses his starting slot due to injury, no there's no telling if Luna or Miles will steal time from him. How about this? I'll take the wager with your injury caveat as long as the bet is cancelled if Walker is traded before the end of ST. OK, the above stats, BA, OBP, SLG? As long as you're open to addtl. wagers if the bet is canceled :D ? So we have deal is void if Walker is traded or Spivey is injured for longer than 3 wks. No other caveats, if it's close in the three stats, how do we decide? Prize is Cubs or Cards hat of choice. Sounds good. The above stats work. Tie breaker can either be VORP or WARP.

Why can't I choose Dunn?!?!? :x Ok, well if I can't choose Dunn, I think I'd take Billy Hall, Jason Bay, or Ollie Perez.

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice? You initially said that you liked your chances Walker and Hairston will play enough. Another wild card in the equation is Spivey gets off to a slow start or loses his starting slot due to injury, no there's no telling if Luna or Miles will steal time from him. How about this? I'll take the wager with your injury caveat as long as the bet is cancelled if Walker is traded before the end of ST.

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice? You look at PECOTA, but I think Spivey is severely underrated by everyone because of his last two injury marred years. All signs indicate that he's healthy headed into the season who knows how long that will last. I know you're fond of most recent 3 yr. avg. numbers, but for obvious reasons, that's not fair to Spivey. His career numbers including his horrific last two years look like this: .270/.354/.436. The guy just turned 31. I predict a repeat of Grudz and his two heavily injured seasons and then a full healthy season with the Cards (only difference is Spivey's 06 numbers will be better than Grudz's 05 numbers and while Grudz when playing was still solid where Spivey was horrid). That said I'll only take you up on your wager, if there's a void clause if Spivey's injured for three straight weeks. You can have the void clause only if I get one if Dusty insists on starting Neifi at 2b for more than 30 games. Hold on, now you're taking the this out of context of my original wager. My original wager wasn't based so much on Spivey being great or better than Todd Walker for that matter, but rather the mix of players and who would end up with playing time. Besides, you'd expect 30 games at a position for a backup at any position. Remove the injury caveat then. Cubs 2b > Spivey. If Spivey gets hurt, that's still part of the equation.

Shrink the avatar some.

Ok...looks like the earlier report was wrong, as the Reds have now named Krivsky to be the next GM. Link

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice? You look at PECOTA, but I think Spivey is severely underrated by everyone because of his last two injury marred years. All signs indicate that he's healthy headed into the season who knows how long that will last. I know you're fond of most recent 3 yr. avg. numbers, but for obvious reasons, that's not fair to Spivey. His career numbers including his horrific last two years look like this: .270/.354/.436. The guy just turned 31. I predict a repeat of Grudz and his two heavily injured seasons and then a full healthy season with the Cards (only difference is Spivey's 06 numbers will be better than Grudz's 05 numbers and while Grudz when playing was still solid where Spivey was horrid). That said I'll only take you up on your wager, if there's a void clause if Spivey's injured for three straight weeks. You can have the void clause only if I get one if Dusty insists on starting Neifi at 2b for more than 30 games.

Did that really need to be said thrice?

I'll take that wager. PECOTA for Spivey: 248/322/410 WARP 1.7 PECOTA for Walker: 280/341/425 WARP 2.5 PECOTA for Hairston: 268/342/387 WARP 2.2 PECOTA for Perez 264/296/364 WARP 2.4 I like my chances that Walker and Hairston will play enough to have the Cubs 2b outproduce Spivey. Spivey isn't really that good. How about the loser buys the winner the cap of their choice?

Peanuts, but last year, they were at 99.5 with Sammy's money. 2004 was 90.5, 2003 was 79.8. They were in the 60's as recent as 2001. Link Those numbers are a little misleading. They're based on the figures that MLB uses to figure the payrolls and don't always represent total payroll figures. Those numbers often do not include buy-outs, etc.

If I recall correctly, the 2004 and 2005 payrolls both exceeded 100. Last year's payroll looks deflated because MLB doesn't count the money we sent the Orioles to pay Sammy. When that money is added in, the Cubs were over 100 million last season as well.

I was close. By my calculations, we're at 95.35 in estimated payroll. I may be a little off on how I factored in signing bonuses and I may have missed some incentive money somewhere, but I think that's pretty accurate. If the spending limit is around 100, the Cubs could still add a player for roughly 5 million. My guess is they could spend up to 105 million if Hendry wanted to. Adding a right-handed bat like Hidalgo for 2 million wouldn't greatly impact the budget. I'm not sure Hidalgo is worth 2 million, but it is an interesting option. Unlike Gonzalez, there aren't questions about Hidalgo's defense. On the other hand, I think, if healthy, Gonzalez would be a more productive hitter.