vance_the_cubs_fan

If Williams has an option, the Cubs are in no hurry to move him regardless of how the rotation and bullpen shake out. He's depth and can be sent to Iowa to start and stay fresh if needed. Considering Maddux's deal expires this year along with Miller and Wood, it would make sense to keep Williams unless a deal for a potent bat comes along. Next season, we'll have Prior and Zambrano and need to fill out 3/5 of the rotation. Williams would be nice to have in one of those roles. I still think he could be traded, but his remaining option gives the Cubs some room to delay a decision on Williams's future.

I think they could, but I believe I've heard the mayor say he is not in favor of the city contributing to the financing.

At least for now, the Rays have closed the door on trade talks. Link.

Does Williams have an option remaining? I don't think he does. If that's the case, he'll have to remain in the pen or rotation if he's not traded. I hope we hang on to him in some fashion until at least mid-season.

When I get it cleaned up, I'll take some pics. It's actually a small bedroom I've turned into an office. A lot of it isn't displayed yet, as I need more cases and picture frames. The wife wasn't happy with the Aaron jersey purchase, so I had to negotiate. It will now be my birthday present from her (my birthday is in August...lol) and I will receive it and be able to display it then. LOL The jersey, without the autograph, is $300! I bet the charity is very happy with you :) Oh, and I'd like to add that I wouldn't call my room a mini-HOF unless you're willing to include the likes of Antonio Alfonseca, Amaury Telemaco, and Darryl Hamilton in the HOF. :)

I would love to have Cuban as an owner. While I doubt he would spend ridiculously, I could see him being very willing to spend for a player that management told him could push us over the top. I think he'd listen to the fans and want to be the one who brought a World Series to Chicago's northside. I think that would be a challenge to him, and Cuban seems to be the individual who relishes meeting a challenge.

When I get it cleaned up, I'll take some pics. It's actually a small bedroom I've turned into an office. A lot of it isn't displayed yet, as I need more cases and picture frames. The wife wasn't happy with the Aaron jersey purchase, so I had to negotiate. It will now be my birthday present from her (my birthday is in August...lol) and I will receive it and be able to display it then. LOL

Just added to the collection tonight. I went to a Mississippi Braves fan fest and got autographed balls and photos of Jeff Francoer, Kelly McCann, and Blaine Boyer. I also got some cards signed by former Cubs and Braves Jeff Blauser. But the best, after the silent auction I came away with a 1974 Braves Jersey signed by Hank Aaron!

I personally don't see a match with the Cubs and Boston. Boston isn't going to pay Manny to play elsewhere. The Cubs could likely expand the budget to absorb his contract, but if we did, I wouldn't offer as much in terms of players. If I'm taking on Manny's contract, then I'm not offering as much in the way of players. I might offer Murton and Williams or something comparable to that, but not much more. As far as Abreu, the contract isn't as ornerous and Abreu is a better defender, but not as potent with the bat. I'd offer a package of Williams, Pie, and Wellemeyer for Abreu. I'd substitute Welly for another minor leaguer if they desired. If they prefered Murton to Pie, I'd do that. If they prefered Hill to Williams, I could make that switch, but those are the deals I'd consider. I doubt the Sox or Pilly would be willing to do those deals. BTW, love the new avatar! I doubt they would either, and in essence, that's why we're not a good match.

I'd also try to sign Hidalgo to a NRI.

I played in a twenty team league once, and it was fun. You had to be on your toes, because even marginal starters were chosen. It also made those who could predict the unknowns who would step up and contribute important.

I personally don't see a match with the Cubs and Boston. Boston isn't going to pay Manny to play elsewhere. The Cubs could likely expand the budget to absorb his contract, but if we did, I wouldn't offer as much in terms of players. If I'm taking on Manny's contract, then I'm not offering as much in the way of players. I might offer Murton and Williams or something comparable to that, but not much more. As far as Abreu, the contract isn't as ornerous and Abreu is a better defender, but not as potent with the bat. I'd offer a package of Williams, Pie, and Wellemeyer for Abreu. I'd substitute Welly for another minor leaguer if they desired. If they prefered Murton to Pie, I'd do that. If they prefered Hill to Williams, I could make that switch, but those are the deals I'd consider. Well done Vance, thanks. When Hendry gets fired, I nominate you for GM. :D I will readily admit that I in no way have the skills to be a GM. I'm not saying it is out of my realm of ability to learn, but there is a lot I would have to understand before I could do the job adequately. I'd need to learn some of the finer points of scouting as well as develop some understanding of finances before I'd be near ready for such an undertaking. But thanks for your nomination. :)

I think the deep bench is a good idea. If you have a league of over 14 teams, sometimes a deep bench is needed to reward those who are paying attention. It allows people to take more gambles which allows for a fun league. I don't think a deep bench hinders trading, in fact sometimes it promotes it. It makes 2 for one or 3 for one deals more likely because the team getting the extra players has more room to stash them.

If we're offering NRI's to washed up has-been's, I'd rather offer one to Juan Gonzalez.

I wouldn't use IP's...I think you can set a minimum IP scenario if you want to keep people from loading up on relievers. I'd keep the offensive and pitching stats the same number. So, definitely add a hitting category (OPS, or OBP, or something to even it out.) I'd like to see errors as a category just to make things interesting defensively.

I personally don't see a match with the Cubs and Boston. Boston isn't going to pay Manny to play elsewhere. The Cubs could likely expand the budget to absorb his contract, but if we did, I wouldn't offer as much in terms of players. If I'm taking on Manny's contract, then I'm not offering as much in the way of players. I might offer Murton and Williams or something comparable to that, but not much more. As far as Abreu, the contract isn't as ornerous and Abreu is a better defender, but not as potent with the bat. I'd offer a package of Williams, Pie, and Wellemeyer for Abreu. I'd substitute Welly for another minor leaguer if they desired. If they prefered Murton to Pie, I'd do that. If they prefered Hill to Williams, I could make that switch, but those are the deals I'd consider.

The Cubs aren't a match in a trade for Manny. Did you see what the Red Sox were rumored to have asked the Angels for? In today's LA Times, supposedly the Red Sox wanted Chone Figgins, Ervin Santana, and two of the top prospects in the system from the group of Kotchman, Wood, etc. in addition to the Angels picking up all of the 57 million owed to Manny. That would be equivalent to the Cubs giving up Murton, Jerome Williams, and since we don't have prospects as highly rated as the Angles...add Felix Pie, Rich Hill, and probably one or two more to get Manny with the Cubs picking up all of Manny's money. I'd love to have Manny in this line-up, but not at the player and salary price it will take to acquire him. I would be ok with Pie, Hill, Williams, Mutron, and say a Sing or lower level prospect. But the Sox would have to share the contract somehow. The Sox wouldn't give him for that, and if they did they would expect the Cubs to assume all the money. So, you're in agreement that the player cost combined with the money makes Manny unaquirable.

The Cubs aren't a match in a trade for Manny. Did you see what the Red Sox were rumored to have asked the Angels for? In today's LA Times, supposedly the Red Sox wanted Chone Figgins, Ervin Santana, and two of the top prospects in the system from the group of Kotchman, Wood, etc. in addition to the Angels picking up all of the 57 million owed to Manny. That would be equivalent to the Cubs giving up Murton, Jerome Williams, and since we don't have prospects as highly rated as the Angles...add Felix Pie, Rich Hill, and probably one or two more to get Manny with the Cubs picking up all of Manny's money. I'd love to have Manny in this line-up, but not at the player and salary price it will take to acquire him.

Looks like the Angels are now showing some interest in Weaver if he's willing to sign a short-term deal. Link The article also mentions there is interest from the Cardinals and Mets, but Weaver prefers to stay on the West Coast.

So let me get this straight. You think she retracted the charges because of money? Why didn't she just settle a lawsuit and save herself the trouble of being with some guy who's abusing her? There's a lot of ways she could have cashed in on that situation without actually staying in the relationship. IIRC, a victim severely exaggerating or even making up claims is pretty commonplace as well. This is true...but then definitively calling him a "wife abuser" would be somewhere between an embellishment and slander, wouldn't it? The story I seem to recall hearing is that Lugo physically assaulted his wife in the stadium parking lot, in front of the team bus and in view of many team personnel. The Astros moved swiftly to suspend him, and then shortly thereafter, they released him. Regardless of the ultimate disposition of the resulting criminal case, it seems abundantly clear that whatever the Astros' brass witnessed that day met their definition of "wife abuse". I don't think any of that is true. Allegedly, it happened at his home before he was going to the ballpark that day. If you have a link verifying that there were witnesses, please post. But I think you're dead wrong. The second link Tiger provided confirms that the incident took place in the stadium parking lot. No mention of whether or not there were witnesses. The fact remains that the Astros immediately DFAd their starting SS for what they termed domestic violence. My guess if there were witnesses, Lugo would not have been aquitted.

So let me get this straight. You think she retracted the charges because of money? Why didn't she just settle a lawsuit and save herself the trouble of being with some guy who's abusing her? There's a lot of ways she could have cashed in on that situation without actually staying in the relationship. IIRC, a victim severely exaggerating or even making up claims is pretty commonplace as well. This is true...but then definitively calling him a "wife abuser" would be somewhere between an embellishment and slander, wouldn't it? The story I seem to recall hearing is that Lugo physically assaulted his wife in the stadium parking lot, in front of the team bus and in view of many team personnel. The Astros moved swiftly to suspend him, and then shortly thereafter, they released him. Regardless of the ultimate disposition of the resulting criminal case, it seems abundantly clear that whatever the Astros' brass witnessed that day met their definition of "wife abuse". I don't think any of that is true. Allegedly, it happened at his home before he was going to the ballpark that day. If you have a link verifying that there were witnesses, please post. But I think you're dead wrong.

Am I wrong in thinking that WBC players have already reported?

That's cool. What about Budman. Is he going to play?

Who was it from CardsTalk that I beat by a tie breaker in the championship? Is he coming back for more?

Wow...it's going to be a deep league with 20 teams. This should get interesting.