Bull

people felt free to laugh at and dismiss me, but no one paid any attention to that I was talking about working hard at the right things. Like watching tape. Like learning how to improve your approach. I think this is the point. Its less laziness and more machismo and hubris. And yes, ridiculously talented people can have a level of success with less that flu effort. Andruw Jones. But again, that's not even the point. realizing you have something to learn and working hard to learn it. Remember, we're talking about an organization that placed so little emphasis on working (smart) on your approach that (industrious?) minor leaguers took matters into their own hands with cellphone videos. and to wrap it up, I'm not saying hard work is >>>> than stats/performance, I'm saying hard (smart) work leads to stats/performance/realizing your ceiling. This is why I think SO MANY of our prospects fizzled.

Is it possible that effort does matter and that it not only shows up in the statistics but also helps in development? The same guy that is lazy running out pop-ups, might be lazy in conditioning, and might be mentally lazy and lacking focus when trying to command the strike zone, or working a strategy in an at-bat. all this translates into stats, which tell us that Ramirez does work counts, but that Soriano flails at pitches two feet out of the zone. I think it particularly matters in development. Players need to work at these skills, and a lack of work ethic could keep a player from reaching their ceiling. That is, if their team had cameras so they could work at reviewing their performances.

Haha I had forgotten all about that ??

why should we sign this guy when we can just platoon six guys in cf who all put up wars up 0.5 last year and get a 3 win player? Ahhh, the Bobby Howry plan. I can't tell if that is supposed to say "Bobby Howry" or if that is still a word replacement. awesome. the revival of NSBB memes has me on this site three times a day these days. Or is it that the Cubs are finally worth following again?

either lock it or we'll start talking about Ryno!

I think Theo has decided to communicate with the Chicago sports media strictly in the language of baseball analogies. This is all but proof that they are talking down to the media and laughing about it later. I couldn't be happier about that. As long as its not fishing analogies, I am ok.

It's becoming an NSBB meme. I don't love it, but its better than other recent memes I find it to be pretty hot. I guess i asked for that.

It's becoming an NSBB meme. I don't love it, but its better than other recent memes

Now Wood's the Cubs historian? Theo may want to hear an accurate account of how Hendry had his little pets of non-performers. I'm starting to combine a st louis IP history with the tone of most all of these posts and connecting dots... please don't judge us by our geographical location, O Tim.

there's a post on another board...*ahem*... where Theo is quoted commenting about compensation. not that this is news, but its nice to hear Theo say it. ish

they did, however, win the world series. honestly, I don't see this all eggs in one year's basket as a bad thing for a team like the Marlins. Then you have a fire sale and stock the farm.

I'll add, "Will he use role players properly," between 2 and 3, and submit that I think the order of these is important.

why give up Cashner for Liriano when Cashner will probably have the better career moving forward? Liriano is just as likely to get hurt and Cashner will be cheap for a while. I don't know that I do this straight up let alone including Ha and Rusin. Cashner isn't going to net you anything near his real value this offseason.

This is all I got http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CD8QtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DICXbLipxFg4&ei=Uky7TsXZK6SpsAKY6t2hCA&usg=AFQjCNFSuQeOPTajgz3Z2PapD1G-Uv82Ng&sig2=1RImZ7RwIXKeswsXYmKQYQ

not to defend Kaplan, but just to be clear...you don't think Z is hot tempered and you don't think he reported out of shape? I think both of those are true. I think those are true of a lot of players, but the ones being pointed out share one characteristic. Then he is a bad example in the argument. Z is one of my favorite Cubs. I was at the game in Atlanta, and argued with the Braves fans around me that there's no way Z was throwing at Chipper based on the situation. Unfortunately sportscenter the next morning showed replays which made me a liar. I still think Z is awesome and should be brought back. But I also think he's at Andruw Jones level of, "man this guy could be so much more". We're establishing a pattern here. I do not, however, think there's any reason to believe that Zambrano is lazy. And more to the point, I believe that if Zambrano were white, then those same attributes would either be given a pass or lauded. I could make a list of Santo incidents and Zambrano incidents, scramble them up, and I bet the average non-Cubs baseball fan couldn't tell which ones belonged with which player. Yet Zambrano's incidents prove that he's an unacceptable, lazy clubhouse cancer, while Santo was a fiery competitor and beloved hero. Soriano gets ripped for taking Felix Pie clubbing. When Mark Grace led numerous young players into drunkenness, it's just part of his charm. I don't know where to start. I don't find Grace charming. His slumpbusting ways are disgusting. Santo was a great ballplayer, belongs in the Hall, but was never confused with a member of mensa, and was clearly not loved by the sportswriters or many of his peers (apparently because they hate white guys). He was what he was. Zambrano is an elite talent, and while I love his competitive nature on the mound, he makes Joaquin Andujar (sp?) look like Mohatma Gandhi.

not to defend Kaplan, but just to be clear...you don't think Z is hot tempered and you don't think he reported out of shape? I think both of those are true. I think those are true of a lot of players, but the ones being pointed out share one characteristic. Then he is a bad example in the argument. Z is one of my favorite Cubs. I was at the game in Atlanta, and argued with the Braves fans around me that there's no way Z was throwing at Chipper based on the situation. Unfortunately sportscenter the next morning showed replays which made me a liar. I still think Z is awesome and should be brought back. But I also think he's at Andruw Jones level of, "man this guy could be so much more".

not to defend Kaplan, but just to be clear...you don't think Z is hot tempered and you don't think he reported out of shape?

Completely fair. The primary use of WAR is to be able to compare the general value of players across different roles and positions. Regarding WAR with a pitcher, you have to wonder how useful offensive WAR is. Last year Dontrelle Willis had a combined WAR that was equivalent of Zambrano, and I sure the hell wouldn't want him in the rotation. Personally I would much rather prefer a pitcher that was good at pitching. Why is that your question about WAR with a pitcher? Offensive stats are almost certainly more trustworthy than pitching stats. please explain this. this reeks of "walks matter for pitchers but not for hitters". the total stats for all pitchers in a year match exactly the total stats for all hitters in a year. How is one more trustworthy or valuable than the other?

in general, I prefer catchers as field managers, but I think maddux would be SO good with the pitchers, and that the Cubs have a hitting coach who has enough respect with the hitters, that it could definitely work out.

His redeeming grace was the fact that he is unteachable!

video removed. sad. I missed it.

The Cubs are going to care more about someone who can get on base at the top of the order. Say it again!

wow, I read the title to mean there was news of the Cubs cutting payroll. in response to the actual post: I don't think there will be too many "cuts" as much as much as not pursuing exiting free agents like Hill, Johnson and Grabow. Baker, Dewitt and Wells remain fairly cheap and should be back. If I'm not mistaken, Colvin still has options. eta: I guess you covered Colvin having options by saying "sent down". I suppose Colvin's future depends on who is brought in. i.e., I'm not prevented from trading for an outfielder because of Colvin, but I'm not pressured in negotiations for that outfielder, because my trading partner knows I have Colvin to fall back on as a fourth/fifth outfielder or half of a platoon.

my band flew to Calgary on the same flight as Lifehouse. Loading gear we chatted with them a little about their gig and ours and how we covered one of their songs. They were really nice.

Would you be dumping Z in that scenario or simply not giving Wells / Cashner / Shark / etc. a place in the rotation? Assuming we dump Zambrano. The difference between Pena and Pujielder, assuming a very good year from them, is still only 3 or 4 wins. I prefer Fieljols