CuseCubFan69

As I said in another thread I think Hendry is saving Hill for the last part or the closing chip in a deal for an impact player. I like the fact that he is holding out like that.

I think the Jays are going to get an impact hitter next.

That's whatI'm hoping as well. Hopefully, he just doesn't want every pissant GM trying to work a trade asking for Hill. If the Phillies asked for Hill in a deal for Abreu, hopefully Hendry would relent. I have a lot of respect for Gillick and I think he will get a decent trade for Abreu.....look at what he got for Thome. When he was in Toronto he helped build a wonderful farm system that helped the Jays win the World Series and with that in mind I think he could go after a future 1 or 2 guy like Hill plus the others the Cubs could offer.....perhaps Pie.

The BCS computer rankings: 5. Oregon - .820 6. Virginia Tech - .790 7. Miami - .730 8. Georgia - .720 9. West Virginia - .710 10. Notre Dame - .600 10. LSU - .600 Look how high West Virginia is but if we let the good old boys vote the Big East would get robbed by the poll system/being ranked in the top 12. I dispise the fact that a bunch of morons/people with an agenda vote on this thing.

You have to register for the Trib article Bgbird formerly Larry Horse.

I'm just hoping that Hendry doesn't overpay for Pierre.

Here's what we thought in November about Burnett. I was right about the money but not the years. http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=26344&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

I'd trade Prior for Abreu, Micheals and the Phillies best pitching prospect.

I find it kind of ironic that Hendry gets blasted for saying not talking up Walker but gets blasted for saying Hill is untouchable. IMO he is making Hill the cream of the pitching crop and if he has to he will throw him in to seal the deal he will. If he says Hill is available teams will want him and then more but if he says he is unavailable and then adds him to the deal it may get that GM to make the deal.

I've been as impatient as anyone but I do believe that Hendry will make a good trade or two to improve the Cubs. As I've said before, I'll wait and see what team he has assembled by opening day. There are still a lot of options for Hendry out there.

Sammy and now Walker....I don't understand either unless Hendry feels like he has to justify these moves for the fans. Just not good business.

I understand why Phillips was fired each time he opens his mouth. "Damon and Pierre are the only impact leadoff hitters out there." That type of narrow minded decisions will lead to overpaying for a player.

Len stole my sunshine with this inside info.

What is a "true" leadoff hitter. Paint a picture for me. Give me some numbers to work with. If he's saying not a true leadoff hitter in the Cubs eyes, I think I understand. The Cubs have their central casting version of the true leadoff hitter, and when they are focused on one thing, they usually get it. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a true leadoff man, and narrowing down your search for greater production to fit the mold of your scouts' preconceived notions of what each position should look like is only doing a disservice to your team. If he is saying that Wilkerson isn't a good option for leadoff, then I completely disagree with him. The latest from Rosenthal The Cubs continue to push hard for Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre, but the Nationals' Brad Wilkerson could emerge as another option. Nationals GM Jim Bowden has long been interested in Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson, and the Cubs have a number of young pitchers who might appeal to the Nationals. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5141070 IMO this is such a no brainer if CPatt and a young pitcher is all it takes.

And his fundementals would stink since he would be coming from another organization.

Interesting. I wonder who they are leaving off of the list.

No and if they have who they would be ok with from the Yankees I would do the same thing.

I am so annoyed by this part of the story. Their infatuation with a stereotypical leadoff man is going to bite them in the butt. You can't build a team like this. You have to find players for each position in the field, then let them hit wherever is best. Find a team with quality from 1-8 and you'll be much better than a team that goes hard after leadoff and settles for mediocrity from 2, 5 and 6. Try to assemble the best catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, leftfield, center field and rightfield you can find, then put them in the best order. Don't limit yourself to a spot you've already admitted is close to barren in terms of availability. Hendry and Baker have spoken at length about the complete lack of the "true leadoff hitter" in today's game. That lack of supply drives up price when met with high demand. The Cubs irrationally high demand is making it harder for them to find a guy. Go out and get the best hitters you can find at CF and RF, and don't worry about the order, you'll score more runs and win more games. It's been painful to hear Hendry or Baker talk lately. Their narrow minded views will keep this team from getting better year after year.

That would be wonderful and I hope the Cubs add Hill and Cedeno too! :) If Hendry does this deal it is a desperate attempt to keep his job.

But the Fish are getting 2 guys for each one of theirs not including what they are going to get for Villone and Pierre.

Williams is probably a tier below all of those guys right now, except Wang. And none of them is a 1-2 starter in the MLB right now, though Bedard and Backe have the best chances eventually IMO. I don't know that I would value Willams lower than them right now. I like using ERA+ to evaluate pitchers (quick, easy to get, relatively levels playing field, etc.). Here are their numbers: Williams: 100 (league average) Wang: 111 Backe: 87 Bedard: 104 Marquis: 103 I personally think that HOU ERA+ was somewhat artificially low because of having a very good pitching staff and a rather poor offense. If I look at the list I would be inclined to agree with you, but then let's throw their AGES in there (in 2005): Williams (23), Marquis (26), Bedard (26), Backe (27), Wang (25). I am not saying that Williams is particularly "better" than those players listed, but that given that Williams is as likely to improve as any of them I would not put him "a tier below" them right now. While K/BB ratio does bode decently for Bedard in particular, those are the kind of numbers that I think improve with age. If I am Philly right now I am saying, "Look, JH, you have plenty of starting pitching. I would be willing to deal you Abreu straight up for Zambrano" and hope JH bites. I wonder if they could expand that and trade Z and Patterson for Abreu and Michaels?

cubs can't top those offers. Hendry stockpiled all those pitchers in the drafts and still he can't beat other teams prospects. I'm annoyed if he can't get somebody with all these young arms other than a PTBNL/cash.

I just don't understand how the Marlins are going to fit all these young guys on their 40 man roster.

Based on what CP20 replied on another thread, it might be more like Cedeno at SS and Lugo at 2B. Why would Lugo go to second after Furcal just signed a 13 a year contract?

THANKS!!!