moorecg

How did Bill Walton not make this list?

If Congress is going to do anything about this, Specter will be the one to do it. I'd finally have a republican I could agree with on something... Oh...and somebody asked where JR is getting his info...sounds like he works for them...or should...bottom line, I'd be very upset if baseball is effectively taken away from a large percentage of its viewers.

I had DirectTV for all of 3 days early this fall. After getting into 4 different shouting matches with their service people (this after having their installers fail to show up 3 separate times) I told them where they could shove their dish. Were they supposed to install an HD/DVR combo receiver? I had 6 different failed installation/upgrades this fall. I've spent a boatload there since getting directv in 1998, and they know it. They gave me all sorts of financial incentives to stay on, but I'm pretty sure I'm leaving next week once I figure out exactly what cable will give me. It wasn't an HD reciever but it was DVR...they just didn't show up several times...when they did (my wife was home...they started putting the dish on the side of the house(where it was supposed to be)...she went inside to take care of the baby...came back out after they were done and it was hooked up and they had put a pole smack dab in the middle of our small back yard (said it was the only place he could put it) without asking her if it was ok)...just all kinds of problems.

I had DirectTV for all of 3 days early this fall. After getting into 4 different shouting matches with their service people (this after having their installers fail to show up 3 separate times) I told them where they could shove their dish.

It just CAN"T go to DirectTV... I've always thought that ultimatly the NFL would have to make the Sunday Ticket available to the masses through allowing it to be bought on digital cable as well as direct tv. It just doesn't make sense to me that they can get more from DirectTV than they could from the 10s of millions of households that don't have DirectTV but might otherwise buy the Sunday Ticket. Same thing for baseball... I'd have to call congress or something.

Anyone heard what the price will be this year? Remember what it was last year?

Nice day by Ronny...but how'd he score 4 runs and only get on 3 times?

Anyone wanting to discuss this omission with Mr. 15 minutes can reach him at: Paul Ladewski can be reached at pladd@aol.com

I know it slow...and there are holidays...and vacations...and all that fun stuff....but its been forever since I've been able to go to the Daily Herald and find a Cubs column...i'm fiending. :D Just count down the days till spring training or something...maybe a 45 questions that need answered...new one every day...counting down.... O:)

A question in this regard...when tickets come open...to you just get the ones that come open, or are all other season ticket holders offere the ability to "upgrade" to the seats, if they are better.

300 spots in 3 years...at that rate, my spot #28000+ will be ready sometime when my kids retire.

So where are you at on the list Vance? (I know you've got to be on there somewhere) I'll have to check. I think somewhere around 3000. However, I have no intention of buying anytime soon since I'm stuck in LA. If I bought, I'd either scalp or try to sell away my option each year until I could use them more regularly. I hope to get called around the time I retire and then can have a summer home in the area. :) My thoughts exactly. Maybe we can be neighbors. I think we've got kids at about the same age...(a boy 2yrs 4 mths, and a boy 4 mths)....hopefully THEY"LL get to see a Cubs WS sometime.

So where are you at on the list Vance? (I know you've got to be on there somewhere)

On a whim I added my name to the waiting list today. I'm number 28408. Any clue on how many open up each year? I'm figuring by the time I retire I might have a shot.

I'll pitch in if I need to. I think we could raise the sufficient funds here...maybe Tim would even give you free premium for life.

I doubt it. His defensive reputation will probably be enough to make most fans accept his crappiness, especially if he keeps the K totals low and doesn't bitch about the fans being better in LA. Not counting Jones, the early favorite has to be Dempster. Although a slow start by either Ramirez or Soriano could give them a shot. I'd have to go with Marquis, if he starts slow, they'll give him hell. That contract and season last year will be a poor mix to start slowly. Don't forget the fact that he was a cardinal. that's resaon enough to hate him.

Just think what that kind of production and OBP, from the SS position, would do for this team. You stick that in the #2 hole, behind and you've got: Soriano Guillen Lee Ramirez Murton Jones Barret Derosa Pitcher. now THAT is a good lineup.

Carlos Guillen Shortstop Detroit Tigers Profile 2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R OBP AVG 153 19 85 100 .400 .320 Carlos Guillen, Detroit Guillen is Detroit's clubhouse "glue guy," and manager Jim Leyland regards him as a future managerial candidate and one of the smartest players he's ever been around. Guillen performs, too. His .919 OPS led all major league shortstops last season, and at times he seemed to be the only Detroit hitter willing to work a count and take a walk. The American League MVP voters rewarded him with a 10th-place finish. The only caution flags surrounding Guillen are health- and defense-related. He's played 140 games twice in the last six seasons, and his 28 errors tied Felipe Lopez for the most among big-league shortstops. But the Tigers will be living dangerously if they allow Guillen to hit the market in November: Next winter's free-agent shortstop crop is weak, with David Eckstein and Omar Vizquel being the biggest names available. When Julio Lugo gets four years and $36 million from the Red Sox, Guillen might be in line for four and $44 million. Tony Giarratano, a slicker fielder who was once considered Detroit's shortstop of the future, has been dogged by injuries in the minors. If Giarratano can eventually make the jump, the Tigers could always shift Guillen to first base near the end of his deal, when his defensive range is likely to diminish. The Tigers have signed Brandon Inge and Jeremy Bonderman to four-year deals this winter, and things should heat up with Guillen in spring training. If Guillen is going to remain a Tiger, he's made it clear he wants a deal in place by Opening Day. "Carlos likes it in Detroit, and he's happy there," said agent Peter Greenberg. "He would be willing to explore an extension, and the club has indicated they would like to explore it. We'll see what happens."

With those numbers its easy to see why. :D

I agree with all of this. Basically everything I was saying above is that the guy has some solid points to his game...it could be interesting...but I'm not out there advocating for it to happen. He has 3 plus tools (speed, arm, fielding), there's no question about that. It's just hitting and his approach that'll decide whether or not he can become a player that can start on a team looking to score runs from that position. Again, I agree...thanks for the thoughts UK.

Does this add anything to the discussion at all? I'm honestly just curious. It seems OBP was the end all be all last year...now when that stat doesn't support the argument its OPS+, or whatever stat happens to support and/or detract from the player/s in question. I don't think anyone was arguing that if Tavarez was hypothetically brought here that it would be for his prowess to drive in runs, so I was just curious why OPS+ was the measure which was being used to detract from him. I don't care anymore...I may just go back to arguing the relative merits of Freddy Bynum and Craig Counsell from a few weeks back, it seems just about as relevant at this discussion

I agree with all of this. Basically everything I was saying above is that the guy has some solid points to his game...it could be interesting...but I'm not out there advocating for it to happen.

Just so I know for future reference...is OPS+ now the only stat that counts now?

nothing like vast and sweeping statements. All I'm saying is, he's not the worst guy ever...he's not Neifi, and I don't agree that Pierre was necessarily better last year. Just last off season people were calling Brad Wilerson the second coming of Mantle....last year Taverez was better than Wilkerson was... I'm sure you can come up with any number of stats to "prove" Taverez is horrible...I'm just saying that in some pretty imporant areas he's not horrible and he's getting better....and for 400K a year that's not a bad thing to have.

A ,055 IsoD is only good if you are hitting .300. Saying his patience is better than Pierre's is like saying his physique is better than Matt Stairs'. But unlike Matt Stairs' physique, its improving! Again..I'm not saying the guy is great...just that at age 24, he's improving...if he continues to improve, he could be a very solid player, if his OBP would improve 8 points a year between now and age 28, he'll make a lot of money in free agency.