Afternoon Notes

by Al Yellon on Dec 29, 2005 2:07 PM CST in Chicago Cubs News

You know how I've been saying that "there's no game tomorrow, is there?" all winter?

Imagine my surprise, then, when an e-mail from MLB.com, timestamped 11:41 am today, arrived in my inbox, saying:

The game notes for the Chicago Cubs are now updated for today's game. Your personalized Press Pass gives you access to every Major League Baseball Club's game notes as they are updated.

Click here to access the Chicago Cubs Gameday Press Pass from MLB.com.

Hmmm, I thought. What would I find?

As you know if you've "clicked there", the notes are from the second-to-last game of the 2005 season. Weird.

I also wanted to call your attention, if you haven't noticed already, to the ad on the left sidebar for John Sickels' Baseball Prospect Book 2006. John's terrific Minor League Ball site is part of the SB Nation, along with BCB and many other team blogs.

John's probably the foremost expert on minor league prospects anywhere; I'd highly recommend both his site and the book.

Finally, thank heavens someone else took a bad temptation away from Jim Hendry. Ramon Ortiz signed with the Nationals today. They're welcome to him.

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Ramon Ortiz

Your DC correspondent chiming in - Ramon Ortiz is a nice signing for the Nats, in that 1) they have no ownership still and 2) they need a guy who can munch innings at the back of the rotation. Not saying he's any good, but he probably is the best of a sorry lot.

They needed him, because their pitching rotation is perilously thin. It currently constructed as:

Hernandez (coming off surgery)
Patterson
Lawrence
Ortiz
Drese (coming off surgery)
Armas (coming off surgery)

They've lost Loiaza and Carrasco, and are lean in the pitching department, so Ortiz fills a definite need. Further, RFK is such an extreme pitcher's park that Ortiz should be OK here. A serviceable 200 IP, 4.40 ERA guy.

"Don't worry, Joey. We'll go next year. They're in the World Series all the time" ---My grandfather to my sick father, October 10, 1945

by flyingdonut on Dec 29, 2005 2:48 PM CST reply actions

So...

why don't the Nats re-sign Wilson and take another bad temptation away?

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 29, 2005 3:25 PM CST reply actions

I think..

that Wilson would be a good addition to the cubbies. He would look good in the Blue. I would in fact love our Outfield with Wilson, Pierre, and Jones. Three guys who give it there all game in and out the love for tha game by these three men make me really enjoy the game.

by jfkjunior2004 on Dec 29, 2005 3:45 PM CST reply actions

I'm mainly

interested in what he has to say about the Cub's farm system, Pawalek and Pie to be specific. From what I read Pawalek is double jointed in the pitching hand making the middle finger like a slingshot almost.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Dec 29, 2005 3:46 PM CST reply actions

I have a feeling...

That Hendry will end up signing Wilson and go into the season w/ this lineup:

1.Pierre/cf
2.Wilson or Murton/Lf
3.Lee/1st
4.Aramis/3rd
5.Jones/Rf
6.Cedeno/Ss
7.Walker/2nd
8.Barret/c
9.Pitcher

Rotation:
1.Z
2.Prior
3.Mad Dog
4.Wood
5.Jerome

Then at the trading deadline this team will be around .500 and Hendry will work his majic and end up with this lineup:

1.Pierre/Cf
2.Lugo/Ss
3.Lee/1st
4.Aramis/3rd
5.Jones/Lf
6.Mench/Rf
7.Cedeno/2nd
8.Barret/C
9.Pitcher

Rotation:
1.Z
2.Zito
3.Prior
4.Mad Dog
5.Jerome

I think that with the right barganing i think all these players could be added to our roster by the trading deadline. What do you think Al?

by jfkjunior2004 on Dec 29, 2005 8:26 PM CST reply actions

I'm not Al

But I'm interested in seeing what you think would land us Zito, Mench, and Lugo. Just because those are names that have been tossed around this winter doesn't mean those guys will be available at the trade deadline.

by mikew on Dec 30, 2005 12:58 AM CST up reply actions

However....

OTHER players will be available at the trade deadline. They always are.

by Al Yellon on Dec 30, 2005 10:33 AM CST up reply actions

Um, no

"Always"?

Always except 2005.

by Ivychat on Dec 30, 2005 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

Let's see.

Were there zero deals made at the trade deadline in 2005? No.

Did the Cubs make a significant one? No, they didn't -- they acquired Matt Lawton, which was a complete waste of time.

Your blanket statement is blanketly wrong.

by Al Yellon on Dec 30, 2005 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

Heh

Your implication was that players the caliber of Zito, Mench, and Lugo are available every year.

The Wild Card has severly curtailed that.

Therefore, implying that a Zito, Mench, and Lugo are "always" available is wrong.

If you meant to say, "While Zito, Mench, and Lugo may not be available, other lesser players who really are marginal players at best who won't make a difference are always available," you'd be right.

Given the tack of the thread, that wasn't the implication.

I will agree that it's always possible to trade for a Desi Relaford or a Jody Gerut at the deadline.

by Ivychat on Dec 30, 2005 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

Sez You

"Your implication was that players the caliber of Zito, Mench, and Lugo are available every year.

The Wild Card has severly curtailed that.

Therefore, implying that a Zito, Mench, and Lugo are "always" available is wrong."

Go back and look at the history of July deadline trades. Those types of players are usually, if not always, available. Just because the Cubs don't make one of those trades doesn't support your conclusion.

by BeerCub on Dec 30, 2005 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

I'm with BeerCub here...

... there have been All-Star caliber players available at the trading deadline for the last several years.

The Cubs got two of them, in case you don't remember: Aramis Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra.

One of those deals worked out pretty well, the other didn't.

by Al Yellon on Dec 30, 2005 11:18 PM CST up reply actions

i still think

not keeping nomar is really gonna bite us in the rear

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

YES YES YES YES

Couldn't agree more.

by BeerCub on Dec 31, 2005 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

Unbelievable

How many of those deals you cited were consumated in 2005?

You acknowledge that you implied all-star caliber playres. Good first step. But you ignore the "always" part.

Good players are NOT always available.

by Ivychat on Jan 4, 2006 9:57 AM CST up reply actions

hmm

that post makes me think I might just share some of that Zoloft I spoke of earlier.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 4, 2006 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

I looked back...

... at the deadline deals made in 2005.

You're right. There weren't any All-Star caliber players traded at the deadline in 2005.

But you imply that means there won't be in 2006. How can this be known in January? It can't be.

by Al Yellon on Jan 4, 2006 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

Heh

So I take your "always", get you to agree that it's not always, but you turn my take my take around to mean "never"?

Time to change the name of this place to Bleed Black and White.

You began in this thread selling the hope that the trade deadline is "always" a chance to get better.

I countered that "always" is too optimistic.

Gee. That's a recurring theme around here.

And I still await a response to today's thread and your "contest."

by Ivychat on Jan 4, 2006 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

Well...

this year there was nobody traded, but Manny was certainly talked about. He's definitely an All-Star. Deals are always possible.

Black and White?? That sounds like the colors of a team that I don't like.

I know you love my optimism right Chuck?? :)

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Jan 4, 2006 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, the trading deadline...

... is indeed ALWAYS a chance to get better. Sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn't.

You want to be pessimistic, you've got a whole site to do that on.

What exactly did you want as a response to today's thread and the contest? I'm puzzled.

by Al Yellon on Jan 4, 2006 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

Random good news...

...today's Denver Post is claiming that Marquis Grissom is close to signing with the Cubs and cite his agent as the source. This rumor is so asinine, so Dusty Bakerish, that it must be true.

by chmcneel on Dec 30, 2005 10:49 AM CST reply actions