Wednesday Morning Headlines

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2007 8:30 AM CST in Chicago Cubs News

There isn't much this morning; it's a slooooooow week, as you might guess.

Here are a couple of things to chew on:

Jose Castillo, recently let go by the Pirates, signs with the Marlins. (Or, as the headline says, the "Marlines".) Comment: Yawn.
Roger Clemens' attorneys are starting their own investigation into the steroid accusations against Clemens. Comment: Yawn. They won't find anything new. Clemens' denials sound an awful lot like Pete Rose's "I never bet on baseball."
Jayson Stark runs down all the weird and wacky things that happened in baseball in 2007. Comment: Ronny Cedeno is prominently featured.
This made me smile:

New York's [luxury tax] bill is down from $26 million last year and a high of $33.98 million in 2005. In all, the Yankees have run up taxes of $121.6 million in five seasons with no World Series title to show for it.

Comment: Good. Let that streak continue.

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Clemens........

..... I suppose it's possible he didn't use steroids, and while there's no other eyewitness who has come forward to verify McNamee's claims re: Clemens, the other evidence is compelling. McNamee has been validated by the admissions of others, and certainly Pettitte's admission damns Clemens as it is well doumented Pettitte and Clemens are joined at the hip when it comes to training regimens and just about anything baseball. Clemens is now well into O.J. territory here. All that's lacking is the freeway chase. He's denied, denied, denied, despite evidence to the contrary, the 60 minutes interview has all the earmarks of "If I Did It" and now he'll be doing his own "investigation". Maybe O.J. can take a break from finding the real killers and help him out.

I always knew Clemens wasn't a warm and fuzzy guy, but it struck me at how many people came forward to remark on what an absolute ass he is towards people and how out of touch he's been with the world outside sports once the Mitchell report was released. The ego feeds he's orchestrated the last couple of years by not signing until mid-season were bad enough, but now his behavior has become self-defeating, almost designed to destroy whatever genuine goodwill he might have engendered with the public. In short, what an asshole.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Dec 26, 2007 9:29 AM CST reply actions

Of course he is egomanical asshole

Just look at the names he gave his four sons, Kacy, Kody, Kory & Koby. To glorify himself he sticks his kids with names with mostly non traditional spellings so they can all start with the letter "K". Presumably if he and a 5th son they could have just named him K-Clem.
Clemens has also constantly paraded his family, at games and in promotions. I don't know if it is still running but shortly before the Mitchell report came out he had is family in a commercial for an amusement park ride. Then Clemens complained when the media followed him to his youngest son's school. I think this was highly inappropriate but I can't think of a parent I would have less sympathy for this side of Brittany Spears in terms of getting upset over the press following him to a child's school.

In order to clear his name he is going to give an interview to an 89 year old semi-retired reporter who is a big Yankee fan but presumably ignore other requests from less friendly and more knowledge reporters ( like ones that cover baseball).

I do think Clemens has done one great thing for baseball in proving that fans & journalists distrust and dislike of egomaniacal players accused of taking steroids is NOT racial. Barry Bonds must be enjoying this.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Dec 26, 2007 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

huh?

i think it's a bit of a stretch to claim that naming your kids with non traditional spellings is a sign of an "egomanical asshole".

by anormal on Dec 26, 2007 4:26 PM CST up reply actions

Jessica's post isn't as effective...

...because of typographical restrictions. Kory is actually spelled with a backwards K, to make sure that striking out looking wasn't forgotten.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Dec 26, 2007 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

He changed the spellings

to all begin with the letter K, the symbol of a strikeout.
If you don't think giving your kids weird spellings of their names
just so you can glorify your postition as a strikeout pitcher
is egomanical, I don't know what is.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Dec 26, 2007 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

i don't get it

do you know the clemens family or something? why all the hate? so what if he names his kids with a "k"? he was a great strikeout pitcher - what's wrong with that?

it sounds to me like you hate roger clemens and are making attacks on his personal life to justify your hatred.

by anormal on Dec 26, 2007 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

I hate Clemens

because of his "personal life" If you are willing to stick your kids with a wacky spelling ( and in some cases name) because it glorifies you. than there IS something wrong with you. If you routinely parade your family in public and in national advertising ditto. I find this actually more offensive than his "alleged" steroid use.
Perhaps the thing I find even more offensive and ironic was
his "special" contract the last few years that allowed him to not
travel with the team on road trips he was not scheduled to pitch in. This of course was so he could spend more time with his family. So he is willing to both place himself above his team AND
push his kids into the public eye. What a lovely guy.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Dec 26, 2007 4:54 PM CST up reply actions

sure,

if you wanna dig around you will find that most of these guys are whores for money. there's nothing special about clemens in regards to that. if his family chooses to join him (in being public figures), that is their choice.

i'd like to see a link to where clemens "glorifies" himself with his kids' names. that seems like a rather silly assertion. it sounds to me like he named them something he thought was cool (and he did it quite a long time ago - doesn't one of his kids play minor league ball?). what is wrong with that? dis clemens all you want, but please do it based on things that actually concern baseball (there are lots of those). - i'm just saying that his kids names are his own business. if he wants to name them klarry, kurly, and, kmoe i don't see how that is relevant to your assertions about his character. this began because you claimed that giving his kids non traditional names is related to him being an "asshole". i still do not see a relationship there.....

i think it's wierd that you care so much about a stranger's personal life.

by anormal on Dec 26, 2007 7:17 PM CST up reply actions

Ok it is lost cause

If you think it is ok to saddle children with odd names because
it seems to fit your job and glory I can't convince you otherwise.
FYI I believe his kids range from about 11-21 in age and all were so named when he was a major MLB pitcher. It was a deliberate decision to celebrate the good old "K".I don't see how his children had much choice being dragged in public on a regular basis and being used in commercials
You obviously also have no problem with a player who has
a contract stating he does not have to be with his team when
he is "not needed" ?
Overall I think there is no question that very negative press reaction to Clemen's being in the Mitchell report is that many of them also find him to be an arragont self centered asshole and are more than willing to believe he would take steroids.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Dec 26, 2007 7:33 PM CST up reply actions

no,

i do have a problem with his "special" contract - a problem with the club who gave it too him as well as with clemens for taking it. i'm not defending his actions in the realm of baseball, just pointing out that his children's names are outside that realm....

i'm still waiting for you to present any evidence that his family is being forced against their will to participate in tv commercials or anything else.

sounds to me like he named his kids something that is meaningful to him. what is wrong with that?

maybe clemens is an asshole. my point is just that there is ZERO relationship between that possibility and his kids names. if you stick to arguments that actually have a relevance to baseball, your argument will be more successful..

by anormal on Dec 26, 2007 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

I really should NOT let this keep on

but please tell me how giving kids a spelling of name no one else uses in order to remind people YOU are the King of the
K's is "meaningful" to anyone but you ? This is not some weird family name he is trying to honor. For the rest of their lives these kids get to deal with constantly spelling their legal name to schools , airlines, friends etc because that is how daddy wanted it?
How does a 10 year old tell his father that he does NOT want to
do a TV commercial or constantly have camera's following him
around ? Clemens has gone out of his way to push his kids in the spotlight and can't see that they had any choice in the matter.

Ok off home where I still have no internet access.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Dec 26, 2007 8:04 PM CST up reply actions

sigh

"giving kids a spelling of name no one else uses in order to remind people YOU are the King of the
K's"

evidence? link?

"a 10 year old tell his father that he does NOT want to do a TV commercial"

evidence? link?

"Clemens has gone out of his way to push his kids in the spotlight"

evidence? link?

you just keep making the same unsupported assertions over and over.

by anormal on Dec 26, 2007 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

Sigh and good morning

I am sorry I made it all up. His kids are not named
Kody, Kacy, Koby and Kory. There is no connection whatsoever
between those odd names and spellings and the letter K for
strikeout even if Clemens has said so.
Also I imagined that recent commercial featuring the Clemens
family promoting an amusement ride ( because heck making
15 million for half a season just can't feed a growing family).
I think having your kids do commercials and having them publically trotted out regularly at games especially in Houston
is really good for them. I mean gosh you wouldn't want them to
have as normal a childhood as possible would you?

Seriously the "evidence " is in the names in the many, many times Clemens has shown off his family for public view at games and other events. I am sure that for a kid this might
even be exciting at the time but parents ARE responsible for what they do with minor children and this is what Clemens
( and his wife to be fair) has chosen to do.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Dec 27, 2007 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

you don't get it.

being at a game is not a sign that they are forced to do this against their will. having kids with goofy names proves nothing. i thought maybe you read an interview with his family or something, but it seems not.... so it appears that you are making this up.... did you ever stop to think that they enjoy their public life. you have presented no evidence of coersion (i'm sure i spelled that wrong). the fact that clemens' family appears in television commercials is not a sign of bad parenting (or good parenting).

...and why would i want his kids to have a "normal" childhood? they are rich. they aren't normal, so why should they pretend to be something they're not?

once again, there are lots of baseball-related reasons to dislike clemens. they would make for a much stronger argument than the nonsense you are asserting here...

by anormal on Dec 27, 2007 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

so you

really think that its just a coincidence that all of his kids names begin with a K, leading to oddly spelled names?

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 27, 2007 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

no,

i think he did it on purpose because he thought it was a cool theme. so what? how does that make him an asshole (or not)?

by anormal on Dec 27, 2007 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

i didnt say

the guy was an asshole (though i wouldnt doubt it if he was) but seeing the names listed flashes a warning sign in your brain "ego inflation very possible!"

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 27, 2007 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

not in my brain

by anormal on Dec 27, 2007 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

That Jayson Stark article...

...is definitely worth a read. It contains some truly mind-boggling minutiae. Along with our beloved dumbluck kid Ronnie Cedeno, our cross-town rivals the White Sox are ignominously featured as well. My personal favorite, however, is this one...

There were two 1-0 games in the big leagues on May 9. In one of them (Cubs 1, Pirates 0), the only run scored on a leadoff homer in the first inning by Alfonso Soriano. In the other (Orioles 1, Devil Rays 0), the only run scored on a walk-off homer in the 10th inning by Aubrey Huff. What are the odds?

...but that's only because I was at that game. I can't help wondering, though: Is there any other professional sport that tracks statistical weirdness to quite this level?

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Dec 26, 2007 10:01 AM CST reply actions

I was at the 1-0 game

....Sori hit a leadoff bomb and Marquis pitched a shutout. I was with my girlfriend at the game and was talking about what a great game it was. She disagreed........afterall Chicks Dig the Long ball and high scoring games.

Great game,

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Dec 26, 2007 10:08 AM CST up reply actions

After she disagreed

with the fact that baseball is a great game, how did she take it when you had to dump her?

by NO100 on Dec 26, 2007 10:22 AM CST up reply actions

Ha

.....she is actually knows a lot about baseball as she was a baseball player growing up that was pretty much forced to play softball as that tends to happen in High School.

Funny thing about my girfriend. She is from New York and loves the Yankees, a lot of her family is from Boston so she loves the Red Sox. IN college she dated a guy for 2 years who was a diehard Cardinal fan. I guess it just took her a while to find me, the Cub fan. If only she once dated a Packer fan

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Dec 26, 2007 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

Well

I dated a south side White Sox fan, so I guess I shouldn't speak. I should have known the relationship was in trouble when she became a Cubs fan only because she moved to an apt in Wrigleyville. How do you sell your soul like that? If I moved to Bridgeport, I'd still let my Cubs Freak Flag fly.

by NO100 on Dec 26, 2007 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

Ha

I will be a Cubs fan from the southside, the grave, budapest, the sportscorner, anywhere.

Girls look better in blue than black.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Dec 26, 2007 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

re: I was at the 1-0 game

You weren't sitting in the centerfield bleachers, were you? My friend and I ended up standing behind the last row of seats in back of some very, very heavyset guy and his gorgeous girlfriend. (Kinda doubt it was you because these two barely spoke the whole time. I started wondering whether she was a paid escort or something.) Anyway, I usually don't self-promote like this, but if you want to read my diary on the game, here it is. Admittedly, I was a little overdramatic, which could explain why I got only four comments (and two were my own).

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Dec 26, 2007 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

Nah

Sat in the 400s first base side.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Dec 26, 2007 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

Incidentally..

... that was the first game in the history of Wrigley Field where there was a leadoff HR and no other runs.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2007 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

How this from Stark?

"* 600 Club Dept.: Ya ever think some things are just meant to be? Sammy Sosa's 600th homer came against the only team in the big leagues he'd never homered against -- the Cubs. And he hit it off the first guy to wear his No. 21 since he left the Cubs -- Jason Marquis. Spooky."

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Dec 26, 2007 10:19 AM CST up reply actions

this week and the rest of the offseason

it will probably be the same. Most good FA are signed. The only thing really left is a Santana or ROberts deal

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Dec 26, 2007 10:23 AM CST reply actions

and Bedard

I think there still may be a good deal of trade activity going on. I do think that some of the activity was compromised due to the Mitchell Report. Now that it's out there and it's beginnning to settle down, I think we may see some deals get completed in January that would have normally been completed in December.

by NO100 on Dec 26, 2007 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

stats

I hear those statistics and it amazes me that there are people out there tracking all of these numbers.

by slocs55 on Dec 26, 2007 10:31 AM CST reply actions

this week and the rest of the offseason

it will probably be the same. Most good FA are signed. The only thing really left is a Santana or ROberts deal

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Dec 26, 2007 10:48 AM CST reply actions

whoops

double post

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Dec 26, 2007 10:49 AM CST up reply actions

Pete Rose.......

I saw an interesting quote from Pete the other day on the steroid scandal....."I never thought anybody would make me look like an altar boy."

Hey Lou, we're long overdue.

by deadcatbounce on Dec 26, 2007 12:02 PM CST reply actions

Rose is wrong.

What Pete Rose fails to realize is that he committed the worst sin in competative sports: undermining the integrity of the competition.

Cheating with steroids and other PEDs, at the very least, is cheating within the main purpose of sport: two people or teams competing to win. Gambling subverts that spirit of competition. It's the unforgivable sin.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Dec 26, 2007 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

Correct.

That doesn't make what Clemens did the right thing to do, but indeed, what Rose did was far worse in terms of keeping baseball on the level -- and he, of all people, should have known better, since that rule is posted prominently in every major league clubhouse.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2007 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

Right.

There's a reason that players who have used steroids (such as Jose Canseco) aren't explicitly banned from the Hall of Fame, even if it's very unlikely that they ever are actually inducted.

Pete Rose is banned from the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose is banned from baseball, period. You don't have to approve, condone or excuse PED use to understand that Pete Rose did far, far worse things to baseball.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Dec 26, 2007 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

Not only that

but Rose has admitted that he took amphetamines as a player. Heck, he did while he was still playing and nobody said "boo."

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 26, 2007 11:15 PM CST up reply actions

Prior

Prior signs with Padres. So sad to see him go.

"Hey-Hey! Home Run! Attaboy Ronnie!" ~ Jack Brickhouse

by ronsanto10 on Dec 26, 2007 1:07 PM CST reply actions

A slow week

and a slow offseason in general.

Here's my question to fellow Cubs fans: If you had known the offseason would basically consist of signing Kosuke Fukudome and nothing else -- would you have taken that from the start?

I'm getting no sense that the Cubs are planning any significant additional changes. No. 2 starters don't grow on trees, but Oh how they need one.

"It's a long fly to left field. And there it goes. Ahhh crap." -- Harry Caray

by cubz1963 on Dec 26, 2007 1:25 PM CST reply actions

Pitching...

Why waste money on acquiring a pitcher? The Cubs had the 2nd best ERA in the league! And now we have Dempster moving into the rotation. Better to spend the money on a power hitting shortstop.

"Hey-Hey! Home Run! Attaboy Ronnie!" ~ Jack Brickhouse

by ronsanto10 on Dec 26, 2007 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

re: Pitching...

Are you saying having Dempster in the rotation is a good thing?

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Dec 26, 2007 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

yes

id take it. to the team that won the division, we add the best available right fielder, and an impact player. also, soto for a full year is a nice addition. rich hill is a bonafide #2 major league starter, itd be nice to have another one, but i think we have a solid 1-2-3-4

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 26, 2007 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

Better than I would have expected

Given Hendry's seeming aversion to high OBP players (Lee notwithstanding) I would have been shocked to hear that he was looking to sign the "Japanese Bobby Abreu." Honestly, anything is better than the wasted money from last year.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 26, 2007 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

OK, I'll Bite

Soriano, Lilly, DeRosa and Marquis were wasted money?

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Dec 26, 2007 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

Depends on what you want from the Cubs

If you want what Hendry has offered so far, they're perfect. That would be teams that win 80 plus games and contend for wild cards or first place in mediocre divisions. Call me greedy, but I want more. I want a GM shrewd enough to dominate the NL while the rest of the league is down. The standard to shoot for should be the Red Sox and Yankees, not the Brewers and Cardinals.

Paying Soriano, who is unlikely to see an All Star game again, borderline superstar money well past his prime is terrible planning. DeRosa is a great utility player who does not deserve the amount of money Hendry gave him. Marquis is a below average pitcher who should be working on one year contracts the rest of his career, not getting 5 year contracts of any amount. Trust me, there are plenty of pitchers out there like him available for much less each year. Lily was the least offensive signing, but I doubt he'll live up to his dollars as well. Frankly, with how much these contracts could hand cuff future moves for the organization, they'd have been better off holding on to the money last year.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 26, 2007 4:11 PM CST up reply actions

I apologize for not looking this up first

Marquis had an ERA+ of 101 last year. That's still not worth 5 yr/$55 mil.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 26, 2007 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

Marquis...

... didn't get 5/55, not even close. It was 3/21.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2007 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe I should have actually done some research

Marquis's deal was 3 years/$21 mil, still a terrible contract to give a guy with an ERA+ of 76 the season before

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 26, 2007 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

I, along with others, thought Marquis was worth a chance on a minor league deal. That contract was way over the top.

He had a good first half and a bad second half. If he could have a whole season like the first half of 2007, he'd be worth it.

We'll see.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2007 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

i don't know whom

is advocating for Dempster as a starter, but its not me.

HE was not good as a starter for us, save a game here, or there.

Blech.

Lou said that he'd give him a "look", anyway. Nothing guaranteed.

So - currently, the team has three solid starters, and Marquis, Dempster, The Marshall Plan, and Kevin Hart who will duke it out for the #4 & #5 starter slots.

This would put us behind the Padres, D-Backs, Dodgers, in terms of good staffs on paper.

The Dodgers have a LOADED staff as Jason Schmidt should be added to their mix, too.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Dec 26, 2007 6:22 PM CST up reply actions

In the past three years...

...Schmidt has had an okay year (4.40 ERA, 172 innings in '05), a great year (3.59 ERA, 213 innings in '06) and an awful year (6.31 ERA, 35 innings in '07). It seems to me to be very hasty to just assume that the best of those years is the one to expect for next season - unless you know something I don't about Schmidt's medical records, I don't know if it's fair to expect him to even pitch a full season next year.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Dec 26, 2007 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

I did not say

he was going to be all World, did I?

I said "he'd be in the mix".

Certainly, I'd rather have him as a possibility rather than Marquis, Dempster, Kevin Hart, or others.

Especially, if I had Lowe, Billingsley, Penney, and Wolf to fall back on. Plus, the Dodgers ALWAYS have serious young arms.

Throw Schmidt in here, whom I've personally see dominate the Cubs with the Giants, and it is a very nice option.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Dec 26, 2007 11:09 PM CST up reply actions

Whoops...

I forgot Randy Wolf is on the Padres now...

Still pretty damned good Dodgers staff, anyway.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Dec 26, 2007 11:18 PM CST up reply actions

Revised staff:

Lowe, Billingsley, Penney, Kuroda, Schmidt, etc...

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Dec 26, 2007 11:21 PM CST up reply actions

Really?

Because I'd rather have Kevin Hart than Jason Schmidt, and it's not a small margin here.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Dec 27, 2007 12:01 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

The Dodgers made a bad signing, and I'm VERY glad the Cubs didn't shell out those dollars for Schmidt, as many people (not you, cwyers) here wanted them to do a year ago.

The total dollars spent for Lilly and Marquis was about what LA spent for Schmidt. The Cubs got far better production, even with Marquis' poor second half.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 27, 2007 8:58 AM CST up reply actions

Right.

Add to that this salient fact:

Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said Schmidt had surgery to repair an inflamed bursa, a torn labrum and a frayed biceps tendon in his right shoulder. Both the labrum tear and the frayed tendon were unexpected.

Conte said the torn labrum is the most serious aspect of the surgery, performed in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.

The guy's less than a year removed from major shoulder surgery. Expecting him to step in and contribute meaningfully to a rotation without at least attatching a caveat is a bit removed from reality.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Dec 27, 2007 11:04 AM CST up reply actions

Well, that's the

beauty of baseball..

Unless you posess a crystal ball, and its in working condition, we won't know for another 162 games, will we?

I never advocated the Cubs sign Schmidt. Actually, I wanted them to sign Padilla over Marquis. Not so great, there.

Schmidt is progressing in his rehab - the Dodgers are stacked in pitching. If you do not realize that their staff, on paper, is stronger than what the Cubs have, then I'd say you might want to research the stats again.

Look - I hope our top three guys get us 15 or more wins each. But we did not do too well against the Dodgers last year, did we?

As I said - we'll see.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Dec 27, 2007 11:21 AM CST up reply actions

wtf!?

we'll start with the most offensive comment, "derosa is a great utility player who does not deserve the amount of money Hendry gave him."

ummm.

tell me, how much should your third highest rbi-man make? and behind the three outfielders, was second on the team in fielding percentage. the guy is making $4.75 mil this year, how can you possibly say he is overpaid?

"marquis is a below average pitcher who should be working on one year contracts the yeras of his career, not getting 5 year contracts of any amount."

we gave him a three year contract, not five. i dont like him at all, but he IS league average in terms of his ERA last year. have you seen the market lately? gil meche was a big time signing last year, kyle loshe is holding out for a big contract. you pay for pitching, period.

"soriano, who is unlikely to see an all star game again, borderline superstar money well past his prime is terrible planning"

ha, well first, he just made the all star team last year. then i see a guy who led the team in homers, despite missing over a month due to injuries. then i see a player who led the league in outfield assists. and "well past his prime" what? he just switched positions and is excelling at it. his power is obviously there as seen by his 33 homers in a shortened season. ill venture to guess he'll make another all star appearance, and he has seen no drop off in his skills so far, so "well past his prime" is far off base.

"i doubt lilly will live up to his dollars"

well, he far exceeded his dollars last year. jeff supan makes more money than lilly. go look up jeff suppans stats.

before you critique hendry, i think you need to critique your view of the chicago cubs.

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 27, 2007 9:48 AM CST up reply actions

As AL says:

"Loud, sustained applause!"

"...then i see a player who led the league in outfield assists..."

This was John DeWan's (fmr. Stats, Inc. CEO) "stat of the year 2007". HE threw out - solo - totally on him - 19 baserunners, I believe.

Led the league by a wide margin, here.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Dec 27, 2007 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

Hendry cannot take the Cubs to the next level

I think last season lives up perfectly to my critique of Hendry. He has created a mediocre team that will challenge for division championships in a mediocre league. I believe he should be aiming much higher. The Cubs should be aiming to the level of the Yanks and Red Sox. I don't believe he knows how to put together a team that can get there.

The minor league system has been mediocre at best (there's that word again)in developing talent in his tenure.

His aversion to OBP is detrimental to the team. Murton and Lee are the only guys on the team that take pitches.

He got involved in a free agent market that was completely out of control. He gave multi year contracts to guys like Marquis (though average last year, had a 74 ERA+ the year before) and DeRosa who gave production that probably could have been found at cheaper rates.

As to Soriano, don't forget that his contract was for 10 years. Unless he finally learns to draw a walk, his contract will be an albatross sooner than you think. Plus, he refuses to let the team maximize his value. He should not be leading off with all of the outs he makes. As well, he should probably be playing CF. An outfield with Murton at a corner and Soriano in CF sounds better than having Felix "A poor man's Corey Patterson" Pie in CF everyday.

To me, this all seems obvious, but maybe it's about personal preferences. My preference is a team that can win 90 games year after year. My preference is for that glorious day when the Cubs finally win the World Series, it is a team that got there on merit, not some mediocre squad that won a crappy division and lucked its way through the playoffs. Hendry has made the team more competitive than at any point in my lifetime and for that he has my respect. I still want more than he can offer.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 27, 2007 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

i dont agree

signing ted lilly looked like a good job of identifying talent. there were other free agent pitching options out there, the gil meche and jeff suppans of the world who got bigger contracts and have not performed as well.

derosa's signing also seems to be a good job at identifying talent, and going out and getting it. he is a guy every winning team needs (and also takes pitches...not just murton and lee can do this, aramis takes plenty of walks also) a guy that can play that many positions and produce the way dero did is just the kind of player you need to successfully make your way through a season.

again with soriano, i see no reason to believe he will decline anytime soon. he is past his prime age-wise, but that does not seem to be translating to his talent level. and it was 8 years, not 10.

everything is not on the gm. there isnt the "90 win gm club" where only select gm's have the ability to build solid teams. i think hendry has done a great job of creating a balanced team as far as pitching, hitting and defense are concerned. we have a good bench, and at the moment no gaping holes.

the whole "corey patterson-lite" comment also is just an un-intelligent thing to say. look up their minor league stats, read quotes from both players, they are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 27, 2007 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

I apologize

I'm going to stop posting here for awhile until I can get caught up on my facts again. I am Cubs fan who had become so frustrated with the likes of MacPhail, Hendry, and Baker, that I stopped paying much attention to the team. I lived within a mile of Wrigley, but quit going to games I was so upset with the direction of the team. I didn't even watch a single playoff game this year, as I don't want this particular squad to win. I may not have all my numbers straight as I should before posting, I do know enough to want Hendry out. While there may not be some exclusive club of 90 win GM's that the Cubs new owner can hire from, I still firmly believe that Hendry's record speaks for itself. That record indicates that his teams will be mediocre at best. While there maybe no gaping holes, I still see plenty of deficiencies in this team. There are plenty of GM's in MLB that are doing a much better job than Hendry. There are probably plenty of GM's-to-be who could do a better job than Hendry. The Cubs won 85 games last year playing an imbalanced schedule against the worst division in baseball. I don't find that very impressive.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 27, 2007 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

what i find impressive

is that they won that many games, and won the division after a horrible start, and had to put up with their ace's multiple personality disorder. if the cubs had a decent/average start, or if zambrano was zambrano, they would have been a 90 win club. do you disagree?

i dont think the slow start had anythign to do with hendry, i think it had to do with 1. zambrano's horrible april, 2. wade miller (i know i know, hendry, but plenty of teams give players a chance to come back from injury, i dont think anyone thought he would be that bad) 3. soriano's injury induced slow start.

not everyones a fanatic like most on this site, but i think if you watched this team more closely you would like what you see. there are many likeable guys in that clubhouse, and they really seemed to rally around each to win the division last year. pie is only going to add to that imo. with pie, soto, hill, hart (yeah i know)and theriot i think the farm system has been productive, and we'll see just how productive those players can be in 2008. i truly think you are looking at a 90+ win team next year.

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 27, 2007 3:18 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe I'm too harsh on Hendry

I'm still not quite sold on the quality of this team or his ability to develop young players. While they've had some success with pitchers, they've also had a few disasters due to Hendry allowing Baker to misuse starters. They haven't developed a position player since I don't know when. Soto could be good, though he needs some more at bats before being completely sold. I can't speak to Theriot's glove, but it better be damn good to carry his terrible bat.

BTW, I looked up Pie's and Patterson's stats. Just briefly glancing, I was surprised to see Pie had some slightly better slugging %'s, but he is similar to Patterson in that both had K/BB ratio around 3. That is why I refer to him as just another Patterson. Also, Ramirez and DeRosa both drew just over 50 BB's last year, which is about average. They need to keep those BA's up.

I used to be a fanatic who watched as many Cubs games as possible. They lost their appeal to me during Baker's tenure. It's hard to watch your team wanting them to lose so they'll fire their coach/manager. I want to be a fanatic again. Hopefully new ownership will help with that. Unfortunately, Selig will probably give the team to his chrony.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 27, 2007 4:33 PM CST up reply actions

hendry and pie

hendrys not blameless, and you pointing out his aversion to obp is a good example, i guess im more on the side that things could be worse (kenny williams) and i think hendry has done enough positive things to give the team a chance to win.

i think the big difference i see between pie and patterson's stats are that patterson never succeeded at triple A, and his only real good season was in A ball. pie succeeded at every level and was years younger than the average players while making those stops.

pie was overmatched last year, but from anything ive read, he has an incredible work ethic and that gives me some hope for his major league career. that and his .362/.410/.563 line at iowa last year.

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 28, 2007 8:44 AM CST up reply actions

Re: Hendry & Pie

You're right, things could definitely be worse. Anyone here who followed the team before 1998 knows how bad things can be. I think looking to the South Side is a good example of why I think Hendry should go. Williams built a mediocre team that got a lot of career years from pitchers at the same time to help carry it into the playoffs when it got hot and won the World Series. The next year, they got a lot of career years from hitters and won 90 games again. If you look at a lot of the decisions Williams made building and reshaping the team over those 2 years, their collapse last year could be seen coming a mile away. I think Hendry's team building is along the same lines, hoping for career years from everybody to carry the team from mediocre to 90+ wins. While you can certainly strike gold that way, there's also a good chance you'll go broke.

I do hope you're right about Pie. It would be nice to see at least one position player develop for this team.

by snley @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 28, 2007 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

I have been free

with my overall critiscm of Hendry's work, and all in all, I would grade him at a C in regards to his total body of work as a GM. He has some good qualities and some bad and that has become very clear during his tenure.

Regarding the team winning 85 games this year; without Piniella, they would have been lucky to win 75 games. I say that because he is the one that forced the issue 8 weeks in and pushed for the right changes that produced the best NL record since June. The good news is this, Hendry appears to respect Piniella's baseball opinion and that is one of Hendry's strengths, because frankly, roster assembly has not been a strength of Hendry's in the past.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 27, 2007 4:49 PM CST up reply actions

Who hired Pinella?

And who pray tell hired Pinella despite media and fan clamoring for Girardi?

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Dec 28, 2007 7:14 AM CST up reply actions

Luxury tax

I'm sick and tired of teams pocketing the money they get from the luxury tax. If the Marlins and Rays don't want to spend big dollars, thats fine, but they are taking advantage of the rules that nets them cash from some teams.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 26, 2007 5:23 PM CST reply actions

100% agreed.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2007 9:26 PM CST up reply actions

Shawon Dunston on the HOF ballot?

Wow.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/ballot?event_id=3262&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2

Then again.. so is Brady Anderson. How that is possibly, I have no friggin clue.

Ed Lynch is STILL on the Cubs payroll, as our D-Backs scout in Phoenix. Lynch attends all 81 D-Back home games with a notepad in hand. Really paid off for us!

by SackMan on Dec 26, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions

The Ballot

Brady Anderson (first year on ballot)
Harold Baines (5.3 percent in 2007)
Rod Beck (first year on ballot)
Bert Blyleven (47.7 percent in 2007)
Dave Concepcion (13.6 percent in 2007)
Andre Dawson (56.7 percent in 2007)
Shawon Dunston (first year on ballot)
Chuck Finley (first year on ballot)
Travis Fryman (first year on ballot)
Goose Gossage (71.2 percent in 2007)
Tommy John (22.9 percent in 2007)
David Justice (first year on ballot)
Chuck Knoblauch (first year on ballot)
Don Mattingly (9.9 percent in 2007)
Mark McGwire (23.5percent in 2007)
Jack Morris (37.1 percent in 2007)
Dale Murphy (9.2 percent in 2007)
Robb Nen (first year on ballot)
Dave Parker (11.4 percent in 2007)
Tim Raines (first year on ballot)
Jim Rice (63.5 percent in 2007)
Jose Rijo (first year on ballot)
Lee Smith (39.8 percent in 2007)
Todd Stottlemyre (first year on ballot)
Alan Trammell (13.4 percent in 2007)

Ed Lynch is STILL on the Cubs payroll, as our D-Backs scout in Phoenix. Lynch attends all 81 D-Back home games with a notepad in hand. Really paid off for us!

by SackMan on Dec 26, 2007 7:58 PM CST up reply actions

Here's How...

3. Eligible Candidates -- Candidates to be eligible must meet the following requirements:

(A) A baseball player must have been active as a player in the Major Leagues at some time during a period beginning twenty (20) years before and ending five (5) years prior to election.

(B) Player must have played in each of ten (10) Major League championship seasons, some part of which must have been within the period described in 3 (A).

(C) Player shall have ceased to be an active player in the Major Leagues at least five (5) calendar years preceding the election but may be otherwise connected with baseball.

(D) In case of the death of an active player or a player who has been retired for less than five (5) full years, a candidate who is otherwise eligible shall be eligible in the next regular election held at least six (6) months after the date of death or after the end of the five (5) year period, whichever occurs first.

(E) Any player on Baseball's ineligible list shall not be an eligible candidate.

PERRY!!!!

by Goat Whisperer on Dec 26, 2007 8:28 PM CST up reply actions