Possible Backups

by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Jul 1, 2008 10:53 AM CDT Comment 20 comments

I haven't posted anything in a while, but I read everything on this site when I am bored at work. But I am only 18 and am always bored when I have to work. All that aside, this really got me thinking.

Now I don't know if you heard, but the Cubs are looking at pitchers and want to make moves for Sabathia, Harden, maybe even Duchscherer (sarcasm)

I believe that the Padres will be sellers at the deadline and the Cubs have expressed their interest in people like Wolf and Maddux. But what I ask is: Is it even worth making a trade for these guys if we cannot land a top-tier pitcher like Sabathia? I don't want a trade to be made for the sake of a trade being made. I don't know I might just be talking out of my ass, what do you think?

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What you're really asking is this...

Would you rather have a rotation of

1) Zambrano
2) Dempster
3) Lilly
4) The being known as Gallamarsh
5) Marquis and possibly a return of Hill

Or would you like to insert some middle-of-the-line pitcher into the 4 or 5 spot? And what would you give up to get it?

I would rather keep the prospects and save them for future years UNLESS the big deal can be made. If it can, then by all means, send the kids along.

But I’m not favor of a Pie/Patterson for Maddux or a Hill/Marshall for Wolf type deal.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and remember, half of them are stupider than that!

by DaBard on Jul 1, 2008 11:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gallamarsh .... lurks in the swamps .... no one has ever seen it .... yet steadily more and more children and young girls seem to be disappearing in the sleepy hollow village every new moon ...

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Jul 1, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'd be great to get Sabathia

But I don’t think the Indians are ready to give up on the season yet. I don’t want an old guy, I want someone who could fill in the two or three spot on the rotation for 3-5 years. Someone like Sabathia, or maybe even Duchscherer (no sarcasm).

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 1, 2008 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Duchscherer

I like your thinking but here’s the problem

1) the Athletics probably won’t be sellers
2) Even if they were Duchscherer is cheap and they have no reason to move him, especially since he seems to have figured things out
3) Billy Beane is very good at his job and I have no doubt would be able to exploit the situation.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Jul 1, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buying high

There is no time worse to trade for Harden or Dusch….

Harden….should be AL all star starter
Dusch….lowest ERA in MLB

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08

by Fuk-U-Meter on Jul 1, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry, that's not English

I mean that now is a bad time….

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08

by Fuk-U-Meter on Jul 1, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I would avoid dealing with the A’s unless they somehow offer Harden at a much lower price than expected. Billy Beane will take our entire farm system like he did to the White Sox and D-Backs this offseason.

by cubs on Jul 1, 2008 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Steve Trachsel available?

(* ducks *) :)

Seriously, though, I don’t think we should make a deal just to do so. Our pitching could be better, obviously, but it’s not like it’s killing us either. If we can’t pull the trigger on a top-flight guy, no need to settle for a has-been just for appearance’s sake of making a move…

by MarchHare on Jul 1, 2008 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I agree that our pitching when Z is back is just fine as it is, but it definitely could have an upgrade. If not, then theres no point in making a trade because its whats expected of the front office

I think my favorite uncle was Uncle Caveman. We called him that because he lived in a cave and would eat one of us. We then realized he was a bear.

by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Jul 1, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trachsel

he is busy laying insulation with Curtis Enis

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08

by Fuk-U-Meter on Jul 1, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to play...

...the “best trade you make is sometimes the one you don’t make” card, but we DO have Rich Hill, who last year was pretty damn good, sitting down in the minors straightening his stuff out.

If we can’t get Sabathia or a similar caliber top-line pitcher (and Sabathia would likely be a rental, by the way, not a 3-5 year guy), maybe we use some of our prospects to upgrade our bullpen/bench (Fuentes, anyone?) and hope that Hill straightens it out in time for the stretch? I mean, a rotation of Z, Dempster, and last year’s version of Hill wouldn’t look too bad in the playoffs….assuming, arguendo, that the playoffs are someplace the Cubs might end up, which I’m not saying they will, just that they could if certain circumstances and events transpire to place them there, amen to the baseball gods, so say we all….

by Chadnudj on Jul 1, 2008 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right about Hill . . . .

I remain skeptical about his ability to come back and be productive.

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 1, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I could be snarky and say...

...last year’s version of Hill wasn’t so hot in last year’s playoffs, but I agree with the spirit of what you’re saying. If the Cubs can’t acquire a truly difference-making starter – which, at the moment at least, appears to be Sabathia alone – I’d rather they look to upgrade the bullpen or bench.

I don’t see how anyone outside the Cubs organization could even begin to say what’s going to become of Rich Hill. My gut tells me we won’t see him in the big leagues again until September at the earliest. Maybe the Cubs will bring him up to do some relief work and get a feel for how his stuff might hold up against major league hitters. Or maybe we’ll never see him again.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 1, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Until further notice

Hill is a 5th starter. Right now he’s Rick Ankiel without HGH.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and remember, half of them are stupider than that!

by DaBard on Jul 1, 2008 1:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought

We had beat the Ankiel / Hill comparisons to death.

by StevenABQ on Jul 1, 2008 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steriods

give you extra strength.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be the first to toss out a realistic possibility....

.....Chris Gomez from the Pirates would be a big upgrade over Cedeno coming off the bench. The Cubs need another RH bat coming off the bench other than just Cedeno and Blanco and for now, Murton.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on Jul 1, 2008 5:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs