Waiting For ... Something, Anything! Winter Meetings All-Purpose Post Day 4
by Al Yellon on Dec 10, 2009 7:00 AM CST
in Chicago Cubs News
Email
PrintThree days and over 3000 comments worth of posts here... and the Cubs have made no moves.
It feels almost like a certain existential bit of writing...
As yesterday, use this post for all Winter Meetings discussion. If Milton Bradley is dealt today -- or if the Cubs make any other significant moves -- I'll make a separate post.
958 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Milton Bradley is DADA
stream club said. save gain
NDIANAPOLIS flag? "And million?‘’ or don’t
Cubs why releasing him. away
Jim Hendry’s efforts don’t any
24/7 rumors … 2008 over
trade of million?’’ any can
endless white explore to organization
Milton the with], have an
72 So we’re players problems,‘’
Bradley can money We having
hours not who pain doesn’t
So reasons that? have the
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
DADA
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
In my case especially the Berlin group
Huelsenbeck, Heartfield, Grosz, Baader, etc.
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Berlin rocks the house!
I fell deeply in love with that city. Second only to NYC.
Cubs Supreme in Baseball World.
I prefer Munich but my brother is in Berlin
Two other really cool cities in my book: Cairo and Istanbul.
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
by eths on Dec 10, 2009 11:18 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Munich has the coolest airport
love those sleep pods hanging from the ceiling
Cubs Supreme in Baseball World.
Same
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
I've already addressed Milton's DADA...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 10, 2009 2:10 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Trade Bradley, Fontenot and...
Vitters for a single ball and a rake and send no money. Sign Cameron and spend remainder on the bullpen.
Let’s move on.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Cue up the Carly Simon and the Heinz Ketchup...
…“AN-ti-ci-pay, ay shun…”
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
And for MB,
♪You’re so vain . . . I bet you think this post is about you♫
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 8:21 AM CST up reply actions
I agree that this turned into Seinfeld....
3000 comments about nothing and just like the show, I’m mesmerized. I have to tune and too see that nothing has happened.
Tom Verducci yesterday stated that MB probably won’t be traded by the end of the Winter meetings but he will get traded before the start of Spring Training.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
This is why fish tanks are so popular.
It’s not like the fish are really DOING anything…
…but still, we stare…
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Not doing is the purest form of doing
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
I for one can't wait!
Until the Cubs pass on the Rule 5. Somebody tweet me when this happens!
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 7:48 AM CST up reply actions
Bradley vs. Lowell
Given the bogus-rumor of a Lowell for Bradley swap and that Lowell appears headed to a once possible Bradley destination, I thought it interesting to compare the two players and how much $ JIm Hendry will need to eat.
For starters, compare their stats:
Milton Bradley
Mike Lowell
Lowell put up better numbers in 2009 and he is sort of the anti-Bradley in terms of character. He does have some significant injury questions that hurt his value. That said, Lowell had a few more plate appearances than Bradley this last year.
To make this trade happen, the BoSox are eating between 2/3 and 3/4 of Lowell’s $12M salary for 2010. Sure, the prospect, Max Ramirez, looks far better than anything mentioned as a return for Bradley. However, it is the $$$ going to Texas that says something.
Plain and simple, I just don’t believe that any team has any interest in committing more than ~$3M to a 2011 Milton Bradley (what if he gets hurt, what if his super crazy behavior isn’t just a Cub/Wrigley/Chicago thing and he is just coming unwound, etc.), so Hendry just needs to deal with this reality and move on.
Eamus Ursuli!
on a side note
I’m stunned that the Red Sox could net Max Ramirez. I mean, granted, they are eating a lot … but that’s a pretty good prospect for Mike Lowell.
Twitter tweet
CarrieMuskat #cubs scrambling to move Bradley. Rays employee says they’re under no obligation to help, and prefer 1 year of Burrell to 2 with Milton
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
If that's true....
… then just eat the $12m already and do it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don't know a realistic number
the Cubs would have to eat to move him to the Rays, I know with Soriano now the Rays purse strings are pretty tight this year, but ‘11 is a year in which the Cubs will have ~30mil come off the books not counting Burrell or arb raises etc.., so hopefully the Cubs don’t have to eat all of it, $10mil if they get more desperate?
the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009
by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 10, 2009 7:50 AM CST up reply actions
I assume...
… that since the $9m already scheduled to be paid to both Bradley & Burrell is a “sunk cost” to both the Rays and Cubs — in other words, it has to be paid to someone.
The issue is the $12m due to Bradley in 2010. Just do it, already. The Cubs will draw 3 million fans in 2010. Put a $4 surcharge on every ticket. I’d pay it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
How different things would be ...
if Hendry had only given MB two years (no option) and Miles one year.
haha
I can only fly up to make 5-10 games a year, but i’d pay it too. Though I think the Rays might get a little greedy about next years money, since they paid $2 mil in advance on his 2010 salary at the time he signed his contract. Hopefully not because the Cubs are going to have to eat a ton already, though Andrew Friedman is a great GM and everyone in the world knows the Cubs situation.
the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009
by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 10, 2009 7:59 AM CST up reply actions
The Bradley tax...
Could you think of something more embarrassing? That a city literally paid for you to leave town.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 7:59 AM CST up reply actions
Paying your mistress
not to speak to the press, then having 10 other girls come out with similar allegations and one being a Perkins waitress (sorry of the OT).
the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009
by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 10, 2009 8:00 AM CST up reply actions
the woods situation is getting ridiculous
he really needs to go into a shell and hide for the winter. Skip golf for about half a year and figure out your life.
He was bedding all sorts of different women and playing golf for his job...
what about his life does he need to “figure out”?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 10, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
considering some of the women he's been with
he needs to at least figure out how many STDs he’s walking around with
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
that too
geesh, i can’t believe that wonder years chick turned into a porn star. That said, this is getting quite OT.
wonder years chick?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 1:10 PM CST up reply actions
the only Wonder Years chick I remember is Winnie Cooper
and she’s not a porn star.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
i'd say he needs to figure out his marriage and family
by toonsterwu on Dec 10, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The Divorce Court will do that for him.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 10, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions
We could have probably collected enough money last year to pay off Aaron Miles' 2010 deal.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
High Schools can't have sports but we can pay a tax to get rid of a Professional Ball Player
what has society come too?
:P
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
Exactly
I wouldn’t pay a single cent I found beneath my couch cushions for this guy or the Cubs. Hendry painted himself into a corner, let him figure a way out. Maybe he’ll learn his lesson and stop his frivolous spending ways.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
I like that
With the new breakdown in all the costs that go into the tickets that the Cubs put on season tickets, I would love to see a line that says:
Dump Bradley Surcharge: $4
I wouldn't be surprised...
…that when the Cubs made the decision to hike ticket prices after a dissappointing year, raising money to help cover the cost of a bad contract or two, probably was in their thought process.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Correct Hendry's Mistake Surcharge $4
One baseball game, he came to the plate and heard a woman in the crowd shout to the pitcher, "I'll make you a chocolate cake if you strike out that 'so-and-so'!" Says Strong: "I hit that ball out of the park. Then I looked at her like, 'Do I get a cake now?' "
why not just charge Hendry instead of us?
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 8:55 AM CST up reply actions
I'm all for that
One baseball game, he came to the plate and heard a woman in the crowd shout to the pitcher, "I'll make you a chocolate cake if you strike out that 'so-and-so'!" Says Strong: "I hit that ball out of the park. Then I looked at her like, 'Do I get a cake now?' "
Hmm...
So, Hendry is far along in deal talks with a least one team enough to have gotten past the cash and personality considerations, and into adding in players, and Tampa is countering with they don’t feel obligated to help Hendry out? Maybe I’m reading these tea leaves wrong, but I think you get your deal today. Sounds like Jim doesn’t want to leave without trading Bradley, and keeps pushing the Rays off on an answer, feeling that he’s hadt that deal in his back pocket.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 7:56 AM CST up reply actions
Cutting Losses
It is looking increasingly as if this will be the only option, so, yes, finish it.
I recall reading early on in the “Bradley Sleepstakes” that the Rays would only take on Bradley if they had an out after the first year.
Considering how immovable Bradley has been, the only out any team is going to have on Bradley if he doesn’t work out in 2010 is to cut him before 2011.
Eamus Ursuli!
Don't worry GWNstatic
there is “considerable” interest in Bradley
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 8:36 AM CST up reply actions
Time for Ricketts to intervene
Milton Bradley is going nowhere unless the Cubs eat his entire salary, either directly or via a trade where the money is a $20 million wash. I for the life of me don’t understand why this is so hard to grasp by BCB faithful. Nobody wants Milton Bradley layered on top of a poorish baseball economy and where a glut of decent (and cheap) outfielder types will be non-tendered in January.
Another team would have to be absolutely insane to want to trade for Bradley unless the money is a neutral game for them. And even then, who on bloody earth REALLY wants his toxic presence for the possible upside he stays healthy and can be focused for the first time in his checkered career.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
by BLou on Dec 10, 2009 7:43 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Grudgingly, for once I tend to agree
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Bingo
Plan A doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Fact it is kinda making the Cubs look foolish and out of it. Time for Ricketts to sign off on eating the millions. He must of known the state of the Cubs when he spent months trying to buy them.
Remember how long it took Hendry to trade Sosa? All off-season. They had to almost wait until every other available OF was off the market.
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 7:56 AM CST up reply actions
interestingly ...
I think Sosa’s contract guaranteed another (fifth?) year if he was traded. That was waived when he was sent to Baltimore.
Think MB would be willing to waive his third year? :)
Probably the only thing Bradley would be willing to waive
Is his middle finger at all of us.
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 8:14 AM CST up reply actions
There'd have to be some clause in his contract allowing him to do that.
I believe Sosa’s contract specifically stipulated that if he got traded, a club option turned into a player option or something like that.
by Poloplaya14 on Dec 10, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
No class act
I was thinking the same thing, but I didn’t remember the context of Sosa’s contract. Say all the negatives you want about Sosa, but he made it easier for the Cubs to trade him by giving up that one-more-year-if-traded provision.
Bradley’s status as a player is different because he has more potential to help a team than Sosa had when he left Chicago. Bradley should take some responsibility for what happened though. The union would have to sign-off on that, but it would show that he wants to play and not stick-it to anybody.
by AboutTheCubs on Dec 10, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
BLou
I must admit I disagree with about 95% of your posts, this one however you are spot on. No one, and I mean no one is going to eat any of MB contract unless the Cubs pay for the overage.
Why on Gods green earth would anyone want MB for any cost IMO.
I don't understand...
…why this concept is so difficult for folks to understand, especially in these economic times for clubs.
All the BS early on about interest in Bradley was tire kicking, and no GM in their right mind is going to take him on with any significant financial obligation.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Who, exactly, is having trouble understanding this?
You are right about the fact that they aren’t getting much, but your chest pounding is misguided.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 9:05 AM CST up reply actions
I'm basing that...
…on some of the trades I have seen folks propose. Most of them would require a GM that was certifiable to get completed.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Whoops - sorry MPH73
I meant to reply to BLou . . .
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 9:14 AM CST up reply actions
Not really much different than a lot of the other trade proposals we see around here
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 9:22 AM CST up reply actions
I agree...
I believe that if Hendry can’t trade him during these “meetings”, then MB will be at Spring Training, with Hendry waiting for some other team"s RF to blow his knee out before April.
This makes sense
Yet, strangely whenever this was brought up it was routinely shot down for the belief that there were teams fighting themselves to get Bradley (slight exaggeration).
Spot on.
One baseball game, he came to the plate and heard a woman in the crowd shout to the pitcher, "I'll make you a chocolate cake if you strike out that 'so-and-so'!" Says Strong: "I hit that ball out of the park. Then I looked at her like, 'Do I get a cake now?' "
BLou, correct my if, I'm wrong...
but I assumed you mean the Ricketts need to step in to stop the dumping of Bradley. Or have you flip-flopped yet again?
Hendry isn’t going to eat $20 million. And finding no suitable alternative to Bradley that is economically viable he does an about face and keeps the man. The spin will culminate with a press conference where Milton issues a formal mea culpa standing side by side with Jim Hendry at the podium.
You watch. I’m wrong about a lot of things, but I don’t think I’m going to be wrong on this one.
It will be dualing mea culpas with Hendry, Lou and Bradley
all attending and telling all they are the one who should have handled things better, etc.
The B.S. will be thick.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
If that happens I give it two weeks into the season
before Mt. Milton blows his top and starts complaining about the size of his locker or how the grounds crew is racist because of the way in which they cut the grass in Right Field at Wrigley or something else and we get the pleasure of another season of the Milton Bradley show.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
If that happens, the deal is outlined beforehand by Hendry.
“Listen MB, you show up, shut up, and produce and I will get you out of here to an AL team as quickly as possible. You F this up and you’re done.”
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Define "done".
Milton gets paid whether he plays or not, at least through 2011.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Gone
Threaten him with his own reputation. It certainly couldn’t hurt, cause everyone knows damn well he won’t get another multi-year contract until he shows some maturity. Future money is what you tell him he’s going to lose.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
That's like threatening Britney Spears with her reputation
by jerry morales rules on Dec 10, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
Sure
but he may be very money motivated after all this backlash. He might tone it down a tad if he perceives it as a threat to his family. You know- “my family has got to eat” garbage.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
What are they going to threat him with?
They going to trade him to the Raiders?
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
Would you put it past Al Davis to make that trade?
Especially when Hendry sells Milton as a tight end who can stretch the field.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
MB isn't fast enough for Al Davis.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions
We will just show him his range factor and Al Davis will have a press conference...
using an overhead projector, C’mon Al get in the 21st Century will ya, showing how Milton Bradley will improve JaMarcus’s throwing ability and then he’ll insult Lane Kiffen for an hour. It will be great Television.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
Lane coaches for the Volunteers now...
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 9:55 AM CST up reply actions
Yes I know.
But Al will still do it.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
Ah, I see, well
given it’s Al Davis, what you said makes complete sense.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 9:59 AM CST up reply actions
Someday, when Al is no longer with us
will they be wheeling him around like Bernie from “Weekend at Bernies”?
have you seen him?
Are you sure they aren’t doing that now?!?
The man has not aged well
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions
Gee, Al. Just Like Rodney Dangerfield.
“No respect, I tell ’ya. I get no respect at all…”
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
And yet..
There is a call for us to keep him, why? If he is so damn toxic and so easily to be replaced on the cheap, why not just take it like a man, admitt your mistake, cut your loses and move on?
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
BLou is 100% right
Why would ANY GM take MB unless the cost to his team is next to nothing. Having a bad contract that you want to get rid of is one thing but swallowing 2 years of a bad contract for an underperforming, time-tested bad apple is quite another. Having to pay a Luis Castillo or a Pat Burrel 12M for one year is certainly a better option than having this ahole on your team for 2 years.
You really thinks Ricketts is not involved ?
You think he is going to tell Hendry, go ahead eat 21 million ?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 10, 2009 10:44 AM CST up reply actions
Sure
21 million donuts!
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:45 AM CST up reply actions
Hendry is having a worse off season this year
than he did last year. I didn’t think that was possible.
Dallas Green!
Let's hope it's his last
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 8:19 AM CST up reply actions
too soon to make that call
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 8:38 AM CST up reply actions
My point is you can't say he's having a worse off-season this year than last year...
when this off-season isn’t over yet. That’s all.
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 10:01 AM CST up reply actions
maybe not, but you have to admit that if they can't get rid of Bradley
today, if this drags on and on and on, then it’s shaping up to be a pretty poor offseason
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions
I certainly don't think we're there yet.
Last year:
1. Traded Mark DeRosa for 3 minor league relief pitchers.
2. Signed Aaron Miles (2 years, $5M)
3. Traded Felix Pie for G. Olson.
4. Traded G. Olson and R. Cedeno for A. Heilman.
5. Signed Milton Bradley (3 years, $30M)
6. Declined to offer arbitration to Kerry Wood
7. Traded J. Ceda for K. Gregg
8. Signed Joey Gathright (1 year, $1M)
That’s just a whole lot of bad baseball GMing. It increased the payroll for 2009 and beyond, and substantially weakened the team in 2009. It’s the equivalent of that one guy in your roto league who isn’t really sure how the rules works and takes a kicker in the third round.
Everything Hendry has done so far this offseason has been a hangover from that binge of horrific decisions last year. (i.e., Fox, Miles, and $1.7M for minor league relief pitchers, decline to offer arb to Rich Harden). If last year was only half as horrific, we could still have Rich Harden, and wouldn’t be held hostage by the Bradley situation.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
A lot of those are a reach.
Did you really watch Kerry Wood pitch in 2009 and wish the Cubs had paid him $10M to stay? Because that’s what he would have gotten in arbitration.
Jose Ceda didn’t even throw a pitch in 2009.
Mark Derosa had a terrible year, and only worth a win and a half. So far the Cubs look like the winner in that trade.
Gathright only cost us $500,000 when it was all said and done, which really isn’t a fireable offense. And you can make a case for the Pie-for-Gregg trade, though flipping Gregg for Heilman looks pretty awful in retrospect.
by Wreckard on Dec 10, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I definitely would have offered Kerry Wood arbitration.
He was phenomenal in 2008, and was a team leader to boot. If the injury risk was the prime motivator, then the arb system was tailor-made for the situation, as we’d wind up with Wood on a 1 year deal, or we would have wound up with CLE’s first rounder.
I don’t think that Woody would have gotten $10M in arbitration. I also don’t think that they ever would have gotten in front of an arbitrator. But isn’t $10M the all-time arb record, by Ryan Howard?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
No, that's the all time record for a player in his first year of arbitration eligibility
If the Cubs had unlimited budget, sure, offering him arb and having him accept and risk him getting as much as $10M wouldn’t have been bad. But given the budget constraints, a high-priced closer wasn’t a luxury the Cubs could afford last year.
And as bad as Gregg was, he wasn’t that much worse than Wood in 2009.
The only reason to wring hands about losing Kerry Wood is sentimentality.
Thinking out of the box
Soriano just came over for between $6.5M and $8M, depending on figures, and Burrell is owed $12M. Bradley is owed $21M I believe?
Why not trade Bradley and some low cost reliever that the Braves would be interested in that could be a Soriano caliber, for Burrell and Soriano? Cost matches up pretty closely, and we could potentially make up for the talent they shipped to Atlanta for Soriano while giving them relief help they want/need?
Soriano is a decent closer
I am not sure what we could send to a team looking to compete that would meet their closer needs.
Marmol would be the only possible match, and there is just no way the Cubs dump Marmol simply to get a team to take on Bradley.
Eamus Ursuli!
Rays didn't ship any real talent in that trade
They shipped their salary dump acquisition for the Braves salary dump candidate, and from what i’ve read the Rays are ready to start the season with a payroll in the $70 million range, which is big because the Rays complained about losing money all last year at $63 mil.
the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009
by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 10, 2009 8:03 AM CST up reply actions
From a Cards prospect site
Eamus Ursuli!
That profile was written before the 2008 season.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Twitter tweet
cubsff Andre Dawson is a Hall-of-Famer http://bit.ly/5CXsfo #chicago #cubs
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Hit wrong button by mistake
I hope the above finally comes true
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Favorite line from this article
“That is so bizarre. Life is more than OPS and WHIP and VORP and Range Factor. There’s the human factor.”
This guy must have quit the SABR community ten years ago.
the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009
by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 10, 2009 8:08 AM CST up reply actions
Via the Rule 5 draft.
Cubs pick St. Louis RH Mike Parisi in Rule 5 draft.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Let's hope they keep it and it's not a swap deal for cash with another team.
Don’t need years of faulty memories on this deal.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Just what I was going to say
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 8:20 AM CST up reply actions
0-4 with an 8.22 and a WHIP over 2? Granted-small sample size, but that doesn’t exactly light my fire
No, I agree with you...
… you could have posted that instead of just saying he sucks, though.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
To clarify...
… the numbers above were posted in 12 major league appearances Parisi made for St. Louis in 2008. His minor league numbers are better… but not much.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Someone has to carry the pink backpack.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 8:25 AM CST up reply actions
Unfortunately.........
Minor league stats don’t translate necessarily……….we will find out in Spring Training-if he’s invited………
If he's not invited, why pick him?
They have to offer him back at 1/2 the cost if he doesn’t make the roster.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 8:26 AM CST up reply actions
It was sarcasm
Because of all the revisionist history that goes on here about Josh Hamilton
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 8:28 AM CST up reply actions
What's the difference between revisionist history
And denial?
Besides denial being a river of course.
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 8:35 AM CST up reply actions
He has to be invited.
IIRC, rule 5 guys go on the 40-man roster right away. All on the 40-man come to ST. Then, they have to keep him on the 25-man or offer him back at half the cost.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I know that
It was a rhetorical question in response to jballgame
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 8:29 AM CST up reply actions
Oh.
You sure we can’t swap Parisi for cash? Maybe the Rays would take him along with Bradley!
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
No worries.
Good luck with that trade, though.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 9:06 AM CST up reply actions
Better Patton and not HE WHO ONLY THE
REDS wanted. With Patton, the debate is only on fact and whether he sucks. With the other, people dispute the facts which chafes my patience.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
WHY, OH WHY!!!!!
Do we really need another underachieving pitcher that made it to the Big League eating up a roster spot all year, all the while he pitches once every two months.
Hey Hendry, take me as a rule 5 pick will ya. I would love to travel around with the Cubs all summer, not really do anything and get paid for it. I can do the same thing as those rule 5 picks. Give me the pink backpack and I’ll deliver papers to the rest of the team in the morning.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
And this is... ...good? ...bad? ...mediocre?
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
All of those?
Until Parisi throws in Spring Training, who knows how things will shake out. As long as he doesn’t handicap the roster like David Patton, things will be ok.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
My GM went to the Indianapolis Winter Meetings
And all I got was this lousy Mike Parisi
T-shirts coming soon.
He’ll get a chance in spring, let’s hope he makes the best of it.
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 8:59 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Beautiful
I’d buy it.
One baseball game, he came to the plate and heard a woman in the crowd shout to the pitcher, "I'll make you a chocolate cake if you strike out that 'so-and-so'!" Says Strong: "I hit that ball out of the park. Then I looked at her like, 'Do I get a cake now?' "
They could charge $4 each.
Maybe that could pay for getting rid of Bradley’s deal.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Make it the 2010 BCB shirt!
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 9:06 AM CST up reply actions
LOL
All proceeds to the Rays for taking Milton Bradley!
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
All it took was a 100 threads
But we have finally found a plan someone call Hendry.
One baseball game, he came to the plate and heard a woman in the crowd shout to the pitcher, "I'll make you a chocolate cake if you strike out that 'so-and-so'!" Says Strong: "I hit that ball out of the park. Then I looked at her like, 'Do I get a cake now?' "
You might want to use UPS
this time instead of USPS….
by LT on Dec 10, 2009 9:13 AM CST up reply actions
Very fitting that would be
Gift = Poison in German…
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Question. With the difficulty in moving Bradley, which is the better
move. Eating the contract or taking the risk on Rowand if 1 for 1?
I’m leaning on the risk for Rowand. Fill the need now and gamble on three years from now.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Where do you hear about anything to do with Rowand?
I’d do that, if the Giants would.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That was speculation earlier in the offseason with SF looking
to save money and offload Rowand. Many were against the additional dollar risk.
Disclaimer: This is not intended to start a new rumor or be tweeted by daver in an effort to increase his following.
at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!
Didn't the Giants explicitly reject this proposal?
I don’t know if it ever got beyond speculation, but I seem to remember Sabean commenting that he wanted nothing to do with Bradley.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Guzman
might fit well……….cheap, good arm, could be a closer
Thoughts?
Guzman + Bradley for Soriano + Burrell?
If we can't do Bradley for Burrell
Why would Tampa throw in Soriano, who they know can close, for Guzman?
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 8:32 AM CST up reply actions
Fair point
But keep in mind the Rays are trying to dump salary…….this would free up money in ‘10, but would cost them in ’11. Net neutral (roughly), especially if we agreed to eat a couple million of Bradley’s salary in ’11.
Also, Rays have Isringhausen and Howell, who can close for them……..so perhaps it’s just a young reliever who can develop into a closer shortly. Doesn’t have to be Guzman.
Well if the Rays are trying to dump salary
Just have them throw in Crawford :)
Rays have Izzy and Howell….I think this is why they want Soriano.
To echo elgato below, this isn’t happening.
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 10, 2009 8:54 AM CST up reply actions
If Isringhausen could still close
He’d still be with St. Louis
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Dec 10, 2009 10:02 AM CST up reply actions
Tampa
wanted Soriano, why would they turn and trade him for less value.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 8:34 AM CST up reply actions
That's called Sign and Trade
Baseball doesn’t do Sign and Trade. I’ve never scene one.
by RiskyBusiness on Dec 10, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions
What's called sign and trade?
The Rays just acquired Soriano from the Braves in a trade. They signed Burrell a year ago.
Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"
Sorry - Thought the Rays signed him as FA
Then Trade Away.
But the Rays won’t do it. Rafael Soriano is a much better pitcher than Guzman.
by RiskyBusiness on Dec 10, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
don't see the Rays doing that
they are adding Soriano to shore up their pen. Guzman isn’t at Soriano’s level – I imagine Soriano could be closing for them.
As I said yesterday get on the phone with the Braves
and get a 3 way trade with the Rays. Lowe coming our way, yes it commits us to money in 2012 but we got 2 1/2 years to come up with a marketing plan to cover that cost or something. D Lowe is a solid 3 or 4 at this point in his career and is an innnings eater. Get something done already Jim!
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 8:40 AM CST reply actions
Why?
That still doesn’t solve the Burrell problem for the Rays, as they most likely can’t take on Bradley unless Burrell leaves in the process.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 8:50 AM CST up reply actions
Burrell would be going to the Braves
I thought that was understood in my post or why would you do a 3 way trade.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 8:52 AM CST up reply actions
Why would the Braves...
…want Burrell?
That’s a pitchers ballpark and not the right environment for Burrells skills. The dude also can’t field, and that is a big outfield for someone to roam.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Well,
They really could use some offense, and I do think that Burrell will bounce back a bit. If they could stick Matt Diaz out there in left, they could tolerate Burrell. Still doesn’t seem like they’re kind of guy though. But hey, if the Bradley deal falls through, they can always try a Soriano – Burrell swap.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 8:58 AM CST up reply actions
Don't know which Soriano you're referring to
but the Rafael version is already a Ray, heading to Tampa for Jesse Chavez.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
That didn't take long...
It’s beautiful when a GM does his homework, and then moves decisively to execute.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 9:03 AM CST up reply actions
And when Atlanta will take a mediocre reliever
for someone of Soriano’s caliber. Maybe Hendry should be calling Atlanta, given how this trade went.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
I know. But still.
Jesse Chavez will shuttle between Atlanta and Gwinett, more than likely. Atlanta could have gotten something better than that for Soriano, I think.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
Possibly to probably, but
the Atlanta GM now knows he doesn’t have the “problem” of Soriano’s salary around. So he took a trade to ensure getting rid of Soriano.
The Braves gambled that Soriano would decline arbitration and that someone would sign him so they would get picks. When he accepted, it threw their budget plan for a loop… so they just wanted him out.
Agreed.
But they’ve basically gotten rid of Church and Soriano for Jesse Chavez. I think they could have held out a little longer and gotten a better deal.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
I don't necessarily doubt that.
But perhaps they just didn’t want to risk getting stuck.
On the other hand, Hendry dramatically overestimated what he might be able to do with MB… and now that situation is only worsening.
It is interesting.
Two different strategies, it appears. Wren wasn’t willing to wait, and Hendry clearly is.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
The Braves GM said
last night in an interview on MLB they were looking to move a pitcher preferably Lowe for a bat. The move would save the Braves 6 million this year and 15 million next year and another 15 million the following year. If they put just a little of that money towards the Rays maybe the deal gets done like 2 million for 2011 and then maybe they throw the Cubs 2 or 3 million in 2012.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 8:59 AM CST reply actions
Look at Lowell's mug shot on that page.
HA! He looks pretty depressed going from Boston to Texas, eh?
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 9:18 AM CST up reply actions
Found via a Twitter tweet (sorry if old)
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
There used to be one in Mishawaka
which is the sister city with South Bend, but that one looks like the one either on the toll road, or on the highway near Elkhart.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 9:41 AM CST up reply actions
Mishawaka is a cool town
Small, but cool
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Dec 10, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions
You had Mishawaka in Elkhart?
Where did you keep it?
Next you’ll be tell us you had a Michiana too…
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
No, but I had an Osceola once. Can't talk about it.
"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin
Sounds painful.
Almost as bad as an Otsego…
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Elkhart?
Road America!
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 4:42 PM CST up reply actions
How much does a billboard cost up there?
One baseball game, he came to the plate and heard a woman in the crowd shout to the pitcher, "I'll make you a chocolate cake if you strike out that 'so-and-so'!" Says Strong: "I hit that ball out of the park. Then I looked at her like, 'Do I get a cake now?' "
Saw Hendry on Tuesday
He was in the TRADE SHOW. I was furious. My friend actually elbowed him accidentally. The 2nd time I saw him he was on his phone though. I want to shout obscenities about the Aaron Miles and numerous other dumb signings, but didn’t :(
Good morning, fellow procrastinators.
Just saw that the Red Sox have traded for Boof Bonser. Twins get PTBNL.
Man...
The Yankees swoop in and steal Curtis Granderson. The Red Sox move quickly to dump Mike Lowell, and get good return back. It amazes me sometimes to watch the better GMs work. Hendry really is bringing checkers to a chess match.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions
You might overestimating him alittle
more like tic-tac-toe or even tiddle-winks
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
And he's short a couple of checkers too. It's not a complete set
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 9:41 AM CST up reply actions
For the first time ever, I hate agreeing with you.
This has been a very disappointing week for ol’ Jimbo.
two years, not week. Two years of poor decisions, and bad moves
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions
BoSox ate money
The difference is that Epstein ate about 3/4 of Lowell’s salary. The Cubs seem deluded into thinking that someone will make the same mistake this offseason that they made last year – i.e. to pay Bradley.
I am not a Hendry basher, but I really do fear this becoming a Sosa 04-05 repeat, which, (I am putting my tinfoil cap on now) I fear could lead to the 2010 Cubs = 2005 Cubs.
Eamus Ursuli!
Yes and No
Red Sox will pick up $7 or $8 million likely for Lowell next year.
If the Cubs take the rumored TB deal, they would have to pay Burrell his $9 million plus kick in another $10 or so million to cover the final year of Bradley’s deal. That is a lot of money to pay against the 2010 cap.
"The 2010 cap"?
What “cap”? There’s no salary cap in baseball.
Just do it already.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Hendry has a cap that he can spend
Whatever the amount is, taking nearly $20 million off it and still with no CF’er. Not too promising for 2010.
They have to pay SOMEONE that $9m.
It’s due to Bradley OR Burrell, or someone else if they trade Bradley for someone else.
It’s the $12m for 2011 that’s the issue.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yes but don't the Cubs have to send that money with Bradley now?
It is the question of deferred money. Can the Cubs tell Tampa that a check is in the mail next December?
Don't know how that works.
But maybe they can figure out a way to defer that money. That’d be the best solution.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don't know why they would.
Players get regular paychecks. I can’t think of a viable reason the Cubs would have to up front the salary that would be owed.
If they agreed to pay part/all of Bradley’s 2011 salary, I assume MB would simply remain on the Cubs’ payroll and would receive a check from the Cubs.
I don’t think Tom Hicks had to write a check to the Yankees for $100M (or whatever amount he agreed to pay) when he sent ARod to the Yankees.
Maybe they could figure out a way to defer some of the salary.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Certainly a possibility...
though IMO less likely with a small budget team like Tampa. It is harder for them to be “on the hook” for that money short-term, even if they’re getting it all back in the long run.
I think you're looking at it the wrong way.
Tampa isn’t on the hook at all. If the Cubs agreed to pay all the 2011 salary, but got Milton to take it (for example) in three installments of $4m each instead of $12m at once, Milton still gets all his money (probably with interest), and Tampa still pays nothing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Gotcha.
I thought you meant deferring the money through Tampa instead of directly through Milton.
But somehow I don’t see MB being willing to wait for his $. After all, he can barely wait 9 innings to leave work.
Nor should he agree
Both sides signed the contract. Unless the Cubs are willing to add $, no reason MB should agree to deferred payments.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 1:44 PM CST up reply actions
It'd have to be above and beyond interest rates.
Otherwise there is no upside for him. Then that backloads things even more, which I suppose Hendry would salivate over.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions
I get that...
I don’t have a problem with eating cash, or trading prospects, for that matter. It’s the decisiveness that I appreciate. These guys aren’t sitting around hemming and hawwing, dabbling at the margins, hoping for the best. They’re making moves, and getting things done. And certainly not letting guys who aren’t part of their plan hold their respective clubs up.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 9:50 AM CST up reply actions
Hendry can be decisive
Look at the Soriano and Bradley deals :-)
The problem here is Hendry can’t do anything until Bradley is resolved. For example, if he has to move Bradley for Burrell and kick in $10 million then you can forget Cameron. Hendry has no idea how much money he is going to have to work with.
Or if he has to keep Bradley then Granderson and Cameron are extra.
How is Hendry being held up, exactly?
It’s possible such a thing is happening, but Hendry has denied it is happening. If Mike Cameron is the plan, Mike Cameron is still out there. We can’t judge how Hendry’s Bradley strategy has or hasn’t worked until the deal is done.
Our impatience waiting for news reminds me of the impatience we saw at the beginning of the second Iraq war – not being political – just it takes time to move tanks and just because there’s a sand storm doesn’t mean we’re bogged down.
Is he traded yet?
This is getting old and I'm not patient
I’m thinking if something doesn’t happen soon, it’s going to drag on for weeks. My feeling is the other GM’s are playing Hendry because they know he has to deal and they don’t. This is giving me a bad feeling that our stubborn GM thinks he can make a better deal when one does not exist. If he wants Bradley gone soon, he’s going to have to bend over and give anybody that will listen, what they want as far as cash for the big dump. If this doesn’t happen I’m thinking we’ll lose out on everyone on our wish list. I’m just getting a bad vibe from all this non-action.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
Reply fail is an
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Royals just cut Mike Jacobs
obviously he’s not a starter, but he could be a real nice power bat off the bench, and a nice backup to Lee
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Ugh.
Jacobs is awful. I’d rather have Burrell.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Mike "Feast or Famine" Jacobs
He is like Adam Dunn Light. Have the homeruns with all the strike outs.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
Half the Homeruns
post failure
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
You got your Chocolate in my Peanut Butter
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
I'm officer Reeses, what happened here?
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Dec 10, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
I was wondering if you have any pieces?
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
and a quarter of the price tag
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
adam dunn
without the walks = not a good baseball player
by DartmouthCubsFan on Dec 10, 2009 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
the Rays don't seem particularly interested in making that possible
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
NO!!!
What he is is really a DH, and not a good one. He’s got no business in the NL.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 9:55 AM CST up reply actions
as opposed to Micah Hoffpauir?
He’s an upgrade over what we currently have, even if its a small one
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:06 AM CST up reply actions
Actually,
not really. Jacobs really plays like a first baseman only, and Hoffpauir is at least usable in the outfield. I’ve seen nothing to suggest that he can work as a PH extraordinaire, so where are you really with the guy?
He really needs to find a place where he can DH a bit.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions
Completely agree
If the Royals sour on a relatively cheap player, what does that tell you? Oh, wait . . . I guess that DOES make him a fit for a Jim Hendry team . . . .
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions
Most people thought Hoffpauir wouldn't be able to play OF
Why can’t Jacobs at least give it a shot?
by Poloplaya14 on Dec 10, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
Hoffpauir CAN'T play outfield.
Jacobs would be worse.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Milton Bradley
The beginning of the end for Jim Hendry?
I can’t believe anybody thought any differently. All these rumors of interest, the reports of some teams thinking he would be a good fit always were a pile of crap. Rosenthal likely made up his story. Between the teams that already had Bradley plus the teams that won’t touch him, there aren’t many left that need him.
no but he could have been misled
maybe by Cubs officials in order to make it look as though there was more interest than there actually was
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 9:59 AM CST up reply actions
OK, highly exaggerate
In today’s 24 hour news cycle with so many outlets, there is a bigger push for new stories. Look at all this Twitter stuff. What was the trade that someone reported moved from 30 to 40% likely or whatever the percentages were. How can someone measure that? I do think reporters do elaborate more and report on rumors a lot.
Chunchi Dragons may take him...
He can the New “Mr. Baseball”.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
I'm going to hold firm in the notion..
that there was good interest for Bradley, if only the tire kickers, and those thinking that the Cubs might eat big money. I’ve always said that at 2/14, even I’d take Bradley. However, once word got out on a limit to the money that the Cubs would eat, that may have been the end of that.
by Damen Jackson on Dec 10, 2009 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
What do you work for REA or something?
Now is a good time to by Milton Bradley, with interest in him at an all time high, you too can own a pro ball player. But only Hendry can help pick the right one.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
The revisionist history on how people felt about Bradley is getting rather extreme here.
I did a last minue post when the Bradley signing was being leaked out, urging Hendry to go with Randy Winn (er, bad idea) instead of Hendry last year. I included a poll. 11% were ecstatic about Bradley. 37% were “coming to terms with Bradley.” Only 6% said they’d “take anything over Bradley.” So, unless you were part of the 6%…
Is he traded yet?
I didn't vote
but "coming to terms with Bradley." isn’t a ringing endorsement. Maybe they never got to those terms.
by RiskyBusiness on Dec 10, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
Rays selected Miguel Sierra from the Cubs in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Cubs made no other picks and lost no other players.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Damn it...
I was hoping someone would have selected Milton Bradley, well maybe next year.
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
Doesn't appear.......
to be a big loss. Not sure what the Rays saw, other than the guy gives up less than a homer a game, but gets hit hard. Perhaps some control/pitch placement opportunity to improve?
Also, still trying to figure out why the Cubs grabbed Parisi……any thoughts?
because Jim Hendry is our GM, and "planning" isn't his strong suit
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
My only arguement all along
with trading for Burrell straight up for Bradley and cash is the Cubs are once again in the situation of having to trade another player they don’t want/need. I would prefer to see us give up a prospect or a little more cash to get a player that could actually help us.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 10:11 AM CST reply actions
Except
unless you are talking Bradley and $15 million and prospects, no one wants him. And even in that case, you may not get that much in return.
I don’t think there is any team that thinks they can fix Bradley. Tampa is the only one willing if the Cubs take someone they don’t want in Burrell plus throw in a bunch of money.
I personally think we need
1 more starter, so I have suggested finding another team along with Tampa to get us a starter and offload Bradley.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions
Which would
support my first post about not taking just Burrell back, we find ourself in another bad spot. Not that I want to keep waiting but I would rather wait this out than to make a bad move just to rid ourselves of Bradley. But I do understand we are not getting anything great for Bradley.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Dec 10, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
Al, I was thinking about the picture that you put on this posting
Maybe if we could get the other Samuel Beckett to leap into Jim Hendry in November, 2008, the problems will be fixed. Hell, last season might even be better.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:14 AM CST reply actions
Archer wouldn't put up with MB's crap
Neither would Kirk or Piccard . . .
Hey, maybe we can just get Al Calavicci to kick MB’s ass until he behaves.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions
I would love to see a Piccard-esque rant
from First Contact directed at MB. “THIS FAR, NO FARTHER…THE LINE MUST BE DRAWN HERE!”
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
I ♥ 'd Voyager....
that was my favorite Star Trak
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." --Mark Twain
by cooliogirl47 on Dec 10, 2009 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
It was OK but it seemed like Gilligan's Island in Space
If they found a way home you knew the show would be over.
Plus Neelix was a terrible character.
I do miss 7 of 9…..
So does Jack Ryan . . .
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
You ♥ "♥'s"!
TNG my favorite – but that’s when I started watching. Too young for first run original ST
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
It was the best since since the first one.
Still thought the Troi story lines were pretty week.
But she was hot.
The Ferengi sucked. The Borg were cool….
didn’t like Number One too much or the Dr. lady, but the Holo-Deck rocked.
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." --Mark Twain
by cooliogirl47 on Dec 10, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
3 oops ♥
I liked seeing how all the technology evolved
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." --Mark Twain
by cooliogirl47 on Dec 10, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
3 oops ♥?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 10:49 AM CST up reply actions
I forgot the Alt
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." --Mark Twain
by cooliogirl47 on Dec 10, 2009 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
No, it looked fine
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions
Carrie Muskat tweet.
#cubs leave Winter Meetings with Milton still on roster. Hendry did talk to agents about FA CFs such as Byrd, Ankiel, Podsednik, Cameron
Oh, well. You know the old saying? “A watched pot never boils”? Maybe I should get up from the computer for a while.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Jim Hendry ladies and gentlemen. And people still think he deserves to keep his job?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions
So is Opening Day tomorrow?
A deal can still get done.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I'd say more than slightly
Especially after we were led to believe a deal was so close a couple of days ago.
Harry Caray: Marshall is going back to LA to get cocaine for his injured foot.
Steve Stone: Harry, that’s Novocaine.
by Julio Zuleta's Voodoo on Dec 10, 2009 10:24 AM CST up reply actions
yes, but despite your defending Hendry even when he doesn't deserve it..
you know as well as a I do the longer it takes to get done, the likelihood worse the deal will be, and the less chance that we get much better heading into next season. Hendry isn’t a genius, he’s not going to pull out a great deal from his hat. Any deal he makes next month will be the same one or worse than what he could have made this week, and meanwhile, guys who could have helped this club will have been snapped up by others.
This trip was a failure. Much like the rest of Hendry’s career
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:27 AM CST up reply actions
Woah there turbo.
There is no evidence that time is directly proportional to the crappiness of a deal here. If anything, we should all be thrilled he held out and didn’t accept any of the insulting deals we’ve seen rumored. Trading one problem for another is just spinning your wheels in the mud, and i’m personally GLAD he didn’t go in that direction. He’s had a history of turning lemons in to lemonade on a couple of situations like this (although not as big, obviously). Give him a chance.
Hendry isn’t a genius, but he’s a decent GM who took our team to the playoffs as division champions for two consecutive years very recently… when was the last time that was done?
You are jumping to a lot of conclusions here for it only being early December.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Dec 10, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Why would the situation change from now to opening day
do we think some GM is going to wake up on morning and suddenly have a desire to MB. If the rest of our offseason moves are indeed tied to first moving MB then we are in trouble.
Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
is that an option
in your fantasy league?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions
what makes no sense
is firing your GM who made the trades and signings that helped take your team to the post season two years running for the first time in a century because he doesn’t make a particular trade in a three-day set of meetings.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions
no he gets fired because he's piled up bad contracts on top of bad contracts
over the last few years. This is simply the icing on the cake
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:33 AM CST up reply actions
uh-huh
contracts which helped take this team to the post season twice in two years for the first time in a century.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions
and that
was TOTALLY Hendry’s fault. He has strings attached to all the players, and makes them walk and move and swing the bat. Every time he pulls a certain way, Soriano hops.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions
yes, he brought them here.
and they proceeded to win the Division two years running WHICH HASN’T HAPPENED FOR A CENTURY. Do you not see this??
The Royals would love to have Jim Hendry be their GM. The Orioles. Teams that haven’t seen the post season in years.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
nose
face.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
With the amount of money that he's spent...
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
Even the Royals could contend if they had Jim Hendry and the huge amount of cash the Cubs backed him with.
Are you familiar with the old robot saying, "Does not compute"?
by dr stabbingworth on Dec 10, 2009 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
I'd love...
…to see what Hendry would do with the Royals payroll and most importantly, with his long track record of not developing players from the farm.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
We both know that winning a division doesn't mean what it used to.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
it means exactly what it used to — going to the post season. Something that happened rarely between 1910 and 2000.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
No, it doesn't.
8/30 teams make the post season (26.66%)
From 1910-1960, 2/16 teams made the post season (12.5%)
1961: 2/18
1962-1968: 2/20
1969-1976: 4/24
1977-1992: 4/26
1993-1997: 4/28
It’s an accomplishment to do it today, but it isn’t the same.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 10, 2009 1:52 PM CST up reply actions
We want more than division titles
We want a World Series. His administration to this point is judged as a failure because all the money spent has not even delivered the first NL pennant since 1945. This franchise has not won a playoff game since 2003 and we are watching this window shut. I’m not trying to be a total pessimist like BLou, but the Cubs need to do something to try to get back to the playoffs in 2010.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
oh for pete's sake
it’s like debating a brick wall. I’m done
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Dec 10, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions
ironic comment
is ironic.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
Inane Comment
is inane
That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.
by Ditkavsworld
yes
I could have used that too.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:49 AM CST up reply actions
you're slowly evolving into a snarky happier BLou.
just sayin’
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 10, 2009 10:50 AM CST up reply actions
well,
that’s an opinion.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
*** Paradox alert *** Paradox alert *** Paradox alert ***
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
by eths on Dec 10, 2009 11:02 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I think last season broke Drew.
And thinking back to how much hope he held out for the team last year, until the very, utter, literal bitter end, it’s totally understandable.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm right here, I can hear you. :P
I’m not broken. I just think that the way the attention is focused now is wrong.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Dec 10, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions
There you are!
Didn’t even see you! You may not be broken, but you do read like someone who, over the course of last season and up to now, is not as happy with things, and for good reason.
Also, why even respond to TJ11 (TJ Lavin?) when he’s just trolling you?
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Dec 10, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
because I don't like to see
falshoods promoted.
The funny thing is, I was resigned to the season ending the way it did once we were mathematically eliminated. What I was really unprepared for was the way this site reacted to it.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on