What I would do.....Season still can be saved
by cubsmakemecrazy on Jul 13, 2009 6:05 PM CDT
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2009- the solutions
The best thing so far about this team have been Lilly, DLee and the energy of the kids from Iowa.
I would play Fuld every day in center and let him lead off until he fails at the expense of Fukodome. With Fukodome, we know what we have. A .255- .260 hitter, good outfielder, grossly overpaid. Fuld brings good defense, great energy and hunger. I have long maintained the reason the Cubs failed post -Bartman season was that Hendry decided to let Kenny Lofton go and let Patterson play center. Lofton was a spark. He should have been retained as a leadoff hitter and catalyst.
Fuld has shown so far he can be that catalyst. Let him play. Fukodome can get some ABs in place of Soriano and Bradley once in awhile. Reed Johnson has not been hitting this year. Fuld gives us a leadoff hitter.
Sign BJ Ryan, ,move Marshall to the rotation until Dempster returns. Marshall is solid in any role. Ryan is cheap and hopefully can get the lefties out.
Platoon Fox and Hill until you are sure Fox can defend well enough to not cost you runs (hopefully we can determine this quickly) until Soto returns. Let Fox play. He is hungry and enthusiastic. He can hit.
Release Baker immediately. What does he have to offer that Ryan Freel didnt? I would rather play Blanco. Blanco is hungry can run and can field. If he cant hit enough, you still have Fontenot.
Watch that waiver wire and if you can dump salary for salary for Freddy Sanchez, do it. I am not sold on Fontenot at 2b. I would rather play Blanco. If another good reliever comes available for cheap, look for that option.
What I dont want to see is any more of what has been failing all season, hoping it will suddenly not fail. We are what we are. Maybe Bradley and Soriano start hitting again. Maybe they dont. But we wont win the division relying on Fukodome, Fontenot and Hill while we wait for Dempster and Soto.
I want to see the enthusiasm and hunger of these Iowa kids lift this ballclub to places the overpaid veterans have not.
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Release Jeff Baker?
You seem to have forgotten than Aaron Miles is still a Cub.
Here’s that Fantasy baseball influence…release this guy, trade that guy…sheesh….
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 13, 2009 6:09 PM CDT reply actions
What to do to save this post
Spell Fukudome correctly.
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 13, 2009 6:13 PM CDT reply actions
No need to release him.
Just stash him on the DL for the rest of the year.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Halladay to CUBS????
Rumors from TSN saying Halladay will be a Cub.
Not sure package yet. Trying to get more info from my source in Toronto (he’s suicidal about this right now.)
if true. . . WHOA
Not happening.
A.) Nothing to trade.
B.) Cubs don’t want to take on his salary.
C.) We don’t need more starting pitching.
D.) Nothing to trade.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
it would certainly start with Vitters
and possibly Castro. I am not buying it, but the Cubs may be able to put together enough. I just don’t think it will happen because of your point #2.
and
it was reported that TOR wants to dump Vernon Wells contract in this same deal.
Vitters, Castro, Jackson, Marshall, Miles and Fukudome for Wells and Halladay? Maybe. Although not likely. 3 top-end prospects and 2 MLB ready players to eat Wells contract and take on Halladay. More fantasy baseball than reality, I get that. But we could probably get something done, if Hendry gets the approval to take on more salary.
TSN?
The Sarcastic News?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
TSN
TSN is “The Sports Network” which is basically Canada’s ESPN (right down to the graphics package). Considering Halladay is in Toronto, it would be a big deal if TSN were reporting Halladay will be a Cub. That said… I can’t find any mention of this on their website.
I know what TSN is
but I too could not find anything anywhere shedding any light to this trade, so i renamed TSN
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
i did post that this is a RUMOR
as for my post count, what does that matter?
I got the info from 2 different people in Toronto within the last 2 hours, just doing my part in letting people know.
and please note that i did label this as a RUMOR.
thx come again
You post count means something because...
…more often than not newbie’s are newbies for a reason. They come on here, say something ridiculous and are never heard from again. So when you combine being a newbie, with a bombshell like that and mix it with no source, well you get doubters.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
very rarely post
because very rarely have something to post about.
understand the doubt, but if it didn’t come from some people who are highly respected Jay fans, i wouldn’t have put it out in the first place.
(it’s also why i didn’t start a thread about it. . . until i can find some source online.)
is it poss that the news wouldn’t be released until after the all-star game, since Halladay is starting the ASG tomorrow?
nonetheless, adding Halladay would make the Cubs the premiere starting rotation in MLB, and a splashy way for new ownership to come in!!!
Okay well I'll be the first to say I was wrong.
But I’m not going to be.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
If that's the case
then how did your 2 sources hear it already? I mean not to beat a dead horse,but if they heard it on TSN then I’d imagine it would be on their website. I mean Roy Halladay is IT when it comes to the Blue Jays, so it’d be a pretty big story.
"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly
by ambrosiadreams on Jul 13, 2009 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm willing to believe you
But I don’t think it will happen. Vernon Wells would be the problem.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
bingo
Wells’ inclusion, if that rumor is true, is going to make any Halladay deal near impossible.
I wonder if Wilken is whispering in Hendry’s ear at all since Wells is one of his boys. That connectin makes it a little more interesting.
Why is Wells a hindrance?
Couldn’t we swap bad contract for bad contract on that end of the deal?
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
it's the cost and length
he has a Soriano type of deal.
I’m with you—I’d give up Fukudome and Miles and take his salary on. I just think having to do that complicates any deal much more.
Look at the numbers first
Wells contract may be as bad as Soriano’s. The Cubs will not take Wells for Fukudome and consider it bad contract for bad contract. Let’s take a look…..
Wells: 10:$12.5M, 11:$23M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$21M
Fukudome: 10:$13M, 11:$13.5M
26 Million does not equal 98 million in my math.
Wow! He soars to $23 million in 2011? There's incentive for the Blue Jays to ire a hitman or encourage him to take up basejumping...
…but I suppose the contract is still paid out?
are your two people
your best friend and his brother, or are they baseball people who would know?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 13, 2009 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions
You can't call it
a rumor if you made it up. You just made this up. I guarantee you never heard this from any Canadian friends any more than you have a girlfriend none of your friends know because she lives in Canada. If it was out there in Canada, it would be picked up here instantly, and it hasn’t.
You are a liar.
DEJESUS!!!
A little harsh there don't ya think
The guy called it a rumor right from the beginning. And by the way if he was the one who made it up and then posted it then yes it is still a rumor. Remember rumors are items of interest that are unsubstantiated and this fits that bill
If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.
And Halladay doesn't have that Hunger
Somebody needs to go to Subway for a $5 footlong, me thinks
The sun will shine in '69
Tell me again
why do the Cubs need another starting pitcher? I mean I know Harden’s contract is up after this year, but making any trade for Halladay would be a foolish waste of the precious few prospects the Cubs have. Just get him in free agency after next year.
I'll be honest
if we could, and if the package isn’t some ridiculous thing, I’d at least ponder it. I’m concerned about the starting pitching, with Z pitching like 3 years ago, Lilly overachieving, Wells workload being a concern to me, and the mystery that is Harden.
Just not sure we could.
Don't buy it
Now, all the people saying that we don’t match up with Toronto, well, that’s wrong. We match up a lot better with Toronto than many of the other rumored teams, as we have a 3rd and SS prospect, two positions the Blue Jays may ponder, along with some pitching. That said, I don’t see how we could even afford it, and Toronto isn’t going to eat money.
Personally, don’t want to see it happen. Rumors suggest they want a 4 man mega-package (think, from us, something like Vitters/Jackson/Castro and one), but it seems like the only team willing to fork over their top talent completely right now is St. Louis, who has a great hitting talent in Wallace and a decent shortstop option in Kozma, but one the whole, their system, while solid, is a bit overrated. We don’t need pitching that badly to make the move.
TSN
Is a Canadian sports net — affiilated with ESPN. “The Sports Network”
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 13, 2009 6:41 PM CDT reply actions
yes, and I just checked TSN's website
and could find nothing to support this rumor.
"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly
by ambrosiadreams on Jul 13, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
haha let's just say I wanted to see it for myself
but, as i suspected, it’s not on there.
"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly
by ambrosiadreams on Jul 13, 2009 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions
There are a lot of hungry athletes on this team
My proposal is to feed these guys 3 square meals a day. You’d think that with a payroll of almost $130 million they could afford a decent meal.
I wouldn't think Kenny Lofton
would still be hungry at the age of 75. He should be full by now.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 13, 2009 6:51 PM CDT reply actions
Good to know
That 3.5 games out our season can be saved. 3.5 games out September 15th and the season can be saved.
Sam Fuld is a great guy
and a nice player. But he’s NOT a full-time starter. There’s no way you sit Fukudome for Fuld. Fuld can be the fifth outfielder, spot-starting for Bradley and Soriano, pinch-running, and pinch hitting.
Drop Baker? He just got here, and he actually seems to be ok.
Freddy Sanchez: Do not want. I realize I’m in the minority on that, but I think Fontenot comes back from the break and excels.
Fox at catcher — I have no problem with that; he seemed to be fine yesterday.
But I question that the season needs to be “saved”. We’re 3.5 games back at the all-star break; that’s far better then we were doing in 2007 at this point. We contend this year, and quite possibly, surprise a lot of people.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
You don't sit Fukudome for Fuld
at least not more than once a week but you DO sit Sori for Fuld MORE than once a week , in fact Soriano needs to be OUT of the lineup via bench or DL until we figure out why he can’t hit OR field. Cubs should do everything possible to get Fuld at leadoff while he is hot. However short of a miracle Fuld will be back in Des Moines by Thursday because the Cubs will get another catcher and he will be odd man out.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 13, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Soriano
is hitting over .350 for the past 7 days. If this is real improvement, he’ll continue after the break.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 13, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions
okay, here's the question on Fuld
Why not take a look? Look, talent wise, he’s a bit limited. Guys with his skillset often need a plus tool, and he doesn’t really have it. He’s solid in a bunch of areas, though, a bit of pop, strong D, still enough speed post injury.
But it’s also about fit. We could use a CF that plays strong D and has some discipline and ability to get on base to try as a top of the order guy. A little speed wouldn’t hurt. Based on track record/scouting report, that’s Fuld. I agree, if he can’t start in CF, he’s basically a bench player as a pinch runner, defensive replacement.
But with Fukudome, you have enough to know that there should be some concern. So why not take a look at Fuld? I’m not saying you bench Fukudome full-time. With Soriano and Bradley not exactly showing signs of going off, there’s a way to work all 5 guys (including Reed) in there. But I want to see if Fuld can perform, at least, right after break, to see whether or not we need to make a move for a top of the order type. The market isn’t going to be great, and some of the talents out there that we can afford and will be available will be Fuld-like guys.
Guess it comes down to how you view Fukudome and whether or not you think his offense can turn around.
Fuld has the hot hand...
and maybe you give him a few spot starts in the next week, but he’s not an everyday guy out there at this point. And fukudome has done well in the leadoff spot, why start sitting him now.
Baker can go for all I’m concerned…I still don’t know why they made that move when baker is ryan freel and aaron miles. I would let blanco be the utility infielder, he’s perfect for that role.
Fox can’t be relied on to catch in my mind. His role will be to spell some games at 3B for ramirez and come off the bench as a PH…….We just need to hope ramirez, soriano, bradley, and soto play to their potential in the second half.
Why can't he be relied on to catch?
Last night he framed pitches very well and blocked 2 balls in the dirt. Gotta give the guy a chance until he proves incapable.
"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly
by ambrosiadreams on Jul 13, 2009 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I suppose you could give him a chance...
but he hasn’t played the position too much in recent years and can he consistently play alright defense without costing runs? And can he throw out runners stealing on him?
That's just it
I don’t think either one of us can answer that. I was just questioning your statement that he can’t be relied on…I think with his bat, we have to give him the chance. I certainly didn’t see anything last night that scared me.
"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly
by ambrosiadreams on Jul 13, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't get the comparisons
being made of Baker to Aaron Miles and Ryan Freel. He’s not a “scrappy” guy. Baker’s a big guy who has power in his swing and can drive the ball. There’s a reason folks compared him to DeRosa. He’s also a bit more versatile than Miles. I know Miles can handle short, but honestly, we don’t want him there. Baker was a 3rd baseman, and has played OF more. I am perfectly fine with a Baker/Fontenot tandem. Actually, given PT, I think Baker would be solid at 2nd base, at least, solid enough that he won’t be the cause of any problems to be concerned with.
Totally agree.
I’m pretty comfortable with a Fontenot/Baker platoon. Both guys have a ton of potential to hit with some power and, as I’m so often wont to point out, Fontenot is excellent defensively. I’m not sure what Baker’s defensive reputation is – he doesn’t really have enough innings at any one position to have clear UZR numbers. But I’d still be willing to roll with them as a platoon over losing prospects/trade chips on a Freddy Sanchez-esque deal.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Fuld
What those who doubt fuld are missing is that he is a leadoff hitter. Or so it seems. We havent had one since Lofton. A leadoff hitter is someone who can get on base and steal a base. Put the ball in play. A spark at the top of the lineup. Not Soriano.
He brings energy to the ballclub. And those who say we are only 3 and half back are ignoring the obvious. This team has not shown any signs of being a team capable of making the post season let alone winning a championship.
We were told this team would contend for a championship. Not a first round flame out..or worse, not making it at all.
Something is missing here and with no money to spend, the answer lies with these kids or a resurgence from Soriano- Bradley. Fonzie looks awful and has for months.
Bradley (who shouldnt have been signed – Hello Adam Dunn?) looked better this weekend but still cannot seem to get a hit with a man in Scoring Position.
I like the energy Fox- Fuld- Wells- Blanco- Hoffpauir et all bring to the table. They arent spoiled overpaid malcontents who think they just have to show up to make the postseason. They want to make the big leagues. That hunger is what has been missing.
by cubsmakemecrazy on Jul 13, 2009 9:07 PM CDT reply actions
It's a humanitarian crisis
We’ve spent way too much time and money on hunger all over the world when it seems there is a MAJOR hunger problem here in the U S of A…. with a seemingly large concentration in Iowa.
by Kooter on Jul 13, 2009 9:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I like the energy Fox- Fuld- Wells- Blanco- Hoffpauir et all bring to the table. They arent spoiled overpaid malcontents who think they just have to show up to make the postseason. They want to make the big leagues. That hunger is what has been missing.
You’re projecting.
Yep - as so many fans do.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
And if those malcontents were hitting, you would be cheering for them like a giddy
schoolgirl. Give me a break.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 13, 2009 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Only in small doses.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
This is what I would do...
….keep putting Bradley and Soriano’s name on the lineup card and hope they hit like they can. If they don’t, you have no chance, so you mine as well do everything to get them going.
The other thing I would do is make sure Soto is staying away from the buffet line.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Yes, I think the Cubs have to...
…rely on the guys that they are relying on to put up big if not huge numbers. There is no reason to panic. I may not have agreed with every Hendry contract, but so what. There are 2 corner outfielders on the team that are capable of huge numbers. We saw something from Soriano early on and he’s really struggled. MB may very well be back or whatever it is he claimed recently, but if anything he shows a disciplined batting eye (why doesn’t that translate uniformly to the person?), and these two players are capable of putting us in first place. There’s still plenty of time left and one of the big keys is production from these two talented players.
Release Baker immediately.
That would be incredibly stupid.
What does he have to offer that Ryan Freel didnt?
He’s young, cheap, and can hit a baseball. Freel is none of those things.
I would rather play Blanco.
He’s a defensive wiz but if you’re trying to cure our offensive woes I don’t see how starting a guy with a career line of .256 in the minors is going to solve that.
Blanco is hungry
He does have kind of an “eat a sandwich” look to him, I’ll give you that.
by Wreckard on Jul 13, 2009 10:34 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd too
I really like Baker.
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 14, 2009 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions
So basically:
Hungry = good
Well-compensated = bad
Who are you, Charles Dickens?
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
POPULISM FOR TEH WIN!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions
He would love the Marlins
Though they’re probably hungry because they aren’t paid much money to play.
I'm telling you...
To solve the problems they need to do away with the $5 foot longs! People aren’t hungry anymore and that is causing the downward slide of America!
The sun will shine in '69
♪ ♫ Five dollar. Five dollar foot loooooooooongs. ♪ ♫
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
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