WIll the Cubs Make a Move By July 31?
by CubbieFaninOhio on Jul 21, 2009 10:52 AM CDT
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PrintWhile I would like for the Cubs to improve their team with a trade before the trading deadline, I don't see it happening. Bottom line, what can we add that's going to be enough of an improvement to put us over the hump?
They aren't going to bench or trade any of their high priced outfielders. The infield is pretty well set. The only trade that makes sense to me would be if they can get Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates. That's definitely an upgrade over Fontenot, although he's starting to show signs of life. First, are the Pirates willing to trade within the division? Second, would this improve the Cubs enough to go from contender to favorite either in the division or for the World Series?
Catching will be very solid when Geo gets back. Having him out allowed the Cubs to find out that Fox can serve as an emergency catcher, if needed. The starting pitching has been solid all year. Dempster will be back soon and Harden looked good in his last outing. We have good depth 1-5 and have Marshall and Hart to fill in if needed.
While the bullpen was mediocre at the beginning of the season, Lou seems to have found roles for all of them. Sure, we'd prefer Marmol improves his control and I can live without Heilman, but is there really anyone out there we could get that's going to make a significant improvement? I have to say, I think I was wrong abour Gregg. I thought it was a terribly signing, but he's come along and has been pitching well lately.
I like our bench with Fox, Hoffpauir, Johnson and even Baker and Blanco. That's a nice mix of defense and power.
Who/what would you wnat to trade for that would significantly improve the team and not cripple the farm system, such as it is?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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IMHO...
There is nothing that one trade could do to help this team this season. They don’t need starting pitching, the pen is coming around, and too much of the offense is buried with long-term contracts.
On paper, this Cubs team should be a much better offensive squad, but they are not for a multitude of reasons (age, attitude, injury). You might improve one position, but that isn’t going to make the rest of the line-up hit the ball.
Ladies and gentlemen! It's 1985 all over again, but this time the offense goes to hell!
Minor moves is all I see us doing
Perhaps something along the lines of a lefty reliever like Grabow, Beimel, or Sherrill. Sherrill would probably cost us more in prospects versus his potential contributions as opposed to the other two. Perhaps a David Patton would net us either one and then sh*tcan Mr. Aaron Heilman.
by Southside Steve on Jul 21, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions
we can't trade David Patton!
he has to stay on the roster for the year.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Wrong
he can be traded, the receiving team then assumes the Rule 5 obligations
by Southside Steve on Jul 21, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I thought
we had to offer him back to the Rockies first?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions
thats what i thought also
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
Not for a trade.
That only applies if we try to send him to the minors, and even then he goes through waivers and anyone below the Rockies can claim him and assume the Rule V liabilities.
If he had to be offered back to the Rockies before a trade was made, why didn’t they just grab him back when the Reds traded him to us ?
by Southside Steve on Jul 21, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
thanks
i was not aware of that loophole
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
Steve is right
I’m almost positive Patton can be dealt.
he could be PTBNL
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Or he could just be traded
I believe PTBNL cannot be anyone on the 25 man roster or the major league DL. Regardless, he can be traded. After all, the Cubs were not the team that selected him in the Rule V draft, I believe the Reds were and they traded him to us for cash considerations. We then bear the obligation of keeping him on the 25 man roster unless we trade him, in which case the team we trade him to has to keep him up the rest of the year.
by Southside Steve on Jul 21, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Not unless they decide to be sellers
And there isn’t much to sell outside of Rich Harden.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
LOL, right nothing to sell on this team
Bunch of worthless bums
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you misunderstand it
Rich Harden is really the only player that could get us anything of substantial value. We couldn’t get much for Reed Johnson or Carlos Marmol. Certain individuals would be better off DFA’d after the trade deadline when the Cubs are no longer in contention.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Why?
I don’t know the specifics on him. Is he a free agent at the end of the year? I thought he was under control for longer.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
if Ram gets injuried again, then he can fill in for him.
He can play SS and theriot move to 2B and possibly platoon with Font, he’s making 3.5 mil i think so it’s not a huge stretch
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions
That's not what I was asking
Is Peralta available? I haven’t seen this anywhere.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't see any moves
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
There will be a move
but not necessarily before July 31 and probably not anything that makes this board universally go “Yay!”
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
I like Sanchez, but...
… Fontenot is hitting .333/.348/.489 in 45 July at-bats so far. If he can keep up his July performance, we’ll be just fine.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Any further word on that AL catcher thing?
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.
Please please please
do not trade for Sanchez. Completely unnecessary. Career .338 OBP and while he is having a nice year he had a .298 OBP in over 600 PA’s last year.
Just say no, Hendry!
by paulucla on Jul 21, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
If we traded anything of value for Freddy Sanchez, it would be horrible, counter-productive, annoying, wrong-headed, and almost certainly an overall drag on our chances of winning this year and next year.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
Especially when the Cubs really need to shed payroll
You don’t do that by constantly trading for and overpaying free agents. The experiences with Aaron Miles and Milton Bradley should be lesson enough. I’m all for doing what it takes to win, but sometimes you need a long term plan for success. Eating contracts and taking on more and more contracts isn’t a good plan.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I expect the Cubs to acquire a catcher and that's about it.
The offense has to come around with the players that we have and particularly from the OF positions.
I don't foresee any big moves - certainly nothing on par with Harden last season.
The Sanchez thing doesn’t excite me – feels like trading just to acquire a sexy name in the hopes of sending shivers down the spines of the rest of the NL Central. I’d rather keep the pieces.
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what?
feels like trading just to acquire a sexy name in the hopes of sending shivers down the spines of the rest of the NL Central
No, they would do this because Sanchez is leaps and bounds better than anything the Cubs have at second base.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Absolutely not true....
Sanchez had a .669 OPS last year in over 600 PA’s. He’s right handed.
While Fontenot has struggled obviously this year, he’s shown good signs of late getting much better ABs and let’s not forget he had a .900+ OPS last year.
I like platooning Fontenot/Baker at 2B and it’s certainly not worth picking up a 31 year old career .762 OPS player with a 8 million dollar option that’s probably going to vest for next year.
by paulucla on Jul 21, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Couldn't said it better myself.
And before anyone says “but Sanchez is great defensively!”, well, Mike Fontenot has put up outstanding UZR numbers at the second base position in a pretty large sample.
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As we're seeing Fontenot isnt a full time player
whereas Sanchez is, and all star one at that, but the fact that he’s right handed is Lous kryptonite
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
by bren on Jul 21, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
All Star....Gold Glove...batting champ...
…these honors are all rather subjective and, in some ways, dubious.
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by daver on Jul 21, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sanchez > Fontenot
I’m not saying they would trade for him.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Could you substantiate that comparison for us?
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my opinion only
Sanchez is a better hitter .302/.338/.424
Fontenot: .272/.349/.430
Sanchez has hit consistently throughout his career (5 yrs with P-Rats)
Fontenot complied those stats basically from last year.
They are both pretty good fielders.
I honestly don’t know what Fontenot does better than Sanchez. Sanchez makes more money so that’s bad i guess.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Fontenot is also playing his first full season
He played a good part of it out of position and he slumped with the entire team.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
not a jackass question
but why do you think Fontenot is better?
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I never said he was
I think a lot of people are being unfair with Fontenot. If he still can’t make adjustments by next season, then it probably is a lost cause. A lot of fans are angry that this team hasn’t played up to a perceived level of talent. We don’t need to repeat the 2008 offseason and make moves we think should be made, but make sensible moves. Moving Fontenot when the rest of the team slumped pretty horribly doesn’t make a lot of sense.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I'm not saying Fontenot sucks and the Cubs should get rid of him
i just think sanchez could improve this team
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
You can only improve inconsistency with consistency
This lineup does not fire on all cylinders. If Aramis Ramirez hadn’t gone down to shoulder injury, he could very well have been having an MVP-type season (though overshadowed by Albert Pujols). That would have done wonders for this team that has struggled to consistently put runs on the board. People have suggested Sanchez, but he’s not the answer for this sinking ship.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
If he did improve the team...
…it would be a marginal improvement (perhaps few extra hits based on his high BA), not worth surrendering trading chips to a division rival (and, yeah, I know the Pirates aren’t much of a rival this season). I still think “Freddy Sanchez, former batting champ” is enticing people more than anything else.
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by daver on Jul 21, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
LOL - so Fontenot has a higher OPS and Sanchez is still better?
You’re not basing this on batting average, are you?
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.778 to .762
i’ll be the first to say that font’s ops is going down. He has played 3 yrs, sanchez has played 5
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
actually sanchez has .770 ops during his 5 years in pittsburg
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Because of their differing playing time...
…I’m really not sure career numbers are appropriate here.
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And those are just their combined stats
If you split out Fonty’s #s v. LHP and RHP and then plan to only play Fonty v. RHP…
sigh
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
paulucla is on a roll
Rec’d again and may your enemies fall beneath the cudgel of truth you wield so powerfully.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
you point to last year, but what happened in the other 4 years with the Pirates
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
His offensive numbers have been inconsistent - and based largely on batting average.
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I'm guessing you're a ryan theriot hater then
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Not really, no.
I probably wouldn’t trade for Ryan Theriot, and I’m not particularly impressed by his batting average. But I think he’s overachieved at his position defensively and appears to be on track for improving his OPS this season.
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and Chone figgins, Tony Gwynn,
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Isn't Chone Figgins a utility guy?
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he plays on a regular basis, at least for the last couple years.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't follow the Angels that closely.
I do know he plays multiple positions and, looking at his numbers, he appears similiar to Sanchez in the way his OPS has gone up and down from season to season.
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no, he was an average hitter, that's what i was trying to point out
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
He also had a career OPS of .847, 132 OPS+
So far, Sanchez has a career OPS of .762, 100 OPS+. Freddy Sanchez is exactly that – an average hitter, a league average hitter. Sorry, just not worth trading for.
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FYI
I read an article yesterday in the Tribune that said something along the lines that with Koyie Hill starting as catcher, the Cubs have a winning percentage over .600. This is of course counting last year’s games as well, but I think a stat like that just goes to show how well of a game Hill calls behind the plate. He is no offensive mastermind, but I think he is a pretty solid catcher behind the plate.
yeah he gets the job done
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
please don't try to make Koyie Hill seem good
he is awful
the team wins when he plays.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Baseball isn't all about offense
Defense is a big part of it too.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I'm gonna say...
Offensive is only 50% of the game
Run prevention is the other 50% of the game
The sun will shine in '69
He calls a good game, and the team thrives on that
You can’t deny the fact that the Cubs win when he catches games. Who cares if he can’t hit. The team wins which is the most important outcome of a game. I would never consider taking Hill for my fantasy team, but if the team wins with him catching, you gotta link some of the team’s success to Hill.
thats great
he hits less then .220 there is no way that having him in the lineup helps us win.
Koyie Hill makes up for it behind the plate
His CS percentage is 42%. That’s actually one percentage point better than Yadier Molina, though we are comparing a smaller sample size with Koyie Hill.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
you cant make up for that bad of hitting
and have you watched Koyie catch lately he has made a couple of errors that cost us runs against the nationals. IMO he needs to go. wish we had a minor league catcher to take his spot.
Sigh.
Backup catchers = above avg defense + below avg offense. That’s pretty much how it works. Hill has done his job.
Soto, in a regular year, will catch at least 140 games. Hill does his job well.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
Is there
anything more condescending than putting “sigh” in the subject line of posts?
DEJESUS!!!
what were the results of those games my friend?
I know it was against the nationals which isn’t saying much, but Hill gets the job done. plain and simple.
so your saying if he makes errors and wins the team wins
its because of Koyie Hills great hitting performance and errors that the cubs win. Your logic is flawed just because they have a good winning percentage when he plays doesnt make them a better team when he is playing.
I think your logic is flawed
It’s simple. Lets drop the argument of whether hill is good or not. You can’t explain how the Cubs win when he is in the lineup, and I can’t either. But it’s been proven that the Cubs do win when Hill is in the lineup and if you deny that, that is not logically my friend.
really?
then how come the team has a winning percentage of .643 (36-20) since 2007 when Hill started? like Ace said, baseball is not just offense, it’s defense too. most catchers in the major league are not there because they can hit, but because they can call a decent game at catcher. Hill is a prototypical catcher and the team does great when he’s in there. You can not simply say that his batting average is hurting the team, because this team wins with him.
Shall I repeat my self again? When Koyie Hill catches for the Cubs, the Cubs more than likely win games.
this sample size is way to small to care about
and just because they win its not because of Koyie Hill its in spite of Koyie hill
how its it in spite of Koyie Hill? The other players magically play better? The opposite of a Tiger Woods effect….cool.
because Koyie Hill
probably didnt help win many of the games he was just playing and the Cubs win
who is a better defender in 2009?
koyie hill or geo soto?
don’t know, just asking
I honestly think Soto is from watching them both play
and Soto knows the pitchers better but, these fools will say Koyie Hill is the second coming of pudge
clearly I think of Hill as the second coming as pudge....
Soto is a better catcher, but Hill is not bad at all.
first of all
please don’t namecall.
Secondly, I think it’s not unreasonable to suggest that Hill is a good defensive catcher, and saving runs is at least as important as scoring them.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
what do you not understand about the Cubs winning when Koyie Hill starts?
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
What don't you understand
about Koyie Hill being terrible they don’t win because Koyie Hill is starting they win because the other 8 starters carried his slack
but then
does that mean that Soto is so bad the other 8 CAN’T pick up his slack?
I’m just carrying the analogy all the way through.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
isn't he part of every play? doesn't he call the pitches? lol he might or might now idk
Look at 2007 numbers too 23-13 when hill starts. He doesn’t make a huge offensive impact but he is very good defensively.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry for disagreeing with everyone
but Koyie Hill is terrible IMO and no matter what you say about winning games he is awful.
he is a bad offensive catcher
but W are the most important thing.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't necessarily think that Koyie will continue to be a part of so many wins
but I think your argument of offense alone (especially for the position of catcher) is incredibly shortsighted.
For example, the pitching staff has an ERA of 3.29 when Koyie is behind the plate. Soto’s ERA? 4.40.
Soto’s bat is certainly better, but 1.11 runs per game better? In a word, no.
it's tough with catchers
‘cuz there is so much to it. calling pitches. settling down pitchers. i don’t know that there is so little solid data.
Honestly I think Hill is.
Geo is a butcher when it comes to receiving and calls in my opinion a pretty rough game. He seems to go back-back-back pitches in the same location (Geoff Blum walkoff #2). Big league hitters are going to see it the third time and hammer it.
Gordon Beckham walk off- Fastball away? Why the hell wouldn’t you make him turn on mid 90’s heat by working him in?
I have paid major attention to Soto and he is still very raw.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
then why does every announcer
say he handles the pitching staff great and calls a great game. Your probably right though you know more then guys who get paid to do it.
Actually I've caught for over 20 years
and studied the position relentlessly. I don’t care who is on TV. They’re on TV because they look good for TV. I know the position. I’m telling he calls a bad game, and doesn’t frame worth a lick.
Example: he receives the outside pitch to righty too close to his body. He needs to extend his arm out. What this does is blocks the umpires view of what he thinks is the corner and will show more of your glove over the plate. That’s basic. He doesn’t do it.
I hate that shit about people being on TV all the time. Because I’m not on TV that means I’ve never played, never studied the game, never coached nor played. I forgot. How many times was Bill James on TV slick?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
I also caught
and I believe Soto looks great behind the plate
Catcher fight!
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Than you couldn't have caught
crabs from a $10 hooker because he doesn’t frame or call pitches worth the damn.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
thats just your opinion
in my opinion he looks good so maybe your the one who was a bad catcher.
I could provide
numerous times where I’ve noted he’s housed a ball back there and where pitch selection was terrible (and I’ve noted if the pitcher shook him off). I’ve researched this. I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t have damn good evidence.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
you have researched his bad pitch selection
i would like to see that research pretty in depth websites. Im just saying in my opinion and many other Soto is a good defensive catcher who handles the staff very well
That's your opinion
but I’d like to know what the hell you’re looking at. I’m not saying his Bob Uecker, but he doesn’t call a good game or receive well at all.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Your oeosoto handle doesn't bode well to your objectivity in this debate
Albert Pujols for Cubs Starting 1B in 2012
im not bias
and im sure other ppl would agree soto is a good defensive catcher
Soto
is a fat slug who has let the team down with his pot smoking munchie lazy ways this year.
He is a better hitter than Hill, but not when he is on the bench with a pulled side boob or whatever he has.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
LOL - "pulled side boob"
That’s gold, Worf, gold!
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I don't know which of you is right
but I am going to lean towards the guy who doesn’t butcher the English language with grammatical errors in nearly every post.
DEJESUS!!!
sorry i thought this was a blog
not an english paper its called computer talk
1101011011010110010110010101001110101000111?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Punctuation be damned!
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.
Hey-ohhhhhhhh!!!
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.
that's what your mom said to me
before I left your house last night! :P
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh man, let's not get into Mom jokes.
We could take this thread down to a new whole level of agony.
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.
like your mom's singing!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
especially when they play the Nats
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill
by lookingdeadred on Jul 22, 2009 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions
I believe they will make a decent size move for a pitcher
either a starter or reliever because Hendry can’t sit still to long. I would not be surprised to see him try and trade Bradley if he can’t turn it around with the help of Piniella. This would be a salary for a salary more than likely though. Bruce Levine mentioned yesterday that this was Bradley’s last chance according to Cub’s officials.
and who would want to pick up Bradley's salary....
I doubt any team would want Bradley at this point, especially @ $10 a year.
Trade Bradley?
The Cubs wouldn’t deal Bradley unless they were willing to eat up a large part of his contract as they did with Sammy Sosa. Given that the aim is to try to reduce payroll at this point, they’re not going to do that. Like it or not, Bradley is a Cub.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Eating
part of a contract doesn’t increase payroll, it reduces it. As long as the person you are trading for isn’t also a high-salary player, the payroll would likely go down. You’d be wasting money, but you wouldn’t be spending more.
DEJESUS!!!
and starting is not a problem for this team. Leading the majors in quality starts. Great ERA. Picking up a guy in the pen would be nice, but we picked up BJ Ryan as a small risk
They are concerned about Harden
and the jury is still out on Wells!
true
although he showed some promising signs against a very underrated washington nationals offense in his latest outing. I’m not sure what type of trade value harden could get, considering he is having an off year.
The jury is still out on Wells?
I would say he has been pretty damn outstanding all year??
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
Last Chance??
“Bruce Levine mentioned yesterday that this was Bradley’s last chance according to Cub’s officials.”
Does that mean releasing, trading what? I knew Bradley had sensitivity issues, but what a freaking baby. The only other person I know that acts this way is my 4 years old granddaughter. Her parents give her chocolate after she poops. Maybe, Lou should try this with Milton. Instant reward!!!
Yes, it’s a lot of money, but I feel the Cubs would be better off just releasing Bradley. One bad apple ruins the whole bunch idea. The rest of the team could be made up of consummate clubhouse guys, but Milt’s attitude is killing the team.
I don’t see the Cubs making any major deals before the deadline. I really feel the only move needed is to get rid of Bradley.
lol
please state clearly and concisely what issues Bradley has that are similar to your granddaughter’s.
Include cites.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Milton is now crying because a man he respects, Lou, is giving him lessons on how to hit.
Remember: After Lou and Milt had their little argument over smashing the Gatorade dispenser, and Lou sent Milt home, Milt stated he respected Lou too much to rebut.
My Granddaughter cries when I tell her she is not being a big girl when she hits her little sister.
Milton is crying?
please provide a link.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
read
Van Dyke’s article in the Tribune, dated 7/21/09. He includes quotes from Milton. Sounds to me like he is crying.
Could you provide a link?
Or would that detract from the GNP?
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.
ah, here it is
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-21-cubs-brite-chicago-jul21,0,5923830.story
Cubs manager Lou Piniella, as promised, worked with outfielder Milton Bradley in the batting cage Monday on “adding the relaxation mode. No tension.”
Well, if it worked, Bradley didn’t take the “no tension” part into the clubhouse.
He spent only a couple of minutes with media and spoke softly and tersely.
Editorializing.
How long will the two work?
“That’s between us,” Bradley said.
What did they work on?
“We’re working.”
No crying there.
Bradley was asked about working more.
“We’re going to work, like I’ve been working all year and continue to work,” he said.
No crying there.
That’s the only article by Van Dyke on the page that actively quotes Bradley.
What else you got?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Is this how you would react to having someone you respect teach you a craft? You are as classless as Bradley.
ah.
You believe everything you see on the TV news too? Those are quotes of Bradley talking to the media. You’ve no idea what he is or isn’t saying directly to Lou.
Nice dig, tho. What else you got?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
If he felt about good about his session with Lou, why would he ask like that with the media. If Milt wants to be treated like a professional, then he needs to ask like one.
are you serious?
you’re talking about a guy who, rightly or wrongly, feels that the media has piled on him for no good reason for years. Furthermore, NO PLAYER goes into details about what they’re working on.
Did you hear Piniella talk to Judd about it on the pre-game yesterday? There were NO DETAILS beyond “he needs to relax”. Why would you tip opposing teams off to adjustments you’re making?
When Lee talked to Judd about his adjustments, he didn’t go into details. When Theriot talked to Judd about his hitting, he said his goal was to hit 100 home runs!
Bradley is quoted for 19 words, and he says “work” or “working” FOUR TIMES. That’s crying?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Dare I suggest - how 'bout cutting Bradley some slack?
He’s a professional hitter who’s basically had to go back to school this season. I’m sure he didn’t choose to do that, and if he could have avoided it, he surely would have. Baseball’s not easy – players have down seasons and can’t explain it. Milton’s had to swallow a lot of pride this season, so I can forgive him for being a little curt with the press. At least he’s trying to improve matters and held up his OBP in the meantime.
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.
When did this happen?
Milton’s had to swallow a lot of pride this season
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Believe me, his numbers from the left side have embarassed him.
How could they not? And I’d throw the “tossing the ball in the stands with two outs” as a pretty humbling moment, too.
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.
But I haven't heard or read a single repentant word
His words have been more like “it’s baseball and these things happen” and what not. Very far from swallowing pride, I would say.
Pride swallowing, in my opinion, would be something like “I’ve been terrible, my visible attitude is less than appropriate and I have made some errors. But I promise my teammates and the fans I will make an effort to revert to—at least—my playing abilities, albeit I can’t guarantee I’ll be peaches and cream to the media.”
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
I wanna say he did admit to being awful at one point...
…though I don’t really have time to go out look for the quote right now. He also recently declared he’s “back,” which would imply an admission to being gone in the first place.
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multiple times
he’s said “I’m not playing well, and the fans deserve better.”
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
It's your turn, isn't it?
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.
here
he talks about how he’s working on his swing:
“Early in the year, my swing didn’t feel good, so I was making adjustments trying to find my swing,” Bradley said. “But at the same time, I really didn’t have rhythm yet, so I couldn’t really know where my swing was at. So once I found my rhythm and got my swing, then I had bad positioning and wasn’t standing in the box right.”
You’ll note he doesn’t talk about specifics.
Here’s where he says he knows his batting isn’t good:
“I just want to do better,” Bradley said. “What I’ve been doing just ain’t cutting it. I want to live up to all the expectations of the fans and do what they want me to do. I’m working hard every day. Come October, hopefully they’ll love me.”
Here’s where he talks about taking responsibility for the ball he threw into the stands:
“The other fly ball [in the eighth], I turned my back to shade the sun some,” he said. “I caught it. I exhaled, and I was still seeing purple and green spots because I was looking into the sun. I sensed that something wasn’t right. My heart was in the right place, I tried to give a souvenir. It was messed up.”
Here’s another article where he talks about his performance:
“What we just have to do is stay professional,” Bradley said of the Cubs. "You have to look in the mirror and say, ‘Whatever I can do to help this ballclub win, that’s what I’m going to do.’
“You’ve just got to take all selfishness out of it and sacrifice whatever you can do for the team and try to win. It’s not fun playing ball like this. By the time you come into the dugout out of the outfield to sit down, you haven’t even stopped sweating and you’re running back out there again, you’re making outs so quick.
“I’m the main culprit. I’ve had terrible at-bats. I’m just not doing anything, not even hitting the ball out of the infield. It’s frustrating. We’re having mental lapses out there and just completely getting outplayed.”
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I spend
a lot of time looking up Bradley quotes. I should just bookmark them.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Or get a better hobby?
The sun will shine in '69
by gaclaudy on Jul 21, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
no
I like this one plenty. It accords me the chance to be right a lot.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions
30 Million dollars and he has to be personally coached by Lou
unbelievable
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
so
you’ve never had something you were good at, then then stopped being good at it because of an injury or stress?
I’m a poet. Oh, I work in front of a computer all day long, but I’m a poet.
I haven’t written anything real in at least a year. Wanna know how I’ll break out of the funk? I don’t know either, but I know one good way is to go take a class.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Thats a shaky comparison
Plus you dont get paid 30M for writing Haikus. Most writers just continue to write when theyre in a funk.
He is a walking injury, always has been, so i wont start the whole " Should they have signed him" debate again, but this is just ridiculous.
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
I agree with everything you've said
except the part where you said anything.
Sorry. Players need coaches. That’s why there are full time coaches on the payroll.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
right, but are the other 24 getting personal lessons from Lou?
Not as far as we can tell—and it is a sad state of affairs that a guy as talented and as well paid as MB needs to be babied by Lou; You dont see him scurrying over to help Alfonso
Thats why we have Von Joshua, is it not?
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Koyie Hill
had some direct coaching from Lou yesterday. I’m sure other players have had time with him as well. Lou likes to hit, and he knows what he’s doing.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I hope youre right
I just find the entire situation laughable
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
you know
world famous opera singers have singing coaches. Tom Hanks has an acting coach. So does Kenneth Branaugh.
I don’t know why you think it’s so ridiculous.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Those are subjective fields
to some degree, acting especially, its all the the eyes or ears of the audience, so coaching isnt necessarily needed in order to be successful.
I think its ridiculous b/c this guy was the center piece of the entire offseason and he’s somehow forgotten to hit, or is too hurt to play and is only doing so to reach the incentive level of his deal; in which case, its Jimbo who should be laughed at.
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
...
whatever. Clearly, you believe that people who can do a thing, never need help with it.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 22, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Would you prefer he NOT be coached?
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.
No, but its indicative of the state this team is in
And how miserably our assets have been spent and managed by Jimbo
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
It is a sad state of affairs...
…but if Milton Bradley can right the ship, we’ll all likely have more celebrating to do than complaining.
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Its gonna take more than him
And its hard to do riding the pine
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
He's working on his hitting mechanics.
From what I understand, he’ll be back in the lineup tomorrow and thereafter.
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He's actually pretty good at that.
Don’t let a couple sun-dropped balls fool you.
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.
Or can you at least provide a link to that Bruce Levine article?
Or did you hear that on the radio? That’s the first I’ve heard of any “last chance” ultimatum.
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.
Oh, I see.
Maybe I’ll look around to see whether Bruce Levine went on record with that comment – I mean, other than on the radio (which is where I’m guessing he said it).
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.
I wish people has required solid proof that Iraq had WMD before George decided to go to war. Where were you people then? Maybe if you had all spoken up, we wouldn’t be spending a trillion dollars a day on this endless/needless WAR.
let's not
please.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
We kinda have a no politics rule around here.
And I’m merely looking for some documentation of a very intriguing quote.
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.
Maybe we would all have jobs, instead of sitting around commenting on blogs. Maybe we would all have the ability to get our health care needs met whenever/where ever, but NO, you people are more concerns about Erin Andrews naked video and concrete proof that things were stated on the record.
"Maybe we would all have jobs, instead of sitting around commenting on blogs"
Why can’t we do both?
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.
Indeed.
The trick is to find a job that allows you to sit around and comment on blogs.
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
by Bill Potter on Jul 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
Ain’t it grand!
"I got a PBS mind in an MTV world"...Jimmy Buffett
by The Ryno and I Know on Jul 21, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions
the only thing better
would be a job that PAYS you to comment on blogs!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Ah... if only Daver were in Human Resources...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'm working on tying my BCB comment rate into my 401(k).
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.
I have achieved...
…NIRVANA!!!!
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.
because you are making your employer pay you for not doing the work you are being paid to do, unless you are a professional blogger
Hey, I get breaks.
And I’m building valuable critical thinking skills engaging in these types of spirited, intellectual debates. Why I’m even doing math!
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.
I am self employed
I can post whenever I please :)
"I lof to hit de home ron!"
♪ ♫ Takin' care of business, every day! ♪ ♫
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.
if Bruce Levine
went on record as saying that the Cubs are only giving Bradley one more chance, that’s fairly big news on a CUBS BLOG.
And what does “one more chance” mean, anyway? One at bat? One game? One series? One week? I’ll turn this car around right now?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
you are asking the wrong person
either a starter or reliever because Hendry can’t sit still to long. I would not be surprised to see him try and trade Bradley if he can’t turn it around with the help of Piniella. This would be a salary for a salary more than likely though. Bruce Levine mentioned yesterday that this was Bradley’s last chance according to Cub’s officials.
posted by cubdreamer 7/21/09 @1154 AM.
I was just responding to his comment. Ask dreamer is you want to know where the quote was made.
I want to know also, what does that mean
YES PROVIDE PROOF!
You know, like the names of the “dozens” of players who support Bradley.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
already asked
and answered. Find a new back, monkey.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions
It was on the radio yesterday
during the Carmen, Yurko and Harry show.
In regards to what you said overall...
I may be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that the Pirates were not willing to trade sanchez..or that could be wilson, or both. Not sure.
And Fox only caught 2 innings, so I don’t think we can say too much about him, although we can safely say that he did look like he knew what he was doing out there, but we really have no idea what his skills are truly like while catching.
I think the bullpen is starting to come along, and hopefully BJ Ryan can recover quickly, as he could become a huge asset towards the end of the year and possibly in the playoffs.
Could not agree anymore about Gregg. Hated the move when we got him. Hated him through most of the first half. I think he’s definitely coming around and I actually am starting to like Gregg.
Our bench is fine so I see no need to change that.
Overall, this team has what it needs to win, they just need to do what they’re supposed to do. This season will hinge on the offense. If the offense clicks, we will be fine. If the offense does not click, we won’t be…though that is quite obvious.
you are right
Sanchez was mentioned as being on the trade block,
Then Wilson and Sanchez stated they wanted to be Pirates forever,
So, The Pirates said, no we are not going to trade Sanchez,
Instead we will offer Wilson and Sanchez extensions,
But they were low ball offers which both players rejected.
Beimel.
I think the Nats would dump him, he wants out (although he wants to go back to LA), and he would fit nicely into the bullpen.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I gotta admit, Beimel did look good in the Nats series.
His delivery reminds me of Dan Haren.
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YES
THE CUBS ARE GETTING ADAM LIND. DUH!
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
all depends on your definition of 'move'
they’ll do something shortly thereafter, as the 6-month poit is approaching on the rich hill PTBNL. and a ‘move’ will probably happen soon with aaron miles rehab assignment ‘progressing’.
Consider me on the
“no move is the best move” bandwagon. We don’t have much in the way of trade bait, don’t have much in the way of needs, and we have salary concerns that prevent us from getting into a “rent a player” situation. We’ve got to go with what we have and hope it’s enough (and I still think it is enough to win the division).
I hope you're right
The Cubs aren’t going to do much dumping unless they’re no longer in contention or Hendry doesn’t feel the team has a hope of contending. Of course, if Hendry starts doing stuff like that, he’s essentially put his head on the chopping block for when new ownership takes over.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I would like to see the Cubs dump some players.
But that would be practically impossible; the player I would like to dump is Soriano, and he makes too much money. Don’t jump on me for thinking Soriano is as bad overall as he has been recently; I’ve never liked him much as a player. I don’t think he is a guy you win with (the Yankee years notwithstanding- the overall talent on that team was incredible).
Be realistic
Alfonso Soriano isn’t going anywhere. No one wants to trade for an overpaid, slumping left fielder who commits a lot of errors. He’ll likely finish his time in Chicago at first base once Derrek Lee is gone. That said, I don’t think you’re going to see a lot of dumping during the season. That will occur in the offseason. Aaron Heilman and Rich Harden won’t be in Cubs uniforms next season. Aaron Miles will probably be cut loose as well with the team eating his 2010 salary. Reed Johnson may be gone as well in favor of Sam Fuld.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I was being realistic
Hence “that would be practically impossible… he makes too much money”. I was just stating what I wish would happen.
Freddy Sanchez would fit the Cubs lineup nicely.
Sanchez would bat after Aramis. This would give Aramis would have a good backup hitter.
Say again?
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Lee, Ramirez, Sanchez
By having a hot Lee in front of Ramirez, and by having Sanchez behind him would give him some protection while he isn’t 100%
But...but...Sanchez doesn't really hit for power.
Why would you put him in the middle of the order?
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Shanchez hits for a good avg.
He also has a little pop. I’m looking at the numbers right now, but I think he hits well at Wrigley.
He has a career .424 slugging percentage...
…so, yeah, he has “a little pop” – very little.
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Could you substantiate those comparisons for us?
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Pie charts.
Or just pie.
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You want to put...
a singles hitter behind A-Ram to give him protection? I don’t understand the logic.
Sanchez makes more than Miles, Baker, and Fontenot combined. He’d be a marginal upgrade at best.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
Maybe he has Lee leading off, followed by Ramirez, then Sanchez. ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
There isn't a move that would solve the Cubs inconsistency issues
I could see them adding an arm in the bullpen, especially if it allows them to move Heilman.
Other than that, I think they’ll be looking for those who have struggled to revert to form. Hopefully it will happen.
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
They would have to DFA Heilman
No one is going to trade for Heilman. I think if this season showed anything, it’s that 2008 wasn’t a statistical blip. Heilman’s stock is going way down. In hindsight, the Mets could have kept Heilman because Citi Field is a pitcher’s paradise. AT&T Park has done wonders for Bob Howry.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
The only way someone takes Heilman is if they feel they can get draft picks for him
I don’t know what Heilman’s free agent status will be, but he might be worth a couple compensation picks to someone (say a Washington).
Otherwise, I agree, DFA’ing him may be the only way to go.
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
by Bill Potter on Jul 21, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
why?
relievers are inconsistent. he’s terrible now. we only have 3 reliable pitchers out of the pen, and 1 is marmol. i don’t get the DFA thing. he could ‘figure it out’ next week and be okay. why DFA him when we don’t have other good options.
I wouldn't DFA him right now
But if the Cubs lone move is to acquire another bullpen arm or two, then I could see Heilman winding up on the chopping block. It would be another tough pill for Hendry to swallow, but it could happen if the Cubs feel they’ve acquired a better pitcher.
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 President of the Aaron Heilman Sucks Fanclub approves of this here message
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
'if they sign a pitcher'
heilman>samardzija>hart>stevens>
they’ve got a few guys to send to iowa first.
Cubs can make moves if they want
We can add freddy that would help us out big time..We can add a left in the pen that would help alot..I dont wanna hear we dont have money or no room thats bullshit.Dose boston ring a bell..?? they always make room and spend money.Get it done now hendry..
ERIC HANNA LIVES!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Too bad we
dont have a pic of Eric with MIlton holding the CUbs Win Sign
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
How do you know the Eric and Milton aren't one and the same?
Oh, the mind boggles… no wait… OH, THE MIND BOGGLES!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
It's like bizzarro world.
unless ERIC’S CAPS LOCK IS BROKEN!
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
If I were GM
1. Move Derrek Lee to San Francisco – he will waive the no-trade to play near home in Northern California is the assumption.
2. Move Kevin Gregg to highest bidder
3. Move Rich Harden to highest bidder
4. Move Reed Johnson to the highest bidder
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
You would do that right now?
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.
Yep
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Its pretty easy
to say “to the highest bidder”. There’s another side to that coin. Who fills their spots? Who is going to fill Gregg’s spot? Guzman? Ok, there you go Heilman, you just acquired a more important role. You can’t do that. Marmol? I’m more comfortable with Gregg. He’s not handing out walks like crazy.
Who takes Lee’s spot? Fox? Do you really think he’s going to put up the numbers Lee has this year? Ok, kill whatever little bit of leadership they do have.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
So you would basically be conceding the season?
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.
Is that to me?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
No, that's to BLou.
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.
he thinks the cubs are the pirates
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
haha
he really does. If we were the pirates and were in the situation we are in now, the pirates would totally be buyers. the cubs are 2 games back and BLou is calling for a fire sale??? Can this man please get the job as GM for all NL Central teams except the Cubs? I would love that.
BLou wanted the Cubs to hold a garage sale a month ago
Two games out and he wants to run up the white flag. Brilliant!
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill
by lookingdeadred on Jul 22, 2009 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Why would
you trade the Cubs’ best hitter this year? Even though he’s having a good year he’s not going to net you anything in a trade, unless you threw in Harden along with him.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
because hes old and his contract is expiring after next year
(right?) so in theory it would be selling high, but in reality its impossible b/c of his NTC
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Facepalm
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
+1
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
Much preferred over...
a stink palm.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
Mmmm
Makes me want pretzels!
"I got a PBS mind in an MTV world"...Jimmy Buffett
by The Ryno and I Know on Jul 21, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Snootchie Bootchies!
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
GM = Grumpy Male
if so, he is
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
BLou advocating a fire-sale
for a team three games out of first? UNPOSSIBLE!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
It's only 2 games.
I believe it’s the Reinsdorf-ian approach to a pennant race.
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
by Bill Potter on Jul 21, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
If I were Al
1. Trade BLou to the lowest bidder and still come out on top.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
addition by subtraction
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill
by lookingdeadred on Jul 22, 2009 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions
To Brew Crew Ball
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 22, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
naw
Cardinals. I’d love to see him try to complain about Pujols.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 22, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions
BLou, I always love your outlandish comments.
If you have a well built team that’s not performing, now certainly is not the time to dump players, especially considering the economy. The cubs would be better suited to dump players once the economy turns for the better because right now, we wouldn’t be getting much in return.
People may say that we could pick up some nice draft picks in the coming years by dumping now, but let’s face it, your lucky if 2 of your picks from any given year make it to the majors. It is my belief that trading for draft picks truly is not worth it most of the time, unless you’re a god like Billy Beane.
Sure we could pick up some prospects, but when an organization is willing to put out a $136 million dollar payroll (like your “status” so eloquently says), dumping players for the future does not make sense.
you always say really crazy things. which is why i think you say these things just to get reactions.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Me too.
Its hard not to banter back. But I think all of it is just a show. He probably leans back and laughs. Notice he goes against the grain ever time? If someone wasn’t trying,they would agree once in a while by default.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
And in flies BLou...
To save the post from Logic. Let’s find a way to trade A-RAM and Big Z and then we get the trifectica!
The sun will shine in '69
LOL I'm so glad the Cubs didn't sign Jason Schmidt in that one off-season.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
+ 1
Everyone complaining about Soriano – we could have signed Jason Schmidt and Vernon Wells for big money instead.
Not many people complaining about Lilly at this point, but again, I think people would have been more excited for a Schmidt/Wells combo when it happened than Soriano/Lilly when that happened, but Soriano/Lilly has turned out to be much better.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I had that same thought today too
or Zito for that matter
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Wow...
Yes Boston dose ring a bell. However, they actually have an owner right now. The Cubs don’t. That matters quite a bit.
Its not bullsh*t. They don’t have the money (right now, with no ownership) or the space:
Kosuke Fukudome- Not going anywhere. No one will touch that contract.
Milton Bradley- See above.
Reed Johnson- Possible, but not netting you anything.
Soriano- See above.
Ramirez- Not a chance he’s traded
Theriot- Not netting you much.
Fontenot- Same as Theriot
Lee- NTC, MVP this year.
Soto- He’s baked and on the DL
Hill- Might get you a bag of chips in return
Hoff- Not netting you much. He’s not a young prospect.
Fox- Better value as a DH. Good candidate to trade.
The only tradeable contracts are mediocre players. That’s not going to amount to a whole lot. Even if you trade prospects (which they’re aren’t many) and Harden what are you going to get? There are no SS available that are a huge upgrade. They don’t need OFers, and they don’t need a 19th 2B. Where you going to put someone old wise one?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Thats to Tazz...
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
There's really nothing.
We have enough pieces to shoot the moon for Halliday, but our farm would be completely depleted. Only moves that will be made will be along the B.J. Ryan caliber.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
BJ Ryan would be 39 on the 40 man
a catcher would be forty. that’ll be about it.
We have a few DFA candidates...
that could open up a spot or two.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
moce chad fox to the 60-day dl
but i’m not sure when his ten years kicks in.
actually
when Judd (shudder) did the DL report last night, he didn’t mention Chad Fox. Anyone know his status?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
hmm.
Cubs.com says he’s still on the DL, no return date known. I don’t know how up to date that is.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
If Hill gets a bag of chips, does that come with a guarantee Geo wont eat them?
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
You mean toke?
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.
Fox- good candidate to trade
i keep reading this and it keeps not making sense. he hits. he can marginally play defense. he’s cheap, and under team control.
if an AL team thinks he is ‘light out’ enough to deal a solid player, then consider it. but ‘trade him to an AL team to be a DH’ sounds like a ‘give up’ philosophy. in case you haven’t noticed, we don’t have a backup to koyie hill. i value jake fox over a f’r’instance, kelly shoppach from cleveland. and i don’t think we could get much more than that for him.
let’s protect him on the 40 man, bring him to ’zona in february. let him catch, play some third, first, and left. and have a cheap, viable pinch hitter.
First of all...
Soto isn’t dead. Second of all, buy low, sell high. His value may never be higher. Where you going to put him next year? Left? Right? First? Third? No, no, no,no. He’s stuck on the bench. Why have that much talent sitting there.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
got any takers in mind?
would you offer jake for shoppach? i wouldn’t
Depends.
I haven’t though of it. I was just saying that he’s one of a select few the Cubs have that someone would want, and could bring some value back.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Fox has more value this year
is the point, I believe, b/c he can spell Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Geo and Bradley (though the last three positions arent optimal) whereas next year, hopefully, that wont be necessary. So if an AL team likes what they see so far this year, it might prudent to deal him now rather than next year when hes languishing on the bench
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
no way. isn't soto supposed to be back in a couple of days?
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
No way what?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
i know this is a stretch
but the ESPN people said this yesterday.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Said what?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
when his dl time ends, which is the end of this week/beginning of next
that he will return
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
He isn't taking BP yet
I doubt he’s back in the next week.
DEJESUS!!!
and he would be a good bench player
jose morales was a solid pinch hitter for a few years in the mid seventies. could catch poorly. was bad at first. player third like a sieve on occasion. but he could hit.
a player like fox doesn’t have to be good on defense. throw him out once in awhile to keep his swing fresh. let him pichhit like vic davalillo didf. if he keeps raking, then you deal him if offered quality in return. but keep him. he’s cheap, and he hits.
His age...
combined with a very small major league sample means we would most likely be trading high on him right now. It’s unlikely he’ll continue to have this much success and his defensive shortcomings limit his future with the team.
That said, he could only net us something of marginal value and it doesn’t make sense to trade him at this point because of his bat. I see Fox getting moved in the offseason to an AL squad.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
I'm not saying trade him now.
I was simply stating his one of the only pieces they could trade that someone would want, and could bring some value.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Learn the "Up" button TCobb...
it takes the response up to the comment replied to. I was replying to tim815, as you did and I believe we were essentially saying the same thing.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
Thats how thats done...
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
What would you take
for Fox?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
hmmmm....
a pen arm that i think would have an ERA under four through the end of september. in somewhat critical spots.
whoever fits that, i’d consider. if not, i’d keep him and use him as a pich hitter next year that occasionally fills in for rami, lee, and sori.
Yes, I concede the 2009 season
Cub season has been over for 2 months in my estimation. This will turn out to be a 79 to 83 win team. I’ve had enough of this pretending that the Cubs are a sleeping giant and just a win streak away from assuming their rightful place in the National League. That’s a load of hoey.
This is a DEEPLY flawed roster that pissed away good starting pitching in the first half. The worst payroll situation in baseball, a wretched defense, a wretched bullpen and an offense that is dysfunctional and scares no one.
Yes, I’m a SELLER.
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Meanwhile,
the team they’re chasing has played under .500 since April.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
We're two games out of first and we possess a 136 mil payroll.
It really doesn’t matter what we should or shouldn’t do. The fact is that a large market team this close to a playoff spot simply will not be a seller. Ever.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
I understand that point 100%
And to echo that point further Jim Hendry is fighting to maintain his employment and therefore is never going to admit defeat until mathmatically eliminated.
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
What is he supposed to do?
Announce “Dear Cub fans, the season is now over. Please keep coming to the games.”
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Not to hijack the conversation here, but
The Cubs could lose their first 100 games and Wrigley Field would still sell out for every game. Sadly, many people who buy tickets don’t go there to watch a competent baseball club and pore over stats. They go for the beer and the scenery.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Thanks for the kill...
I know that. It was just a figure of speech.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
I dunno
round about 0-50 people might not show up as much. I bet I’d move way up on the season-ticket waiting list, tho.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
And by "scenery" you mean...awww yeah...
♪ ♫ bow-chikka-chikka-bow-wow-wahhhhh-bow-chikka-chikka-bow-wow-wahhhhh-bow-chikka-chikka-bow-wow-wahhhhh-bow-chikka-chikka-bow-wow-wahhhhh ♪ ♫
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.
That worked in the 80s
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
That, I agree with.
Of course it’s fair game for you to voice your opinion, but the Cubs will be looking to do anything to make this postseason.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
Aha!
…therefore is never going to admit defeat until mathmatically eliminated.
So Jim Hendry = drewishdrewid!
Get ’er done, Drew! ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I’ll get right on that. :D
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Dude, could you score me some tickets? Txt me.
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.
anything
for the mambochicken collective.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions
hey the CUBS SUCK!
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Why come back again and again then?
“I’ve had enough of this pretending that the Cubs are a sleeping giant and just a win streak away from assuming their rightful place in the National League. That’s a load of hoey.”
If you are done pretending, why don’t you just leave? I’m not trying to be the ‘blog police’ and say you aren’t welcome here. I’m just curious. I don’t understand why someone would go day after day to a discussion forum for something they hate. I’ve lingered around forums I hate for a little bit just to poke fun, but never on your level. I don’t this can be healthy unless you are a the biggest machinist this world has even seen.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Because I'm a diehard Cub fan and have been so since 1977
I don’t understand your logic that if a Cub fan is pessmistic on the season he isn’t entitled to an opinion around here. Is this a blog that is exlcusive membership to the eternal optimists?
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
by BLou on Jul 21, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I understand
that the Cubs have let us down over and over again, but we’re 2 games back in the division…and you’re calling for a fire sale? Please tell me how that makes any sense at all.
I didn't say anything about not being entitled to an opinion.
I’m just trying to understand why you would come here again and again. For me personally, if I have given up on a team, I want to stay away from posting about them. It just reminds me of the sad state. To each his own I suppose. We all cope with sadness in different ways.
If you have been a fan of baseball since ‘77, I’m surprised you don’t understand how playing to averages usually works. The Cardinals have Franklin, Pineiro, Carpenter and Pujols playing over their heads and the Cubs have Soriano and Bradley playing below their averages with Ramirez and Soto fighting injuries but it looks like both will be healthy for mid-August at the latest.
Again for a fan since ‘77, I really don’t get how you just rule out a winning season. Hell, did you see the 2006 Cardinals win the World Series?!
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually, BLou has logged many hours at tool and dye shops over the years.
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.
Tool and "die"
Machinist? No, but I have been known to dabble in home electrical repair on the weekends.
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Dang, that's what I meant. I must've been thinking about my hair.
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.
Okay, yeah, I used spellcheck too quickly
And clicked on the wrong word. This is pretty obvious.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
because
misery loves company.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I may not agree with the selling part
Just because I don’t know if there are any takers, and I suppose that the Cardinals could suffer a major injury, but BLou is right. This is a .500 team, we get more proof of this almost every week. Injuries aren’t an excuse for how this team has played.
Does it mean I want to sell off players to the highest bidder? No because like I said perhaps Pujols’ knee gives out or Chris Carpenter’s arm falls off again. But overall this appears more and more like a .500 team that is in decline long term.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
i'm not making an excuse but injuries have played a large role in their play
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Let's keep the NL central as perspective though.
The Cards have been playing under .500 since May. We may not be too much better than .500, but a smidge better than .500 could land us a playoff spot.
This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09
True
and that’s why I would hesitate to sell off players. The point stands though, there isn’t a miracle run in this team unless something happens that I haven’t seen.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
wouldn't that be the definition
of a miracle run?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Point well taken, but....
I am of the belief that St. Louis is about to take off in the NL Central, especially if they can land a Jarrod Washburn type to round out that rotation for two months. DeRosa is now back. Glaus is getting close to being back and their bullpen is starting to come together a little bit. This to go along with LaRussa and Duncan in the dugout, two frontline starters in Carpenter adn Wainwright, and one of the greatest players to ever grace the game in Pujols. Cardinals area a team that has been there before in 2004 and 2006. They know what they need to do and I’m afraid they are about to once again go out and do it.
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Cards can't possibly take off
Glaus is hitting .200 in Single-A ball and can’t throw the ball. He will be a Hoffpauir at best and that would be putting Albert on the bench for some games.
Carpenter and Pujols are very talented but even they are putting up super human stats.
Frankling and Pineiro’s stats are insanely out of proportion. If anything, the Cards are going to decline.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmmm..
That same sort of logic could have been applied to the 2008 Cubs who were blessed with great team health and the big majority of players producing career year or very solid year production. The cookie crumbles the way it does. Cardinals are more good than they are luck. And perhaps you may want to acquaint yourself with the Dave Duncan School of Pitcher Reclamation, it’s latest graduates being Kyle Lohse and Joel Piniero.
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Dave Duncan School of Pitcher Reclamation
Todd Wellemeyer
Kip Wells
Did they flunk out? They seemed to be passing for quite sometime before the wheels fell off.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Kyle Lohse is back to being bad
But thats because the one thing St. Louis is awful at is long term pitching contracts. Carpenter got one after winning the Cy Young and hasn’t been healthy since. Lohse got one after a miracle season when he should have been let go on his merry way.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
actually, they're talking about putting Glaus in the outfield when he gets back
so the arm must be coming around at least to reasonable levels.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Yeah, I don't understand exactly the logic behind that
I believe the issue is that his arm is such that the fast whip motion to 1B is too much for him but throwing the ball in from the LF is okay. I’m guessing everyone would run on him and he would have to figure out how to play LF.
Clearly there is some issue because otherwise they would just put him at 3B and be done with it.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions
LaRussa has already shown he doesn't care about defense very much
Shumaker continues to play second base despite being the worst defensive second baseman in the NL.
I remember when Pujols got hurt in the early 2000s they put him in left and had edgar renteria run out from SS as far as he could to catch the ball and make the long throw.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
Glaus and DeRo are both dealing with pretty serious injuries (though DeRo is back in action).
But I do agree the Cards are the team to beat.
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.
I'm not advocating for St. Louis in so much as I'm saying you can pull the plug on this Cub team
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
That would be easier to do if one team in the NL Central was clearly dominating.
I say why not hang around the top playing .500ish ball and see what happens? Yeah, it’s disappointing but it’s better than nothing.
Glancing at the schedule here, the Cubs play a number of beatable teams in August before heading into the major division showdown month of September. And the Cubs wrap up the season with a homestand that features the Pirates and the D’Backs – those six games could be huge.
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.
+1
As I always too, look at the 2006 Cards. If that team could win the WS, ANY team could win the WS. Hell, the Pirates could make a move and win the WS.
by IllinoisCubs on Jul 21, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
okay, i'll play along
who are the redbirds gonna deal for washburn? their system is riddled with "okay’ guys. they have three solid prospects, and two of them are PTBNL prospects with cleveland (samuel and todd). they aren’t dealing wallace.
st. louis isn’t hitting outside of their first baseman. they are as likely to take off (if they start hitting) as the cubs (if they start hitting).
To say injuries aren't an excuse is just dumb.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
what?
were they an excuse last season when Soriano had a broken finger? When Z went on the DL? When Wood went on the DL?
For $136 million you should be able to build a team that can withstand the injury to one player. Notice how Aramis’ return hasn’t exactly sparked this offense to greatness.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
The difference is that
the most important player on the club went down for 2 months this year. Zambrano went down, Harden missed time, Dempster is missing time, Lee missed some games, Bradley missed some games, as did Soto. You are drunk if you’re going to liken it to last year.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Soriano's value to this club is equal to that or Aramis
Aramis barely hit above .200 last season while Soriano was out of the lineup.
You have to build a team with the knowledge that over the course of the season there will be injuries. Don’t hide bad performances behind one major injury.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
injuries are part of the problem, not the entire problem.
I think that’s what he’s trying to say.
Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball
by lexmarklover on Jul 21, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I can agree that they have been a problem
But don’t hide the rest of the crap this season behind one injury. No player is that valuable to a lineup.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
They lost their best player for 2 months.
You can’t build anything around that.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
but you can have a better backup plan than Mike Fontenot
and Aaron Miles.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
They did,
his name is Fox. They dropped the ball on that one.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
We can definetly agree about that
That was one dumb decision by Hendry, Lou, and the AAA manager.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
Lame excuses have been fashionable this season
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Tell me how that is lame?
The Cubs are 2 games out and missed Ramirez for 2 months. I’m not even getting into this because its a waste of time trying to convince you.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
"The weather hasn't been warm enough for our hitters..."
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
I'm talking injuries.
They have an effect mentally and in the lineup. The Cubs have been very unlucky and in my opinion would be in 1st place if not for Ramirez going down.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
You were the only person who was claiming that was an excuse
The poster of that FanPost was simply pointing out correlation between weather and Cubs offensive production. The stats could show we suck on Tuesdays – that doesn’t mean that it is not the team’s fault every week when Tuesday rolls around.
Yes, I’m a SELLER QUITTER.
Fixed that for ya.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Wait wait wait
Don’t you want to hold back all of your opinions?
I mean isn’t it about time for your weekly fanpost on how this team sucks? Or are you happy with the negative reaction you’ve brought to yourself on here for the day?
Freddy Sanchez is the poor man's Julio Lugo, with a higher price tag.
Freddy Sanchez’ career #s against right-handed pitching (RHP) are .284/.320/.396 a tOPS+ of 88.
Julio Lugo’s career #s against RHP are .271/.335/.394, a tOPS+ of 101.
Mike Fontenot’s career #s against RHP are .279/.359/.444, a tOPS+ of 105.
In 2009, Fontenot’s #s against RHP are .242/.322/.391, a tOPS+ of 85.
tOPS+ adjust for league and park effect.
What this means is that playing against RHP if we had our choice and contracts and trade costs didn’t come into play, our best bet is Mike Fontenot. If we just believe Mike is horrid and we want him to go away, then we should get Julio Lugo.
Now, let’s add trade cost into this. Freddy Sanchez will cost something similar to Felipe Lopez, you’d think. Julio Lugo will cost nothing. Mike Fontenot is already here and making the league min.
Why in the world should we want to waste 8 M dollars of salary on Freddy Sanchez?
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
i would say get Lugo
get rid of Blanco you increase your chances of winning the division
and increase your likelihood of bad defense
lugo won’t get through the AL waivers process. if we could get him for league minimum, maybe let go of baker????
I want Baker more than Lugo
But Lugo’s defensive problems at SS don’t enter the equation if he’s at 2B. His SS #s this year look bad, but it’s a small sample size and he’s been injured, so I wouldn’t put too much stock into it – especially if you’re just looking to him to be a role player.
But here’s the thing – Freddy Sanchez is no glittering jewel defensively either. UZR suggests Sanchez as a significant downgrade from Fontenot, and that’s not even counting the chemistry effects some of you might believe exist between the Cajun Connection and Wilson-Sanchez.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
i don't want any more DFA
middle infielders. all acquisitions should be for a specified purpose. if acquiring someone won’’t upgrade us (on the cheap), i’m probably against it. blanco is good on defense. ryan will be #39 on the 40 man roster. a catcher will be 40. any other moves may mean releasing a player. i’d rather not do that.
My point is
that just because Freddy Sanchez hasn’t been DFA’d doesn’t make him worth getting.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
he's good
but i’d rather not ship pittsburgh a legit prospect for another contract.
I wouldn't trade Aaron Miles
for Freddy Sanchez given their contracts.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
Why do I want to pay Freddy Sanchez 11 M over the next year and a half?
when he can’t hit RHP better than Mike Fontenot and can’t hit LHP much better than Jeff Baker – and I get the pair of them for under 1 M? At least Miles is just wasting a third of the money that Sanchez would be wasting.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
you said you wouldn't trade him for Aaron Miles
this is a dumb comment Freddy Sanchez is an All-Star and Aaron Miles is crap
I said
given their contracts I wouldn’t trade them. I also wouldn’t trade Aaron Miles for Barry Zito and he’s a Cy Young winner.
The point is that Sanchez has an ugly contract and wouldn’t add anything to the team. Instead, his salary subtracts from what we could do if we spent that money elsewhere.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
Blanco
is the best middle infielder on the team!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, this Fanpost really took off.
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.
It's because the title "will" appears to be spelled with three l's
and we’re all a bunch of picky English majors who don’t appreciate that this is just a compooter blog.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
11101010010101010101001001010100100111001010010100111
110100110110 to your assmar, 100101010111101010101!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
we haven't had a fanpost or fanshot on
the virtues of (re)acquiring julian tavarez.
I would rather
take a shot on Julio Lugo for free than Freddy Sanchez for good prospects and a pretty sizable salary. Neither one is likely to make a major difference, but the cost difference is major. A Lugo/Fontenot platoon might not be terrible.
DEJESUS!!!
I wouldn't fret Freddy Sanchez because he isn't coming to Chicago with that salary
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
Can you guys imagine if BLou was a Mets fan??
Oh man, I could only imagine what wonderful insight he could give regarding the payroll for the Mets.
How is the Met payroll situation worse than the Cubs
Perhaps you should acquaint yourself with the plethora of AWFUL contracts and contracts complete with no-trade clauses that pollute the Cub roster. Baseball’s most expensive outfield? $52 million on Ryan Dempster?? No-trade clauses every friggin where you turn, to include for Jeff “OVERRATED” Samardizija.
$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.
by BLou on Jul 21, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
players with full no trade clause:
Zambrano, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Fukudome, Samardizija
players with 10/5:
Lee, Dempster
Samardizija is overrated, I’ll give you that. But Samardizija is all about financial opportunity. If he makes it big, then the Cubs will benefit greatly from this.
Don’t complain about Dempster. He was granted his trade clause by the 10/5 rule. Although he has had an off year, the Cubs did not want him to test the waters of free agency, while losing one of their better pitchers. His salary may be a little much, but this year he has 11 quality starts which is quite serviceable.
The only person on this list that I am worried about is Soriano, who’s skills will greatly diminish as his power decreases when he ages.
If Bradley can get out of his funk, I am fine with him as he ages. Same with Fukudome. Both these players do not solely rely on power as they have keen eyes at the plate. As their power diminishes, they will thrive on their approach and maintain a serviceable on base percentage. It is quite common for those with good obp to maintain their obp as they age.
wow Dempsters been here five seasons already?
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Id say that worked out pretty well
considering what a low point he was at when he first signed here
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
agreed
he was actually solid in his two years here as a spot starter and reliever and closer. 2006 and 2007 were terrible though. since then he has been very serviceable.
Rec
Ah, what the hell.
The first rec of the post goes to Blue Mike MDBNIU BLow BLou
"I got a PBS mind in an MTV world"...Jimmy Buffett
by The Ryno and I Know on Jul 21, 2009 3:01 PM CDT reply actions
I know this is probably dumb
but would it work to trade Soriano and pay his full salary for a productive young player from a small market? His salary is a sunk cost, so we’re paying it regardless.
The small market team would get a draw for their ballpark without paying him anything. We get a younger player whose production will likely surpass Soriano’s within a year or two, if not sooner depending on the player.
Maybe the Rays would take Soriano and something for Crawford if we picked up Soriano’s full contract. I know it sounds absurd, and would never happen in reality, but why not?
DEJESUS!!!
I think you answered your own question there
because like you said, in reality, it would never happen haha
Crawford isnt young enough that his salary would be sufficiently low to do what youre suggesting
Wed have to get a really young player shy of arbitration in order to counteract paying 18M/yr or whatever Sorianos deal avgs out to be
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
because
it’s absurd. Soriano has led this team to the post season twice in two years, something that hadn’t been done for a century. To toss him on his kiester for three months of slump is absolutely absurd.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 21, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions
there are other reasons to want Soriano gone...
but I agree, the trade proposal is pretty absurd. no way tampa does that deal!
The Rays are never going to trade Crawford.
They own him through next season, and both he and the Rays have made public statements that he’s going nowhere, and that an extension will be reached.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Gut feeling says we'll do something
Just nothing substantial. Whether or not you believe the other fanpost, the fact of the matter has always been this – we’re not the Yankees (and even they have tightened their payroll). The Cubs were always going to be stretched financially. Add in the sale, and there simply wasn’t any reasonable expectation of a big splash.
Catcher, pen arm, maybe another bench bat. Actually, the idea that somewhat intrigues me is seeing what the Mets would want for Pedro Feliciano. Prior to the David Lennon blurb, most of the talk on the Mets selling came from blogs. That was the first indication that the Mets might not try to make a run (and just for the record, they shouldn’t – I just don’t see it happening, and it’d be foolish and futile, IMO). Will they sell? Who knows, but Feliciano is an excellent pen arm. I know, there’s the BJ Ryan experiment, and I’m not saying you go rushing into the market, but it is something worth watching.
I know there’s been spec on a positional player besides catcher, but I’m just not all that sold. Jeff Baker needs AB’s, and I’m perfectly fine with utilizing a Baker/Fontenot platoon. What we probably need is another top of the order hitter (barring someone getting hot). That said, as noted before, I’d rather see Sam Fuld get the look than go into the trade market.
As a side note, I think there needs to be a new paradigm when it comes to discussing the July 31st trade deadline, and in particular, with regards to how trades are judged and valued. Part of this is certainly due to the changing economy, but part of it is due to small changes that have happened throughout baseball, from a higher value being placed on prospect development, to the gradual change in the DH position in the AL, and so forth. I think we’re starting to see the sabrmetric community try to take a lead in this regard, so it is a fascinating thing to follow, but while trades should always be judged singularly, there is a gradual shift in philosophy that’s worth noting. Ten years ago, askinig for a Kyle Drabek like talent in a Roy Halladay trade wouldn’t have led to any problems. Now? A far different environment.
gut feeling?
You sure it was not a bad burrito?
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill
by lookingdeadred on Jul 23, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions
the thought crossed my mind
but i haven’t had a burrito in awhile.
What is your take on sabrmetrics?
toonster, I’m glad that I finally tracked you down (not that I’m a cyberstalker or anything). I always enjoyed reading your posts on the Cubs MB and always felt like I got educated from you. I was told you post here at “bleedcubbieblue” by some people at the other site. You’re missed by alot of people there. Too bad some people had to ruin it for you. Anyhow… to the point…
I was wondering how you felt about sabrmetrics? I find myself becoming a big believer. And also, do you know if the Cubs have a Bill James type working in their front office, helping Jim Hendry and Randy Bush when it comes to free agent acquisitions and trades?
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