Bleed Cubbie Blue: FanPosts

Milton Bradley Named NL "LVP" By Joe Posnanski

2009-11-21T02:27:51Z

Joe Posnanski, who I respect a lot -- and I know a lot of others here do as well -- yesterday named Vernon Wells and Milton Bradley as his choices for league Least Valuable Players.

My favorite part of the article is here:

Anyway, put it all together, and including those all-important intangibles, the 2009 LVP is Bradley. He was lousy on defense (minus-12 Dewan in right; minus-4.7 UZR) and not much on offense (99 OPS+ and missed 38 games with injuries). Plus, he was his usual pleasant self... leaving Cubs GM Jim Hendry publicly babbling about how the team doesn't HAVE to trade Bradley, they might WANT to keep Bradley, hey some of the best trades are the ones you DON'T make --- while privately Hendry's working the phones like Judy the Time Life Operator to get rid of this guy.*

*For a while, the hot talk was Bradley for Wells, which would have been the first trade of LVPs in baseball history. Now, that's a fascinating trade. On the one hand, the Cubs would be getting an enormously expensive player who just had a dismal season. On the other hand, the Blue Jays would be getting a less-expensive player coming off a dismal season who also has a knack for making people despise him. Break it down for us, Mel Kiper.

Oh, and:

A scout once told me that Bradley is the only high school player he ever scouted who hit a home run and did not have a single teammate come out to congratulate him.

I think the second Jim Hendry gets another GM to say "yes", he'll be signing the papers before the other guy can change his mind. And it will happen.

Crazy Idea: Rob Quinlan

2009-11-20T21:49:45Z

A candidate for the outfield and the infield, Rob Quinlan is expected to become a free agent. He's been an Angel his entire career but never played a full season. I think this guy would be an excellent addition to the team as a back up and a solid back up for Aramis Ramirez. Here's a link confirming the free agency:

We heard earlier in the week that Quinlan will not be back in Anaheim next year.
The 32-year-old hit .243/.275/.339 last year, spending some time at all four corner positions. He posted an .836 OPS as recently as 2006, but teams may be wary of Quinlan'squestionable defense and fading contact skills. He has a reputation as a solid clubhouse presence and it wouldn't be fair to draw sweeping conclusions from a year of part time play, but his numbers weren't good last year.

Here's a link to his career stats: Linky
The guy plays 1B, 3B, LF, and RF and is a decent hitter
What do you think?

OT: Big Ten Football Thread, Nov. 21

2009-11-20T04:57:22Z

This weekend will be the final week of the conference games for the Big Ten College Football teams. And I know how many Big Ten fans we have here on BCB.

This post is for anyone who just likes one of the Big Ten teams to come and talk/chat about the games on November 21.

The games this weekend are:

Minnesota at Iowa, 12 PM EST/11 AM CDT, ESPN
Ohio State at Michigan, 12 PM EST/11 AM CDT, ABC
Wisconsin at Northwestern, 3:30 PM EST/2:30 PM CDT, Big Ten Network
Penn State at Michigan State, 3:30 PM EST/2:30 PM CDT, ABC
Purdue at Indiana, 3:30 PM EST/2:30 PM CDT, Big Ten Network

Illinois is off this week. They play at Cincinnati on November 27.

On December 5, the last two Big Ten football games will be played. Illinois hosts Fresno State, and Wisconsin visits Hawaii.

Grabow to sign

2009-11-19T13:57:45Z

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/b...07/name/levine

Quote:

Free agent pitcher John Grabow and the Chicago Cubs are close to agreeing on a two-year contract worth nearly $7.5 million for the left-handed pitcher.

Grabow, who was traded to the Cubs last summer from Pittsburgh, will be the North Siders' primary set-up man from the left side before Cubs manager Lou Piniella goes to new closer Carlos Marmol.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations said the deal should be done by Thursday. Friday is Nov. 20, the date that free agents can begin negotiating with other teams on money and years. Until Friday, only teams that have pending free agents of their own can talk contract language.

SI archive story on Sandberg and Salaries

2009-11-17T19:07:04Z

Posted on the SI website is an an old article discussing Ryne Sanberg's record breaking 1992 contract extension. I read the article and thought folks might like a break from the hand-wringing, waiting, and anticipation that comes with the November to February months.

There are many interesting aspects of the article.

How right were the owners and GM's who decried the signing as the end of baseball?
What does that signing and how it was made say about Trib ownership? Interesting that some of the most scathing remarks came from the man who would take over the Cubs just a few years later.
How good was Ryno? It is interesting that the article really clearly puts him into the elite 2B of all time, yet it took so long for him to get into the HoF. Did this huge (and widely panned) contract slow his HoF election?

Reversal of opinion...Bradley will not be moved

2009-11-17T01:51:28Z

I have come to the conclusion that Milton Bradley isn't going anywhere. In fact, I'm starting to see signs of infamous Jim Hendry spin control (e.g., Rudy Jaramillo saying nice things about Milton, Ryan Theriot doing the same). I want Bradley gone as much as anybody, but I think Hendry is realizing he jumped the shark on this one. First, the market for Bradley is zilch despite the proclamations to the contrary by prognosticators like Ken Rosenthal. Second, the Cubs have screaming need for a left-handed bat to break up Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and presumably Geovany Soto in the heart of the order.

Hendry isn't going to eat $20 million. And finding no suitable alternative to Bradley that is economically viable he does an about face and keeps the man. The spin will culminate with a press conference where Milton issues a formal mea culpa standing side by side with Jim Hendry at the podium.

You watch. I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I don't think I'm going to be wrong on this one.

OT -- Head to Evanston to Root on Northwestern -- 11/21 v. Wisconsin

2009-11-16T21:32:15Z

Every year, thousands of Northwestern students skip class in the spring or fall, and head down to Wrigley to root on the Cubs. It's practically a right of passage.

Well, Northwestern needs Cubs fans' help.

On Saturday, November 21 at 2:30 pm, the Cats close out their season in Evanston against the visiting Wisconsin Badgers. The Cats are currently 7-3 and jostling for better bowl position, while Wisconsin is 8-2 and ranked #16 in the BCS.

Why should you go to this game?

Northwestern wins the right way. Not to say that Wisconsin doesn't (they're an excellent school and team), but Northwestern is consistently among the top academic sports programs in the nation....last year's BCS National Championship would have been between Northwestern and Boston College if you based rankings on academic progress/graduation rates. Isn't it nice to root for "student-athletes", where the priority is LITERALLY in that order?
Pat Fitzgerald is AWESOME. Um, yes he's a Sox fan. But I'm fairly certain that the Cubs are 3-0 in games at which he throws out the first pitch or sings the 7th inning stretch. Plus he's just an incredibly good, young coach who is so intense, it's shocking he's not tackling people during games.
You owe Northwestern. Like I said, NU students/faculty have long supported the Cubs by taking the ride down to the Addison stop on the El for gamedays. Northwestern also gave the Cubs Joe Girardi (well, at least Joe played for the Cubs). Saturday is supposed to be good football weather (temps comfortable in the 50s) and the game means something....don't you owe it to the Cats fans that have supported the Cubs to throw on purple, ride up to Evanston and root for Northwestern for ONE game? Speaking of...
You can get there on the El. That's right -- no need to drive, no need to park. Just take the El (or the Metra) up to Central Street in Evanston, hop off, and your just a few blocks from tailgating and the game. Oh, tailgating? Yes...
Free Goose Island Beer. That's right....pregame, at EVERY Northwestern game, there is free Goose Island Beer at Wildcat Alley (behind the stadium on the softball field). There's also tons of stuff for kids to do, concerts by the marching band...it's pretty damn awesome.
You hate the Brewers/Wisconsin/Brett Favre/Cheeseheads. Okay, so maybe the Wisconsinites also hate Favre now....but I think as Cubs fans we rightfully retain hatred of all of those other things. Plus, Wisconsin is threatening to do to Northwestern what Cubs fans do to the Brewers -- sell out NU's stadium and outnumber Cats fans (much as Cubs fans always outnumber Brewers fans in Milwaukee). We will not stand for this aggression, man.

So, the point is -- Come up to Evanston. Wear some purple. Root on the Wildcats. Tickets are still available (www.nusports.com or call 847-491-CATS).

Go Cubs Go, indeed....but also GO CATS!

On Harden and the Players Jim Hendry Lets Go

2009-11-16T02:10:25Z

Without access to health records, Rich Harden looks like a great candidate to offer arbitration - at the very least, if not offer an incentive-based contract. Yes, he kills bullpens, but not if you pair him with Sean Marshall who also lacks endurance to be a starter. Yes, he can be maddening, breaking down, but when healthy, he is the best pitcher in baseball. I can understand thinking Harden isn't worth a long-term contract, but that Jim Hendry wouldn't even offer arbitration mystifies me.

That said, Jim Hendry has been pretty good at knowing when to cut bait. Consider

In 2004, Hendry traded Hee Seop Choi, who had just had a promising rookie season - Choi was out of baseball two seasons later.

In 2005, the biggest story was the trade of Sammy Sosa - who was miserably bad in Baltimore and not given a contract the year following. Hendry also let Mark Grudzielank go; Grudz was decent the following year, but his OPS+ dropped 5 pts to 93 and 3 more points to 90 the next year. Moises Alou was also let go - a mistake as Alou was very productive throughout his next contract, but an understandable mistake given Alou's age of 38. He did only play in 123 games the next year and 98 the year after that. But if Alou was a mistake, letting Matt Clement go was brilliant. Clement had been excellent over his three Cub years and was only 29, but Hendry let the Red Sox nab Clement on a three-year deal. Clement gave the Red Sox one slightly below average year, one half of a bad year, and one entire season lost to injury.

In 2006, it was Nomar let go - and Nomar was unable to find a job playing middle infield. He had a productive partial season as a 1B, but his bat failed him the following year, and his health failed him after that.

In 2007, Hendry let Mark Prior go - Prior has yet to pitch again in the major leagues.

In 2009, Hendry let go Kerry Wood, and traded Mark DeRosa and Jason Marquis. Marquis had an excellent season, although Sean Marshall and Randy Wells, who replaced him were better and Marquis also had his characteristic second-half slide. DeRosa and Wood, on the other hand, didn't fare as well. DeRosa's season was marred by injury and in the end, he and Mike Fontenot had identical triple slash lines v. RHP. I'd argue that moving DeRosa turned out to be a great decision - it's just that replacing him was miserably done on multiple levels. Kerry Wood was very poor in the first half of the season, making it look like letting him go was very smart. Wood turned his season around and, over all, it was right to let him go (although he might be worth bringing back in a trade of bad contracts if possible).

All in all, it seems like Hendry should only regret letting Moises Alou go, while, on the other hand, he's made some extremely prescient decisions, letting players go that I would have thought should be kept. That makes me think twice when I hear that the Cubs seem set to let Harden walk. Jim Hendry's track record on these things has earned him the benefit of the doubt.

Poll

Rich Harden?

Annual Mark Prior Comeback Thread V. 5.0

2009-11-15T22:51:22Z

via www.chicagobreakingsports.com

Hey, I'd smile too if I made that kind of bread without having to be in a rotation too.

FWIW, the one time Cubs pitcher once again is going to try to mount still another comeback.

Honestly, I kind of find it hard to believe anyone thinks Mark's worth the look. I guess throwing on flat ground is one way to build it so they (the scouts) will come.

I like Mark -- will never forget the 2003 and 2004 seasons in which he shone like a comet and when his afterburners began to flame out on the long slow powerdive down. But unless there's some magic the million dollars of rehab the Pads poured into him last year, he's done.

Options I'd like to see the Cubs explore.

2009-11-15T18:40:11Z

This doesn't really mean I want them to make these moves, but just to see the market so they can fully evaluate their moves.

Roy Halladay

You kind of have to at least call them. It most likely won't happen unless we send some nutty offer that includes Vernon Wells. I remember hearing a Bradley-Z for Halladay-Wells swap but I highly doubt it has legs or would even work.

Luis Castillo

He'd free up bench space by letting us get rid of 2-3 of the 4 utility players we have at 2B and give us a decent top of the order hitter.

Curtis Granderson

I'm not a fan, but we are kind of committed and I see very good reasons including the lack of CF depth in the system.

Mike Cameron

In my opinion a cheaper, older, short-term fix for CF in comparison to Granderson.

Matt Stairs

Provides power off the bench. Theoretically, a home run or K guy.

Brad Hawpe

Probably my favorite RF option. High OBP and SLG, his UZR is kind of scary though. Of course Fukudome would have to play CF. Also has a very reasonable contract. His splits are also pretty balanced in Home/Away terms.

Chieng-Ming Wang

If he rebounds, we have ourselves a gem with an incentive-laden deal. In my opinion, he'd be a better number 1 than Zambrano is.

Josh Beckett

If his option is not picked up.

Octavio Dotel

He would give us a dynamite set up man, which I love.

Kiko Calero

Bullpen depth.

Billy Wagner

He'd be a good mentor to Marmol-aid.

Placido Polanco

Hell of a #2 hitter and 2B, he'd cost us some money though.

Orlando Hudson

Good 2B. Plays good D.

Any offers involving Soriano, Bradley, and/or Zambrano

The only one that's worth anything is Zambrano, so that's the only one I'd expect to get anything for. Bradley is worth something if we pay the most of his contract. Soriano, oh boy.

I'd like to see what the rest of you have to say.

VERY OT: The BT Football, "Congrats to ballhawk" & "Sorry, sue369" Thread

2009-11-09T13:14:16Z

The dust has settled from this week's games. Congratulations to OSU (& ballhawk) for their overtime win against Iowa (sorry, sue369) and likely trip to the Rose Bowl. It was a great game. Well played by both teams.

Also, congrats to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State and my alma mater Michigan State for their victories.

I've closed the poll, but there are still a number of possibilities as to where teams will finish up. Look for a final week Big Ten Thread posted later this week by Vermont Cubs Fan in anticipation of the final regular season weekend.

P.S.- ballhawk: don't let your guys rest on their laurels. You have a job to do against our "little sister" in A2 Saturday at the "state prison"... or as they refer to it there: "The Big House". Kind of silly to me to nickname your stadium after a place of incarceration, but I just consider the source... ;)

Poll

Which Big Ten team will win this year's conference title?

Top Cubs Prospects Discussion

2009-11-14T15:24:47Z

I haven't seen any recent discussion of the Cubs minor league season, and since 2009 is over, I figured it might be a good time to reevaluate our minor leaguers. I pulled the top 30 list from WrigleyBound, a Cubs prospect blog: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-cubs-wrigley-bound/top-prospect-lists.html. I'll post their rankings and my own after the jump.

Wrigley Bound's Top 30 Prospects

1. Starlin Castro, SS, 19

2. Josh Vitters, 3B, 19

3. Andrew Cashner, SP, 22

4. Jay Jackson, SP, 21

5. Brett Jackson, OF, 21

6. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, 18

7. Chris Carpenter, SP, 23

8. Kyler Burke, RF, 21

9. Ryan Flaherty, IF, 23

10. Jeffry Antigua, SP, 19

11. DJ LeMahieu, IF, 21

12. Tyler Colvin, OF, 23

13. Chris Archer, SP, 21

14. John Gaub, RP, 24

15. Darwin Barney, SS, 23

16. Dae-Eun Rhee, SP, 20
17. Chris Rusin, SP, 23

18. Brooks Raley, SP, 21
19. Logan Watkins, 2B, 19
20. Blake Parker, RP, 25
21. Jeff Stevens, RP, 25
22. Austin Kirk, SP, 19
23. Chris Huseby, RP, 21
24. Marquez Smith, 3B, 24
25. James Adduci, CF, 24
26. Welington Castillo, C, 22
27. Junior Lake, SS, 20
28. Brandon Guyer, RF, 23
29. Steve Clevenger, C, 23
30. Tony Thomas, 2B, 23

My own list goes like this:

1. Vitters-While his plate discipline and defense are issues, reports are he has good work ethic, and the man can rake. He is still young, and 2010 will show us a lot about our recent top pick.

2. Castro-I don't believe the hype that he is a Hanley Ramirez/Derek Jeter type, it is pretty obvious that ESPN knows how to play to its audience. All that aside, he is very young, performing at a high level, and at a premium position. I just hope we don't dump him in a trade for Granderson or another flavor of the month, he could be helping the big league club by midseason, or 2011.

3. Cashner-It looks like the effort to turn him from reliever to starter is paying dividends, while I'm not sure he will stick there long term, he can help the club as a starter or reliever.

4. Jay Jackson-Another young pitcher not too far off from a cup of coffee, he is athletic and produced when he moved up a level.

5. H. Lee-A very young Korean import, scouts liked him better than Castro coming into last year. While he is pretty far away from Wrigley, he is nice insurance if Castro doesn't pan out, or is moved in a trade.

6. B. Jackson-Performed very well this fall after signing, hopefully he is not another K-Pat or Colvin clone, full of tools, but not plate discipline.

7. Flaherty-Can provide some much needed middle infield depth.

8. C. Carpenter-Starting to produce after injuries and attitude issues.

9. Burke-A sleeper, but has performed very well at the lower levels.

10. Colvin-Probably a 4th outfielder at best, but is cheaper than Reed Johnson, we may as well find out what we have.

Phil Rogers is dumb

2009-11-14T08:07:43Z

Phil Rogers is dumb

For the first time in a while we have a legiatimate prospect. What does Phil want to do? Trade him for someone that has less that a .500 OPS against lefties. Starlin is the real deal. Not only does Phil want to trade our best prospect but he also wants to get rid of Marmol in the deal. Reallly???? I woldnt do Castro for Granderson straight up.

"A Cubs offer could be built around 19-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who is emerging as one of the top prospects in the minors. Third baseman Josh Vitters, 19-year-old Korean shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and minor league pitching from a group including Andrew Cashner, Jay Jackson and Chris Carpenter also could be part of deal."

This is so dumb. Granderson isnt good. I wouldnt give up anyone but Carpenter for him. We dont need a platton CF.

Cubs to pursue Granderson aggressively when Tigers are ready

2009-11-13T23:29:54Z

From mlbtraderumors.com

3:55pm: The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers tweets that the Cubs are not yet involved in trade talks for Granderson, "but will become aggressive when the Tigers are ready for offers."

I know Granderson has been discussed before, but I haven't seen any mention saying that the Cubs are actually going to try hard to acquire him. I think it would be a good move if we kept him out of the leadoff spot. It's time for the team to finally go out and get a good lead off hitter.

It's GOT TO BE much, much more than moving Bradley

2009-11-13T04:12:59Z

I have to say that I am getting thoroughly depressed already over the prospects for 2010. My goodness, Jim Hendry was granted a stay of execution by the Ricketts family and then he is dumb and arrogant to say this week the Cubs only need a handful of minor tweaks?!?! And am I actually reading right that Cub fans are debating the wondrous virtues of signing Marlon Byrd versus Mike Cameron?!?! So we have Cub fans who actually wholeheartily endorse Hendry having yet another bad and expensive foray into free agency for a 30 something outfielder who we will deeply regret signing two weeks into the season?!?!

I've got news for Jim Hendry...the 2009 Chicago Cubs were a flawed and downright bad baseball team in many respects. Ah Jim, in case you haven't notice you have a current rotation of the enigmatic child Zambrano, the horrendously overpaid Dempster and Wells, a guy who came out of nowhere in 2009 and who could just as well revert back into nothingness ala Rich Hill.

Jim, you need to find a quality starting pitcher. And you need to find a couple of decent arms for a bullpen that you vastly overrate. A middle infielder who isn't graduate of the Smurf Aging Journeyman Former Non-Prospect Society" would be great too. And do you HONESTLY have faith in Geovany Soto being your number one catcher in 2010? Center field is a black hole too.

The Ricketts family delayed dumping your regime for one more season. At least do them a favor and at least try this offseason. I know you can do it, even without Sam Zell and Kenny Crane handing over a stack of blank checks.

P.S. Before Josh Vitters joins the long list of prospect flops during your tenure, how about you get him some intensive offseason development help with his hitting approach and fielding.

OT Kinda: The Bears - 49'ers Head Long Collision Game Thread and Maybe Some Cubs Yack

2009-11-13T01:12:06Z

Well, it's week number 10. Both teams are truckloads of suckitude trying to see if they can fit in the playoff feature. The Davis-Ogunleye dust up a few moments ago on the field appears to be - if the Four Horsemen of the NFL Channel are to be believed - allegedly a precursor to a "play off atmosphere." Heh.

But who knows what will happen. Anyone want to settle in and watch and chat, let's see where this goes. The NFL Channel is carrying it and I guess I'll sit here and watch it. And maybe between plays we can help the Cubs figure out what they need to do, if Milton and Kevin are going to swap jerseys according to the next tweet, and if the grave of the Yum Yum Donuts building will really help the Cubs.

I just hope Hester and Cutler bring it. And Deion, I fear, is right. Davis will talk the smack but he'll bring his game.

ESPN and Starlin Castro

2009-11-12T19:12:44Z

today I was watchign ESPN and on Sportscenter and they were reporting on some hot stove things and the cubs came up to which they said

"the cubs will be looking for a starting pitcher but the real help may come from within. 19 year old Starlin Castro, a shortstop, is tearing up winter ball right now and could be a big leaguer in the summer."

is this just ESPN not knowing what they are talkign about? or is he that good and ready?..i think its the former rather than the latter..

Cubs 2010 Draft Position and Free Agent Compensation

2009-11-12T19:04:34Z

Did the Cubs get ripped off in their 2010 First Year Player draft position? The Cubs will draft 16th in 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year draft. Texas got the 15th selection as compensation for not signing Matt Purke, along with the 22nd pick based on their record.

For Free Agent Compensation, MLB Fanhouse states "If a team signs a Type A free agent, its first-round pick goes to the former team -- unless that pick is in the top 15, ...."

The rule is intended to keep the bottom half of teams (1st 15 draft picks out of 30 teams drafting) from losing their first round draft pick if they sign a Type A free agent. No there are 32 picks in the first round.

Would the Cubs lose their number 16 pick if they signed a Class A free agent? Is the rule "top 15" or top half of the draft?

Baseball Picture Puzzles Overflow 1

2009-11-12T18:42:24Z

I had no idea this would be such a popular idea. The other one's getting full, so move on over here. Note, I've taken "Player" out of the title -- we could do managers, coaches, anything to do with baseball. I'll start with the first one, fairly easy:

Ice Skate Next Door To Wrigley This Winter

2009-11-12T14:27:41Z

From Michael Sneed's column in the Sun-Times today, a temporary use for the land on which the Triangle Building will eventually rise:

Line Drives & Double Axels: Sneed hears the Cubs plan to build an outdoor ice-skating rink along Clark Street in the parking lot just west of Wrigley Field.

• The stats: The temporary rink will open ASAP (probably in mid-December) and run through February. Skate rental and ice time will cost about $10. The cash will be used to fund the $300,000 operation, which will not make a profit, a source said.

(Word is the ice rink, which is largely credited to Ald. Tom Tunney, will be run by the Chicago Park District. No word yet on where the Zamboni will be parked.)

Bleed Cubbie Blue: FanPosts

Milton Bradley Named NL "LVP" By Joe Posnanski

Crazy Idea: Rob Quinlan

OT: Big Ten Football Thread, Nov. 21

Who is your favorite Big Ten football team?

Grabow to sign

SI archive story on Sandberg and Salaries

Reversal of opinion...Bradley will not be moved

OT -- Head to Evanston to Root on Northwestern -- 11/21 v. Wisconsin

On Harden and the Players Jim Hendry Lets Go

Rich Harden?

Annual Mark Prior Comeback Thread V. 5.0

Options I'd like to see the Cubs explore.

VERY OT: The BT Football, "Congrats to ballhawk" & "Sorry, sue369" Thread

Which Big Ten team will win this year's conference title?

Top Cubs Prospects Discussion

Phil Rogers is dumb

Cubs to pursue Granderson aggressively when Tigers are ready

It's GOT TO BE much, much more than moving Bradley

OT Kinda: The Bears - 49'ers Head Long Collision Game Thread and Maybe Some Cubs Yack

ESPN and Starlin Castro

Cubs 2010 Draft Position and Free Agent Compensation

Baseball Picture Puzzles Overflow 1

Ice Skate Next Door To Wrigley This Winter