Cubs sign Lilly

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:10 PM CST

Think this is warranted to it's own diary:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6246392

Hey hey holy macrol
No doubt about it
the cubs are on their way!

We're gonna win today!
We're gonna hit today!
We're gonna not remember the words to this song today!

THe Cubs are on their way!

Hopefully this fills the standard diary conditions.

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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Great you beat me by two minutes

Because I forget the word thing and have to go back
Just combine them Al

I love the ballpark. I love the city. I love the fans. Aside from how we've played this year, there's nothing not to like about Chicago." Greg Maddux 7/29/06

by jessica on Dec 6, 2006 7:07 PM CST reply actions

We need pitching

I guess we needed it really bad. What makes me sad is that the Cubs didn't beat the offer for Schmidt... It makes me very sad.

Forget Jennings now you've signed that mediocre number 4 guy. Albeit a reliable one.. go get Cliff Lee from the Indians who are a much better match for a trading partner than the Rockies were anyway.

Lock up Z.

and You've got yourself an off-season

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 6, 2006 7:13 PM CST reply actions

The idea of Meche and Lilly...

....in same rotation doesn't get me all warm and fuzzy about the Cubs chances next year and agree that they need to package up a couple prospects and go get an upgrade of Suppan/Meche into the rotation. Meche and Lilly are realistically #4 pitchers and possibly #3's but that's stretching it.

Some still wonder if Zambrano is truly an ace too.

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:19 PM CST up reply actions

what?

Z was top 10 in pitcher VORP last year, and has had an ERA under 3.50 for 4 straight years while topping 200 innings each of those years, and yet he is still only 25 years old.

If that isn't an ace, then I don't know who is. Sure, he isn't Chris Carpenter (yet) and will probably never be Johan Santana (but let's be realistic here). He's a pretty damn good pitcher.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 6, 2006 7:36 PM CST up reply actions

I personally think Zambrano...

.....is "ace" material, but rightly or wrongly there are people who don't trust him as of yet. I can see where they are coming from, because he does have tendency to lose it on the mound and can lose it in a matter of an Inning.

Having said that, I do consider him as an ace and certainly the Cubs Ace.

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:42 PM CST up reply actions

Z will be an ace

If/When he is able to limit his pitches, both by mixing speeds better so that he gets some weak grounders in play instead of foul balls, and by issuing less walks. An ace is not a guy who can't consistently go into the 8th inning because he has thrown 120 pitches. Until then, he is VERY good. No Jedi yet. Guys like Schilling and Johnson became aces when their walks went drastically down.

Luis

by Luis on Dec 6, 2006 7:44 PM CST up reply actions

In other words:

Zambrano is still a "thrower". When he becomes a "pitcher" he will be an ace. Obviously his stuff is so good that he can more than get by by being a thrower.

Luis

by Luis on Dec 6, 2006 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

When he keeps his emotions...

....in check and quits letting umpires get under his skin too. His emotions got the better of him quite a few times last year.

I don't mind him getting crazy after a strkeout, but I don't like when he doesn't get a call his tendency to lose his concentration on the mound.

So again, I can see both sides.

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:54 PM CST up reply actions

So you would have been happy w/

3 & 55 or moving the Cubs to Long Beach, Ca, so Schmidt could stay near the ocean?

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!! GET SCHMIDT!

by CubFaninCA on Dec 6, 2006 8:52 PM CST up reply actions

Cubs trade Bynum to Baltimore...

....no word on who they got in return.

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:25 PM CST reply actions

i hear they have a nice young

centerfielder

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Dec 6, 2006 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

Wouldn't that be a trip.

If Hendry somehow brought him back, I'd be so happy. He was one of my favorite almost-players.

BIG NAME PITCHER!! This sig is from the future, but didn't hear the specifics.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 6, 2006 7:29 PM CST up reply actions

Not surprising

Baltimore takes all of our castoffs for meaningless prospects

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 6, 2006 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

I'm guessing a used infield rake

Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I READ YOUR BOOK !!!

by BlueMike on Dec 6, 2006 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

maybe

john koronka?

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Dec 6, 2006 7:27 PM CST up reply actions

I absolutely do not care...

...who they got in return. This is good news!

formerly mfarrell

by gravedigger on Dec 6, 2006 7:28 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

n/t

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:30 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed x 2 (np)

by Luis on Dec 6, 2006 7:34 PM CST up reply actions

I'm amazed

that someone actually wanted him; I thought he'd just end up DFA'd. But then again this is Baltimore we are talking about. They are one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the game.

formerly mfarrell

by gravedigger on Dec 6, 2006 7:36 PM CST up reply actions

They did manage to turn Patterson around.

That probably speaks more to the deficiencies of the Cub system, though.

BIG NAME PITCHER!! This sig is from the future, but didn't hear the specifics.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 6, 2006 7:46 PM CST up reply actions

Not really

Corey is just an average player who had an out-of-line performance in 2005 (in a bad sense). In 2006 he simply came back to his performance from 2004, which is what I think he can do on a regular basis... .270/.320/.445/.765 is what can be expected, along with his usual strikeouts and stolen bases. Serviceable, nothing more, nothing less.

by Luis on Dec 6, 2006 8:08 PM CST up reply actions

Didn't he lead the American League in SB?

I know he was in the lead for a while.

He's no superstar, but he did better in Baltimore than JP did in Chicago.

BIG NAME PITCHER!! This sig is from the future, but didn't hear the specifics.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 6, 2006 8:45 PM CST up reply actions

third agreed

I thought he was joking when he said we got rid of him.

You aren't trying to make my day, or something, are you?

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 6, 2006 7:37 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't joke about that....

....what kind of a sick S*O*B do you take me for?

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

agree x 4

I need to celebrate.

COTTS!!!

by sue369 on Dec 6, 2006 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

Got a source on this?

formerly mfarrell

by gravedigger on Dec 6, 2006 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

Confirmed...

3 team trade involving the O's, Cubs, and Tigers...

O's get Bynum, Tigers get prospects, and the Cubs reacquire Neifi Perez.

DUNSTON!

by thekansasian on Dec 6, 2006 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

Are you joking?

Now I DO care who they get in return...

formerly mfarrell

by gravedigger on Dec 6, 2006 7:50 PM CST up reply actions

Baltimore Sun says

It's Bynum for PTBNL

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-bynum1206,0,7331973.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

formerly mfarrell

by gravedigger on Dec 6, 2006 7:52 PM CST up reply actions

Haha...

I was being facetious...glad I got someone to sweat though...

DUNSTON!

by thekansasian on Dec 6, 2006 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks, you jerk

formerly mfarrell

by gravedigger on Dec 6, 2006 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

Not even funny

COTTS!!!

by sue369 on Dec 6, 2006 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

Confirmed

By WGN.

This is likely a function of 40-man roster management. The Cubs needed to clear a spot for Lilly and others and as I speculated a few weeks back, there was no chance Bynum was gonna last on the 40-man roster unless a big trade was made that involved several Cub prospects.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 6, 2006 8:12 PM CST up reply actions

So..

We have a 1, two 3/4's and a slew of 5's.

DUNSTON!

by thekansasian on Dec 6, 2006 7:37 PM CST reply actions

Correct.

n/t

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 7:40 PM CST up reply actions

We have a couple 6/2s in guys who could be good...

If they could just get healthy.

We're resigned to Woody being done as a starter for us, but Prior could still come around. You never know. Not counting him as one of the 5, but if he's decent, he's a 3 or 4, and if he's normal, he's a 1 or 2.

BIG NAME PITCHER!! This sig is from the future, but didn't hear the specifics.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 6, 2006 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

Story of the Cubs rotation...

for the last 3 years...

DUNSTON!

by thekansasian on Dec 6, 2006 7:49 PM CST up reply actions

The sad thing about Prior (and former Cub Clement)

is the non-throwing injuries.

The comebackers or baserunning collisions are just killer.

Prior was on his way back to dominance when he took that one of the elbow.

In Boston, soul patch was like 9-1 or some such when he took one off the head.

Yeah, there are other problems, but each really seemed hot before those particular non-pitching injuries.

BIG NAME PITCHER!! This sig is from the future, but didn't hear the specifics.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 6, 2006 8:43 PM CST up reply actions

I realize Schmidt...

wanted the coast or whatever...but 3/47 for Schmidt seems quite preferrable to 4/40 for Lilly.

DUNSTON!

by thekansasian on Dec 6, 2006 7:39 PM CST reply actions

Sometimes...

... money is not the only reason a player signs somewhere.

Sure, Hendry could have offered some absurd amount of money (say, 3/60) to beat the Dodgers' offer. But what's the point of that? All that does is remove flexibility for mid-season acquisitions.

We'll be OK.

by Al Yellon on Dec 6, 2006 8:10 PM CST up reply actions

So he would have take 3/47, if

the Cubs just offered it?

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!! GET SCHMIDT!

by CubFaninCA on Dec 6, 2006 8:53 PM CST up reply actions

No...

But 3/52, 4/58-60 might have. A mere comment on the Dodgers' signing being superior to ours doesn't really call for any sarcasm. But thanks anyway, ass.

DUNSTON!

by thekansasian on Dec 6, 2006 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

I like this signing

I just get a feeling that a change from the AL's toughest division to the NL central will really improve Lilly's numbers.

Z
???
Lilly
Hill
Prior/Miller/Marshall

What would it take to get Zach Duke? I would love that line up.

THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!

by amaru on Dec 6, 2006 7:54 PM CST reply actions

This is a good signing.

All in all given the possibility of grossly overpaying for a mid-level position player, 4/40 is a pretty good deal for Lilly. Some stat hound out there needs to pull the numbers for Lilly against the non-Red Sox and non-Yankees of the AL. This a better deal than 8/136.

by lancevanian on Dec 6, 2006 7:54 PM CST reply actions

Lilly did well against the Red Sox..

....It's the Yankees he really struggled with.

I'd use ESPN/com's splits, but the site is incredibly slow loading and frustrates the Szit outta me.

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 8:00 PM CST up reply actions

Lilly's splits against the AL East:

263390.1

These are Lilly"s stats vs. the AL East.

vs. TB
13GS 78IP 7W-3L 3.92ERA

vs. TOR
2GS 23 2/3IP 1W-1L 5.32ERA

vs. BOS
19GS 111 1/3IP 5W-6L 3.80ERA

vs. BAL
12GS 73IP 6W-2L 3.95ERA

vs. NYY
13GS 68IP 2W-7L 6.09ERA

by escapegoat on Dec 6, 2006 8:08 PM CST up reply actions

yeah...

except he's just another injury concern now. Plus he's expensive, mediochre, and I don't want to see him getting into any fistfights with sweet lou.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 6, 2006 8:05 PM CST up reply actions

I believe

it's spelled "mediocre".

Nah, just joking man. Don't get all strung out, I'm just having a laugh.

THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!

by amaru on Dec 6, 2006 8:29 PM CST up reply actions

touche

well played

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 6, 2006 8:36 PM CST up reply actions

That's why I like BCB

We forgive and forget very fast.

Is this a tender moment?

THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!

by amaru on Dec 6, 2006 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

if it makes you happy

although this doesn't change the fact that.....ah. what the hell.

You know what I'm going to say.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 6, 2006 8:48 PM CST up reply actions

Were you going to say

the fact that I was right?

How very nice of you.

THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!

by amaru on Dec 7, 2006 1:58 AM CST up reply actions

I was going to say...

that you weren't not incorrect.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 7, 2006 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

This remains to be seen

Lilly is a reasonably good 4th starter, a potentially reasonable 3rd starter, but not a reasonable 2nd starter. I'm holding out hope that Hendry, when he returns, can try to pry a more worthy candidate via trade to take that 2 slot. Otherwise, if the rumors are true, and he indeed signs Meche as well and calls it a day, we may be close to where we started.

by LuisSalazar on Dec 6, 2006 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

Did some number crunching...

and if you have a lineup of

Soriano
Murton
Lee
Ramirez
Jones
Barrett
Derosa
Izturis

you have an average line of .289/.350/.472.

What ya think?

JKuhle "I'd walk through hell in a gasonline suit to play baseball."

by TCobb1911 on Dec 6, 2006 7:58 PM CST reply actions

Descent signing

but for too much money of course, which is unavoidable when you are looking for pitching these days. All in all I'm a little more comfortable with Lilly now than I was a few months ago. I think, if he pitches like he did last year there's no reason why he couldn't post a sub-4.00 era and win 15 games, provided the Cubs are a descent team next year. Keith Law says he's better than Zito for what that's worth. I like Law for the most part and I'll take his word on this. Let's just hope he's right. Lilly, in a good year, could be an okay #3. Expecting him to be an okay #3 for the next 4 years is stretching it but at this point he was one of the best available to us so I can live with it I suppose. Kudos to Hendry and the Cubs for getting it done.

by pageian on Dec 6, 2006 8:30 PM CST reply actions