fathom

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 9, 2006 -> 05:02 PM) It's amazing how much everyone is overreacting when everyone knew that a starting pitcher was going to be traded this offseason. I think more people are reacting to KW's statements about letting our pitchers go instead of bringing them back when their contracts are done.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2006 -> 03:40 AM) I don't think it'd be funny at all, I think it'd be great, because that would at least be a small sign that Floyd is not a lost cause. and probably means McCarthy isn't Cy Young.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Dec 8, 2006 -> 09:00 PM) Or possibly they are looking beyond the stats and thinking "while he hasn't put it together yet, he went through growing pains last year and is ready to contribute as a last man out of the bullpen role." If you only look at the stats (they are important however) anyone who struggles early in thier career (insert any of a number of names here ie, ventura, crede, garland) would never get a chance. Or you could talk with people who saw him pitch over the last two years and they say that he's far from being a MLB caliber pitcher. His career right now is quite similar to that of Borchard's.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 8, 2006 -> 08:50 PM) Barring more moves to the pitching staff, Floyd will be in the bullpen to open the season, I'm almost certain. Which is just so puzzling to me, as KW and Ozzie said their main goal this offseason was to upgrade our bullpen.

I can't believe people think Floyd is such a lock to make the 25 man roster next year. They must be seeing different stats than I am.

There's going to be quite the outcry on here when Buehrle take a home team discount to sign with the Cardinals. I still think he should be the one we're looking to trade now, and not Garland.

A very, very influential person in the Cubs organization once told me during a job interview that it doesn't matter what your personal beliefs are, the second a team starts signing your pay checks, that's the only team you should root for.

Foulke's best days are way gone. I'd rather let some other team give him a big deal, and have him spend half of the season on the DL. We have two possible back-up closers if Jenks goes down....that's pretty good. The only issue is that we have NO ONE ELSE in the bullpen that can be trusted. Sounds a lot like last year.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Dec 8, 2006 -> 04:21 AM) Someone has to be the voice of reason. Look, I am not big on rich guys whining. But Gil Meche just got $45 million. Enough said. Alot of teams are going to regret their actions of the past month. Let's be glad we aren't going to be one of them. We have very fickle fans, and there's been too much said recently about how our fans won't show up if we don't win. Thus, when our fans do show up, it's insulting to hear this type of talk. There was no reason for Reinsdorf to single out Buehrle. If he's so sure that he's going to go to St. Louis, then KW should be trying to trade him in a 3-way deal instead of Garland, who we have here for 2 more years.

It would be nice if the leaders of this organization would stop whining in the press about salaries. Nothing infuriates a fan base more than having to hear these type of complaints.

QUOTE(RX Bandits @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:55 PM) BUT THERE IS NO MARKET FOR A LF. Thats why Pods is back (very cheaply I might add concidering the market). We will look back at this offseason 3 years from now when the market corrects itself and all of these silly contracts will put some teams into deep holes. Thank god Kenny is not giving Dave Roberts a boat load of money to suck. I still think I'm the only one who doesn't consider the Roberts contract very bad. It's KW's job to go out and find a LF for this team. Settling with Pods because "you know what he'll give you" is just stupid. Pods was one of the worst starters in baseball last year.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 04:59 PM) It wasn't that simple apparently. I guess Toronto offered Frank $8 million up front, where as Oakland just offered him a salary. As I heard on the radio, sounds like Frank is having some more cash flow issues.

QUOTE(ChiSox9 @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:53 PM) I just dont understand a majority of the posters on this board. All last season we hear rants and raves about "Trade Garcia" "McCarthy in the Rotation" Now, McCarthy IS in the rotation... how did this team lose ground on where they were last year?? Even though Freddy won 18 games you all wanted him gone.. and claim McCarthy is the next coming of Christ. I dont think the issue is Garcia being gone but more so what KW got for him. I hate to break it to you all BUT a 30 yr old pitcher making $10M in his contract year with this market is not 1) going to settle for an extension 2) is not going to bring you a Vernon Wells. I hate to say it but ... Freddy was IMHO the 2nd to last pitcher in our staff, KW got what he could for a guy that would walk next season. So lets say this, the trade never happens, we loss Freddy after the season and we get WHAT?? 2 draft picks??? I would rather have a former top prospect with MLB experience and a lefty with good minor league experience than... Joe Blow and John Doe (only draft picks)! Also keep in mind: Freddy CANT hold on a runner to save his SOUL! I think it's cause KW said he wouldn't make any move that wouldn't help the 2007 team squad.

QUOTE(RX Bandits @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:48 PM) not everyone is going to hit .300/20 hrs/80rbi's I think Anderson's glove saved a lot of runs last year, especially with two slow corner OF's I wouldn't mind Anderson in CF if we could upgrade our LF position.

QUOTE(RX Bandits @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:44 PM) Figgins is a black scott podsednick who is really fast, but not necessarily a base stealer who has little upside. The two prospects have a greater upside, and they are PITCHERS. Chone has stolen 114 bases over the last two years, and he DOESN'T have the injury issue that Pods has. Chone also uses his speed to hit a lot more triples than Pods.

QUOTE(RX Bandits @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:41 PM) I'm not saying they're not issues, im saying its way too early to be b****ing at kenny for not getting a back-up catcher. People dont understand that being a GM is like a chess match. You're not going to fill every hole in two weeks. I dont understand how Brian Anderson killed us last year. He hit .300 the second half. Brian Anderson sucked last year offensively, there's no other way to put it. I was clamoring for Ozzie to start him every day in CF, but he was not a contributor.

QUOTE(RX Bandits @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:35 PM) LOL you're worried about middle relievers...who are the worst players on a major league baseball team? I think Ardsma is a solid upgrade from cotts. I am also not concered abut a back-up catcher, with it being december and all. As for the LF position, I said it a couple a posts ago, Pods contract > Dave Robers contract. Pods is only around for a year and at least you know what you're going to get out of him. I'm not worried about CF, in fact, I believe Anderson is better than Rowand. It was Andersons first full season, I think we're expecting too much out of him. As for Uribe, All I want is a .240-.260 hitter and decent defense. Really there is not a SS on the market worth getting. Great, so we're going into the season with the same issues that really hurt us last season. Back-up catcher is very important, especially with the great LHP in our division. It almost seems like it would have been better if we went 81-81 last year if we weren't going to make the playoffs. Too much nonsense about how we won 90 games, etc., and didn't make the playoffs. WE WERE AN AWFUL TEAM DURING THE 2ND HALF OF THE SEASON.

QUOTE(RX Bandits @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) Kenny said is was the best deal available. I don't understand why people dont trust him/ want him to make so many moves. People, we're not the cubs. We won 90 games. Although it did not translate into a division title like we all expected, kenny doesn't have to wheel and deal BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW HOLES TO FILL! I think Kenny has done a fantastic job of not overpaying. Really, Pods got about 2 million for one year, while 55 year old dave roberts got 14 million over 3 years. No thanks. We have no back-up catcher, horrific left fielder, and bad hitting players in CF and SS with no legit back-up. There are holes on this team, don't kid yourself. We also are stuck having 3 guys in the bullpen that we can be confident can get guys out. KW hasn't improved our bullpen like he said he would.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:26 PM) I repeat BMAC in the rotation>Garcia in the rotation. We get better immediately this year. ANd with the spects, next year. Its pretty black and white people. I wish KW would keep the starting rotation as it is right now, and find us a back-up catcher and starting outfielder.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 05:11 PM) I wonder how focused Freddy will be not being on a serious contender, pitching in the minor leagues of the MLB. If he couldnt get himself up for the competition in the ALC, will he EVER be able to in the NL? I have no doubt Freddy will be extremely focused in his contract year.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 04:40 PM) Yeah, and if we trade Contreras and Vaz we only have 2, whats the point of bring up what ifs of stuff that isnt happening? Because at the time I posted that, everyone thought the Garland deal was done.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 04:29 PM) The other thread is strongly suggesting that any concept of a Garland deal has already fallen through, and that the 2 sides weren't close. Yeah, I heard that good news. I asked about the 5th starter when it was assumed Garland would be traded.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 04:25 PM) Except we have 5 good starters. Im actually beginning to like this deal. We got a top young arm, who had some issues under a TERRIBLE coaching staff, and a top young pitching prospect, for no-fastball freddy who is basically a one year rental player for them. The last time the market went this way for arms, the smart thing to do was stock up young cheap pitching from within your system, which we now have done. Haeger, Broadway, MC, BMAC, Floyd and Gio is a nice young stable to have. Who's this imaginary 5th starter people keep saying we have? If we traded Garland, I only count 4 guys we can legitimately say should be starting.

It's official: JR and KW are trying to give this city back to the Cubs. If we trade Garland for two mediocre players, there's going to be a lot of outcry. Not only that, but Anderson would be gone also.

The years of no 5th starter are about to return!