RockRaines

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 02:00 PM) Career OBP: Crawford: .326 Rollins: .329 Rollins batting #1 Career .336 OBP 2006 .341

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 01:28 PM) What I don't understand is the desire here to dramatically improve the offense, yet neglecting the part of our team most responsible for failing to reach the playoffs -- starting pitching. You're not going to find a pitcher of McCarthy's calibur available on the scrap heap. That is, someone who has the ability to dominate, is cheap, and is coming off a year of misuse by the opposing teams coaching staff/management. Our rotation will remain the same as last seasons, except a year older and more expensive. Wait while I'll puke on my keyboard. I'll have to hear people tell me all offseason how they're "expecting a huge year out of the starters." I just can't deal with that. To clear it all up, I am NOT in favor of trading BMAC as I feel young cheap good pitching is one of the most valued commodities in the game. But if this trade was to happen, I would expect us to make these moves to compensate for the loss of him. As I said before the bullpen and the rotation should be the first priorities. Not having a shut down bullpen cost us the playoffs this year, and I stand by that fact.

Thome's production fell off a bit after his injuries, of course they did. But he was still one of the best hitters on the team during that period. The only real criticism you can have about thome is that his situational hitting was pretty subpar this year. Bases loaded .143 .250 Second and third .000 .444 Close and late .190 .414 they are VERY small sample sizes, but it seemed that when we needed him most to me, that he wasnt a huge factor. That and with a 3-2 count he almsot always watched the pitch.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 12:35 PM) What I would ultimately love to see is Crawford in LF in exchange for BMac... and throw Uribe, Pods and Fields out there for a good SP prospect for 2008 and a SS with good OBP and decent defense - he'd be the leadoff guy. That's in the ideal world. I don't know what teams are out there with that type of SS, and some good SP's in their system, who would make the deal for some combo of Pods/Uribe/Fields/Gload/prospect. Ideally you would maybe want to throw BMAC out for Crawford, and someone else out for Rollins. Have rollins bat #1 and Crawford #2. That is what I ideally would want out of that situation if it was to happen. You would then solve two defensive questions, and two offensive questions, but you would still need to pick up some pitching.

QUOTE(Wedge @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 08:22 AM) Tom Zibikowski is pretty damn fast. I know he's white, but he's fast. EDIT: I posit that the defensive problems for ND are more related to a weak front 7. Willingham was absolutely awful at recruiting Linemen and Linebackers of any variety (to his credit he did a fair job at recruiting skill position players for whatever reason). I think in his last 2 recruiting seasons, he landed 4 linemen which is absolutely pathetic for a big time program. Unfortunately, the defense is very weak as a result. I think Weis is doing a pretty good job of getting some great players (he's gotten some top defensive backs in his 3 classes, hopefully he can find some linemen). Mentioning him as someone who is pretty damn fast comparative-wise shows how slow the team really is.

QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 10:14 AM) The report on yahoo said he took 5, and then attempted to take two more. I think it's horrible that some of you would consider this to be an attempt to grab attention, thats insane guys, faking an attempted suiced, please, this is hardly a joke. Make sense next time. First of all I said that he said he intended to hurt himself, secondly, 7 painkillers would not warrant a stomach pump, especially from a guy of his size. QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 12:09 PM) Maybe it's me, but if he really tried to kill himself last night, then would they really just let him leave this morning after having to get his stomach pumped? Yes, I have seen that happen before.

If we did this, we would still need a lead off hitter, which would mean we would have to unload either Fields, Sweeney or Anderson or all to deal for a lead off man, because Crawford isnt it.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Sep 25, 2006 -> 02:05 PM) Chicago's transportation system is OK but could use some definite improvements. Like for example, why isn't Metra Electric integrated into the L system? A big chunk of the south side isn't serviced at all by CTA other than buses which they keep reducing service on. Despite the fact that New Jersey doesn't have any non-greater metro area population centers other than Atlantic City, it actually has a good system. Newark has a subway. Light rail on the Jersey side of the Delaware from Trenton to Camden. Newark and Jersey City served with PATH subway service and light rail and all sorts of rail in North Jersey. How would it be integrated? That doesnt make sense really. Apparently you have never been to LA and see what a lack of public trans can do to a city. Chicago's is not the best (i think DC is awesome) but we have so many routes to get within blocks of where you want to go, its one of the tops IMO.

They asked him if he was trying to harm himself, he said yes. I wouldnt believe a publicist if they told me the sky was blue.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Sep 26, 2006 -> 04:46 PM) I agree and yes I think Buehrle will come back strong next year and hopefully he gets a third pitch! Gets a third pitch? Do you know anything about him at all?

[quote name=G&T' date='Sep 25, 2006 -> Chicago needs a serious transportation makeover, and if this is the only it gets done then I guess that's the way it has to be. 10:59 AM' post='1296067]I would say chicago has some of the best public transportation of any city I have been in.

ND is bad for one reason - team speed. There is no speed on defense and will continue to get scored upon by any team with good speed.

The royals are a solid team.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Sep 24, 2006 -> 09:37 PM) I have a lot of questions about whether or not McCarthy is ready or not too. I also wonder about just what happened to Cotts. Sunday he gave up two more homers and didn't get a batter out. He has sucked big time this year. I would say move him if we can get anything decent for him. His stuff isnt that impressive anyway, and now he isnt fooling anyone.

QUOTE(MSHAWKS @ Sep 23, 2006 -> 03:08 PM) Yeah, because Ryan Sweeney has accomplished so much in the major leagues. Great argument

We should dump off some of our pitchers on them this offseason.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Sep 23, 2006 -> 02:10 PM) Can we get draft picks from players who's options we didn't pick up? How bout Gary Matthews? Both are horrible options.

QUOTE(Brian @ Sep 20, 2006 -> 06:33 PM) Lets put these Illini and Iowa fans in a steel cage! It will be great! Battle of the also-rans.

Please god no.

Whats really pathetic is that if we won the last two nights we would be 3.5 back and with a win today maybe 2.5 back

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 11:34 AM) rangers need pitching and lots of it....the could care less about uribe, they have spider arias. The pitching they would ask for would be one of our top guys, or BMAC. Also would want fields or sweeney.

Put yourself in the spot of the Texas GM right now. Would YOu bite at an offensively retarded SS and a SP who has lost his fastball? If I was him, for Young I would be asking for Garland, Buehrle or BMAC. There is no way I would trade a batting-champion type player for those two.

QUOTE(Dan @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 07:22 AM) The whole entire reason for out downfalls this season is because Rock Raines wasn't the 1st Base coach. totally.

I wouldnt say motion on the bases etc was the problem. Just look to last night when we had a lead off double, and couldnt even get him to third. We need to play with the mentality that 1 run is all we need again. It places pressure on the other team, and gives our pitchers chances to throw more strikes.

Garland has been one of the better pitchers for the past two years, plus hes young and a bargain. No way we trade him