whitesoxfan101

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:21 PM) Jermaine Dye has a $6M team option next year, he currently has a 1.030 OPS. Anyone who doesn't think Jermaine Dye will be on this team next season is dead wrong. If your OPS is over 1.000 with .320/40+/100+ and your due 6 million dollars next season, you can pretty much pick your nose and eat it rather than play defense and your still underpaid.

There is a reason beyond the goat why these Cubs pitchers constantly get hurt kids, and there is also a reason that you don't see a whole ton of true power starting pitchers anymore. The power starting pitcher is truly a diamond in the rough these days (Zambrano, Liriano, Johan) simply because most of them end up getting hurt due to the stress throwing that hurt puts on a pitchers arm. Building an organization of starting pitchers around guys that throw in the low 90's, can locate, have good secondary offspeed/breaking stuff, and know how to pitch doesn't bother me in the least. Doesn't matter how hard you can throw if your arm keeps falling off.

He's slightly above average in RF IMO. He catches it if he gets to it, still has a pretty good arm, and gets great reads, which makes up for the lack of speed. But then again, this topic doesn't matter to me as long as Jermaine leads the AL in slugging and has an OPS over 1.000, as well as a pace to finish with over 40 homers and 100 RBI's, as well as a .320 average.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:04 PM) I'm sorry, but that was a stellar deal for the Cubs. I've watched Itzuris play a whole lot and when he's healthy I think he's better than Uribe. However, he doesn't havethe power Uribe has or the arm, but Itzuris is an absolute STUD at SS (so is Juan in my book). I've watched Itzuris a lot and he's the type of guy that while he may not draw a ton of walks, he'll be able to hit .280-.300 although I'd be the first to admit his injuries have had an effect on him. But you guys drastically under-rate this guy (and this is when people will say that I over-rate him). There is a reason why teams were going nuts to acquire him. Put it this way, if someone called me and offered Itzuris for El Duque I'd have done it in a heart beat. Maddux isn't all that much better than Duque at this point. He's a mediocre pitcher and you were able to get a guy that plays stellar defense and is not near as bad of a hitter as a lot of you all say (plus he has a ton of speed). He has 2,200 at bats and worse numbers than Neifi Perez at the plate, as well as 10 home runs. I'm sorry, but comparing him to Juan, who can hit 10 home runs in 20 games when he gets on one of his hot streaks, is just silly. Juan is a guy that produces runs despite his horrible OBP and no patience and hits homers, and Izturis is not even close. Izturis defensively might be better, but his offensive game is an embarassment, and the fact that he already had his career year at the dish combined with the injuries mean you should expect his career numbers at the dish to continue. Is he a great defender?? Hell yeah, but so is Neifi Perez, and even HE hits the ball more than Izturis has in his career. 7. Izturis 8. Cedeno 9. Pitcher That's your bottom 3 through 2007 if your the Cubs, so in other words you have a 6 man lineup. Where the hell are the runs/run production going to come from?? They have to score, other than Zambrano (who is a GREAT pitcher, but only 1 man), their entire rotation for 2007 is a question mark right now. Izturis for Maddux might be a decent deal, but Izturis does not fit the Cubs plans right now, they already have their slick fielders on the IF that can't hit in Cedeno and Neifi.

Great as always, somebody needs to make these in the offseason so I have a wallpaper to use then.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 09:46 AM) Ehh, Roy Oswalt > Jose Contreras. In general?? Of course, but this year they have pretty similar numbers, except Jose has a much better record and an ERA that is 0.3 higher (but at the same time, he's in the AL, so keep that in mind).

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 09:20 AM) That's pathetic for Buehrle and Garcia. That dropoff is insane. Can we find out how many mph the Astros' rotation has lost? Backe has been hurt most of the year, Pettitte has been awful, Oswalt has been good (comparable to Contreras), and of course then you have the Diva Clemens.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 08:20 AM) The amount of innings our starters have thrown over the past few seasons, were probably bound to catch up to them at some point; MB 01- 221.1 IP 02 - 239 IP 03 - 230.1 IP 04 - 245.1 IP 05 - 236.2 IP 06 - 138.1 IP (so far) That's over 1300 innings in 5 and a half seasons for Mark. Freddy 01 - 238.2 IP 02 - 223.2 IP 03 - 201.1 IP 04 - 210 IP 05 - 228 IP 06 - 133.2 IP (so far) Total of over 1200 innings for Freddy there in those 5 and a half seasons. Yeah, plus Jon and Javy have also thrown a ton of innings, and God only knowns how many innings Jose threw in Cuba.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 02:04 AM) Anybody else listen to that and never think of laughing? If you don't AT LEAST laugh at the "do you have a shirt on?" part, I simply think you lack a sense of humor.

We better bring the big boy sticks to the park for this one. I had faith Mark would rebound, but every bad start sends me closer to the "don't pick up the option and let his sorry arse waltz to St. Louis after 2006" bandwagon. WAKE UP MARK, PLEASE!!

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:30 AM) Mack is actually a pretty damn solid corner outfielder. The problem is we are trying to put him in CF. Just think if we moved Dye over and asked him to play center. I understand slamming Pods' defense but Mack doesn't deserve to be slammed. Mack is trying his best and its not his fault the manager is putting him in a position that he can't possible succeed at. Indeed. If we miss the playoffs, it will probably be in part due to several games lost (with a few more to come!) due to Ozzie putting Mack in CF even though he can't play out there. Mack should ONLY be out there once every couple weeks to give BA a break, end of story. Mack in the corners of the OF is very solid and he's given us quality at bats with a .300/.400 split or so the last couple months after that slow start.

http://www.getsportsinfo.com/lance/dunncall.mp3 Adam Dunn is a beast, and he's apparently pretty funny as well.

QUOTE(Sonik22 @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:50 AM) There's an easy solution to this problem........DONT READ THE TRIBUNE! I don't do it very often....however today was deadline day so I read everything and will tomorrow, maybe I shouldn't do so.

Our pitching has to be really good and the Tigers pitching has to fall apart. I can see senario #2 happening, but I can't see senario #1 happening until next season. I'll still say we can get the wild card and have a shot to play in October and defend our crown, but we dug ourselves too big a hole with 2 months to go IMO (although Detroit going 70-35 didn't help obviously either).

Ok now now don't call me Hangar and give up on this thread yet. As you all can see on chicagosports.com, there are not 1, but 2 fluff pieces on how the Cubs got such a huge steal acquiring Cesar Izturis for Greg Maddux. Phil Rogers and Mike Downey talk about how it was the best deal today and how Hendry is so smart and made such a great move and fluff on and on and etc. First of all, is everybody aware that Izturis had TJ surgery and is a major health risk? Ok if they are not, i'll be more blunt: Izturis is nothing but a younger Neifi Perez and/or a WAY more expensive Ronny Cedeno. Hell, Izturis isn't even as good as Neifi. Both are overpaid former gold glove SS's who can't hit, but at least Cesar is 26 I guess. .261/.295/.338 .270/.301/.380 That's right, line #2 is better in BA, OBP, AND Slugging. Line #2 is Neifi Perez in his career, Line #1 is Izturis. So Izturis is basically a younger Neifi, only a bit better defensively and a bit worse on offense (and those 2 things cancel each other out really), while both are mega overpaid. Yeah Izturis is a former all star, but his career year is gone, so is his health, and his hitting was never there in the first place. So Tribune, please STFU because all Izturis is is a defensive specialist with no power that can't hit or draw a walk, which fits right into the flawed philosophy Jim Hendry runs that got the Cubs where they are this year in the first place.

Ben Sheets this year in 35.1 IP has 43 k's and 2 walks. Wow, that's a pretty impressive split.

That's awesome, if only we could get somebody to sing the Javy version...great stuff.

He suffered the injury as a passenger in a car accident. Talk about back luck.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 12:38 AM) Alcohol=truth serum. So, Mel wants us to believe those thoughts have never crossed his mind and that the booze had him acting completely out of character. OK Mel. Indeed, a drunken mind speaks a sober heart.

As of now in Kankakee for instance... "Temperature: 99 Humidity: 57% Heat Index: 122 Dewpoint: 81" I wasn't even sure some of those numbers were scientifically possible (such as that dewpoint), but either way, DAMN IT'S HOT!! Next to the 1995 heat wave, I've never seen it this hot before. I wish I were back in Texas, it was only 95 with low humidity down there.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 11:17 AM) Ehh. He's not very good but at least the Reds are trying. Maybe this ends the Joe Mays era Mays was sent down late last week actually, and the Reds started Justin Germano in his place on Saturday, who did a decent job. However Germano was the guy they launched in the Cormier deal, so they dealed for Lohse to take the #5 spot.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 11:53 AM) They optioned Shelton to AAA. It would be impossible for him to platoon with Casey from another state. Hmm ok. This is an odd move (not Shelton going down, but going cheap on the LH bat and getting Casey). Actually, Casey isn't cheap now that I think about it, so this makes even less sense.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 11:15 AM) Ick. That place is nastee... Scores on North Ave is OK, but pricey. Diamonds has cute chicks (better than Scores, imo) but again costs too much. They all cost too much actually. Go pick up a good DVD and a 12 pack. Yeah strip clubs are a ripoff for what you get at them, a good DVD and a 12 pack is a better suggestion.

Not sure I get this one. I'd almost think they will platoon Casey and Shelton at 1st base, and neither of them have a whole lot of power. It's a lefty bat, but not nearly the quality one the Tigers need. But then again, they are on pace to win about 212 games, so what the hell do I know.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 10:45 AM) I find it funny that they got a better situational reliever than Majewski, and they didn't have to give up Lopez/Kearns type potential in order to land Cormier. This is a very good trade for the Reds. Very true, although the lefty Bray they got in the Nats deal is going to be very good IMO and he's only in his early 20's, but still Cormier is a very good pickup. Cormier, Guardado, Bray, Majewski, Mercker once he's healthy, Coffey, and Standridge is a good bullpen by NL standards. They also traded for Kyle Lohse, which on paper seems pointless, but he's another guy that could be decent since he's going to the weak NL, he has playoff experience in which he pitched decent (era in the 3's), and he's going to be their 5th starter. The Reds made a couple pretty good subtle moves today actually.