Colvin and Guzman get one more season to turn promise into progress. I've been down on Colvin too, but then learned that he left the AFL for corrective surgery. He'll play in the high minors in 2009 and maybe, maybe, he produces. Guzman has recovered from his injuries and (I think) could produce in the bigs in 2009.

I would like to see Seth Smith (and Hoffpauir) get a real shot in the bigs. Both have performed well in limited opportunities. Smith is a plus OF with the arm for right and enough speed for CF. He is best suited for the corners. He's been a .300 + hitter and a 20 HR + producer for the Rockies in the minors--but plays behind Hawpe, Holliday and Taveras. With Helton and Stewart also hitting from the left side, his lefty bat chances were further limited. He was 5 for 8 down the stretch for the Rockies when they went to the series, including a few, key pinch hits.

With both Hoffpauir and Smith at or near the major league minimum, they certainly offer decent promise at little cost to a team that will give them some playing time. They have paid their dues very well and deserve a chance. Their opportunities may well be elsewhere--especially if we bring a player like Teahen.

I'm the one who mentioned Colvin. Guess it's time to check his recent stats...The Crisp trade should make things interesting, and if I recall correctly, the Cubs had talks about him at one time...Hill, Hart, and Guzman are also expendable as someone mentioned, to be honest I'm not sure why Guzman is even still around.

I like Trevor's suggestions, as well.

JimK,

Oh man...you have as big of a man crush on Seth Smith as I have on Dunn....LOL

Aaron....we finally agree on something! I was thinking the same thing. I actually had to stop and finally pull up Seth's profile and see what JimK's love was all about....lol

I share the idea that guys like Teahen are serviceable and could be a little better than what we have. My hope has been that we could add one high profile lefty bat like an Abreu or Furcal, but that could require a budget generating trade. My expectation is that we would get an OF like Seth Smith or get Hoffpauir (better suited for first base) a lot of playing time.

I do think we will move some of our worthwhile but not exceptional parts for a couple more roster additions and/or some new blood in the farm system. Hoffpauir seems tradeable to me,as does Fox, to a power seeking team like the Mariners--especially when they lose Ibanez. Fox is now hitting about .500 for Licey in the Dominican Republic, and he problably does best as a DH and part-time catcher-first baseman.

Pitchers like Hill, Hart or Guzman could be packaged too as could position players like Cedeno and Pie. Like Hill, Pie is struggling in Venezuela hitting under .225. I want to keep Hoffpauir, if Lou will let him play a game a week at 1B and a game or two a week in left or right plus some pinch hitting.

When the big name free agents go off the board, JH may have a shot at a blockbuster type deal. I've mentioned Soriano going to the Dodgers--if they lose Manny, for example. Until that unlikely development, it's likely tweaking time for us.

Here's a new worry. Howry is a type A free agent. I'm recalling that we have to offer him arbitration to get the compensatory draft picks. I may have this wrong, but if Howry accepts arbitration he is ours for another season. Because his admirable career is past him, I wouldn't offer him arbitration. I think some here have felt that Howry's leaving means draft picks--maybe not.

Why not just let Reed Johnson lead off and play Center? Get Furcal, move Theriot to 2B, and let DeRosa/Hoff play right. Johnson gives great defense in CF, DeRosa and Hoff would be serviceable, and the wild card is I'm still not ready to call Fuk a complete bust. If his bat comes back around, there is nothing wrong with his defense and arm. Not counting on him, but just saying it is out there still.

I don't know why the team or fans are fond of David DeJesus. He is not that special of a leadoff hitter. Nate McClouth, I understand the fascination. DeJesus? Not so much.

Good batting average .287 career and .307 last year. Not a bad career split against LH/RH pitching either. For a leadoff hitter he doesn't have much speed (11 SB's last year with 8 CS), he doesn't walk much (46 BB's last year) and his OBP at .366 was just better than our current leadoff hitter Soriano who's OBP was .344.

This guy just doesn't excite me, and Mark Teahen certainly does not excite me as a power corner OF. In four years not much consistancy. Two years his batting average was sub-par at .246 and .255 and two years it was above average at .290 and .285. Two years he had some power with 15 and 18 HR's and two years he didnt show much power hitting 7 HR's twice. Compile that with the fact he strikes out about 130 times a season. Yeah, no thanks.

Somebody mentioned Tyler Colivin...I hate to break this to you, but Tyler Colvin is worthless prospect.

Look at his numbers. Low Ba, is a K machine, and not great power....

other than that, he's Barry Bonds.

:-)

Gregg, I was thinking the same thing when I saw that. I hope it is DeJesus, but if not I'll take Teahen as well. Teahans average was down last year, but in '06, and '07 he hit .290 and .285.

As for Areau and Ibanez, I am with Aaron and Brian, stay away from the old guys, we have had too many of those in the past.

It will be interesting to see what Hendry has up his sleeve. Hopefully a true leadoff hitter is still on the radar.

Royals acquired Coco Crisp. Precurser to Teahen trade, or could that make DeJesus available?

A trade was just made that could affect Cubs. Coco Crisp went to Royals. That would make Teahan or Dejesus more expendable, I would think. Hmmmm.

peronally, not crazy about either, but if I had to choose, Id rather have DeJesus.

just my .02 cents

Bryan, I totally agree with you said. Why not give Hoffpair a chance ? He's cheap and in-house, and I will bet my right arm he would out-hit a guy like Teahan. Plus, I don't like the fact that Teahan stuck out 130 times last year. That's a big number.

Dunn - PLEASE NO !!!!!! A thousand times no !! We don't need another strikeout machine, butcher in OF, and low BA. No, no, no !!!! I don't care about his 40 HR's. How many does he hit in blowout games that mean squat ? He's a lefthanded Soriano, but to me, much worse, becuase his BA is way lower and he can't throw. And yes, I know he walks, but that doesn't make up for all his shortcomings. Not too mention, he will command big $$. No, no, no !!

I have mentioned McLouth a number of times becuase I'm not that enamored with any of the RF choices out there that are being rumored. But I know its a pipe dream. Won't happen.

And I'm happy about Demp coming back. Not that crazy about Peavy. His road numbers are weak.

I think Milton Bradley is most dynamic player out there that's being mentioned, but he has his baggage too. He's injury prone and oh by the way, he's a nutjob.

I agree with giving Hoffpauer a shot, he appears to have the potential to be as good as any of those other names being floated around...Glad they re-signed Dempster...Read an interesting possibility on Wood - If he doesn't sign elsewhere by Dec. 1st., the Cubs could offer him arbitration, and (assuming Kerry accepted it) keep him around in '09.

As for trading away guys, Pie, Cedeno, and Fontenot can bring talent in return...Under no circumstances do you trade Samardzija or Tyler Colvin. (Bad enough they traded Ceda.)

Never heard of Mark Teahen...I'd still like to see Brian Roberts as a Cub, Peavy and Johnson, too.

Great points about the aging free-agents and their defensive liabilities Hoffpauer is the way to go. Marquis needs to be given away in a salary dump. Hey we got Ceda for Todd Walker in a salary dump. Oh yeah he was traded for a guy that was going to be DFA'd. Then go give Woody a 1 year deal.

Aaron,

I am very excited to say that I COMPLETELY agree with everything you said above.

Those guys are too old. Dunn is an interesting thought. The bootcamp workout comment got me jacked. I would love to join those guys for that. What a story that would be.

And I am very glad to hear the Ricketts would be a good fit. That is great news. I was pretty bummed about Cuban, but knew from the beginning he was a longshot.

Joe S. has it right on McClouth. He is their eqivalent to Geo Soto. Would anyone trade Soto for Marshall, Pie and (say) Atkins? The Pirates might not trade McClouth for Soto.

If the Rickett's family is able to have a firm deal to buy the Cubs by year end, I was wrong thninking that putting financing together could take until mid-year 2009.

There have been a couple of hints that the Cubs payroll will be under $140 mil--and that present commitments now total about $130 mil. Not much room there unless JH can trade a contract or two. Maybe that's why Teahen and Johnson are being talked about and Wood is not. Peavy and Abreu are still making some reports, but those names are not in a budget that caps under $140 mil.

In reading thru some of the recent posts, I'm surprised to see the continued interest in the likes of Dunn, Bradley, Ibanez, etc...all aging guys.

Do we not think that Hoffpauer can't produce a .280+ BA, 15-20 HR's and 80+ RBI's? Many here were suspect last spring training about Soto's potential for 2008, and we saw how that played out. Why pay big bucks for aging RF's with defensive liabilities (like Hoffpauer) when you have an inexpensive option in your own system. Without beating this to death, the guy has crushed great numbers at every level...let him play already.

People keep mentioning McLouth....big problem....you have to have the Pirates on board to trade him which is not likely.

McLouth is a young, gold glove winning center fielder, offensive producing lead-off man whom the Pirates control for the next three years. He is not eleigible for free-agency for three more years and if a multi year contract is not signed will merely go to arbitration for the next three years.

Though he will be due a significant raise from his 2008 salary of about $450,000 he certainly will not be awarded anything that the Pirates cannot afford.

The Pirates are looking to turn the corner but trading a key player who could be part of that would not be the way to go.

I'm really surprised that we're not hearing more "noise" about McLouth. He'd certainly be our CF and leadoff solution. I would think a package of Marshall, Pie and perhaps one more mid-tier prospect could perhaps get that done. I also now hope that we sign Randy Johnson to a 1 year deal as an extra arm for the rotation.

Lastly, I wish the team would provide a vote of confident in Hoffpauer, tell him the RF job is his to lose, and have someone (perhaps Denier) work with him on his defensive skills. The guy can downright hit...let him play.

...I believe it's Fontenot time to play full time. He was a nice

Surprise. Furcal and Fontenot could mean 40+ homers in those 2 spots.

Marquis middle strike out number should be 109, not 190 when comparing his top strike out seasons to Dempsters.

Very interesting to see the comparison. As starters they have pitched almost identical number of games.

Marquis has started 198 and gone 77-70

Dempster has started 195 and gone 68-64

Marquis has pitched 1182 innings

Dempster has pitched 1195 innings

Marquis's ERA as a starter is 4.47

Dempster's ERA as a starter is 4.64

Marquis has 458 BB's and 691 K's

Dempster has 593 BB's and 996 K's

Marquis had a career best year in 2004 going 15-7 with a 3.71 ERA 70 BB's and 138 K's.

Dempsters career best was this year going 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA 76 BB's and 187 K's.

Marquis has pretty much declined in wins each year since his career high:

2004 = 15

2005 = 13

2006 = 14

2007 = 12

2008 = 11

Dempster has been a steady reclamation project since signing with the Cubs as a free agent in January 2004 for a mere $300,000 as he rehabbed from surgery.

Came back at the end of 2004 to throw in 20 games and then became the Cubs closer for the next three years working his arm strength back up. This year, his first year back, he had his career best year.

WRIGLEY FIELD CAREER STATS

Marquis 36 games 36 starts 13-12 5.03 ERA 207 IP 25 HR's

Dempster 138 games 26 starts 21-15 3.44 ERA 36 SVS 277 IP 20 HR's

I think there are alot of similarities, however the difference I definitely see is Dempster has more strikeout power (seasons of 209-187-171) where as Marquis tops out at lower levels (138-190-100)

Dempster has more upside to him with a couple of strong seasons early on with Florida before his arm issues. Then he bounced back and built his arm strength back as a closer before stepping back as a starter and not only reaching his previous numbers but blowing past them.

Maruis, is kind of a what you see is what you get. Great for a #4 or #5 spot in a rotation. He has been fortunate to pitch on 9 straight teams that have made the playoffs, which probably boost his wins a bit since he was playing on good teams. (Braves/Cardnials/Cubs)

Definitely see Dempster with more upside and more worth the money.

This organization can go blow it..

Yes. Still not over it.

We also just handed a hefty contract to a guy who has worse career stats than Jason Marquis.

And imagine how his numbers looked before this career year.

Maybe that workout regimen will kick ass again in 2009. I really do hope.

Thoughts on the Marquis stats comparison? Especially nimber crunchers like you Aaron. I'm curious about what you find.

DeJesus would be a good quality scrappy CF but considering we have Reed and possibly Pie and possibly Fukudome. No need for DeJesus. Little power and little speed. Nothing attractive with him. Although, as Aaron points out his .419 batting average with RISP is incredible! Certainly better than Adam Dunn's .241 last year and .225 career.

Though not DeJesus,and hopefully not Teahen either I do think if the answer for RF does not come from inhouse, it will come via trade and not a free agent signing.

Love having Dempster back. Good solid starter. Would love to finish staff off with Peavy or Johnson. Either one. Obviously Peavy costs us players and alot of money, Johnson would take a one year deal and not take any of our existing players.

I mentioned before, I'd like to see Hoffpuair be given a shot heading into spring training for RF. If something happens and his defense is just that bad, we can look at a trade or a pick up then.

I would like to see Pie win the job in CF. With all the tools he had, hopefully at 23 it starts to come together. Thats alot of pressure for a 20-21-22 year old to succeed in MLB even with all the tools. I feel sorry for him.

Fact is though, he has excellent speed, great defense, and deserves to succeed. Would make a great answer to another lefty bat and a lead off hitter.

good updates Neil. Thanks.

I'd love Dunn, as stated before, because I think Perry can work with him pretty well, as he has our other hitters. Keep in mind, our OBP went up significantly this year, with huge improvement from Fontenot, Theriot, DeRosa, and even ARAM. Our guys were more selective, and had better approaches at the plate. I think with the right coaching, Dunn can show even more improvement at the plate, which would make him extremely imposing.

As for Bradley, I supported it at first, but as I mentioned, his injury history has me thinking twice.

Abreu might be too costly, and too old for my liking anyhow.

Ditto for Ibanez.

I'd absolutely love DeJesus. The dude hit something like .430 with RISP last year. Teahen would be fine too. However, neither is really considered a power threat, and that is what Hendry and Piniella have both commented on, that not only do we need a lefty bat, but also a power bat. Dunn, Ibanez, and Abreu, are really the only FA outfielders that fit that description. Bradley doesn't even qualify as a real power threat given his historical stats.

I wonder what we'd have to give up to get Peavy? If it requires 5 players...who goes? We know it's Marshall and Vitters for sure. I'd probably throw Pie and Cedeno in, so that's 4...Maybe Veal is the 5th?

side comment on the Ricketts bit...I was friends in high school with one of their kids. He played football at Nebraska as well. They'd be a great family to have the team. I just wonder if they'd spend as much as Cuban might've. I guess we'll see.

I'm also excited to hear about Demp doing boot camp workouts with Lilly and DeRosa. Perhaps that will translate into even greater production from those 3 guys, which would be awesome. We all know how well Demp did last year after his insane workouts.