As Harry used to say, hello again everybody. For a multitude of reasons, I have been away from the CCO for almost three months. I apologize for missing the last few CCO Radio installments of the season and for not being around to share my witty, intelligent and groundbreaking thoughts with you. Some of you might use other adjectives to describe me, but for the sake of avoiding an argument, lets just go with what I said. Plus, you know I am right.
Some of you might look at the headline and laugh, but I am sure most of you are on the same page as me. When Robinson Cano fielded Shane Victorino's ground ball on Wednesday night, my brain immediately closed the chapter on 2009. I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning as I ran around with my lighter looking to light the any hot stove within two miles.
As baseball season officially kicks into offseason mode and the Bridgeport Mayor Daley's strike first with the acquisition of Mark Teahan, I aim to share my random stream of consciousness with you as I ramble on down the road with 150 days, give or take a few, until Opening Day.
- A hearty welcome to the Ricketts Family. May your reign be fruitful, fulfilling and fun. Oh, and let's win a friggin' World Series!
- It is really too bad Chase Utley is not available. He would really solve our woes at second base. (Yes, starting off as Captain Obvious, here. Be patient.)
- I don't believe in curses, well maybe a little, but when the first offseason move is learning that Ted Lilly will start the 2010 season the DL, you give fans reasons to wonder.
- I am setting the over/under on Carlos Zambrano's 2010 win total at 12.
- I know that number is really making you think. Which Z will show up in 2010? Heck, which Z will show up in June or August? Who knows? That $91 million is looking a little foolish.
- Mr. Jaramillo, welcome to the North Side. This is not Arlington. This is Chicago. We clear? Okay. Good talk.
- Akinori Iwamura ... yep, the third offseason with Kosuke Fukudome and the third offseason attempting to find a fellow countryman for our right fielder.
- Jeff Baker can be the 2010 edition of a poor-man's Mark DeRosa, but this team is in need of a proven second bagger.
- Search 2010 Free agents on Cot's Contracts for second basemen ... outside of Orlando Hudson, nothing really excites me. And he will be 32 when the season starts.
- I love how some people are mad that the Yankees "bought" the World Series. Would the same people be mad if the "Cubs" bought the World Series?
- Given the current state of the Cubs outfield, I cannot even begin to speculate what it will look like come April.
- Unlike many others, I am not sold on the fact that Milton Bradley is definitely gone. I hope he is, but I will have to see it to believe it.
- Am I the only one who is really worried about the 2012 Cubs?
- Let's be honest, as Cubs fans we have almost ... almost gotten used to expecting a good team year in and year out, but the "win now" declaration is on its last legs.
- 2010 is Lou's last hurrah ... I don't know about you, but I think he has one more legendary moment left in his aging body. I am just hoping it is one of those "good-legendary" moments.
- I am going to use a little logic here ... if Matt Holliday is a major-league outfielder then I am going to assume Matt Holliday can play right field. If the Cubs need a right fielder then ... Mr. Hendry ... paging Mr. Hendry?
- If you don't like that idea, give me a better one in a comment below ... and no, I do not care about the current state of the economy, I do not care how expensive he will be, nor do I care if it is not feasible. Remember ... WIN NOW.
- And by saying I do not care about the current state of the economy, I mean, when it comes to everyday people, I care a lot, but that emotion falls on deaf ears as a one who has been paying a hefty price for season tickets.
- Baseball teams, heck all professional sports teams, have been passing along the cost to the fans forever. It is as much of a part of our country's sporting system as the balls they use to play said sport.
- Think about it, if you are willing to pay $6.50 for a 16-ounce Bud Light, you will still be willing to pay for a $7.00 Bud Light. Multiply that by the gazillion-billion (oh yes it is a real number) beers sold at Wrigley each year and I think signing Matt Holliday is feasible.
- Who knows what the 2010 season will bring, all I know is that we are one day closer now than we were yesterday. Yes ... I am that smart.
In the current state of the major sports, the games might cease to be played for a handful of months, but the season never really ends. The pilot light has been flicked and the stove is heating up. Like most of you, I am anxious, excited and nervous to see what will happen the next few months to mold the next edition of the Cubs. However, I can tell you this ... no matter what it is, I will be raring to go on April 5th.
So, as the Holiday Season approaches, the stove heats up, the rumors start flying and the "what if's" and the "what could be's" reach unbelievable levels, remember one thing ... next year will be here before you know it.
Feel free to leave a comment for me below and until next time ...
Stay Classy Cubs Fans!
i like your thoughts. and i don't see why it's not feasible to go after holiday. afterall, if you're a major league outfielder, you can play positions. he can adjust to rigth field and would be a nice fit to lou's wanted "rbi" man
we'll see what happens. i don't think it's likely, but we'll see. this could be one of the more interesting off seasons in recent years.
i wonder who our brian roberts/jake peavy of this year will be?
The countdown clock is on....forget Times Square on New Years Eve....the only ball I want to see drop is out of Chipper Jones glove on opening day!
No thanks on Holliday in Right Field. He is a very good hitter. We don't need any other defensive issues. Sure, by your logic a major league outfielder should be able to play right field. But, we know it's not that simple. Totally different angle. He isn't that great of an outfielder to start with (.980 fielding %). He'd have to work all spring on learning the new angle....and then learn on the job for the tough sun in Wrigley. Plus, he doesnt have a great arm which most RF's do. Not to mention the contract he is going to get. His agent is Boras and he's only 29 years old. The Cubs do not need another one of those contracts.
I agree and have said before, I am not sold that Milton is dealt. Dempsters comments seemed to set the stage for that. I dont know that I would mind a second attempt since we have Rudy J as our hitting coach who worked with him in Texas. It's not like there are alot of options out there.
I really wish the Cubs would re-sign Johnson and go with a platoon of Reed and Sam Fuld in CF. I'd love to see Sam against all right handed pitching (2/3 of the games) leading off and covering ground in center. Could be the top part of a new Daily Double.
I'm on the fence about Jeff Baker as the starting 2B...I still like what others have suggested about putting The Riot there and getting a real shortstop. But..Baker is intruiging if he can hit like he did with the Cubs. Maybe Ryno can play this year while he waits for the managerial job?
I take the over on Zambrano. I think he will finish at 16.
Lou scares me. I think everyone saw that he seemed like he had nothing left last year. I dont want another year of that crap. Throw a damn base Lou!!
I wonder if JimK and Harry are working on a devine plan for a Cubs World Series....
First, I take the over on Z. I give him 14 wins this year, but not necessarily as a Cub.
Second, I know we are looking for a center fielder or a right fielder. Here's a cheap option, not necessarily the same as he was in 2005, but how about Andruw Jones. His defense and range could help pick up the slack from the corners. He will remind people of Edmonds roaming around out there. We hit him 7th or 8th and you can still have Fuld/Colvin share some time out there.
If I recall, when we first bought Soriano wasn't he a possibilty to play right field? If we get a guy that can roam center then we could go after a Bay or Holliday by moving Soriano to right.
Then we find a team looking for a lefty outfielder with some speed and defense and find a 2B or SS stop gap until Castro is ready, by trading Fukudome. Maybe to Washington for a Christian Guzman type.
We trade Bradley for a bad contract pitcher, maybe Detroit for one of their couple options (Bonderman, Robertson, or Willis) or to San Fran for Zito.
I think bringing Jones and Willis back to the NL will help them, and wasn't too long ago, and Jones still had a decent year 281 AB, .214/.323/.459 17HR/43RBI/5SB. We give a second year to work with Rudy, and going back to the pitchers he knows he will give us 20+ HR and 60+ RBI in say 450AB. I have to believe thats an offensive upgrade over Fukudome, and if hes only playing 2/3 of the time gives the young guys a chance to get some experience.
Neil, said it best its Lous last hurrah. Surround him with playoff proven performers and it could be a great last one for Lou and company.
Please let's not get to the point where we bring up Andruw Jones as a CF option. His skills have declined so dramatically, and he's been so out of shape the last couple years that that would be a disaster. The thought of him and Soriano in the same lineup (both flailing away at balls in the dirt) would make me cringe. Put some combo of Fuld/Johnson/Colvin out there. Or if you want to get creative go after Grady Sizemore in a trade scenario.
In regards to Z, for $13m a year he should produce around 20 wins a year...but I'm sure he'll be happy with 10, along with a BA above .250
Bryan, Z is at 17.787 mill per year now.
Just under Soriano's 18 mil.
An improved bullpen (just with the absence of Gregg and Cotts) gives Z
15 wins and a ticket to Boston by August.
Fukodome somehow ends up in Seattle with
Japaness ownership playing next to???
Andruw Jones is a horrible idea....Let's just put 3 rocking chairs the outfield
and see what happens...(we're almost there anyhow).
I have no clue on Bradley...it is possible he'll be in RF wearing a dog muzzle....and an invisible electric
fence around him...if a reporter gets too close...he gets zapped.
Cubs security is notified by Homeland
security to beware of Bradley haters...
and fully armed National Guardsman
patrol the RF bleachers and 1rst base corner.
Everyday at Wrigley is "Muppet Day".
And a pissed off Bradley turns in a
DLee like performance at the plate.
Win Now is over...(in terms of major moves) Bad contract for bad contract
does not equal BETTER.
Like last year, our best contributers
are already in house...we get a boost late summer from Gaub/Snyder/Castro/
maybe Cashner/Diamond.
Suzy...thanks for the edit to Z's salary. I feel so much better knowing the number is even higher than I depicted.
We have to stop hoping for mid-level retreads and/or swapped bad contracts to come over and produce. Either deal with the farm system providing an infusion of talent (which may not mean "win now", but creates an environment of internal system investment and sustained longer-term success) or make a big splash with some bold moves (not last leg/buy high vets).
Even when you hear Hendry make a notion about extending a Derrick Lee contract, you'd have to ask why? If Vitters is about ready (and we're reading good press on him), now's the time to think about Aramis moving over to 1B in 2011 and Vitters inheriting 3B. We have to stop creating logjams for the younger kids coming up or being traded in. Imagine an IF of Vitters, Castro, perhaps an EY Jr and Ramirez. Time for this franchise to turn a new page.
Bryan ... Good points!
On Aramis, he has an opt out clause following 2010.
On Vitters, he is making strides and like you I like what I have read. I am looking forward to seeing him play Saturday night on MLB Network.
Bryan...I 100% agree.
If JH signs Holliday, it shows he didn't learn anything from the Soriano signing ...
Brewers dealt Hardy to the Twins for Gomez. A good deal for both teams. From an overall picture, this really strengthens the Brewers. Gomez gives them a great defensive CF and a ton of speed. The deal also saves them a ton of cash (saving over $10 million by letting Cameron go and Hardy will make a few million more than Gomez) which they will spend on a starting pitcher.
Saw that...I thought Hardy would have been good keeping ss warm for Castro.
It seems pretty quiet on the Cubs front.
Orlando Hudson
Ryan Theriot
Derrek Lee
Aramis Ramirez
Matt Holliday
Alfonso Soriano
Geovany Soto
Kosuke Fukudome
BEST LINEUP EVER
Hey, a man can dream right!?
From above:
"I love how some people are mad that the Yankees "bought" the World Series. Would the same people be mad if the "Cubs" bought the World Series? "
NEWSFLASH: Uh, The cubs haven't won in 101 years. The yankees have won more championships than any other franchise in sports, by a country mile.
Hello ?
Hallelujah Suzy, you made me laugh and laugh hard on your Bradley comments LOVE IT!!!!!
The EY movement is growing... Make it happen Jim.
Bryan, I absolutely love that InField.
Add in Soriano (He will be with us until he is a grandpa) Crawford in RF, and Jackson in CF and I am elated.
Sori LF
Crawford RF
Jackson CF (Our Jackson, 1st rd pick)
Vitters 3B
Castro SS
EY 2B
Chris Davis 1B (If 2010 turns to be a bust, and we know we cannot resign Aram, trade him and D Lee if you can. Imagine a contending team looking for a stick, Aramis would be a big name, and we could get a pretty sweet return on investment.)
Throw in payroll flexibilty, and Ryno as the Mgr, Maddux as the Pitching Coach, Rudy as the hitting coach and we can let the games begin...2011 baby!!! This is my master plan mmmmuuuuuaaaaahhhhhaaaaa. If Hendry were able to make a lineup that looked like that he could even stay, because that line up would win... for a long time to come. Use the added payroll to supplement and add pitching if neccesary and voila! Imagine being in the race for an Aroldis Chapman, or a Cliff Lee, or a Roy Halladay, or a Dan Haren...smiles all around.
Sounds easy doesn't it :)
Thanks for the updates Neil, seems like that off season break is hard to come by. We Appreciate it!
And Brian, would solutions like this make you less scared about 2012??? Other than the end of the world, which would be all together fitting for a Cubby World Series Championship.
CloyCub....I'm right there with you on your roster makeup. When you look at it, just two external tweaks (EY and Crawford) plus some infusion from the internal system, and we have the potential for a great new direction.
Somehow this is likely way too difficult for Hendry to comprehend.
Somthing tell me Jimbo gets it, but like Kevin Gregg is not a closer. When the time comes for him to get it done, he folds like a lawn chair.
Some interesting moves made today so far. Coco Crisp was released, and we have heard how Hendry has been enamored with him the past two seasons. Think JH goes after him?
Brett Meyers released by the Phillies. He has the potential but can't put it together. One of those Chris Carpenter type pitchers in my opinion. If he ends up in St Louis with Dave Duncan, look out.
I still think Ben Sheets is worth a flyer. A one year - incentive laden deal. He starts the year for us with Lilly going to be on the DL, if he stays healthy all year - then fabulous he is an ace pitcher. If not, we get some time out of him while Lilly is out and he ends up being cheap on an incentive deal. Thoughts?
Crisp had shoulder surgery on BOTH shoulders late season....normally, I'd agree with you...He is a typical Hendry
move...but even big Jim would be cautious here.
I like Sheets under those terms...he's a potential #1...IF HEALTHY....But JH is probably slow to the punch here.
Both the Brewers and Texas are watching
Sheets closely.
Pass on Myers. I don't think he has it anymore.
CloyCub...great post...like your lineup a lot...except for Soriano. I still maintain he WILL NOT be with us the entire 5 years of his contract.
The Cubs will eventually come to the conclusion he hurts the team more than helps...and figure out a way to dump him.
Perhaps they will come to some sort of "Ed Lynch" agreement with him...where he's on the payroll forever...but not at 18 mil per year.
You do know Ed Lynch is still drawing a paycheck from the Cubs? For what...I don't know.
JH will probably get a similar deal at the end of 2010.
boy oh boy...we must be really ridiculous as fans to demand a championship caliber team, right?!? (LOL)...
I think we all have a good grasp on the team, and all have had great suggestions at some point in time during and after this season for roster/stadium/front office improvements.
You'd think that a world class organization that owes so much of its success (financially wise) to its fans, would do anything and everything to appease them, because ultimately, we are what makes the Cubs successful. If not for us, they wouldn't have the $$ to sign free agents, and if it weren't for Harry Caray, this franchise might either have been moved to a different city/area of town, or we'd be just like the Pirates, and other bottom feeders out there.
You'd think that Cubs management would hire the right people, and make all the necessary personnel decisions to bring a championship caliber team to its loyal fan base, but we have yet to see that, haven't we? Instead, we've seen a manager (Baker..in the past) and GM (Hendry) who care more about pandering to a player's desires rather than what's best for the team.
I can't exactly put the quote on Hendry, because I can't find a link, but I seem to recall in the past several years Hendry making the claim that players want to come to the Cubs because they'll feel loved, or something to that effect. You understand what that means don't you? From a bystander's point of view (meaning I have no vested interest, not owning season seats or anything, or being affiliated with the team in any capacity), I take that to mean that Hendry and the rest of the Cubs brass actively seek players that want to be loved by the fans and their manager, no matter what. What happens from there, is that you begin to lack accountability as an organization. There is no scrutiny to keep you in check, and when there is, you fold, and lay down for your competition. Lou and Hendry both did this at times this year, and the team followed suit, essentially surrendering, all the while making excuses for poor, sloppy play on the field.
Do you think for a moment guys like Jonathan Papelbon, Pedroia, Youkilis, Varitek, Epstein, the Steinbrenner's, Girardi, Posada, Rivera, Jeter, Sabathia, Pettitte, etc. would've made excuses if they were on our team/organization?!? Hell no! They all demand excellence, and you can see it in their fire and leadership on the field.
The only leaders we had were cast aside when they disrupted the apple cart (ie.-called out the team). Guys like Wood, Edmonds, and DeRosa---all of whom made comments about the team's poor play in the postseason were immediately cast aside in the offseason. Isn't it ironic that Hendry made a move to "get more fire" by signing Bradley, while letting 3 players go that showed great fire and leadership?!?
As for other personnel decisions, I seem to recall a number of you on here that were hopeful the Cubs would sign Carlos Lee instead of Soriano based on Lee's unbelievable numbers at Wrigley. He seemed like the logical fit, and even commented that he wanted to play for us. Hendry held out, missed out on him, and he ended up in Houston where he's done nothing but hit .300, 30+hr, 100+RBI, and doesn't K much at all. How's Soriano worked out for us? I just don't get it with Hendry. Every time a logical move comes up, he tries to get cute, and tries to take an ill-advised risk, and almost always ends up overpaying for it.
During the course of the season and thereafter, we've had numerous discussions involving (but not limited to) the following players:
Hardy
Iwamura
Hermida
Fields
Teahen
Chris Davis
Moreland
EY Jr.
Hawpe
Dunn
Uggla
Jenks
Alexei Ramirez
Wells
Halladay
Rowand
Zito
BJ Upton
Burrell
Crawford
Stephen Drew
Chris Young (D'Backs)
Eric Byrnes
Beltran
L Castillo
C Guzman
Michael Young
Matthews Jr.
Adrian Gonzalez
Kouzmanoff
Granderson
Willis
If you think for a moment that Hendry has the foresight and creativity to even acquire one of these names (even in a salary swap for Bradley), then I think you're horribly mistaken. He just doesn't know how to manage a large payroll...plain and simple. And if that wasn't bad enough, he's also been with the organization for close to 15 years now. He started in a position of influence as Director of Scouting, so he ABSOLUTELY has his imprint on this team for that long too. Since he's been here, we've made the playoffs in '98, '03, '07, '08. In 11 of the seasons, we didn't make the playoffs. The last 15 years, here's our finishes (starting with this year):
2nd
1st
1st
6th
4th
3rd
1st
5th
3rd
6th
6th
2nd (Wild Card)
5th
4th
3rd
Now, taking all of that into account, and knowing that we finished over .500 in just 8 of those seasons, don't you think it's time for an overall of this crappy management team?!?
We all know the logical moves to make. We've identified versatility, speed, power, and relief (now one starter too) as needs for the team.
In less than a week, we've seen Hardy, Teahen, Fields, Iwamura and Hermida traded. We've also heard several players might be off the market entirely like: Dunn, Beltran, Drew, and Hawpe.
All the while, our best internal options for versatility, speed, power, pen, and one starter, include:
speed-Fuld, Adducci (likely to be claimed), Thomas, Camp (likely to be claimed), and Castro (likely to start at AAA).
utility-Baker (minimal OF experience), Blanco (though only SS,2B), Fontenot, Scales (not likely back with team), Fox, and Hoffpauir
power-Fox (rumors are that he'll be traded), Hoffpauir, Snyder (likely to be claimed), Colvin (debatable), Flaherty and Burke (both not likely to start above high A or AA)
relief-Caridad, Gaub, Stevens, Papelbon (likely to be claimed), Parker, Patton, Berg, Mateo (likely to be released)
starter-Gorzelanny, Samardzija, Cashner, Jay Jackson, Atkins, Carpenter, Coleman
Now, aside from Camp, Castro, Fox, Baker, Snyder, Flaherty, and Burke, nobody else excites me on offense
In pitching, only Caridad, Papelbon (for versatility with SP and RP), Berg, Parker, Gaub, Cashner, Jackson, and Carpenter excite me.
In my opinion, about the only ones that could step in right away and produce at a MLB-type level without having ups and downs would be Snyder, Fox, and Baker (obviously). For pitching, it'd probably just be Caridad, Cashner, and possibly Carpenter.
So, you see, if we're to improve, it MUST come from the outside, because most of our major help is either in Peoria or Boise, with a few at AA. A guy like Felipe Lopez, with his versatility would really intrigue me, but do you think Hendry has that foresight?!? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! A guy like Ankiel would also make sense too, as would Hank Blalock...(I'm just mentioning FA, because as we all know, Hendry typical lacks the brain function that allows you to make smart trades).
If we only went with Lopez, Ankiel, and Blalock, our roster would be very much improved:
Lopez-2B
Castro/Theriot-SS (or flip-flop at lead-off)
Lee-1B
ARAM-3B
Ankiel-CF
Soriano-LF
Snyder-RF
Soto-C
bench: K Hill/W. Castillo, Blalock, Baker, Colvin, and Fox.
Reasoning: Lopez can play all IF positions, including OF. Baker can play 1B, 2B, 3B, and some OF. Blalock can play 1B and 3B, and Fox can play 1B, 3B, LF, RF. Therefore, if you make double-switches, you should be covered very well athletically. Snyder, Ankiel, and Soriano all have electric arms from the OF, and all 3 have tremendous power (when healthy...unfortunately in all 3 of their cases). This is why you keep Fox and Colvin on the bench for replacements just in case.
What do you guys think?
Aaron, I like Lopez and Blalock. But Blalock will look for a starting gig somewhere. Wasn't Blanco released already? I think we have a real shot at Ankiel, but Hendry will try to find a cheaper OF option like a Coco Crisp, because he brings more speed and a potential lead off guy.
I have a feeling 2010 season is doomed and look forward to what I hope turns out to be the Sandberg era to follow. Would Steve Stone be interested in the GM position when Mr Ricketts holds Hendry accountable after next season?
Andres Blanco has not been released, but Scales has. I don't want Crisp, but it'd be such a Hendry move wouldn't it?!? Coming off a season in which he was injured and in 40+ games hit just .228, yeah...that sounds like a Hendry move to me.
As for Sandberg and Stone, it's quite possible that we'd see Sandberg up here in 2011, provided that he reaches the playoffs again at AA or AAA, wherever they assign him. But that's only if Hendry is NOT here. If Hendry's here, provided that the Yankees don't extend Girardi's contract (which is up next year), then he'll go after Girardi based solely on "experience", which ironically, is why he didn't get the gig in the first place.
Stone has already come out and said a GM's job is for a youthful spirit that has a lot of energy, and he doesn't. The SCORE radio show in Chicago already interviewed him about this, and that was his comment. I, too, would love to see Stone in some sort of role either as an Assistant GM, or in the scouting department. He's got such a tremendous baseball mind, and rubbed a lot of the Tribune folk the wrong way with some of his criticism. Now that they're gone, I think it's quite possible he ends up back with the organization. Obviously, we'd love his commentary, but Brenly and Kasper are doing a fine job, so as long as Brenly doesn't take a managing gig somewhere, I see Stoney in a management role in scouting, or to the GM, but DEFINITELY NOT as GM.
RE: Blalock, it's highly doubtful that he gets a full-time gig somewhere based on his low OBP and injury history, and I think he might realize that his best bet is to go with the Cubs, and reunite with Jaramillo, and try to replace Lee as our 1B in 2011. If I were him, I'd try for a 1 yr, player option for 2011 with the Cubs, and try to get Lee's job. If Hendry extends Lee, then he's able to seek work elsewhere, but his days as a full-time third baseman appear to be over, and almost every team in baseball is set at first base.
Blalock will all depend on what he wants. If he wants a chance for a World Series or to start for a bad team(Royals, Pirates, Nationals) He is basically a 1B at this point of his career, but could back up at 3B if needed. He would be logical for us due to Rami's injury history. Too bad he can't play RF too.
Does anyone know what Michael Young's status is with Texas? I know they moved him to 3B with the emergence of Andrus last year. Is he still capable of playing SS and what kind of a package would it take to bring him in? Insert him in the 2 hole in front of Lee and Ramirez. Wow, I envision alot of RBI chances for those two. It would probably take a Vitters though to get him.
Regarding GM position, if not Steve Stone, since Ricketts likes the way the Red Sox are built, maybe he goes out and finds a young Theo Epstein like they did to bring a fresh young mind to the Cubs. Haven't heard that term in correlation to the Cubs.
Aaron, Hendry has alreadt frustrated me...by his lack of Public movement.
I fear he has his blinders on again...looking just at Milton and what do there.
Ankiel's a good possibility...But the SCORE said today that Hendry's target was Cameron (UGH).
We'll find out about Snyder shortly...I like him...but he is out of options and must make the 40 man roster...btw...
he's hitting .348 in Mexico as of yesterday.
Keep your eyes on Diamond also...he might be really exciting (former 1rst round 10th pick...finally healthy.
I like your idea of Lopez at 2nd...but that would mean a trade of Theriot...because he just is not a ss...and the preferred of course is EY Jr.
Really it's to the point now that I feel
it's essential that JH goes off into history...before the Cubs can truly move forward.
Blalock might be a fit...I don't know...
before I can really speculate...I'd like to see Hendry's opening salvo...even if it is just a small move re 40 man roster.
It would give an idea of JH's mind set
in the Ricketts era.
well, if that's true RE: Cameron, then I think my loyalty as a Cubs fan has run its course, at least as long as Hendry is still with the organization. Doesn't that just make you want to vomit?!?
Also, RE: Snyder, you can be certain Hendry will let him go (ie.-McGehee), and sadly, just like last year with no back-up to 3B, we really have no legitimate back-up outfielders, and Snyder has a tremendous arm I'm told, and a very good bat. Colvin is very suspect both on offense and defense. While I know he has good range, has his arm really come back from TJ surgery? Also, he looks overmatched at the plate right now, and I always thought he was a bad selection in the first round anyhow. If Colvin's the best we have (after releasing Snyder in all likelihood), then we're in BIG trouble, because we'd essentially have Fuld, Colvin, Hoffpauir, and Fox as MLB-ready bats in the OF. Hoffpauir can't hit fastballs. Fox can't hit curveballs. Colvin can't hit the broad side of a barn, and Fuld is like Pierre-esque, but without as many hits, and with less speed.
I think we all must come to the realization that Hendry will NOT go after young talent like Chris Davis, Moreland, EY Jr., etc. I had to come to this painful realization yesterday as I watched every other team out there seemingly making things happen, getting younger, etc. while we stood pat. Sadly, I don't even think Hendry has enough smarts to go after Felipe Lopez...NO...NO....you can bet that Hendry will go after the likes of:
Mark Loretta
Chris Coste
Rich Aurilia
Craig Counsell
Marlon Byrd
Randy Winn
Those are the types of moves that Hendry makes. Know why? He loves to make low key moves to try to look cute, and get the last laugh on everyone when something pans out. It's like he looks at moves like that, and when dumb luck hits, he, surprisingly gets...well, dumber. Keep in mind, this is a guy that's signed the likes of Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, Jeromy Burnitz, Daryle Ward, Lenny Harris, Aaron Miles, Milton Bradley, Troy O'Leary, Tom Goodwin, Ramon Martinez, Jose Macias, Todd Hollandsworth, Paul Bako, Neifi Perez, Cesar Izturis, John Mabry, and Phil Nevin.
The ONLY three players that Hendry has traded for that were above average in MLB at the time of their trades AND were in their primes were ARAM, Lee, and Harden. Just think about that for a moment folks...In 8 years on the job, he's traded for EXACTLY 3 (borderline 3, because Harden was a HUGE injury risk) players in their prime.
During that same time period, the only notable free agent signings he's made were (not just re-signing our own):
Soriano
Fukudome
Bradley
I'm NOT saying that he didn't make other FA signings of note, but those were notable, big name signings. You can't consider the likes of Howry, Eyre, Marquis, Lilly, and DeRosa to be notable, simply because none of them were all that great at the time, and only Lilly and DeRosa ever amounted to anything with us.
Once you put things into perspective that way, you begin to see just how screwed we are as an organization with Hendry at the helm. He might be a good guy, and he might know how to relate to players, but it sure doesn't help him with results on the field, because being the good guy almost never wins you a championship. You have to make tough calls, and you have to sell high sometimes while you still can.
You have to make trades like Jake Fox mid-season, knowing that if he's exposed to breaking balls, he'll bomb, and if he rots on the bench, he loses value. Or...knowing that Lilly was turning 34 the following year, and was having a career year with injury concerns already, it'd probably be best to sell high. Or...with Lee, having a breakout second half, and knowing that things weren't working, it would've been wise to approach him again about waiving his no-trade. Then you have the botched moves of sending Heilman and Harden at the deadline, knowing that perhaps neither of them would be with us next year, and you could at least get something of value for them...but he didn't. Then there was Marshall, who didn't seem to have a role, but succeeded in relief, and he could've gotten value for him, and who knows what he could get this offseason. There's just so many moves that you scratch your head on, like the McGehee move, or the DeRosa trade, or getting rid of Pie for Gathright, or even trading for Gregg at all, coming off 9 blown saves and knee surgery...then there's the matter of trading our back-up shortstop for a guy that folds under pressure (Heilman). In all cases, Hendry put us in a HUGE hole:
1)no back-up 3B that was MLB ready, and no FA moves to cover that either
2)no versatility in terms of someone that could cover at least 3 IF positions, and corner OF
3)no back-up OF option that can actually hit
4)reducing trade flexibility in the future by trading one of our top pitching prospects for a guy that was to be non-tendered anyhow
5)no solid back-up SS option
That's what he left us with. He pieced it together last minute by trying to add Koskie, who'd been out of baseball due to multiple concussions, then he tried to claim that Miles could play multiple positions, which was absolutely laughable to me, then he tried to make Gathright sound like the savior to the team, filling in at all OF positions with excellent speed and defense (laughable), then he tried to sell Gregg as some excellent closer that would provide depth to Marmol, and would push him in ST for the job, then he tried to sell Fontenot and Miles as legitimate options to the hole created at SS.
I mean, I was absolutely beside myself this past offseason over his moves. I was thinking to myself, "is anyone else seeing this crap".
If memory serves me correctly, only myself and Neil were wondering about the McGehee move, and I absolutely knew that was a preview of a terrible offseason ahead. Then, I thought with all the hoopla surrounding Bradley, and the fact he was a switch-hitter, that provided we got ANOTHER big bat, like a Dunn, Ibanez, Abreu, that he might make sense for us, but in any of the cases (save for Abreu, who can play CF), the Cubs had to get rid of Soriano, which wasn't happening, so Dunn made the most sense of all because of his track record of 40 hr, 100 RBI. Then, when the Peavy thing happened, I was left absolutely befuddled. It was like I was in the twilight zone. They were bitching about offense in the playoffs, and our pitchers had just come off of outstanding performances, and they go after another starter?!? WHAT?!???????????????? I was even okay with it, provided we didn't give up the farm for him, and that we still focused our attention on the offense. Unfortunately, it became quite obvious that Hendry would become too narrow-minded, and miss out on other opportunities, which is PRECISELY what happened.
He had opportunities to tell Bradley to take a hike, because Abreu was still available, or to sign Hudson, and tell Miles he was sorry, he'd have to ride the pine. It was simply unbelievable when I watched in all unfold, and I kept telling myself that the new owner would fire Hendry in a heartbeat (and that was even before the disappointing season had even commenced).
We all know that Dunn, BJ Upton, and EY Jr. would help us out immensely next season. What Hendry doesn't know is how to get creative.
The Nationals apparently need a 2B/SS type, and a 1B to replace Dunn in a trade. An easy move the Cubs could make to solve their problem is to offer up Theriot and make a trade with the Rangers to land the recently out-of-favor Chris Davis, and trade them to Washington for Dunn, who can play LF, RF, and even 1B (though not that great at any of them).
For the Rays, they need a catcher, young outfielder, and pitching. If I'm the Cubs, I'm trading Soto, Colvin, and Stevens/Berg/Atkins/Coleman for Upton. The thought is that we have W. Castillo in the wings, along with Brenly, and we'd still have Koyie Hill and Clevenger if need be. If we need to get another team involved, then so be it.
For the Rockies, their need is both starting and relief pitching, and they have great OF and IF depth with the likes of Helton, Barmes, Tulo, Stewart, Gonzalez, Fowler, Smith, and Spilbourghs already locked up. They apparently can get rid of an extra IF (EY Jr.) and extra OF (Hawpe). Supposedly, they're looking for right-handed power. We can solve that for them if need be with Jake Fox.
I'd offer them a choice of young relievers NOT named Gaub, Caridad, Guzman, and Marmol. So, Berg, Marshall, etc. would be available, and then I'd include Jake Fox as well.
There, I just solved our 3 big problems with little brain power, and I did it through observations, and looking at previous confirmed rumors involving players that might get moved (Dunn, EY Jr., and Upton)
Aaron,
While I agree with some of what you say in general, I think your trade proposals for Dunn, Upton and EY Jr. are extremely one sided for the Cubs. While JH deserves a some criticism for many of his moves and lack of minor league development, I don't think it's fair to blame him for not making trades that are not available to him.
Aaron:
A few thoughts.....
* What is so special about Brenly jr?
* I do believe that Soto is probably our best trading chip (One who doesn't have a no trade clause). Followed by Theriot.
Woody...re GM...watch what happens in Houston with Ed Wade...word is he's not happy with Drayton Moore...he was with the Phillies prior to Houston 3 years ago...and is largely responsible for the core of the Phillies.
Billy Beane is still out there too right? He knows about building from within.
Hendry should be shipped out immediately if he makes a move with Cameron. There are so many better options internally.
Suzy, I agree that Jimbo is probably all mentally stretched on how to move Bradley while the rest of the ML leaders are already exploring/executing reasonable deals...yet indeed a lot of time still out there.
Ricketts really missed the boat in keeping Jim and Lou (and Larry). He had a great opportunity to do a re-start.
I hope we're all surprised over the coming months, but my gut is saying that 2010 may be a miserable time on the north side.
First...the Cameron thing on the SCORE
was just a couple of daytime announcers...Not Levine/Kaplan or any of the beat writers...they were talking with Stony re Teahan and the Sox when that came out.
So I'm hoping it's just a couple of DJ's talking.
DavidF...I agree on your assessment that the Rockies would want more for ETJr and some of the others...But we as fans will never know what's available to JH and what's not...BUT His body of work over
15 years suggests that he does not even think about these type of deals proactively....Hence...the criticism od him re these type of deals is valid.
I would love to hear a reporter ask him point blank if he ever thought about going after EYJr//Moreland or Davis from Texas etc.
Bryan, I think that JH still being here is more a function of the calendar and the contract already in place than anything...(I look for some sort of announcement early in the season that
Hendry will be reassigned or step down
after the 2010 season concludes and either
A) XYZ will assume the role of GN or
B) A search for JH replacement will begin now.
Aaron, don't give up on the Cubs yet.
You stuck through Larry Hines you can stick through Hendry.
If you read other teams' fan websites, they are loaded with trade proposals of "let's package 3 or 4 of our spare parts/marginal prospects" for "buy low" guys with big upside like Upton, EY Jr, Chris Davis, etc. And each teams' fans criticize their GM for not making those kinds of trades. The problem is that the Rays, Rockies and Rangers don't want spare parts/marginal prospects for high upside players that have struggled for one season. They want the Marmols, the Vitters, the Starlin Castros. If you want talent, you need to deal talent ... it's not a question of getting creative with a bunch of decent players.
The real flaw of JH's tenure is the lack of minor league development. The Phillies were able to acquire Lee because they have boatloads of minor league talent. We have Foxes and Hoffpauirs and Castillos to trade ... nice role players/decent prospects ... but not players that will return top notch talent even if you put 4 or 5 of them together.
I couldn't agree more. Some of these trade proposals that I see on here are so laughable and absurd. Why any team is going to give the cubs their top prospect for a bunch middle of road marginal prospects is really dreaming.
Do people understand that the other team is only going to make a trade with the cubs if it makes sense for them too ?
David, you missed my point entirely.
1rst...you have a valid point re our farm system...but that happens to be another indictment of Hendry...since he was involved with it for so many years.
You're looking at Aaron's proposal today too much.
Back in mid summer when we first identified EY Jr. The proposal was for Harden and 2 or 3 prospects. (Colorado was in the pennant race and needed pitching.
My last proposal included Marshall,
either Cashner or Gaub,possibly Jay Jackson and a an A ball arm.
That is talent for talent...not spare parts for a team seeking pitching.
My point is...I don't think Hendry would even identify someone like EY Jr. as a possible long term solution to a trouble
spot...because he still has some development to go yet.
And I believe that is Aaron's basic criticism also...JH is not creative or as exhaustive in his talent evaluation.
And that also shows up in our own farm
system....Although I will say that the farm system is better in the last dew years.
I'm just throwing this out there...I don't necessarily want it to happen more than the other moves I suggested, but Austin Kearns might be a low cost option for RF. I know, I know...at 29 years old, he had the one good initial season (almost like a Jake Fox or Soto type of showing), then injuries/bad play/possibly bad coaching took its toll on his career, but he walks a decent amount, and he has a cannon of an arm in the OF (though injuries might limit him now, I'm not sure). Anyway, he might be worth a shot.
If that's all we did for offense (unlikely...but with Hendry you never know), I'd like to see the Cubs hang onto Snyder, and have a good platoon set-up in RF with Kearns and Snyder, then grab Ankiel for CF (but in all likelihood, Hendry gets Cameron....blllllllllllllecccccccccccccccchhhhhh---I just vomitted).
I've been playing around with different largely internal lineups recently. Here's a few:
Lopez-2B
Theriot/Castro-SS
Lee-1B
ARAM-3B
Snyder-RF
Soriano-LF
Ankiel-CF
Soto-C
or...
Fuld-CF
Theriot/Castro-SS
Lee-1B
ARAM-3B
Kearns/Snyder-RF
Soriano-LF
Baker-2B
Soto-C
or...
Theriot/Castro-SS
Baker-2B
Lee-1B
ARAM-2B
Cameron-CF (bleeeeeeeeech)
Soriano-LF
Fukudome-RF (bleeeeeeeeeeech)
Soto-C
Unfortunately, I think the latter might be the most likely scenario.
I think Baker was a fluke based entirely on his previous body of work. We need a true threat at 2B, and he's not it.
2B-Lopez, Uggla (those are about the only 2 options I'd want right now at 2B)
CF-Ankiel, and I guess maybe Marlon Byrd (though I wouldn't really favor that move), Crisp (also don't like too much), and Podsednik (actually am okay with)
RF-Dye (old), Guerrero (old), Kearns (coming off bad year), Nady (coming off injury)
So, in the FA market, you can see there's really not much help out there. Holliday and Bay are more LF candidates than RF, plus they'd command somewhere in the $14-18 million/year range. In my opinion, neither is worth that much. Holliday would be close because of his average, but Bay is not that great at all.
Guys like Iwamura, Hermida, Fields, Teahen, and Hardy (unlikely in the first place though b/c inter-division) have already been traded, and each and every one of them would've helped a lot. Additionally, you have Abreu re-upping with the Angels, and other rumored potential FA going back to their current teams. The outlook looks bleak for us
Aaron, good timing on Kearns. I am working on my Weekend Update and mentioned Kearns. Hendry has always wanted him in the Cubs' outfield.
Aaron...just on dor a dew minutes and reply more in depyj later.
Listened to Bruce Levine this am.
Re Cameron...He said that He would NOT BE the primary target...If he were to be
brought on board...it would be because the Cubs were unable to get a younger/better CF. That Cameron, would not be picked up until later winter id at all...after the Cubs exhausted other avenues,
-Reed Johnson is asking for 6 million
for 2 years...Bruce felt it 50/50 the Cubs bring him back because of $$$ and back issues.
Re Castro...He thinks he's going to be great...but still a little green to pencil him in the majors to start.
But feels he might be brought up...mid-
to late season.
I agree with you on Snyder...he should be
in the majors in 2010...hope it's with the Cubs...he does have good power...and average...as well as good range defensively.
Levine ended by saying the Cubs needed to get better defensively up the middle.
2nd/ss/CF.
Yes, Kearns is a food possibility...Levine did say that the goal was to get Fuko to RF and brong in a solid CF.
I don't thino Coco Crisp is a true option...even for Hendry except for backup...He had shoulder surgery on BOTH
shoulders last season...KC is looking to resign him to a minor league contract...
and if we looked at him...it would have to be the same type of deal.
I am putting together a team I would like to see. Guys, help me out in finding scenarios in bringing these peeps here to the Cubs. I am going to BUY my World Series.
C- Justin Morneau
1B- Adrian Gonzalez
2B- Robinson Cano
SS- Yunel Escobar
3B- Garrett Atkins
RF- Andre Either
LF- Grady Sizemore
CF- Shane Victorino
Im loving it. Lots of runs. We can play small ball with Victorino, Sizemore and Escobar or we can go deep with Either, Gonzalez or Atkins. All these guys play to win. My batting lineup would look like this:
Escobar
Victorino
Gonzalez
Either
Morneau
Atkins
Sizemore
Cano
The bench can be whatever we can afford afterwards. I say the bench should be our 1st or 2nd year players we are trying to develop. We will win the division easily. Give these vets rest.
My rotation would look like this. Gots to save money for the hitters, so we will need to be young here.
1- Doc Halladay
2- Jake Peavy
3- Ted Lilly
4- Randy Wells
5- Tom Gorzelanny
SU- Johnathon Broxton
Bullpen can be whatever we got. Same as hitting, lets get our youngsters some MLB experience.
I know this is a dream, but hey, good conversational piece. Aaron, I know you are the contract, money guru on this site. How can we make this work with the pieces we have and a payroll of $165 million a year? Can it happen? Also, can we build our youngsters in the minors with trading some vets away? I am hoping I have given you something to think about, but yet a challenge that you are willing to take on.