That link said the Cub's have NO interest in Smoltz. Why the hell NOT? I'd rather sign Smoltz, although old, but a future HOF, than give up a decent prospect ,like Lee for Frazor.

I thought Type B (Frasor's status) means the Cubs would give up a sandwich draft, between the first and second round, to the Jays?

It has nothing to do with "player compensation"*, giving up a player under contract to the ex-team of a Type-B

*(which is a rule of the 60s or something? I think they still use that in Japan).

Nevermind. Frasor was resigned on 01/19, his last arbitration year.

I have more on Smoltz from Rosenthal, article will publish just after midnight.

Jon Heymann's take on the Cubs right now:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/03/08/cubs-piniella/index.html?eref=writers

The Frasor thing:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/cubs-inquire-on-jason-frasor.html

Soriano should be given a month after that he better be the one on the bench. He is half the player Fukudome is right now and that isn't saying a hole lot. I don't care how much he makes we need to win not have a idiot striking out on balls in the dirt every other at bat. I hope the best for him, for our sake and he seems to be a great guy but he looks really old.

cubs interested in frasor... for hak ju lee... dont do it jim

Grant...where did youhear that rumor...I don't see it anywhere???

I hope Grant was wrong about that. If they trade Hak Ju Lee for Frasor, that's right up there on par with the Cubs trading 3 decent prospects for Trachsel....but it'd be more like the equivalent of Brock for Broglio...Yes, I know that Hak Ju Lee hasn't done anything outside of short season, but he's got everything a top prospect would have...actually, I have a more applicable trade it compares with....Ceda for Gregg. How'd that turn out for us?!?

I already hate Hendry, and if he did that trade, I'd send out a lynching party for him, because we've seen it not only in free agency, but in trades, Hendry gets schooled by the entire league, and we've gone from "up-and-coming" power to laughingstock in a matter of years (if we fail again...which is likely)

here ya guys go..

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/cubs-inquire-on-jason-frasor.html



i did read it wrong and the COMMENTS were saying its a "fair deal" i pray to god that hendry that he doesnt do this.. as most ya know hes my top player in the organzation..

Grant, don't lose any sleepover this one...Hak Lee won't go for a setup guy...

He would only go in a blockbuster type deal as part of a package...if ever at all. I believe we'll see Lee playing at Wrigley long before he is ever traded.

The Cubs have invested heavily in Korean

players without any fruits just yet...Lee would only go in a huge dealat this stage.

i dont think it will happen and yea he will be in chicago, hes gon be good

RT @jcrasnick New Rumor Central: With Guzman down, Cubs keeping an eye on Blue Jays' Frasor. http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors about a minute ago

It doesn't say anything about players and is really just pure speculation that the Cubs will be going back to the teams they have previously talked to, over the winter.

Thanks Tony...I don't get the insider...I found something else...I'll post in a few minutes.

How do you spell Soriano?

"D O N E"

He's finished folks. Heavy bat, no bat speed. Even when he was with Rudy in Texas, he had a .280 avg, .324 OBP in one season, and the next, he had a .268 avg, .309 OBP (sure, he had 36 hr, 104 RBI that season), but his stats have fallen off the face of the earth since he joined the Cubs. And we know he's lying about his age. It's only a matter of time before we have a Tejada situation, and find out he's really 2 years older than he says he is, which would make him 36 (and from there, you can figure out why his stats have had a precipitous drop)

We currently have 3 starting outfielders (Soriano, Byrd, and Fukudome) that belong in part-time roles.

I've said this ad nauseam about historical stats. Don't think for a moment that Soriano will hit 46 hr, 95 RBI as he did in his one career year with the Nationals, because he simply was too wildly inconsistent prior to that. Additionally, don't expect Marlon Byrd to come anywhere close to 20 hr, 89 RBI...think more along the lines of 10 hr, 50 RBI, just as you will get from Fukudome, who will get around 11-12 hr, 50-55 RBI.

Soriano will be lucky to hit above 20 hr this year, and several baseball experts have predicted such an occurrence. So, the most likely scenarios is this...

Soriano-.240-.250 avg, .300-.320 OBP, 20 hr, 50-60 RBI, 40 walks, 130 K's

Byrd-.280-.290 avg, .320-.330 OBP, 10 hr, 50 RBI, 35 walks, 90 K's

Fukudome-.250-.260 avg, .350-.380 OBP, 10 hr, 55 RBI, 85 walks, 110 K's

Collectively, that's about a .275 avg, .345 OBP, 40 hr, 165 RBI...or, roughly about 60 points less in OBP than Dunn, same amount of hr, and about 55-60 more RBI than Dunn averages...and, combined, they walk just 50 more times than Dunn averages

I'm just sayin'...

This year is going to be one of the most ugly seasons you and I will ever witness on the North Side. I'm not saying that to be a party pooper, because I was actually fairly positive after the first few games....Then Piniella had to go and open his mouth, and take any optimism I had, and flushed it down the toilet. Our lineup averages 32 years old as it currently stands, (and that's with taking Soriano at his word that he's 34 years old).

The team should've signed Lopez and Blalock outright, and done away with Fontenot and not signed Tracy (who is coming off several injuries, including the career threatening microfracture surgery he had). That wouldn't have changed the average age because Lopez and Blalock are both 29. But they were still better options. Grabow looks downright awful, and if you think of his $3.75 million salary Hendry dished out, knowing he has bone chips floating around in his elbow that can lock up at any time, it just makes you want to vomit...and then signing a guy you want to depend on to be a 4th OF, and potential starter in RF when he can't even throw, and you're in the NL, (Nady), it makes you want to vomit even more, considering Dye is still unemployed...and even though he's old, he still can throw the ball at least from RF, can't he? Do you see the roster conundrum Hendry created?

Sure, we could open with Nady on the DL, and take someone like Snyder, Colvin, or LaHair instead, but think about this instead....just with not signing Tracy and Nady, and doing the moves I suggested, which wouldn't have cost us much more:

Bench: Hill, Baker, Blalock, Snyder, and Colvin.

Lopez is your starting 2B, and fill-in SS, Baker is your supersub, and Blalock backs up Lee and ARAM in the event of injury. Snyder and Colvin offer decent speed, above average defense and range (coupled with versatility with both playing all 3 OF positions), and you don't have to deal with injury question marks in Nady and Tracy, plus, you don't have this controversy over Castro, Blanco, Fontenot, and even Barney, as Lopez is your back-up shortstop. You also save the $3+million from Grabow, and $3+million from Nady, and the $2 million combined from Tracy and Fontenot. That's about $9 million saved. Factor in the deals Lopez and Blalock will/have received, and that's about $5 million saved overall, which could be used on 2 very good relievers, just as Beimel (who still hasn't signed) or a Smoltz might receive even less than $5 million combined.

I'm on record on here as saying this season is headed for disaster given all our injury question marks, age, and underperforming players. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, and for anyone that I offend by stating the obvious, I apologize, and will buy you a beer at the end of the season to drown your sorrows, (provided flights don't skyrocket between now and then, and I can get to Chicago).

Let's all hope I'm wrong...but I wasn't last year all the way from the offseason to the end of the year. Stats folks....that's all there is to it. I'm not manipulating any info. It's all out there for the public to see. It just seems like "old schoolers" like Hendry, and a few fans haven't caught on with the times. I still can't believe he said OBP and other factors aren't that important...LOL....Newsflash JIMBO...OBP indicates the amount of time you are on base, which indicates the amount of opportunities your team has to score. SLG indicates the ability of your hitters to get those runs in with extra base hits, especially if you have a bunch of singles hitters. This is precisely what scouts and advisors should be evaluating when they look into trades/free agency.

Aaron, I agree with much of your post, but . . . .

Soriano (sic): yes, he's awful, but you say "he's done" and then project stats that are good enough to stay in MLB.

You project him at .240-.250; 20 HR, 55-60 RBI. Those stats keep him not only in MLB but also as a starter for the Cubs. I admit that last year he ranked 26 or 27 out of the 30 starting OF in all of MLB in almost every category. But if the Cubs released him today, he'd be signed in about 35 seconds to some other team--KC Royals at least.

My point: he's awful, not worth the money, but not done. And we've got another five years of this coming.

Oh yes, I agree: he's not 34, more likely 36-38 years old. And he's missing his 'roids, too. That knocked him down some.

And as for Rudy Jar-man reviving his career, well . . . you proved that Rudy didn't make him a great hitter the first time around, when he was much younger. My take is that all those who think Rudy is a Savior: FORGETABOUTIT. He ain't no Savior!

Bryd: yes, I've projected him about at your levels: 12 HR, .280 50 RBI.

Funko: same old, same old: .255 12 hr 50 RBI--you know, Bradley levels.

Nady shouldn't make the Opening Day roster. HE can't throw. And if he does, then it is another evidence that Lou and JHendry are living in a total fairy world, completely divorced from any reality.

Last year our starting pitching was fairly good: this year it doesn't look very promising, esp. from #4 and #5 starters. And if the Cubs keep Silva . . . the year is shot right from opening day.

Losing Guzman hurts alot. And Grabow threw the other day like he was hurting, too. I wonder . . . .

We shall see as ST progresses. But since the Cubs are devoted to playing "the Contracts" instead of those who actually deserve to play, you can FORGETABOUTIT.

So the question hangs in the balance...

Will your wife let you buy an old lady a beer?

You might be right about Soriano...and Hendry makes me nervous under the current circumstance...where he has to make a trade.....BUT...I don't share your total pessimism just yet...too may variables...and way too early.

Aaaron:

It's March 8 not April 8.

Give it some time, then reevaluate.

Man, I tried to read the whole thing Aaron, but then started skimming and saw that it was still about Lopez and Blalock and I don't know why I would want to read all that again. No one is expecting Soriano to hit 46 homers, and very few people here are excited about having him at all, BUT we know the reality, and that is that he is here and he is gonna play. So, does he have a chance at .265-.270/ 25HR+/- & 75-85 RBI ? Yes, I think he does. Is that "worth" the contract? Hell no. Would it be serviceable in the 6 hole? Hell yes.

I digress, the reality: we ALL know the contract sucks - probably one of the worst ever (Hampton, Pavano, Zito are worse), so what is the point of hammering on it? I mean, I agree with your points - most of the time, and I'm not a kool-aid drinker or an apologist, I just can't see the point in reading the same critiques over and over and over.

Felipe Lopez is not the answer. Neither is Hank Blalock - he of 25hr, 25 walks and 100+ Ks to go with his .230 BA - Dave Kingman anyone? I'll take Castro, Tracy/Hoff/LaHair over that. Really. Why not? Lopez is NOT a difference maker, neither is Hank Blalock, so why keep calling for these guys? Who cares? I don't get it.

neil-any local news on the cubs and their new site?........the local media is doing a bad job i think of what is going on about this:

for those who have not heard here are some facts:

the proposed $1 tax on all ST games does not deduct from the teams net; only an added cost to the buyer.

the proposed tax on rental cars at phx airport will make one of the higher taxed aiports worse: 11% tax now on rentals plus $6 fee. (better to take a cab to hotel and rent there).

according to ST visitor's bureau: $120m in revenue comes to AZ thanks to ST; of which cubs fans spend $50M. cubs fans stay longer and more of them show up.(i should know i have an anunt/uncle that go for close to a month)

also, more money is spent outside mesa(tempe/scottsdale i'm guessing) than in mesa. there are now 15 teams; last yr 14 so the cubs fans spend 40% of ST revenue.

1.5 M fans showed up last yr(14 teams) ; cubs attendance is over 200K; therefore almost 15% of attendance.

cubs away games reflect 20% increase in fans compared to non-away cubs games.

so; the people of AZ won't be paying for most of this; visitors at ST games and who rent cars. and cubs fans make up the strong majority of this.

also, 167K people in in phx area who were born in chicago area; more than any other major US city. i'm guessing 75% are cubs fans. (built in audience)

however: prickdorf has made these comments(aka jerry reinsdorf):

4 teams including the prickdorfs boycotted the opening kick-off of ST in AZ. anyone know the others?

prickdorf called his buddy seling who has come out against the tax. (i hope he had the decency to call ricketts first, but as the worst commish ever i doubt he did)..........and i doubt he thought about it; just did what bud prickdorf does.

prickdorf plays in chicago in a state financed stad; of which the first 1.2m fans are rent free. (he should of gone to tampa to learn a BIG lesson) in economics.

prickdorf left the city of tucson who spent 21M for his stad to move to a 'newer' one in glendale which he complains they 'share ' w/ the LAD.

prickdorf submitted a bid to buy the phx coyotes NHL team; which plays in a pubilcy financed stad.

prickdorf complained to his bud selig that the NL-AL games each yr needed to be home and home so he could draw the 120K fans to his state owned sponsored stad becuz he can't get those draws w/ his home team.

hmmmmmmm.............if the red sox or yanks were to leave FLA what would happen>.........the cubs are the bully of AZ i admit w/ this tax, but they are also the driving force. anyone want to guess on red sox or yanks games vs cubs would draw? in FLA.

this is gonna be interesting. if john mccain if in favor of it and he knows not even his home state d'backs can't outdraw the cubs; then who does prickdorf think's he is.

if i'm the cubs i would request no more ST games against the sox in glendale as it ruins the value of the "reg. season" games...........hahahaha-ya think uncle jer would scream over that.

Everyone should read this ...

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/mar/06/david-moulton-mesa-continues-leave-cubs-naples/

Thanks Chuck!

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

There is also the possibility of the Gila River Deal to keep the Cubs in AZ. The "Indigenous People" are flush with cash from their casinos, they have a first class hotel and 400 acres to build on. Don't count them out yet. And the best part is my daughter lives about 5 minutes from there.

That's one INTERESTING article. Since I've never been to ST...I'm kind of out of the equation...but it's definitely a Brouhaha...and anyone's guess as to how it turns out.

Thanks, 1967, for the details and comments.

Suzy, Got it.

The "Cubs Tax" was and is a hot topic in the Phoenix area. Everywhere I turned on Wednesday and Thursday, there it was. People are upset and blaming the Cubs because the media is doing a poor job of explaining what is going on.

The Cubs have nothing to do with the "Cubs Tax". Mesa wants to keep the Cubs because they bring $52 million a year into the area.

You did a great job of explaining it.

Based on people I spoke with in the know I think this will happen, but it is not a done deal ... yet.

I really wanted to go to Glendale to see the White Sox and Dodgers new facility. I have heard/read it is unbelievable.

Once the Rockies move next year, the Cubs will have the oldest facilities in the Cactus League. I have been to all but two of the stadiums (Goodyear and Glendale) and the Cubs facilities are far behind the others.

Here is a link from the Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0215-haugh-chicago--20100214,0,61981.column

One good thing about the game being rained out yesterday is that I didn't have to hear Hawk Harleson. Thank god. Worse annoucer ever.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD........(everybody together now)YES!!!!!!

I say no. and not because I'm a Cubs fan.

I disagree...Im not much of a Sox fan...but I do like me some Hawk... I like the Homerun call...and the "He Gone" strikeout call.... I loved growing up and watching him and Don Drysdale announce the magical 1983 season. Having Steve Stone is even better....

Hawk Harrelson is sometimes haaaad to take...even for a Boston fan...Even my long gone father marveled at how he took

one good season with the Red Sox and parlayed it into a full blown career.

He Gone!!! :)

I like the "Hawkisms" ....he gone.. you can put it on the board, Yes !!!

He actually has a personality, something rare today, with all the bland, boring announcers that are out there.

Harry was the best.

I like Len as a person, but to be honest he puts me to sleep.

I don't hate them for the "put it on . . ." garbage that they keep saying; but I hate them for their constant home team nagging against the umpires. Every ball thrown by THEIR pitcher was a strike; and every strike thrown by the opposing team was 2 feet outside. I hate them for their lack of objective honesty.

Yeah...I don't like using the word "hate"...it just irks me. It's just the equivalent of the girl who uses the word "like" in every sentence, or a few other phrases. I think also for me, because I only hear it when they play the Cubs, it always means disaster.

Freudenschade: antonym of scheudenfreude--sorrow at another person (team's) success. Pretty sure that word doesn't exist, but I'm gonna go with it.

:) Agreed. Not that I mind it when radio guys have catchphrases (ya gotta make a living somehow...), but something about THAT one in particular...and the "can of corn"...And I don't think it's just because he's the announcer for the Sox, but I've been known to be irrational before.

If you have MLB.TV's audio feed, you can catch the game via the A's radio feed. Never heard these guys before, but they don't sound too bad before.

So what do Neil and Rick Monday have in common?

http://www.boysofspring.com/journal/journal2.php

I am glad you guys liked the videos. I had a blast taking them.

Suzy, thank you for posting the link to Boys of Spring. Tim is a very nice man and I enjoyed speaking with him. Had no idea about the post, that was very cool.

Awesome! Nice shout out for Neil and the CCO!

Great videos. Thanks Neil

Colvin is more athletic than Snyder by far, he may not be as strong or have as much power but he cetainly has more athletic skills than Snyder.

With Blanco hurt for a few days...in brings a little more spotlight on Darwin Barney.

The folks over at "Another Cub Blog"...did a comparison of Barney vs. Blanco that is pretty interesting...especially for those of you

unfamiliar with Barney:

http://www.anothercubsblog.net/

Some more Barney "ink"...this time by Muskat... btw I'm just putting these Barney posts on here...because the other day someone said they knew little about Barney:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100308&content_id=8714364&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Also the Sporting News has this prognosis of the Cards today:

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20100308?sub_id=CYmp0bX8JP9VK&folio=CGI#pg31

I expect that tomorrow they will analyze the Cubs' chances.

well...........this write-up on the cards must of been done by tony larussa.

pitching means the whole team: not just their 1 and 2 starters: one of which has only pitched over 200 IP 2 yrs in a row once in his career........their 3-4-5 starters had less than 20 wins last year and their closer is 36 coming off a joe borowski once in a lifetime yr. should be more like a B.

their bench is an A?..........when shane robinson, nick stanivoa, julio lugo, jason larue and felipe lopoz is ur bench.....who scares me against marmol late in games? no one......and if david freese cannot play 3b, then lopez will weakening a B bench at best. no power, pathetic OF and if lopez is SOOOOO great why did it take till almost march to sign.

wow-i get the sporting news; but this is suppose to be Predictions; not a recap of last yr saying how great the cards were.

( if pujols or holliday get hurt; they in a world of hurt)

Thanks for the posts, Rip.

The Sporting News has an article on Guzman today, and it is sad:

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20100308?sub_id=CYmp0bX8JP9VK&folio=CGI#pg29

Another take on Castro and "White Sox weekend", :

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-cubs-wrigley-bound/

Tony, good analysis overall.

Neil, the Rudy Millar story is cool.

Neil, I really want to thank you for a great job bringing spring training alive for the rest of us.

Yep...Great Job!!!

Yeah, thanks Neal. The videos were great!

Suzy:

He sure does.

Ditto....thank you.

So after three games Lou has already declared (again) that Castro will start the season at SS. While I don't dispute that that might be the best overall decision, isn't ST the opportunity (especially early on) to try new combinations. It certainly couldn't hurt seeing the Castro/Theriot tandem for a week and see how they perform together. This, as another small example, is why we need a new, younger manager who can just think differently than this dinosaur of a leader.

Bryan, I have no issue with Lou issueing that statement to the press.

Think of a pack of bothersome hounds nipping at your heals constantly asking the same thing over and over.

While Castro will probably start at AAA...the statement this early is probably more about keeping the "hounds at bay" then any final decision Lou has made.

Lou is right in trying to keep expectations down....it's already

been way too much hype about him...

good as he may or may not be.

Suzy...I understand your point, but I'd rather have Lou (after 3 days) state "the young man is creating some favorable early impressions as we had hoped. We have several weeks to go, so let's see how he handles the experience. I want to try a couple different scenarios with all the guys vying for spots, and we'll continue to assess. But so far the kid is holding up fine".

I just think that's a better, more open approach than targeting any player for assignment (at any level) the first week in ST.

At this stage everyone should continue to be motivated to compete for final roster spots.

Bryan, It's still "Lou's World"...for this season...and I'm sure he's going to do things all season to drive us nuts.

Your point is valid...but in my opinion,

not major...AAA still represents a reasonable promotion...and I'm sure Castro knows he's just a heartbeat away from the majors...so I don't think in Castro's case it's a hindrance.

If he starts spouting the same stuff on

Millar/Tracy/LaHair/Colvin/Snyder/Baker

etc...then it's a bigger problem.

In principle,I agree with you...just not in this particular case.

Just a few games and how has our position player roster changed.

Set on 25 man roster, barring trade

C - Soto and Hill

1B - Dereck Lee

2B - Jeff Baker/Mike Fontenot

SS - Ryan Theriot

3B - Aramis Ramirez

OF - Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd, Kosuke Fukudome, Xavier Nady

That 11 that are set.

2 spots for the following 3 sets of players

5th OF)Brad Snyder, Tyler Colvin, Sam Fuld

1B)Chad Tracy, Kevin Millar, Bryan LaHair, Micah Hoffpauir

Middle Infield) Blanco, Barney, Scales

From everything we are hearing, Lou doesn't want the extra middle infielder, and wants the 5th OF and backup 1B.

5th OF competition - Looking good as even Sam Fuld jacked one up in the wind. Suzy - Snyer has started better than you even described him. We know what we will get with Fuld so I have to believe it is Snyder or Colvin's to win.

Backup 1B - Let's just eliminate LaHair, as I think they will have him in AAA playing everyday, and Hoffpauir, I don't think has a chance. Tracy or Millar, I'll take Tracy everytime. If healthy, and he looks to be be, this should be an easy choice.

Middle Infielder - I think we need one, but our extra middle infielder position is being used to cover 2B.

For those that missed the audition for batting practice pitcher for extended Spring Training on Saturday, Silva won the job!!

I don't even want to go over pitching until anther 10-12 days, when we are in the middle of ST games and guys have pitched 3 or 4 times.

I think you are spot on. I think that Millar and Tracy will control their fate. if they both have good springs...they take both extra spots. If one of them falls out of the running then likely Snyder/Colvin takes the spot.

I see Hoffy traded during camp as part of a reliever deal.

Tony, it's way to early to make assumptions.

We have to remember that most teams

only carry 4 outfielders and then might have some versatile utility guys that can

play infield/outfield.

A fifth outfielder for us...is mainly

because we are locked into a defensively

inconsistant Soriano...and a platoon worthy Fukodome.

If Nady starts supplying good offense...and his arm heals well enough

to play the outfield...then the primary

need is a defensive replacement...(Fuld).

In head to head competition, if Colvin AND Snyder are hitting all over the place...(equally)...Colvin gets the nod because the Cubs invested 1rst round money in him. (although Snyder is supposed to be better defensively and more atheletic...he also KO's more)

While I'd like to see all three (Colvin/Snyder/Fuld) at Wrigley...we only get one to start with.

For now,I'll be happy if Snyder can force the Cubs to put him on the 40 man

roster...then he has a chance.

Suzy - We have been making assumptions all winter, why stop now :)

I would prefer only 4 OF, with one of the IF able to play OF (Baker? or Blanco?), but between Soriano's and Nady's injuries, Fukudome's inconsistency, we will need the 5th and maybe 6th OF many times this year, whether they are on the 25 man roster out of ST.

I actually think the opposite on Snyder vs Colvin, that Colvin they would want to play everyday and Snyder they would rather be on the bench. Either way, if they both hit, it will make it a tough decision.

T:

You nailed it all the way around.

Neil:

As always, great work.