The Offseason Baseball Thread

[cubbyphan1138]

How does getting rid of Sosa hurt them for next year? Sosa would have been gone next year and he is declining so that I doubt he would be worth much anyway. The money they save by him being gone will be huge. Of course part of this will have to go toward long term contracts for guys like Ramirez and Zambrano, but hopefully we'll have enough to pick up someone before next year. If we want to dream, I believe Juan Pierre is a FA after this year.

Remember too that the Cubs have some good young players that are about ready. If he doesn't get traded Dubois will get some good playing time this year, and he tore up AAA last year. Dopirak is about ready at 1B, Lewis at 2B, and Guzman and Brownlie at pitcher if they can stay healthy.

[-Jrabbit]

Imran, you forgot Derrek Lee. That's still 4 pretty good sticks, plus decent offense from both 2B and C.

The good news is, if you need offense, it's a lot easier to plug holes in the OF than anywhere else. In '84, they picked up their #1 and #3 hitters in the last week of spring training -- Bobby Dernier and Sarge Matthews.

And of course, the real hope is that without Sammy in the clubhouse, they might actually develop some chemistry. Last year, it was pretty clear that they had no heart, and very little give-a-damn.

It's way too early to panic. Winter is a time of optimism, my firend.

[Imran Siddiqui]

How does getting rid of Sosa hurt them for next year?

Well, you've gotten rid of 35 HRs and a 110 OPS+ with no replacement. Who takes his place? Ben Grieve?

The money they save by him being gone will be huge.

Of course they are paying for most of his salary next year .

you forgot Derrek Lee. That's still 4 pretty good sticks, plus decent offense from both 2B and C.

Wait, now who are the 4, here? Garciaparra (only a 106 OPS+ in Chicago last year), Lee (114 OPS+ is nice), Ramirez (136 OPS+, your new star hitter). Patterson had a 92 OPS+ last year. That's 8% less than average.

And of course, the real hope is that without Sammy in the clubhouse, they might actually develop some chemistry. Last year, it was pretty clear that they had no heart, and very little give-a-damn.

I wonder how much of that was Sosa's fault and how much of it was Baker's (Mr. Super-Highly-Overrated Manager).

It's way too early to panic. Winter is a time of optimism, my firend.

As it has been since 1908, right?

[Sprayber]

If this has been covered im sorry but I really don't have time to go through the whole thread. What happened to the team that was going to DC? I never really heard anything about them after they found out that they werent gonna get as much help as they thought they would.

[Imran Siddiqui]

A deal was worked out... they are going to get the money and stay in Washington.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
A deal was worked out... they are going to get the money and stay in Washington.

Cool, thanks for the info

[cubbyphan1138]

Wait Imran, I'm confused. When you say next year are you talking about this coming year or 2006. I assumed 2006. If you mean this year I agree that the Cubs offense could be weak on power in the outfield, if things stay as they are. I highly doubt they will though. The trade for prospects at 2 positions we already minor league talent in (2B and starting pitcher) lead me to believe Hendry has another deal in the works. Regardless, I think moving Sammy was right to do for a number of reasons:

1) Improve team chemistry
2) While the homers will be missed, with Nomar, A-Ram, Lee, and Patterson we will still have plenty of that. A guy like Hairston, who gets on base, has some speed, etc. is what the Cubs really needed.
3) Even with the $10 million of Sammy's contract we are still saving like that could go toward Huff, a closer, or a move later in the season.
4) People forget how terrible Sosa was last year. Most of the homers seemed to be in games that were already decided and with no men. I know if you check his splits for the last 3 innings of game and at bats with men on base they are both terrible. I think they may both be under .200 average.

If you are talking about 2006 aren't paying any of Sammy's contract because he waives his option. There is a $4.5 million buy out that we might have to pick up part of. I dont think that part of the deal has been revealed.

For the 2006 season though there are plenty of OF options though if we don't make a move this season. Pierre would be the best, but I think Dubois could good if given the opportunity. Of course there will be other issues next offseason like SS. For now though I'm just worried about this season. With all the talent and the farm system, the high payroll, and the ability Hendry has shown to make good moves so far, I'm confident we'll be ok in the future.

[cubbyphan1138]

Sorry. Double Post.

[-Jrabbit]

Yes, Imran, those are the 4 guys I had in mind. The fact that Patterson didn't have a great year does not deter me from including him. The fact that your holy STATS Inc. ratings don't bless him does not reduce his physical tools.

If they can get a damned closer, the Cubs will finish better than 2004.
If they can't find one or acquire one, they will finish about the same as 04.

I don't blame "SamME" Sosa for the team underperforming. But a whole lot of effort was wasted in cowtowing to his insistence that it was "my house" and "my team" -- and he did not deliver. Lead through word or lead through deed, but goddammit, SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP.

I do blame Sosa for Sosa underperforming. I blame Sosa for his lack of leadership, his divisiveness, and his abject inability to accept any responsibility for what happened to "my team" in "my house" while wearing the captain's "C."

And yes, I blame him for perpetrating a fraud through his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Statistics be damned, the Cubs will be better off without him.
That's all I'm saying.

[Imran Siddiqui]

When you say next year are you talking about this coming year or 2006.

2005 season.

1) Improve team chemistry
2) While the homers will be missed, with Nomar, A-Ram, Lee, and Patterson we will still have plenty of that. A guy like Hairston, who gets on base, has some speed, etc. is what the Cubs really needed.
3) Even with the $10 million of Sammy's contract we are still saving like that could go toward Huff, a closer, or a move later in the season.
4) People forget how terrible Sosa was last year. Most of the homers seemed to be in games that were already decided and with no men. I know if you check his splits for the last 3 innings of game and at bats with men on base they are both terrible. I think they may both be under .200 average.

Improve team chemistry by trading one cancer away (Sosa), but embracing another (Nomar)?

Hairston is what the Cubs need? He'll be lucky to beat out Walker to start at 2B.

Huff, I think won't happen. Same with a closer (any out there right now)? I think when that happens they miss the playoffs.

Perhaps Sosa didn't perform up to standards, but he did have a real good 2003. If it turns out to be a one year slump, the Cubs could be kicking themselves.

The fact that Patterson didn't have a great year does not deter me from including him. The fact that your holy STATS Inc. ratings don't bless him does not reduce his physical tools.

Ah yes, "physical tools" over facts . Jay Payton was one of those guys, IIRC. One of those guys with great tools, who'd be a guarenteed superstar. Unless Patterson shows me something, he's just promise unrealized.

Lead through word or lead through deed, but goddammit, SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP.

Blame Dusty for making him Captain. Manny Ramirez makes the most cash for Boston, but Franconia wasn't going to look for him for leadership. The manager is supposed to find the 'leader' and give him the Captain's C.

--

And every year is going to count. Dusty has already begun ruining the arms of his young pitching staff (a well deserved reputation of his). Woods already has shown he is injury prone. And Prior, the key to the whole thing, suffered a bad injury last season as well. Hopefully Dusty doesn't kill them all. Then again, it is Dusty.

[-Jrabbit]

We'll just have to disagree on Patterson. The fact that the promise is not yet realized does not mean it won't be. He has shown signs.

And yes, I blame Dusty for a lot of the problems this team had last year. But it's much more about leadership than about starter innings.

Re the sosa captancy, SamME wanted the ownership, he said again and again it was his team. Dusty took him at his word and treated him like a man. SamME showed nothing.

Sosa will likely have a good year in that little bandbox in Baltimore. Little media pressure, no expectation of team success -- just like when he had his good years in Chicago.

Garciaparra is a big question mark to me. I think they signed him because they knew they needed something to replace Sosa. I did not agree with it at the time, still don't. I wanted the kid from Montreal all along. But if nomar is healthy and plays hard, it'll still be a big upgrade at SS.

BTW, love that Ben F quote in your sig -- where's that from?