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Clapp, you have brought up a couple of great things to think about this evening. If Ramirez were to have his career year, and Soriano were to be on the field for 150 games this year how many wins is this team going to pile up in the regular season?
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<!--quoteo(post=11678:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:56 PM:name=savant)-->QUOTE (savant @ Jan 14 2009, 08:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Clapp, you have brought up a couple of great things to think about this evening. If Ramirez were to have his career year, and Soriano were to be on the field for 150 games this year how many wins is this team going to pile up in the regular season?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It seems that you need all 25 pieces working to get those 97-win type seasons. Think of Andre Dawson's monster 1987 MVP year, when the Cub's came in last place...I think we'll need good pitching, and everyone contributing.
Still, if there is a drop-off, Aramis could go a long way towards making up the slack. He seems capable of a 40 HR, 140 RBI season.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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The other Bruce in Chicago apparently reported we have interest in Lo Duca.
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<!--quoteo(post=11681:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:06 PM:name=HTC)-->QUOTE (HTC @ Jan 14 2009, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The other Bruce in Chicago apparently reported we have interest in Lo Duca.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought he already signed a minor league contract somewhere?
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<!--quoteo(post=11682:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:07 PM:name=ColoradoCub)-->QUOTE (ColoradoCub @ Jan 14 2009, 09:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11681:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:06 PM:name=HTC)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HTC @ Jan 14 2009, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The other Bruce in Chicago apparently reported we have interest in Lo Duca.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought he already signed a minor league contract somewhere?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Man, I pray that is true. LoDuca personifies the "Bloomquist-type" player we were taling about: great hustle, great clubhouse guy, poor on-field performance.
But he'll be 37 next year, and that's not old for a catcher, is it? Plus, he had that kick-ass 63 OPS+ last season. Sign his ass.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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I don't think he's signed anywhere but I could be wrong. I haven't heard his name too much this winter. I guess Levine reported the interest in Bako and Lo Duca today although the Bako stuff has been out there for a while now.
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<!--quoteo(post=11680:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:05 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 09:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11678:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:56 PM:name=savant)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (savant @ Jan 14 2009, 08:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Clapp, you have brought up a couple of great things to think about this evening. If Ramirez were to have his career year, and Soriano were to be on the field for 150 games this year how many wins is this team going to pile up in the regular season?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It seems that you need all 25 pieces working to get those 97-win type seasons. Think of Andre Dawson's monster 1987 MVP year, when the Cub's came in last place...I think we'll need good pitching, and everyone contributing.
Still, if there is a drop-off, Aramis could go a long way towards making up the slack. He seems capable of a 40 HR, 140 RBI season.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Kb, I am not worried about our starting pitching with theee offense we are going to be running out on most days. Z, Harden, Dempster, Lilly are all going to win a lot of games. Having guys like Marshall, Gaudin, Shark, and Guzman as fall back options affords a lot of insurance.
Soriano
Fontenot
Lee
Bradley
Ramirez
Soto
Fuk/Johnson
Theriot
Far and away the best Cubs lineup I have ever seen. Using my best case/worst case 20 game swing theory I have the Cubs in the 88-108 win range.
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"Will I be looked on poorly if my religion involved punting little people?"
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Savant, I agree with you. I'm pretty optimistic about the '09 season. That's a damn sweet-looking line-up.
I was just acting like a fan...Aramis is one of my favorite ballplayers, and seeing him explode with a breakout, MVP-type year would make me smile.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo(post=11683:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:10 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 09:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11682:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:07 PM:name=ColoradoCub)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ColoradoCub @ Jan 14 2009, 09:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11681:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:06 PM:name=HTC)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HTC @ Jan 14 2009, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The other Bruce in Chicago apparently reported we have interest in Lo Duca.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought he already signed a minor league contract somewhere?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Man, I pray that is true. LoDuca personifies the "Bloomquist-type" player we were taling about: great hustle, great clubhouse guy, poor on-field performance.
But he'll be 37 next year, and that's not old for a catcher, is it? Plus, he had that kick-ass 63 OPS+ last season. Sign his ass.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Henry Blanco has a career OPS+ of 65. Lo Duca would be nothing but a backup and a replacement for Blanco. Great hustle and being a great clubhouse guy seem like good traits to have in a back up that'll play 4-5 times a month. I don't see the problem and I think he'd be a pretty nice backup to Soto, personally.
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I think I would just as soon go with Koyie.
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<!--quoteo(post=11688:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:22 PM:name=savant)-->QUOTE (savant @ Jan 14 2009, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think I would just as soon go with Koyie.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He has a career OPS+ of 38, that's bad real bad. Plus we need another catcher even if we did go with Hill to stash in AAA.
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Blanco is an infinitely better defensive catcher than LoDuca, so unless LoDuca outhits him by a ton, he's a downgrade from Hank. And since when do we need 3 full-time catchers?
Also, LoDuca made $5 Million last year. Obviously he'll get a paycut, but why pay one dollar more than the $380,000 minimum to a guy who might catch 5 games all year? This is exacly why Jim had to trade DeRosa: he signs a bunch of replacement-level players to 2-3 million dollar deals, then wonders where all the money went...so when a legit good player like Bradley comes along, he has to scramble for the $ to sign the guy.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo(post=11691:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:31 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 09:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->And since when do we need 3 full-time catchers?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't. You need a starter, a backup, and another guy to have ready in AAA. Right now we have Soto and Hill, Blanco is not under contract and might not play in 2009. There's a reason why we've been rumored to be in terested in Bako and Lo Duca, because Blanco's probably not gonna be here.
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<!--quoteo(post=11691:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:31 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 08:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Blanco is an infinitely better defensive catcher than LoDuca, so unless LoDuca outhits him by a ton, he's a downgrade from Hank. And since when do we need 3 full-time catchers?
Also, LoDuca made $5 Million last year. Obviously he'll get a paycut, but why pay one dollar more than the $380,000 minimum to a guy who might catch 5 games all year? This is exacly why Jim had to trade DeRosa: he signs a bunch of replacement-level players to 2-3 million dollar deals, then wonders where all the money went...so when a legit good player like Bradley comes along, he has to scramble for the $ to sign the guy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Who's a bunch of replacement players? Miles isn't a scrub. We need a backup catcher, and I'd rather it were a proven veteran than Koyie Hill who might hit under the Mendoza line. Plus, if/when(in my opinion) we get Peavy, you'll see what Hendry was up to.
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<!--quoteo(post=11693:date=Jan 14 2009, 09:40 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Jan 14 2009, 09:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11691:date=Jan 14 2009, 08:31 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 08:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Blanco is an infinitely better defensive catcher than LoDuca, so unless LoDuca outhits him by a ton, he's a downgrade from Hank. And since when do we need 3 full-time catchers?
Also, LoDuca made $5 Million last year. Obviously he'll get a paycut, but why pay one dollar more than the $380,000 minimum to a guy who might catch 5 games all year? This is exacly why Jim had to trade DeRosa: he signs a bunch of replacement-level players to 2-3 million dollar deals, then wonders where all the money went...so when a legit good player like Bradley comes along, he has to scramble for the $ to sign the guy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Who's a bunch of replacement players? Miles isn't a scrub. We need a backup catcher, and I'd rather it were a proven veteran than Koyie Hill who might hit under the Mendoza line. Plus, if/when(in my opinion) we get Peavy, you'll see what Hendry was up to.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The last time Hill was in the majors, his OPS+ (KB's favorite stat), he had an OPS+ of -40 (yes, that's a negative sign).
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