Milton Bradley and Cubs agree to deal?

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=21121:date=Mar 1 2009, 07:36 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 1 2009, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21113:date=Mar 1 2009, 05:45 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 1 2009, 05:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21111:date=Mar 1 2009, 05:23 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Mar 1 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21110:date=Mar 1 2009, 04:14 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 1 2009, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21106:date=Mar 1 2009, 05:04 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 1 2009, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Having Reed J. and Fuk as starters at positions where big offense is expected doesn't bode well for us.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yep, that combo absolutely killed us last year . . .
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<b>We scored runs last year <i>in spite of</i>, not <i>because of</i> those two. There's a difference.</b>

In the 2nd half of the season, after Fuk had a go-around of the NL, here's how he hit:
.217/.314/.326
OPS-639
Doesn't bode well. I'd rather have Hoffpower (sic) out there.
(FWIW, Reed J. kicked ass in the 2nd half last year).
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Reed was very good all season long and Fuk was one of the best hitters in the league the first two months of the season. I think he'll be somewhere in between that guy and the 2nd half Fuk this year. We'll be just fine if they're playing out there a lot.

1. Soriano
2. Fontenot
3. Lee
4. Bradley
5. Ramirez
6. Soto
7. Fukudome
8. Reed

That's still a damn good lineup.

Edit: I'm a dumbass, obviously Bradley wouldn't be in there.

1. Soriano
2. Fontenot
3. Lee
4. Ramirez
5. Soto
6. Fukudome
7. Reed
8. Theriot
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You mean that lineup, aside from substituting Fontenot for DeRosa will be exactly the same lineup that helped us win almost 100 games year? I can see why we're fucked . . .
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, Jim Edmonds did absolutely nothing for us last year. That .568 slugging %, best on the team? An optical illusion.
And Mark DeRosa? He <b>sucked</b>.
So yeah, Ruby's right.
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Half of the best CF in the MLB in 2008 was Johnson and his .303/.358/.420 line and replacing DeRosa with a guy with a .305/.395/.514 line is obviously a huge downgrade. How will we survive it if we're forced to field Johnson and Fukudome in the OF again?

[kbwsb]

Ok, I'll buy that. At least some of it.
Here's the big question...are you saying that you'd rather have Hoff as our 25th man, instead of a Cedeno-like infielder/utility guy?
Cuz it seems like it's one or the other.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=21136:date=Mar 1 2009, 07:20 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 1 2009, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Ok, I'll buy that. At least some of it.
Here's the big question...are you saying that you'd rather have Hoff as our 25th man, instead of a Cedeno-like infielder/utility guy?
Cuz it seems like it's one or the other.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Cubs are just looking for a guy that can play 1B and 3B. Hoff's one of those at least. If Miles or Fontenot can do it adequately(we're talking 2-3 times a month), then yeah. Fontenot apparently did just fine there today. If Aramis were to go down with an injury, there's Koskie or they'd make a trade I'm sure if it were a serious injury.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=21136:date=Mar 1 2009, 08:20 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 1 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Ok, I'll buy that. At least some of it.
Here's the big question...are you saying that you'd rather have Hoff as our 25th man, instead of a Cedeno-like infielder/utility guy?
Cuz it seems like it's one or the other.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't think it really matters in the grand scheme of things. Also, unless we sign someone else, it's gonna be Hoffpauir.

[veryzer]

1. i feel like hoffpauir is a lock to make the team
2. anyone who think edmonds was gonna do anything this year is deluded.
3. edmonds the second half of the season sucked
4. put me down in the "tired of adam fucking dunn" camp
5. gathright is gonna play center when he plays, which won't be often

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=21194:date=Mar 2 2009, 08:38 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Mar 2 2009, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->1. i feel like hoffpauir is a lock to make the team
2. anyone who think edmonds was gonna do anything this year is deluded.
3. edmonds the second half of the season sucked
4. put me down in the "tired of adam fucking dunn" camp
5. gathright is gonna play center when he plays, which won't be often<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
tom, you're gonna hate me after this post, but I think our friendship can weather it. Besides, I take Dunn insults personally, so you deserve it. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

1. i feel like hoffpauir is a lock to make the team (I would say it's about 50/50, due to Jim inexplicably signing Gathright. There are only 25 spots, and Lou likes to carry a lot of pitchers.)
2. anyone who think edmonds was gonna do anything this year is deluded. (see below)
3. edmonds the second half of the season sucked (uh...Ballgame had an OPS of .955 in the 2nd half last year. Fuckin' <b>A-Rod</b> had a .955 OPS in the 2nd half last year, and that dude's on roids!)
4. put me down in the "tired of adam fucking dunn" camp (now you're hittin' below the belt.)
5. gathright is gonna play center when he plays, which won't be often (if he's never going to play, then why the fork did Jim sign him? To be the 3rd string CFer? To pinch run a couple times a week? Gathright is going to play. A lot. Get used to it)

Now, have a nice day, and congratulations on the fine accomplishments of your girls.

[Butcher]

I'm not saying Edmonds would've done dick this season. I think it would've been a mistake to sign him. But...we're going to miss his production. He was probably our best home run threat during his time as a Cub.

In fact, let's look at our other power threats' slugging percentages:

Edmonds: .568
Soriano: .532
Ramirez: .518
Soto: .504
Lee: .462

Edmonds' SLG was higher in the 2nd half than in the 1st half, too (.586).

Now...if we re-upped with him, I don't think he would've come close to replicating what he did with us. In fact, I would expect a nasty regression. But we're going to miss what he did for us in 2008. He came up huge.

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=21210:date=Mar 2 2009, 10:32 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Mar 2 2009, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Edmonds: .568
Soriano: .532
Ramirez: .518
Soto: .504
Lee: .462<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa outslugged D Lee last year too. (pretty soon, his name is going to be as unwelcome around here as Dunn's).
Whatever the case, we could probably use a little more power,which is why i'd love to see Hoff make the team.

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=21211:date=Mar 2 2009, 10:36 AM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 2 2009, 10:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21210:date=Mar 2 2009, 10:32 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Mar 2 2009, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Edmonds: .568
Soriano: .532
Ramirez: .518
Soto: .504
Lee: .462<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa outslugged D Lee last year too. (pretty soon, his name is going to be as unwelcome around here as Dunn's).
Whatever the case, we could probably use a little more power,which is why i'd love to see Hoff make the team.
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Bradley's slg% was .563 last year. So I'm going to say that's decent enough to replace Edmonds.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=21213:date=Mar 2 2009, 10:46 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Mar 2 2009, 10:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21211:date=Mar 2 2009, 10:36 AM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 2 2009, 10:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=21210:date=Mar 2 2009, 10:32 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Mar 2 2009, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Edmonds: .568
Soriano: .532
Ramirez: .518
Soto: .504
Lee: .462<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa outslugged D Lee last year too. (pretty soon, his name is going to be as unwelcome around here as Dunn's).
Whatever the case, we could probably use a little more power,which is why i'd love to see Hoff make the team.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Bradley's slg% was .563 last year. So I'm going to say that's decent enough to replace Edmonds.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fontenot outslugged Lee, Soto, and DeRosa too.

[savant]

Edmonds played in 85 games for the Cubs last year. In those games he put up a very respectable slash line of .256/.369/.568/.927. Milton Bradley played in 126 games for Texas last year where he posted an even more impressive slash line of .321/.436/.536/.999. We are much better defensively this year with Fuk/Johnson in center and Bradley in right than we were last year with Edmonds' severely limited range in center.

[Butcher]

I really hope we can squeeze 100 games out of Bradley. Isn't that a crazy statement? We'd all be pretty satisfied to get 100 out of 162 games from a guy who is earning $10M a year. This is a guy who had career high home run and RBI totals last year (22 and 77).

He'll be great when he plays, but he was the Rangers' DH for the vast majority of the games last season and still could only suit up 126 times. He didn't even have to play the field...and now we're asking him to play RF in a tough ballpark to play RF in.

Should be interesting.

[leonardsipes]

I don't think Hendry signed Gathright to hit .254 with a .311 OBP. He probably thinks Gathright is a better hitter than Hoff (who is a year older and only has 73 ML ABs). At this point it looks like Gathright is going to make the team and when Bradley is injured, get a lot of playing time. Maybe not in RF, but Fuk can move to right and Gathright can play center. If he can hit more like he did in '07, it is not so bad. I would rather have a middle of the order type guy replacing Bradley, but maybe Gathright can lead off and Soriano fill Bradley's slot.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=21224:date=Mar 2 2009, 11:14 AM:name=leonardsipes)-->QUOTE (leonardsipes @ Mar 2 2009, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I don't think Hendry signed Gathright to hit .254 with a .311 OBP. He probably thinks Gathright is a better hitter than Hoff (who is a year older and only has 73 ML ABs). At this point it looks like Gathright is going to make the team and when Bradley is injured, get a lot of playing time. Maybe not in RF, but Fuk can move to right and Gathright can play center. If he can hit more like he did in '07, it is not so bad. I would rather have a middle of the order type guy replacing Bradley, but maybe Gathright can lead off and Soriano fill Bradley's slot.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gathright and Hoffpauir will be on the team, it's not an either/or scenario.

[Brock]

I might blow my brains out the first time I see Gathright and Miles together at the top of the order.