Most Chicago sportswriters are very, very stupid
And, I'm afraid, so is Jim Hendry. But we already know this. However, my reasoning behind this today is due to the fact that now it is the off-season, the everyone can play GM for the Cubs, and I'm pretty sure most of them don't know a thing about baseball.
First, one article says that the Cubs should let Aramis Ramirez go. Immediately after that, it says that it would be nearly impossible to find a suitable replacement for him. Hmm, let him go, and then see where the production fall-off leaves you. Seems like a good idea. And it's worked for so many years. And, we can obviously see that this team, without Ramirez, can be carried by players like, uh, Jacque Jones? This is STUPID!
Another article says that the Cubs, if they lose Ramirez, could trade from A-Rod. Now, I will reiterate that Ramirez and A-Rod had nearly identical seasons at the plate, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm going to say that their seasons were pretty similar fielding as well. Ok, fine, I looked it up, and Ramirez actually had 11 fewer errors than A-Rod. 11 fewer. Aramis Ramirez. This is blowing my mind.
If it's going to be so easy for the Cubs to acquire A-Rod, why not just get him and put him at short? The Yankees like plucky middle infielders, like Miguel Cairo, so why wouldn't they want someone like a Cesar Izturis? They would. In my mind. So, maybe we can include him in the deal to put A-Rod at short.
Ok, another article says that the Cubs may be a top candidate to land Gary Sheffield in a trade from the Yankees. Now, I doubt the Yankees would want too much back in return for Sheff, so unless it's a deal involving Jacque Jones straight up, it should not be done. Unless we get rid of someone else useless also, and a lot of salary, and then are able to maybe extend Sheff's contract to another year if he takes a paycut. But the second scenario is unlikely, and we don't really have anybody else eating up an exorbitant amount of salary. So, we'd rather bring in a player who's close to retirement, and spent almost all of last year injured, who is making around $13 million, than spend that money on someone, who, I don't know, is already on the team, and only wants about $2 million more than that?? I'm talking about Aramis of course.
Aramis reportedly wants a deal around 6 years, 90 million. That's about $15 million a year, which, last time I checked, is only about $4 million more than he's making now. And it's similar in pay to the extension Derrek Lee just got. So why haven't we re-signed him yet? Get it done right now. (I would like to point out also that Kirk Hinrich got extended with the Bulls for 5 more years yesterday. John Paxson returns to genius status. That's how you handle contract negotiations Hendry.)
Finally, yet another report is saying the Cubs may be interested in Aaron Heilman of the Mets. Now, I know very little of Heilman, except that he's done well the past two seasons in middle relief. But the Cubs want him as a starter. He has a terrible ERA as a starter. Now, ERA isn't a completely telling story. I remember when the Cubs acquired Jon Lieber, his ERA was around 4, but all of his other numbers were solid, especially walks. And he came to Chicago and dominated for like 3 years. But it's not like the Mets were the Pirates of 1998 or 1999, whatever year before we got Lieber. So I'm going to question that move, especially if we have to give up something decent for him.
Nothing like aiming low.
Now, two more notes today. First, Alfonso Soriano reported wants a deal similar to Carlos Beltran's deal with the Mets. I would probably be ok with this if the Cubs got him, but I would move him back to second. And I would get Gary Matthews Jr. to play center. But reportedly Hendry isn't deterred by the fact that Soriano wants that kind of money, and Soriano has proven to be a more consistent hitter (kind of) than Beltran, so maybe that's why.
Finally, I see a lot of rumors going around at this time of year that are probably unfounded. But I've actually gotten a tip from one of my sources that says that the Cubs have a deal in place with the Orioles to bring in Miguel Tejada for Juan Mateo, Carlos Marmol and Jacque Jones. And, normally I would not name my sources, but, in this case, the voices in my head said they wanted to be recognized.
Most of the rumors involving the Cubs probably won't happen, but it's still kind of exciting to think that they might. So look for Cubs posts probably throughout the next couple of weeks as rumors fly and contracts get signed.
First, one article says that the Cubs should let Aramis Ramirez go. Immediately after that, it says that it would be nearly impossible to find a suitable replacement for him. Hmm, let him go, and then see where the production fall-off leaves you. Seems like a good idea. And it's worked for so many years. And, we can obviously see that this team, without Ramirez, can be carried by players like, uh, Jacque Jones? This is STUPID!
Another article says that the Cubs, if they lose Ramirez, could trade from A-Rod. Now, I will reiterate that Ramirez and A-Rod had nearly identical seasons at the plate, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm going to say that their seasons were pretty similar fielding as well. Ok, fine, I looked it up, and Ramirez actually had 11 fewer errors than A-Rod. 11 fewer. Aramis Ramirez. This is blowing my mind.
If it's going to be so easy for the Cubs to acquire A-Rod, why not just get him and put him at short? The Yankees like plucky middle infielders, like Miguel Cairo, so why wouldn't they want someone like a Cesar Izturis? They would. In my mind. So, maybe we can include him in the deal to put A-Rod at short.
Ok, another article says that the Cubs may be a top candidate to land Gary Sheffield in a trade from the Yankees. Now, I doubt the Yankees would want too much back in return for Sheff, so unless it's a deal involving Jacque Jones straight up, it should not be done. Unless we get rid of someone else useless also, and a lot of salary, and then are able to maybe extend Sheff's contract to another year if he takes a paycut. But the second scenario is unlikely, and we don't really have anybody else eating up an exorbitant amount of salary. So, we'd rather bring in a player who's close to retirement, and spent almost all of last year injured, who is making around $13 million, than spend that money on someone, who, I don't know, is already on the team, and only wants about $2 million more than that?? I'm talking about Aramis of course.
Aramis reportedly wants a deal around 6 years, 90 million. That's about $15 million a year, which, last time I checked, is only about $4 million more than he's making now. And it's similar in pay to the extension Derrek Lee just got. So why haven't we re-signed him yet? Get it done right now. (I would like to point out also that Kirk Hinrich got extended with the Bulls for 5 more years yesterday. John Paxson returns to genius status. That's how you handle contract negotiations Hendry.)
Finally, yet another report is saying the Cubs may be interested in Aaron Heilman of the Mets. Now, I know very little of Heilman, except that he's done well the past two seasons in middle relief. But the Cubs want him as a starter. He has a terrible ERA as a starter. Now, ERA isn't a completely telling story. I remember when the Cubs acquired Jon Lieber, his ERA was around 4, but all of his other numbers were solid, especially walks. And he came to Chicago and dominated for like 3 years. But it's not like the Mets were the Pirates of 1998 or 1999, whatever year before we got Lieber. So I'm going to question that move, especially if we have to give up something decent for him.
Nothing like aiming low.
Now, two more notes today. First, Alfonso Soriano reported wants a deal similar to Carlos Beltran's deal with the Mets. I would probably be ok with this if the Cubs got him, but I would move him back to second. And I would get Gary Matthews Jr. to play center. But reportedly Hendry isn't deterred by the fact that Soriano wants that kind of money, and Soriano has proven to be a more consistent hitter (kind of) than Beltran, so maybe that's why.
Finally, I see a lot of rumors going around at this time of year that are probably unfounded. But I've actually gotten a tip from one of my sources that says that the Cubs have a deal in place with the Orioles to bring in Miguel Tejada for Juan Mateo, Carlos Marmol and Jacque Jones. And, normally I would not name my sources, but, in this case, the voices in my head said they wanted to be recognized.
Most of the rumors involving the Cubs probably won't happen, but it's still kind of exciting to think that they might. So look for Cubs posts probably throughout the next couple of weeks as rumors fly and contracts get signed.
posted by Jtrouble at 7:46 AM
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