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Author Topic: Cubs in '12  (Read 203225 times)

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10170 on: December 03, 2012, 09:04:44 pm »
Where did the idea come from that the new front office does not value the Hendry era prospects or players?  I haven't seen anything to indicate that.

They don't seem to value Vitters very much right now, but that is because he has done so poorly, and if Hendry were still in power, he probably wouldn't value him very much right now either.

Jackson, Lake and Szczur seem to be valued about as much as their abilities and production would indicate.  And they probably were higher on Samardzija last spring than Hendry would have been had he still been there. 

They certainly seem to be quite happy with Castro, Russell and Barney, all from the Hendry era, they seem to be giving the starting catcher position to Castillo, and they gave Clevenger every chance to prove himself at the ML level.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10171 on: December 04, 2012, 12:22:19 am »
Between 1989 and 1991, in addition to Pendleton, the Braves acquired veterans Charlie Liebrandt, Lonnie Smith, Jeff Treadway, Otis Nixon, Sid Bream, and Rafael Belliard.  All of those guys were pretty significant players in the Braves winning in 1991. 

It's not like the Braves spent 1989 to 1990 totally surrounding their core young players with a bunch of Quadruple-A garbage and fringe prospects who had no chance to be good and settled for that. 
« Last Edit: December 04, 2012, 08:38:44 am by JR »
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10172 on: December 04, 2012, 06:05:20 am »
Since I mentioned him yesterday as a fit...Indians looking for 3-4 players for Asdrubal Cabrera.  Apparently a trade already fell apart that involved a major league pitcher and 2 high level prospects when the Indians asked for a third prospect to be added.  That team was planning to switch his position.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/12/cleveland_indians_looking_for_2.html
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10173 on: December 04, 2012, 07:03:44 am »
I don't see that sort of deal making any sense for the Cubs.  Cabrera falls comfortably into the "pretty good" category - he's certainly not a star - and the Cubs can't afford to be giving up multiple pieces for guys like that.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10174 on: December 04, 2012, 07:42:08 am »
Yeah, that does seem to be getting a little high.

Still, if they're sending guys like Szczur, Lake, or Vitters, I'm not sure it would be a bad idea.  I mean, outside of Cubs fans, does anyone still perceive those guys as being anything more than role players (if that)? 
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10175 on: December 04, 2012, 08:05:19 am »
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Still, if they're sending guys like Szczur, Lake, or Vitters, I'm not sure it would be a bad idea.  I mean, outside of Cubs fans, does anyone still perceive those guys as being anything more than role players (if that)? 

I still hold hope out for Szczur.  His Daytona numbers were just fine, and part of me hopes you can chalk up his struggles at Double-A to adjusting to a new level.  Then again, it seems like more and more people are looking at him as a 4th outfielder.  Next year will definitely be a key year for him.

Lake is pretty much a good dancer, and Vitters just can't seem to ever get it all put together.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10176 on: December 04, 2012, 08:14:26 am »
Yunel Escobar?

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Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS a's, rays, cubs, yankees checked in on yunel escobar. oak has had a fair amount of talks but is also meeting on drew today

Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst   On other hand, #Marlins clearly would like to move Yunel Escobar. I count 4 teams definitely in on him: #Rays, #A's, #Yankees & #Cubs

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Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN   Yunel Escobar, targeted by A's, probably has worst contract(from player's perspective) in the majors. $5m for 2013, $5m options for '14/'15.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2012, 08:19:55 am by JR »
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10177 on: December 04, 2012, 08:18:18 am »
Quote from: MLB Trade Rumors
Slusser reports that the A's have heavy competition for Brandon McCarthy, as the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Royals, Red Sox, White Sox and Twins have already met with the right-hander, and the Angels and Rangers are expected to join the fray.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10178 on: December 04, 2012, 08:24:25 am »
So if the Cubs are in on Escobar, I guess we're looking at him to play 3B?  He also doesn't seem to have the type of clubhouse rep you'd expect for a team that's trying to change its organizational culture.  Pretty surprising we'd be in on him.  I guess Theo may think he has a chance to buy low and get some good value.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10179 on: December 04, 2012, 08:32:03 am »
Yunel Escobar has been a terrible baseball player in 2 of the last 3 years, and he has run himself off of two teams with his attitude.  He's the new Milton Bradley, stay away.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10180 on: December 04, 2012, 08:40:19 am »
Have you ever seen Yunel and Milton in the same room together?  May not be different people.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10181 on: December 04, 2012, 08:58:00 am »
With Escobar, always remember that Bobby Cox hated him so much that the Braves took Alex Gonzalez back for him.  Alex Gonzalez--a guy in his mid-30s with a sub-.700 career OPS and sub-.300 career OBP--was what the Braves took back for their 27 year old shortstop who, prior to that season, had hit .301/.375/.426 in his career.  And the Braves were in contention that season.  There were some other minor pieces on each side (Jojo Reyes and Tyler Pastornicky)...but the primary deal was Escobar for Gonzalez.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10182 on: December 04, 2012, 09:22:50 am »
Addition by Subtraction: The Braves trade Yunel Escobar

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/07/14/addition-by-subtraction-the-braves-trade-yunel-escoba/

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This is a happier clubhouse than it has been in years, and not just because the team is in first place. Because these guys like and respect one another. The one guy who didn’t fit — and who was never going to fit, no matter how many chances the Braves offered — just got traded. “In the short term, this really improves our ballclub,” Wren said, and it improves it not because Gonzalez is a greater talent but because he’s a real pro.

Also telling in this article...there's a poll asking how fans perceive the trade.  The Braves obviously lost this deal on pure talent...I think everyone acknowledges that.  But with over 3,500 responses, only 11% believed the trade was bad.  So even the fans were okay with obviously downgrading the position while the team was contending. 

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Rate this Braves trade:

A solid single. (47%, 1,680 Votes)
A home run. (42%, 1,497 Votes)
A whiff. (11%, 370 Votes)
Total Voters: 3,547

And there's nothing from his time in Toronto that happened to make you think he has changed at all.  In fact, the whole eye black incident serves as proof that he's still not someone you want on your team.
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10183 on: December 04, 2012, 09:26:39 am »
Uh oh . . . we might be starting Luis Valbuena at 3B after all.

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Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

Ian Stewart, who recently got a clean bill of health with his hand/wrist problems,suddenly has drawn wide interest from teams looking for 3B
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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10184 on: December 04, 2012, 09:33:43 am »
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Addition by Subtraction: The Braves trade Yunel Escobar

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/07/14/addition-by-subtraction-the-braves-trade-yunel-escoba/

I knew he had issues, but I didn't realize his clubhouse problems were that bad.

Weird that we're linked to him.  Then again, "checking in" on Escobar isn't nearly the same as that we're about to trade for him.  It might be one of those situations where the Marlins let it leak that we "checked in" on him along with those other 3 teams to make it seem like there's a market for him.
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