SB Nation User Blog: Goat Whisperer

2009 FA Pitchers

Goat Whisperer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:33:09 -0000

Do the Cubs need a starter? or reliever? Here's the reason Hendry may be having trouble: the pickings of pitchers who will be FAs at the end of this season is mighty slim (or unrealistic). Not that he can't target others (I'd love Guthrie from BAL), but these are the guys most likely on the market.

* - 2009 Option (team or player)

Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers

Kris Bensen BAL Tony Armas Jr. PIT

A.J. Burnett TOR Luis Ayala WAS

Paul Byrd CLE Joe Beimel LAD

Jon Garland LAA Joe Borowski CLE

Tom Glavine ATL Juan Cruz ARZ

Mike Hampton * ATL Brendan Donnelly BOS

Rich Harden * OAK Scott Downs TOR

Orl. Hernandez NYM Alan Embree * OAK

Jason Jennings TEX Kyle Farnsworth NYY

Randy Johnson ARZ Casey Fossum TB

John Lackey * LAA Brian Fuentes COL

Esteban Loaiza OAK Aaron Fultz CLE

Braden Looper STL Tom Gordon * PHI

Derek Lowe LAD LaTroy Hawkins NYY

Pedro Martinez NYM Mark Hendrickson LAD

Matt Morris * PIT Trevor Hoffman SD

Mike Mussina NYY Jason Isringhausen STL

Jamie Moyer PHI Steve Kline SF

Mark Mulder * STL Brad Lidge PHI

Carl Pavano NYY Brandon Lyon ARZ

Brad Penny * LAD Damaso Marte * PIT

Odalis Perez WAS Tom Martin COL

Oliver Perez NYM Julio Mateo PHI

Andy Pettitte NYY Guillermo Mota MIL

Mark Prior SD Hideki Okajima * BOS

Hor. Ramirez SEA Darren Oliver LAA

C.C. Sabathia CLE John Parrish SEA

Ben Sheets MIL Chris Reitsma SEA

John Smoltz * ATL Dennys Reyes MIN

Julian Tavarez BOS Juan Rincon MIN

Steve Trachsel BAL Francisco Rodriguez LAA

Brett Tomko KC Brian Shouse MIL

Claudio Vargas MIL Rafael Soriano ATL

Randy Wolf SD Jorge Sosa NYM

Mike Stanton * CIN

Salomon Torres * MIL

Derrick Turnbow MIL

Oscar Villarreal ATL

David Weathers CIN

Dan Wheeler TB

Dave Williams NYM

Matt Wise NYM

Jay Witasick TB

Latest on Roberts

Goat Whisperer — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:47:20 -0000

It looks like the first Oriole domino is about to fall: Bedard to the Mariners.

According to ESPN Deportes, Adam Jones was unexpectedly pulled from his Venezuelan Winter League team to fly to Baltimore for a physical.

The Seattle Times is also reporting that Bedard to the Mariners is about to go down: http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/mariners/

That portion is accurate. Take the following with a pound of salt:

According to other sources, Roberts to the Cubs will not be far behind. MacPhail wanted to deal his #1 chip first, before dealing Roberts.

Dragons Fukudome Jerseys Now Available at Yakyushop

Goat Whisperer — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:57:58 -0000

Not sure if this is really worth an entire diary, but Yakyushop has received another shipment of Chunichi Dragons jerseys. In selected sizes, of course.

To order a personalized jersey will run you $99.95 plus approximately $9.00 shipping.

From the site: Note: This jersey is difficult to obtain, and there has been strong demand since Kosuke Fukudome signed with the Cubs. As a result, particular sizes may be unavailable from time to time.

Here's the link: http://www.yakyushop.net/products.php?cat=15

Shannon Stewart Claimed by Cubs...

Goat Whisperer — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:56:51 -0000

.... according to ESPN 1000. This story is a couple of hours old, so I'm surprised it hasn't been posted yet. The 48-hour clock is now ticking for the Cubs to work out a deal, the A's to pull Stewart back, or the A's to simply say "he's all yours."

Stewart is currently batting .298 with 9 HRs and 35 RBI, 35 BBs, .761 OPS.

Have at.

Cubs' Next Owner?

Goat Whisperer — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:19:40 -0000

Here's a link to the Fortune article about a potential next owner for the Cubs.

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/25/magazines/fortune/cubs.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007062508

From the article: "observers say that if Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has his way, John Canning Jr., CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners, will be the Cubs' next owner."

Non-Baseball Diary: Happy 231st Birthday USMC!

Goat Whisperer — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:45:54 -0000

Happy Birthday to all Marines and their families. 231 years and still going strong! Ooh Rah!

ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 1775, OUR CORPS WAS BORN AS THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS RAISED THE "FIRST AND SECOND BATTALIONS OF AMERICAN MARINES." EACH YEAR AS WE CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY, WE PAUSE TO REFLECT ON THE MARINES OF YESTERYEAR WHO FOUGHT IN OUR TOUCHSTONE BATTLES AND FORGED THE MODERN MARINE CORPS WITH THEIR COURAGE, INTEGRITY, AND UNDYING COMMITMENT TO THEIR FELLOW MARINES. EACH OF OUR STORIED BATTLES IS A LINK IN THE LONG CHAIN THAT BINDS ALL MARINES TOGETHER-FROM THE CONTINENTAL MARINES AT BUNKER HILL TO THE TEUFELHUNDEN CROSSING THE WHEAT FIELDS OF BELLEAU WOOD. THIS CHAIN BINDS US TO THE MARINES ON THE CREST OF MOUNT SURIBACHI; IT PASSES THROUGH THE ICE AND SNOW OF THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR AND THE STEAMING JUNGLES OF VIETNAM, AND IT ANCHORS FIRMLY TODAY IN THE DESERT SANDS OF IRAQ. THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION AGAIN FINDS MANY FROM OUR RANKS SERVING WITH DISTINCTION IN HARM'S WAY. AS WE HAVE FOR THE PAST 231 YEARS, OUR CORPS IS ANSWERING THE NATION'S CALL. I CAN REPORT FIRST HAND THAT OUR MARINES FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE LONG WAR ON TERROR ARE PERFORMING BRILLIANTLY, ACQUITTING THEMSELVES WITH HONOR, DEDICATION, AND DIGNITY IN DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS. ALL MARINES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE SERVING, YOU ARE ADDING NEW CHAPTERS TO THE LEGACY THAT WAS EARNED WITH SWEAT AND BLOOD ON OLD BATTLEFIELDS. JUST AS PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF MARINES SHAPED TODAY'S MARINE CORPS, YOUR DEEDS ARE MOLDING THE CORPS OF TOMORROW. OUR CORPS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER, AND ALL AMERICANS ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOUR MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVE OUR CORPS AND COUNTRY. WITH HIGH CALIBER MARINES LIKE YOU, OUR FUTURE HAS NEVER BEEN BRIGHTER. ANOTHER IRREPLACEABLE ELEMENT OF OUR SUCCESS AS MARINES IS THE TERRIFIC SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR FAMILIES. THROUGH THE LONG HOURS, THE EXERCISES, AND THE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS, THEIR SUPPORT IS UNCONDITIONAL AND FIRM. THEY GIVE US LOVE AND DEVOTION, PROVIDING US WITH THE STRENGTH TO DRIVE ON WHEN DUTY CALLS. TODAY WE SHOULD ALL ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LOVED ONES FOR THEIR PATIENT, STEADFAST SERVICE. TO ALL WHO HAVE EARNED THE TITLE MARINE, TO THE SUPERB SAILORS WHO SERVE WITH US IN EVERY CLIME AND PLACE, AND TO OUR PRECIOUS FAMILIES-I WISH EACH ONE OF YOU A HEARTFELT HAPPY 231ST BIRTHDAY. SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING! M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS

Len's Partner if Brenly Leaves?

Goat Whisperer — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 02:08:24 -0000

I've been thinking about who would be the best TV color man for the Cubs should Bob Brenly leave for a managerial position as expected. I would LOVE to see either Al Leiter or Eric Karros get the job. Both are extremely bright, knowledgeable, and articulate... the total antithesis of the boorish Joe Morgan.

Poll

Who Would You Like to See in the Booth With Len if Brenly Leaves?

Al Leiter

4 votes

Eric Karros

16 votes

Mark Grace

14 votes

Rick Sutcliffe

15 votes

Ryne Sandberg

2 votes

Someone Else

56 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed