SB Nation User Blog: Snake Plissken

POLL More Night Games at Wirgley?

Snake Plissken — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:32:32 -0000

I can't find the stat (Lord knows if I wasn't looking for it I'd find it easily) but as I recall the Cubs have a better overall record in night games then in day games.

Would you like to see the Cubs play more night games?

Poll

More night games at Wrigley?

Yes

89 votes

No

73 votes

162 votes | Poll has closed

Snake's Fantasy League

Snake Plissken — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:50:12 -0000

This is not the official BCB League. This is just mine.

Format is a Yahoo League, head to head. Standard Scoring (though I may include defensive stats)

I would like to do a live draft, but we'll see.

If interested, please send me your e-mail.

Bedard Rumors...Again

Snake Plissken — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:45:10 -0000

From mlbtraderumors.com (Yeah, I know

"Cubs Interested In Bedard?

With the volume of rumors that flew around during the Winter Meetings, it's easy to get confused. Luckily MLBTR has archives of everything. That's how we were able to research the Cubs' alleged interest in Erik Bedard.

It started on December 4th with Joel Sherman saying the Cubs were part of a pool competing for Bedard that contained 8-10 teams. Then three days later, Bruce Miles reported that Bedard was "not on the Cubs' radar screen."

The latest, per an uncredited blurb on ESPN Rumor Central: "In recent days, the Cubs let their interest be known." The blurb also references the Seattle PI, perhaps this article, but there's no Cubs reference there.

Anyway, it makes sense that Jim Hendry and Andy MacPhail would at least have a high-level Bedard discussion. The Cubs need a pitcher like him, they've liked him before, and they do have some decent young talent."

Links:

http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/wm/archives/2007/12/bedard_long_sho.html#more

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=90989&src=152

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finside r.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2ffeatures%2frumors

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/343751_mari16.html

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/cubs-interest-1.html

Pitching or Offense

Snake Plissken — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 05:30:46 -0000

The debate has raged on in the Blanton diary to the point that I believe it deserves its' own thread. And, sense I started the blanton diary I'll get this one going too.

The broad question is whether the Cubs need more and better starting pitching or another quality offensive player.

Specifically, whether the Cubs should try to trade for Bedard or Joe Blanton on the pitching side, or Roberts on the offensive side.

In the expanded article I have included numbers and a poll.

Erik Bedard in '07:

28 Gs 182 IPs 3.16 ERA 1.09 WHIP 221 Ks 57 BBs

Joe Blanton in '07:

34 Gs 230 IPs 3.95 ERA 1.22 WHIP 140 Ks 40 BBs

Brian Roberts in '07

156 Gs .290 AVG .377 OBP .432 SLG 12 HRs 57 RBIs 103 Rs 50 SBs

Poll

Cubs' Priority

Erik Bedard

72 votes

Joe Blanton

19 votes

Brian Roberts

32 votes

123 votes | Poll has closed

Starting Pitching

Snake Plissken — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 21:28:18 -0000

As I, and several other posters, believe and have advocated the Cubs need another starter with 1-2 or 2-3 potential. mlbtraderumors.com (Yeah, I know) has a good breakdown of available starters via trade or free agency. I, and others, have advocated mostly for Erik Bedard, believing him to be cheaper than Santana, but one of the pitchers listed on mlbtraderumors.com (Yeah, I know) piqued my interest:

Joe Blanton.

The mlbtradetrumors.com article (Yeah, I know):

"Starting Pitching Market Starts Moving

In recent days the starting pitching market has finally started moving. Dan Haren was traded to the Diamondbacks, and Hiroki Kuroda signed with the Dodgers. Now that the ball is rolling, what's next?

* There are no aces available via free agency, but Kuroda might've been the best anyway. There are three free agents with ace potential but checkered histories: Roger Clemens, Bartolo Colon, and Mark Prior. Colon is the only one with a shot at 200 innings in 2008, and he probably won't require more than a two-year deal. Healthy pitchers with lower ceilings comprise the next tier - Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse, Josh Fogg, Josh Towers, and Livan Hernandez.
* The injury tier of once-decent free agents, who are garnering plenty of attention: Kris Benson, Matt Clement, Freddy Garcia, Jason Jennings, Jon Lieber, Rodrigo Lopez.
* There are some ace starters available via trade, if you're willing to give up half of your farm system. Johan Santana and Erik Bedard are the game-changers. Joe Blanton will be slightly cheaper, but isn't as nasty. A.J. Burnett can compete with Bedard's stuff but he has injury concerns and one year left on his deal before he can opt out. After that we see a dropoff in trade candidates - Kevin Millwood, Dave Bush, Chris Capuano, Matt Morris, Jason Marquis. The Brewers are definitely holding some nice cards here.
* Teams looking to add pitching: Yankees, Royals, Mariners, Rangers, Nationals, Mets, Phillies, Reds, Astros, Cardinals, Giants, and Rockies. "

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/starting-pitchi.html

Blanton's numbers from last seasons:

34 Gs 230 IP 14-10 3.95 ERA 140 Ks 40 BBs 1.22 WHIP

His ERA was higher in '06 and '04. but was lower in '05

Perhaps he's not a #2 starter, at least not now, but would be a solid addition to our rotation, who also happens to be right-handed. that would split up our lefties nicely:

Z
Lilly
Blanton
Hill
Marquis, Demp, Marshall, Petrick, Hart, Guzman, Gallagher

I'm not sure what we'd have to give up for him, but probably one of Marshall or Gallagher, plus a position prospect, ect.

What do you guys think?

Padres trade for Edmonds

Snake Plissken — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:03:52 -0000

From mlbtraderumors.com (Yeah, I know):

"According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have agreed to trade minor league third baseman David Freese to the Cardinals for Jim Edmonds. The Cards will also send more than a million in cash to offset some Edmonds' $8MM salary.

Freese is mildly interesting for a prospect who'll be 25 in April. He's yet to reach Double A but he did draw 69 walks this year. Baseball America says there's a chance he's moved off third eventually (and notes that he's done some catching in an instructional league).

Edmonds is an OK one-year play for the Padres. He dipped to a .325 OBP and .403 SLG last year as a 37 year-old, and only got into 117 games due to back/leg/groin/hamstring/shoulder/toe injuries. It still might make sense to let Scott Hairston handle the lefties. Edmonds seemingly waived his no-trade clause to go to San Diego.

It will be interesting to see Joe Strauss weigh in on the Cards' plan for center field now. Top prospect Colby Rasmus is 21 and hasn't seen Triple A yet. Guys like Mike Cameron, Kenny Lofton, Corey Patterson, Nate McLouth, or Coco Crisp could be options."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/padres-acquire.html

Randolph interested in Marquis? (Take two)

Snake Plissken — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:47:53 -0000

Sorry, technical difficulties.

From mlbtraderumors.com (Yeah I know:

"Would Mets Consider Marquis?

On November 29th, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick mentioned that the Cubs are "listening on Jason Marquis." This would clearly be a salary dump, as Marquis will earn $16.25MM over 2008-09.

Since then we haven't heard of any teams interested in the 29 year-old righty. However, Mets manager Willie Randolph brought up Marquis yesterday as a consideration for the team's rotation. The article's author, Adam Rubin, added that the Cubs are fans of Endy Chavez. It wouldn't be fair to equate the two players, however.

Hat tip to MetsBlog on this one."

Links in chronological order:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove07/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3131579&c ampaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/12/12/2007-12-12_willie_randolph_says_mets_not_ giving_up_.html?ref=rss

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/would-mets-cons.html

Eyre exercises option

Snake Plissken — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:56:30 -0000

From Rotoworld.com http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=2455 :

"While the Cubs never announced it, Scott Eyre exercised his player option for 2008.

Eyre will make $4 million for a second straight season. He went from a 6.60 ERA before the break to a 0.81 mark afterwards last season, but he apparently still didn't think he'd get a J.C. Romero-type deal as a free agent."

Prior Poll and Marquis

Snake Plissken — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:52:42 -0000

From MLBtraderumors.com (Yeah I know).

And I quote:

"The Cubs are listening to offers for Jason Marquis, who is owed $16.25MM over 2008-09. So maybe they are still in on Kuroda."

"Crasnick reports there would be huge interest in Mark Prior if the Cubs non-tender him. As in, pretty much every team in baseball. Crasnick's source indicates that Prior and the Cubs don't have the best relationship."

OK, we all knew it was coming, I'm just the messenger.

Poll

Should the Cubs keep Mark Prior?

Yes

172 votes

No

26 votes

198 votes | Poll has closed

The D-Train and Cabs

Snake Plissken — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:10:06 -0000

I saw on SportsCenter that the Marlins are shopping both Willis and Cabrera.

The reason being thery're trying to get a stadium, or may have to move, so they're keeping their payroll down. The Marlins are frustrated with Cabrera's "laziness", and know they won't be able to keep him anyway in the long run.

Aside from the unnecessary and inevitable comment about the Cubs trading away prospects to get one of our former ones (Willis) back, thoughts?

SB Nation User Blog: Snake Plissken

**POLL** More Night Games at Wirgley?

More night games at Wrigley?

Yes

No

Snake's Fantasy League

Bedard Rumors...Again

Pitching or Offense

Cubs' Priority

Erik Bedard

Joe Blanton

Brian Roberts

Starting Pitching

Padres trade for Edmonds

Randolph interested in Marquis? (Take two)

Eyre exercises option

Prior Poll and Marquis

Should the Cubs keep Mark Prior?

Yes

No

The D-Train and Cabs

POLL More Night Games at Wirgley?