SB Nation User Blog: dat cubfan daver

A deal like that? For a player like that? No. Is that succinct enough? I don't know that addition...

dat cubfan daver — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:56:11 -0000

A deal like that? For a player like that? No. Is that succinct enough? I don't know that addition by subtraction would work. Smarter people than us have tried that.

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean quoted in today's Chicago Tribune re: a bad contract swap for Milton Bradley. LINKY

SC takes some BP before this past weekend's AFL RSG.

dat cubfan daver — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:46:39 -0000

SC takes some BP before this past weekend's AFL RSG.

The latest on Rich Hill

dat cubfan daver — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:02:49 -0000

The latest on Rich Hill

In 2007, Rich threw 195 innings for the Cubs and led the starting staff in strikeouts. He's now a free agent seeking a minor league deal.

If the poll included in the article above is any indication, Orioles fans don't want him re-signed. So should Jim Hendry welcome him back into the fold with a minor league contract?

I see one year, $7-8 mil guaranteed with incentives to reach maybe $12-13 mil. Seems like...

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:39:09 -0000

I see one year, $7-8 mil guaranteed with incentives to reach maybe $12-13 mil. Seems like something the Red Sox would entertain. I wonder if Harden would take less, try to rebuild value in San Diego.

This was the response of Tim Dierkes of mlbtraderumors.com to my question: "What kind of deal will Rich Harden get this off-season? And who will give it to him?" in today's live chat.

Astros hire former Cubs minor league manager, scout Brad Mills as new manager

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:53:09 -0000

Astros hire former Cubs minor league manager, scout Brad Mills as new manager

Honestly? I'd never heard of him either.

Did the Cubs win more games than they should have in 2009?

dat cubfan daver — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:27:46 -0000

Did the Cubs win more games than they should have in 2009?

I came across this rather fascinating blogpost today written by a Tampa Bay Rays blogger whom I follow on Twitter (@RaysIndex). He's trying to determine whether Rays manager Joe Maddon, who I happen to think is a pretty cool guy, was the worst skipper in baseball this season.

To do so, he's used each MLB club's team WAR to calculate its expected wins and then compared those results to its actual wins. As you can see, according to this method, our 2009 Cubs won almost six games more than they should have, based on their statistical results.

So, assuming you buy into this blogger's methods, were the Cubs somehow both unlucky (in the context of their preseason projections) and lucky (when viewed in the context of their actual play) this season? Or was Sweet Lou better than many of us thought?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts - especially any sabermagicians out there.

Amazing 1984 TV feature on the Cubby Bear, Cubs fans and punk rock.

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:33:44 -0000

Amazing 1984 TV feature on the Cubby Bear, Cubs fans and punk rock.

Dave Kaplan interviews Bill James

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:38:26 -0000

Dave Kaplan interviews Bill James

This is a few days old but, in case you missed it, the mp3 still works. Bill James is, of course, the grandfather of baseball statistical analysis. To my ears, however, he just speaks a whole lot of common sense. Well worth a listen - especially his remarks regarding one Zambrano, Carlos.

DeLuca's sources say Cubs pushing Rays on Bradley-for-Burrell trade

dat cubfan daver — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:59:08 -0000

DeLuca's sources say Cubs pushing Rays on Bradley-for-Burrell trade

According to Sun-Times reporter Chris DeLuca's sources, the Cubs are pushing the Rays to make a quick and easy swap of Bradley for Burrell. DeLuca suggests Burrell could play right field at Wrigley Field. That seems highly dubious given Burrell's awful career UZR numbers in LEFT field.

But what about platooning Burrell and Kosuke in right field? Dome would get most of the starts vs. RHP, and Burrell's career splits vs. LHP are pretty impressive - .916 OPS. Otherwise, he'd be a power bat off the bench. How badly am I reaching here?

Rich Harden likely to be downgraded to Type B free agent by Elias

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:54:31 -0000

Rich Harden likely to be downgraded to Type B free agent by Elias

Per the handy chart in this MLBTR article, the Elias Sports Bureau is likely to downgrade Rich Harden from Type A free agent to a Type B free agent. (Go the bottom and click on the "NL SP" link.)

My question for those a little more versed the machinations of major league transactions is: How might this affect the likelihood that the Cubs may re-sign Rich? Does it at all? Would he be more apt to take a lower priced contract based on this development? And do teams get any type of draft picks for offering a Type B FA arbitration?