Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Poloni

Zambrano Tossed from Game for Umpire's Actions

Matt Poloni — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:30:00 -0400

Carlos Zambrano was tossed from Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after a very close call at home plate with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

Zambrano threw an 0-1 pitch in the dirt to Nate McLouth on the first base side (inside to the left-handed hitter) which Geovany Soto slid over to block. In doing so, the ball kicked back to the third base side behind home plate.

While Zambrano ran home to cover the plate, speedy Pirates outfielder Nyjer Morgan bolted in from third base in an attempt to score.

Soto quickly got to the ball, which was no more than ten feet from the plate, and got the throw off to Zambrano low enough and in enough time to make a play plausible.

Zambrano blocked the plate applied the tag as Morgan slid in head-first. From replays, it looks as though he applied the tag at or near the same moment that Morgan's left hand snuck in around his back leg to touch the plate.

Home plate umpire Mark Carlson called Morgan safe, tying the game at two runs apiece.

Zambrano immediately showed the passion and intensity that he is known for (famously or infamously), yelling in the face of Carlson about the call.

It was as Zambrano was saying his last words before walking away that Carlson then walked into the Cubs pitcher with a clear intent to make contact. After doing so, Zambrano gave a mild push with his elbow and Carlson immediately ejected him.

As would be expected of the fiery pitcher, Zambrano became irate. He proceeded to "eject" Carlson from the game, throw the baseball towards the outfield bleachers (but only reaching the warning track), and take a bat to the water cooler in the Cubs dugout.

Luckily, the call and the ejection did not come back to bite the Cubs.

Reed Johnson hit a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to put the Cubs up by one run and another two runs scored that inning on doubles by recent call-ups Andres Blanco and Jake Fox.

The Cubs then entered the ninth inning with a three run lead and closer Kevin Gregg on the mound. A Freddy Sanchez baserunning gaffe that allowed him to be doubled up on a Morgan fly to deep right field and a McLouth strikeout ended the game for the Cubs' second straight win.

Still, the topics for discussion today are the actions of home plate umpire Mark Carlson and the subsequent ejection of Carlos Zambrano.

Why on earth is an umpire initiating contact with a player?

This is simply unacceptable. Umpires are supposed to be regulating action on the field, not creating it.

Unfortunately, this is only one of a string of incidents by umpires:

2008: Brian Runge bumped Mets manager Jerry Manuel.
2007: Mike Winters directed profanity towards then-Padre Milton Bradley.
2003: Bruce Froeming directed an anti-semetic slur towards an MLB umpiring administrator and John Hirschbeck subsequently threatened a senior official in the Commissioner's Office.

It's moments like these that make fans think that all umpires are on a power trip, looking to exercise their authority over whoever they can.

What's worse is that umpires are not held to the same standard as players and coaches when, in reality, they should be held to a higher standard.

Brian Runge recieved a one game suspension for his actions and Mike Winters was suspended for the remainder of the 2007 season.

Bruce Froeming and John Hirschbeck were both issued ten game suspensions for their actions in 2003, which actually seems to be the most fitting of the three suspensions.

What's wrong with these results?

Runge's suspension is equal to the suspension that Jerry Manuel recieved for the bill of his cap touching the bill of umpire Bill Welke's cap on May 7. Since umpires should be held to a higher standard, it would only seem fitting that the umpire get a longer suspension.

Mike Winters rest-of-season suspension would have been fitting if the season had more than five games remaining in it. I'm sure Winters knew about Bradley's hot-headed past, so the fact that Bradley suffered a torn knee ligament in his ensuing tirade should make the suspension for this case of baiting much higher.

John Hirshbeck (president of the World Umpires Association) served his suspension for threats against an MLB official, but the problem here lies more with Bruce Froeming. Froeming, according to a 2007 article on ESPN.com, didn't serve even one day of his suspension.

To look at the problem from another perspective, let's disect the impact of a suspension.

When a player or coach misses a game that they could have otherwise been a part of, it affects more than just that one game or that one person.

For a player, it could be the end of a hot streak that would have otherwise continued. It could be the difference between missing a ball that starts a rally and making a catch that keeps it from happening. It could be the difference between a game-tying home run or a game-ending double play. It could be the difference in how long the bullpen has to pitch.

For a coach, it could allow the bench coach to prove why he isn't a manager. It could allow a young coach to send a guy home when he should be held at third. It could allow a pitcher to stay in too long, leading to an injury.

One missed game can lead to multiple losses.

Aside from Tim Donaghy, officials have no peripheral losses when they miss a game. All they miss is a paycheck and day of heckling.

In this age of increased scrutiny on the actions of players and coaches, why aren't the same measures taken towards the men that are supposedly responsible for keeping the game civil?

After all, that was the whole intention behind the power to eject, wasn't it? To remove people from the ballpark who had shown that they couldn't restrain themselves?

How are players suppossed to feel that the game is being properly policed if umpires are only given quasi-punishment for their actions?

If anyone can answer these questions for me, please let me know. Right now, it just doesn't make any sense.

Chris Coghlan: The Next Great Super-Utility?

Matt Poloni — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:30:00 -0400

While most utility players are used primarily for defense, very few are able to hit for both average and power while playing multiple positions.

Darin Erstad did it from 1997-2000, averaging 18 home runs and hitting for a .303 batting average while playing first base, centerfield, and left field. If that wasn't enough, he also averaged 21 stolen bases.

In the end, he went to two All-Star Games, won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, and garnered enough votes to finish in the top 15 in MVP voting twice over that span.

The problem with Erstad's case? Playing three positions (two of which are in the outfield) doesn't usually qualify someone as a super-utility player.

In his defense, left-handed players can't play any infield position other than first base and he was able to play two vastly different positions (first base and center field) at a level worthy of a Gold Glove.

Alexei Ramirez is trying to do the same right now. Last year, he hit 21 home runs and put up a .290 average. He also stole 13 bases on his way to finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting.

He played at second base, shortstop, and centerfield for the White Sox last year, but only started eight games at short and center combined.

In the early goings of 2009, he has yet to play anywhere other than shortstop. His days as a utility man seem to be over before they even started.

Brandon Inge is also trying to do it, but has yet to do both in the same season. His best attempt came in the 2004-2007 seasons when he averaged 18 home runs and put up a .258 average.

But his case falls short because he was only a utility player for two of those four years. In 2006 and 2007, he only played third base. Still, he is an athletic freak that can most likely play any position on the field well.

The best super-utility so far has been Mark DeRosa.

From 2006-2008, DeRosa averaged 15 home runs and hit at a .291 clip. At this same time he was logging time in left field, right field, and at each infield position.

If not for Ozzie Guillen, Keith Lockhart, Walt Weiss, Rafael Belliard, Jose Hernandez, Rafael Furcal, Ken Caminiti, Marcus Giles, and Vinny Castilla, he would have likely been a larger piece of the Braves puzzle early in his career and put up those kind of numbers much sooner.

Now, there might be another player ready to tackle the challenge of being a hard-hitting super-utility player in the big leagues.

Like Inge, he was a high draft pick. Inge was drafted in the second round and he was a first-round supplemental pick.

Like Erstad, he hits left-handed and has shown the ability to steal bases consistently despite lacking great speed.

Like DeRosa in his prime, this player stands at 6'1" and 195 pounds. He also draws criticism for not having the perfect set of tools for any one position, but is able to play each one well.

Like all three players, he played his first professional season at the age of 21. Unlike any of them, he had two hits in his big league debut.

That debut came in Colorado on Friday for 23 year old Marlins prospect Chris Coghlan.

Although he has only played second and third base in professional baseball, Coghlan was a high school shortstop and is expected to get playing time in the outfield for the Marlins. In fact, the Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him out of high school as a catcher before he went on to be a third baseman at Ole Miss.

His ability to hit for power at the big league level has been questioned, but he has put up power numbers in the minors better than those of DeRosa or Erstad and comparable to Inge.

His minor league batting averages have been much better than DeRosa or Inge at the same age and only a few points below those of Erstad.

His quiet, patient approach has made him the only one of the four players that didn't strike out more than he walked in any one minor league season. It was only in 2007, his first full season in professional baseball, that he didn't walk more than he struck out. Instead, the two numbers were tied at 62.

In addition to his smart approach, his smart baserunning has made him a base-stealing threat. In fact, adding Brandon Inge's minor league-best 15 stolen bases, Mark DeRosa's best 13, and Darin Erstad's 11 together only gets you five more than Coghlan's 34 swipes from last year.

He'll never be a flashy player, but the Marlins' prospect will be a very smart and productive player in Major League Baseball.

Right now, he faces a situation similar to that of DeRosa's years in Atlanta. There are plenty of quality infielders in the organization.

Hanley Ramirez has a stranglehold on the shortstop position, Dan Uggla has the upper hand at second base, and Emilio Bonifacio has the raw ability that will find him plenty of playing time in the infield.

Jorge Cantu can play first, second, or third base and will likely hold a starting position somewhere if he stays healthy and continues to hit.

In addition to them, Wes Helms, Ross Gload, and Alfredo Amezaga will also be fighting for playing time in the infield and the Marlins' farm system is ready to produce more infield talent.

Gaby Sanchez, a corner infielder, will likely get a shot once he's healthy and Matt Dominguez is only a few years away.

With all this competition, it's no wonder why Coghlan is getting thrust into the outfield.

So long as he maintains a hot bat, which I believe he will, he'll get chances on the field wherever they can fit him.

There will almost certainly be an adjustment period at any new position he plays, but be patient Marlins fans. It will all be worth it in the end.

Injuries to Cubs Force Jim Hendry's Hand

Matt Poloni — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:39:00 -0400

Coming into the 2009 season, the Cubs had three injury-prone players penciled into the starting lineup.

Starting right fielder Milton Bradley has only gone injury-free in two of his last eight seasons. Those years (2004 and 2008) happen to be the only two seasons he has played in more than 101 games or hit more than 14 home runs.

He has totaled 341 days on the disabled list over those eight years (an average of 57 days per injured season).

Starting first baseman Derrek Lee spent exactly 100 days away from the Cubs in 2006 with a wrist injury. He hasn't been the same hitter since.

This season, he had to decline an invitation to play in the World Baseball Classic due to a quad injury and has recently been sidelined with a sore neck.

Starting left fielder Alfonso Soriano has spent 78 days on the disabled list in the past two seasons. Last season saw 56 of those days spread across two stints from a broken finger and a strained calf.

Another problem was the depth at third base.

Other than Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs only player with big league experience at the position was Aaron Miles (14 games, 7 starts).

The players with minor league experience at the position were as follows: Derrek Lee (93 games), Mike Fontenot (62), Koyie Hill (16), Ryan Theriot (7), and Geovany Soto (3).

Last year, neither problem was really an issue. The reason for that is easy. Mark DeRosa had both the offensive and defensive ability to not only fill in at each position, but start if necessary.

On teams that are older, injury prone, or lack defensive depth at certain positions, versatility is vital to success. The Cubs fall under all three categories.

Unfortunately, the Cubs traded DeRosa to the Indians shortly after signing his replacement (Miles) to a two-year deal.

Since Miles isn't a prototypical third baseman, Mike Fontenot took over as Ramirez's backup. After lower back and calf injuries to Ramirez, Fontenot has gotten to start twelve games at the hot corner.

The replacement of DeRosa with Miles also affected the outfield, pushing Micah Hoffpauir into a role as a backup outfielder.

Hoffpauir, who is not exactly the best defensive outfielder, is also the only option for any power in the outfield should either Soriano or Bradley go down.

Realizing that the Cubs needed another option at third base, Jim Hendry called up Bobby Scales on Monday. Scales, a career minor leaguer, has played 131 games at third base.

Then, he traded Joey Gathright to Baltimore for Ryan Freel on Friday. Although he's primarily been an outfielder, Freel has played 106 games at third base in his major league career and 101 games at second.

Freel doesn't exactly have the bat that you want out of a third baseman either (having hit only one more home run in his seven-year career than DeRosa's total for 2008), but Fontenot might supply those numbers at second base.

With Aramis Ramirez dislocating his left shoulder for the second time in his major league career, Freel should be thrown into the fray fairly soon.

Also, since the Cubs traded car-jumping speedster Joey Gathright away in the deal, the acquisition of another player with great speed lessens the loss that the team will see on the basepaths. Freel stole 37, 36, and 37 bases in the 2004-2006 seasons for Cincinnati.

Now the Cubs have three players on their roster who can play in both the infield and outfield (Scales, Miles, and Freel), one pure outfielder (Johnson/Fukudome), and a bat (Hoffpauir) available to come off the bench. The trade doesn't solve everything, but is surely helps.

Sadly, the move is not without its pitfalls. Freel has proven to be fragile in recent years.

A strained hamstring sidelined him for 37 games in 2003. Turf toe got the best of him in 2005, costing him 31 games.

Later in 2005, he tore cartilage in his right knee that put him on the DL for 20 days and required surgery. He had a reaggravation in 2007, which required surgery to his meniscus and cartilage and put him on the DL for 56 days.

He also missed 116 days last year with a hamstring injury that required surgery.

This season, he hasn't played since a concussion he suffered on April 20 when he was hit in the head with a pickoff throw.

Only time will tell if this was a good move for the Cubs or not, but their injury woes may not be over.

MLB's All-Under 24 Team

Matt Poloni — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:04:12 -0400

I realize that, to many out there, 24 seems like an arbitrary number to be a cutoff for an "All-MLB" team. In truth, the decision was made in large part by intuition. It seems to me that most of the game's stars don't reach their elite status until (or after) that particular age, with few exceptions. So, in an effort to research this theory of mine, I set out to create an entire roster of players who, as of April 1 of this year, were under that age. In other words, all the players on this roster were born after April 1, 1985. This means no Felix Pie, Justin Masterson, Matt LaPorta, Brandon Wood, Ryan Sweeney, Jeff Samardzija, or Emmanuel Burriss. For Daniel Murphy, who was born on that exact date, I decided to use the old baseball saying of "tie goes to the runner." To make the decision process easier, I eliminated all players that have never appeared in a Major League Baseball game. This means that Matt Wieters is also out. Before anyone makes a case for any player not included, make sure that they qualify under these stipulations. So here's to the best baseball players who can't yet rent a car on their own without inciting extra fees.

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Chicago Cubs: A Look at the Lineup

Matt Poloni — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:11:08 -0500

Spring Training is coming. In a few days, pitchers and catchers will be reporting.

For Cubs fans, that means it's time to finalize travel plans to Mesa, AZ. The closer to HoHoKam and Fitch Park, the better.

For all intents and purposes, the Cubs' roster is set. Peavy probably isn't coming and there aren't any free agents that seem likely to sign with the club.

In that light, it's time to take a look at the lineup with an eye towards Opening Day.

Quick Recap

Last year ended in disappointment once again for Cubs fans.

Although giving up 17 runs in the first two games of the Division Series was abominable, a large portion of the credit for the Cubs' collapse fell upon the lineup's lack of left-handed hitters.

They obviously set out to change that this offseason.

Hendry traded away right-handed hitters Mark DeRosa and Ronny Cedeno, and didn't re-sign fellow righty Henry Blanco. In turn, he acquired left-handed hitters Joey Gathright and Paul Bako, and switch-hitters Aaron Miles and Milton Bradley.

Now, going into Spring Training, 11 of the 18 position players on the Cubs' 40-man roster hit left-handed or switch-hit. Out of the ten non-roster invitee position players, another five fit that description.

Now it's just a matter of figuring out who fits where or if they fit at all.

Two Men Out

Some players on the 40-man roster have almost no chance of being on the 25-man roster when camp breaks. Of the 18 position players, two find themselves in that situation.

Brad Snyder is a left-handed outfielder who was once a yearly fixture on Cleveland's top prospects list. He's athletic with a good arm and plus speed, but his offensive production has declined over the past two years.

With a good showing in Mesa and some production early in the regular season, he might get a call-up—just don't expect to see him against the Astros on Apr. 6.

Richie Robnett is a very similar player. Though never a member of Oakland's top-10 prospects list, Robnett still got some attention.

His talent has been raw since he was drafted out of Fresno State in 2004. Good speed, a plus arm, and a swing described as "picturesque" got him where he is today, but a lack of consistent contact and a propensity to strikeout are keeping him from his ultimate goal.

Over the course of his minor league career, he has struck out five times for every two walks. Twice he has reached 146 total strikeouts in a season, the only two seasons in which he had over 300 at bats.

Until he figures out how to fix his approach, he won't take up a big league roster spot.

Notable Invites

There are two familiar names among the non-roster invitees: Luis Rivas and So Taguchi.

Rivas has shown an average to below average bat in the past with the ability to hit five to 10 home runs, but his defense is thought by many to be atrocious.

If he makes the club, it's because Lou Piniella thinks he can produce as the starter at second base. Since he's right-handed and hasn't had a productive season since 2004, his chances are minimal.

Taguchi has shown that he can hit around .270 when given some consistent at bats. Defensively, he takes great routes to the ball, but he's lost a step or two and has an arm that's average at best.

Of the two, Taguchi has the best shot for a roster spot because he could slot in as a fifth outfielder. Still, it would likely take multiple injuries for Taguchi to hang on.

Mark Johnson will also be on the outside looking in. A left-handed hitter, he'll be battling Bako and Koyie Hill for the backup catcher spot.

Since he's been able to hit for a decent average in the minors, don't count him out to make the club. From what I remember, he was a pretty good defensive catcher for the White Sox a few years back. If he still has that defensive ability, he could be a reasonable alternative.

Battle for the Backup Spot

Geovany Soto obviously has a stranglehold on the starting position, but the absence of Henry Blanco leaves a hole to fill behind the plate. He was not only a great defensive catcher, but was Soto's mentor and a decent bat off the bench.

Bako, 36, might be able to fill those shoes to some extent. A left-handed hitter and a good defensive catcher, he is most likely the favorite to take over the role at this point.

The problem? He might as well be swinging a piano leg.

Hill is pretty much the opposite. He hit .275 with 17 home runs in Iowa (AAA) last year. Although he did struggle at the plate when called up, he can still call a decent game from behind the dish.

But while most backup catchers are catch-and-throw guys, Hill could still use help with both. His receiving skills are said to be less-than-stellar and he has some trouble throwing out runners.

It should be an interesting battle. Ultimately, if one guy has a distinctly better Spring Training than the others, he'll probably win the job.

The Sleepers

Meanwhile, Sam Fuld could be the ultimate sleeper for Cubs fans.

In the Venezuelan Winter League this year, Fuld hit .322 with five triples and four home runs in 199 at bats as his team's leadoff hitter. He also walked 36 times compared to only 20 strikeouts.

Some Cubs fans may even remember Fuld's name being tossed around heading into Spring Training last season. That's because he hit .402 with two triples and three home runs in 107 at bats in the Arizona Fall League at the end of 2007.

With 10 stolen bases, 17 walks, and only 15 strikeouts added to the statline, he claimed the AFL MVP award over players such as Evan Longoria, Matt LaPorta, Travis Snider, Blake DeWitt, and Phil Hughes.

If Fuld can take that kind of play into Spring Training, he could grab a spot in the outfield mix or supplant Kosuke Fukudome as the left-handed part of the centerfield platoon.

Jake Fox could also play a large part in the Cubs' plans. Last season, Fox hit .287 with 31 home runs and 105 RBI in 505 at-bats. He even stole seven bases.

In the previous two seasons, he hit 21 and 24 home runs. Strikeouts are a slight concern, but he's putting up good enough numbers to overlook them.

The best part? He can play the corners (1B, 3B, LF, RF) and has experience catching. With Aaron Miles available to play second base, shortstop, and centerfield when necessary, Fox could complete a tandem that would cover every position on the field.

Centerfield

The scenario that's been tossed around the most in regards to centerfield is one in which Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson platoon.

In the end, that's probably what Piniella will do.

With the money that the Cubs are paying out to Fukudome, they're going to give him a shot to figure things out. He's good defensively, so even if he doesn't figure it out, it's not a complete loss.

Johnson can hit and play pretty good defense. The only reason he won't be a full time starter is because of his high energy style of play.

Joey Gathright can fly and hits from the left side. It's been awhile since I've seen him play, but he is supposedly a good defender, too.

If he can hit like he did in 2005 and 2007 (.276 and .307, respectively), he might be able to supplant Fukudome as part of the platoon. Otherwise, he's the favorite for the fifth-outfielder spot.

Second Base

The player with the most to prove on the roster is easily Mike Fontenot. With a perceived need for a left-handed hitter and DeRosa in Cleveland, Fontenot finally has a shot to start.

He has shown that he can hit for average with a .291 average over the past two seasons. Last year, he hit 22 doubles and nine home runs in 243 at-bats. If he doesn't try too hard to hit for power, as he's been accused of in the past, he should make a good run at the job.

His only true competition will be Aaron Miles—a switch-hitter who is better defensively than Fontenot, as shown in part by his versatility across the field. Some would argue that he's a better hitter, too. Over the past two seasons, he's hit .303 in 793 at-bats (316 more than Fontenot).

I would argue otherwise. Fontenot has a better OBP and a much larger difference between his batting average and OBP. Consider, too, that Miles slugs nearly 100 points less than Fontenot.

This leads me to believe that Miles is not the better option offensively, especially for any consideration to be slotted second in the batting order.

The Lineup—What's Given

So what is the lineup going to look like come Apr. 6? Let's start with the guys we know will be starting.

In all likelihood, Alfonso Soriano will be leading off. Whether I agree or disagree with that move is a matter for another time.

Aramis Ramirez, coming off a season that earned him the Hank Aaron Award, will almost certainly hit in the cleanup spot. He was the cleanup hitter behind Derrek Lee in 2008 and Piniella has shown that he likes to keep players where they're comfortable.

Geovany Soto, 2008's Rookie of the Year and National League All-Star catcher, will more than likely move into the sixth spot in the order.

The third and fifth spots are going to be filled by Derrek Lee and Milton Bradley. Since the statistics of each player are surprisingly comparable, it is anyone's guess as to which player will hit in which spot.

Both players can be counted on for at least a .290 average and 20 home runs. Bradley has had a much better slugging percentage the past two seasons but can't be counted on for as many games. Lee steals more bases, but Bradley is most likely still the better runner of the two.

Ultimately, I believe that Lee gets moved down in the fifth spot. His inclination for hitting into double plays doesn't play well for the third spot and Geovany Soto could still provide some protection in the lineup in an attempt to slowdown his downturn in production.

That just leaves Ryan Theriot. His ability to make consistent contact would work in either the second or eighth spots. Which spot he hits in depends largely on who ends up playing second base.

The Lineup—Up In The Air

If Miles gets the nod at second base, Theriot can hit in either spot and, in my opinion, would stay in the second spot.

I personally believe that Fontenot will get the nod to start at second base, freeing Miles up to be available off the bench in any capacity and at any position. That would likely force Theriot down to eighth in the lineup against right-handed pitchers to avoid having back-to-back lefties at the bottom of the order.

If that were to happen, where Fontenot hits in the lineup would be dependent upon who starts in center against left-handed pitchers and how well that player is performing.

Fukudome is the most likely to be tabbed for that half of the platoon. Due to his struggles in the second half of last year, he would probably start out seventh and only move up to second if he played more like he did in the first months of 2008. That would put Fontenot in the second spot.

Gathright could probably end up in either spot of the order. He has speed which would help at the top of the order, but lacks the ability to get on base at a good enough rate.

Fuld is a longshot to make the team, but in the event that he works his way into the platoon, he could hit seventh or eighth.

Matchups

The Reds and Cardinals will have entirely right-handed rotations, the Brewers and Astros should both have two left-handed starters, and the Pirates could have as many as four lefties.

The Pirates should be an interesting matchup for the Cubs. Last season, the Cubs were able to walk over the predominantly left-handed rotation on their way to a 14-4 record against.

This season, a rotation with Maholm, Snell, Gorzelanny, and Duke might not be so easy. They are talented young pitchers that have each had at least one very good season in their past. With DeRosa gone, hitting lefties isn't going to be as easy.

The Reds have the greatest potential of any of the rotations. Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto have two of the highest ceilings of any young pitchers in the game. Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo aren't too bad, either.

If both Volquez and Cueto reach their potential and either Homer Bailey or Micah Owings can step up in the rotation, Cincinnati's all–right-handed rotation could be the ultimate test of whether or not Hendry fixed the lineup.

The Brewers are in a similar situation. Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, and Chris Capuano should all do fairly well during the season, but their rotation will ultimately be judged by the performance of Yovanni Gallardo and Manny Parra.

Gallardo is due to break out this year and Parra may or may not follow his lead. Although losing Sabathia hurts their rotation quite a bit, this is still a good rotation.

The Cardinals and Astros don't seem to have much to offer at this point. When you look past Roy Oswalt and Adam Wainright, each team has a bunch of question marks.

For the Cardinals: Will Todd Wellenmeyer and Kyle Lohse pitch as well as they did in 2008? Will Chris Carpenter be able to start for an extended period of time and have success? Will one of their young pitchers step up and perform?

For the Astros: Will Wandy Rodriguez pitch as well as he did in 2008? Will Mike Hampton be able to start for an extended period of time and have success? Will Brandon Backe or someone else step up and perform?

Closing Statements

In the end, when looking at how the Cubs lineup matches up against their division opponents' rotations, the Cubs should have a good challenge. They aren't the greatest pitching staffs in baseball, but they're good enough.

I believe that the Cubs should do better this year against right-handed pitching, which bodes well for results within the division. They also seem to be more balanced overall, although that balance does come at the expense of Jim Edmonds and Mark DeRosa's power numbers.

Aside from Mike Fontenot, Derrek Lee has the most to prove this year.

Most Cubs fans use his amazing 2005 season as their measuring stick for his success, forgetting that he has actually improved his ability to hit for average over his pre-2005 years. Instead, they want his numbers to reflect the power and ability to get on base that he had in those years, which actually has declined.

With a stat line along the lines of 35 doubles, 30 home runs, 85 walks, a .285 or higher average, and fewer than 20 double plays, the Cubs would easily be the best offense in the National League.

Milton Bradley also has quite a bit to prove. He needs to show that last season, in which he hit .321 with 22 home runs, wasn't a fluke and that he can stay healthy for a complete season.

On the whole, this lineup should still prove to be one of the best in the major leagues. With five players that can hit for power and almost every player capable of hitting for a good average, they should be tough to play.

Since nobody in the division made any major changes to their pitching staffs, it shouldn't be too hard to take the division. As far as the playoffs go, I'll wait until September to make my predictions.

For now, let's take it one step at a time.

Chicago Cubs: With New Year Comes Budget Cuts

Matt Poloni — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0500

This offseason has been a tough one for Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. With the ownership situation still in flux, he lacked the necessary latitude within the team's budget to throw money at free agents or acquire players with sizable contracts.

The timing is unfortunate.

Although there is some youth on the team, the Cubs are a veteran ball club. Alfonso Soriano is 33, Aramis Ramirez is 31, Derrek Lee is 34, Ted Lilly is 33, Ryan Dempster is 32, and Reed Johnson is 33. Of those players, only Reed Johnson doesn't have a contract past this year.

Many columnists reporting on the Cubs believe the window is closing on the Cubs' World Series chances and they may be right.

With that said, it would have been nice to keep certain pieces in place. But in order to add to the roster, you also have to subtract.

Kerry Wood wasn't re-signed and instead went to the Indians. Since Hendry didn't want to risk Wood accepting arbitration, he was not offered it and the Cubs will not receive the compensatory draft picks that typically come with losing a Type A free agent.

Hendry also decided to not re-sign or offer arbitration to Type A free agent Bob Howry, but that decision may have been more influenced by Howry's performance than by budget constraints.

The one pitcher he did re-sign was 17-game winner Ryan Dempster, who hopes to have his first back-to-back 30-start, 200-inning seasons since 2001-2002.

To replace the veteran arms lost in the bullpen, Hendry traded 22-year-old relief prospect Jose Ceda to the Florida Marlins for Kevin Gregg. He also acquired Rockies prospect David Patton from the Reds after they picked him in the major league phase of the Rule V Draft.

Hendry has also gone about balancing the handedness of the Cubs' lineup. The problem has already been discussed ad nauseum, so I won't go too far into it.

The top priority was a left-handed bat, preferably with power and preferably in right field. Hendry recognized Milton Bradley as the guy who fit the bill.

But before Bradley could be signed, money had to be cleared off the books.

On New Years Eve, Mark DeRosa was sent to the Indians for three minor league pitchers, one of which (Jeff Stevens) has been said to have a shot at making the team out of spring training. On Tuesday, Jason Marquis and a dollar amount reported to be between $875,000 and $1 million were sent to the Rockies for Luis Vizcaino.

By unloading DeRosa and Marquis (with cash considerations), the Cubs took at most $14.5 million off the books. The addition of Patton, Stevens, and Vizcaino to the 40-man roster then added $4.3 million, reducing the number saved down to $10.2 million.

On Monday, the Cubs signed Bradley (pending a physical) to a three-year, $30 million contract. The final year is said to be a vesting option based on the number of games he plays in his first two seasons with the club.

To replace DeRosa's spot on the roster and his role on the team, the Cubs signed Aaron Miles to a two-year, $4.9 million contract. He will make $2.2 million in the first year. Together with Bradley's average salary and the players brought in through trades, the Cubs spent only an additional $2 million dollars.

Unfortunately, the moves aren't without their disadvantages.

Kevin Gregg is not replacing Kerry Wood's role in the bullpen, but he is most likely taking over Marmol's former role as a setup man while Carlos transitions into the closer. With all due respect, Gregg-Marmol is not nearly as good as Marmol-Wood.

In acquiring Gregg they also let go of Jose Ceda, the club's fourth-ranked prospect in 2008. Though the young reliever has had some problems with repeating his delivery, he still has plenty of time to develop and has two excellent pitches.

But Ceda wasn't the only Cubs' prospect who was lost this offseason. The team also lost Donnie Veal, a young left-handed pitcher, to the Pirates in the major league phase of the Rule V Draft. While leaving Veal off the 40-man roster by itself would make sense, the acquisition of Patton muddles the picture somewhat.

Veal had pitched at Double-A, a level at which many prospects are called up from, and would only have to stay on the 40-man roster. Patton has yet to pitch past Single-A and must stay on the 25-man roster all year, allowing for much less flexibility with the roster.

Milton Bradley offers a ton of upside, but has had problems staying on the field and out of the media's scrutiny.

He has started a total of 78 games in the outfield the past two years combined, he only averaged 97 in the five years before that, and he has only started more than 94 games in the outfield once in his nine year career.

In his healthier days he was an outfielder with good range and an average to above average arm. But these are not his healthier days and playing in only 58 percent of his team's games (94 games) is not worth $10 million.

Aaron Miles may replace DeRosa in the field, but he can't replace him in the lineup. He has an obvious disadvantage in terms of power and hasn't been able to get on base at the same rate as his predecessor.

With all of the moves made this offseason, the Cubs' 40-man roster is now full. In order to sign anyone, Jim Hendry would have to release or trade someone. Considering Hendry has been quoted as saying he will add a few more pieces before spring training, expect to see some players on their way out.

The player most likely to be dealt next is Felix Pie. The mid-December signing of Joey Gathright, his doppleganger in terms of abilities, has seemingly sealed his fate.

Other than him, I can not be sure as to who else might be shown the door. Some people have speculated that Ronny Cedeno may be next, but your guess is as good as mine.

Despite the downgrades on a few fronts, this team should still be the NL Central favorites. Barring a Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio type of disaster, this team will most likely continue their recent trend of success and perhaps even build upon it.

Getting to the playoffs should not be a problem, especially if Milton Bradley can stay on the field for at least 130 games, which he has done before. With the lineup balanced, this team should also put up more of a fight in the playoffs.

If nothing else, 2009 should be fun to watch.

Cubs Looking to Japan for Bullpen Help

Matt Poloni — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:25:00 -0500

According to a Chicago Tribune report, the Chicago Cubs are considering the possibility of inviting two Japanese pitchers to spring training.

Ken Kadokura and Shegeki Noguchi were both released by the Yomiuri Giants following the 2008 season, in which the team lost to the Saitama Seibu Lions in the Japan Series (Japan's World Series equivalent). Both pitchers are veterans in Japan, having spent 13 and 15 years, respectively, in Nippon Professional Baseball.

The reasoning given for signing either of these pitchers is twofold: The Cubs want some experienced pitchers in the bullpen and believe that having another Japanese-speaking player on the team might help Kosuke Fukudome.

Noguchi is a 34-year-old lefty who stands 5'10" tall and weighs 194 pounds. He has only logged decent playing time in one of the past three seasons in Japan, racking up 29.1 innings in 2007. He pitched in only one game in 2006 and he did not see the field in 2008. The Cubs have already given him a tryout.

Kadokura is a 35-year-old righty who stands 6'3" tall and weighs 198 pounds. He throws a fastball, slider, and splitter and is currently garnering more attention from the club.

According to the Chicago Tribune article, the Cubs are considering Kadokura as a possibility to pitch in relief in spring training so that Jeff Samardzija can get some reps as a starter. Kadokura pitched 31.2 innings in 2007 with a 5.97 ERA. In 2008, he pitched 12.2 innings with a 3.55 ERA.

The Cubs' Pacific Rim scout, Steve Wilson, was quoted as saying that he will suggest signing Kadokura as a spring training invitee to Jim Hendry, the Cubs' general manager.

After acquiring Rule Five draft pick David Patton through a trade with the Reds and signing Joey Gathright, the Cubs have two spots left on their 40-man roster.

Though a spring training invite does not count towards the 40-man roster, if either player was signed to a major league contract (in addition to the invite) or made the team out of spring training, they would obviously be added to it.

With the Cubs still looking to sign a left-handed, power-hitting outfielder, I highly doubt that either will get more than an invite from Jim Hendry. Also, considering the age of each player and their lack of recent playing time, I also doubt that either would make the Cubs 25-man roster out of spring training.

It seems to me that the Cubs are simply trying to do something that might help out struggling outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. I do not expect anything to come from the dealings with either player.

However, if Hendry decides to sign either or both players, there is a possibility that more roster spots will open with trades. Jason Marquis is almost certainly on his way out, and with the signing of Gathright, Felix Pie might be following him.

If Hendry ends up trading either or both of them, only receiving minor leaguers in return, it would offset the signing of the Japanese imports. Of course, recent events would lead you to believe that Hendry will most likely not make trades that only bring in prospects.

In that scenario, I am not sure what advantage these players provide over in-house options that would possibly warrant the release of other players on the 40-man roster.

While they may be experienced, these players have not been able to hold on to roster spots in Japan these past few seasons and in the limited opportunities they have had, they have put up unimpressive numbers.

The Cubs are still in the early stages with both players, so any thoughts on their future with the club is still speculation. Until either player shows that they are capable of pitching in Major League Baseball, don't expect either to hang on with the club.

Notre Dame-Hawaii: 'Twas the Game Before Christmas...

Matt Poloni — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:30:00 -0500

'Twas the game before Christmas, when all of a sudden
The Irish came charging, and Hawaii felt shut in.
Their faithful were cheering with leis 'round their necks
And boosters put back their books full of checks.

Clausen to Rudolph—the Irish went to the air.
Down in the end zone? Tate spent some time there.
But don't forget Grimes, Allen, Floyd, Robert Hughes.
With all of their help, the team could not lose.

The defense did their part and did it quite well.
It was much more than once that the quarterback fell.
The Irish kept coming. Yes, they kept on blitzin'.
"If you can't stand the heat, stay the heck out the kitchen."

Up in the booth, Tiny Tim on his crutches.
Wait...that was Weis choosing who got the touches.
Perhaps today showed that "schematic advantage."
The one, for so long, that he could not manage.

The streak finally ended. It's over and done.
The Irish forty-nine to Hawaii's twenty-one.
After the game, the team flew out of sight.
What do you think? Will it be a good flight?

College Football: Mike Haywood to Coach Miami RedHawks

Matt Poloni — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:30:00 -0500

ESPN is reporting that Mike Haywood, Notre Dame's offensive coordinator, will be named the head coach at Miami of Ohio on Tuesday after agreeing to terms on a contract with the university.

To college football fans, there is one thing that might immediately come to mind: The addition of Haywood increases the number of minority head coaches.

With Tyrone Willingham, Sylvester Croom, and Ron Prince not returning to their teams next year, and the media attention garnered by those firings/resignations, it can be assumed that many of the higher-ups in college football are thankful. While there will still be pressure to increase the number of minority head coaches much further, this is no doubt a much needed hire.

There may also be a question among some fans of why the RedHawks would hire the Irish coordinator.

Haywood has been at Notre Dame for four seasons as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach. Those four seasons are his only years as an offensive coordinator, and this past season was his only one with play calling duties, which Charlie Weis later took over.

The Irish offense the past two seasons has not been great, and the running game has been a particularly glaring weakness. At times, the play calling under Haywood was called unimaginative, predictable, and mostly ineffective.

But Haywood was also on the staff for the very successful 2005 and 2006 campaigns, which led to BCS berths, and has been credited with an important role in Darius Walker's development as a running back.

In 2003 and 2004, Haywood was the running backs coach at Texas. There he coached the likes of Ramonce Taylor, Selvin Young, and Cedric Benson.

In his second year with the Longhorns, he was also the recruiting coordinator. The recruiting class that he was responsible for brought in Colt McCoy, Jermichael Finley, Jamaal Charles, Quan Cosby, Roy Miller, and Rodderick Muckleroy.

From 1995 to 2002, he held the same position for LSU. During his tenure, he helped to develop Kevin Faulk, LaBrandon Toefield, Domanick Davis, and Joseph Addai. To a lesser extent, he also had a hand in developing Devery Henderson and Josh Reed, who started their college careers as running backs before becoming productive wide receivers.

As with any first time head coach, he hasn't truly proved that he can put together a great program, so there is no way to predict how well the RedHawks will play during his tenure.

He has, however, put together a very good résumé. The only potential marks against him are the past two seasons with the Irish.

Miami of Ohio has been a stop along the way for many successful coaches, such as Ara Parseghian, Woody Hayes, and Bo Schembechler. Perhaps Mike Haywood will follow in their footsteps.

Irish Eyes Will Shift to Texas with Win in Hawaii

Matt Poloni — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:00:00 -0500

It has been well covered in recent years that Notre Dame hasn't won a bowl game in the past 15 years.

Their last bowl win was the Jan. 1, 1994 Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M. That was back when the Bowl Coalition was deciding the National Champion, and I was in kindergarten, wooing the ladies during recess.

It's been awhile.

With the 2006 loss to LSU, the Irish now hold the record for consecutive bowl losses in NCAA history at nine. But there's another team that's right on their heels.

The Houston Cougars won the 1980 Garden State Bowl over Navy by a score of 35-0. Since then, the Cougars have played in eight bowl games and lost each one.

This year, they won seven games and accepted a bid to play in the Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 31, noon ET on ESPN) against another service academy, Air Force.

Not only does Air Force have a better record this season at 8-4, but this game is actually a rematch of the Sept. 13 meeting which the Falcons won 31-28.

There is a possibility that Notre Dame will no longer be the sole holders of the less-than-honorable distinction of most consecutive bowl losses. All that needs to happen is a repeat performance by Air Force.

In the previous matchup between the Cougars and Falcons, Air Force actually held a good lead midway through the third quarter. They rushed for 380 yards on their way to a 31-7 score.

But eventually, the Cougars were able to stop the run and, having not allowed a single passing yard all game, they shut down the Falcons for the remainder of the game.

After a few 70+ yard drives, Houston was able to rally back to within ten points.

Their next drive ended with an interception in the red zone, but was followed by a 65-yard touchdown drive. They never got the ball back.

Depending on how you look at it, that game could benefit either team. Air Force was able to run all over Houston and jump out to a 24-point lead, but Houston was able to stop them down the stretch and make a comeback.

Of course, one thing needs to happen before the Armed Forces Bowl means anything to Irish fans: Notre Dame needs to win in Hawaii.

While an Irish win is by no means guaranteed, the odds are much better with both Brian Smith and Michael Floyd healthy and playing. Recent reports have said that both should be ready for the game.

In addition to Smith and Floyd, Armando Allen will be back from a leg injury, Terrail Lambert will be back from an ankle injury, and Robert Hughes, who was ejected from the USC game, will be serving his suspension in Notre Dame's first game next season, allowing him to play in the Hawaii Bowl.

That allows the Irish to use one of the vocal leaders of the defense, the best freshman receiver in school history, all three of their main running backs, and the most seasoned cornerback on the team in the game.

Losing nine consecutive bowl games is not going to be forgotten anytime soon. I know that. But it would help if there was another team that had accomplished the feat.

What would be better is if a team were to surpass the feat and get to ten, but I am not one to root against a team not named the Yankees. So for now, Air Force is my second rooting interest.

Z-Files: Carlos Zambrano's Decline Revisited

Matt Poloni — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:45:00 -0500

FOLLOW-UP REPORT
Bleacher Report Division
Agent Poloni
File No. 38

Our case was originally opened on Dec. 14 with an initial report filed by Agent Butts.

Typically the Bleacher Report Division takes cases that are fairly well-known, but this case is different. Carlos Zambrano, a 27-year-old Venezuelan import, is still regarded by many as a true ace for the Chicago Cubs. The offense in question is regarding his decline in performance between the 2005 and 2008 baseball seasons that is uncharacteristic of an ace.

Originally, the only suspect in this case was Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, the 59-year-old former manager of the victim. At this time, Baker is facing similar allegations against two of Zambrano's former teammates (see: files No. 22, 34).

Zambrano's first full year as a starter with the Cubs was 2003, the same year that Baker began his tenure with the club. That season, after pitching 276 innings the previous two seasons combined (138 per year), he pitched a total of 214 innings.

Over the course of the season (32 starts), he threw fewer than 86 pitches only once, over 95 pitches 28 times (88 percent of his starts), more than 100 pitches 23 times (72 percent), over 110 pitches 13 times (41 percent), and over 120 pitches six times (19 percent). His highest pitch count was 129 and he averaged 106.5 pitches per outing.

From 2004 to 2006, Zambrano made 97 starts. In those three years, he went over 90 pitches 91 times (94 percent), over 100 pitches 82 times (85 percent), over 110 pitches 52 times (54 percent), over 120 pitches 19 times (20 percent), and had one game in which he threw 136 pitches. On average, he threw 110 pitches.

After four years with the Cubs and two consecutive losing seasons, Baker was relieved of duty.

Zambrano's first season under a new manager saw a slight drop in his pitch counts. In 34 starts, he went over 90 pitches 32 times (94 percent), over 100 pitches 26 times (76 percent), over 110 pitches 18 times (53 percent), and over 120 five times (15 percent). He averaged 108 pitches.

The 2008 season was a whole new story. He started only 30 games and his pitch counts dropped. Only 22 of his starts were over 90 pitches (73 percent), 18 over 100 (60 percent), seven over 110 (23 percent), and two over 120 (7 percent). He averaged 100 pitches.

There is very little doubt that his high pitch counts contributed to his drop-off in performance and stamina in 2008, but there is at least one other factor that might be influencing his progression.

It is now believed that the victim's plight may be, at least in part, self-inflicted.

Zambrano has long been considered one of the most intense players in Major League Baseball. While this intensity has worked in his favor on many occasions, including during his no-hitter on Sept. 14, it is also seen by some to be the prime culprit in his recent decline.

Intensity can wear on a player much more than pitch counts ever could. It will drain your energy and your patience. It will wear on you physically and mentally. It will eventually stop you in your tracks if it goes unchecked.

For pitchers, intensity takes its toll at a much quicker rate. While position players have to play every day, they will typically only feel the negative effects within the same day or if they sustain an injury as a result of their intensity. On the other hand, when a pitcher is intense, every pitch can have a negative effect.

Intensity can cause any player to press. When a pitcher presses, he tends to overthrow. Overthrowing usually causes the pitcher to use his legs and core muscles less and, as a result, use his arm more.

Even a small shift of use from the legs and core muscles can cause great stress on the lower back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers due to the fact that the former set of muscles can handle a greater amount of force. But injury is not required for there to be an adverse effect on the pitcher.

Since the legs and core muscles can handle more force, they are able to act more efficiently than the arm itself. Using too much arm can cause a pitcher to miss his spots. By missing his spots, he will most likely get hit harder, and the harder he gets hit, the harder he will press.

High pitch counts only intensify this process.

In addition, players who show their intensity the way Zambrano does expel large amounts of energy that (for purposes of performance) are unnecessary. This can also wear on a player, decreasing stamina.

But even the application of this theory is in question since Zambrano was credited as far back as 2006 with "keeping his emotions in check." With this opposing thought comes another theory: He needs to have more intensity.

It is true that a player who is naturally intense typically exhibits a decline in performance after that intensity begins to dissipate. And this may very well be the case.

It should be noted, however, that there is more than one kind of intensity. A player can be intense without running off the field pumping their fist, yelling, and jumping in the air. A player can be quietly intense with a more composed countenance.

If his problem is being too intense, it would be in his best interest to tone down his emotional outbursts. But if his problem is that he is not his old self, then he needs to bring back that intensity in a new form.

Baker has had a role in the current decline of the Cubs' longest-tenured starting pitcher, but may not be completely at fault. Zambrano needs to examine his approach to the game and act accordingly.

This file remains open.

If Major League Baseball Started a Football Team...

Matt Poloni — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:36:10 -0500

This is what it would look like. This season, the Chicago Cubs were lucky enough to have the best quarterback-receiver combination in Major League Baseball. It's tough to beat DeRosa to Samardzija. Being a Cubs fan and having this simple fact brought to my attention with almost every Cubs broadcast, I came up with the idea of creating a football team consisting solely of Major League Baseball players. Back in September, I actually created a depth chart that went three deep at most positions. Having not yet discovered Bleacher Report, I had no place to post it for the world to see. But now I do. For the purposes of this slideshow I am using a 3-4 defense and a two wide set on offense.

Begin Slideshow

Notre Dame Football: Aloha Oy Vey

Matt Poloni — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:00:00 -0500

On Christmas Eve, the Fighting Irish will be facing off against Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. Notre Dame's last bowl game was the Sugar Bowl against LSU, meaning that the Irish will be the away team for their second consecutive bowl game.

Awesome.

There isn't a whole lot to gain from this game for the Irish. If they beat Hawaii, they will end their streak of bowl losses and have some momentum going into next season.

That's about it.

In addition to basically being the away team again, they are only facing a 7-6 Hawaii team. I doubt that a win would quiet the Irish antagonists much.

Instead of not winning a bowl game since New Year's Day 1994, it will be that the team hasn't beaten a quality bowl opponent or won a quality bowl game since that day almost 15 years ago. A step in the right direction, but only a small one.

In fact, it might be more accurate to say a small shuffle. There's more friction involved than your typical step. The team shouldn't touch any metal objects for awhile.

If the Irish lose this game, Charlie better start praying for help.

While it may be difficult to judge what AD Jack Swarbrick would do if there is only minimal improvement next year, the Irish faithful have already shown their growing impatience with Charlie. It will be just one more thing for people to cite when talking about his job security and he would most likely need a three-or-fewer loss season to satisfy a great majority of the fanbase.

Also, Weis has repeatedly stated how bowl games are important not only for the furthering of the current season, but for the practice that helps lay a foundation for the following season.

This bowl game helps accomplish that somewhat. To quantify it, about two-thirds of it.

The Irish are allowed 15 practices under NCAA rules. But because of conflicts with exams, the Irish will only use ten of those practices.

There were rumors that the Irish were invited to any number of bowl games, most notably the Motor City, Independence, and Texas Bowls. Each of those is later than the Hawaii Bowl.

The Motor City Bowl is on December 26, so the two extra days (which includes Christmas Day) wouldn't have offered much help.

The Independence Bowl is on December 28. That's another two days. It would have definitely helped, but may not have allowed the Irish to use all 15 practices.

The Texas Bowl, on the other hand, is December 30th. While it's only two days after the Independence Bowl, it is almost another week to work with. It's biggest disadvantage is that it will be aired on the NFL Network, a channel that is not carried by all providers (such as my cable provider).

But that isn't the end of it. While the Irish were a few plays away from being 9-3, they were also a few plays away from being 3-9 yet again and they have shown that they can lose to one of college football's worst teams.

Even without considering who the opponent is, this game is by no means a given win.

There is, however, one possible advantage that this game has over all other games the Irish could have chosen, but the chances of it working out are small.

Manti Te'o is a heralded linebacker recruit out of Punahou School in Honolulu. The Irish are a longshot for Te'o, who is considered to be a lean towards BYU or USC, but it has been reported that they are increasing their stock. Perhaps an Irish win in his home state (along with a miracle or two) could sway him.

All I know is that I'm not going to miss a minute of this game.

Mele Kalikimaka, Irish fans.

Chicago Cubs: The Rule Five Fiasco

Matt Poloni — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0500

Thursday afternoon was the Rule Five Draft. The Cubs didn't select anyone in the draft, but they did lose three players and trade for another.

Mark Holliman was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Triple-A phase. The Cubs originally drafted the right-hander in the third round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. In three years with the Cubs, he compiled a 22-27 record with a 4.13 ERA and 321 strikeouts in comparison to 181 walks.

Yusuf Carter was taken by the Oakland A's in the same phase of the draft, nine picks earlier. The nephew of Joe Carter was originally drafted by the Cubs in the 12th round back in 2005.

He has shown some power (42 homeruns) in his three full seasons with the club. Unfortunately, he strikes out four times as much as he walks and failed to bat better than .233 over those years.

Donnie Veal

The major league phase of the draft then saw the loss of Donnie Veal to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite having four open spots on the 40-man roster, the Cubs failed to protect him.

The Pirates will now have to keep Veal on the 25-man roster for the season's entirety. If they fail to do so, he will be sold back to the Cubs for half the price it cost to acquire him.

Veal was originally drafted by the Cubs in the second round of the 2005 draft. Because of his size, stuff, and unorthodox delivery, he was often compared to former Cub farmhand Dontrelle Willis and, in 2006, he was the Cubs' second-best prospect according to Baseball America.

However, Veal's minor league career these past few years has followed Willis' career over the same span a little too closely. He's had problems repeating his delivery and, as a result, has been inconsistent with his 94 mph fastball, plus curveball, and changeup.

He did, however, show flashes of the talent that the Cubs saw when they originally drafted him. In 2008, Veal was a Southern League All-Star and had a 3.69 ERA in the first half.

It is highly unlikely that he will get any starts with Pittsburgh this year. Instead, look for him to be used as any power lefty out of the bullpen would be used: a lefty specialist.

It should be noted that Veal's difficulties these past few seasons could have something to do with the loss of both of his parents.

Back in November 2004, his mother died from cancer. Then, in November 2007, his father died in a scuba diving accident, neither had life insurance.

To make matters even more difficult, Veal's younger brother was a freshman in college at the time of his father's death. A line of credit was taken out on their house to help with money.

Veal has handled the situation about as well as you could possibly expect. He doesn't want to make excuses, although this would certainly qualify as a reasonable one. Baseball is his escape.

I think I speak for all the Cubs' faithful when I say that I wish him and his family all the best going forward.

David Patton

The other major move for the Cubs came after the Reds made their first pick, acquiring that pick from the Reds. That player is David Patton.

Just as the Pirates must keep Donnie Veal on their 25-man roster, the Cubs must keep Patton on their roster for the entire season.

Patton was originally drafted by Colorado in the 12th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. The last three years he has been a closer in the Rockies system.

Patton has been recording decent strikeout to walk ratios over the past few years, being at 3:1 for two seasons and 2:1 for the other. But he hasn't pitched above Single-A, or recorded more than four saves in any season. Surely you cannot take performance at the Single-A level and extrapolate that to the big leagues.

It's one more move that I don't understand.

Coming into the Rule Five Draft, the Cubs had 36 spots filled on the 40-man roster. With this move, they now have 37 spots filled.

With Veal there would be flexibility. He could have been on the 40-man roster and stayed in the minor leagues all season if necessary. In addition to that, he would still be with the team no matter what roster moves were made.

Patton does not provide the same flexibility. As stated before, he must stay on the 25-man roster all season or be sold back to the Rockies.

Veal has experience at the Double-A level as a starter. Patton has Single-A experience as a reliever meaning fewer innings against lesser opponents.

Even after his struggles in 2007, Veal was listed as the Cubs sixth best prospect by Baseball America coming into this year. In Patton's five years with the Rockies, he has never garnered the distinction of being one of the club's top ten prospects.

Veal is one year younger and has accomplished more. But his recent control problems seem to be what sealed his fate.

Oneri Fleita, the Cubs' player development director, described Patton as a guy with three plus pitches, a 94 mph fastball, the ability to throw strikes. Considering that the loss of Veal was the same day, these comments seem to also act as an explanation for that move.

In my estimation, the Cubs showed that they had given up on Veal by not protecting him. It is a move that basically says "We don't want you anymore."

Of course, as a Cubs fan I wish nothing but the best for Patton and I hope this works out great for both him and the club. But I also hope that not protecting Veal comes back to bite the Cubs.

The Cubs farm system has been further diluted.

A Case Study On Intensity: Notre Dame Football

Matt Poloni — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:40:00 -0500

Before Saturday's game against USC, the Irish got into a scuffle with the Trojans. To the ESPN announcers, the skirmish showed some much-needed energy from a team whose biggest knock may be their lack of intensity these past few years.

To me, it showed immaturity.

I expect the team I root for every Saturday (the Irish) to be better than that.

Pumping your fist, pounding your chest, and jawing at your opponent before a game proves nothing. It doesn't create energy, it wastes it. It isn't real.

Real intensity is when you ignore all distractions without difficulty.

Real intensity is when you don't need to say a thing to get across your message because you know your actions will do the talking.

Real intensity is when you play every down as if it could change the game because it very well could.

On Saturday, the Irish seemed to try the "fake it 'til you make it" strategy. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. You can't expect to just dial it up on gameday.

Where was it against USC? Where was it against Boston College? Where was it against San Diego State?

The defense has shown it much more often than the offense. But with the struggles that the offense has had staying on the field, the defense wears down and loses it by the fourth quarter.

That needs to change. If Charlie Weis isn't the guy who can bring that mentality, then it's obvious where the changes need to start.

Fans want to see that nasty streak that so many people talk about, but few of the Irish faithful have seen of late.

Lower your head and fight for those extra yards. Punish any defender that dares to take you on a block. Dig it out in the trenches and drive your opponent to his backside only to pick up the next guy that comes your way.

After the whistle blows, be a good sport and help the guy up. But until you hear that sound, it is your job to paint the field with his sweat and blood.

Note: Do not deliberately try to make your opponent bleed or become injured. It's just a game, man.

Confidence. Arrogance. Swagger. That's where it all starts.

Lord knows that USC has it.

Charlie seemed to have it when he came back to his alma mater. And I could only assume that those qualities may have something to do with the reported lack of friends he's made at the university.

So why don't the players show it?

Charlie Weis: A Slightly Different Angle

Matt Poloni — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:00 -0500

On Wednesday morning, Jeff Samardzija was interviewed on ESPN's First Take to get his opinion on the Charlie Weis situation.

He started by saying that everyone needs to "take a deep breath" and that "everything's fine." That's to be expected from a Notre Dame alum who played very well under the coach in question.

There was, however, one thing he said in the interview that stood out to me. When asked why the team isn't winning despite some great recruiting classes, he said the following:

"Well, I think they're young. You've got to get out there and play the game. You can practice all you want, but until you get those young guys on the field taking reps and playing against high class Division I talent...you've just got to take your time."

I don't expect everyone to pick up on what I saw immediately, so go ahead and read that again.

Did you catch it?

The idea that the team is young has been thrown around since last season. That isn't what stood out to me.

The fact that the players need to get their playing time and that fans need to have patience falls right in line with the youth argument. That isn't it either.

The part I'm talking about isn't how much experience or playing time the players have had, but the strength of the teams that they've been playing against: "high class Division I talent."

Notre Dame's schedules these past two seasons (the seasons in which these young players have seen all of their playing time) has been noticeably weak.

To properly look at this, we must first define what "high class Division I talent" is. For simplicity's sake, I will define it as teams that finished the season in the Top 25. Since this season is not yet over, the current BCS rankings will be used for 2008.

In 2007, Notre Dame faced three teams that finished in the Top 25 in either the AP or USA Today polls: USC (3/2), Michigan (18/19), and Penn State (NR/25). But Michigan was coming off losses to Appalachian State and Oregon to start their season, so the level at which they were playing could be put into question.

In 2008, Notre Dame has faced three teams that are currently in the BCS Top 25: Michigan State (19), Boston College (21), and Pittsburgh (25). Before their loss to NC State last week, North Carolina was ranked 22nd and this weekend Notre Dame will be facing the sixth ranked USC Trojans.

In these two years, USC has been the only team securely within the ranks of college football's best. The other six teams were one loss or poor performance away from being unranked.

Jeff Samardzija said it best. These players need to play great talent to develop their great talent.

In baseball, you don't see players called up from A-ball to the big leagues. And on the rare occasion that it does happen (I can't think of one), have you ever heard of a player having success immediately after such a call-up?

The answer is no.

Major league organizations put their players in Double-A or (even better) Triple-A so that the players have experience against better players. That's how you develop talent.

Nick Saban turned Alabama around in one year with young talent. But his team is playing in the SEC with the likes of UF, LSU, and Georgia. Even the lesser teams in the conference can beat up on a good deal of the teams in college football.

The biggest knock against Charlie has been his ability to develop the players that he has recruited. But his job isn't being made any easier with these schedules.

Now, it should be noted that I'm not giving Charlie a free pass on this. He should still be able to find a way to develop his players. I'm just saying that it might not be as bad as it seems.

Look at last season. The team couldn't have done much worse, right? At least a tougher schedule would have provided some quality experience and a decent excuse.

Getting back to the current situation, Charlie has shown his ability to get upperclassmen to play at a high level. He did that in his first two seasons.

As of right now, the vast majority of the team's talented players are underclassmen. Next year, a decent portion of those guys will be juniors and a new class of great freshmen will be coming in. Maybe Charlie can do it again.

If he isn't let go after this season, then pay attention next year. That is when there will no longer be an excuse for him.

Mark Teahen: Why The Cubs Should Leave Him In Kansas City

Matt Poloni — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:20:04 -0500

Jim Hendry surprised just about everyone by trading for Kevin Gregg. But when word got out that the Cubs were looking into a trade for Royals outfielder Mark Teahen, I was left speechless.

What would the acquisition accomplish?

The Cubs main concern is the lack of a left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup. They need someone to hit in the midst of Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa, and (if he stops leading off) Alfonso Soriano. Can Teahen really provide that bat?

In four years with the Royals, he has averaged just under 12 home runs in about 489 at bats per year. That's one home run for every 41 at bats.

The 2003 book Moneyball tagged him as the next Jason Giambi for his ability to get on base. But in the big leagues his OBP is only .332 and he has had only one season in which he racked up more than 50 walks (55 in 2007).

Compare that to Adam Dunn (.380 OBP, 112 BB average over the same span), who the Cubs wouldn't have to trade anyone away for.

While we're at it, let's compare Teahen's 2008 season with some left-handed outfielders that are already with the Cubs.

Mark Teahen: 623 PA, .255 AVG, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 46 BB, 131 K, .313 OBP, .402 SLG
Kosuke Fukudome: 590 PA, .257 AVG, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 81 BB, 104 K, .359 OBP, .379 SLG
Micah Hoffpauir: 393 PA, .358 AVG, 27 HR, 108 RBI, 23 BB, 70 K, .394 OBP, .707 SLG (Iowa/Chicago)
Felix Pie: 461 PA, .278 AVG, 11 HR, 65 RBI, 30 BB, 83 K, .327 OBP, .437 SLG (Iowa/Chicago)
Tyler Colvin: 602 PA, .256 AVG, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 44 BB, 101 K, .312 OBP, .424 SLG (Tennessee)
Sam Fuld: 473 PA, .264 AVG, 6 HR, 52 RBI, 58 BB, 52 K, .353 OBP, .315 SLG (Tennessee/Iowa)

Looking at those numbers, the only categories that Teahen holds a real advantage over Fukudome are home runs and slugging percentage.

In 230 fewer plate appearances, Hoffpauir hit 12 more home runs. His on base percentage was 80 points higher, his batting average was 100 points higher, and his slugging percentage was 300 points higher. While most of his stats come from his time in Iowa, Hoffpauir still put up great numbers coming off the bench in the big leagues. A .342 average with a .934 on base plus slugging is phenomenal in a pinch-hit/backup role.

Pie had a higher batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage in 2008. I'll talk more about him in a moment.

Colvin is an interesting case. Going into last season, the thought among many following the Cubs was that if Pie didn't step up to take over the centerfield job, Colvin would be the favorite going into 2009.

While his stats from last season may not overwhelm, it is important to remember that he was battling an injury that required Tommy John surgery at seasons end. When he gets back from rehab a few weeks into the season next year, keep an eye on Colvin for a performance that might deserve a mid-season call up.

The final guy on the list was actually a contender for the center field job last season with Pie. Fuld followed up a very nice 2007 season with a performance in the Arizona Fall League that pushed him into the minds of many Cubs fans.

Last year was a little bit of a down year, but still wasn't that bad. Just look at his strikeout numbers over his career (44, 54, 43, 40). This guy finds a way to get the bat on the ball.

Now, let's factor in defense.

I have seen Teahen described as a Mark DeRosa type of player defensively. He can supposedly play multiple positions well.

If you assume that he is that type of player, Fukudome pulls out ahead of him because of his superior skills in right field. Hoffpauir would maintain his lead on Teahen because of his superior ability to mash.

Pie and Colvin are three and four years younger than Teahen, respectively. Both are great defenders and (if Colvin's arm is alright after surgery) both have good enough arms to play right field. The ceiling is higher with either of them.

Fuld can cover ground similar to Pie and Colvin, but some arm injuries in the past few years have reduced his arm strength. He could still be a candidate to platoon with Reed Johnson if a few things go his way in spring training. Since he will be 27 next season, he doesn't have the benefit of time on his side, so look for him to step it up next year.

When comparing Teahen to these players, it just doesn't seem like he's enough of an upgrade on the Cubs current situation to trade for. If he was a free agent, I'd say go for it, but sign him cheap and don't expect him to be the answer to all your problems.

When comparing him to any number of free agents that the Cubs could sign, there is no comparison. Barring huge strides in development before next season, acquiring the 27-year-old Teahen has no advantages for the Cubs organization.

Notre Dame-Navy: Who'll Stop The Rain?

Matt Poloni — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:08:38 -0500

Early in the fourth quarter with the score 27-7 in Notre Dame's favor, I turned to my dad and said, "Hopefully, this one is well in hand."

With nine minutes left, the storm came. About six minutes and 30 seconds later, the Midshipmen stormed back and nearly pulled it out.

By the time Navy recovered their second straight onside kick, hope was all I had to hang onto.

There's more to this story than the final minutes, though. Before the rain it didn't look too bad.

Before the Rain (Offense)

It was this week, when Charlie resumed play calling duties, that he was finally able to pound the ball. The team combined for 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the only offensive touchdowns of the game for them. Aldridge, Hughes, and Allen ran for 80, 64, and 60 yards, respectively.

At times it seemed as though Navy wouldn't even be able to stop the running attack if they had extra men on the field. The Hughes touchdown drive was a perfect example.

On that drive, Allen had runs of four and eight yards before Hughes took over with runs of 11, 15, nine, three, four, and seven yards.

Instead, it was the passing game that held the Irish back today. While Jimmy Clausen did complete 15 of his 18 passes for 110 yards, he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on a sack.

Allen was the leading receiver with 60 yards on six catches, the result of Clausen continuously checking down. David Grimes came in second with 22 yards on three catches.

No other receiver had more than one catch or totaled over 13 yards, including Golden Tate, who didn't even show up on the stat sheet.

Of course, it didn't help that the Irish were without their other play-making receiver. Michael Floyd was out for the game after an apparent knee injury in the first drive of the game.

He was hit from the lateral side of his left knee by a Navy defender who was in the process of making a tackle, so an MCL injury is not out of the question.

Before the Rain (Defense/Special Teams)

In the first half, the Fighting Irish defense was almost everything that the Irish faithful hoped it could be. Other than a Pat Kuntz offside penalty on fourth down, they didn't give up a first down until Navy's second drive in the second quarter.

Great defensive plays weren't lacking in the effort.

Robert Blanton made a great tackle as he was falling down off a block to drag down the Navy ballcarrier for a six yard loss.

David Bruton barely missed intercepting two passes. Multiple runs in the game were absolutely stuffed, including stops by Ian Williams and Maurice Crum.

And in Navy's final drive of the second quarter, Crum forced a fumble that was recovered by Justin Brown.

The best moment of the first half, however, came on special teams when Mike Anello and Sergio Brown broke free on a Navy punt attempt to get the block. Toryan Smith picked up the ball and ran it in for Notre Dame's first points of the game.

The only real hiccup of the first half came with just under four minutes left in the second quarter. The Irish allowed 58 rushing yards and a touchdown on five plays for Navy's only points of the first 57 minutes of the game.

The third and early fourth quarters weren't much different from the first two. They allowed one first down early in the third, but didn't allow another until Navy began their comeback with 2:30 left on the clock.

Up to that point, the Irish allowed 142 rushing yards and 10 passing yards. Coming into this game, Navy averaged 308 and 67 yards in each category, respectively. They also held Navy to only seven first downs, five less than their season low against Pittsburgh.

The Rain

In the fourth quarter with 9:07 left on the clock, the Irish were coming off a great defensive series that ended in a fourth down stop. While preparing to start their offensive drive, the rain came quite suddenly.

It was the epitome of the saying "when it rains, it pours." Unfortunately, the play of the Irish would follow suit.

Charlie sat the starters and Jonas Gray was now in to attempt to run down the clock.

He carried for one yard and lost another. Then, a Navy defender got a hold of his collar and got flagged. Half the distance to the goal. First down.

He gained seven on his next carry and followed that up with another five. The Irish were now at the 2-yard line.

Two plays later, he fumbled. Navy recovered at the five and Notre Dame lost a chance to possibly put the game out of reach.

The rain continued to fall hard, but the Irish held strong on defense and forced a three-and-out.

The first play was a botched snap. Then, Hughes ran the ball, but only got one yard. He got six yards on the next play and set the Irish up with a fourth-and-three situation.

Charlie Weis decided to run the ball up the middle. Hughes didn't make it and Navy took over on downs. The offense wouldn't see the field again.

The Comeback

Ricky Dobbs, the Navy quarterback, ran for four yards. A pass completion and a penalty gave the Midshipmen a first down and fifteen extra yards. After an incompletion, Shun White ran in for a touchdown.

Notre Dame 27, Navy 14.

Navy went for the onside kick and hit it perfect, but Robby Parris was there to knock it out of bounds. Apparently, you can't do that. Flags were thrown and the kick was to be redone.

On the re-kick, they executed even better. This time they recovered. They didn't waste any time getting another touchdown, either.

On the first play, Dobbs connected with Tyree Barnes on a long pass play. Originally called a touchdown, it was eventually ruled out at the one. Two plays later, Dobbs sneaked it into the end zone for the touchdown.

Notre Dame 27, Navy 21.

Because of a running into the kicker penalty, their next attempt at an onside kick would set them up with better field position. They executed perfectly again and still had 1:21 left on the clock.

Dobbs escaped a sack to gain seven yards.

White got open in perfect position to make a first down catch, but slipped and dropped the ball.

Then, Dobbs ran the ball and got the first down. Navy quickly lined up and spiked the ball. Thirty-nine seconds remained on the clock.

Kuntz and Harrison Smith beat their blockers and got to Dobbs for the sack. Navy called their final timeout.

On the next play, Dobbs threw for the endzone, but Robert Blanton was there for the coverage.

On the play after that, Dobbs overthrew his reciever.

Turnover on downs.

Evan Sharpley takes a knee.

The game was finally over and the Irish finally won.

Going Forward

There are plenty of positives for the Irish to take away from this game.

For one, the defense played great against Navy's rushing attack. In the past, the Irish have had trouble against the triple option, but today they actually forced Navy to pass the ball. Until the rain came, the secondary shut that down, too.

In addition to stopping the run, Notre Dame has now shown that they can run the ball. Navy may not be the best defense in the country, but 230 yards rushing should never be dismissed. If all they needed was a boost of confidence, then this game could certainly provide it.

Also, Robert Blanton may have proven that he is ready to play full-time. While filling in for Terrail Lambert today, he registered two tackles (one for a loss) and a pass breakup.

They may not be the best stats, but (so far as I could tell) he made no big mistakes. There aren't many true freshmen who can turn out a mistake-free performance.

And it should not be forgotten that Brandon Walker made another field goal. He has now made eight of his last nine.

But, of course, there are also some negatives.

The one thing that may have the most impact going forward is the injury factor. Not only did Michael Floyd leave the game, but so did Brian Smith.

Recently, Smith has been the most vocal member of the Irish defense regarding their lack of intensity late in games. It would be interesting to see how different this game would have been if he hadn't left so early.

Another big negative is the passing game. While the running game has improved recently, the passing attack has regressed. Jimmy still seems to be pressing somewhat and it is causing him to make some bad decisions.

Obviously, if Michael Floyd is out for a little while, the passing game is going to have to figure out how to move on without him. If they can't do that, then the running backs had better repeat their performance each week. Otherwise, the offense might be in trouble.

The most obvious negative from this game is the way the Irish play at the end of their games. While it may be too much to say that they lose their intensity completely, there is most definitely a dropoff that needs to be addressed.

The Navy comeback produced 54 passing yards and 36 rushing yards in two and a half minutes. I'm sure that, of all the teams in college football, Navy has a distinct advantage in such wet conditions, but such a performance shouldn't happen again.

Next week, the Irish play Syracuse for their final home game. Excuses are running short.

Chicago Cubs: The Right Fit in Right Field

Matt Poloni — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:32:22 -0500

Here in the early goings of the 2008-2009 offseason, it took one day for Jim Hendry to possibly set the tone for what could be an unpredictable couple of months. All he had to do was trade away Jose Ceda for Kevin Gregg and tell the Cubs' faithful that Kerry Wood, a fan favorite, was on his way out.

While Cubs' fans were preparing for the possibility of Wood leaving, I doubt that there were many that thought the situation would come to this conclusion so quickly, if at all. The trade for Gregg may or may not have been the reason for what transpired, but it most likely was the nail in the coffin.

But those moves have been picked apart endlessly since they were announced, so there is no need to elaborate further. There are other moves that need to be made.

I don't think it will come as any surprise to Cubs fans which holes are the most glaring: right field and left-handed hitting. I covered both of these points (to a lesser extent than what I plan to do here) in a previous article. For my thoughts on how to solve the problem internally, consult that article.

Possible Targets in Free Agency

Bobby Abreu, Garret Anderson, Milton Bradley, Russell Branyan, Ben Broussard, Freddie Bynum, Chris Duffy, Adam Dunn, Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Ken Griffey Jr., Nathan Haynes, Eric Hinske, Raul Ibanez, Mark Kotsay, Ryan Langerhans, Felipe Lopez, Rob Mackowiak, Paul McAnulty, Laynce Nix, Trot Nixon, Greg Norton, Corey Patterson, Jason Perry, Scott Podsednik, Chris Snelling, Cory Sullivan, Mark Sweeney, Joe Thurston, Jason Tyner, and Brad Wilkerson are all left-handed or switch-hitting free agents with major league outfield experience.

That's 31 players right there, including minor league free agents.

Noticeably missing from this list are Jim Edmonds and Daryle Ward. Since Edmonds is likely retiring and Ward is easily replaced from within, I see no need to include them in this discussion. If there's anyone else I left out, please let me know.

Although I could've sworn that I saw an article stating that the Cubs were not going to pursue Abreu, I have completely failed at finding anything that remotely came close to somewhat resembling even an offhanded comment of some thought that may be interpreted as being something to that effect from somebody that had any link whatsoever to any organization including the name "Cubs."

So what better place to start than with him?

Bobby Abreu is a player that has shown the ability to hit for power, hit for average, steal bases, and play great defense with a cannon arm. He has hit .292 over the past three seasons with an average of about 26 stolen bases and 17 home runs.

His defense hasn't taken that much of a hit either, despite being 34 years old (35 on opening day 2009). He would be a great pickup for the Cubs. But if the Cubs weren't willing to dish out the money to keep Kerry Wood, are they really going to give Abreu an offer that will attract him to the North Side?

Raul Ibanez has hit .292 over the past seven seasons with about 22 home runs per year. But he isn't the best defensive outfielder, since he doesn't always take great routes to the ball.

His strikeout totals aren't all that low and his walk totals aren't all that high. Overall, though, he could be a good fit since he does find ways to drive in runs.

Adam Dunn is not going to dazzle anybody defensively, but "The Tower of Power" can rake and, considering that fall is upon us, perhaps this would be a good time to bring in a player with such skills. The 29 year old has hit at least 40 home runs in each of the past five seasons (exactly that number for the past four) and has accompanied each of those seasons with over 100 walks.

The strikeouts and batting average can be scary at times, but there should be no doubt that he can drive in runs with table-setters in front of him.

Griffey was once one of the greatest outfielders to ever play the game and probably the last true five tool player to date. But he's lost a step or two and his bat is becoming more inconsistent every year.

What I fear most is that his approach is starting to become what Craig Biggio's was toward the end of his career: pull happy. If he's willing to sign a mid-level contract, he could be a very good influence for both the younger and the older players on the team.

Eric Hinske seems to be on his way to a resurgence. The 2002 American League Rookie of the Year hit 20 home runs last year on his way to his second straight World Series appearance. While he isn't a Gold Glove candidate, he can hold his own. Also, he will almost certainly come cheaper than other free agents.

Garret Anderson can still hit for average (.297 and .293 the past two seasons), but hasn't hit 20 home runs since 2003. His walk totals are low and his RBI totals since that 2003 season aren't impressive.

Because of his age, don't expect great mobility in the outfield. Unless he will take a lower salary to be on a winning team with a chance to go to the postseason again, it just doesn't feel like a good move.

The rest of the free agents on my list are either too young (and/or inexperienced) to get a good feel of their abilities, unable to play defensively, haven't played consistently in the outfield in some time, haven't had consistent time in the big leagues for awhile, or are not really the right field type.

Feel free to discuss any names that pop out amongst yourselves.

How About Something Out of Nowhere?

There is one player that could solve the Cubs' problems for the long haul. Let me describe this player for you.

Last season, he hit 25 home runs with 104 RBI and a .278 batting average in 133 games. He also hit 37 doubles, scored 97 runs, and was featured on Baseball Tonight's Web Gems at least twice late in the season.

Although he did pile up a Dunn-like 176 strikeouts, it was due in part to elbow problems that he had throughout the season. He is described as a natural leader that puts forth a consistent effort and has a strong enough arm to play in right field.

Oh, and he'll be 21 years old come Opening Day. Does that sound like something you might be interested in?

His name is Travis Snider (pictured above), and he has been the Blue Jays' top prospect for the past two seasons.

Alright, all but 73 of his at-bats came in the minor leagues, but anyone who has seen this kid hit knows the kind of potential he has.

Since the Blue Jays haven't given him significant time in the big leagues yet, they would have to use his high ceiling as leverage in a trade, which could be easily be countered with an argument about how little he has proven.

I realize that the Blue Jays probably will not want to part with their top prospect, but it's worth a try, right? After all, they do have a bit of a surplus in the outfield, and I'm sure Hendry could find something that the Blue Jays need to offer in return.

If Hendry wants to continue his trend of moves out of left field, this would be a great way to do it.

In the end, whether Hendry does something or not, the Cubs will most likely be fine going forward. Don't underestimate the depth of their farm system and the abilities of the coaching staffs to develop the players further.

Charlie Weis: Give The Guy A Break

Matt Poloni — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:46:31 -0500

I know what you were thinking when you read the headline. It was something along the lines of "Oh, great. Another Notre Dame fan that's drinking the Kool Aid."

To borrow a line from one of ESPN's more colorful commentators...not so fast, my friend.

I haven't even touched the Kool Aid. I'm too busy drinking coffee in an effort to wake up from this nightmare.

And no, I haven't made it Irish. I'm not 21 yet and I sometimes fear that the South Bend PD could raid my house at any moment.

I just don't feel the need to throw gas on the fire when the flames are big enough already.

The Chicago Sun-Times and ESPN

The story broke on Monday: "Weis Watch" had begun.

But who, exactly, says that Charlie's seat is so hot? As far as I can tell, it's just the writer who broke the story (Neil Hayes) and the countless Notre Dame haters that were already discussing the topic at length.

There is no mention of a source that bestowed this nugget of information upon Mr. Hayes. It's just your typical editorial.

So now there's a different question. Why is ESPN saying that coach Weis is officially on the hot seat?

I have always been under the assumption that the term official was to be reserved for matters confirmed by the organization or school in question.

If all it takes to put a coach on the hot seat officially is one writer saying that said coach is on the hot seat, then I could put just-hired Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha on the hot seat right now.

Of course, I won't. Despite his association with the Cubs' division rival, I think he's a very good coach. And everyone who has seen "Spiderman" knows that with great power comes great responsibility. I don't want to get the guy fired before he even shows up to work.

The Willingham Argument

The issue at hand is still whether or not Charlie should get fired.

The most common reasoning used by those who are providing the heat is that Tyrone Willingham was fired after only three seasons (before his contract expired) and he didn't have a season that was nearly as bad as 2007 was. Therefore, because Ty was treated unfairly, Charlie should receive similar treatment.

The most common rebuttal to this reasoning is to degrade the former Irish head coach and try to portray his situation as entirely different. For instance:

Ty would rather be playing on the golf course than recruiting because he believed that Notre Dame sold itself. As a result, Notre Dame didn't get the heralded recruits and were in a downward spiral.
His already lacking recruiting classes had almost no offensive linemen, which will almost certainly lead a team to disaster because a team that can't block is a team that can't move the ball. Football is won in the trenches.
He only had one good recruiting class and the two best players from that class were no product of his ability to see talent. Brady Quinn was only recruited because Chinedum Ndukwe's father insisted that Willingham take a look at him and Ty told Jeff Samardzija that he should quit football because he had no future in the sport.
Before he was fired by Notre Dame, Ty was already talking to Washington about their head coaching job. What little recruiting he did immediately stopped altogether.

Now, other than the point about offensive linemen, the argument is highly anecdotal. I have no way of personally knowing whether or not those points are true. So I'll go at the argument a much simpler way.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

If you truly believe that Tyrone Willingham deserved the final two years of his contract with Notre Dame, then what good does it do to repeat the mistake?

Charlie may have had the worst season in Notre Dame history last year, but he did take the Irish to two consecutive BCS bowl games.

Were both teams comprised primarily of Willingham recruits? Yes.

But Willingham's only winning season came in his first year with the Irish. That team was comprised primarily of Bob Davie's recruits and only reached the Gator Bowl, so give it up already.

Jack Swarbrick and Charlie's Contract

While most writers realize that Charlie Weis still has a pretty big contract in front of him, some people may forget that Notre Dame has a new Athletic Director.

Does any first year AD want to make a move of this magnitude? I sure hope not.

Firing Charlie would leave the Irish with a huge monetary responsibility.

Not only that, but who the heck would want to take over the program after two head coaches were run out of town?

Charlie's Best Argument

The team has hit a skid that rivals that of the 2007 Mets. Everything looked good for a little while and then it just tanked.

Why did this happen? The team is young, and inconsistency comes with youth.

"But Charlie Weis is in his fourth year at Notre Dame. They're all his guys and he can't win with them. If the older guys aren't stepping up, it's either because he can't develop them or they weren't that good to begin with."

Quite simply, no.

Charlie is a victim of being a quick learner and a great recruiter. He has improved his recruiting every year, including last year's on-field debacle.

In getting more talented players every year, older players get passed on the depth chart and realize that since the incoming guys are so good, they may never see the field again. So they transfer out.

Luckily for Weis, his recruiting classes can't get much better. This year's freshmen might be the first class under Charlie Weis that doesn't see a significant number of transfers before graduation.

Now, he's taking control over the offense again. If he really has that schematic advantage that he boasted about in his first year, then Irish fans should see an improvement in playcalling the next few games. I, for one, believe he does.

Give him the two years that Willingham didn't get. By then, we'll know what he really can do.

Even if he fails as a coach, he recruits so well that the next guy will have a lot to work with.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Right Fit in Right Field

Matt Poloni — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:45:39 -0500

For some reason, baseball writers seem to think that the Rays have a lingering problem in right field. Perhaps this is because about half a dozen players spent time out there.

Or perhaps they weren't paying close enough attention.

There is a difference, after all, between a team that lacks a right fielder and a team that has too many. It's a good problem to have, but it tends to confuse those who watch intermittently.

Were there problems at times? Yes.

But situations such as these tend to work themselves out, unless management tries to do too much. Andrew Friedman has proven that he is not the type to press a situation, so I expect him to do what he has done best: maintain homeostasis.

There is a reason that the Rays got to the World Series, and now is no time to mess that up. When the trade deadline came around this past season, the Rays were rumored to be involved in trades with any number of teams, and in the name of team chemistry, Friedman passed.

This offseason, the Rays are rumored to have interest in a few free agents and a trade or two. Unless there is no other option, I expect Friedman to pass again.

The Candidates

Eric Hinske had a very nice season, offensively, though fans may have liked a slightly higher batting average. He's better in the outfield than he gets credit for and, as he showed in the World Series, he can come through in a pinch. A veteran presence on a very young team is by no means a bad thing to have.

Gabe Gross had a very similar season. A higher batting average would have been nice, but he did have a few timely hits. His range in the outfield is not exactly the best, but it may seem worse simply by comparison to Crawford and Upton.

Jonny Gomes' production fell off this past season, but he has shown in the past that he can produce. His presence in the clubhouse cannot be forgotten.

Rocco Baldelli played well in limited action. He most likely can't carry the load at the position, but Rays fans wouldn't mind seeing one of their longer tenured players split time between the outfield and designated hitter.

Fernando Perez is a spark plug to say the least. His speed can change a game and when he's allowed to swing away, he can even have a little pop. He isn't your prototypical right fielder, but his range can more than makeup for his average arm.

A Solution

To me, there is one option that can make opposing teams truly fear the day they have to play the Tampa Bay Rays. That option is starting Fernando Perez alongside Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton.

Line drives would have to be perfectly placed and fly balls would have to go over the fence. Nothing else would find the ground in the outfield.

Opposing pitchers would constantly be worrying about whichever one of them was on base. Slide-steps would be abundant and the rest of the lineup would benefit.

The defense would rush their throws and extra bases could be taken.

Catchers would be looking for excuses to ride the pine.

And if fans aren't comfortable with Perez in right field, B.J. Upton's cannon could take over. Perez would then be installed in center and no coverage would be lost, whatsoever.

Baldelli could still fill in every once in a while and spend time at DH. Eric Hinske or Gabe Gross could do the same and having any of them ready to come off the bench would be beneficial for the team.

It's a way for them to finally be feared. It's a way for them to finally be unstoppable. And finally, it's a way for them to keep it in the family.

What more could you ask for?

Notre Dame-Boston College: History Repeating

Matt Poloni — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:58:15 -0500

On Oct. 8, the Fighting Irish were preparing for a trip to Chapel Hill with only one loss to their name. Irish fans were ready to finally crack the Top 25, something that hadn't been accomplished since Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija left.

On Nov. 8, the team left the stadium in Chestnut Hill with only one win to their name in the month that had passed. Irish fans sat either speechless or screaming, a dichotomy that hadn't been accomplished since the most forgettable of seasons last year.

This season was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Irish. They were widely regarded as having a soft schedule.

Even with the poor showing in 2007, people didn't expect to see another game of this type until the end of November when the Irish travel to Los Angeles.

I’m sure that I am not alone when I ask: What exactly is going on here? All I know is that I have no idea and, apparently, neither do the Irish.

The Incident At Alumni Stadium (Offense)

The running game was highly inconsistent, although they did rack up 66 yards.

Armando Allen was the leading rusher with 24 yards on six carries, but 12 of those yards came on one play. Robert Hughes ran for 18 yards on three carries, but nine of those came on one play.

Jimmy Clausen had 19 yards on six carries, but 10 of those came on one play. And James Aldridge had a very nice five yard run which paved the way to his grand total of three yards on five carries.

But nobody has expected much from the run lately. After all, the passing game had been good enough to carry the offense in every game except the one in East Lansing.

Michael Floyd, Golden Tate, and Kyle Rudolph have shown that they are great targets and Clausen was shaping up to be the quarterback that so many people thought he could be.

On Saturday, Clausen completed 26 passes for 226 yards while spreading the ball around to Tate, Floyd, Rudolph, and Allen (six, five, four, and nine receptions, respectively).

He also threw four interceptions: the result of not looking off his receivers, throwing over their heads much too frequently, and forcing passes into coverage.

It isn’t entirely Clausen’s fault, though.

The play calling was less than stellar, as it has been for most of the season. Before Saturday, I was willing to give Mike Haywood time to acclimate himself to his new role as the offensive play caller. Now, I find his play calling offensive.

He consistently calls plays in fourth-down or third-and-long situations that either air it out much farther than necessary or can’t reach a first down. Now that Clausen has lost his ability to spot the ball on his receiver’s shoulder, teams know what’s coming.

Third and 27? Screen pass.

Fourth and 41? Draw play.

It’s bad enough that the Irish find themselves in these situations as much as they do. Let’s not compound the situation by becoming predictable, especially with such low percentage plays.

But it isn’t just the plays he calls when possession is on the line.

I’m sure that all of Notre Dame’s opponents realize the struggles they are having with the ground game. So why run the ball early in the game?

While it is fairly common practice to use the run to set up the pass, there is nothing keeping a play caller from doing the exact opposite. Just line up in the shotgun with an empty backfield and air it out.

Allen has shown that he can catch the ball out of the backfield, so why not line him up at receiver and leave open the option of an end-around?

That allows the offense to do what it does best right out of the gate.

Once Clausen has sufficiently picked apart the defense, start sending Allen in motion and back into the backfield. From there, slowly work in more running plays and different formations.

Hopefully, by the time the running game gets going, the passing game will have put up enough points to make clock management the main concern.

The Incident At Alumni Stadium (Special Teams and Defense)

Special teams had their own problems in this game. Thankfully, the offensive woes for the Irish limited the extent to which we saw these problems.

Jonas Gray was penalized twice on kick returns. The Irish were already having trouble blocking for their returners. Penalties simply don’t help matters.

Golden Tate’s indecisiveness on an attempted punt return cost the Irish a possession and led to Boston College’s only offensive touchdown.

His attempt to remedy the situation was ended much too early when Leonard Gordon accidentally pushed Tate out of bounds near midfield, preventing a possible touchdown.

Then, a punt was blocked. That gave the Eagles good enough field position to attempt a field goal at drive’s end. Luckily, they missed.

And, if that wasn’t enough, the usually good punt and kick coverage was unusually lacking in pressure created.

At least the defense didn’t look too bad. Perhaps it was only by comparison, but I know Irish fans would like to find something positive to take from this game (other than the fact that it is over).

Yes, the defense allowed 167 yards rushing (120 by Montel Harris), but they only allowed 79 yards passing.

Harrison Smith, Brian Smith, and Kyle McCarthy showed their ball-hawking skills as they each recorded eight or more tackles.

Raeshon McNeil, despite his early struggles, came back to have a decent game with three pass breakups and Sergio Brown, in another strong game at nickelback, recorded two.

Until the offense gets fixed (or overhauled), the defense is going to have to carry the load. And since people are claiming that the Irish aren’t nasty enough, it might be a good idea for the defense to set the tone.

BCS v. Playoffs: Why MLB Is To Blame

Matt Poloni — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:53:57 -0500

In case you hadn’t noticed, some college football fans like the idea of a college football playoff. What’s interesting is the sharp increase of coverage on the topic over the last few years.

Is the increase in coverage warranted? Most definitely.

But in past years the discussion didn’t really heat up until the later weeks of the season and was basically a filler for ESPN in the off-season.

Now it’s a year-round topic that can make a casual fan seem like Jay Mariotti on "Around The Horn." The second that someone mentions the topic, everyone nearby is jockeying for position on the soapbox.

What changed? The easiest answer is that last season’s topsy-turvy ways awakened the inner orator in all of us.

Seeing South Florida get as high as second in the country showed that parity had finally come to college football, and a playoff was the only way to choose a true national champion. It’s a compelling argument.

The problem with the argument is that there wasn’t much of a difference between the preseason rankings and final rankings. Fourteen teams appeared in both the preseason and final AP polls and eight teams that appeared in the final poll were listed under “Others Receiving Votes” in the preseason.

That leaves only three teams (Kansas, Cincinnati, and Illinois) that ended up in the top 25 at season’s end that weren’t considered for it in the preseason.

So what else could be the reason for all this?

I think it’s Major League Baseball. More specifically, how Bud Selig handled the public demand for instant replay. Let me explain.

The question of instant replay in baseball has been out there for a while now. Bud Selig continuously dismissed the idea, even after a strong majority of major league GMs said they wanted it. Then, in May, a series of blown homerun calls increased the pressure on the commissioner to do something.

Sound familiar? It is interesting to see the parallels between the situations. For those of you who aren’t sure where I’m heading yet, I’ll continue.

The media, especially ESPN, had a field day with it. Fans jumped on the bandwagon and started arguing for or against instant replay every chance they got. And then Selig caved. Instant replay was instituted before the season ended and on Sept. 4, it was used for the first time.

Some people think that it would be a good thing for college football to follow suit and institute some sort of playoff for this season. I disagree.

Bud Selig acted too quickly and ended up putting together a system that fails on many counts. Ironically, college football has the exact system that Selig wanted. All baseball needs is a replay official in the press box at every game.

Selig wanted the game to not be slowed down, so he made it so the umpires listen to the coaches’ arguments, decide whether or not to look at the replays, go inside to look at the replays, and then decide whether or not to go against their comrade’s call.

Instead of all that, a replay official could review a disputed home run while the coaches are arguing with the umpires and get a ruling down to the field very quickly.

But now, when the current replay system slows the game down, Selig will be able to say that he was right and use that faulty logic to go back to the way it was.

If college football officials were to act as Bud Selig did, they could easily make the same mistake. They may come up with some convoluted system that makes little to no sense (but slightly resembles a playoff) and, when nobody likes the system, will decide that they were right in the first place. Fans will then be as miserable as ever.

I realize that having the president-elect speak out in favor of a playoff might be enough to convince most people that it needs to happen now, but hopefully it doesn’t rush the process.

There should be a playoff system. But if college football is going to do it, they have no reason to not do it right the first time.

In the event that college football goes down the same path as Major League Baseball anyway, you know whom to blame.

Chicago Cubs Offseason Outlook: Why Less Is More

Matt Poloni — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:26:15 -0500

It isn't easy being a Cubs fan. Everyone who knows baseball knows that. Everyone who can count to one hundred knows that. The Cubs' misfortune isn't just unlucky, it's cruel.

It's like that sign that restaurants and bars love to hang on their walls which reads: "Free Beer Tomorrow." Most patrons understand the joke. Tomorrow never comes. Don't forget your wallet.

The Cubs have a similar sign that reads: "Wait 'Til Next Year."

The problem with the comparison? For other teams, next year finally did come. And for Cubs fans, it isn't funny.

From March to September, Cubs fans got exactly what they wanted. Actually, they got exactly what they expected. The team pitched well, played good defense, and hit. Then they coasted into the playoffs with 97 wins and a division crown. We all know what happened next.

Now Jim Hendry has an extended contract and a job to do.

The Situation

The team’s weaknesses are few in number, but for most people there is one that is painfully obvious: a severe lack of lefties in the lineup. As it stands right now, the team has four returning lefties: Kosuke Fukudome, Mike Fontenot, Micah Hoffpauir, and Felix Pie. Jim Edmonds is a free agent and may decide to come back, but he may just as easily retire.

Fukudome was supposed to fill the void as a left-handed power hitter. He did fine for a little while, but he didn’t hit for power from day one and it wasn’t long before his average dropped. Despite his troubles at the end of the season, he was given a shot in the playoffs. That shot didn’t even last three games.

Fontenot hit almost as many homeruns as Fukudome in less than half the at bats and by the end of the season he hit 48 points higher. Except for games where he was inserted at second base, the only left-handed bat in the lineup would often be the pitcher’s spot. Of course, if Fontenot plays second full-time, then DeRosa would need to play in right. That would leave one outfield spot (most likely centerfield) to potentially add a lefty.

Micah Hoffpauir could be the perfect man for the job. His stats in the big leagues weren’t too shabby and the ones from Iowa speak for themselves. But unless the National League adopts the designated hitter or Derrek Lee feels like moving to the outfield, Hoffpauir doesn’t really have a position to play. While he is an average to above average first baseman in my estimation, his skills in the outfield are undeveloped and don’t project well for considerable improvement.

Felix Pie had high expectations coming into last year. He ended up having a decent season, but his best stretches came while he was playing in Iowa.

The other weaknesses on the team aren’t all that weak and centerfield is the only real question mark. Yes, you’d always like to have better depth in the bullpen and rotation, but the Cubs are about as secure in both areas as any other team in the major leagues.

Micah Hoffpauir

As I said before, Micah Hoffpauir would be perfect to fill the left-handed void. If he could step up and become a serviceable outfielder, then the problem is pretty much solved.

Another option that some fans are considering is putting him at first base and trading Derrek Lee. His decline in production the past few seasons has Cubs fans worrying. The trade would allow the Cubs to add another left-handed bat in the outfield via free agency, too.

The problem here is that there are very few first basemen that play defense of Lee’s caliber. There are even fewer (if any) that can also hit as well as he did this past year, even with the lesser production. In addition to that, Lee is a great clubhouse presence. I just don’t understand the move.

Free Agents

There are about twenty left-handed or switch-hitting outfielders in free agency that Jim Hendry could decide to sign. The list of players ranges from proven (but past their prime) players such as Ken Griffey, Jr. and Garret Anderson to guys that are a little more of an unknown commodity like Joe Borchard and Laynce Nix.

To me, a couple of guys stick out as being pretty interesting.

First and foremost is Mark Kotsay. The way he played for the Red Sox down the stretch and in the playoffs really caught my attention. He could easily be a left-handed Mark DeRosa and, though he may not have the power that many fans want, I don’t think anyone will question his ability to hit.

Eric Hinske, on the other hand, flies under the radar of most fans. He hit well last year and plays better defensively than most people give him credit for. Also, he’s been to two straight World Series. I’m sure Cubs fans wouldn’t mind that run continuing in blue pinstripes.

Other than those two, the most interesting free agents are Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Milton Bradley. Adam Dunn can flat out mash, but he isn’t that great defensively and there are only a handful of guys who strike out more often. Griffey doesn’t hit or field like he used to, but he’s still better than a lot of other guys out there. Bradley was once a five tool player and, if he can stay healthy, he might be one again.

Centerfield

Before spring training Felix Pie, Sam Fuld, and even Ronny Cedeno were being considered for starting in center. Then the Blue Jays released Reed Johnson and, in May, the Padres released Jim Edmonds. Jim Hendry signed both and the platoon that resulted worked quite well.

Johnson will definitely be back and, as previously stated, Edmonds might retire. Assuming Edmonds doesn’t return, Johnson will most likely need someone to platoon with because of his Byrnes-esque style of play. If Felix Pie can make the necessary adjustments at the major league level, the job might be his to lose.

If Pie doesn’t step up, Fukudome may fill the role. He played some centerfield last year and did well, so there is no reason to believe that he couldn’t platoon at the position. And who knows, maybe it will allow him to get back to the production he showed early last year.

Sam Fuld could be the dark horse. He seemingly came out of nowhere two years ago, but fell off the map last season. If he can return to what made him the Arizona Fall League MVP in 2007, he may just take the job.

Pitching

Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, Bob Howry, and Jon Lieber are free agents. The way Jim Hendry handles these four players will be a huge factor in how the pitching staff fares next season.

According to ESPN, the Cubs are ready to give Dempster a four-year deal. Based solely on his performance last year, he deserves it and hopefully he’ll continue his winning ways. Unless last season was a complete fluke, he shouldn’t end up being the next Carl Pavano and the rotation should be in good shape.

Kerry Wood deserves to be back as closer. I can’t imagine seeing him in any other uniform and Cubs fans hope that they will never have to. But in the unlikely event that he doesn’t return, the Cubs are ready. Carlos Marmol may be the next great closer if he can learn to control his amazing stuff and Jeff Samardzija proved that he can handle the pressure of the big leagues.

Lieber’s best days are behind him and his ability to stay healthy should be a question mark. There are other players, such as Sean Marshall, that could easily fill his role. Howry had a less-than-stellar season, but if he’s willing to take a pay cut, I see no reason to not bring him back.

In more recent news, the Cubs have recently been tabbed the frontrunners for Jake Peavy. If the Cubs were to acquire him, don’t be surprised to see Jason Marquis on his way out. He had made it clear last year that he didn’t want to be in the bullpen and with Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, Lilly, and Peavy available, he would have no other choice.

Less Is More

Centerfield should be perfectly fine with a platoon of Fukudome and Johnson. Both are great defenders and have the ability to hit well. That would then open up a spot in the outfield for Micah Hoffpauir, who would act as the left-handed bat everyone wants. Then Felix Pie would be ready as the fifth outfielder, a great defensive replacement, and a pinch-running option off the bench.

Having Jake Peavy on the team would be great so long as the Cubs don’t have to part with key players. I would assume that Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano are untouchable, but Lee (who would only be involved in a three-way trade since the Padres have Adrian Gonzalez), DeRosa, Theriot, and Johnson are vital to the way this team is structured.

If all else fails, the Cubs have plenty of talented guys already in the system. Chances are that somebody would step up into any hole the team may have.

And don’t forget that it’s cheaper to replace from within. Since the economy isn’t doing that well and the Cubs don’t know who their owner is going to be, it might not be a bad idea to save up.

So remember this mantra and repeat as necessary: Less is more.