B&B just said something about the Brewers getting Gomez might free up Cameron for the Cubs? ? ?

I aint heard that rumor, but I aint interested.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

thanks, but no thanks. i thought he had retired.

Ill take him. He plays 1 1/2 positions. CF and half of Soriano's Left field.

Neither of them all that great anymore.

At this point, for the money, Mike Cameron is no appreciably better an investment than Kirk Cameron.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

what about Cam Cameron?


5 Camerons I would rather have:

Cameron Diaz, Cameron Crowe, James Cameron, Candace Cameron, Dr. Alex Cameron (House)

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

His wins above replacement have been 4 and 4.3 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. His 4.3 WAR in 2009 would put him second on the Cubs behind Derrek Lee at 5.3 and above Theriot at 2.8. The 4 WAR in 2008 would have put him 3rd on the Cubs behind Aramis at 4.7 and Soto and 4.6.

I wouldn't mind having him patrol center and moving Fukudome back to his natural position, provided you can dump Bradley.

Last year he was 4th in MLB in Range Factor and 1st in the National league

Correction: He would have been 4th on the Cubs in terms of WAR in 2008, Dempster was worth 5.1.

Ok I'll hedge my statement a little - he would be ok if the Cubs could move Bradley- but what would it take? What's the going rate on a 37 year old outfielder who hit .250 24 and 70 last year? The Cubs aren't going to be able to unload Bradley anyway, so it's probably not going to matter.

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

Cameron would be a good move for center field but the problem will be Fukudome in right. He just doesn't provide enough offensive production to hold down a corner outfield spot.

Cameron is Soriano lite. He gives you some power, low average, lots of strikeouts. I'll pass.

Unless of course the Brewers were willing to take on Soriano's contract...

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He's a great defender in a defense first position.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I was speaking of his offensive qualities. Yes, I know he can run them down in CF, but the last thing the Cubs need in the lineup is another .250 hitter that is going to rack up the strikeouts.

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sam fuld. there ya go.

Cameron is a FREE AGENT. If the Cubs want him, they don't have to give up anyone. He is still a good defensive player with decent power and can still steal bases (though not at the rate he did years ago), but the low average and strikeouts are a problem. At this point, I would hope for better. Keeping Fukadome in CF is not great, but if they would sign Abreau to play RF, I would be happy with that.

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Go Cubs!!!!

if they're really increasing ticket prices, they'd better come up with Chone. Abreu is good but we need Figgins first and foremost.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Abreu signed a 2yr extension with The Los Angeles Anahiem Orange County California USA Angels.

good. Less money to re-sign Chone.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I don't get all this Chone Figgins love. I will admit to not watching alot of AL baseball but it seems like fans of both teams in this town are pining for this guy as some sort of savior. He seems like an ok baseball player but I don't think he is putting the Cubs over the top. Meh.

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Phil, without looking up the stats, I want to say he hit over 300 stole over 30 bases and had an OBA of over 400.

EDIT - I was close. He hit 298, stole 42 bases and OBP was 395.

His year to year OBP jumps around a lot, but accum avg is 363, which is still pretty good. He has virtually no power and is either already or will turn 31 when the season starts. Given that his main asset is his speed and average, you have to take into consideration that his speed will begin to diminish within the next 2 to 3 years. I'm guessing that he is looking for a minimum 4 year contract meaning he might have one more payday at 35. I think it might be a bit of diminishing returns signing him depending on what he is looking for contract wise.

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

no one player can put this mess over the top now.

Could not possibly agree more

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Here's what I want from my 1-2 and 6-9 hitters-take a minimum of four (4) pitches (you won't strike out), SEE the ball so that you and the batters following you can take a look at all three or four of the starting pitcher's pitches, and you'll also get to the bullpen quicker. Chone does those things and with him in the leadoff position, the Cubs could tend back to the '03 run when Lofton was added or the '08 Cubs when Fukudome was added. It only takes one.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Well said, COF - I've always noticed that (overall) the Cub haven't had a tendency to take pitches and drive up the count for the opposition. I'm sure it's something that has been preached at some point, but guys aren't about to re-learn hitting at the MLB level. You've gotta have the right kind of hitters in your lineup...

If you're taking 4 pitches per at bat, you're among the elite. I don't think the league average is anywhere near that, but I can't seem to find the stat. I just remember that at one time Fukudome has something like a 4.25 p/pa and he was considered one of the best.
by the way, our pal Milton was always very good at this. He takes a lotta pitches.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

yeah, that was the reason the cubs took him, he was such a dependable OBP guy, looks at a lot of pitches. they just didnt realize how many of those "looked-at" pitches would be 3rd strikes.

I know it's a high number. Look at my point though...the two best teams in Cubs history (2003, 2008) had one thing in common. The both aquired a lefthanded patient batter who even for a small amount of time changed the complexion of the entire team...when Lofton was aquired, all of the Cubs started to take pitches. It caught on. Fukodome, same thing. Even as he unwound himself, the Cubs continued on in his vein. That was sorely lacking this year. If you can't hit, at least put the bat on your shoulders, Soriano...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

i know it was a long, long time ago, but there are cubs teams that have won world series. that automatically vaults you past teams that get swept in the first playoff series and teams that melt down at home one win away from a world series, i dont care the era.

so, post 1950?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Fukudome was on the team last year and he will be on the team next year. Why does his taking pitches no longer work?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."