Cubs and Zambrano reach agreement

[jacksonianmarch]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070119&content_id=1782157&vkey=pr_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

it is a s***** link, but the cubs have called a press conference and speculation is that they have agreed.

[BSN07]

I heard the news conference was for the Notre Dame WR that the cubs drafted, he has choosen to play baseball instead of entering the NFL draft.

 

But I think that was yesterday, maybe it it Zambrano. Jackson it must be driving you nuts, that all the pitchers you thought might be available are re uping with there respective clubs, Zambrano, Santanna(NTC), Just giving you crap LOL

[jacksonianmarch]

I know you are giving me crap, LOL. Just more proof that good, young pitching just cannot be bought this day and age. You have to develop it, and that is what we are trying to do.

[ORS]

Oh, but I thought you were going to trade for it. Hell, to listen to you the Yankee '08 rotation was Santana, Zambrano, Wang, Carpenter, and Hughes. I told you Carpenter would get extended. He did. I said Zambrano would too. Looks like he is. I'll even go a little further, I think Santana stays in Minny. They'll open the wallet for their premier talent, and Johan is reportedly happy there.

[jacksonianmarch]

Big flaw with that theory ORS. Chicago is a big market. So is StL. Minny is not.

[ORS]

Evidence supports it. They've kept the important pieces around throughout the years. What they haven't done is spend big money on the FA market. It'll happen if Johan wants to stay there, but there's two years for him to get pissed off at Minny for something, so you don't have to cancel the circle-jerk yet.

[jacksonianmarch]

oh no, I wont be. I am hoping our kids work out. Our rotation has been in shambles since we tried to go after guys coming off career yrs and making dumbass trades dealing away prospects. We have a solid pitcher in Wang, a guy who should eat innings in Igawa and 3 bridges for prospects to fill. I am hoping that Hughes fills one for a long time and the others are a conglomerate of our prospects or something we conjure up in trade. These kids cannot be worse than Wright, Chacon, Lidle, etc were last yr.

[jacksonianmarch]

by bridges I mean guys who are signed for 2 yrs and we know they arent long term solutions.

[Fried Neckbones]

Evidence supports it. They've kept the important pieces around throughout the years. What they haven't done is spend big money on the FA market. It'll happen if Johan wants to stay there' date=' but there's two years for him to get pissed off at Minny for something, so you don't have to cancel the circle-jerk yet.[/quote']

 

I agree with ORS. Teams are taking all that revenue sharing $$$ and using it to lock up their own top-tier talent before they hit free agency instead of running at the big name talent already on the market (the smart teams are, that is). Personally, I love it, I think it's great for baseball. Sure there will always be the expensive signings, but if they become fewer in number and we start to see more home grown talent get locked up to their original team I think fans will get more into it (not that Sox fans need an excuse to become more fanatic). Who knows, maybe this free agent spending spree will cool off in a year or two :dunno: .

[example1]

I agree with ORS. Teams are taking all that revenue sharing $$$ and using it to lock up their own top-tier talent before they hit free agency instead of running at the big name talent already on the market (the smart teams are' date=' that is). Personally, I love it, I think it's great for baseball. Sure there will always be the expensive signings, but if they become fewer in number and we start to see more home grown talent get locked up to their original team I think fans will get more into it (not that Sox fans need an excuse to become more fanatic). Who knows, maybe this free agent spending spree will cool off in a year or two :dunno: .[/quote']

 

 

Yeah, while its sad that a great pitcher like Carlos Zambrano will never pitch in a sox uniform (or at least not before the age of 27), it is great for baseball that teams are willing to spend on the players we all know are better than "good". Oswalt, Zambrano, probably Santana, Matsuzaka... they'll all be locked up for a good period of time.

 

There will always be the Schmidts and Zitos and whatnot, but the lay of the land now is not that top talent will ALWAYS go for the biggest market. I think plenty of players have noticed that the Yankees haven't won in 6 years and that going to NYY is not a guaranateed WS title. Wasn't it Jesus Damon who predected that, with him at the top of the order, that lineup would be unstoppable? I'm pretty sure they got stopped this year. C'est la vie.

[Gom]

I haven't seen anything yet to state that Zambrano is signed to an extension.

[jacksonianmarch]

I saw this on another site, that the press conference is for a Zambrano pact, but thus far it has been unsubstantiated.

[jacksonianmarch]

I saw this on another site' date=' that the press conference is for a Zambrano pact, but thus far it has been unsubstantiated.[/quote']

 

Carlos Zambrano Speaks

This weekend's Cubs Convention gave all the local players a chance to snag some quotes from Carlos Zambrano concerning his contract negotiations.

 

From the Sun-Times:

 

"I don't want to talk contract when the season starts. It has to be before the season starts or spring training."

 

"There's a [good] chance I sign with the Cubs. This is a business. I want to stay here, but like I said, this is a business." MLBTR note: if he didn't actually say "good," doesn't that change this quote drastically?

 

"You take less than Zito take and everybody talks about you, saying, 'Zambrano sign a bad contract.' You take more and everybody says, 'Zambrano is taking advantage.' I think the thing is to be around what Zito signed for, more or the same."

 

"He [Jim Hendry] spent a lot of money. I hope he has more for Big Z."

 

From the Daily Herald:

 

"We’re talking right now. (Today) will be the second time my agent meets with Jim Hendry."

 

From the Tribune:

 

"Zito is a great pitcher, and it's good for him he got that contract, and I think that will help me."

 

 

from the daily herald. He hasnt agreed, someone is pulling my leg. If he doesnt agree by ST, he will wait until ST.

[Mr Crunchy]

minnesota may not be a big market

but their owner maybe the richest man in the game of baseball

[jacksonianmarch]

he is also a moron who has been lucky to have Terry Ryan and Tom Kelly at his side for awhile now.

[Mr Crunchy]

moron...i dunno

******* for sure

48M?? payroll and playoff appearences aint bad

he makes more than that in interest on his trust fund

 

i think ron gardensquire sucks but i also think that if radke and liriano were healthy last fall it may have been their year

[jacksonianmarch]

this yr they'll be bottom feeders. That division is LOADED with talent sans KC. I have a feeling there will be some serious feelers sent out on Johan this AS break when he is 5-15 with a 1.9 ERA.

[BudLight]

this yr they'll be bottom feeders. That division is LOADED with talent sans KC. I have a feeling there will be some serious feelers sent out on Johan this AS break when he is 5-15 with a 1.9 ERA.

 

Jackson

 

If Johan is 5-15 at the AS break in 07, I will call the Farrelly boys and have them begin taping the sequel to Fever Pitch and make a cameo appearance double penetrating Cali Linda (along with Big Papi) on the mound in Fenway, while wearing nothing but my Jeter jersey. The movie will then be called Fever Bitch.

[Mr Crunchy]

they got tori hunter and the best al catcher

decent infield and some speed

their pen is sketchy

their starters outside of o ye comme va are bad

 

every year theres a dark horse

as you said

cleveland detroit and chicago appear better

this is why theres a 162 game schedule

[jacksonianmarch]

Johan is going to get Roger Clemens in Houston style frustration. That offense has Mauer and Morneau. Morneau is a guy who had a career second half. Mauer is a constant injury problem. Hunter hits every now and then. Cuddyer was the worst clutch, RBI man in baseball and the rest of that lineup is AWFUL. And 4 of every 5 turns in that rotation, their solid pen and spotty lineup will need to win the game. That will be BAD.

[Mr Crunchy]

all that scatine and all those problems

and

they won as many playoff series as boston chicago and ny combined with about 15% of the payroll

[TheKilo]

Umm...the twins went on their run last year in the second half without Liriano.

 

Their other young pitchers are a year more mature. Morneau is the reigning MVP, and Mauer is everything you want in a catcher. Nathan is a lockdown closer.

 

 

Tell me why they can't contend next year?

[jacksonianmarch]

Radke was a huge part of that team. Liriano pitched until August 7th and in that time span was 12-3. They got on an late hot streak, but missing one of their most consistent arms and one of their most electric and replacing them with 3 washed up vets and 2 kids vying for 4 spots is a bad plan. Especially for a team that was built on pitching.

[TheKilo]

Radke was a huge part of that team. Liriano pitched until August 7th and in that time span was 12-3. They got on an late hot streak' date=' but missing one of their most consistent arms and one of their most electric and replacing them with 3 washed up vets and 2 kids vying for 4 spots is a bad plan. Especially for a team that was built on pitching.[/quote']

 

Radke was decidedly average last year. He can be replaced.

[jacksonianmarch]

but he wasnt replaced. Unless you think Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson can anchor the middle of a rotation.

[Mr Crunchy]

but he wasnt replaced. Unless you think Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson can anchor the middle of a rotation.

 

after watching that team from st louis win it all last year with their worst team in 15 years

i have to admit i have no fukin clue about baseball anymore

 

jeff weaver??

karen ""rainy days and mondays get me down"" carpenter

david fukin eckstein??

 

come on

anyone can

[BSN07]

Just a thought here, but I was reading about Miny's financial situation saying they will most likely have to pick between Johan and Nathan, and one of the M&M boys. Nathan being 32 will likely help in his depature from Minn. I see them signing Johan out of the two.

 

Now here is where things get interesting, the Sox need an offensive upgrade at 1st, they also will need a new catcher in the very short future, if Minny really only signs one then I think the Sox should be keeping an eye out for the other. If they sign Morneau, then Mauer wouldn't be a bad catcher to add or vice versa, just something I thought I throw out there for discussion.

[hoke3182]

I think if the twis are struggling by the trade deadline they'll try and get as much for Nathan as they can. As for the M&M boys you would have to think they'll keep both of them, But if they couldn't I'd bet they keep Mauer. I don't see Johan going anywhere.

[BSN07]

Getting back on topic of this thread, I havent seen any deal yet, why is this called cubs and zambrano reach agreement?

[jacksonianmarch]

because on another forum, I saw this under the MLB page. There was an announcement of a press conference and speculation was that the cubs and big Z reached a deal. Obviously they didnt. PLEASE CLOSE THE THREAD Mods.