Posted on 07/31/2004 1:52:12 PM PDT by roostercogburn
Other teams have figured out Tony Clark is weak outside and low. Olerud seems like a good move. He's professional, he'll fit in great with the Yankees.
longjack
CHICAGO - When the Cubs went down to the Florida Marlins in Game 7 in the National League Championship Series a year ago, Matt Clement was no factor. He had beaten Florida's Dontrelle Willis in Game 4 but was reduced to being a cheerleader with the season on the line because Cubs Manager Dusty Baker didn't feel he could use him in the bullpen.
Alex Gonzalez, the shortstop whose Game 6 error was much costlier than Steve Bartman's interference, went 1 for 4 in Game 7 to finish the series 3 for 24. Contrast that to Boston's Nomar Garciaparra's 7-for-29 hitting against the Yankees in the American League final.
Those four more hits might have made all the difference, especially if one of them had triggered a little bit of life against Marlins ace Josh Beckett.
And those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it, right?
The point is this: If there is any way the Cubs can get Garciaparra, a shortstop with a history of delivering in October, they should not be reluctant to trade Clement, even though he has kept them in solid position in the wild card race.
Perhaps you can argue whether the Cubs are better off in August and September with Clement in the rotation and Gonzalez as the shortstop or with Garciaparra at shortstop and Glendon Rusch in the rotation. But there's no debating the point in October, and the Cubs' goal isn't just to make the playoffs, it's to get to the World Series.
That's why General Manager Jim Hendry must say yes to a deal for Garciaparra, assuming the Boston Red Sox are really desperate enough for pitchers that they will trade him.
It's hard to believe Boston General Manager Theo Epstein would have the nerve to trade Garciaparra, a franchise icon who is hitting .388 in July to raise his season average to .321, right next door to his .323 career average. But major league sources indicate talks between the Red Sox and Cubs have heated up the last couple of days.
Perhaps Epstein and team President Larry Lucchino have decided it's time to get what they can for Garciaparra, who is a free agent at season's end. The Red Sox have treaded water since April (40-39), largely because of a .464 winning percentage in games not started by Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling.
While the Cubs have wasted too many strong efforts from Clement, going 10-11 behind him, his 3.05 earned-run average is eighth in the NL. Opponents are hitting a mere .224 off him, which ranks behind only Jason Schmidt, Randy Johnson, Odalis Perez, Ben Sheets and Roger Clemens.
With Randy Johnson unavailable, Clement would be the best alternative for the Red Sox. He would face a transition going to the AL, but both his style and easy personality fit Fenway Park.
The health problems of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, who lost Wednesday night in Milwaukee, are serious concerns for the Cubs.
But starting pitching has not been the Cubs' problem this year.
Even with Wood and Prior combining to make only 20 starts, the starters have a 3.59 ERA, the best in the NL. But Wednesday marked the fourth time in the past five games, entering Friday, they have scored only three runs.
As pitiful as this seems, given the presence of Sammy Sosa, Moises Alou, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee, they need to do something major for the lineup - not just add a spare part like Florida's Jeff Conine, who they also have been scouting.
According to sources the Cubs-Red Sox talks center on Clement and Gonzalez for Garciaparra. Boston is trying to get Hendry to put a young player, most likely a pitcher, into the deal.
If there's a chance, seal this deal, Jim.
You won't need one of your top five starters if you do reach the playoffs. Garciaparra, however, could figure in every October game. That outweighs the loyalty you must feel toward Clement.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=38&u_sid=1162887
You wuz right bro -- you hoid Contreras was going -- I like him for Loiza as well. But I would have likes Contreras for ANY-BODY! If the guy can't beat the Red Sox, we don't need 'em.
UGH! You think the Bosox trade looks good? Yeah, Mienkewicz is good, but not great; He can field at first. But for Nomar?? Sheesh...
But Clark has been playing some great ball, so Torre will have a tough decision.
Got me....
Nomar is a free agent in 2 months. Word is he wants to go to the LA area where his wife is from.
The Cubs have a snowball's chance in hell of catching the Cardinals, so Nomar's there for 2 months for nothing, probably.
The Red Sox get the SS Carbrera, I think the Expo's Orlando Carbrera, and a first basemean Doug Mankiewicz(?? pronunced Man Kay Vits), from I don't know where. The Red Sox seem to have boosted their infield.
longjack
Yeah, Olerud IS a pro. Good fit w/the Yanks.
Clark? Exceeded expectations both on the field and in the clubhouse, but as you say is suseptible to certain pitching -- specifically good heat.
Nomar was gone after this year anyway so why not get something for him. Besides, he's maybe the 3rd best shortstop in his league anyway after Jeter and Tejada.
He's not the big RBI guy any longer and he's become more of a singles hitter. I don't know if we got enough for him but soemthing better than nothing.
Nomar's just having a bad year -- an emotional guy who just needs to get outta that pit of a franchise, imo. He's one helluva player, and it wouldn't surprise me if he dominates over in Wrigley.
Yes, he has. He's a great team player and a great asset in clubhouse politics. Very articulate.
Last week in the Boston series he struck out 7 times in a row. The scouting reports show him to be vulnerable outside and low. It's probably best to rotate him, which was the intent when they signed him. The Yankees have picked up Fred McGriff, too, after Tampa Bay cut him. That's too iffy, though.
Olerud will be great as a yankee.
longjack
longjack
He's a disciplined hitter, like the rest of the Yankees, probably a good hit and run guy, and is in a lineup where he is going to see a lot of strikes. I'm sure he'll be a good RBI man.
I agree with you about Nomar tearing up Chicago. He just took too much sh*t in Boston, and had a frustrating injury on top of it.
I grew up around Boston, the sportswriters there are nasty. Heck, they even dissed Ted Williams during his playing days.
I remember hearing Ted Williams say that he thought Graciaparra would be baseball's next .400 hitter. Nomar will probably go on to bigger and better things now.
The Cubs are a good organization for Nomar, too. Maybe he'll end up liking it enough to stay.
Thank god us Yankees' fans won't have to hold our breath any more when there a Red Sox runners on base and Nomar is up.
longjack
From Minnesota. The team that the Sox are in the middle of series with this weekend.
Doug played against them yesterday, and will be in Boston's lineup tonight.
Yes, he has. He's a great team player and a great asset in clubhouse politics. Very articulate. Last week in the Boston series he struck out 7 times in a row. The scouting reports show him to be vulnerable outside and low. It's probably best to rotate him, which was the intent when they signed him.
I think you're right about Clark -- although I really him, he's probably best not playing every day. And he must really be the nice guy in the world, as I've heard such wonderful things about him. Even Red Sox fans I was talking with online last weekend all rave about what a great person he is!
The Yankees have picked up Fred McGriff, too, after Tampa Bay cut him. That's too iffy, though. Olerud will be great as a yankee.
I don't think the Yanks are picking up McGriff, although Steinbrenner did let him work out at the Tampa Bay complex this week. And I'm surprised the Yanks got Olerud, as word was that if he didn't find a team interested on the West Coast, he would retire.
On to today's trades: As a Yankee fan, I think the Red Sox did not do well in their Nomar trade -- I was afraid they were going to either give up Lowe or get Matt Clement, and neither happened. I'm thinking that the reason the Red Sox traded Nomar has a lot to do with him being a malcontent in the clubhouse. When Manny Ramirez has a better team-first attitude than Nomar, there's a big problem!
As for Contreras, I was rooting for him, but I think the nail in the coffin was not just the Red Sox loss, but the Orioles loss Thursday. It's one thing if he's lights-out with everybody else but the Red Sox; it's another thing when you have a meltdown against Baltimore!
Wow, Nomah's gone from the Red Sox ping!
LOL! ;-D
I just heard about it. I dont think it is a bad deal. Nomar was going to walk at the end of the year. so at least we got something for him. Yes I know he had a good July but his heart aint in it.
Clement wasn't part of the deal.He stays with Cubs.
Let's hope El Duque and Kevin Brown can stay strong until Mussina returns.
The thing that bothered me about the A-Rod / Nomar rumors was that the talk was of a Nomar / A-Rod swap, and that A-Rod was the better shortstop, so the deal was good. How's Nomar supposed to react to that?
The Yankees, even though Jeter had been chastised for off-field activities, never publically made the Jeter / A-Rod comparison. You know for sure that if Jeter tanks, or is injured, A-Rod is moving over, but that isn't played out in public view.
Jeter brings untenables to the table that go beyond pure stats, and that wasn't allowed to be destroyed. Jeter's bloodied dive into the stands for the foul ball a few weeks ago against Boston wasn't trumped up or played off by Jeter or the Yankees as some particularly great event, but it will be a part of the Jeter mystique forever.
That option was ruined for Nomar in Boston. I hope he can do that for the Cubs. Charlie Steiner said in his comments about the trade that Chicago and Wrigley may be just the place for him, and that he may like it enough to stay. We'll see. I hope he does well.
longjack
True, but look at the way the Red Sox treated Manny. They first wanted to trade him straight up for A-Rod, then put him on waivers where anybody who wanted to take on his contract could have picked him up for nothing. He was humiliated even more than Nomar was, yet he's having a career year now. I understand that Nomar was angry, but he should have gotten his butt off the bench in the July 1 game instead of pouting like a little girl all alone in the dugout.
The Yankees, even though Jeter had been chastised for off-field activities, never publically made the Jeter / A-Rod comparison. You know for sure that if Jeter tanks, or is injured, A-Rod is moving over, but that isn't played out in public view.
I agree. Incidentally, I was at the July 1 game, and saw the Jeter play in person! Between that play, and Nomar's not playing, it would be hard for even Red Sox fans to claim that Nomar's better between the two of them. Not to mention A-Rod's sparkling double play that helped save the game.
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