Bradley to the Blue Jays. First baseman Lyle Overbay to the Mets. Second baseman Luis Castillo to the Cubs.

The Blue Jays' main priority should be gaining financial flexibility, not marginally improving talent while becoming more financially hamstrung. If they're gonna acquire Bradley, it damn well better involve dumping Wells, if possible.

An OF of Soriano-Wells-Fukudome would be ultimate.

Fukudome hit .259/.375/.421 in 2009. If he can play CF, that's pretty useful.

dumping Wells, if possible

It should also involve cold fusion, if possible. As long as we're making up #### that has no chance of actually happening, anyway.

Fukudome hit .259/.375/.421 in 2009. If he can play CF, that's pretty useful.

He can. I think the numbers have him slightly below average, but with Wrigley's cozy power alleys and near complete lack of foul territory down the lines - the Cubs won't win or lose many games because of the defensive quality of their CF.

Bradley to the Blue Jays. First baseman Lyle Overbay to the Mets. Second baseman Luis Castillo to the Cubs.

Perfectly fine trade by me. Robo notes that the Cubs want to shift Theriot to 2nd (good idea) and make room for Starlin Castro, so he's not sure Castillo fits into the Cubs plans... which is silly - Castro is 19 and has had about a month in AA. He certainly won't be ready next year and there's nothing wrong with Castro breaking in slowly in 2011.

Especially if no/not much money changes hands - I'd pull the trigger on that deal. Castillo bounced back to be mildly useful (offensively, at least) last season - and he instantly becomes the best leadoff option on a team short on leadoff options.

I would also pull the trigger on a Burrell/Bradley swap - but I wouldn't pay more than a 1/3 of the extra year on Bradley's contract. Burrell was putrid last year - Bradley was just subpar... the personality issues only deserve so much of a discount.

The Blue Jays' main priority should be gaining financial flexibility, not marginally improving talent while becoming more financially hamstrung. If they're gonna acquire Bradley, it damn well better involve dumping Wells, if possible.

I have a feeling that the unstated component to the Overbay/Bradley/Castillo trade rumor is the tremendous heap of cash that would be moving from Chicago to Toronto. If that trade goes down any other way, I'll eat my hat.

It should also involve cold fusion, if possible. As long as we're making up #### that has no chance of actually happening, anyway.

Hey, if Cubs columnists can suggest Bradley for Halladay, I think Jays fans can dream they can get Josh Vitters for Vernon Wells.

Can anyone explain to me why the Jays would want to trade a 1-year $7M commitment for a decent hitting 1B, for a 2-year, $21M commitment for a crazy, injury-prone DH?

As Andere notes, the only way this deal makes any sense is if Bradley will be accompanied by a gigantic check.

As Andere notes, the only way this deal makes any sense is if Bradley will be accompanied by a gigantic check.

So long as the gigantic check has small numbers on it...

“If we could turn him around, that would be a magnificent story,” said Williams.

Sports definition of arrogance: "I can get through to that player that no other coach has been able to deal with." You see it in every sport. Whether it is the multiple chances for Jeff George or teams screwing up and adding Iverson to a roster and not expecting problems. No, good chemistry alone will not win games, but bad chemistry can mess a team up.

Sports definition of arrogance: "I can get through to that player that no other coach has been able to deal with." You see it in every sport. Whether it is the multiple chances for Jeff George or teams screwing up and adding Iverson to a roster and not expecting problems. No, good chemistry alone will not win games, but bad chemistry can mess a team up.

What about the Braves? Bobby Cox was able to do with Gary Sheffield what no one else could. Could they do the same with Bradley? Are these similar scenarios?

Sports definition of arrogance: "I can get through to that player that no other coach has been able to deal with."

Bradley did do OK when paired with Ron Washington and/or Frank Thomas

[12] Was gonna ask--is Texas 2008 (his best, and [relatively] quietest, season) the only team that Bradley has played for with a non-white manager? The guy's got issues with authority, and with race. Ron Washington was well suited to deal with Bradley for a whole number of reasons, but I wonder if playing for a black (or latino) authority figure would help in general.

I wonder if playing for a black (or latino) authority figure would help in general.

I'm sure he'd get along swimmingly with Ozzie Guillen.

Was gonna ask--is Texas 2008 (his best, and [relatively] quietest, season) the only team that Bradley has played for with a non-white manager

He came up under Felipe Alou. But yea, the rest have been white devils.

Fun fact: Milton Bradley is the only player in the history of the American League to qualify for a batting title while finishing the season with an OPS of exactly .999.

Is it irrational for me to not want Castillo in a Cub uniform for the sole reason that he hit the Bartman ball?

Not that I'd be all that excited about him anyway...

17. retro-shiite Posted: November 10, 2009 at 02:53 PM (#3384197)
Is it irrational for me to not want Castillo in a Cub uniform for the sole reason that he hit the Bartman ball?

No. That is completely rational. Even if he were a top player it is rational to not want to feel compelled to cheer for a player that previously caused you considerable grief. In the late 90's the Indians seemed to add player after player that had previously contributed to a playoff loss against them. David Justice hit the home run that beat the Indians in the 1995 series (Okay Glavine gets some credit as well). Robbie Alomar was a contributor to the Tribe getting bounced by the Orioles in 1996 playoffs. Then I think we added one or two from the 1997 Marlins. It was irritating in each case. Alomar's case was mitigated by his brother Sandy being a fan favorite.

Even if he were a top player it is rational to not want to feel compelled to cheer for a player that previously caused you considerable grief.

It took me a little while before I could root for Jim Edmonds in '08.

Well, TOFU started about 1 for 30 before he hit like an MVP the rest of the year.

Lee was the one that hit the big double down the line(tying it maybe? Taking the lead?) I didn't have a problem picking him up the very next season.

Lee was the one that hit the big double down the line(tying it maybe? Taking the lead?) I didn't have a problem picking him up the very next season.

Don't confuse me with facts and logic.

In all seriousness--I never disliked Lee the way I loathed Edmonds over the course of years. And I don't even dislike Castillo really--just hard to shake the effect of that one pitch from my head. Lee's double was almost anti-climactic at that point...even though the Cubs still led, there was this sense of dread/inevitability. If it hadn't been Lee who brought it crashing down, it'd have been someone else.

Actually, I was one of the few who hated the Choi/Lee trade at the time it was made (not because of any particular dislike for Lee, but because I hated to give up on Choi. Not the greatest call I've ever made, I suppose...).

Well, yeah, I guess in hindsight I say I liked picking up Lee. I was pretty pissed at how Choi was handled, but thought they were on the cusp of a championship, and getting a sure thing at 1B was defensible.

meh, when Tony Dungy gets involved maybe I'll start paying attention

Actually, I was one of the few who hated the Choi/Lee trade at the time it was made (not because of any particular dislike for Lee, but because I hated to give up on Choi. Not the greatest call I've ever made, I suppose...).

Ditto, almost to a "T".

I had those dreams of Big Hee Seop going Thome on the NL. Ah, to be young again.

What dreams we had at the start of the decade. Patterson, Choi, Hill, Cruz, Zambrano, Wood, Prior...

Hell. It's been 23 years and post game 6, I still can't stand 1/2 the 86 Mets-Those #@!%$#.
Of course,simply by being themselves, they've made hating them a much easier thing to do

He came up under Felipe Alou. But yea, the rest have been white devils.

Lou Piniella says <strike> hi </strike> watch your wallet.

What dreams we had at the start of the decade. Patterson, Choi, Hill, Cruz, Zambrano, Wood, Prior...

Well, the decade's not over yet...

In all seriousness--I never disliked Lee the way I loathed Edmonds over the course of years. And I don't even dislike Castillo really--just hard to shake the effect of that one pitch from my head. Lee's double was almost anti-climactic at that point...even though the Cubs still led, there was this sense of dread/inevitability. If it hadn't been Lee who brought it crashing down, it'd have been someone else.

No doubt. I was watching that game in a tavern with a bunch of friends, and I knew we were going to lose the series before we even lost the game 6 lead. It was easy to pick out the hardcore Cubs fans and differentiate from the bandwagoners... the long initiated knew what was coming and were already doing the usual grief shuffle, while the others were shaking their heads wondering why they were the only ones that could still see the scoreboard.

Actually, I was one of the few who hated the Choi/Lee trade at the time it was made (not because of any particular dislike for Lee, but because I hated to give up on Choi. Not the greatest call I've ever made, I suppose...).

I don't think you were in the minority --

I was definitely not a fan of that trade. In my mind, we were giving up a cheap .250/.380/.500 hitter for a more expensive one. As I recall, there weren't a whole lot of people around here to argue with on that one... the general consensus was that it was a pointless trade that did nothing but add salary.

the long initiated knew what was coming and were already doing the usual grief shuffle, while the others were shaking their heads wondering why they were the only ones that could still see the scoreboard.

I feel for you guys if you didn't think we had a chance in game 7 following the Wood HR(Or the Alou HR to take the lead.)

Hell. It's been 23 years and post game 6, I still can't stand 1/2 the 86 Mets-Those #@!%$#.

I know exactly what you mean. I have a hatred of Alex Karras that's been burning for over 40 years. Until he walks from Denver to Detroit, I'll continue to despise his no-good rotten ass.

As I recall, there weren't a whole lot of people around here to argue with on that one... the general consensus was that it was a pointless trade that did nothing but add salary.

Right, and Lee was a year away from free agency at the time, so it seemed (if you figured Lee and Choi would be more or less a wash in '04, which didn't seem as ridiculous at the time as it sounds now) that they were trading about 5 years of control of Choi for the right to attempt to sign Derrek Lee to a free agent contract.

I have a hatred of Alex Karras that's been burning for over 40 years. Until he walks from Denver to Detroit, I'll continue to despise his no-good rotten ass.

I still haven't forgiven him either. What a shitty show "Webster" was.

So long as the gigantic check has small numbers on it...

The numbers have to be small or they won't be able to fit enough of them on the giant check.

I feel for you guys if you didn't think we had a chance in game 7 following the Wood HR(Or the Alou HR to take the lead.)

We were leading 3-0 in game 5 in '84, too... been there, done that.

sadly this has been the best decade of cubs baseball in a long time, 3 division titles, 6 winning seasons, a near winning season in 05 (79-83)

Per today's Trib, the Cubs are planning to move Fukudome back to right, "leaving them in the market for a center fielder."

The Cubs are dumb.

Is it irrational for me to not want Castillo in a Cub uniform for the sole reason that he hit the Bartman ball?

Well, I mean we got Lee the next season and Pierre a little bit later.

Clearly we should have bought Jeff Conine or something. Just got the wrong Marlin.