Not only did we see it coming, I think most of us predicted it. The only real surprise is that it took this long.

Given that Dusty's already talking him up in the papers as a positive acquisition, how long until he's on the major league roster? I'll be shocked if it doesn't happen before the end of the month.

So who had the Cubs in the Who''ll Sign Womack Pool?

Oh, of course - everybody did!

Ah, for the days when the Cubs were just wasting talent rather than making sure they didn't have any.

Can Womack play 1B? Or will Neifi move over and let Womack have 2B?

Transaction mill: The Cubs signed second baseman Tony Womack to a minor-league contract. Womack, who was designated for assignment by Cincinnati last month, hit .222 in nine appearances.

Womack was with the Cubs in 2003, but he hit only .235 while battling an arm problem.

"When we had him before, he was injured," Baker said. "We didn't see the real Tony Womack."

What is it with this guy? In every season in which he's had more than 30ABs he's been absolutely dreadful. Are GMs really thinking his mediocre-but-good-for-him season in 2004 in St. Louis is a true indicator of his talent?

I'm guessing pictures and sheep.

Are GMs really thinking his mediocre-but-good-for-him season in 2004 in St. Louis is a true indicator of his talent?

Yes.

Dusty Baker and Jim Hendry believe that Tony Womack is a guy who's capable of hitting 0.300 and stealing 50 bases if he plays full time.

After a game earlier this year when Glendon Rusch gave up four home runs to the Reds, Dusty Baker dismissed the idea of replacing him in the rotation by saying "we know what Glendon is capable of." In Dusty's mind, a player is "capable of" the best performace that Dusty ever personally witnessed by that player. Hence, Tony Womack is "capable of" hitting a double in the 7th game of the World Series that leads to a dramatic come-from-behind World Championship victory against the greatest reliever in Major League history.

And in case it's not obvious, I vehemently disagree with Hendry and Baker's view of Womack, who is clearly no longer capable of contributing at a Major League level (leaving aside the question of whether he really ever was).

What is it with this guy? In every season in which he's had more than 30ABs he's been absolutely dreadful. Are GMs really thinking his mediocre-but-good-for-him season in 2004 in St. Louis is a true indicator of his talent?

I'm guessing pictures and sheep.

Maybe, but which is really more embarrassing? Fornication with sheep, or signing Tony Womack?

Maybe, but which is really more embarrassing? Fornication with sheep, or signing Tony Womack?

My vote is for signing Womack, because Hendry was caught in the act.

I was going to say "if you're so bad that the Reds DFA you, that pretty much means you're toast."

Then I remembered, the Reds are far ahead of us in the standings. And I died a little.

Ahhh... with Woody back - and Prior back in a month -- NOW all the pieces are in place!

All we need to do now is find the whereabouts of Rey Ordonez.

Dusty Baker and Jim Hendry believe that Tony Womack is a guy who's capable of hitting 0.300 and stealing 50 bases if he plays full time.

So did every Yankee Fan I know about 13 months ago
but when they saw that .273/.316/.356 career hitter playing a corner outfield position (in the midst of a .249/.276/.280 season they reacted appropriately, ie: with disgust

I first read Bill James over 20+ years ago, and have read almost every prominant stathead book since, and that way of looking at a player's stats has bexcome so ingrained in me, that I sometimes forget how I used to look at players, and how most non-stathead fan STILL look at players.

I'm out numbered by Yankee fans in my office, so when I ribbed them last year for signing Womack, they shrugged it off as sour grapes- they REALLY thought he was a GOOD MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER tm. After awhile when they kept saying he's a .300 hitter, and I kept saying he wasn't, one actually looked at BBRef, and said, "Okay, he's a .270-.280 hitter, but that and 50 steals he's still a terrific offensive player"

Of course he is.

Great aquisition cub fans!!

See you in the World Series!!

"Okay, he's a .270-.280 hitter, but that and 50 steals he's still a terrific offensive player"

It's the Jose Macias paradox. Macias was hitting around .300 for much of last year - which is great, until you look closer and see it was something like .300/.320/.340.

He dropped off in September, thankfully, enough for the Cubs to let him go. Otherwise he'd be the 8th 2nd baseman on the roster.

Then I remembered, the Reds are far ahead of us in the standings. And I died a little.

I'm going to take this opportunity to gloat on behalf of Reds fans while this statement is still true. The Reds are beginning the nearly annual swan dive following a strong start, so within a few weeks everything will be right in the world, which includes the Reds standing several games behind the Cubs.

Also, the Reds just signed Joe Mays, so I shouldn't gloat too much.

The Reds are beginning the nearly annual swan dive following a strong start, so within a few weeks everything will be right in the world, which includes the Reds standing several games behind the Cubs.

The Reds are going to have to figure out a way to lose twice a day if they want to drop behind the Cubs.

Believe me, they can find the way to do that

Just bing back Womack as the everyday 2B man, start Joe Mays every 5th day and pitch Arroyo everytime the Pirates are in town

I first read Bill James over 20+ years ago, and have read almost every prominant stathead book since, and that way of looking at a player's stats has bexcome so ingrained in me, that I sometimes forget how I used to look at players, and how most non-stathead fan STILL look at players.

Didn't Bill James have a piece in the 1987 Abstract to the effect that any high school team that played Tony Womack was giving away outs?

Oh, of course - everybody did!

I don't know. I had Jim Bowden. He needs a second baseman.

How could the Reds swan dive when they have the best offense in the NL? And the great Eric Milton!

How could the Reds swan dive when they have the best offense in the NL? And the great Eric Milton!

I bet the Twins would welcome Milton back with open arms.