Dave,
You told me you think my Cubs need to redo their roster. Let's FF about a month here, assuming the Cubs lose more than 1 or 2 games between now and then. Who do you trade, who do you keep, and how do you start preparing for next year?

Would you consider trading for Soriano NOW to have a better chance to sign him come winter, or would the cost of good-to-top prospects plus his salary (4-6 years at $12-15 mm per sound reasonable?) be too much considering this season is o-v-e-r?

Other than that, I dont see how you let anyone but Rusch and maybe Wood walk from the pitching, and other than CF (Pie???) where else do you want to add a difference maker unless you can dump Frenchy Jones?

Please take a min to play Cubs GM for me.

Thanks!

Chris in Germany

I have a question about your work as a researcher. I know a lot of times we will see stats like, Going back to 1978, only one pitchers has _________________.

Are those dates in any way meaningful?

Is that just as far back as the researcher got before he ran out of time / energy?

Are they kind of skewed to make the stat seem more impressive (The feat may have happened 3 times from 1972-1977, but only once since)?

Or are they someones idea of a modern era?

I get this from reading a certain recent article on a certain sports news website about the true definiton of the "modern era." The author, who btw i think is brilliant, came up with the year 1969 as the general limit of the modern era.

Thanks!
Chris

The Cubs have to trade Wood for whatever they can get. He's due 13.5 Million next year if the Cubs pick up his option, if not then he walks for nothing. He's not worth a lot right now, but the Cubs could certainly get a useful part for him. Pierre is similarly worthless, except perhaps more so because his decline looks real and irreversible. Single-tool guys don't age well.
The Cubs' most tradeable part is Ramirez, but they would really have to get blown away by a deal for that - somebody like Papelbon or Milledge, and neither of those terams need a 3B. Of the contenders who need help at 3rd (SF and SD), neither has the bullets to deal for Ramirez. If Rusch could string together a few decent starts some teams might be interested, but that's unlikely. Maddux should be dealt, but won't bring back any kind of elite prospect at this point. And dealing for Soriano is exactly the wrong move. The Cubs don't need another impatient hitter, especially one as defensively challenged as Alfonso.
The Cubs best move, at this point, would be firing Dusty Baker and Jim Hendry. But that's not gonna happen.