[Pun]

From the Chicago Trib's rumor section:

Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka just turned 26, which is why so many teams, including the Cubs, are considering joining the Yankees in pursuit of him once the Seibu Lions begin the posting process. Matsuzaka finished the regular season 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA. He's more attractive than prospective free agents like Zito, Mike Mussina and Jason Schmidt.

So, realistically, what are the Cubs' chances of landing this guy? From everything I have read, I would much rather have him than Zito or Schmidt. Here is a video of him pitching in Japan. He looks to have some pretty electric stuff. Check out the breaking ball at the 50 second mark. It's fucking sick! There is no way an MLB hitter is going to hit that. The pitches before and after it aren't bad either.

The same page also lists a rumor (a wish actually) of A-Rod in Cubs pinstipes.

The Cubs can't afford to let Aramis Ramirez get away for nothing. He could be a valuable bargaining chip if the Yankees decide to trade Alex Rodriguez. Another bad postseason and New York will deal him. Could he be reunited with Lou Piniella at Wrigley Field? ... An intriguing package would be Piniella with a two- or three-year contract and a manager-in-training (Japanese import Trey Hillman, for example) as his bench coach and future replacement.

I don't know if I would want A-Rod. I think the pressure of winning in Chicago would actually be greater than in NY. If he can't handle it there, how is he going to handle being the expected savior of a team that is supposed to get them out of a century of futility?

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Zito to the Giants

7 years, $126M. That's just fucking insane and that's not even mentioning the 8th year option to make it $144M.

Fuck the owners in general and fuck the Giants for just being stupid.

[National Champion Chris Cole]

There goes the thought of trading Johnson and the Yanks signing Zito. I still wouldn't mind trading Johnson and going into the season with what we have and hope to get Clemens in June. The Yankees need to get younger so using Hughes, Sanchez, Rasner, or Karstens as insurance if Pavano flames out again is fune by me for now.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

I'd still trade Johnson for someone like Conor Jackson and a prospect.

You're still looking at:
Wang
Moose
Pettitte
Igawa
Proctor (?)

plus Clemens/Karstens/Hughes/Sanchez

So what does Zito's deal mean for guys like Zambrano or Santana? This is worse than what Benson's Mets deal meant to mid-level pitchers. Can the owners show some fucking restraint?

[National Champion Chris Cole]

I don't like Proctor in the rotation. I wonder how Lucky feels about that considering his feelings towards Heilman. I think it currently stands at Wang, Moose, Pettitte, Igawa, and Pavano (I know it is easy to forget about him. He'll miss all of 2007 with a hangnail most likely).

I'm content going in with that and Karstens/Hughes/Sanchez or Proctor filling in if Pavano or any of the others go down. Go ahead and trade Randy while we can still get something.

[Jack Quinn]

Hey Solly

How's that "Zito WILL sign with the Mets" theory going?

Gotta love that Mets rotation now!

HA!

[DevSop]

I wanted Zito as much as anyone probably for the Mets rotation, but that contract is an absolute joke. NO Pitcher in baseball is worth 8 years and $144 million dollars. NONE.

I'm not happy going into the season with Glavine, Duque, Maine, Perez, and Pelfrey but I'd rather that than Zito at $18 million for 8 years. We have good enough talent in the minors where if a starting pitcher is an absolute necessity at some point we can make a deal. Signing Zito would have negated that possibility for years. I'd rather see how the team competes in the first month of the season with the put-together rotation they have and then they decide what to do.

The Oakland pitchers are always available for the right deals. If the Cubs fall out of the race and realize they can't/won't sign Zambrano-he'd be available. The Giants and Indians I believe are both working with mediocre 6-deep staffs. There are options out there MUCH better than Zito at $18 per for 8 years. The highest I would have gone for him would have been around 15-16 for 5, maybe a 6th performance based option.

LUDICROUS DEAL

[Jack Quinn]

I am not denying the deal is insane, it is. What I think is so funny is that the majority of Mets fans had in pitching at Shea next year as a given.

I said all along that there was no way he was going to sign there.

And really, I think the Mets not signing Zito really keeps things very even in the NL East. Zito would have given the Mets the decided advantage, now, not so much

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Not just Mets fans Cyclops, the majority of espn.com's readers did too. A poll listed them as the best fit for Zito and it made complete sense from top to bottom. It took the worst contract in history not to make that happen. I like Zito a lot, but not to that tune.

Glavine, Duque, Maine, Perez and Pelfrey/Humber/Williams... it ain't great but it's better than last year when we trotted out Zambrano, Lima and Gonzalez.

This is fine, I was bored clinching the division by Memorial Day, this'll make it more interesting.

[Jack Quinn]

fsolomon75 said:

Not just Mets fans Cyclops, the majority of espn.com's readers did too. A poll listed them as the best fit for Zito and it made complete sense from top to bottom. It took the worst contract in history not to make that happen. I like Zito a lot, but not to that tune.

yes, but who was saying all along that it wouldn't happen? The same guy that said the Mets wouldn't go wire-to-wire last year

Glavine, Duque, Maine, Perez and Pelfrey/Humber/Williams... ain't great

cleaned that up for you

This is fine, I was bored clinching the division by Memorial Day, this'll make it more interesting.

if by interesting you mean "second place" then you should love this season!

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Welcome back, here's a smite for you.

[Pun]

Hendry has said that extending Zambrano is his next priority. This deal is going to make that tough. However, Z is the gem of Hendry's farm system from back when he was in charge of all scouting. I don't see Hendry letting him get away. I think a deal will get done during Spring Training.

Besides, Devil, I don't think the Mutts have the pieces to get him in a trade. They have no need for another OF, so Milledge is out. And I'm not sure the pitchers you have in the minors would be enough. If Z goes on the block, it's going to have to be for at least 2 can't miss prospects, probably other pitchers.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

2 can't-miss prospects? That's a lot for a rent-a-pitcher headcase in his walk year.

[Jack Quinn]

Pun

This is where the Mets fan declare that they are 100% certain that they will land Dontrelle for a A level prospect because "he is ready to pitch in New York"

They will then insist that the Angels are going to trade Jared Weaver to the Mets for Lastings Milledge because Milledge is a "five tool player who is ready to start in the OF" only, not for them, because Alou and Green are just too good to replace

Then after all that settles, they will reveal that they still won't move Heilman to the rotation, and instead they will reacquire Scott Kazmir for Maine, then trade Kazmir to whichever team ends up signing Jeff Weaver, acquiring the man that shut them down in the NLCS, giving them the advantage.

And none of this is debatable, it WILL happen. Just like Zito pitching in Shea....

......oops

[Pun]

For a guy who is going to command more than Zito just got? Yeah, that's what it's going to take. Actually, it might end up being 1 can't miss and a decent prospect, but it will probably be at least 2 guys guaranteed to make the roster. Besides, he showed last season he can keep his emotions in check.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Get your digs in, you got them in last year too and we fucking ran away with it.

[Jack Quinn]

and how'd that work out for you in the end?

World Series Titles Won in 2006[/u]

Philadelphia Phillies - 0
New York Mets - 0

[The Jewish Cunthead]

You picked the Phils to win the division in '06 - how'd that work out for ya?

[Jack Quinn]

not so good, but the end result is the same.

there is one category the Mets did beat the Phillies in though....

100 million Dollar Outfielders Who Struck Out Looking For The Final Out Of The NLCS[/u]

New York Mets - 1
Philadelphia Phillies - 0

[The Jewish Cunthead]

[atothej]

You forgot about the bases loaded, making the strikeout-looking even worse. Although I'm still willing to bet that Burrell would've done the same (albeit at a significant discount).

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Two Philly fans busting my balls now?

Where's the suicide smiley?

[atothej]

Well, we got nothing to talk to Giants fans about, so we've gotta go after the Mets. Also, you'll have your chances to get your shots in on me given my Moose-like dual fandom of the Indians.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

You guys fucking kill me. Whatever happened to rooting for the team you grew up with? Just because I'm not in New Jersey anymore doesn't mean I have to start being a Padres, Chargers or Kings/Ducks fan.

[Jack Quinn]

which is shocking. If I were a Mets fan (which makes me sick just thinking about it) I would be actively searching for another team to root for.