Theo Epstein Sploosh Thread

[Yeti]

With news that AJ Burnett is going to pitch I would love it if the Cubs offered him a short term deal (1 or 2 years, max) at a high rate of pay.

Pretty much just like paying for prospects if he gives you anything close to what he gave the Pirates last year.

MLB network seems to think the Orioles will be going after him.

I don't think he's putting off retirement to pitch for a team that's about to lose 90 games.

You don't know that. It's entirely possible he's got a shitload of alimony or child support to pay. Or he bought too many houses.

Whatever, if a team can overpay him for a short year or 2 of service it's the Cubs.

Also, like I said, going to the Cubs is actually a much safer way to get on a winning team. He'd basically get to pick his best choice halfway through the season instead of taking a leap with Baltimore, or whatever.

All jokes aside, I do love the idea of getting Burnett.

[Saul Goodman]

With news that AJ Burnett is going to pitch I would love it if the Cubs offered him a short term deal (1 or 2 years, max) at a high rate of pay.

Pretty much just like paying for prospects if he gives you anything close to what he gave the Pirates last year.

MLB network seems to think the Orioles will be going after him.

I don't think he's putting off retirement to pitch for a team that's about to lose 90 games.

You don't know that. It's entirely possible he's got a shitload of alimony or child support to pay. Or he bought too many houses.

Whatever, if a team can overpay him for a short year or 2 of service it's the Cubs.

Also, like I said, going to the Cubs is actually a much safer way to get on a winning team. He'd basically get to pick his best choice halfway through the season instead of taking a leap with Baltimore, or whatever.

All jokes aside, I do love the idea of getting Burnett.

I don't care about Burnett, but having more players who other teams might be willing to overpay for in July sounds good to me.

[Quality Start Machine]

The Cubs dropped some dough on Jason Hammel.

He's..uh...tall, and he brings Matt Clement's Amish Tickler back to Wrigley Field. But he's not very good at pitching.

[Brownie]

The Cubs dropped some dough on Jason Hammel.

He's..uh...tall, and he brings Matt Clement's Amish Tickler back to Wrigley Field. But he's not very good at pitching.

Judging by the most similar guy to him, I think Oleg would approve.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

The Cubs dropped some dough on Jason Hammel.

He's..uh...tall, and he brings Matt Clement's Amish Tickler back to Wrigley Field. But he's not very good at pitching.

Fangraphs has him with WAR of 3.7, 3.8, 1.4, 2.6 and 0.7 in his past five seasons on the strength of a sub-4.00 FIP and xFIP in '09, '10 and '12 (and a sub-4.00 ERA in '12). Baseball-Reference is far less generous.

He apparently had issues with an elbow strain last season.

Seems like a decent enough bounce-back candidate for the Cubes at this point.

[Bort]

The Cubs dropped some dough on Jason Hammel.

He's..uh...tall, and he brings Matt Clement's Amish Tickler back to Wrigley Field. But he's not very good at pitching.

Judging by the most similar guy to him, I think Oleg would approve.

I'm not saying I LOLed, but there was an audible chuckle.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

The Cubs dropped some dough on Jason Hammel.

He's..uh...tall, and he brings Matt Clement's Amish Tickler back to Wrigley Field. But he's not very good at pitching.

Judging by the most similar guy to him, I think Oleg would approve.

I'm not saying I LOLed, but there was an audible chuckle.

I grinned a big grin.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

On a more serious note, as pointed out in the shoutbox, check out Hammel's #3 most similar pitcher and #4 most similar through age 30.

[Yeti]

On a more serious note, as pointed out in the shoutbox, check out Hammel's #3 most similar pitcher and #4 most similar through age 30.

And most similar at 27

[Chuck to Chuck]

Always a good day to see Shawn Boskie's name.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

On a more serious note, as pointed out in the shoutbox, check out Hammel's #3 most similar pitcher and #4 most similar through age 30.

And most similar at 27

On a more serious note.

[Yeti]

On a more serious note, as pointed out in the shoutbox, check out Hammel's #3 most similar pitcher and #4 most similar through age 30.

And most similar at 27

On a more serious note.

Sincerely

[InternetApex]

Always a good day to see Shawn Boskie's name.

Quit pretending you didn't hate him.

[InternetApex]

On a more serious note, as pointed out in the shoutbox, check out Hammel's #3 most similar pitcher and #4 most similar through age 30.

And most similar at 27

Boof Bonser
Dick Pole
Dave Bush
Tone Arm Jew
Lil Stoner

This guy's in really hilariously-named company. If he never pitches a meaningful inning for the Cubs, we'll always have this.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Always a good day to see Shawn Boskie's name.

Quit pretending you didn't hate him.

Back when Boskie came up, I had high hopes for him.  I never hated him.  Just disappointed.