Joe Morgan's NL Central comments

[mikechamp]

From an ESPN chat. This was going on at the same time as Neyer's.

And who will be the first one to find the Yogi-ism?

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=15334
=============

True or false: Cuban + Cubs = end of championship drought

Joe Morgan
I don't know if baseball wants someone like Mark Cuban, someone who's sort of a rebel. I don't know if the owners would accept someone like him. But the players love him.
----------------------------

I was wondering where you would rank Griffey on the list of best outfielders of all time? If he'd stayed healthy, do you think he could have been the best ever?

Joe Morgan
Well, you can't rank them 1 through 10, because there have been a lot of great outfielders. But he is in the top echelon. He was great defensively and he has over 500 home runs.
----------------------------

(This question may or may not have been asked by pinacle. We're still trying to get confirmation.)

WHO DO YOU THIK CLEMENS WILL RETURN WITH OR IF AT ALL

Joe Morgan
I saw Roger in the winter and he hadn't made up his mind and I don't think he has yet. In my mind there's only one place he can go and that's Houston, but they're not playing well right now.
----------------------------

Do grittier players like David Eckstein do better in the cold weather?

Joe Morgan
No. I don't think there's any specific type of player that will play better in the colder weather. I think the player that can focus better will do better in the adverse weather. You need to stay in the moment.
----------------------------

Hey Joe, the Astros may be in trouble because of their pitching situation... do you see a solution when it comes to their closer?

Joe Morgan
The closer is always important. You don't want to lose games that you've won. But their offense is inconsistent too. I think Oswalt is as good a pitcher as there is in the league.
----------------------------

Who are you surprised about the most after the first week? It can be an individual player or an entire team. And do you think we saw the real Carl Pavano last night in Minnesota?

Joe Morgan
Probably Milwaukee. I thought they would get off to a good start. If you're going to pick a dark horse, it's them. They have a lot of young players.
----------------------------

With Lidge being removed as closer...do you think the Astros trade him, keep him in a setup role, or does he earn his spot as closer with the Astros?

Joe Morgan
It's difficult because he's tried to get back on track ever since Pujols hit that home run in the playoffs. It has to be a mental thing and he says he's tougher than anyone else out there.
----------------------------

[taxman]

True, Joe, you don't want to lose games you've already won.

And two Astros comments without ripping on Biggio? He's getting soft.

[heyzeus]

Milwaukee has a lot of young players. Yes, Joe. But are they good young players?

[StL Dan]

I loved the "can't lose games you've won" comment, too.

Classic.

[Asmodai]

Well, you can't rank them 1 through 10, because there have been a lot of great outfielders.

sure you can.....idiot

[omaha_red]

Well, you can't rank them 1 through 10, because there have been a lot of great outfielders.

sure you can.....idiot

let's remember guys.. this is the same guy that said this..

I think Dusty Baker was the right fit in Chicago, if they had a good team. They don't have a good team.
I think Lou will be a good fit, if they have a good team.

[mikechamp]

True, Joe, you don't want to lose games you've already won.

That's the one I was looking for.

Congrats, taxman.

[skmsw]

No one is harder on Joe Morgan than I am. It's always been beyond me that a player who is such a textbook case of the value of certain skills, can be so oblivious to the value of those very skills.

that said, I didn't disagree with any of his remarks in this chat. I even understood what he meant about "not losing games you've won" and not being able to rank the ten best outfielders ever.

[GatewaySnayke]

True or false: Cuban + Cubs = end of championship drought

Joe Morgan
I don't know if baseball wants someone like Mark Cuban, someone who's sort of a rebel. I don't know if the owners would accept someone like him. But the players love him.

That didn't answer the question.

I was wondering where you would rank Griffey on the list of best outfielders of all time? If he'd stayed healthy, do you think he could have been the best ever?

Joe Morgan
Well, you can't rank them 1 through 10, because there have been a lot of great outfielders. But he is in the top echelon. He was great defensively and he has over 500 home runs.

Nor that.

Hey Joe, the Astros may be in trouble because of their pitching situation... do you see a solution when it comes to their closer?

Joe Morgan
The closer is always important. You don't want to lose games that you've won. But their offense is inconsistent too. I think Oswalt is as good a pitcher as there is in the league.

Neither did that. In fact, how did Oswalt's name even get brought up?!?!

I'll be looking forward to this one on FJM later.

[mikechamp]

Oh, I understood what he meant with the winning and the losing.

I just thought it was funny to see Joe Morgan do a Yogi impersonation... without openly admitting he was trying to.