Buster Olney's NL Central comments

[mikechamp]

From an ESPN chat:

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=15590
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Buster Olney
Hey, folks, sad day, following the death of Josh Hancock. We can talk about that, or whatever else is on your mind...
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Do you think Jeff Weaver made a deal w/ St Louis that he would sign a big contract somewhere else, pitch horribly, get released and then come back to St. Louis and dominate while someone else is paying him to do it? It worked for him last year.

Buster Olney
Boy, it seems like he's headed down the path. Stories from Greg Johns in the SEattle P-I today made it sound like the Mariners may skip him in the rotation, going forward. He's got a two-year deal, so I can't imagine the Mariners dumping him as quickly as the Angels did last year. Still wish, for his sake, that he had gone back to St. Louis.
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How much help do you think Jason Jennings will be when he comes off the DL?

Buster Olney
I've heard the Astros are really worried about Jennings. So if they get a lot of help, they might be pleasantly surprised.
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Who's a better shot to succeed from here, a struggling Wainwright or a yet-to-be-called-up Garza?

Buster Olney
I'd bet on Garza, simply because you wonder about the St. Louis offense, going forward.
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How long until the Yanks offer Clemens 30 million dollars to just officially start the comeback and be ready by July 1st?

Buster Olney
A really interesting aspect of this whole Torre/job status thing is the Clemens part of this. Written here before that I think Clemens will wind up re-signing with the Astros, but I'd have to think that if Torre is fired, that would do serious damage to the Yankees' chances for signing Clemens. They have great respect for each other, and I wonder how Roger would feel pitching for a different manager in the maelstrom of NY.
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Rich Hill, the #1 starter for the Cubs next year? With or without Zambrano.

Buster Olney
Zambrano, because of his raw stuff. But as Peter Gammons says, Rich Hill is turning into Barry Zito before our eyes (Zito of 2002-2003...)
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Is there any way the Brewers get Chad Cordero? That would be a nasty 1-2-3 punch from the 7th inning on.

Buster Olney
When you think of Chad Cordero and trade possibilities, remember what occurred last year, with Alfonso Soriano. Jim Bowden, the Nats' GM, had a price in his head -- and that happened to be a much, much higher price than anybody was willing to pay. Right now, other teams have real questions about Cordero's stuff, and whether or not his heavy workload of two years ago has taken something out of his arm -- but I don't think Jim will lower his price on Cordero, in part because there is so little pitching available. So my guess is that again, there will be an impasse, and Cordero won't get traded.
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Any updates on Zambrano's contract?

Buster Olney
I think that if the Tribune Suits called Jim Hendry today and told him that the $85 million-$90 million proposed deal is approved, it would get done. But let's face it, at some point, there will be a tipping point, and Zambrano -- who could be looking at $120 million-$150 million as a free agent -- will say, 'you know what, forget it, I'm going to test the free agent market.' Maybe that will be May 15, maybe July 15, I don't know. But every day that goes by increases the likelihood that Zambrano will walk.
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Looks like Cubs fans keep giving you manure questions to shovel.

Buster Olney
Ouch.

(This Q&A stems from an earlier Q&A about Buster's days growing up on a farm, in which he had to milk cows, bale hay and shovel manure.)
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what do you think of the Pirates this year? If the pitching can keep up, then the hitting has to come along right? I think they can compete with the Brewers and the rest the whole year.

Buster Olney
They'll be in the race the whole year, because no team in that division is good enough to run away and hide -- and between Gorzelanny, Snell, Maholm, they'll always be competitive. If I had a mulligan, I would probably pick the Brewers to win the division, because of their pitching depth (I picked St. Louis, preseason...)
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[Hungary Jack]

Looks like Cubs fans keep giving you manure questions to shovel.

Buster Olney
Ouch.

LOL. But honestly, doesn't Olney/ESPN get to choose the questions that get answered during these chats? If so, why bother with this one (outside of comic relief?)

[Michael]

I wonder if the real reason the Cubs haven't resigned Z is they are worried that he's injured.

[mikechamp]

I wonder if the real reason the Cubs haven't resigned Z is they are worried that he's injured.

I really think it has to do with the impending sale of the team... and part of the TV network.

[Dillagii]

Buster Olney
Hey, folks, sad day, following the death of Josh Hancock. We can talk about that, or whatever else is on your mind...
----------------------------

Do you think Jeff Weaver made a deal w/ St Louis that he would sign a big contract somewhere else, pitch horribly, get released and then come back to St. Louis and dominate while someone else is paying him to do it? It worked for him last year.

Buster Olney
Boy, it seems like he's headed down the path. Stories from Greg Johns in the SEattle P-I today made it sound like the Mariners may skip him in the rotation, going forward. He's got a two-year deal, so I can't imagine the Mariners dumping him as quickly as the Angels did last year. Still wish, for his sake, that he had gone back to St. Louis.
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Weaver signed a one-year deal, didnt he?

[Ace]

Buster Olney
Hey, folks, sad day, following the death of Josh Hancock. We can talk about that, or whatever else is on your mind...
----------------------------

Do you think Jeff Weaver made a deal w/ St Louis that he would sign a big contract somewhere else, pitch horribly, get released and then come back to St. Louis and dominate while someone else is paying him to do it? It worked for him last year.

Buster Olney
Boy, it seems like he's headed down the path. Stories from Greg Johns in the SEattle P-I today made it sound like the Mariners may skip him in the rotation, going forward. He's got a two-year deal, so I can't imagine the Mariners dumping him as quickly as the Angels did last year. Still wish, for his sake, that he had gone back to St. Louis.
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Weaver signed a one-year deal, didnt he?

That is correct, for 8.25 million.

[MDCardsFan]

Buster Olney
Hey, folks, sad day, following the death of Josh Hancock. We can talk about that, or whatever else is on your mind...
----------------------------

Do you think Jeff Weaver made a deal w/ St Louis that he would sign a big contract somewhere else, pitch horribly, get released and then come back to St. Louis and dominate while someone else is paying him to do it? It worked for him last year.

Buster Olney
Boy, it seems like he's headed down the path. Stories from Greg Johns in the SEattle P-I today made it sound like the Mariners may skip him in the rotation, going forward. He's got a two-year deal, so I can't imagine the Mariners dumping him as quickly as the Angels did last year. Still wish, for his sake, that he had gone back to St. Louis.
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Weaver signed a one-year deal, didnt he?

Yup. Buster wiffed on that one.

[jim]

That would be too bizarre if Weaver came back.

Not a big fan of Weaver, I didn't fault the Cards taking a pass. But depending on Carpenter, he just could be worth taking a second chance on if he's available and Seattle will eat some of the cash.

[Michael]

If he comes back and he's successful the Card's could sign him for a nickel.

[mikechamp]

If he comes back and he's successful the Card's could sign him for a nickel.

Now, now. Don't get too excited. He's still represented by Boras.