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From an ESPN chat:

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=15526
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Felix Pie is proving that the Cubs should keep him in the everyday lineup. What should they do with Jones/Murton/Floyd?

Jayson Stark
Well, there are still some questions about whether Pie will hit in the short-term. But he's clearly a major defensive upgrade. I'm hearing the Cubs are trying hard to trade Jacque Jones again. But they didn't have much interest last winter. It will be interesting to see if he looks better to some team now than what it's running out there in left or right.
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When it comes down to a Clemens decision, if he's not going back to Houston, do you feel he'd be more apt to head to Boston based on their seeming to be more set with their pitching lineup other than the 5th starter, or head to NY where they have a bunch of issues? I guess my question is, does he head for the team who seems to be in the best position to win, or the team he thinks he can help the most?

Jayson Stark
I think these assumptions that he'll go back to the Yankees because they need him more are based on a false premise: Roger isn't going to pick any of these teams because THEY need HIM. He's going to choose based on how it works for HIM. He's trying to write a script here. And the script ends with him walking off the mound someplace in October as the crowd roars. So I think it's going to be about which team he feels gives him the best chance to pile up the most wins on the old HOF resume, and which team gives him the best chance to write that script. That team, at this moment, would seem to be the Red Sox. Of course, the other question he'll no doubt ask himself is: "Suppose I go to X team or Y team. Would I be the difference between sitting home in October or riding on a parade float?" If the Yankees right the ship, he could certainly view them that way.
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Whats the latest on Fragile Ben Sheets?

Jayson Stark
Sounds as if they're encouraged and he's encouraged that this won't linger long. I keep waiting for Ben Sheets to win a Cy Young. He had the best strikeout ratio of any NL righthanded starter last year and the best WHIP. All he needs is to sustain it over 35 starts some year, and he'll have a trophy on his shelf.
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What is your take on the recent struggles of the Astros? Can they get it turned around again? Also, do you think Roger will sign with the home team?

Jayson Stark
Boy, that's a hard team to figure. I thought they'd be better offensively than they've been, but they're so righthanded, they're really vulnerable to good righthanded pitching -- especially with Lance Berkman scuffling. They need Brad Lidge to figure it out, and they need Jason Jennings to be healthy. And they NEED Roger. I think he'd stay in Houston if they give him any reason to do that. But so far, they haven't done that.
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What would put the Reds over the top to finish games?

Jayson Stark
I love David Weathers. But if that team could ever come up with a shut-it-down-and-shake-hands closer, in the Nasty Boys mold, it would put all those other bullpen pieces in place. And then that team becomes flat-out dangerous. I don't know who that guy would be, though. There's sure nobody available like that.
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With Ryan Theriot playing well for the cubs do you think that he should be in the every day lineup?

Jayson Stark
Ryan Theriot is one of my favorites. He's one of those energizer players that teams can feed off of. But unless they can fix this roster logjam, it's going to be tricky fitting him in there every day. He might be the first guy to play seven days a week in seven different positions. (Just kidding.) But close!
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Miguel Cabrera and Pujols have to be in the "important offensive forces" discussion right? If you mean what percentage of the run creating they're responsible for, then they must be.

Jayson Stark
Good names. Let's add them to the list. Bonds, Vlad, Pujols, Cabrera. Are we missing anyone else?

(I guess Rolen no longer counts. Ouch.)
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Berkman in Houston. He's just about the only consistent offensive weapon they have.

Jayson Stark
I'm getting a bunch of names now that don't fit the criteria. Berkman has Carlos Lee. ARod has the best lineup in baseball around him. We're talking about which teams couldn't function or score anywhere near the same amount of runs without one invaluable hitter. I haven't been convinced by any other name you guys have submitted beside our current foursome -- Vlad, Barry, Pujols and Cabrera.
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Jason Bay in Pitt. It's hard to name any other batters that matter in that lineup.

Jayson Stark
Interesting nomination. Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez are supposed to be his big supporting cast. But not this year.
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When will tracy wise up and put matt capps in at closer where he belongs and quit putting games at risk with Torres ?

Jayson Stark
How about this: Two Pirates questions in a row. Might be a chatting record. I was asking that question in spring training, too. But the manager told me he thought Torres had earned the right to hold this job. He's obviously trying to show as much patience and loyalty as he can. But sooner or later, Capps is their best option.
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Jason Bay? Vernon Wells? Adrian Gonzalez? um.. Ryan Zimmerman?

Jayson Stark
Ryan Zimmerman is a GREAT name. I'm adding him to the group, even if that team has no postseason aspirations whatsoever -- not for this postseason, anyway.
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Oh please, what's with the Marlin bashing. Hanley Ramirez manufactures runs, as does Uggla & Willingham, they wouldn't win the wild card (which they will this year) without Cabrera, but they certainly wouldn't be the Royals or Nats.

Jayson Stark
I don't recall bashing the Marlins at any point in this chat. Just because I said Cabrera is their most invaluable player, I'm bashing them? Settle down. Hanley Ramirez is a tremendous player. But Cabrera is as Pujols-esque as any player in the National League. That's all I said, and all I meant.
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(a follow-up to the above question, asked by the thin-skinned man)

I apologize for overreacting, I just wanted to hear you discuss the Fish.

Jayson Stark
That was pretty tricky. But I'm onto you now. Don't let it happen again!
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mikechamp wrote: Felix Pie is proving that the Cubs should keep him in the everyday lineup. What should they do with Jones/Murton/Floyd?

Jayson Stark
Well, there are still some questions about whether Pie will hit in the short-term. But he's clearly a major defensive upgrade. I'm hearing the Cubs are trying hard to trade Jacque Jones again. But they didn't have much interest last winter. It will be interesting to see if he looks better to some team now than what it's running out there in left or right.
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The Cubs should trade Jones for a bad single A prospect on the Braves. That would help both teams. The Braves need help in LF and the Cubs need to clean out some space on their roster. To many players that either play the same positions or provide the same skills.

Jeff Gordon said that Jacque Jones could hit 337 home runs this season. Who wouldn't want to trade for that?

a sad realization I had while reading that: I think you might be able to make a strong argument that the Marlins lineup is better than the Cards.

clevername wrote:a sad realization I had while reading that: I think you might be able to make a strong argument that the Marlins lineup is better than the Cards.

Its a lot tougher to make the reverse argument. The Cardinals have a bottom tier lineup. That becomes more apparent when Albert doesn't personally carry the team to at least average run production.

clevername wrote:a sad realization I had while reading that: I think you might be able to make a strong argument that the Marlins lineup is better than the Cards.

It very much is. They have the advantage at every position besides first base (and Jacobs is no stiff).

clevername wrote:a sad realization I had while reading that: I think you might be able to make a strong argument that the Marlins lineup is better than the Cards.

Thus far, they definitely do. Marlins have 117 runs scored, leading the NL. The Cardinals have scored 77, better than only the Nats, Pirates, and Giants.