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From an ESPN chat:

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=19046
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A cubs fan asked if a Roberts-to-the-cubs deal is going to happen.

Callis thinks it will, once the Bedard deal gets wrapped up. He also speculates the O's may get more for Roberts than the Twins got for Santana. (I still believe this deal won't go down.)
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An astounded cubs fan asks what it's going to take to acquire Roberts.

Jim says multiple players, "starting with Pie and Gallagher".
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Callis thinks Fielder will hit more HRs than Braun in 2008.
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Jim thinks Rasmus will have a better career than Fernando Martinez. (And no, I don't know who that is and I don't have time to look it up right now.)
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Callis would take Max Scherzer over Chris Perez (though he doesn't explain for what).
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Mr. Callis would select Votto over Daric Barton for a fantasy keeper league, even though "Barton has a better opportunity to play right now".
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Jim would also take Bruce over Kemp (for... something).
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If defense were excluded, Callis would still select Bruce over Braun.
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A fan admonished Callis, insinuating that Bruce may never produce the way Braun did in 2007. This fan cites the best SLG% of a rookie in MLB history.

James verifies he knows Braun stats, but also doubts he will ever slug .634 again. And hence he reaffirms his choice of Bruce.
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The same wants to continue the argument, doubting most people don't have a chance to slug .634.

Callis asks the fan if he would like to be lied to instead of hearing Jim's honest opinion. (I think the kids call that "pwned".)
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Someone asked if the Reds would be wise to move Phillips to SS and bring in a 2B who would hit better than the existing Reds' SS.

James doubts Phillips can handle SS, and states those doubts have followed Brandon since the minors.
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The disgruntled Braun backer states his disappointment with Callis, asking for a "solid explanation".

Jim likes Bruce's bat a little more and his defense a lot more. He finishes by saying, "Braun is a stud, Bruce is just studlier."
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Martinez is the Mets best prospect.

I don't normally like to be a gratuitous Cubs basher, but go ahead and raid the farm for a 30 yr. old, smallish, roided up second baseman whose '05 breakout season coincided with his reputed drug use. I realize we have several HGH/roid guys on our team when I say this, but I still don't want to see us shed potential ML talent to acquire one.

Just another thank you for posting these all the time.

planet pujolsian wrote:I don't normally like to be a gratuitous Cubs basher, but go ahead and raid the farm for a 30 yr. old, smallish, roided up second baseman whose '05 breakout season coincided with his reputed drug use. I realize we have several HGH/roid guys on our team when I say this, but I still don't want to see us shed potential ML talent to acquire one.

Brian Roberts is a very good second baseman. Yes, a huge '05, but a very very solid '07. Pie+Gallagher for Roberts is a steal IMO. It would be the Cards equivalent of Skip+Hawksworth. Granted they're younger. I just mean they're all over matched in the bigs.

Pie>>>Skip+Hawksworth

cardsfansince82 wrote:Pie>>>Skip+Hawksworth

Why? Youth is the only guess I have.

InvincibleCakeEater wrote:

cardsfansince82 wrote:Pie>>>Skip+Hawksworth

Why? Youth is the only guess I have.

Pie is a five tool player and the top prospect in the Cubs organization. He's expected to be a starting centerfielder in the near future. Skip is destined to be a career fourth OFer or AAAA player. What they do well is similar but Pie does it a lot better. From what I've seen I'm not as high on Pie as some Cubs fans seem to be but he still has a ton more trade value than Skip could ever hope to have.

cardsfansince82 wrote:

InvincibleCakeEater wrote:

cardsfansince82 wrote:Pie>>>Skip+Hawksworth

Why? Youth is the only guess I have.

Pie is a five tool player and the top prospect in the Cubs organization. He's expected to be a starting centerfielder in the near future. Skip is destined to be a career fourth OFer or AAAA player. What they do well is similar but Pie does it a lot better. From what I've seen I'm not as high on Pie as some Cubs fans seem to be but he still has a ton more trade value than Skip could ever hope to have.

I hate to say it, but it would be a good trade for the Cubs. Primarily, because they would then move Soriano to the 3, 4, or 5 hole and have Roberts lead off. If there are any players that the Cubs could easily live without, it's these guys. I think that Pie was the top prospect in the Cubs organization. But, that has changed over the last 2 years. I think that the Cubs have seen him really struggle in the majors (in limited time). And, unless they ship off Marquis, the Cubs do have enough starting pitching to let go of Gallagher.