Re: ESPN Headlines - Big Trade

On 26 Nov 2003 09:49:12 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dobbs
Redemption) wrote:

>Lee's home/road splits the last three years:
>
>        BA / OBP/ SLG
>Home:  .242/.371/.419
>Road:  .297/.388/.591
>
>Pro Player has been a tough park for right handed gap hitters.  I
>expect Lee's numbers to jump next year playing half his games at
>Wrigley.  He'll be 28 next year and probably still has some growth
>left as a hitter.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if he makes the All
>Star team and finishes with a .950+ OPS.
>
>Choi has promise but is still a wildcard.  He could progress, or he
>could struggle to be the next Tony Clark.  Florida is looking to dump
>salary, though, and Choi will offer more bang for the buck.  I think
>the trade makes sense for both teams.

Lee's an underrated player, but he'll cost about $6 million more than
Choi this season,  And Choi was decent this season, even with a .218
batting average, which is lower than he is likely to bat in the
future.  He had a secondary average of .335 this season - if he can
keep that up, and raise his batting average to .270 or so he'll be one
of the top young hitters in baseball.

This would make more sense for the Cubs if they had shown a
willingness to pay more in line with their real revenue.  I wouldn't
be surprised if the Cubs were second in baseball in true revenue, once
the underpayments for TV rights and the scalped ticket revenue are
included.  But since they seem to be committed to paying $85 million
in salary this season the extra salary could probably have been better
spent elsewhere.