[Editor's Note: What follows is the third edition of a new series of regular posts that you will start to see here on MSF called Wendell Willkie's Spam Cleansing (WWSC for short).
Throughout the day I participate in email conversations with friends about hot sports topics. One of my friends in particular is very active in these conversations. This is that friend.]
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The back pages of the virtual espn.com newspaper this morning report Adam LaRoche signing a 1 year contract with the AZ Dbacks for $4.5M.
Why should you care?
Well, LaRoche is not an All-Star caliber 1B despite mashing 25 deep flies in ’09, but remains a very quality 1B for most MLB teams. In 2009, LaRoche made $7M and began this off season seeking a $10M multi-year deal.  Certainly the $10M is a debatable starting point, yet you would anticipate the floor to be around $7M for a guy just turning 30.
Considering the Cubs paid slightly more for Marlon Byrd, who is two years older and has a weaker career OBP, and who also has 76 LESS career home runs with only 211 less career ABs, indicates the Cubs’ hastiness to find a mediocre OF option.  The Cubs are entering ANOTHER season not addressing their ongoing (several years now) lead-off challenge.
Soriano hitting lead-off (again) on opening day? Please.
Co, LaRoche takes a huge pay cut and the Cubs give Byrd a 66% raise. Does anyone honestly believe more players will be getting raises in salary this year? The only good thing about the Cubs’ lack of financial prudence is it is NOT my money!!!
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Who is Wendell Willkie? Wouldn’t you like to know.
The pseudonym was inspired by the very Wendell Willkie who is an Indiana University legend and democrat turncoat who ran for president against FDR in 1940; however, the man behind the pseuodonym shall otherwise remain nameless.
Jerod simply posts WW’s ramblings here to help unclog his inbox (hence, the spam cleansing) and because there are occasional nuggets of insight that provide good jumping off points for conversation.
So go, converse. WW will undoubtedly be back soon with more email ramblings…
