CubinNY

Stone's gonna be on the radio with Ed Farmer and Chris Singleton. Farmer's a homer, but obviously can't compare with Hawk. That quote about the rough water, was one he specifically used about the '04 team. Were you referencing that, or is that a coincidence? I was referencing the quote. I guess I ddin't read the thread very well, I thought he was going to be on TV with Hawk and DJ. Nevermind :oops:

Yeah...Jason Marquis got 24 over 3 and has never been a quarter of the pitcher Dontrelle Willis is. Jason Marquis 2007 ERA+: 101 Dontrelle Willis 2007 ERA+: 83 Jason Marquis is not good. Dontrelle Willis, aside from an amazing 2005, hasn't been particularly great, either. Average to slightly above average, sure. Not great, though. And nowhere near where his name recognition has placed him in the league. You aren't seriously saying Marquis compares Willis are you? Willis's career ERA+ is 110, Marquis has only had one season with an ERA+ over 110.

Stone is very professional but I cannot see this ending well with Hawk in the booth. The first time Kenny boy whines about the umps or the "breaks" always going the other way I can see Stone saying something like "don't tell me how rough the water is hawk, they need to bring in the boat".

Sure there was, take him to arbitration. Give him a reasonable contract and extension. Those are two. Here's another, not treat him like a rented mule and then insinuate he's a [expletive] to anyone that will listen.

IMO, there's nothing necessarily wrong with a "tools" assessment. However, I think the assessment should have some objective anchors outside of subjective observations. I see too many, "he has a full scholarship to a D-I football program" in many scouting reports. Although that piece of information may show that the player in question is a good football player it says nothing about baseball.

Cedeno may be reborn as a utility guy?

Don't mind me while I laugh at this post

That's a statement beyond stupid. Food for thought.

Sosa was mentioned in relation to amphetimines not steriods. And it was about overhearing a conversation that Sosa was having with Tejada. I know it's hard not to try to drag Sammy through the mud on this one, but let's at least get our facts straight.

Zell has a stake in the Sox. I don't think Canning does too, although I'm not positive about that. Let's straighten this part out. Canning has an 11% ownership interest in the Brewers. Zell has a 7% ownership interest in the White Sox. Thanks, the Brewers then. Well, I'd say the odds of him owning the Cubs went from overwhelming to pert'near

I actually like this game that Mariotti is playing. Mariotti, for better or for worse, is an incredibly popular sports columnist. I have my doubts about how effective his game may be, but there's a decent chance that Canning could be passed over despite being the favorite among Selig and his ilk if Cuban's bid is larger and proves to have the financial wherewithal to support the team after the sale. The stakes are really high for Selig if they select Canning in this case, because if he fails to build success on the North Side, there is going to be significant backlash and people are really going to begin calling into question as to how the MLB is selecting its owners. A slim chance, but I think that possibility is in play. Cuban is an overwhelming favorite amongst Cub fans to buy the team, and being as concerned about PR and profitability as Selig is, he might want to avoid the trouble if Cuban's bid is equal to or greater than Canning's. All speculation on my part, it's quite possible that Canning could be better suited to financially steward our franchise, but if he's not and gets the team anyway, it could get pretty interesting, especially around here. Does anyone know what the remaining steps are to selling the team? I assume that since the three finalists are now able to look at the books that all that is left is a submission of the bids and evidence of the bidder's financial ability to support the team long-term. Anyone know for sure? I don't know what steps are next. But history tells us that baseball owners sell to other baseball owners. Loria and Henry were both minority owners before they were able to buy teams outright. Henry held a large minority stake in the Yankees for years before they let him have the Marlins and Loria owned 35% of the Expos. Since Canning already has a stake in the WS I'd say the chances of him being the next owner of the Cubs are overwhelming. Cuban has a Chinaman's chance of owning the Cubs, which is to say not much of one.

For some reason I'm picturing a guy laughing as he's making this stuff up. I also picture 25 "guests" refreshing this page after each teaser. Putting stock in message board rumors is never a good idea.

Why are you gettng angry?

He should probably join the TV booth instead to fill the roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes of blank air Hawk leaves available when the Sox are losing. LOL.There is gonna be alot of that tihs year. Music to my ears. All the more reason for WGN to drop the Sox games and add more Cubs games! Add more Cubs games? But the old "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "The Jeffersons" reruns are ratings gold! Gold, I tell you! Don't forget American Idol Rewind. I can't get enought of Justin and Kelly, Clay and the fat man, and the non-descipts from the rest of the years.

He doesn't speak English, they could tell him that's a chicago cheer. I don't think booing effects most players as much as we think it does. I could be wrong though.

I'm fine with the deal b/c Murton and Patterson had no future with the Cubs. Sean hurts, but you have to give up some percieved value for Roberts. I think the Cubs gave too much, but as long as they weren't intending to give a shot to Murton (in LF to start) and playing patterson out of positon (how bad can his defense be?) It really is a good trade for the Cubs. They gave up little (in their eyes) to get a pretty good 2nd baseman. I hope Murton tears it up next year.

For me they would be a lot more easy to take if they team had a higher OBP.

I see Clemens' balls haven't been diminished by steriod use. The same cannot be said about his reasoning ability.

First, let's dispense with the groupthink stuff. There are a few people who are not sold on Pie. There are others who like him but at the same time think he has good trade value. There are others who think he shouldn't be traded. It all depends on who he is traded for should he be traded.

I want to like Pie, but if he could help to get the Cubs Bedard and Roberts I'm all for trading him tomorrow. I have little faith in the Cubs pitching staff, especially Zambrano. I think all the abuse is catching up to Big Z. Trading Pie makes the Cubs better in 2008 at least until 2010.

No actually it is because the Cubs didn't offer him a contract. Wrong again. It's both. The Cubs did offer a contract, just not the one that Prior wanted. Then the Cubs refused to offer a standard contract. Sorry, that's not the case. The Cubs didn't want to abide by the "standard" contract so they attempted to get Prior to sign a more "team friendly" deal. After all, he's been stealing money for years and years. When Prior didn't want that they cut him lose. The decision was solely up to the Cubs.

Some beliefs are so ridiculous that they can be refuted without numbers. Empirical, BTW means objective observation, two things which Cuse cannot be accused of when it comes to Prior.

No actually it is because the Cubs didn't offer him a contract. Wrong again.

Just a gut call, but I really don't want 3 lefties in the rotation. I'd rather have the Cubs pursue Blanton - he'd be under team control for 3 seasons. How does what hand a guy throws with factor into a decision? It makes little sense to me.

I don't think 172 ab's is enough to come to that conclusion. As for the "not enough contact, not enough walks to stay on a big league team" thing, couldn't the same be said for Soriano? Actually, no the same thing cannot be said about Soriano. Ankiel will be 28 next year and put up these numbers in a very friendly hitting environment in the PCL last year. .267 .314 .568 .882 Not bad SLG (but out of line with previous years). Nothing to get excited about either. Maybe he's a 4th OF but he'll get exposed next year, especially if he's off the juice.