CubinNY

Chase Utley makes a heck of a lot more than the minimum. Anyways, that just goes to show you how easy it's been for teams to find cheap 2B talent. No need to pay big for such modest production. Which makes the time Neifi spent at second base even more incomprehensible. Well, I guess the only thing I can say is that they didn't expect Neifi to be playing 2B very much-they thought they had their starter there, and they didn't anticipate their starter at second moving to first in the middle of the season when second base help is not nearly as easy to find. From a production standpoint, Neifi has no buisiness on a ML club. He's hung around becuase he has a good glove and can play more than one position. He's also really likable. He talks to everyone fans, scouts, players from other teams, his own teammates. He always has a smile on his face and he hustles. I don't mean that in a bad way either. He's good guy. He talked to me for about 20 minutes in Pittsburgh after I approached him and scout during batting practice. In Chicago, I've seen him play with young children before the game on several occasions. He's very likeable. In baseball once you're in you're in unless you have a reputation as difficult to get along with. Which brings me to Todd Walker. Walker has bounced around a lot and is the mirror image of Neifi. He's moderately productive but doesn't seem to get along well with others. I haven't personally met Walker so I am basing this on what I've read.

My pick for NLROY. Conan O'Brien you're pick for NL ROY? Man, you going out there on your predictions, Outshined. 8-) That's quite a hula-hoop he's got around his neck.

That is load off my mind. Who is the odd man out? Does Miller go to the DL?

Those people at Desipio are really in love with themselves. It's quite pathetic. I've never been to that site before. Pretty bad. They take exceptional pleasure in making personal insults. The place is constant one-upsmanship.

He's been in the league long enough to that he will likely produce +.10 or -.10 of his career numbers. The thing is he hasn't been healthy for two years. I predict: @ .270/.315/.360 Fangraphs has projections http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=656&position=3BSS Not putrid, but the Cubs need a lot better than not putrid performance.

Those people at Desipio are really in love with themselves. It's quite pathetic.

Just Manny being Manny :-# Last year he reported late and laced a double in his first ST AB.

I'd be fine if he made it to 2b, which he didn't at least once last year. I don't recall him not reaching second, but I've tried to block out memories of Cubs baseball from October 2003 to the present.

The problem is that Ramirez doesn't know when his home runs are going to go out or not-I have no problem if somebody stands there for an obvious home run, but if it's questionable, the player has to run in order to avoid what happened to Ramirez multiple times last year. Again though, if Ramirez is the worst hustler on the team, then the Cubs have a good hustling team, because his possible hustle issues are much smaller than several around the league. Please, "multiple times"? You think Aramis has the speed to turn an obvious double into a triple? Please, let us find some other nits to pick. Aramis is fine.

The Cubs are in a tough position in regard to Barrett. I don't think Fox will make it as a catcher, meaning I don't think Fox will make it all. His defense behind the plate is very suspect. If the Cubs draft the college catcher in the first round (Weiters?) and he is good enough to stick there, I would have no trouble keeping Barrett for another year or two. However, Barrett is a tradeable asset. On the other hand the Cubs offense needs him to produce if they are going to contend. Tough situation.

I only want him if he bleeds everytime he pitches. He's pretty high up on the overrated meter as far as I'm concerned.

This is a Paul Sullivan issue. He's the only one who cares. And he keeps it going becuase he is a small, small human being who lives under a bridge on State Street during the off-season.

Seconded. SI and ESPN have always gone out of their collective way to take shots at the Cubs. After the Cubs win the WS, I wish there was a way they could keep SI and ESPN from covering them, basically telling SI and ESPN to go ef themselves. Was there some ancient war between Chicago and the East Coast that I'm unaware of? I don't understand the incessant hatred of Chicago that comes from there. They certainly don't hate on other cities like St. Louis and Houston like they do us, that's for sure. I mean look at that line: "Enjoy it while you can, Cubs fans." My God, is there any other city in sports that has to endure such a blatant, front-cover assault like that? Someone clue me in, because I've never seen anything close to that, ever, in regards to another team. They're basically salivating over watching the Cubs fail. And after what happened with the Bears this year, Christ did we kill Giuliani or something? Mike Fransessa and Chris Russo have a sports radio show on WFAN in NYC. Overall, the show is pretty good. These two know their stuff. However, they both hate the Cubs. Hate! And I cannot understand why? I guess it is becuase NY is a very trendy city. They love a front runner in NY.

So were the Colts. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have been on it more than a few times, too. Odd that you bring up Tiger. Sports Illustrated in 2002 did a cover story on its own curse and here is what they found: So while there is rock-solid proof that the cover curse exists, the fact that it's happened 37.2 percent of the time is something of an oddity. No that is not "rock solid" proof of anything. The rate is less than chance levels. I'm pretty sure that's what he meant, just a typo. Anyways, what would be the chance rating for this case? I don't think it was a typo Chance level is 50%. It's like someone making a prediction once a week and being right 14 weeks out of 52. Or, if someone were to bet based on the SI cover they would lose 6 bets out of 10. Golfer's aside from Tiger rarely ever win and their performance often fluctuates from week to week. It's an asinine theory made for people who believe in horoscopes and UFOs

So were the Colts. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have been on it more than a few times, too. Odd that you bring up Tiger. Sports Illustrated in 2002 did a cover story on its own curse and here is what they found: So while there is rock-solid proof that the cover curse exists, the fact that it's happened 37.2 percent of the time is something of an oddity. No that is not "rock solid" proof of anything. The rate is less than chance levels.

Good luck!

I'm going to stick by the reasoning that because so many boomers grew up in the 60's that everything that comes out of that era is overromanticized. The 2004 team was better than the 1969 team. The 2004 team's collapse was far more ridiculous. The reason why it's "romanticized" is because it was first time the Cubs were in the hunt for first place in many many years. And yet there is one collapse and 2 playoff chokes that should be much more memorable that a team that faded with 2 months to go in the season. I know the others were closer but this was the first for many many Cub fans and you never forget your first. This is true. My first was 2001 (was only 11 and not into the Cubs yet in 1998) and I think about that team quite often. 1984 was more heart breaking than 2003 for me. In 84 the Cubs hadn't been to a post season since 1945.

Both the LA teams signed players to worse contracts than did any other team. Both are CFers and both are medicore at best Sarge Jr. and Juan "Slap Nasty" Pierre.

I think they can continue the hearing if the sides are close to a deal. Cubs should tell Z they are not going to the hearing on time beacuse they are still talking. And then show up, when Z doesn't, the Cubs are sure to win to hearing! Or they should let Aramis run the arby hearing, he'd be late for sure. :D

What kind of crap? Jesus Christ, it's as if people who question the diety that is Aramis Ramirez are completely idiotic for mentioning that it doesn't look good that he's the only one who doesn't show up early. Am I saying that he's an ass for not showing up early? No. Am I saying that I like him less for not showing up early? No, in fact he's one of my favorite Cubs. Am I saying that it doesn't look good? Yes. And it doesn't. He signs a fat contract (at a discount, yes, but still fat) and he's the last to arrive to ST. That's not the way to win over the fans that got on him last year. No. It is completely idiotic to get one's panties in a knot beacasue a player is not yet in camp. It means nothing. Spring training means nothing. It is a time for players to get their timing back, and get use to playing baseball again on a daily basis. The season doesn't start for another six weeks.

I don't know about "strangely" but I am "cautiously" optimistic.

I've definately been jaded by Baker but at this point I'm willing to give Lou the benefit of the doubt. However, I'm real worried abou the Murton/Floyd splits. Floyd is a very streaky hitter. I worry that he starts the season out strong and then hangs on to his job b/c of the hot start. But like I wrote, I've been jaded by Baker.

I've had the same look on my face over the past few seasons ... For me: September 24, 2004 Shea Stadium http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200409250.shtml

Did you even read that? You have to succeed at least 70% of the time on average with 0 or 1 outs. Soriano was below 70% success rate last season. You'll run yourself into unnecessary outs. You will lose scoring opportunities just for the sake of creating a situation where someone might score a manufactured run. The Cubs appear to be heavy on the SLG side and light on the OBP side of the OPS stat. OPS being the most telling for winning ball clubs. With that in mind, I'd rather not see a ton of stolen base attempts from the Fonz. If he's on the chance that he gets driven home via an extra base hit from Lee, Aramis, JJ, or Floyd are better if he's not sitting in the dugout.

I talked to the Syracuse Chiefs trainer and he said that a lot of the players don't work hard or see the value of keeping in shape until they get hurt. They have this "I'm indestructible" feeling and just think they are every going to need to do the things they need to do to stay healthy and prolong their careers and for many it's too late when they finally realize this. some like Ken griffey Jr. it took a few more injuies to figure it out. I just can't imagine not having a personal off season training, if nothing more they are tax deductable. If I were playing and had the leverage I'd negotiate for one in my contract, and a chef too. If I were a team owner, I'd seriously think about giving the services to my "franchize" players. To me it makes good business sense, like investing in routine maintenance.