CubinNY

Even if Jones sits 80% of the time against left-handers (which I fully support and hopefully it's even more than that) he likely will still have the most-at bats because he has an advantage on the other two outfielders with starting against right-handers (Murton because he is right-handed, and Floyd because Floyd would be terrible defensively in RF). Even with Jones getting the most at-bats though, if they are sitting him against left-handers the Cubs outfield will be incredibly productive. I don't expect Jones to come close to the numbers he posted last year, except OBP. http://www.fangraphs.com/graphs.aspx?playerid=735&position=OF&page=0&type=full Fangraphs also has an article on Big Z (not optimistic). http://www.fangraphs.com/

You mean I'm cut already? Spring Training hasn't even started.

My five keys to a successful Cubs season: 1) A healthy and fully recuperated Mark Prior There is nothing bigger than this that is still up in the air. Adding a 2003/2004 Mark Prior to the rotation would make this the team to beat in the NL. 2) Soriano hitting like 2006 instead of 2005 Biggest x factor on the offensive side 3) Hill is for real If Hill can show that his control gains from 2005-2006 and that his home run prevention from 2006 are sustainable...he's going to be a very, very good pitcher. Because he's going to strike a whole bunch of people out. 4) Supplanting Izturis at SS The light bulb that went on for Ronnie in the second half of the winter where his walk rate quadrupled is a very hopeful sign. He may not be the 2003 version of Izturis in the field, but neither is the 2006 version of Izturis. If Ronnie could push Cesar out of a job by the break, it could be great thing for this team. 5) Wood able to close If Kerry is healthy enough to pitch a closer's load from the pen, we don't have to be concerned with whether or not Dempster can close. If Ryan hangs onto the job through great performance, fantastic. Otherwise we have a potential dominator out there if he can go. If these five things go the Cubs way (and they all very well could), this team will be a powerhouse. Heck, if even the first few of them go the Cubs way, we'll be the team to beat in the NL. Not to be a suck up. I agree with your assessment 100%. I'd also list #6: Matt Murton. He is poised to have a breakout season. If he gets enough ABs.

Yeah the Angels are going to trade two of their best prospects and a good young pitcher for one year of Big Z. That's a terrible article. Obviously you are not a student of recent baseball history to make such a sweepingly inaccurate statement. Examples include, but are not limited to: 1) Bagwell for Larry Anderson; 2) Smoltz for Doyle Alexander; 3) Randy Johnson to Hou (for less than one season) for Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen and someone else who I cannot recall at this moment; 4) Former Cubs luminary Heathcliff Slocumb for Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe. Anyone wish to add to the above? You can take Doyle Alexander off the list. He pitched a couple of years for the Tigers. Heathcliff was resigned for the next year too but was traded. However, I think a team like the Angles *might* trade those guys for a shot at big Z. He's young enough to be productive for a long time, if he can stay healthy.

Had you taken the time to read MY posts, you would see that I never said that. I've only said that I am not going to get all worried about the possibility forwarded by some uninformed writer that Hill won't be in the rotation until some quote or action by the Cubs organization itself leads me to believe that will be the case. Unfounded? I've read nothing that says that Hill will be in the rotation for the Chicago Cubs. All I've read is that he will be competing for a job. It speaks volumes about Jim Hendry and the Cubs. Volumes. Hill has been the best pitching propspect in the Cubs organization for going on three years now. Instead he's been brought up, used sparingly, demoted to the bullpen, sent down, brought up, used sparingly, sent down, brought up, in trouble with Dusty and Larry, sent down, and brought up again. In my opinion Marquis is supposed to be an insurance policy on Prior. Instad it seems as if he has an inside track in the rotation. Z Lilly Marquis Prior That leaves Miller, Guzman, and Hill fighting it out for the last spot, when perhaps all three of them will be better than Marquis.

I'm with you. With Guzman and Hill possibly in Iowa, the I-Cubs may have nearly as good a rotation as the Cubs if Lilly and Marquis can't keep the ball in the park.

i would mull rooting against them if that happened. Start mulling.

I don't know if I would call him dumb, but he is certianly uneducated. He's a product of his environment (like everyone else). He grew up in Cinncinatti with a father that gambled on a daily basis. Played baseball in his home town and was idolized by just about everyone during the "big red machine's" run. Everyone in Cinncinatti looked the other way when in came to Pete. Now he's paying the price for it. I bet he really can't understand what is going on and feels like the victim in all this. Maybe he is somewhat, but he brought all the scorne on himself. At some point he needs to realize that he is the problem, not baseball.

Amen. Cowherd is the WORST in radio. He makes Rome tolerable. NOTHING makes Rome tolerable. Bob Sander from I-town in I-state have a take and don't suck. Rack em!

As bad as it sounds, and it is very bad (to me anyway), I believe that the Cubs would trade Hill or Guzman before they will trade Marquis. If Marquis really stinks it up I think they would relsease him. But if he pitches @ 5 ERA they will keep him.

They don't make them that big. He has to be a 10 3/4.

The Fonz does not inspire confidence in CF.

Hey, somebody's gotta be the new whipping boy. I think Marquis is going to win that role in a landslide. Especially if he wins a spot in the rotation over Hill. Win hell. It sounds as if he already been given one. But things can change if he stinks. My fear is he will pitch just well enough to stay in the rotation.

It doesn't look like Hank White is buying any of it.

I liked them, well not really but they do say a lot. Why do you think they are worthless?

I can tell you that it looks like Soriano is using Louisville M9's, which are Maple bats. I always thought that taping the barrel keeps bats from splitting. I like to use black bats because you can see the ball marks on the barrel to see if you are hitting mostly on the sweetspot. You are correct. I've seen fungo bats taped up so much they look like regular bats.

Yea, he didn't exactly look too coodinated in that picture.

The dress code: Half-shirt for men.

I to the B to the L

They do that for batting practice. It helps with dents and cracks.

I don't like it, but they already have "Sears" all over the dugout. I guess it's kind of like your favorite college band "selling out" to make some bucks. oh yea, YELL!

I was waiting for that! LOL! I've already told my wife that should something happen to me I want my ashes spread at Wrigley. I don't care where or how she does it.

I agree. How will Larry counteract Marquis "stubborness"?

I agree.

Z Hill Lilly Prior Miller Marquis becomes a long man. My guess is that someone (Marquis, Hill, Prior, or Miller) will get traded for a SS who can hit at the end of July. If they're all healthy, to begin the season Miller makes the most sense there...I don't think you can trade marquis till June or so since we just signed him... Z, Hill, Lilly, Prior, Marquis That probably makes much more sense. I just have no confidence in Marquis at all. He's been through Duncan and Mazzoni and they both couldn't "figure him out". I have no faith that Larry will do any better.