CubinNY

Who is on first, Abbot. :D

I think people are fussing because they don't know what is wrong with Prior (I honest to god haven't heard anything about his condition in a long time) and aren't confident he'll be ready for spring training. I think his injury history warrants extreme caution and skepticism from fans. That's fine. I am cautious too. But IMO people are complaining about Prior asking for a raise becuase he hasn't pitched in that many games. Let me try this one: An electrician is very good at his job. Much better than most with his experience and qualifications. He finishes jobs on time and with high quality. Then one day he is on a ladder and someone hits the ladder he loses ballance and falls breaking both his arms and fracturing his skull and he is out of work for a long time. Should he get a raise based on his performance or should his employer say, "well you've missed six months of work and when you came back with the splints on your work suffered, so I'm not giving you a raise?"

So tell us what is wrong with him right now and why we should count on him to be ready by spring training. That's not the point. I don't have a clue as to what is wrong with him, may be nothing. But it doesn't matter. People are fussing about Prior asking for a raise when all he's done is try to come back and pitch.

I hope we fire Lee or at least dock him his pay. That lazy bum. your argument doesn't fit with what he said. lee was hurt for four months last year and played in 158 and 161 games the previous two years as a cub. prior hasn't pitched in 30 starts since '03 (21 starts in '04, 27 starts in '05, 9 starts in '06). derrek lee has been much healthier than mark prior over the course of three seasons. None of these arguments make sense. This is baseball, not ACME Widget Manufacturing, School District 62 or Goldman Sachs. There is a system in place, agreed upon by the owners and players, that severely underpays players in comparison to the open market early in their careers, but then rewards the guys who last with great riches. I guarantee Prior would make more in the open market than he'll make via arbitration this year. All this nonsense about "how could he ask for a raise" is just completely naive. Well put. This past year is the only year where Prior has missed anything close to this amount of time due to anything besides a fluke injury a la Lee's broken wrist. And he barely makes more than Ohman. Boo-freakin'-hoo. I really want to be civil, but the nonstop chicken little-ing of Mark Prior's really not all that horrible and still very young career is beyond tiring at this point. Nobody is saying people can't be frustrated, but infinitely continuing posts acting like he's some huge burden on this team or like the baseball criminal of the century are beyond annoying and juvenile. Brav-O! It's like Prior went out and tried to get sick enough to put himself in the hospital. Then knew he wasn't 100% and pitched just so he could get hurt. Prior is a once in a decade type player, or at least was until he pitched hurt for the second half of 2003 without telling anyone, while producing when it counts. I wonder if he said to himself, "hey if I run in to Giles I may hurt my shoulder but just to make sure I'll go out and pitch another inning after I do it." or "If I throw this fastball just right it will come back and hit me on the elbow of my throwing arm." Freaking girly-man, bum.

Yes, she takes too much heat. She's just doing her job. I think of her the way I think of a George Stephanopolis or aTony Snow or any government spokesperson. Their job is to put a good spin on any news as it affects whomever they are working for. I'm not going to go to Cubs.com to find breaking news or indepth analysis of a game. Technically, she isn't a spokesperson or PR rep for the Cubs. She fancies herself a journalist. So did Tony Snow.

Right, wrong or indifferent, they are. I believe you. I just don't want to believe the Cubs.

Bingo. I still think it is possible that one of these lefties (Ohman or Cotts or Eyre) could be packaged with Jones to increase his trade value during the next 2 months. I suspect Hendry doesn't care as much about what he gets back for Jones as he cares about how much of the $11.67M due Jones over the next 2 years the trading partner is willing to pick up. A source, having no knowledge of any pending deal, said Hendry seems quite content to go with Murton in LF, Soriano in RF and a half-season placeholder in CF like a Steve Finley or Darin Erstad just as long as they free up cash by jettisoning the "disgruntled" Jones. The object of the Hendry's game here is to get rid of Jones and pick up little to no cash on his guaranteed money. Hoops I cannot believe they are banking on Pie being ready to contribute.

because just b/c pecota says it's gonna happen, doesn't mean it will. i don't think there's any way pie puts up a .340+ OBP and/or out-OPS's jones. Maybe out OPS Jones in AAA but not in MLB, but I don't think Pie will ever be a high OBP guy unless he hits @.300 too.

Yes, she takes too much heat. She's just doing her job. I think of her the way I think of a George Stephanopolis or aTony Snow or any government spokesperson. Their job is to put a good spin on any news as it affects whomever they are working for. I'm not going to go to Cubs.com to find breaking news or indepth analysis of a game.

Defense at first base is over rated. It is the easiest position to play on the baseball diamond. You don't have to take more than 3 or 4 steps or throw the ball most of the time. I really don't care what position Pujols plays, he is the best player in baseball.

Troy Aikeman has some huge meat hooks. I wish he'd wrap them around Buck's neck.

It's too early to tell.

you can also look at it as a potential 20 game winner and 3 potential 15 game winners. Aaron Small won 20 games for the Yanks...who cares? in case you didnt realize it, in baseball wins are a good thing. And the starting pitcher does it all by himself?

I've touched way worse when I worked in a group home. I said $100.

That has the makings of a pretty bad rotation, especeially that question mark guy. My hope is that Guzman breaks out and Prior is healthy. Miller is a shell of his former self and even if healthy will not be the same pitcher he was in Houston. I disagree with the comment about the makings of a pretty bad rotation. If Prior is healthy, this becomes an extremely good rotation. If Guzman breaks out and/or Miller is healthy, this is a good rotation. Don't forget that you still have Marshall et al to back up or take over for someone in the rotation. Of course there are question marks, but show me any team that doesn't have question marks, especially at this time of the year. I know this is a time of optimism, but Marquis has been mediocre at best. I've like Hill for quite awhile and I'm a big supporter, but the jury is still out. Lilly has been helped by playing in bigger ball parks, so I think he is due to give up some HRs and if he doesn't keep his walks down he could be down right bad. Same with Hill. If Prior is healthy and Guzman pitches to his "stuff" that changes things a lot. However, a rotation of Z, Hill, Lilly, Marquis and a question mark does not inspire a lot of confidence. I am really not counting on anything from Miller, we shall see.

That has the makings of a pretty bad rotation, especeially that question mark guy. My hope is that Guzman breaks out and Prior is healthy. Miller is a shell of his former self and even if healthy will not be the same pitcher he was in Houston.

I don't think this is a big deal, but it does bring back bad memories.

Ted Lilly has never pitched 200 innings in his career (197 is the high point). Jason Marquis has done it twice. Neither are a good bet to do it next year. I'd put the over/under around 185 for both of these guys. 185 is right around Lilly's career average. 187 is Marquis' average. I think both will give up too many walks and HRs to get to 200. I'm just hoping Prior can pitch 185 innings. That would be a huge accomplishment.

Ted Lilly has never pitched 200 innings in his career (197 is the high point). Jason Marquis has done it twice. Neither are a good bet to do it next year.

They must have tested him right after or right before a game b/c those drugs pass through the system rather quickly.

Exactly. I love baseball on the radio. And I love Pat and Ron. I know others doen't though. Sometimes my wife and I just go for a drive for a few hours on a Sunday. If they'd just put more games on WGN, that would be fine by me. But I can envision a time in the not too distant future where WGN will broadcast 0 Cub games.

I don't know who "HatGuy" is. Where does he write?

You really love kneejerk reactions, don't you? One game after a 51 day layoff shows he is a gutless chocking dog.

As are the suicide prevention hot lines. Good thing classes haven't started yet.

I cannot believe that Tressell hasn't adjusted to the short passing game. It's like Lloyd Car put on a Mission Impossible mask and is on the OSU sideline. Urban Myer's game plan for this game is just superb.