CubinNY

Giambi is a ballplayer. He has great plate discipline and a lightning quick bat. Steriods or not, he can hit.

I just putting this out there as I didn't see the game yesterday. If (and I'm not saying it is so) Z has not shown maturity and seems to be less effective and at the same time not progressing as a teammate, does anyone think the Cubs would contemplate a blockbutster trade?

To which I just shake my head.

Probably 2.11 years.

I'm getting tired of the Cubs pathetic display at the plate.

Transactions. I don't think so.

The Cubs had some really good rookie in the 60s or 70s who died in the off-season. I cannot remember his name though. I think it could have been between 68 and 69.

I would like to ammend this post and say any one of Guzman, Marshall, or Hill. I think giving up two of them would be too much. I would however, give them E. Patterson or Dope, or some other top position prospect.

Bingo! I think this is the real point. Barrett removed the idea that he was available at all which potentially changes how the Brewers will use their bullpen late in the game. This could be a valid argument, for one AB. However the first time Barrett DOESN'T come on to pinch hit in a likely situation the cover's blown anyway. I wouldn't think 1 "phantom" AB would make that much of a difference in the greater scheme of things, though strenger things have happened. I disagree. Teams decoy all the time with hitters they really don't intend to bat. I remember last year, Kenny Williams was upset with Frank Thomas because he didn't conceal his foot injury during the Cubs series. He wanted Thomas to stand on deck and help alter the manger's decision. Anyway, the Cubs have a short bench to start with so if teams know that Barrett is unavailable it will affect more than just one AB. Having the threat of power off the bench is big. Apparently, the Cubs aren't the only team in MLB to have this policy... Can we say, "mountain out of a molehill" with this thread? Teams do this all the time. Yost, like Baker and other managers, wants it kept in-house because he knows other teams will capitalize if they know one of his players is unavailable. This is completely ridicilous. This isn't football or some other sport where you have a game plan toward stopping some great running back or shooting guard. Hiding an injury baseball is just stupid. So Dusty puts Barrett on deck and the team puts in a RH reliever then he throws Marby in. Big whoop-te-do. The chances are overwhealming that it won't matter one iota. The entire righty/lefty matchup thing is way overblown in most cases. Why not just put him on deck anyway as a double bluff, that would be brilliant?!!! In addition, why not just put another right handed batter up there if the other manager is going to over-manage that much. This baseball.

The runs given up are bad, but the runs scored are worse. This is the exact reason why Hendry should have gotten a bat for outfield and the bench. The Cubs MO have been similar for going on three years now. When they go into losing streaks (not that two games is a streak) the reason why is b/c they don't score.

There is no way Philly can get anything near equal value for Abreu. If Philly continues to slide out of contention (WC too) by June. I'd see what Philly wants. I'd give them Jones and pay at least half his salary. I also think that he could become a free agent at the end of the year if he is traded in the middle of a multi-year contract, but I'm not sure about that. I also give them a pick of any two of Guzman, Marshall, and Hill. Jones for half price (for one year if I'm correct) and two cheap #2/3 starters is more than enough for Abreu plus his huge contract. If they want Pie, no deal. Pierre won't play for the Cubs next year, if he continues at his current level of production.

A day off after burning up the pen and looking really bad might not be a bad idea. Ask Crash Davis if you don't believe me. :)

They also have one hell of an offense. It will be even better when Jr. gets back. I wouldn't write them off just yet.

Come on rain!

Phil Jackson has been giving books to his players for years. I don't see anything wrong with Dusty showing Barrett some books to make his point. I think many of you are missing the importance of this. You have a 25 man roster. If one player is unavailable it absolutely impacts that game. For the sake of argument, Barrett unavailable impacts the following: Mabry is now your backup catcher and unavailable early in the game Aramis up in a critical situation in the middle innings vs. a tiring pitcher now becomes Aramis vs. the opponent's ace reliever (since there's no RH pop on the bench hence nothing to save him for) Your pitchers have to bat because of a short bench, allowing the opposition to pitch around the eigth place hitter You may not agree but I think these are huge advantages for the opposition and will affect the game. Kirk Gibson wasn't available for the rest of the World Series after his HR off Eckersley - do you think LaRussa would have liked to know that? This is not a big deal, but everybody knew Barrett wasn't going to play and was unavailable to play. All one had to do was read any one of a number of local newspapers before Barrett said anything. They were all reporting he would be down for a couple of days. IMO, it is pretty stupid of Dusty to be upset about it, if he is upset. I think the media might be making too much out of this.

His average is up to .275 now, but as someone else mentioned, he only has the one walk and isn't getting a whole lot of extra base hits or anything. that sounds awfully similar to another cf ive seen a lot of this year sample size. spiny iguana.

More heat? Do tell...

First Dempster, then Williamson. I hope Hedry can make it 3 for 3 on reclamation projects with Miller. Chad Fox? Not Hendry's fault, Fox was doing a great job before he became the 2nd of 3 Cubs pitchers to be injured by a line drive. Fox was not injuried by a line drive. He was pitched until his arm fell off. Almost literally.

Yes. How are those wings?

Stupid. They dude use to play for the Cubs, they should no not run on him.

Maddux needs to ge the ball down.

Forgive me for not being clear. By "cheer" i meant "laud his praises," not the literal cheering at the ballpark. It's not my style to boo players and of course when at the ballpark I'll cheer for him as I will for any other player. My point was to say: "Look, I'm not anti-Pierre. I want him to succeed, just like all Cubs players. In fact, he's seems like a tremendous guy with a wonderful work ethic. I also really enjoy watching him on the basepaths. So I'm not criticizing his play for simply the sake of doing so. And when/if he turns it around I'll be the first to admit that I was mistaken about him." ...But in the meantime, isn't it okay to point out that he's really struggling? And isn't it okay to also point out that he's struggled now since 2004? And isn't it okay to express concern that maybe...just maybe...he is and will continue to be a liability for the team? Because he is right now. His play is hurting the Cubs. We really need him to play better if we are going to survive this time without Lee, Prior, and Wood. He needs to pick it up, and pick it up fast. If he doesn't, I would have no problem with a Pie callup to take his place. If Pierre doesn't get on base more frequently, he is a liability. He simply doesn't do anything else well enough to help the team in other ways. Well written.

Proper Name: Jose Alberto Pujols Born: January 16, 1980 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 lbs. Age: 26 Pronounced: POO-holes I still don't believe this. It has nothing to do with his extremely receeding hairline, either. It has to do with the skin of his face. If that man is 26, it has been a hard 26. Ditto that. I don't see how he's a day under 29... Someone should check his rings or do some carbon dating on a liver sample. In all seriousness, I think he is whatever age he says he is. But does it really matter? He's had about the best 5 year begining of a career ever.