CubinNY

I agree Vance, Bienfest is building for the future. I think the future also may be the LasVegas Gamblers and a team flush with cash. Unless Loria finds a way to screw it all up.

Disregard this post

Except for his Achellies and elbow that sidelined him for the beginning of 2004. Not that I think that makes him injury prone. I think it makes the manager not a good one and the pitching coach neglectfull, but I digress.

IMO, if Hendry finds the right deal for a corner outfielder with power and OBP he should trade Pie. Pie might be great some day but more than likely he won't. Right now he is the best the Cubs have to offer. Where Pie comes from in the DR they have a saying, "You don't walk off the island." Pie may never develp plate discipline. He certianly isn't going gang busters this winter.

If I were the owner that is where I'd sit. Not in some walled in box away form the fans. I'd still have a box and use it for perks for the employees and for buisness, but I'd sit down front.

OK if there is no bidding war for Giles, will the Cubs be interested? To me it appears that Hendry's MO when he targets a FA is to let the media know how much he wants the guy. If that is the case, then the absence of such information along with Sullivan's column lead me to believe that Giles is not a target. The reasons for this are beyond my ability to understand.

I think if the Cubs want Abreu they are going to have to give up Pie plus their best pitching prospect or Zambrano. I don't think the Cubs can get him for the likes of Hill, Patterson, or any other second tier prospect. The luster of the Cubs minor league system is starting to wear off. I would trade Pie in a package for any top 5 position player in the ML. Pie has only had 1/2 half of a season where he played really well and he is riding the pine in the Carribean right now with a low .200s BA. Pie has a lot of upside, but a season where he has medicore numbers at AAA or AA would do nothing to increase his value.

Go Broncos!

Loria is a terrible owner, probably one of (if not the) worst in the history of the sport. An enormous amount of the blame for the current debacle that is the ownerless Expos/Nationals can be placed squarely on his shoulders. It's true that the Marlins have been successful since he took over, but that's more due to the talent John Henry's organization acquired before he took over the Red Sox. About all Loria has managed to accomplish is to alienate yet another gruop of fans (just as he did in Montreal) by demanding a heavily publicly-financed stadium. (Though to be fair, the Marlins actually need a new stadium.) Aside from Henry's brief tenure the Marlins have been continually saddled with bad owners. The fact that Huizenga bought them a WS trophy pales in comparison to the subsequent damage he caused. (Including the ridiculous lease he stuck the team with after he sold the team.) I was waiting for you to post something BK. Loria is an art collector, he is good at collecting art. He is a terrible baseball owner.

Would you be for Mark Cuban buying the Cubs if it meant the end of Wrigley in 5 years?

Will those of you who have criticized Hendry for not going all-out to get Giles please opine as to whether Jocketty deserves the same treatment? He's got holes at both corner-OF positions. Jocketty's Cardinals aren't in the OBP starved state we're in. Jocketty's needs and Hendry's needs are vastly different. Jocketty is looking for the last piece of the puzzle. Hendry hasn't even taken the puzzle pieces out of the box. Jocketty doesn't have 30 odd million dollars to play with either.

You know what is funny. Come mid January people will say, "Well, you can't judge the offseason until after the season is over". Then once the season is over some people will say, "If the Cubs hadn't had all those injuries problems, or chemistry problems, or day games, etc., There is nothing wrong with honest criticism of moves any GM makes.

Ritalin is mythelphenidate, it is in the same family as Adderall. They are both CNS stimulants. I found this interesting from our good friendns at http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051118cubseyre,1,6706818.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines [sarcasm]you don't say. I can't imagine why he would not contact other teams[/sarcasm]

Look and Hendry's track record. He brought Hollandworth back after a decent season even though most could see he should never start. He resigned Alfonseca even though most could see he wasn't worth the money. Now it is Neifi's turn. I don't think it is stats. I think Hendry rewards what a player has done in the past. I think Hendry thinks Perez is a compitent player. I think Hendry sees Perez as a guy who can play IF and will give you decent numbers. I think Hendry is wrong.

Those comments sicken me. I love the Cubs but I hate this organization.

Triple B, Vance, Hoops (and anyone else) - The price of poker is going up because of the weak free agent class and because all the teams have money to spend (even KC and Pittsburgh). Assume Giles won't come to the Cubs under any circumstances (I know you don't agree with this premise but just humor me). Also assume it would cost you $60 milllion to get Burnett (5 x $12 million) and the Reds won't trade within the division. Finally, assume a 20% premium over market value for the remaining free agents, that other teams will only make trades (fair for both sides) with the Cubs and that you don't want an "overpriced" Furcal. How would make the Cubs pennant contenders? If Giles won't come to the Cubs under any circumstances, then Furcal it is. I think that's the part that people don't see when I say forget Furcal. Once I've heard that Giles absolutely will not come to the Cubs, then we move on. The money is there to overpay for Furcal. After Giles, the next options for RF become fairly cheap, whether it be Mench, Bradley, Wilkerson, etc... The Abreu, Ichiro, Sheffield, Ramirez ideas just fall too far out of the scope of reason, whether it's if the teams would honestly trade these players, whether it's if the Cubs actually have value to send back or if the Cubs are willing to take on the entire salary of the players listed. If Giles is not an option, I'd contact LA and work a deal for Bradley. He's cheap, versatile in the outfield, has decent power and speed. I would then throw how ever many players necessary to get Aubrey Huff from Tampa. Not "good" players. Just players. They won't get Rich Hill or Felix Pie. But, I'd send Novoa, Mitre, and a few others if need be. I'd then get Huff locked up. Bradley won't get a deal because of his "past". With Pie coming, we wouldn't want to block CF anyway. Furcal Bradley Lee Huff Ramirez Murton Walker Barrett If Walker is being traded no matter what (though I really don't understand why they would do that), then stick Cedeno in at 2nd and call it a day. That's a good line up, either way. Who knows, it might even be better to go this route than sign Giles. It's a younger team with good balance throughout. I would love to do a Hill for Huff deal straight up. I'm not even sure if Hill would be enough to get Huff though. My ideal offseason moves from here on out would be sign Furcal, trade for Pierre, trade for Huff, then trade TWalk for a solid bullpen arm. Pierre Furcal Lee Ramirez Huff Murton Barrett Cedeno That's a much improved offense from last year. Assuming the rotation stays healthy, and the new bullpen guys have solid years, we should be strong contenders for a ring. I like Huff too and he probably will be dealt. He is comming off one of his worst years ever and there are questions about his "character". Still, I don't think Hill would get it done. But one never knows. The only thing about that thoughis I'm not sure he can play RF.

Tim this is your site I fully support the decision. However, I must say that if those that where offended would have just not opened the threads then they wouldn't have had to be offended. I understand your reasons, but everyone has personal responsibility.

The well is very deep and full of it, if you know what I mean.

He should fit right in.

Other than his stubborn refusal to admit that Remlinger should not be used as a LOOGY and his decision at the beginning of last year to go with Rusch in the bullpen and Dempster in the rotation, how has Baker "mismanaged the pen?" Don't get me wrong -- Baker's faults are legion. Yet, his "mismanagement of the bullpen" is a purported fault that is repeated ad nauseum despite the fact that I have not heard a single compelling argument (other than the ones cited above) as to why this is so. He has a repeate history of: overusing guys while leaving others with many day between outings. Bringing the wrong guy in to face a batter Using a guy for one batter who should be used the entire inning. Double switches for no good reason Besides isn't the part I bolded enough?

Hello Kevin Mench. This quote and the linked article don't mean much really. Neither quotes anyone from the Cubs saying anything about Brian Giles. The only thing the author wrote is that the Cubs aren't interested in getting into a bidding war. Who is? If Hendry comes out and says I'm anxious to get into a bidding war for anybody, he weakens the leverage with which he is negotiating. So I fail to see the significant portent here. Then read the last six pages.

Even though I think Hendry has done a pretty crappy job so far I love this time of year. So let's see three signings so far Perez address a need? Hardly and gave up too much money Rusch address a need? No unless one thinks a 4-6 inning starting pitcher is a good thing. Eyre address a need? Probably but the money and years might hurt. All and all not too impressive for a team comming off of 70+ wins last year. I can't wait to see what happens next.

:shock: You're laughing your butt off right now, aren't you?? maybe 10.5 - that's Giles right there. :lol: Throw in the 1.5 that the Gremlin is going to get to be Dusty's caddy and it is an even 12. 12 ought to get Giles signed.

I dont care if Levine thinks its a good deal. It's not. Howry sounds good but I'm not so high on Looper. If Hendry goes after Looper I will know he won't be around for much longer.

I wish I was negoiating with Hendry for my last job. Eyre isn't a terrible signing, but that is a terrible contract for a middle reliver who is 33.