FergieJ31

I'm with you 100%. I think the original question is somewhat of a strawman - of course the Cubs will try to win every year, but as far as trades and (especially) FA signings it should be recognized that future years' chances to win are affected just as much as next year's. The Cubs have spent money like a drunken sailor in this off-season so far. I have no problem with them spending money with a sense of urgency to win; it's just agonizing to see how poorly they've spent it. It would have been better to wait for a more talented FA class. And while you're waiting for a more talented FA class, you might realize that one might not come along and you've grown old waiting. I wouldn't be surprised to see more teams signing their stars long-term to big contracts like the Blue Jays did with Wells. At least you know what you're getting for the money. I don't disagree with you in principle but I agree more with frostwyrm that this was a particularly awful year to open the vault. Your point about Wells is well-taken; I really wish the suddenly-spending Cubs would have made a #1 priority of securing Zambrano this off-season. The real problem lies in player (mis)valuations. I don't have a lot of faith that the Cubs would have spent the money more wisely if this were a stronger FA class, but at least the margin for error would be higher. There's always mediocrity out there, and the Cubs have a long history of overvaluing it. That is the real problem and it will continue to be a problem until there's a change in the GM.

Now THAT's old style :wink: (if you've never heard the stupid Old Style commericals nm this stupid post)

I completely, completely disagree. Marquis had #21 in St. Louis, the number isn't retired, and Sosa hasn't been on the team for a few years. If Sosa had died or something, then yes, that's fine, but I think the Cubs would be douchebags if they made him change his number because it was worn by a player a few years ago Because it was worn by a player a few years ago? It was worn by arguably the greatest Cubs of all time. Marquis is a crap player, and shouldn't even think about wearing the same jersey number that Sammy Sosa wore. Yes, Sammy was awesome, but bridges were burned. If the number isn't retired, then someone else should be allowed to wear it. If you don't want a "crap player" to wear it, retire it, simple. Clearly the team doesn't hold Sosa in as high regard as some fans. It's important to this franchise that players embody what it is to "be a Cub", and Sosa just isn't that. He was a great player who put up eye-popping numbers, but he'll never be confused with Banks or Santo as far as championing the Cubs and comitting his post-baseball life to the team (another reason I think Santo's number was retired....he has dedicated so much of his time and energy to the Cubs in the last 30 years. I just don't see Sammy following suit). Well put. I'm astonished that some ppl on this board seem more outraged that Marquis *might* wear a #21 Cubs jersey than that he *will* wear a Cubs jersey. Sammy is history; I don't believe the Cubs will or should retire the number.

No dingers in 15 PA? Marquis pwns Sammy, relatively speaking :wink:

This is the best plan for the OF I've heard so far, short of a major trade. It's a shame that Wilson has far too much plate discipline to be in Hendry's radar.

I'm with you 100%. I think the original question is somewhat of a strawman - of course the Cubs will try to win every year, but as far as trades and (especially) FA signings it should be recognized that future years' chances to win are affected just as much as next year's. The Cubs have spent money like a drunken sailor in this off-season so far. I have no problem with them spending money with a sense of urgency to win; it's just agonizing to see how poorly they've spent it. It would have been better to wait for a more talented FA class.

Is that what the criteria is now, how many butts we put in seats? If that were the case #17 should never have been worn after Grace considering how many Lincoln Park Trixies he attracted to the park (or for that matter should we retire Kyle's # too?) For the record I think #31 should have been retired - obviously I'm biased :wink: But it's no big deal really ... I'm just outraged the Cubs signed this guy for the money/years they did. I couldn't care less what number he wears. Think of it this way: once again when #21 is on the field for the Cubs, a lot of balls will be flying out of the park.

Yeah I can easily imagine Pujols and Rolen chuckling right about now, wherever they are, knowing they'll get plenty of ABs against Marquis. Those two want revenge after the whiplash brought on by Marquis' gopher balls last year.

You read my mind; I also thought he was older :D Would love to see him patrolling CF at Wrigley.

3/28 for Marquis - the rest is mostly teeth gnashing.

Then we'd really be screwed. We're screwed even when we spend the money - what's the difference. At least with a cap we (probably) wouldn't see escalating ticket prices.

co-sign

Sorry, too late. 3/28 for Marquis is an eye-roll signing if I ever saw one. Utterly ridiculous.

Well, nobody is paying Marquis $8 million first of all, and second, take a look at how our 16 pitchers did last year filling out the rotation. Those were not reasonable numbers for a 5th starter. Good call on that one. :roll: Wait til the real numbers come out :roll: The real numbers are out. Can we roll our eyes yet?

That's not true at all. He was coming off an injury in 2004, but I do remember him being a highly valued prospect, and he had a really solid year in 2002 at just 22 years old. He was more than just a throw-in to that deal, as Baseball America noted at the time. The Cards also got Ray "Burger" King in the trade. Ok - my recollection of that deal is mistaken then. I remember Wainwright and Drew being the big names (Burger King also being a big name in a different sense of 'big'). But his 2002 year wasn't really solid - he sucked then and he sucked in 2003 after his demotion to the pen. I think you meant his 2001, his first full year with the Braves when he posted a 127 ERA+.

What worries me is the cardinals save careers, always get the best of of broken down pitchers. The fact that he's leaving them makes me weary the cubs staff can do it. I don't know the roster moves by the cardinals, maybe they don't want him to leave. Still makes me nervous. My thought exactly. Arguably the Braves also gave up on him, throwing him into what was basically a JD-for-Wainwright trade a few years ago.

lol Signing Marquis to 3/27 would be so ... Cubs. I actually would be surprised if this doesn't happen.

Signing Huff or trading for Church are about the only realistic moves for the OF that would make me happy at this point. I've always liked Huff - his numbers may have slid a bit but he's still very solid. Plus he's very tough against the Cubs, OBP = .500 (!) and OPS over 1.000 in 24 PA.

< insert Darren Baker babysitting job joke here >

Alou is a hothead, I blame him more than Bartman. Alou is the pro, Bartman is not. If Alou kept his wits about him he would have yelled 'fan interference' at the ump instead of throwing a hissy fit. Regardless of whether or not technically it was fan interference (I agree with jjgman that it could have been called as such, though it probably wasn't) it was damn close, and the ump might have been on the fence for a moment on whether or not to call it. We'll never know.

If Gonzalez fielded the ball cleanly, it would have been hard to turn the double play. He would have had the out at second which would put runners on first and third with two outs and the Cubs up 3-1. Then Derrek Lee doubles. Cabrera stopped at third on Lee's double anyway which means only one run scores. Cubs still lead 3-2 with 2 outs and Lowell up. They walked Lowell - which they probably would have done in this situation as well - to face Jeff Conine. Conine popped out. Inning ends with the Cubs up 3-2. I'm glad you mentioned the bit about that being a marginal DP ball - I thikn it's a common misperception about that inning. A lot of people just say he botched a DP ball, but the hop was too big and Cabrera isn't THAT slow. AGony would have gotten one but probably not two ... he just got greedy.

This is my hunch as well, just from watching him in his (ill-advised) '05 stint in the pen. He went through batters like a chainsaw through butter without worrying about high pitch counts - it was like the old days when he could get by on his stuff alone.

Best photoshop of all time ... this almost moved me to tears

I remember that well .. when he came out in the 7th there were plenty of howls from fans in my section - Prior should have been in the shower by the end of the 6th. In the postgame press conference I remember Dusty defending the move, something like "I didn't see McKeon taking out his starters, and we saw how fast that team can put up runs in game 1." He may as well have said "I have little faith that my bullpen can hold a 10-run lead."

Apologies! Missed that. I almost didn't post on the grounds that this news is at least 3 days old, but I didn't thoroughly read existing Schmidt threads.