Illini Iceman

I'm setting the bar pretty high for this season to be called a success. The Cubs are going to have to make the playoffs, period. Anything less than that, with the money they spent, will be considered a failure. After Z gets his Zito contract our window becomes 2007 and 2008. Beyond that we're screwed until 2011, and even then we'll have some handicaps. I really believe we have to win a World Series in the next 2 seasons. Anything less would constitute utter failure. This is small market thinking. I don't see the Dodgers, Yankees or Red Sox losing any sleep over long term deals so I don't see why the Cubs should either. In any case, I am glad the window is 2007 and 2008. I am sick of hearing about long term plans. Let's do it now. Even if your sky is falling pessism is right, it just means that they are screwed until 2011 after the window closes in 2008. It is has been 98 years since a World Series, so what's another 3 seasons after 2008 as a trade off for taking a shot RIGHT NOW?

Triple B, Short of the Cubs acquiring a right-handed platoon partner for Jones, I still think that when the Cubs are facing a lefty, Lou Piniella will consider using DeRosa in RF and starting Theriot at 2B. Hoops Essentially, offensively you are platooning Theriot and Jones. While Theriot is definitely an improvement over Jones vs lefties, we could do much better without costing much. I assume we are going with 12 pitchers, which means that our bench will be done with Floyd, Ward, Pagan, Theriot, and Cedeno. I could see Cedeno starting off in Iowa, but that leaves us a middle infielder short, not an OF. I don't think there's much of a chance that Cedeno will start the year in the majors. Theriot can play 2B, SS, OF - DeRosa can play 2B, SS, 3B, OF - Ward can play 1B, LF, RF - Soriano can play 2B in a pinch. Floyd and Ward will be counted on off the bench and in Floyd's case against many righties. Pagan is not a lock to make the team, but probably will as our backup CF. You're forgetting Blanco - which puts the Cubs at 13 position players (8 starters + Blanco, Theriot, Ward, Pagan, Floyd). I see Pagan not making the team and a surprise player to make it instead - this surprise player can play anywhere since Theriot and Jones can back up in CF. (Scott Moore?) Just came back to say I forgot Blanco...beat me to it. I would be fine with Cedeno starting in AAA and Pagan not making the team, but Moore is a lefty too, we need a righty. Disclaimer - This only applies if the philosophy of "best players play" holds true: After giving it some thought, I think the Cubs need a LH 2B to be our 25th man. The way I see it is this: - Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, and Barrett are the only players guaranteed to get a huge portion of their positions' at bats. - Since they are all right-handed, you would like lefty complementary hitters to be available to play the other positions to create the most balance in your lineup. - That pretty much guarantees switch-hitting Izturis a daily job. - It also provides an opportunity for J. Jones and C. Floyd to get at bats against righties. - That gives us a lefty hitter at #5, #6, and #8 in the lineup, but it could use one more at #2 for better balance. - The only position left is 2B and no lefty/switch-hitter on our current roster has had experience at 2B. - Maybe Scott Moore can get his chance there? Maybe Eric Patterson makes the team? Maybe a trade/waiver claim can bring in someone? Against lefties we have it set easily. Soriano, Theriot (2B), Lee, Ramirez, Murton, DeRosa (RF), Barrett, Izturis. We have no lefties who consistently hit lefties well enough to start against them. Forget the concept of balance in the lineup here! Meh. DeRosa is going to play against all the RH pitchers anyway so a LH 2B back-up most likely just would mean wasting a spot on Tomas Perez. I would rather have Pagan off the bench than Perez since he at least has some usefulness as a defensive replacement in the OF for Murton/Floyd and a speed threat for late inning pinch running assignments.

Rosenthal is on the story now. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6377642?FSO1&ATT=HMA I would say "perhaps" not as good as 2004 would be wishful thinking.

You can't really go by that. The Cubs odds are always inflated because so many fans bet on them that the sportbooks have to protect themselves against them actually winning.

Is Tim Raines the only big name guy to get added to the ballot next year? If so, Gossage should almost surely get in next year. Maybe Rice also sneaks in, but I don't see Raines making it in the first year (if at all). Rickey Henderson is eligible in 2009 and he seems like a sure thing first ballot guy even though he was a first class jerk.

look at the teams out of conference schedules before you say stuff like this please. your are def wrong. Who's out of conference schedules? OSU played aganist Texas, and Texas isn't a top 10 team in my view. Michigan destroyed ND, that ND should not even belong in the top 15. When Michigan and OSU played aganist each other, it was a close score, yet when Michigan played SC, they got owned. AND Arkansas? Howd they do. I dont want to hear about the QB. They never had a QB even at the end of the year. Yeah, and Tennessee really showed Penn State what a team from a REAL conference can do....oh wait a second...

We do? How do we know this.

I just happen to appreciate a company that actually has to work to satisfy its customers. The cable companies have devolved into a world of warped business practices thanks to years of government-sponsored monopoly. "Effectively taken away?" What's stopping you from signing up for satellite? Here in Florida we have DirectTV, Dish Network, Bright House (Time Warner) Digitial Cable, and Verizon Digital Cable. With all that competition I don't see how any one of these companies has to work any harder than another to satisfy it's customers, but if it makes you feel better to think you are sticking it the man by not having cable then more power to you. Personally I have Verizon digital cable because I like to actually be able watch TV when it is raining outside, but that's just me. In any case, I don't know how good of a business move it would be for DirectTV to throw a lot of money at getting exclusivity on EI. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404687.html Only 280,000 total subscribers and I have to think a pretty large percentage of those are not dedicated enough to actually switch providers to get the package.

Everything I heard from Cubs brass is that this reported deal never happened....at least not the $7 million part....for what its worth... Do you have any info on what he did sign for? For what it's worth, my informatin was based from ESPN and Baseball America. From this month's VineLine: I doubt the Cubs would let that be printed in their own monthly magazine if it was not true. There are no details about what exactly he has to do over what time period to earn the full bonus.

The implication is that if Sosa was going to be ran out of town they better have a plan to replace him. They could have be proactive and gone after Beltran or done any number of different things then replace him with Burnitz. It wasn't an either or. Saying "sharing time" and "platoon" is only different on a sematic level. If he's sharing time with someone it will be a platoon. How much? I've already stated I think Murton would get less than 450 PAs. How much less? I can say. Regardless, Murton doesn't need a platoon/time share partner. It seems a bit simplistic to say the Cubs should have had a better plan to replace Sosa and should have been proactive and gone after Beltran. Sosa had an albatross contract with a clause the gave him a guaranteed option year if traded. It was very hard to move without eating a lot of money and/or getting him to waive the option. He was coming off a year that did not exactly make him a hot commodity. This was the MacPhail era, so the Cubs were not going to be signing Beltran without at least clearing the Sosa money off the books. Also, IMO platoon means one guy against righties and another against lefties. Giving a guy most of the starts with occassional relief versus especially tough righties is not a platoon, it is sharing time. Therefore, more than a semantic difference and I believe that was also the intended point of the post you are using as your support that it will be a platoon.

Here's an idea, don't be a pompous jerk who thinks the world revolves around you because you have money and are borderline famous. Then you won't have to worry about going to jail.

But the reason he and Boras are balking at Boston's (possible) out-clause is probably becuase they don't like his chances to play well enough this season that he would be an attractive 2008 FA. I don't think that is the case. If he was hurt this year he didn't show it. To Giles Bros., I don't want to trade Murton. I love Ginger Kids. However, the Cubs don't, or at least they don't seem too. They've talked repeatedly about a platoon for Murton this year. This will be his third season in the bigs and if they are talking platoon they obviously don't value him very highly. The Cubs have never talked about a platoon for Murton. With the Cubs statements about wanting to get a left-handed bat, many people have assumed they want a platoon for Murton, but the Cubs have never come out and said it-they could want another left-handed bat for center field, for example. All the Cubs have said about Murton is that he will get plenty of playing time. Not according to Bruce Miles. Can you point me to where he said it? I didn't think he said that, but I certainly could be wrong (and probably am, if you remember him saying it)-do you know if it was in the paper, or what thread it was in? http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=37701&start=20 "Share time" is a platoon by any ohter name. I guess I just don't believe that if Murton gets 70-75 percent of the at-bats over a guy like Cliff Floyd it proves that the organization doesn't value Murton. It is more of a case that they want a left-handed guy with pop for the bench. To get somebody really good, they have to promise him some starts. Right now, Murton is really the only candidate to give away some of those starts, unless that person can play CF (which is unlikely). Will a guy like Floyd's presence help the team next year? Almost definitely. Will it hurt Murton's development? Maybe-but it really depends on how much of the playing time Murton gets, and if he gets 70-75 percent I don't think it will impair his development much at all. If the roster stays as it is right now, I can't see Murton not getting just about all of the at-bats, unless they determine Pie is ready and give Jones some of Murton's AB's. Platooning Murton makes little sense. If they bring in a someone to "share time" with him, Murton will get less than 450 PAs. If they want to platoon someone they should find a mate for JJ. However, JJ will likely not be on the team. I really have no idea what the Cubs are going to do. The outfield has been a mess since Sosa was ran out of town. Is the implication it would have been any different if he was not "run out of town"? I don't think his numbers that next year were any better than Burnitz so I don't see how keeping Sosa or not keeping Sosa has any significance. I also find it strange that you are quoting Bruce Miles as your source that the Cubs will platoon Murton in a post where he specifically represents the situation next year as "not necessarily a platoon". If you believe it will be a platoon then fine, you may be right, but don't attribute that to a source that did not say that.

Exactly what job was this? Please don't tell me he was going to start... http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070105rogers,1,1154597.column?page=2&coll=cs-home-utility Buried in the column: If Drew doesn't get signed by the Red Sox I seriously hope the Cubs make a play for him. They can trade JJ to the Red Sox. If they get Drew I will be very optimistic about 2007. I'm curious as to why? Drew completely changes the dynamics of this team. He hits lefthanded, can play CF and will put up at least .850 OPS in the middle of the order. He would easily make the Cubs offense the best in the NL, at least on paper. Next year they could trade Murton to make room for Pie, if he's ready, and slide Soriano to LF. All of this is contingent on him being healthy, and it would not concern you in the slightest that Boston would have backed out on signing him after his physical?

Who? Kemp or Either? I hope you say no so I don't throw up. I don't really believe naming names will accomplish much. It would depend on who would have needed a CF/lead off hitter enough to give up a decent prospect to get Pierre. Julio Lugo was traded for Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza. Mark Hendrickson and Toby Hall were traded for Dioner Navarro and Jae Wong Seo. David Wells was traded for George Kotteras. I can sit here and make speculations, but Hendry and/or Dusty felt it was much more important to attempt to salvage a horrible season by not trading some guys who had value on the market at the trade deadline. It was another poor decision piled on top of poor decisions. I have to disagree with you on this one. Hendry made the trade for Pierre on the assumption that he would sign a reasonable extension; just to have him come back and say he wanted Furcal money because leadoff men were so valuable. At that point he was not going to be here for 2007, as evidenced by Hendry’s lack of pursuit this off season. I also don’t recall any serious pursuit by any team for him mid-season. He came into July with a .303 obp (granted a better June and July). What would we have received better then the #31 in this years draft? Who would we have received it from? Considering Pie has been the prize of the org and Hendry said this offseason that he didn't want to acquire anyone long term for the CF hole, either Hendry is a complete idiot or he didn't intend to keep Pierre. It is true that THIS offseason Hendry has been saying that Pie is the long term CF plan, but last year there was a lot of talk about him being a corner outfielder due to his developing power. I really think Hendry thought he could extend Pierre and envisioned a 2007 outfield of Pie, Pierre and Jones/Murton. I don't think the Pierre trade turned out too well, but really don't see it as a catastrophe. To me, Nolasco is about equal with Marshall and most here are not thrilled with the idea of Marshall going into the season as the 5th starter. It is also worth considering that Hendry really needed to clear out the 40 man roster of pitching. If he would have still had Nolasco and Pinto to protect this year the Cubs definitely would have lost someone of value. Personally I would rather Hendry takes some risks with his stockpile of "prospects" rather than let them rot on the vine by not trading them and not promoting them. This one was not such a great idea, but at this point I don't see Nolasco or Pinto as developing into anything more the 4 or 5 type starters.

Agreed. The Saints will be the only real NFC competition, and I'm not convinced that they'll be as tough as they've looked at some points. And the Saints just lost to a very bad Washington team at home. How anyone can say with a straight face that the Saints are better must be crazy. The Skins are certainly better than the Bucs. And it was fun to see NO's heralded offense shut completely down. If I'm playing NO in the playoffs, the first game tape I study is the Washington game. As for our game, the first half was great. I'm not sure why the massive breakdowns and turnovers all of a sudden in the 2nd half. But we should have won this game by 20 points. And-----it wasn't the DT's fault either. I don't think Tank Johnson not being there had really any effect at all. Maybe a little in the pass rush. Not having Vasher----that was obviously a serious handicap. For Nate's part, he says he is 100% and wishes he could play. It's obvious Lovie isn't taking any chances, knowing he absolutely is going to need the interceptor in the playoffs. You realize the Bucs beat the Redskins a few weeks ago, right? They both suck equally.

It might take even more than 7 guys, since Gallagher, Veal and the Cubs #3 pick could possibly be one of the best players in this year's draft could surpass Marmol in 3-4 years. This would be another perfect example of imcompetence of Cubs management to not work a deal for someone like Church. Maybe Washington his holding out for someone to overpay? Well, we've overpaid for Soriano, DeRosa, Lilly and Marquis, why not overpay for someone who won't cost you much more than minimum salary at a position you are extremely weak and trading from a position of strength. There is a lot of stuff we don't know about Jones (can he play CF everyday, does he want to be here anymore, is there a market for him), but he's currently the only person remotely capable of playing CF in 2007, assuming Pie needs another year of seasoning at AAA. Church can step right in, and it won't cost anyone currently on the 25 man roster. It's a no-brainer. Instead, Hendry (or whoever is calling the shots right now) is going to let Pittsburgh or Philadelphia swoop in and get him, leaving the Cubs to spend big money on an aging vet like Lofton, who we aren't sure can even play everyday, anymore. Overpay! Give them Marmol and Novoa. Give them Marmol and Ohman. Church is the one guy that just about everyone at NSBB is on board with acquiring. He is young, cheap, provides good OBP, hits left handed and can play any outfield position. A team that produces next to no positional major league talent is getting one (like Murton) handed to them for next to no visible loss in talent and it's not getting done. I know, I probably shouldn't jump the gun. It frustrates me that talks have broken down. I want to get really excited about an acquisition. DeRosa, Lilly and Marquis just isn't doing it for me. I really like Marmol. But, Jacque Jones could likely net even more than a Carlos Marmol type prospect if traded. Just get it done, already! Just out of curiosity, if this guy is such a great talent then why is he 28 years old with only 527 major league AB's? I mean, I can see overpaying for a guy like Tejada who is a proven impact player, but how do I know that Church is not just this year's Brad Wilkerson? If I recall correctly a lot of people here were saying the Cubs should do whatever it took last year to get Wilkerson and now no one wants anything to do with him.

Seems to me that the consensus is that Marquis will most likely be better next year than any other option we have in house. Based on that I am glad Hendry signed him. If Marshall, Marmol, etc start lighting it up and in future years give the team a better chance to win then the Cubs will have no problem moving Marquis, Lilly, etc to make room. Even if the Cubs eat half the salary it will be a net gain. I have been hearing the song and dance about waiting a year or two on our prospects and not "blocking" them for my whole life. The Cubs need to try to get the best players they can to win NEXT year. They should keep doing that every year until they actually do win it all.

I don't know what this means. Rusch was always being moved back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation. Seems to me that the only reason he kept getting starts is that no one else was healthy.

Craig, Are you certain Novoa has an option remaining? I don't see how he could if he burned one for Detroit, which I believe he did. I remember in the middle of the season, craig (at least I think it was craig) posted something about how Novoa still has an option this season. It seems likely at least one of the relievers will get traded before spring. It still does not seem likely to me that the Cubs will carry three lefties in the bullpen. I would be very surprised if Ohman isn't dealt somewhere as part of a package. He would seem to have value and not only do the Cubs have Eyre and Cotts as sure bets for the pen but they also have another lefty in Rapada on the 40 man who looks almost ML ready.

What happened to Ohman?

My guess is Lofton. I would say Lofton, Church or Crisp and if none of those pan out they will try Jones in spring training to see if that is viable.

Ditto. Damn good GM they have there in Boston. Yeah, great move there trading Hanley Ramirez and Edgar Renteria so you can throw $9M a year at a guy that is worse than both of them. Colletti is also quite the genius giving up Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza so Lugo could sit on the bench during the stretch run last year. That really paid off.

Wuertz is out of options as well, isn't he? I doubt Hendry goes into the season with the bullpen constructed as-is. Dempster Wood Howry Eyre Ohman Cotts Wuertz Even if Wood starts the season on the DL, there's not much flexibility because no one in that group has options. The Cubs have a few young candidates for the seventh spot in the pen. I'd put significant money on at least one of these guys being dealt. Not to mention the fact that Miller is also in play if he does not claim the 5th starter spot.

It is pretty obtuse to make this comment. I have read all the posts and think both sides have made pretty good arguments. He has just backed you into a corner and instead of being able to explain your way out you have chosen to take your ball and go home.

Thanks as well for offering to play 2B, but again that would be a definite "no".