Illini Iceman

It doesn't hurt that her biographer was part of the committee that made the selection and that in all his wisdom Fay Vincent is not disclosing how each committee member voted. Ron Rapoport has a good take on it in today's Sun Times. http://www.chicagosuntimes.com/output/rapoport/cst-spt-rap011.html

Actually it was in 4.2 innings and the reason his pitch count got so high is that Dusty was trying to let him get through 5 so he would qualify for the win. Whether Dusty should have been that concerned about having Z qualify for the win is arguable but it gives a little more perspective than just saying he pitched 5.2 as part of an opening day blow-out. I think when Dusty finally pulled him in the 5th the D-Backs had actually made it interesting and the Cubs then pulled away again later in the game.

My opinion is they should get Zambrano and Prior on the mound for as many starts as possible without giving them less than 4 days rest. The issue is not the difference between the 4th and 5th starter it is the difference between the 5th starter and Zambrano or Prior. Getting them each a couple extra starts instead of Rusch could net the team a few extra wins.

They need to get something in the 7th inning. Whether it is audio of harry doing it, or ex-players... but the celebrities don't work. Granted, it is part of the experience of going to a game there, and it should always continue. I like Santo doing more of it. Jeff Gordon and Ozzie have no place in that ballpark. I would like them to stay with ex-cubs, prominent chicago figures, or celebrity cubs fans (for the love of god, jim beluschi is not a cubs fan... however billy corgan is a good example of a celebrity who should be allowed to sing once a year). What makes you say that? In my book his having "Taking Care of Business" center around the Cubs winning the World Series wins him lifetime honorary Cub fan status even if he isn't a true hardcore fan. However, everything I have ever seen about him seems to indicate he really is a fan.

I have been to a bunch of opening day games at Wrigley and don't ever remember them doing that. Either they don't, or I hung out at Murphy's too long and missed it. :lol:

Has there been any reputable source that has supported this rumor? I would think there would at least be mention of the signing as a possibility in the local papers if the Cubs were seriously considering it.

Who would they deal to get Gonzo? What does AZ need? He means Juan Gonzalez. I don't see there as any way the Cubs do this. First of all they already have three second basemen, and secondly after Hendry spent all off season talking about how he wants better defense sticking Soriano at second would make no sense. Soriano's the type of player Hendry likes & the Cubs really need a 5 hitter w/ power. Supposedly, the Cubs have been looking to move Walker all offseason. If it was Soriano for Walker I would believe it. Soriano for Murton does not solve Hendry's Walker "problem". If he could have traded him for a quality LF he would have done it already.

Who would they deal to get Gonzo? What does AZ need? He means Juan Gonzalez. I don't see there as any way the Cubs do this. First of all they already have three second basemen, and secondly after Hendry spent all off season talking about how he wants better defense sticking Soriano at second would make no sense.

Next years FA class is much better, I'd expect them to top 100 mil. Hendry would have topped it this year if Furcal had taken the Cubs' offer.

This would be a nice move by the Cubs. As was mentioned earlier, I'd prefer Hidalgo. He's younger and better on the defensive end, but either could be a nice low risk move. As long as the opening day OF is not Jones, Pierre and Gonzalez.

I get a mysterious, fatiguing illness whenever I read one of Phil Rogers articles.

I don't think those one day contracts that players sign in the NFL are allowed under MLB labor rules. I am not 100% sure about that but I remember reading it somewhere. That is why you never see it happen in baseball but it happens all the time in football, even with marginal players.

Unless you need a sac fly. :wink:

Might be the end of the line.... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2328640 Whoever that "source" is does not say much that would make anyone think Sosa has lost his diva attitude. Personally I think Sammy swallows his pride and takes the deal in an attempt to prove everyone wrong. IMO, however, the Washington ballpark is all wrong for him. I think he would be better off calling the Rockies and seeing if he can get a NRI. If he could have a good spring he might be able to put up good numbers at Coors Field if they gave him regular time.

If he bam, bam, bam, let him play at the end of last season, maybe the breaking in period is mostly over. Dusty let Hollandsworth, Dubois, Hairston, Gerut, and Lawton all have a chance before bam, bam, bam, giving LF to Murton. That makes Murton 6th in line, or 'Plan F' in Dusty's scheme. Only a giant ego like Dusty Baker would pat himself on the back when his Plan F succeeds in the dying moments of a failed campaign. Gerut? He of 14 AB's in 11 games? That was a quite a "chance" Dusty gave him. Also, unless he has authority to bring guys up from AA I don't think he can be blamed for using Hollandsworth and Dubois first since Murton was not even on the team until about midseason.

How does Cedeno make his list when he has had enough ML service time that he does not even qualify for ROY this season? And if Cedeno qualifies why not Murton? I am not real familiar with his methodology, so maybe there is some criteria of which I am not aware about when guys are no longer considered minor league prospects.

He "showed", but at that point in the season he was pretty much playing on one leg since the cartilege in his knee was almost non-existent.

Seems like a fair deal - now lock him up long term! http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060211&content_id=1309959&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060211&content_id=1309959&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Who cares about the World Series? First team to sign all their players to guaranteed contracts wins! I'm with ya, dude. You are? Give me any example of how going to arbitration with a player instead of signing him before the hearing would have helped the Cubs go to the World Series.

I would hope so because I don't see any way he could "build endurance" while pitching in a set up role.

It doesn't matter if Sisco is not a position players. The motivation of all prospects matters. In 10 years the Cubs have developed few prospects, even if you just look at pitchers. They've had 3 top notch guys, but that doesn't say much about their ability to motivate guys, which is the discussion. It looks to me that outside of elite pitchers, they can't develop squat. And those elite pitchers don't need much motivation. Why the heck are people so afraid to admit the Cubs management might be lacking? Why the heck are people so afraid to admit the Cubs management might do some things right?

Turn out the lights....

A) Rusch is a weaker link than Wuertz. B) Rusch is going to be in the starting rotation to begin the season. C) 7 relievers is a big possibility, especially since they probably don't even have 6 competent bench players going to camp. D) None of those other relievers is a consistently effective enough pitcher to count Wuertz as the odd man out. I wouldn't be surprised for them to start the season: SP Zambrano Prior Maddux Rusch Williams RP Dempster Eyre Howry Ohman Williamson Wuertz Wellemeyer When Wood is ready they would have to make a tough decision since Wellemeyer I believe is out of options and it would be a shame to lose him for nothing.

Amazing facts there, Diffusion. I had been under the impression that Dusty Baker probably screwed Derrek Lee out of an MVP award, now I don't think there's any question about it. Someone should really show this stuff to Lee. Getting the team's stars angry at Dusty would be the fastest way to get rid of him. Let me just quickly do this properly... All-Time (excluding Derrek Lee's 2005) 110 or more XBH, average of 173 RBI 105 or more XBH, average of 160 RBI 100 or more XBH, average of 155 RBI 95 or more XBH, average of 152 RBI 90 or more XBH, average of 145 RBI 85 or more XBH, average of 136 RBI 80 or more XBH, average of 128 RBI 75 or more XBH, average of 122 RBI Post-1945 (excluding Derrek Lee's 2005) 105 or more XBH, average of 142 RBI 100 or more XBH. average of 141 RBI 95 or more XBH, average of 139 RBI 90 or more XBH, average of 133 RBI 85 or more XBH, average of 130 RBI 80 or more XBH, average of 123 RBI 75 or more XBH, average of 119 RBI I think the post-1945 (an arbitrary cut-off point, but I think it serves its purpose) is more relevant. Relative to the post-1945 average, Lee fell about 33 RBI short. And let's just say that, given that he hit .331/.480/.653 with runners in scoring position, the falling short wasn't Lee's fault. Had Lee got those extra 33 RBI, he'd have easily led the league in RBI (as well as average), so he'd have been 6 home runs short of the Triple Crown. Outstanding work. Just further shows that this management team is clueless. Patterson, Neifi, Lawton and Macias combined for over 350 at bats in the lead off spot and sported .263, .263, .269 and .270 OBP's respectively. Perez, Patterson, Neifi and Enrique Wilson combined for over 360 at bats in the 2 hole, and sported .300, .220, .286 and .200 OBP's respectively. Murton and Cedeno both have done very well in their limited role at the top of the order, yet Hendry says they aren't ready to hit the top of the order yet. Apparently, you can't hit at the top of the order until you prove you can get your OBP to dip below .300. That might also explain why Walker and Hairston have been long time members of Dusty's doghouse. They were the two guys who could actually get on base at a decent clip, yet Hairston got more bench time than he deserved, and they can't wait to trade Walker. I don't get it. Really? They each got almost 400 AB's last year despite both missing significant time with injuries. Maybe Hairston's leg injury had something to do with him getting "more bench time than he deserved". By his own admission we was not 100% so running him out there every day may not have been a good idea. Last time I checked Dusty isn't the GM so I don't see why Hendry wanting to trade Walker means he is in "Dusty's doghouse". (BTW - that would be a great name if Dusty wanted to start a hot dog joint in Wrigleyville :lol: )

I don't even see much risk for 76-79 wins. I think 80-86 is the highly probable range, with 87-92 quite possible, with an outside shot at 93+. I think Philly is at a big risk for decline if they don't find some starting pitching. The Mets are going to be better than last year's 83 win team. I think all those other teams, plus Milwaukee will compete with the Cubs. And SF might be there as well if Bonds plays a full healthy season. I'm a little more optimistic than that but not much. I would say 83-88 highly probable. I do think St. Louis is closer to 90 than 100 this year though and Houston finally drops back to .500. Still some time yet and I want to see who rolls into Spring Training with injuries (i.e. not ready to play baseball physically). I'm not seeing much of a plan with this ballclub. Are we building through free agency? The draft/minors? Both? Neither? The ship seems a bit adrift from my point of view. Certain players are not impressive in their offseason dedication, too. That's troubling. Right now I'm looking at .500.........3rd or 4th place depending on whether the Brewers continue their build and what happens with the Stros. Who are you referring to? Barrett, Jones and Pierre seem to be working very hard and word was that the starting pitchers looked to be in excellent shape for that time of year at the convention. Not saying you are wrong, just wondering what you are basing this on since I have not seen any such reports. I thought everyone knew who I was referring to, sorry. Ramirez seems to come into camp fatter each year. He's still good, don't get me wrong. But he's young----as he gets older that will begin to catch up with him. Wood never works on his mechanics, comes in the same injury-prone player despite the fact that everyone and their brother knows his motion is poor. Before the trade, CPatt was a total dud, doing nothing to improve and completely unwilling to change/work. These are fairly well documented. I thought it was accepted knowledge. Hmmm...we'll see how they look in spring training. I think ARam was supposedly going to put on a off season workout program that focused on building up lower body strength. Wood has been rehabbing so if offseason conditioning is normally a problem for him I don't think he had the option of slacking off this year. CPatt is no longer our problem. :lol: I get the feeling a lot of the players are pretty p.o.'d after the last couple of disappointing years and working extra hard to be ready this season. It still may not be enough, but this year I don't think it will be for lack of preparation.