erik316wttn

Good for Aram. Now imagine if Nomar wouldn't have gotten hurt. We likely would have had 3/4ths of the starting NL infield.

What was this about Cabrera imitating the Bartman play at Wrigley last year? Someone please fill me in.

i agree, if it aint broke dont fix it. hopefully this will only be a one-time affair. No, this is Selig. If it ain't broke, break it, then smash the pieces into tiny bits with a hammer. Then burn the little bits in a fire, and douse the fire with toilet water. Fixed it for you.

Yeah, so I don't like this "worldwide" competition. I just want the top 4 home run hitters from each league, regardless.

I believe it was in the low 90's, IIRC.

Will he be starting in the ASG or did he back out because of his shoulder?

Exactly. I know I have some massive man-love for Nomar, but I couldn't bear to part with him. I don't think i've ever been that excited about a Cubs transaction in my life. And what a birthday present, too. He made his Cubs debut on August 1st. I got to kick back with all my presents and watch Nomar in his Cubs debut and Maddux gunning for 300. Damn Cubs have an off day on my birthday this year. Grrrr. But getting back on topic, re-sign Nomar, as he'll probably get the best deal from us, and he'll sign another cheapie, have Cedeno as the backup to him, and re-sign Walker. If Hairston can hack it in the OF, he'll start in center, Murton in left, and possibly Pie in right? Or, if you like, Murton in right, Pie in Center, and Hairston in left. The lineup of... Hairston Nomar Lee Ramirez Pie Murton Walker Barrett is a pretty damned good lineup. Not a bad team, there.

Our manager is Dusty Baker, I think we know the ending to that one. Here are some examples Exhibit A:Hee Sop Choi Exhibit B:Jason Dubois Exhibit C:Ronny Cedeno Exhibit D:Matt Murton He'll sit on the bench instead of playing everyday That's what I was thinking. So don't bring up Pie. At least he'll play everyday in AA.

Those guys should be seen as outliers. For every Cabrera or Andruw Jones that makes an impression so quickly, theres numerous others who would be better served polishing up their games in the minors. That said, I am wholly 100% against the idea of sending off Hairston and bringing up Pie as a solution for this year. If we are bringing up Pie just as a test to see what he can do, fine. But if management expects him to contribute as an everyday player, they should think about giving him more time to develop. Exactly.

Yeah, leave him down for this year, maybe make him a September callup, but not before. Invite him to ST, let him try to earn his spot on the roster for next year. You don't want to stump his development, as who knows if Dusty would play him? Would he play center? Pulling players up from AA doesnt bother me as much as some. Because, Sometimes it works. (See: Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis) But, It shouldnt become a practice. I think Pie may be the type of guy you might be able to do that with, pull him up early that is. I think if it helps the team (as i do not see htis year as a lost cause) we might want to think about it. Might. And I think he would probably play center. It seems to me that dusty doesnt like Hairston. I could see him playing Pie over Hairston. Just my opinion. But then what do you do with Pie if/when Patterson comes back?

Yeah, leave him down for this year, maybe make him a September callup, but not before. Invite him to ST, let him try to earn his spot on the roster for next year. You don't want to stump his development, as who knows if Dusty would play him? Would he play center?

Agreed. This team desperately needs a leadoff hitter and Hairston is the best option. Now if you move Burntiz and bring up Pie..... That could be one of the best OF's in the majors in about 2-3 years. Murton/Hairston/Pie, or Murton/Patterson/Pie if Corey gets his head out of his butt.

same Likewise Ditto.

*points to sig*

Nomar is basically worthless to us. I don't think he does anything this year. Maddux would be a salary dump. We'd basically just be taking him off the books for next year, after accounting for the money we include. Then it's Patterson, Rusch, Dubois, and Dope for Dunn. You wouldn't do that? Maddux would be a dump, but why would Cincy take him? I'm not trying to hijack this thread to make this another "Maddux is/isn't overpaid when his option kicks in" discussion, but he can still get the job done. I'd like to try to resign Nomar, and have Cedeno on the bench to start next year. Can Ronny play 2nd? He could spell Walker (who should also stick around) and Nomar. I only expect about 120 games out of Nomar next year, but I think he'd be quite valuable to us for those 120 games. If healthy, he's a .322 lifetime career hitter. You want to get rid of that? If Corey can pull his head out of his rectum, learn to put the ball into play more (on the ground) and use his speed, he can be the player we all thought he could be. Ask me about Corey around the first of August. Rusch I wouldn't mind trading. I have nothing against him, and love what he's done for us, but we could probably get another team to overpay for a veteran lefty. Everyone is looking for one. I'm torn on Doobie. I guess if he'd net us Dunn I could trade him. I think the jury is still out on Dopirak as well. I don't follow the minors as well as most here (it's probably the weakest of all my areas of Cub knowledge), but isn't he one of the best hitters in our system (behind Pie and E-Patt, of course)? Dunn is a good player, and has a high OBP, but he's GOT to get that BA up first. He's good, but not great. If he can learn to hit .300, he'll be one of the richest men in baseball in 5 years or less. Would you really feel confident with the game on the line with a .240 hitter at the plate when we need a hit? OBP is good, but sometimes YOU have to get the job done, and not have to rely on the next guy. I hope I answered your question.

That would be my guess. People read far too much into things sometimes.

So you want to trade Nomar, Patterson, Maddux, Rusch, Doobie, and Dopirak, along with $5 million just for Dunn? That's called rape, and people go to jail for that sort of thing. Why don't we just throw in Dempster, Williams, Brownlie, Aardsma, Ohman, and Mitre, just to make sure the Reds don't get ripped off in the deal?

TB_11 I cannot understand how this team just dies. It shows no life. I honestly haven't read or seen anything that would indicte a change in attitude. If I did I would tell you (see the May 16 posting). It all starts with starting pitching and our starts are not giving quality starts at all. Prior should have gone down to the minors and pitched but he refused and is getting eaten up! Our offense has not been seen. Our pen is exposed because our starters have been pitching BP. Our defense ins't helping. This team is failing ever aspect of baseball and that is the coaching period. I don't see a bright spot on this team. The only spark I saw was Neifi arguing a play that wasn't even close. But remember one thing. This team is not done ripping our hearts out. They will go on a run and everything will be rosey once more before the season is over I promise. I just don't see how they would be able to sustain a playoff run currently. They should feel no pressure right now at all. My advice. Get back to baseball basics with these guys and maybe we have a chance. If not then get Dusty out of there. The players are not responding to him at all. And that should be the biggest strike against him. For being such a "players manager", he's lost this team.

Considering how much we are paying the guy, is that really an option? I don't see why not. Why should length of contract determine that a guy continually sucks on the big league club? The Yankees were seriously considering sending Giambi down and he's making several times more than Patterson. If someone isn't cutting it and a trip to the minors can straighten them out, it shouldn't matter how much they're making.

I'd bet they'd wait until the team comes back to Chicago after the Florida series. I just hope it gets done at all. Who would be interim? Pole or Rothschild?

Don't hold your breath.

The sad thing is that you are probably right. Yes, but the "vote of confidence" is usually a death knell for most managers. With the Cubs, it will probably actually BE a "vote of confidence."

Welcome to Cubs baseball. You know they had to start playing the Cubbie way sooner or later. It just took them to the NLCS to do it in 2003 and late September to do it in 2004.

BUT THERE'S LIKE 80 GAMES LEFT THIS SEASON!! WE CAN GET HOT, AND NOMAR CAN GET HEALTHY AND WE CAN GO ON A BIG WINNING STREAK AND WIN THE WILD CARD!! DON'T YOU KNOW THE LAST 3 WILD CARDS HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES???? THERE'S STILL SO MUCH SEASON LEFT FOR THINGS TO GO WRONG!! Yup, thought so. It sounds stupid when I say it, too.

I'm pretty sure that's true. In the early 90's didn't we have a stretch of like 3-4 games where we were shut out? Something like 30+ innings without scoring a run?