erik316wttn

Gorz and Wells for Garza and a mid-level prospect?

I'd be fine with that. We're not likely to find a better deal on the FA market next year (unless Pujols comes available or Prince Fielder feels like signing at a big discount with us), so Pena for two years and under $10 mil is decent enough. Hopefully by then Davis will develop enough to be a good first baseman, assuming we make that deal. I could live with that scenario.

especially if he wears those big Harry Caray glasses. Pat I can see, but did he really have that close of a relationship with Selig? Why not Ernie, Billy, or Fergie?

Move Fukudome to 1b and let him start the first half of the season with Laroche coming off the bench. Switch them up during the 2nd half of the season. Find new RF who's not Tyler Colvin. Actually, I'd bench Fukudome once the calendar hits May.

Hey, why not! Oh, I know! Let's see if Ron Coomer wants to come out of retirement and play 1B!

Maybe he could use that signing bonus to buy some Preparation H to cure all that butthurt he has.

Not really. 30 potential bidders > 1 bidder. It's a Boras founding principle. He got Tom Hicks to bid against himself for A-Rod.

Kerry Wood is the only guy in baseball that makes me think with my heart rather than my head. I don't care if we overpay. I don't care if he's in his 30's and his arm is ready to fall off. I want him back. :( Yes, I'm prepared to be flamed, and yes, I know I'm a horrible person.

No, but you have to give the fans someone to cheer for.

The problem is this will cripple an already small payroll. Even if he's productive for 3 years, that's still 4 years of $15 million non-production. That's a ton if you don't have a high-end payroll. It'll severely limit any moves to improve the team they can make. Zimmerman, Strasburg and now Werth are the only players the Nationals have signed after the 2011 season. That means this time next year they will only have 32 million on the books for a team whose payroll could approach 80m. They'll have more than enough flexibility. Granted they have arby guys that I am not considering but still it isn't an issue. This doesn't limit anything. How much is Harper on the hook for?

Just came here to post that. Fantastic run after the catch.

It was a PR move more than anything else. They didn't want to face the public backlash from the fans for letting the face of the team walk over a few million.

Like a Hoover.

Of course.

I don't think I've heard the radio broadcast since the day of the game.

I figured a thread like this would be appropriate: A place where all of us can share our favorite Ron Santo memories. I have two that always make me smile. Everyone is familiar with the first story. September 23, 1998. Cubs 7, Brewers 5. Bases loaded, bottom of the 9th with 2 outs in old County Stadium in Milwaukee. What should be the last out of the game is an easy fly ball to Cubs left fielder Brant Brown, who promptly drops it. Three runs come around to score and the Cubs lose. Ron lets out a blood-curdling scream like someone just shot his entire family in front of him. It was played at various times for years after that just for laughs. I figure that's the ultimate clip of him being a homer, and it makes me laugh every time I hear it, even yesterday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY-quZ7W9Jw That's the best clip I could find. You hear Ron screaming 9 seconds in. During one of the very first series of the year, the Cubs are in New York to play the Mets. It may have even been Opening Day. I'm listening on the radio and there's a commotion in the booth. Apparently, Ron stood up, got his head too close to the space heater that was hanging above him, and his toupee caught fire. He took it in stride, and even years later Pat would tease him about that incident. It's just one of those funny stories that made him human and not just another random voice on the radio. And I'm sure going to miss Pat opening Cubs broadcasts with "...along with Cubs legend Ron Santo, it's Pat Hughes reporting..." :(

If he does get elected to the HOF, I don't think his family will boycott, just because of what election would have meant to him.

At least he was classy about it.

Cubs radio broadcasts will never be the same. I can understand some of the sentiment against Ron in the booth, but to me he was the perfect foil to Pat Hughes. He was one of us. He felt what we were feeling and often times said what we felt. That turned some people off, but to me it made him all the more endearing. Hearing Pat gently tease him about one thing or another always made me smile, because you knew those two genuinely liked each other. Without being too morbid, I always thought he'd keel over in the booth with as worked up as he would get on top of being a heart patient. I just wonder who will replace him in the booth. I'd hope for Keith Moreland, as Dave Otto is horrible. Ronny, I hope they have you playing 3rd base for today's game, just like old times. I'll always miss you and will never forget you.

RIP, Ronnie. This news sucks. Pat must be devastated. I know they were close.

I'm not sure how $14m is steep in price. It's steep if the owner doesn't have any money. Then why'd he buy the damn team?

Are you going to offer me Arbitration too, Jim? I can suck just as bad as Koyie Hill, if not moreso.

If Auburn wasn't so highly ranked Newton would be declared inelligible and Auburn would have to forfeit all its wins. This is a cover-up. Especially seeing as it would then be *gasp* TCU playing for the National title.

Advice to Dan Gilbert: Just put it in a balloon, and let it go. He's hired a private law firm to investigate tampering charges regarding the LeBron James signing. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=5872747

And people say I'm irrational.