Rooftop Bum

I have always been a Cub fan. But the past 2.5 seasons have been very frustrating. It just seems like the team underachieves a lot nowadays. I know some of that has been due to injuries. But a lot of it has been stupidity as well. From Zambrano's odd behavior, Dusty boneheaded decisions, terrible fundamental baseball, the dissapointment of Prior and Wood, fans booing players, weird offseason moves and non-moves. The supposed good players that do come here like Nomar, Hawkins and Pierre don't really pan out. It just gets tiring. It seems like if all Hendry would do is bring in super stars somehow this team will find a way to fail eventually. The teams in the past were bad of course but at least they maintained some sort of appeal. The team now really does not have a good appeal any longer besides Wrigley itself of course. Harry is gone. Stone is gone. Sosa is gone (yeah he was a goof his last season). The great rotation is now in effect gone with the injuries and will likely not return to greatness. It's kind of lame nowadays really and embarrassing being a Cubs fan. Especially when all the rivals are doing well like St Louis, Houson, and now even Milwaukee is not to bad. The White Sox on the other hand over achieve and win a World Series. It looks like they are headed to another playoffs. They are gaining much more popularity in the city. Sure much of it is bandwagoners. But you have to admit they are gaining some momentum. However, all it would take is one solid playoff year by the Cubs to bring the good vibes back to the Cubs. But it ain't gonna happen this year and I doubt it will next season unless some awesome moves happen shortly.

I kind of think if Wood can not come back from this lastest setback that he will be gone during the offseason. They will probably have to keep Prior around since he's locked up until 2008. He's at worst a good pitcher. I am not sure he'll get back to that 2nd half of 03 form but anything close to that is welcome IMO. I would definately count on him being here in 07 unless of course something horrible happens when he comes back (God I hope not). But Wood has to be on thin ice if he can't come back healthy this season. Anyway, I think it's good that Guzman at least gets one start and it's against the Marlins. Which right now are a glorified AAA team plus Cabrera. If he does badly against them they probably ship him back to AAA or wherever he has been. If not they will keep him around. I think Hill is going to get a shot as a SP soon as well. I do agree that Hendry and the Cubs might be trying to figure out whom to trade and who to keep as a starting pitcher next year all at the same time.

Oh well with the Cubs luck we would get Cabrera and he'd get injured in a fluke play or just plain injured. Like Nomar and Lee and Wood and Prior. It's the curse I tell ya :)

I think if the Cubs want to compete this season they need to go out and actually pick someone up to help replace Lee's numbers. It's fine that they may send Walker or Mabry out to 1b. That would work for about 2 weeks. But Lee is out 8-10 weeks. Someone has to hit in front of Ramirez. No, I have no answers for who that would be except for Cabrera. I think the Cubs could work out a nice offer to the Marlins. IF they wanted to go that direction. It does mean losing some fine rooks and minor leaguers. But you would get Cabrera and his bat on the team. When Lee comes back it's actually a little bit stronger. I just hope it's being considered. But that's if the Cubs want to compete this season.

Eh, we should just sell the farm for Miquel Cabrera.

You can always become a White Sox bandwagon fan. There are plenty of those right now.

Wow! I am in disbelief. I thought he just mildly sprained it at worst. Boy was I ever wrong. Once again the hopes are dashed by yet another injury to a key player. Amazing. Maybe this team really is cursed?

Well that is not what I meant. It came out wrong I guess. Yeah, I would be concerned if Lee winds up being out for a long time obviously. I just don't think he will be unless his wrist is actually broken. Eyre being out for a long time would be a major concern though because other than Eyre, Howry, and Dempster the bullpen seems shaky at best. It does not appear that Marshall and Rusch can last much past the 5th inning or 6th inning. But an update says Eyre just has a bruise so now the full out worry of mine is Lee. Sorry to scare people. Yes, Lee being out for a long time would be much worse than Eyre. Sorry.

I thought Mabry could play first base? If so, just stick him in there until Lee gets back. It did not look like Lee's injury was that bad. I hope (crosses fingers). Honestly, I am more worried about Eyre being injured. It seems like we only have 2 pitchers that can make it past the 6th inning. From the 7th inning on the Cubs bullpen has done very well. He is a big part of it. I don't want to see that guy gone for very long.

I can't remember if they were trades or what was involved. However, a long time ago we got rid of Palmeiro and Jamie Moyer. Then another one that comes to mind is Luis Gonzalez. Again I can't remember what the situations were for those. They must not have been trades or someone would have beat me to it. I kind of cringe sometimes when I see that those guys went elsewhere.

Actually the plate discipline has been much better than last seasons. That was one of the rarer occurences last night IMO.

You said it. TThey report on every single stinker that is let with this. It's just sad. They can start the presses when he actually pitches in a real game. I guess it's better news that "Prior to under the knife" though.

They should make that an Olympic sport. Prior, Wood, and Miller would sweep the medals. :D I don't know. Apparently they don't throw them to well since they are injured all the time :) (Yes, just kidding about it....please don't flame)

No it's going to be Clemens or Zito. LOL! Just joking.

It would be fun to see this as a pitching staff (healthy of course!) : Clemens Prior Wood Zambrano Maddux Miller

Yeah, my problem really is not with the Cubs management or PR people. Although I do think they knew something was up with Prior but that's my opinion. I do not really believe what they tell us until we see Prior and Wood pitching a MLB game or ST game. Beyond all that the bottomline is that both Wood and Prior just can not stay healthy or they are babied to much. I don't know. I do know it's not doing the club much good to keep these 2 around. They have all the talent in the world but big deal if they can't start more than 15 games a year. I say give them one more shot this year and if all possible get rid of them in the offseason if they continue their pace of start 6 games, DL for 30 days, start 5 games, DL for 15, etc.

I'm hoping Lee withdraws from the WBC and makes sure he's healthy for the 2006 MLB season. With Lee gone and Mark Teixiera at 1B... THe WBC is over man! Though it's worth it.. Is it? I don't really think it is but since the Olympics won't take baseball we have to some world tournament apparently.

Wow! Prior is hurt again. Well like I have said this before. Until I see Prior and or Wood on the mound in an actual game I won't believe whatever the Cub's brass says. Until that happens I don't believe anything they say. I guess that's being a poor fan but oh well. It's just very disappointing and sad and yet at the same time kind of expected. Maybe we will get lucky and both Wood and Prior will start in mid May and make 4 or 5 starts before they experience "soreness" yet again.

Yeah, offensively they seem to be better than expected so far. Of course it's just ST. It's nice to see the run production and baserunners so high. That's withougt Lee and Barrett.

I hope they are healthy this season. It just seems like such a stretch that we will see Wood, Prior, and Miller for the entire season though. I will feel better when I see them pitching on the mound instead of all the "they are making progess" reports.

If they are telling the truth in the first place. It better not result in anything they way they keep acting like it's no big deal. Hopefully he'll be pitching by June if not before. I won't hold my breath though.

In other words it means "Prior might possibly start on April 5 if he's still not suffering from an injury we have not told you about."

I am hoping for 25 starts as well but would not be surprised if he just ends up in the bullpen again like last season. Seriously.

Well my opinion on it is simply this. I will believe Prior is ok when we see him facing some batters either in ST or his first start and take it from there. I can see why people are seeing red flags. I had a funny feeling Wood was not feeling as fine as they claimed earlier. I kind of have that same sensation with Prior as well. If eveything is okey dokie smokie he would be facing batters IMO. But I am no trainer or coach just a paranoid Cub fan here. I have my doubts on Prior's health. That's all. I am not gonna freak out about it though unless they comeback and say "Mark needs minor surgery on something to."

I am sure we won't get any of the top ones. Ha-ha! You know how it goes.