CP_414

Over/Under: 125 pitches by Neifi out of the pen tonight.

Yea, he got a break alright . . . http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2524132 Why is Sammy a "tool" for wanting to come back? If someone wants to pay him to play baseball, and he wants to do it whats the problem? Sammy is one of the greatest Cubs of all time even if he left a game early. He carried us for a decade. He deserves more respect from Cubs fans. I think they were trying to say he's a tool for implying he's taking a break cause he needed a break instead of what it was, that no one would give him any money. Well I still don't get how that makes him a "tool." He didn't get a good enough offer in the offseason, so he didn't sign anywhere. He could have accepted he Nationals offer and played baseball this year, but the offer wasn't good enough so he took a break. Now if he can get an offer good enough he will come back. What's the problem?

Yea, he got a break alright . . . http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2524132 Why is Sammy a "tool" for wanting to come back? If someone wants to pay him to play baseball, and he wants to do it whats the problem? Sammy is one of the greatest Cubs of all time even if he left a game early. He carried us for a decade. He deserves more respect from Cubs fans.

First of all I didnt really pay much attention to the whole Ozzie thing (was on vacation), but if he said "Marrioti is a [expletive]" instead of gay, then that is a whole different thing. I was under the impression he said gay and I was arguing that saying something like that doesnt automaticly make you a biggot (its common slang nowdays), but like I said "[expletive]" is something completely different. He called Mariotti a "f---ing [expletive]."

X-Rays on ARods toe were negative. Looks like he will be back in the lineup tomorrow.

Arod not in the Yanks lineup tonight. Looks like he might be hurt afterall.

AROD was pulled in the 8th tonight with a "foot injury." The BBTN guys were all saying there is no injury, he was pulled for his awful defense during the game. Steve Phillips said if AROD doesn't improve his D he will be "untradeable." Kruk said he will have to be the DH with Giambi moving to 1B, and they all agreed this could change the course of AROD's career. I havn't been following his defense this year, has it been bad all year or is it a bad stretch? The more he gets booed in NY, ripped in the media, and the Yanks stay behind Boston the more cheaply I think he can be had. At this point I almost expect him to be traded before opening day next season if the Yanks don't make the playoffs.

For the right price. 3/$15M. In reality he will get closer to 3/$24M at least.

I think Clark can be had pretty cheap right now. Word is the Brewers are going to call up Tony Gwynn Jr before their game tonight. That gives them 3 CF's on the major league roster, and a 4th guy (Hall)who can play center. Clark has been losing at bats to Gabe Gross as it was, and seems to have fallen out of favor in Milwaukee dispite his OBP. He is due to make $3.8M next season, and the Brewers could make better use of the money since they aren't even playing Brady. I would offer Milwaukee Maddux, Dempster, and Neifi for Clark and Billy Hall. Plug Clark in at CF next year and Hall at 2B. They will both make under $4M, while Clark can give you a .380 OBP and Hall can hit 30 HRs with 40 doubles from the 2nd base position. Hall does struggles with OBP, and Clark has no speed or power, but they have strengths and financially they wopuld allow the Cubs to get two impact players (i.e. trade for Abreu and sign Schmidt). To get Abreu you could offer Marshall, Murton, and Pie for Abreu and a little cash. 2007 Cubs CF Clark C Barrett 1B Lee RF Abreu 3B ARAM 2B Hall LF Jones SS Cedeno SP Zambrano SP Schmidt SP Prior SP cheap FA pitcher (Weaver? Ohka? Meche?) SP Marmol/Guzman/Hill BP Howry BP Eyre BP Ohman BP Novoa BP Wuertz BP ??? Marmol? Guzman?

Thats interesting. I wonder if they would move him for more pitching. Williamson + Hill for Freel? Depending on what we do the offseason Freel could start at 2B, SS, or CF for us next year.

Salisbury and Clayton were on ESPN Radio this afternoon and they said Briggs just turned down a deal from the Bears that would pay him $5.5M annually. It is the same amount Will Witherspoon signed with St. Louis for this offseason. They both seemed surprised Briggs didn't take the deal, and doubted he would be able to get more than $6M a year even with another monster season. Clayton also speculated that Briggs will miss the first 2-3 weeks of training camp. Clayton said he didn't think that would be "a big deal". Then the conversation wne toff topic as they talked about how it would be "a big deal" to Lovie.

What if the Brewers have the same unwritten rule and the Cubs have to overpay for whoever we get from Milwaukee? Then you trade Maddux to Arizona, LA, or San Diego. Phil Rodgers was on the radio in Milwaukee today and he said he thinks there is a good chance of this going down. He thinks JJ Hardy has lost his SS job to Bill Hall, and the Cubs should target Hardy in a trade with Milwaukee (moving Cedeno to 2B). He also says Greg and Mike Maddux talk 2-3 times a day and do advanced scouting for each other before every series, so don't underestimate the importance of Mike being in Milwaukee.

Brewer fans talk up Cruz a bit, but I'm leary of 26 year old guys who have had 5 big league at bats. His AAA numbers are good this year, but the guy is in his 6th minor league season. Can he play CF, or is he strictly a corner outfielder? If he can play CF he is a little more intresting.

Bill Hall is NOT a free agent after the season. He is arbitration eligible. He is also arguably the best offensive SS in the NL, so we won't be getting him for Maddux. I would love to acquire him in a trade in the offseason though. Hall is on pace for 35+ HR's and 40+ doubles and he can play 2B, SS, or CF pretty well, in addition to 3B. If the Brewers feel there isn't a place to put him everyday next year they might move him for pitching. They have Weeks at second, Hardy at SS (who I don't think is very good), Koskie at 3B with Braun moving up the minors, and not much in CF, but $3.8M committed to Brady Clark for next year. I would trade Maddux to the Brewers for any 1 of the following players: Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, or Villenueva. I would also consider a package of Dana Eveland and Tony Gwynn Jr.

I downloaded the song a while ago and I am listening to it right now. PM me w/ an email address. Thanks. I sent the PM. Thanks again.

If anyone could send me a link to a free version of "Go Cubs Go" online, that would be great. I really need to have this in the next 30 minutes if anyone can help. Thanks!

Johnny Damon left the game with an injury tonight. If he is out for a while this could be our chance. Pierre, Jones, Prior, Pie, Williamson for Arod and Cash...throw in Nevin if they want a temporary 3B. Replace Pie with Ramirez if they need to. I know I should give up the dream, but I don't want to. 2007 Cubs C- Barrett 1B - Lee 2B - Cedeno SS - ARod 3B - ARAM RF - ? CF - ? LF - Murton SP Zambrano SP ? SP ? SP Marshall SP Marmol BP Dempster BP Howry BP Eyre BP Ohman BP Wuertz BP Novoa/Aardsma I would see if the Brewers want to dump Sheets salary to resign Lee, and try to acquire Sheets and Brady Clark (if not Bill Hall, who I would rather get for CF). Clark has been sent to their bench despite being good for an OBP of about .380, and catching everything he can get to in CF. Then get an innings eater with an ERA around 4 for the 3rd starter and spend whatever is left on RF.

I don't think that ever had a chance, but if it did, this doesn't change anything. In fact it gives us more pieces to move.I suspect Minnesota would rather have PJ Brown for 1 year and then $8M in cap space to sign free agents than Chandler at 5 years $54M. Brown (cap space)-Deng-T.Thomas is a better offer than Chandler-Deng-T.Thomas. I don't see it happening now though, nor did I ever. If it did you have an NBA championship team. PG Hinrich, Duhon SG Gordon, Thabo SF Nocioni, JR Smith PF Garnett, Allen, Kryopa C Wallace, Sweetney

Aramis+Jones+Guzman+Marshall+Williamson for Arod at $13M a year and filler

I saw one of those when I went to Wrigley on the last homestand. Between a guy and a girl. Who won?

Lots of rumors about Bargnani going to the Bulls at #2. Andy Katz was on ESPN News and he said Thomas likley slipped out of the #2 spot because Skiles was upset TT couldn't finish either of his workouts for the Bulls. The Raptors apparantly are seriously considering Gay with the top pick.

This would be a no-brainer for Pax -- I hope its true. The Bulls would have some nice options with the #2 and #7 picks. I would definitely agree with that. If he were to land the #7 pick, the Bulls could realistically land 2 out of these 3: Roy, Aldridge, or Thomas. Thomas and Aldridge are expected to fall down to around #7 if the Bulls do not pick one of them at #2. Roy, of course, is expected to go to Charlotte if the Bulls don't pick him at #2. Either way, this could end up being a very productive draft if we can get the #7 pick. Maybe then package #2 and #7 for a proven superstar? How about we do Duhon and #16 for #7. Chandler, Deng, #7 for Jermaine O'Neal and #17. Sign Pryzbilla. Sign Toni Kukoc to the vet minimum. Draft Roy at #2. Draft Sene at #17 (if he is there). Extend Kirk. Starters: Kirk --- 15.9 PPG/6.3 Assists Gordon --- 16.9 ppg Nocioni --- 13ppg/6.1 rpg O'Neal --- ~20/10 Pryz --- 6.1 ppg/7.0 rpg/2.32bpg Key Bench Players: Roy --- rookie Sweetney --- 8.1 ppg/5.3 rpg Kukoc --- 4.9 ppg/2.3 rpg/2.1 apg in 15 mpg Sene --- rookie Harrington --- 4.8 ppg/2.1 rpg in 11 mpg Strengths: Starting Lineup Will have among the best guard play in the league JO provides a legit all-star power forward Pryzbilla is basically Chandlers equal Nocioni is one of the better SF's in the East Weaknesses: Not as deep of a team Not much backing up Nocioni at SF (Kukoc) Could use another big man off the bench due to O'Neal's injury history. If this is the team and they go into the playoffs healthy, they can contend in the East. I don't think that team is better than the 05-06 Bulls. Jermaine O'Neal's a star, but he's not that big a difference maker. Kukoc is horrible. And your guard rotation is not among the best, unless Roy has an amazing rookie year. When healthy, I think JO is a huge difference maker. There aren't many guys who give you 20/10 virtually every night. The Bulls also are sorely lacking a big man who can score, and JO is one of the better offensive power forwards. Kukoc is certainly at the end of his career, but he isn't a horrible option for 10 minutes a night at SF. He is also an incredibly smart player who could help the development of some of the kids. I guess I'm just a bigger Hinrich/Gordon fan than you are. Most NBA Draft projections say Roy is the most NBA ready player in the draft, so I think he can have a nice impact in year one.

This would be a no-brainer for Pax -- I hope its true. The Bulls would have some nice options with the #2 and #7 picks. I would definitely agree with that. If he were to land the #7 pick, the Bulls could realistically land 2 out of these 3: Roy, Aldridge, or Thomas. Thomas and Aldridge are expected to fall down to around #7 if the Bulls do not pick one of them at #2. Roy, of course, is expected to go to Charlotte if the Bulls don't pick him at #2. Either way, this could end up being a very productive draft if we can get the #7 pick. Maybe then package #2 and #7 for a proven superstar? How about we do Duhon and #16 for #7. Chandler, Deng, #7 for Jermaine O'Neal and #17. Sign Pryzbilla. Sign Toni Kukoc to the vet minimum. Draft Roy at #2. Draft Sene at #17 (if he is there). Extend Kirk. Starters: Kirk --- 15.9 PPG/6.3 Assists Gordon --- 16.9 ppg Nocioni --- 13ppg/6.1 rpg O'Neal --- ~20/10 Pryz --- 6.1 ppg/7.0 rpg/2.32bpg Key Bench Players: Roy --- rookie Sweetney --- 8.1 ppg/5.3 rpg Kukoc --- 4.9 ppg/2.3 rpg/2.1 apg in 15 mpg Sene --- rookie Harrington --- 4.8 ppg/2.1 rpg in 11 mpg Strengths: Starting Lineup Will have among the best guard play in the league JO provides a legit all-star power forward Pryzbilla is basically Chandlers equal Nocioni is one of the better SF's in the East Weaknesses: Not as deep of a team Not much backing up Nocioni at SF (Kukoc) Could use another big man off the bench due to O'Neal's injury history. If this is the team and they go into the playoffs healthy, they can contend in the East.

Can anyone find a list of Ozzie-related incidents? Off the top of my head I can remember: This incident Putting Riskie in last night to hit a Cardinals batter Tracy incident a week ago Profanity filled tirade against Carlos Lee when he left the Sox Profanity filled tirade against Magglio when he left the Sox Trashing the Cubs and Wrigley Field Saying Jason Grimsley should be shot In New York last season, Guillen referred to someone as a homosexual and a child molester. What else...? Was John Rocker suspended for his SI comments? If so, Ozzie should also be punished for the culmination of his actions.

As good as he's looked, I hope Marmol is sent down. After being called up straight from AA I think he needs the development time the most. Indeed. I think he'll head to Iowa instead of West Tenn, though. Ya I know it will be AAA and that is good, Alan Dunn is an excellent pitching coach. I'm just commenting that since he made such a jump he should go back to the minors to continue learning before he sticks in the bigs. Let him learn from coach Maddux. DFA Rusch. This is a no-brainer to me. Marmol has been one of very few bright spots, let's see how he progresses with the Cubs.