Blizzau

How come we couldn't ever get decent major leaguers who could consistantly hit .300 for minor league pitching when that was all we had to offer a few years ago? Too reluctant to trade the pitching. Now most of that pitching has been injured and/or didn't pan out. I blame the scouting dept who hasn't been able to help Hendry recognize when to make a trade or not. The Cubs haven't traded a minor leaguer at their peak value yet. Sanchez? Beltran? Choi? Bobby Hill too... Just because the Cubs got good return for those guys doesn't mean they were traded at their peak value. Choi was coming off an injury he never seemed to recover from. How did the Cubs not receive peak value for Choi? Could they have possibly done any better than Derrek Lee? I don't think so.

Since Florida is currently is cost cutting (or saving) mode, I highly doubt that Soriano's contract would appeal to them. $10M for one player would throw quite the monkey wrench into their plan to save in the short-term and stockpile young, cheap talent.

I love that song, as I'm sure do most posters on NSBB. Now that I no longer live near Chicago, I hardly ever get to hear it. Thanks for reminding me of past seasons following the Cubbies, and getting me amped for 2006!

I'm not sure, but I think you've misinterpreted the quotes. It sounds to me like he's saying 'I better get in shape so I can get another contract.' The second quote never insinuates that he's too fat to fit the jersey. I understand the fact that he hasn't come right out and said that he's only getting in shape to get paid again, however, why is he waiting until now to do it? He's spent two years dragging ass for the Cubs, begging out of games, and now that his contract is up he wants to get back into shape??? Fine. I hope he's in great shape and helps us go to the playoffs. I hope he wins 15-20 games and recaptures past glory. But let me be the first to say no matter how well he does in 2006, he won't deserve a contract worth more than $5 Million dollars for more than a year. He'll just regress back to fat-out of shape Greg so you'd have to pay him for the type of numbers he put up in 2005. Too fat to fit the jersey?! Again, I'm afraid you misinterpreted what you read. I didn't say that at all in my previous post. Maddux simply stating to the press tongue-in-cheek that he needs to get in shape for the coming season to earn a contract for the following year is just that. While it is true that older athletes have to condition harder to prepare for the season, it seems like Maddux was also making light of that. His comment about the jersey simply indicates that he loves the game and plans to play in 2007, and possibly beyond. That Maddux didn't give a canned line of "Well, I love Chicago, Wrigley Field is heaven, and I really hope the Cubs ask me back..." shouldn't cause overreaction among fans who may or may not have issues with Mr. Maddux.

Some of you may have misinterpreted Greg's quotes in this article. I read his comments about having to get in shape for another year and putting on a shirt next season if offered one as humorous, with humble overtones. Ballplayers are allowed to have senses of humor, aren't they?

FYI, Maddux departed Chicago for the Braves before the 1993 season... and then we all (or most of us) rejoiced a decade later.

Conversation. Well played. =D>

That sounds like a great, very well thought out outline. I really look forward to reading the final composition, and I'm sure many others here at NSBB feel the same!

Well played. 8)

I would change this to "The evolution of Sabermetrics has helped...." The "evolution" has helped. Not "Sabermetrics" have helped.... [/nitpick] Another note about subject/verb agreement... When writing a sentence like "The evolution of sabermetrics has helped...", you need to focus on evolution - and not sabermetrics - as the subject. Evolution is singular; sabermetrics is plural. Subject/verb agreement dictates that the first piece of the subject (evolution) results in a singular verb. Just out of curiousity, where in Michigan do you live? I used to live there, and I also worked with high school students in and around Oakland County...

You need to add the word "in" after "appears" and before "Michael." And Lewis' should be Lewis's. Lewis' is also correct If Lewis is the prural of Lewi, then yes. :wink: Lewis' (and James', for that matter) is 100% correct. I'm the editor in my office. Trust me on this one.

I actually thought books were underlined, but I was told by my teacher quotations, so I'm going with that. But I'll double check before handing it in. No offense, but your teacher couldn't be more wrong. Books are always underlined. I'm suprised that Michigan - a state that relies heavily on D.O.L. to educate its students - hasn't hammered home that point more emphatically. If your teacher deducts points for underlining titles, you certainly can appeal your grade. And then tell him/her to check out an MLA/APA handbook.

If I recall correctly, Hawk received about 50% of the vote last year, which was a significant jump from previous years.

Before reading this thread, I was not exactly a fan of Blyleven. After reading his accomplishments per the HOF website, however, it seems a shame that he has not yet been admitted. I have changed my mind, and I'm going with "Si, senores."

Quality over loyalty ---> Foreign! (I owned a brand new GM once, and it was an absolute nightmare. I'll take a 10 year-old Japanese car over American any day.)

I became a baseball fan in 1988, and so my recollection of Garvey is limited to a few relatively worthless baseball cards. Looking at Garvey's career highlights Vance posted above, it seems those cards lacked value for a reason. Was Garvey really that exciting (or excellent) of a player, or was he as similar to Doug Mientkiewicz as he sounds?

The latest article on the Cubs Winter Meetings strategy has recently been posted on Cubs.com. The title and subtitle are "Cubs aim to adjust top of the order: With Furcal a Dodger, club ready to examine other options." All of this makes perfectly good sense. The outrageous part of the article: a photo with Neifi swinging away, and captioned: "Neifi Perez was capable (bold mine), but the Cubs hope to secure a new leadoff batter this year." In what was was Neifi F. Perez capable at leading off? Was it his stellar OBP, his lightning fast speed, or his ability not to clog the bases so that D. Lee couldn't work his magic??? These staff writers at MLB.com are sometimes a joke. Just thought y'all would agree, and could use the laugh.

What is going on in this thread??? I came on here looking to read about Nomar Garciaparra and our potential SS options, and all I can find is a thread laced with insults. Let's please all knock it off and stick to discussing the topic of the thread... Thanks.

In the spirit of the original post, please let's use this thread only for actual transaction summaries and/or links to relevant articles. Commentaries on those transactions or speculation regarding possible moves should be posted under a different thread.

As far as I am concerend he is just as much a victim as his wife. Good for you. Preganant woman vs. muscular professional athlete. I'd say we are in for a Super Bowl XX-like match up. =D>

Welcome to the forum! You presented some interesting ideas, and I'm sure you're having fun receiving feedback from your fellow Cubs fans. This is a great place to ponder potential moves by our favorite team! I thought you might appreciate this tip about posting: Your post contained a lot of information. It would be helpful if you could break it up (paragraph-wise) for easier reading. Again, welcome aboard!

The following were players whose baseball cards I didn't look forward to finding in packs when I was a kid: Sid Fernandez - "massive" talent, my eye Tom Henke - this guy looked like he belonged in a laboratory, not on the diamond Wade Boggs - totally dissed me at Tiger Stadium after I waited forever for an autograph with my dad. Wade went straight for a couple of hotties, signed their stuff, and left on his bus despite me and my dad pleading for a signature (he had been one of my favorite players) Juan Gonzales - total punk. He was supposed to be the savior of the Tigers (I'm originally from Michigan), but that's when he decided to start sucking. Billy Ripken - the untalented brother. Although his '89 Fleer error card was a fun one to find! And the players I currently dislike or disrespect: Robert Fick - bushleague. A Rod - see above. Moises Alou - cry baby. Alex Gonzales - butter fingers under pressure. Jeff Kent - looks like a tool. Curt Schilling - amazing player, but he says WAY too much. Randy Johnson - overrated. Anyone who has used or does use steroids...

Wow. Why must we compare these situations? They are completely different. How can you possibly compare the cash-happy LA and Bos. organizations, with their meddling ownership and unrealistic expecttaions, with Oak., where Beane is bigger than the organization? If that's not what you intended, then I apologize. But I don't think its fair to make that sweeping statement and comparison. I believe Treebeard's point was to proclaim respect and admiration of the A's, who continually are one of the most cost effective, efficient and well-run organizations in Major League Baseball. I found the juxtaposition to other, richer, less progressive clubs completely relevant. And he makes a good point.

YES - I would vote for Estrada any day of the week. I don't think it is coincidental that our pitching staff has decreased in effectiveness since 2003 (granted, some of that is due to injury). While I love Barrett's offense, I miss the defense of Damian Miller. Estrada would surely equal Barrett on the offensive side, and my understanding is that he is also better defensively. Anyone have the numbers to back up this belief?

If your car is on blocks and your house is on wheels...you might be a White Sox fan... Could we please stop ripping on Sox fans for socioeconomic reasons??? I find your post elitist, classist, and racist. Quite frankly, these comments make me embarrassed to be a Cubs fan, and even make rooting for my hometown Rockies seem more appealing. Please beware that you're turning off other fans from the team we all love... Thanks.