Sweet Swinging Billy

Lefty wrote: "My point is that once these entities get their hands on the Tribune, the Cubs would be a prime candidate for sale to pay down the purchase price of the assets that these entities really want, the media properties". ---we can only hope and pray this happens. I just wish someone like Jerry Conegelio (sp), Mark Cuban, or someone else would make an offer. --#26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (Formerly ITex)

don_kessinger_was_good wrote: "So basically, for the same three pitchers sent to Florida for Juan Pierre, plus the money spent on Jacques Jones, Hendry instead could have Aubrey Huff and have signed free agent Kenny Lofton. Lovely. Huff >> Jones Lofton = Pierre Huff + Lofton = $8MM (approximately) Pierre + Jones = $12MM (approximately) So even better, he'd have had $4MM in extra cash, which could have been used with the $7MM in spare cash he still has unspent, to sign AJ Burnett. Yep, Hendry should be fired". ---I disagree. All this is, is Rosenthal's opinion. Why is it that so many people take what a writer says, and treats it like it's "the Gospel truth". Rosenthal doesn't know what he's talking about. Was it Rosenthal himself trying to negotiate a deal for Huff, like Hendry was trying to do? Of course not. And somebody tell me why, when for months, these Cub prospects were available, the Rays weren't willing to make a trade with the Cubs. I think if MLB was able to conduct a poll with regard to the top GM's in the NL, Hendry wouldn't be ranked as low as where y'all would put him. ----#26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (formerly ITex)

Meathead wrote: "They are going to look good losing in these". ---I think they're awesome. Maybe the Cubs could re-design their road uniforms, along the same line. I would never touch the home uniforms...but if we were to have road uniforms like this --I definitely, would buy one. Hey also maybe this guy would be willing to design new unis for the Iowa Cubs. They need it! ---#26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (formerly ITex)

Treebeard wrote "ugh, i hate those hats". ---I agree but the scary thing is, these caps are still better than those old ugly caps, they used to wear. The ICubs have needed to hire a new marketing consultant for some time now. The Daytona Cubs have a nice logo. ---#26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (formerly ITex)

Everybody agrees that Patterson has plenty of potential but the bottom line is that you don't subject a person to all the angry fans and boo-birds until you wait for a guy to pan out. Corey's situation is very much like LaTroy Hawkins' or Todd Hundley's. Hendry should be thanked. He did Patterson a huge favor. Corey needed a fresh start. --#26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (formerly ITex) "Patterson was booed loudly and often at Wrigley Field". http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2285777

MPrior wrote: "Man, if we got two minor leaguers for him, I really can't imagine them being that good. Unless the other teams' interest really pushed up the price, I guess". --- I'm not so sure. Judging by the ESPN article, these two minor leaguers showed a lot of promise. I'm happy for the Cubs and I'm happy for Corey. My only regret is that the Cubs didn't call up Eric Patterson in September last season, so that he and Corey could have played together. ---#26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (Formerly ITex) "The 20-year-old Spears spent last season at Baltimore's Carolina League affiliate at Frederick, Md. The left-handed hitter batted .294 with 30 doubles, six triples, six homers and 41 RBI in 112 games. Perez recorded his first career double-digit winning season last year, going 11-8 in 27 starts for Class-A Delmarva. The 23-year-old worked a career-high 151 1/3 innings and struck out 146 while walking just 61". http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2285777

I'd say we if can get Soriano for Patterson and Jerome Williams, we make that trade. Also come July/Trading Deadline, if Soriano is not in the Cubs' plans and we don't plan on re-signing him, ship him off to the AL, where I think we could get alot for him, in return. --- #26 Sweet Swinging Billy Williams (formerly ITex)

Dan Conley from the Baltimore Sun is on WGN's Sports Central right now. He's telling Kaplan that (he believes that) the Orioles believe that the best fit they have for a trade, is with the Cubs--because the Cubs have the most talent to offer. For Conley, he thinks that the Orioles will trade Miggy to the National League, either the Phillies or the Cubs. Kaplan also told Conley and the listeners that two more teams have entered the mix for Patterson, so it's not a done deal he's headed for Baltimore. I also found it interesting that a caller called in before Dan Conley came on the air, and Kaplan told this caller that Hendry has been doing everything he could to find the right fit for Corey and the Cubs, but nobody is biting. Kaplan feels it would be in Patterson's best interest to move on to somewhere else, because he was the subject of boo-birds and some much fan ridicule. Kaplan also said that if Manny was headed to the Mets, then Cliff Floyd would be headed to the Cubs.

Tim, or anybody for that matter, how do I go about changing my username? Thanks in advance.

shnsajax wrote: "I'll take Jones and his bad contract. I just really dislike Preston". ---I agree, Jacque Jones is a much better ballplayer than Preston Wilson. His numbers are so misleading after having played a half season in Colorado. It was so funny it see all the press that the Chronicle gave this signing. The Astros are estatic over Wilson joining their Ball Club. Oh please!!

vance_the_cubs_fan rote "Considering Sammy's idol is Roberto Clemente, Sosa may have a lot of interest in playing rightfield for the Pirates too". (Of course Sammy is probably hoping to just land a job anywhere right now.) -- You know, Vance's post got me thinking, if Sammy does in fact sign with Pittsburgh, he will have to choose another number, because his idol wore #21 for the Pirates. What number do y'all think he would choose? #20?, #22?

Yes, I know how everybody on this board just loves MLB Trade Rumors, but I found this funny. I myself, think that "Shlammin Sammy" will either end up a AL team, the Japanese League...or just retire. He's washed up. "Pirates Interested In Sosa" http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/01/pirates_interes.html

---Thought y'all might find these articles in the Sun interesting. Besides some pretty good stories on Tejada, Rick Maese did an excellent article on Daniel Cabrera. Man, I wish the Cubs had him. Sorry, if my post is too long. I'm bored, I guess I don't have the patience that Hendry has. "Now, the continued criticism may be Tejada's way of applying pressure for a trade out of Baltimore, where he signed a six-year, $72 million deal in December 2003. "It has not forced our hand any," said Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan. "We're still talking to teams. I can't say it's winding down, picking up. It's been about the same." Besides agitating several Orioles officials, Tejada's public stance may be counterproductive. "I actually think in some ways, saying what he said publicly, it hurts our chances of trading him," Duquette said. "There is a perception in the marketplace that we now have to trade him and you'll take less than value for him. "One thing we have been clear about is that we are not trading him unless we get value. No matter what he thinks or says, we will not trade him until we get value." http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles31dec31,1,3570256.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball "In other words, no Mark Prior, a talented, young pitcher whose body is so fragile the Cubs are reportedly ready to unload him. In theory, he's everything the Orioles would want to anchor their rotation, but they have already exceeded their limit on deals that hinge on the recovery of sore-armed pitchers. (Luis Rivera, key to the B.J. Surhoff deal, never threw a pitch here. Kurt Ainsworth, key to the Sidney Ponson deal, didn't throw many.) There are never guarantees with young arms, but how about dealing for one that isn't already a problem spot"? http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.eisenberg31dec31,1,4264738.column?coll=bal-sports-baseball Story on Cabrera... http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.maese01jan01,1,3671356.column?coll=bal-sports-baseball

"Flames24Rulz" posted viewtopic.php?t=27962 ----Sorry Flames, but you totally missed my point.

No, it's Iowa!

My bad if someone mentioned this already but what's the deal with Jeromy Burnitz (virtually) replacing Sammy Sosa all over again? I mean first Chicago...and now to Baltimore? He really must get a kick out of following in his footsteps. I mean what gives? Does anyone else notice this, and find it funny?

BB and Sully, I hear what you're saying I do think that the Manager and the GM certainly need to be accountable for any decisions made...and I honestly don't believe that if the trib sold the team, everything would be fine. I do believe however, that the blame needs to distributed evenly and not just on Baker and Hendry. Sully, of the #10 myths you offered I actually believe that #2 and #6 are true. Without question, Hendry is doing the best possible job he can. After all, he's in the last year of his contract. And J.J. might not be head and shoulders above Burnitz-- he is a slight upgrade to him. I'm hoping and praying that Jones will rebound to have a year like he did a couple of years ago.

Sorry if someone has already posted the link to this story before. Apparently the prospect of obtaining Walker and Patterson doesn't excite the O's. "As of now, according to a source with knowledge of the trade talks, the two teams are not yet close to an agreement despite several proposals being sent back and forth. Cubs second baseman Todd Walker, center fielder Corey Patterson and 25-year-old left-handed pitching prospect Rich Hill have also been mentioned in a deal, but the Orioles aren't enthralled with Walker or Patterson. Walker would essentially be a bench player with All-Star Brian Roberts entrenched at second base, and Patterson struggled mightily last season and would not seem to constitute that big of an upgrade over Luis Matos, whose status as the Orioles' everyday center fielder is in jeopardy". link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles23dec23,1,3897938.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

I guess no news is good news. It looks like I need to pray for more patience. "With both sides not agreeing to secondary players involved, the question now is whether they can find more common ground. Keep in mind that it took more than two months for the Cubs and Orioles to complete the Sammy Sosa trade, where money was the biggest issue". Maybe nothing new in this article but I appreciate the update nonetheless. http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp

I appreciate y'alls input. I just wish that there would be a way we could get Tejada, without giving up Prior. I like many, just wish we had gone after him hard when he was a FA. I don't however blame Hendry like many people do, instead all the blame needs to be put on the Trib. If we had Mark Cuban, Jerry C, (Dbacks,Suns owner) or someone else, with deep pockets, owning this team ---it might be a different story.... but it's not. Is it? My New Year's Day prayer is that the Chicago Tribune, will do all Cub fans favor, and sell the team. I also hear through the grapevine, that the Tribune is a hard company to work for. I can't tell you how, but last week I talked to Hendry's secretary, and she said that although all of the other MLB clubs had their offices closed leading up to Christmas, the Trib required all of their employees to come in to work. I'm sure y'all will give me a hard time over this last sentence but it is true. I hope you will remember all of my previous posts, and realize that I don't submit "bogus" posts.

I guess this is all just wishful thinking on my part but I was thinking back a number of years ago when Griffey, Jr. and his agent demanded that he be traded by the Mariners to the Reds. I was trying to remember all the particulars of that situation. If I remember correctly the Reds really had the Mariners over a barrel somehow, Griffey, Jr. didn't want the Reds to give up some of their best players, in order to get him. So, the Mariners had to settle for players of lesser quality? Somebody help me out, what actually happened? Any how I wish that Tejada would be in a similar situation, where he would demand a trade to the Cubs, or be willing to sit out the season. It would be great to get Miggy without having to give up Prior or Zambrano. Are you listening Santa?

Gunned said "In saying that you would not trade Mark Prior for ANYONE, you're saying that he's the most valuable player in all of baseball. I think that's a little over-the-top". ---Hmm, what are you doing, reading between the lines or something? Where did I imply that Prior is the most valuable player in all of baseball? Maybe, I shouldn't have used the word "anyone" but the whole point in my post in the first place, was that I don't care how much I'd like to see Tejada on the Cubs, I wouldn't trade a pitcher that has so much upside like Mark Prior. Trying to replace someone like Prior would be extremely difficult troll. Oh, and incidently, you know nothing about me as a Cub fan--anytime you want to go toe to toe and talk baseball, I'm ready. It will be no contest.

Just was wondering if anyone can tell whether or not, ESPN just decided to run with this story from FOX Sports.com, or has the talks between the Cubs and O's intensified? If there getting close to making a deal, I hope the Cubs get cold feet. I can't think of anyone else that I would like to have on the Cubs, than Miguel Tejada (and that includes Manny or Abreau)...but having said that, there is NO way that I would trade Mark Prior for anyone!

I agree with TC3_Hinrich12, in terms of at least let's giving J.J. a chance. As Cub fans we are always so negative. I just hope and pray there aren't some bozos out there that start booing him on Opening Day. I say give him plenty of time to prove himself. I mean what's the point in being so dang negative, about hating Hendry/Baker and that Jacque Jones is the worst signing ever. Some of y'all really depress me, maybe I should be like some of you and give up on the Cubs for 06 -- No way! I've been a Cub fan for 45 years and I aint changing now. J.J. certainly wasn't my worst choice but we did sign him, so let's make the best of a bad situation, by being positive and giving J.J. the benefit of the doubt. I for one hope and pray that Jones proves all of us wrong.

series65cubsfan wrote: "I'd be for it depending on the money. And for what it's worth as Harry Caray would say, you know Ishii backwards is...iishI". Man oh man, do I miss Harry. Just to hear him mispronounce Grudz's name one more time, would be worth it. As far as Ishii is concerned I would at least look into it.