BigbadB

He's going to love Chicago.

Learn somethin' new everyday. Hmm. Oh, and I still believe Aramis deserves the Gold Glove.

While I enjoy a great defensive play at SS, I don't put all that much value on a guy who can get to a ball better than another guy. For example, Ozzie Smith could get to balls that Theriot could only dream of getting to. The Cubs have been winning with a mediocre fielding/non bat at SS all year long. Whether that be Izturis, Theriot or Cedeno playing the position. Offense is the big problem with this team. Geovany Soto addresses some of that offensive problem by handing him the job behind the plate. Not only does Soto provide adequate to above average offense behind the dish, he is tons better defensively than any of the other options. If Tejada can't play SS anymore, I'd be fine with him at 2nd and slide DeRosa back over to SS. If Mark Loretta can still play SS, so can DeRosa, and probably better. Realistically, Tejada and Renteria are probably the only 2 upgrades that can be found at the SS position this offseason over someone like Theriot. Most other teams will be hanging on to what they have. What it will cost to get either of those two guys is what this thread really comes down to. Baltimore does know our system. The two guys that I would label as untouchable from our prospect/youth list are Rich Hill and Geovany Soto. After that, I'd certainly be willing to work deals to get either Tejada or Renteria. Heck, I'd trade Soriano to Baltimore for Tejada if they'd be interested in him. I think Theriot is fine if there isn't a significant upgrade at the position. Though, I do believe Cedeno would put up better offense if he was just left alone to play the position everyday. What I don't want to see is the Cubs just stand pat this offseason like St. Louis did last year. What is nice is the Cubs do have quality, cheap talent to use as filler or trade bait. The upgrade makes the most sense at SS. I'm curious how many other teams will be interested in an upgrade at SS this offseason.

I don't see Bonds getting 15m. He's a part time player now and only continuing to play to pad his individual achievements.

That Brewer fan should be made to sit and watch the entire April and May Cub season this year. You want to talk about not getting any luck. April and May was painful.

If it wasn't for Balco, I'd have forgotten the Giants were even a team this year.

The Cubs are bad against lefties, but they were horrid last year. I'm in agreement that they have to get some looks before swinging the bat. Instead of swinging at balls out of the zone, hope that the umpire has a tight strike zone so that the counts start working in the hitter's favor.

You should really be thanking Marlon Anderson.

I'm really disappointed to see that WGN won't be carrying the last Cub game of the regular season. I'm working in a bar that day, and I won't be able to watch the Cubs. I will be able to see the Padres/Brewers game since they televise all the Padres games locally. Kinda sucks. Hopefully, we lock it up and the last game is a meaningless game.

No. I am not rooting for any particular scenario. And if the Cubs do come here, the only way I go to a game is if my buddy serves up his season tickets behind the Padres dugout. The smoking law really turned me off from going to games. Special seats is about the only thing that would stop me from watching the game in the comfort of my own home. And Petco couldn't touch Wrigley with a 10 foot pole. It's just another boring ballpark built in the '00's and a pain in the butt to get to. If it was at Jack Murphy, I'd be all over it.

You need to make some adjustments to your sarcasm detector. :wink:

Yesterday was a crazy day for baseball. Mets score 4 in the 9th to take a 3 run lead into the bottom half, only to watch Florida tie it and win it in the bottom of the 10th. Phillies come back late in the game to beat Washington. Milwaukee loses a boring game against a guy starting his first major league game. That sounds familiar. San Diego beats Pittsburgh to keep pace. A Cub win and a Milwaukee loss today would be very nice. May I please have this as my early Christmas present?

From what I understand, the wild card team does not play the division winner from their very same division. After that, it confuses me how they actually determine the playoff match ups.

Once the Cubs win, I will disappear into the night, forever. For I am only a bandwagon jumper.

Hopefully the Cubs have a 4 game lead going into the last series and they can rest Lilly and Z. But, Marquis should be alright for that game. Who will Milwaukee be starting in that one?

Nah, Zimmerman probably deserves it, though Aramis deserves way more consideration than he'll actually get. Zimmerman has nearly twice as many errors.

Speaking of Aramis, who will beat him out for the gold glove this year? He deserves it.

I thought they were just rolling over on purpose for the Brewers. Weird. Between Pence slamming the wall hard and staying in the game to get the game winning hit and Brandon Backe busting a hump rounding 2nd and sliding head first into 3rd, Houston was most certainly not just laying down in this game. Backe pinch ran for Orlando Palmeiro after OP walked, and it led to the game winning run.

Aramis wasn't exactly a stud defensive 3b when he first came up. In 2003, he was having a horrible season defensively until he got to Chicago. Sure glad he wasn't pulled for defensive purposes in 2003.

I believe the Brewers were winning. They took Braun out for defensive purposes. But, you need to ask Ender these questions. I was watching the Cub game first and foremost, and switching to the Brewers game during commercials and once the Cub game was over.

I thought they were just rolling over on purpose for the Brewers. Weird. I've heard people say that, but Houston actually called the Cubs before those games and told them what was happening. And that Gutierrez kid pitched better than Woody Williams would have. Fact.

Braun didn't jam his wrist. They double switched to avoid pulling a reliever for a PH. Hunter Pence slammed the wall last night harder than anyone I've ever seen, and he didn't come out of the game. And Houston isn't playing for anything. There is no excuse for what Yost did last night, but I'm not complaining.

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

Both divisions have been tight for at least the last month. While it's possible that someone will run away with their division within these last 10 days, it's just as possible it will all come down to the last games.

Why would the Padres games possibly not matter? They are a game out of first and ahead in the wild card race. Their games will matter the rest of the way. And you will be seeing Chris Young and Jake Peavy in that series.