BigbadB

Our offense isn't good enough to trade offense for defense. Again, I'm pretty indifferent on this, but we still need to upgrade SS or RF. This deal didn't get us any closer to that, unless SD is giving us a lot of cash. Don't get me wrong. I never said it was a wash. I agree with your sentiments.

Yeah, good thing Barrett was traded from a winning team to a losing team. Oh wait....

I like Bowen......... as a back up. Unfortunately, the Cubs needed a starting catcher. Barrett and the Cubs probably needed a change of scenery. Cubs receive a downgrade on offense, but an improvement defensively.

Wednesday should be fun. Halladay vs. LAD Bonderman vs. Washington E. Santana vs. HOU Shields vs. Arizona Even more beautiful is that these guys will all be 2 start pitchers next week.

This thread is awesome.

Darren Dreifort Part 2.

Definitely. He looks like he goes out of his way to go around someone and waste a few seconds after Giles grabs Young. He probably realized his mistake and just wanted it to end quickly. The fight could've ended there had Peavy not jumped on DLee's back right after. To me, it looked like Lee was looking for someone to hold him back. I think he realized that he started something he wasn't really all that interested in finishing.

If it was at Wrigley, I suppose it would be kind of cool if he hit it there considering there are still many fans that will always cherish his Cub days. Because it will be in Arlington, I'd rather he did it against someone else. I'm somewhat apathetic about it though.

BBB raises an excellent point, which reminded me of something a source of mine said earlier this year. Many like to make fun of Jim Bowden around here, but my source told me that the dumbest GM in baseball unequivocally is Jon Daniels of the Rangers. "Definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer by any stretch." My source, who happens to scan Tim's site here on a regular basis, told me just by reading some threads here that there are at least 100 posters, who would be better than Daniels on philosophy alone. I was only joking about the spare parts for Michael Young. But hey, I'm willing to be serious about it if they are. :D

Considering past trades Texas has made, this one would fit right in. I'm sure we have some spare parts we can offer up for Michael Young.

Well rounded is exactly what the team needs. They also need to utilize the tools they have properly. Moose provides value in a short passing game. He's an excellent possession receiver. The more times you hit him short, the likelier he can get open deep occasionally. I don't think the Bears utilized Moose nearly enough. More crossing patterns for 10-12 yards is exactly what the doctor ordered with Moose.

Thorman is probably better than he's played so far this year. However, the Braves really can't wait much longer on him to find his stroke. I think their answer is in house. They could move Chipper to 1st and let Escobar play 3rd. Of course, Chipper would have to approve the move, but he's lost some steps at 3rd and he's an injury away from some serious DL time. I don't think the Howry and Hoffpaur offer is very realistic. I like Hoff, but I agree that he's quite possibly not an upgrade over Thorman. It would be a bad gamble on Atlanta's part to trade a top prospect for a guy who may or may not be any better than Thorman.

I agree that it will need to be a mix of running and passing. I'd like to see more focus on the short game with the tight ends, which can open up the passing lanes deep and/or the running game.

According to ESPN, it is not Marcus Giles, but Brian Giles that is being fined. It was Marcus in the infield, right? Was Brian even playing? http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2908417 Definitely Marcus. Brian is and has been on the DL with a bruised knee.

Most likely not intentional? Are you kidding me? Soriano does a dance up the first base line on Friday. Peavy announces to the world in the paper that he'd drill someone else on the team if it happened to him. Young just happens to go up and in with the Cubs best player. Peavy must know it's going to happen, because he's practically in a sprinters stance in the dugout. Young announces rather rudely to Lee that he should take his base, rather than show a display of remorse and concern for Lee's welfare. On the 5th pitch in a 1-2 count, brilliant theory. Why not on a 1-2 pitch? I find it reasonable to think he'd do in the middle of a count to make it not appear so obvious.

Not once Bonds is sitting at 754. No one will want to give up 755 or 756 to that jerk. :D

Most likely not intentional? Are you kidding me? Soriano does a dance up the first base line on Friday. Peavy announces to the world in the paper that he'd drill someone else on the team if it happened to him. Young just happens to go up and in with the Cubs best player. Peavy must know it's going to happen, because he's practically in a sprinters stance in the dugout. Young announces rather rudely to Lee that he should take his base, rather than show a display of remorse and concern for Lee's welfare.

I'm in total agreement with you that it is never okay to throw at a guy's head. Hit him in the thigh, the ribs, the behind or just waste level or below. I would have retaliated the same way as Lee. Dude was messing with his livelihood and acting like a jerk about it.

I see your point. 10 games would be fair. Maybe it just needs to be changed and made clear that the pitcher's start must be skipped entirely.

Here is how I would have handed down the suspensions: Soriano- fined Perry- fined Lee- 5 games Young- 25 games or 5 starts, whichever comes first Peavy- 25 games or 5 starts, whichever comes first Umpires- 1 month suspension with no pay for knowing a problem existed and turning a blind eye to it, which allowed all of this to happen in the first place.

He didnt get the same thing as Lee. Young misses 1 game, where DLee misses 5. This is not accurate, either. DLee misses 5 games and Young just gets his regular start moved back one game, so essentially he gets nothing.

I think guys who develop a home run ritual may receive an exemption from a wrath from the opponent, as long as the other team doesn't find it all that offensive.. I don't really recall too many people getting upset with the Sammy hop.

It isn't just Cardinals fans that are saying it was showboating. I've said it as well. Yes, guys showboat all the time. And I'd say that everytime someone does it, you risk you or one of your teammates getting thrown at. Young was wrong to throw it where he did, but if Soriano just runs the bases, Lee isn't tossed for fighting. Showboating creates tension and anomosity. You're welcome to do it, but be prepared for consequences. I don't really see it as being much different than sticking your finger in a pot of boiling water. You can try it, but you're probably going to get burned. Pujols is guilty of admiring his home runs. Gary Bennett (when he was with San Diego) and Pujols had a big blow up a few years back when Pujols purposely took out the starting catcher (Ramon Hernandez?) unnecessarily. Every team has their showboats and everytime they pull a stunt, there is a high probability of retaliation. What gets overlooked here is that Soriano's actions could have done even more damage. What if Lee does get hit in the head there? Young was in the wrong for what he did, no doubt. But, Young wouldn't have thrown at Lee at all if Soriano wasn't showing up Wells the day before. Who exactly is the player trying to cater to when they trot backwards or stand there and admire the shot? The fan? Personally, I just like the fact the ball went over the fence. Doesn't really matter to me how he gets around the bases, it's a home run regardless. His manager and/or his teammates? They've seen home runs everyday of their playing careers, another one where you stand there waiting for a show of appreciation from your teammates shouldn't create that much of a rise? A guy really has zero reason to stand there and watch their home run. That's what ESPN is for. That's what the big SuperTron screen in most parks is for. The only real reaction one should expect from admiring your shot or showboating is a negative reaction from the other team. It's just not professional to show up the opponent. And the opposing team will likely resort to something unprofessional in return to make their point.

Maybe because he was only the GM for two years of his tenure here? Get your facts straight. You definetly work for the Tribune company. Why, because I told him to get his facts straight? Those are the facts. MacPhail was Cubs GM from July 2000 to July 2002...TWO years. I just happen to pay more attention to the business side of the game because it fascinates me. That doesn't mean that I work for Tribune Company. I think the responses to my post shows why I don't have a lot of posts for the number of years that I have been a member of this community. CARRIE! or Sharon! It's one or the other. No fishing expeditions, please.

Post something controversial and you'll get all kinds of responses. Post something that most agree with, and very few will have much to add. "Get your facts straight" is controversial. There ya go. People are responding.