BigbadB

Now playing 2b for the San Francisco Giants, Minnie Minoso! :D

Meh, he'll have learned his lesson by playoff time.

I think you're wrong. I remember who wore those numbers, but I have to think about it for some. And I've followed the Cubs more closely over the past 25 years than most Cubs fans. The number isn't nearly as important as the name. I think the uproar is silly. I remember the names and not the numbers. I know Sammy is 21 because of the jersey I own but after that, I don't really know any of the old timers' numbers. But I know who Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, etc. are. And that's the point I've been trying to make. If you need to know the number to remember the player, then obviously the fan didn't follow the players' career, or the player wasn't worth following. Great players should be honored, NO DOUBT, but retiring numbers is not the option, I would use. So what you are really saying is that retiring numbers never should have become a time honored tradition? I'm sure many would agree with that. How about a bronzed statue somewhere within the stadium grounds? That would be pretty cool. Some teams already do this. But, if retiring numbers is a time honored tradition, why stop now? The Cubs are now playing in their 3rd century and have retired a total of 4 numbers. At that rate, they shouldn't run out of numbers anytime soon. Sammy (and I'm really not that big a fan of Sammy at all) should have his number retired. 545 career HR's as a Cub. MVP. 7 time all star. 3 seasons with 60 or more HR's. Over 100 XBH's in a season in 2001. He had a remarkable career as a Cub.

and the Padres just got a Sandwich first round draft choice. Klesko was rated higher than a "C"? He sure hasn't played much baseball the last 3 years.

How exactly are pitching starts going to be restricted? Or is that still being analyzed?

Clemente was far from the first Latin American player. He did great service work, but he didn't break down any 'barriers' that I know of. True, but his accomplishments in baseball coupled with dying in an airplane crash on his way to help victims of a natural disaster is definitely noteworthy. If he was flying to Vegas for a long weekend of partying, that might be another story.

If DeRosa hit .300, his OBP would probably be right around .360. I'd take that from the #2 hitter. If Soriano could somehow be better than .340, Lee and Ramirez will be very happy hitters.

Disagree I agree with the Disagree! NO ONE should wear #21 in a Cub uniform again. Plain and simple. quote] Sorry, but IT'S A NUMBER.....A NUMBER....For goodness sake. All this fuss about a FRIGGIN' number. If Marquis wants to wear #21, fine, if he doesn't fine. I don't really see anyone fussing. They are discussing, and it's actually a pretty good discussion. And it's not like retiring numbers is something new. Most teams do it in honor of a local sports hero. Besides the many Cub records he owns, the fans absolutely loved him for most of his career in Chicago, and many still do and always will. The front office really should block that number from use, at least temporarily.

Line up structure matters way more than line up protection. Guys like Izturis should not bat 2nd. Ever.

I threw a tantrum when I saw him come in from inside the goal line to touch that ball. With no sound, I thought for sure it was an easy touchback. Everyone else in the bar thought so too. The real argument was how two different refs could miss the obvious. :D

Thanks. Never heard that one before.

I didn't have sound for the game and I don't feel like digging, can someone help explain to me how that kick didn't result in a touchback? He was clearly across the goal line and there were not one, but two referees standing on the goal line. On top of that, there was a booth review and it still didn't result in a touchback. What happened?

I'll give you a fact. The Cubs have been horrible at scoring runs when a crap hitter like Izturis bats 2nd. Replace Izturis with all the horrible #2 hitters the Cubs have employed over the last 2 or 3 years and the result is the same. Poor run production. We've played that game. It doesn't work. Let's try something else. And it absolutely blows me away that a manager in the 21st century would even remotely consider batting someone as inept at batting as Cesar Izturis is ahead of your best productions guys, Lee and Ramirez. Derrek Lee's 2005 season should have been evidence enough that you are really hurting the team's overall production when you bat guys like Corey Patterson and Neifi Perez at the top of the order for most of the season. It's scary to think about how many RBI Derrek might have had if he got even semi-respectable OBP in front of him, rather than league worst. And if he actually had really good OBP guys in front of him that year, MVP would have easily been his. Fact!

fixed Thanks. I was having a very difficult time coming up with terms that would be fit to print at NSBB.

Aggravating is only one useful term for Izturis getting any consideration, whatsoever.

Maybe it's because "White Chrismtas" is currently playing in the background as I type this, but I dream of an offseason that doesn't leave me wishing for all kinds of players over the one's we signed. But, I suppose that's a pretty unrealistic goal. How about just addressing all the needs of the team instead? Rumors are the Cubs are done, and SS, 2b and CF are still just as much of a concern now as they were before the offseason started. Much like RF has been a concern since Sammy.

How many Sosa jerseys does one see still to this day when they go to a game at Wrigley in 2006? I live too far away from Chicago to get to any games, but from my tv it sure looks like a lot. Sosa is the greatest Cub player to this last generation, and many generations before this one. Even though the relationship between the front office and Sosa has soured, I don't believe the relationship between Sosa and Cubs fans of the last 15 years has soured. Marquis will be putting undo pressure on himself if he elects to wear #21 because of the tremendous sized crowd that idolizes Sammy Sosa. Personally, I don't think #21 should be available. I don't think Sosa needs to be in the HOF in order to keep other players from wearing it. All it should really take is honor from the team you played for. All I think is necessary is for the front office to actually do the right thing and honor the man for his accomplishments instead of continuing to harbor hard feelings. There are just as many "stories" that Sosa was granted permission to leave the park that day as there are that he left without permission. Marquis would be doing himself a huge favor by electing to wear a different number. If he elects to wear that number, I'll assume he's just as egotistical as Sammy, but just not as good a player. It's really all on Jason at this point, but the front office isn't helping matters. I see it as a distracting sideshow in a season everyone should just be focused on winning.

I hear the tacos in Mazatlan are pretty irresistable. The stupid stuff can be excused when you are in your late teens/early twenties. Not so much anymore. His immaturity is probably going to cost him millions. That's pretty sad.

I wouldn't discount them too quickly. I think they might be better than Cincinnati right now, and if a lot of things go right for them, they could be pretty good. That is assuming they get someone decent to play 1b.

Do you think the Cubs would have then attempted to work a trade with KC if he wasn't working out so well on the 25 man roster in 2005 rather than have him return to the club?

Good for Toronto. With this signing, I can see the wild card coming out of a different division than the AL East once again. If Tampa made some moves for pitching, I think it would be hard to argue that there is a better division in baseball than the AL East. Toronto has a pretty respectable offense. If they can get a surprise starter to step up in 2007, they'll be a force. Alex Rios Aaron Hill Vernon Wells Lyle Overbay Frank Thomas Troy Glaus Reed Johnson Royce Clayton (ugh)

Let's see. A franchise (Cubs) that values, if not overvalues, hard-throwing pitching prospects exposes Sisco to the Rule V draft. Another franchise (Royals), desperate for starting pitching, trades Sisco for a generic bench player. Speaks volumes about Sisco's makeup, doesn't it? Possibly. I found it to be really strange that the Royals didn't send him to AAA last year to stretch him back out in a starting role. It will be interesting to see what the Sox do with him.

Odd trade. A young left handed arm with tons of potential for a guy that would be lucky to get an invite to minor league camp from any major league teams this offseason.

The injury concern must be scaring everyone away. He could end up being quite a bargain. I was extremely vocal at the end of 2004 for a Sosa/Floyd swap. Floyd was an absolute stud in 2005. The steroid controversy, the corked bat, leaving early the last game and the dip in performance probably all played a part in that deal falling apart, but I recall Minaya really wanting Sosa badly.

How is Soriano's english? I've never heard him speak. Also, I was reviewing his stats page and thought it was really strange how few triples Alfonso hits for such a "speed/power" guy.