BigbadB

That isn't the only "hard" question I'd like to see answered by Hendry. By the way, I had a nice breakdown of when Wood started in relief that somehow disappeared when I timed out. The gist is that Wood pitched more innings between August 5th-29th than Novoa, Wellemeyer, Ohman and Williamson. The first 3 games Wood entered were hopeless no-chance-to-win games where the Cubs were down by 5 or more runs. In that span of the 3 games he pitched in relief, the Cubs went from 54-55 to 54-61. Matt Lawton was traded on August 27th, a sign the team was giving up, yet there was Kerry Wood on the mound August 29th in a meaningless game the Cubs were losing 9-4. Not that Lawton ever did anything to help the team, but the the team was more than done. If he isn't ready, and I mean truly ready, on opening day, someone's got to go. The boneheaded moves this organization has made are beyond belief. Whether it be not giving Choi reps in September rather instead of letting McGriff chase a home run record he never achieved, batting Neifi and Macias 1/2 in a batting order, bringing in Chad Fox 8 times in a 10 game span, bringing scrub utility man Enrique Wilson to the organization while sending Cedeno to the minors, Murton getting basically no respect from management when all he did was hit the ball, etc.... I could go on and on, but it's too frustrating to do so.

Great? He pitched a total 28 innings in the Cubs system, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. We all have our own definition of great, but I'm sure most would agree that that isn't "great." 28 innings doesn't sound right to me. Are you sure?

Boxing is not a sport because the outcome is determined by a judge? Okay then. :shock: I dont consider it a sport. If I get in a fist-fight with someone, am I playing a sport? No, I'm fighting. Boxing is fighting. And if it's not a sport, then I suppose I ought to be able to just jump right in the ring with some puny little featherweight, and beat him to a pulp. Not gonna happen. I'd get pummeled. The training alone that takes place makes it a sport. To need to be in physically perfect shape to be able to compete against others makes it a sport. I can't bear to watch figure skating. To me it's a girly sport. But, I use the word sport because it takes practice to be good at it, there is a physical and skillful competition against others and there is a scoring system to determine who the winner is. Sport!

Boxing is not a sport because the outcome is determined by a judge? Okay then. :shock:

By the way, Joe Theisman just drove me nuts last night, as he usually does. How can a sports oriented station miss the boat so badly by employing Theisman AND Joe Morgan? [-(

I think the real question that should be asked is why Reggie Sanders would want to sign with the Dodgers? If you see a team already has Drew, Lofton, Cruz, Werth, Nomar (who could play outfield more than he plays 1b), Repko and Ledee, why would you want to play where your playing time might be minimized?

Oh yeah. I forgot about that. It's amazing how Colorado can brainwash someone into believing they are still really good. :D

=D> Well played!

At the risk of being branded a "Hendry apologist", how do we know they didn't? Whatever, Hendry apologist. :D I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Hendry put a 2-3 mil bug in Jeromy's ear. I would be surprised. As much as Burnitz was the most effective outfielder we had last year (excluding Murton's short stint), he was still ineffective. Would Hendry make an offer to come back as a 4th outfielder, knowing that Dusty would play him over Murton? Burnitz would make for a decent 4th outfielder, but Dusty can't be trusted with him.

HAHA! Good one. I don't know. Don't they have Olmedo Saenz too? By my count, they have: C: Navarro/Phillips/Alomar INF: Furcal, Kent, Saenz, Izturis, Choi, Mueller, Nomar OF: Drew, Jose Cruz, Jayson Werth, Ricky Ledee, Jason Repko, Lofton And they're rumored to be close to signing Reggie Sanders. That's 17 guys. Phillips is either already gone or will be gone via non-tender. Choi will likely be non-tendered as well. Could they be gearing up for a blockbuster deal with Boston for Manny?

I'd much rather have McNair. Of course, if Grossman takes us deep into the playoffs or wins the Super Bowl, I'll take more Grossman, please!

No Phil, it probably is a VERY BAD option. Although NOBODY wants to see a mediocre outfielder rob this team of years and dollars, this team can't survive with this cancer on the team. It's obvious by now Corey is neither wanting or willing to invest the time and effort it will take for him to realize his potential. Seemingly (how I have no idea), there are still some teams out there dumb enough to think they can coax it out of him. Could they? I suppose its plausible. But I'd like the Bears chances of beating the Colts in Super Bowl 100 times over. And thats not likely to happen. Quite frankly I'm sick and tired of idiotic journalists proposing such silly and preposterous ideas like this. Just because turd A stinks a little less than turd B doesn't mean that's a good option. Why would/should the Cubs settle for that??? IMO this scenario is a last resort and should only be explored if we can't get anybody else. If this happens it means Hendry has failed...demonstrably, and it should go a long way has to initiating his disposal. I agree with that. At this point, the Cubs need to sign Kevin Millwood since the arms are getting thin. With Millwood locked up, Jerome Williams becomes the necessary trade chip to get someone GOOD in RF. Millwood slots in quite nicely behind Zambrano, Prior and Wood, and just ahead of Maddux. Keep Hill and Guzman. Send Jerome Williams, Novoa/Welly and Corey Patterson to Texas for Brad Wilkerson. Money is probably about the same. If Tampa lowered their demand for Huff, add him as well. I really do believe they would let him go for a song if Travis Lee does get tendered. I can't imagine Tampa being even slightly interested in paying all of Huff's 7.5m contract for next year. Now you have an outfield of Murton, Pierre, Huff, Wilkerson, Hairston and Mabry. Huff can also play 1st and 3rd, Wilkerson and Hairston can play CF if Pierre is hurt or needs a day off. All it should REALLY cost for Huff (bad contract, coming off a bad year, where they have plenty of depth) is a guy like Brandon Sing mixed in with say Will Ohman/Welly/Novoa. If they would rather pay Huff 7.5m, be my guest. There is no way I offer Guzman and Wellemeyer for him, however. Not a chance. Call me a prospect lover if you wish, but Tampa's got unrealistic visions of way too much in return for a guy who is now officially a "bad" contract.

They have ivy at their stadium? What is it now anyway? PacBell? SBC? Rice-a-Roni Park? I believe it's AARP Park.

This doesn't make sense. Kolb does not "have to" be non-tendered just so the Brewers can sign him to a lower contract. The Brewers can resign him before the 20th to a lower rate than his 2005 contract. If he is non-tendered, he is free to negotiate with any team, including the Brewers, but that puts Kolb in a better bargaining position. :roll: I thought a team could only offer X percent lower then the last contract? It's true if the case goes before an arbitrator. If you decline to tender him, he becomes a free agent. You can offer him league minimum at that point, but you'll have to worry about someone else outbidding you. It sounds like Kolb and the Brewers have a deal in place to non tender and re-sign Kolb to something favorable to the player and the team.

Don't you need 1 TD before you can get 2? :wink:

HAHA! Good one. I don't know. Don't they have Olmedo Saenz too?

Bradley is good, but the excess baggage might make Oakland flinch. Plus, wouldn't the A's really rather have a Craig Wilson type than Bradley? Why didn't those two teams work a deal? Is Swisher really a horrible outfielder?

The As have not signed him since trading for him. Certainly makes one wonder if they don't sign him today, will they take a chance on what he might get by offering him arby? Yes, of course. This is a team that exercised a $4 million option on Jay Payton. They won't blink at paying Bradley a $4-ish contract. Interestingly enough, the Brewers just traded for Kolb, and now may non-tender him if they can't work out an agreement before the non-tender date. Would the A's do the same? I'm curious.

I had the Dodgers listed as the division winner for 2006 prior to the Mueller, Nomar and Lofton signings. They might have done a really foolish thing with giving Furcal ridiculous money, but apparently they put together a plan of action and went for the jugular. Not only do they have serious depth (especially if Sanders signs as well), but they have insurance at every position on the team. Nomar can play 1st, SS or 3rd or corner outfield. Mueller can play 2nd or 3rd. Furcal can play SS or 2nd. Kent can play 1b or 2b. Izturis can play 2b or SS. Cruz, Drew and Lofton can all play anywhere in the outfield. And they still have many complimentary parts beyond those guys. Repko, Robles, Werth, Choi.... And then they have the kids. Guzman, Navarro, Young and Loney, the kid they got from Oakland for Bradley, etc.... I won't even bring up the pitching prospects. Sorry San Diego. LA crushes you like a bug this coming year.

Why would the Giants trade Alou? Between Alou and Huff, you'd be paying more than it would have costed for Brian Giles by himself. Plus, it would cost the rest of the Cubs farm system to get them. I want nothing to do with Alou. Let him lazily kick the ball in the ivy in San Francisco for the rest of his lazy career.

Is that the sign of a good agent?

I believe the rumor was Wellemeyer and Guzman for Huff. I don't think the Cubs have plans for Lugo. They probably don't have the available guys to get Lugo AND Huff at this point, either.

Do you know something I don't? :D Whoops. Current or Former is what I should have written.

I wanted Lofton right next to Giles in the outfield. He makes for an awesome 4th or 5th outfielder if nothing else. A guy who can lead off if your only lead off hitter gets hurt. He can hit for a very decent AVG. He's patient and draws plenty of walks. He can steal bases. He can play any outfield spot. A horrible arm, but what do you want for under 2m? I wish him well.

Alright, I finally decided to vote. What do I win?