C.C.

If the first post talks about a Baker quote, and you don't want to partake in the discussion, the wise thing to do would be to clicking out of the thread. It takes more time to read the thing, and send a reply, than to simply wander somewhere else. That is my plan from now on...I felt that that someone needed to bring up the redundancy of this thread, however. That's it from me. if you don't want to discuss the cubs, baker, or each day's game, i don't know why you read the threads. what else is there to talk about? we surely aren't debating how the cubs should line up their playoff rotation at this point. baker's veteran fetish is blatantly obvious, and it hurts the team in the present and, if he's still the manager, in the future. i think it's a valid discussion topic. At least the Neifi threads are dying. Thank god! How many more ways can you say "Neifi sucks"?

Going to the game tonight. It's a free suite box so what the hell.... Cubs lose this game 8-3...

He didn't have value before this...

He'll get that easy, but it won't be from the Cubs...

No flames please, just going to throw out another potential factor: steroids and/or HGG. There is certainly some circumstantial evidence: Prior's longtime association with Tom House and Tom House's admitted substance use. As I said, no flames. I'm not asserting he did or didn't, but the evidence is worth addressing. Thoughts anyone? At this point nothing should be ruled out...

LOL! No way, no how would the Cubs pay Zito 16-17 a year! We are talking the Cubs here... Nor should they. Zito isn't worth that much. Paying him more than $10m per is a stretch. First things first, lock down Z for the next 4 years and make sure RAM doesn't opt out of his contract...Zito will get more the 10 million a year for sure. He'll top out at 14-15 a year... Which means you look elsewhere to bolster your rotation. Zito and Schmidt may be the biggest names on the FA market, but they aren't necessarily the best values. No doubt about it!

LOL! No way, no how would the Cubs pay Zito 16-17 a year! We are talking the Cubs here... Nor should they. Zito isn't worth that much. Paying him more than $10m per is a stretch. First things first, lock down Z for the next 4 years and make sure RAM doesn't opt out of his contract...Zito will get more the 10 million a year for sure. He'll top out at 14-15 a year...

LOL! No way, no how would the Cubs pay Zito 16-17 a year! We are talking the Cubs here...

That will not happen. If you get in a bidding war with the Yanks you are going to lose...

Who? They got Beltran, Pedro, Delgado, Glavine, and now Green. I can't imagine a Mets fan saying the Mets are cheap?

I was thinking the same thing. Dammit Baker ruined another arm. Next! :lol:

Well, that and Mets\Yankees owners are willing to let their GM's spend whatever they want and need.

Gotta be Dusty's fault! You bastard!

Agreed! I can't really remember a SS or 2nd basemen that has made so many poor decisions as Cedeno has.

Izturis is 26 years old...

No offense, but do we really need another Neifi thread?

I laughed at that also this morning! Gimme a break!

Can Murton play RF?

To the Tigers. Just reported on WGN TV...

Oh what the hell...Cubs win today 4-2. Mateo goes 6 innings...

Maybe he doesn't want to manage...

Respectfully disagree - the Cubs problem is not a general lack of offense, but lack of offense from the corner positions. Murton and Jones are both 4th OF in my opinion, Ramirez had a terrible first half, and Lee has been disabled for most of the season. The Cubs were 5th in baseball in defensive efficiency before trading for Izturis, thus his defense can only improve them marginally. Furthermore, regardless of what the team "can" spend, they will only spend somewhere in the $100 million range. As such, you can't waste $4 on a defensive player who provided minimal offense when you've already got that same player on the roster (Perez). Perez's defense is roughly equivalent to Izturis', as is his offense (.650 OPS). You simply can't have two of the worst offensive players in baseball occupying the same roster because they might happen to save a run with their defense every third or fourth game. Furthermore, when a team is last in the league in runs scored by over 100 runs, I would say the team's problem is a lack of offense in total, not just from the corner positions. Over 100 runs from the next team? It's actually 14 runs-I understand your point though (although I still don't understand how we're 5th in defensive efficiency watching this team play defense everyday (especially the OF and catcher and the middle infield earlier in the season, and then see the differences when watching other teams, but that has been beaten to death :D). I happen to think that Izturis will surprise some people offensively next season, but for that we will have to wait and see. "watching this team play defense everyday" just isn't a reliable way to judge the team. I agree with everything you guys say, but no way in the world are the Cubs going to go with Izzy and Cedeno next year unless the really bulk up the outfield. Cedeno will not be @ 2B next year...Or Izzy will be traded.

Dusty: I told you walks just clog the bases...

I'm calling out that Marmol will pitch 7 innings with only walking 3. Cubs win 7-3.

I honestly don't think Dusty wants to come back. If he gets another offer he's gone.