2242005CY

Sing with 2 more RBI's.

Which Burger King do you work at? :lol: :lol: :lol:

What's Bobby Valentine been up to?

Kerry's fine, for now. Until he breaks down again in a year or 2 cuz of his terrible Pitching mechanics.

It'd be hard to argue the Cubs did anything right this year.

Would you like to show quotes or links to support that these pitchers prefer Blanco? Once again, you've turned to baseless speculation. It's the tell-tale sign of a weak argument from a weak mind. Furthermore, what Barrett lacks in defense, Blanco more than lacks in offense. When you're team has a problem scoring runs as this one does, it makes much more sense to hold on to all the offense you can. And no....I guess I don't watch many Cub games...just probably a hell of a lot more than you. I just don't like to presume things about players. I'm glad you're such a great reader of body language, because your baseball acumen is pitiful. I can read just fine thank-you. It's one of the many skills I likely do better than you. I'm glad you have an erroneous opinion about Barrett. I'm sure it's not the only one you have. Blanco actually has a (sure limited ab's) higher BA after All Star than Barrett. Blanco has been 1 of the best catchers in the entire league, after the All Star break. Don't knock Blanco when trying to defend Barrett.

So I'm assuming that Barrett denied your request for an autograph or something? I don't understand the hate for him. He's one of the best catchers, overall, in the league. I would never ask Barrett for an autograph, let alone pay for 1. THe guy is just oblivious out there and as I said another player that the Cubs have that really doesn't seem to have any kind of Baseball instincts. To put it politely, he doesn't apper to be thinking out there. hendry has to flush out the players that just don't seem to understand what is going on out there and Barrett is one. So what do you suggest that we do with the catcher position? I mean, if Barrett is such a stupid player with no instincts and supposedly doesn't know how to talk, then what other GM would want him? And who do you say the Cubs should go after to replace him? You can't just say "this guy sucks let's dump him" and not have part B to the plan. So let's hear it. My plan B? Well it seems that many teams out there competing for a playoff birth, don't have Offensive juggernauts at the Catching position. Cubs can acquire a Catcher through a trade that is more of a happy medium they would be fine at that position. They need a leader at Catcher everyday, and Barrett CLEARLY isn't that type. Sign Damon and Giles and give Murton a chance everyday in LF. Re-sign Nomar ONLY if he plays 2B and give Cedeno a Chance. Get rid of Barrett and replace him with a Catcher who is fundamentally sound and a more well rounded player than Barrett. That's a start. Lineup in 2006 would be: Damon Murton Giles Lee Ramirez Nomar Cedeno Catcher That's what I would do.

I also get the opinion from reading this board and some of the other Cub boards, that many Cub fans feel that the Cubs should keep a majority of the players from this god awful team, that is 6 games under .500. This team needs a total re-haul this offseason. I would start with Patterson and not to far behind would be Barrett.

i think theres a chance that might have something to do with who pitches when those guys catch. I agree. I'm glad the pitchers gave you this insightful piece of information. :roll: I love it when people make stuff up to try to support their stance. What does that say to you that those pitchers that you mentioned would rather have Blanco, a FAR superior defensive Catcher than Barrett, catching for them? I never thought, even the most loyal kool aid drinking Cubs fans, would actually defend Barrett's Defensive abilities, but yet, they have. and when did I make something up? If your reading comprehension was a little better, you'd plainly see that that was my opinion. Next time you watch a Cub game (guessing you don't actually watch many Cub games if you feel Barrett isn't a bonehead) take a look when he goes to the mound. He is NOT in control and his head will be down and his body language will be negative. He does not have a catchers mindset and that is my opinion. You don't like it, that's fine with me, sport.

So I'm assuming that Barrett denied your request for an autograph or something? I don't understand the hate for him. He's one of the best catchers, overall, in the league. I would never ask Barrett for an autograph, let alone pay for 1. THe guy is just oblivious out there and as I said another player that the Cubs have that really doesn't seem to have any kind of Baseball instincts. To put it politely, he doesn't apper to be thinking out there. hendry has to flush out the players that just don't seem to understand what is going on out there and Barrett is one. The only UNTOUCHABLE player the Cubs have from the starting 8 is Lee. Yes I exluded Ramirez. If I were the Cubs i'd atleast see what the Cubs could get in return. I think he's a great player, but again, falls in that "bonehead" category and appears clueless at times. I'm not saying TO trade Ramirez, but just see what you can get in return, cuz he's a very good hitter. I just wonder if he'll ever be healthy.

I'll never understand the love with Barrett. Yeah, sure he's an avg. hitter, but the guy is just a bonehead and has zero confidence in his catching abilities and you can see it when he goes out to the mound. It goes something like this I would guess " Yeah I know I really don't know what I'm doing and you (the pitcher) know it too, but they told me to come out here. God Bless." The guy just isn't a Catcher. It is so obvious that the Pitchers prefer to throw to Blanco than Barrett and when Blanco Catches, he's in control of the game and when he catches you can see the glaring differences between Barrett and Blanco. I just wish Blanco could hit however. Cubs are 62-68 overall and 20-15 in games Blanco has started.I for one, will not be upset if they get rid of king bonehead, Barrett.

That's exactly what I was thinking. JVB has to be given a chance in Sept. He's done too well in the system over the last 2 years to NOT give him a chance. There's many ways the Cubs can and should get JVB on the 40 man for a Sept. Call up and they can make their decision on wether or not to protect him next season. He DESERVES it.

Because there are players the Cubs should protect ahead of JVB. Felix Pie, Brandon Sing, Sean Marshall, Carlos Marmol and Ricky Nolasco are all in need of protection this offseason, and all deserve to be protected over JVB. And just from that list, Brandon Sing and Carlos Marmol have been more consistent than JVB the past two seasons. I already half conceded that VB might not be included due to other rule 5 elgibles in my prior post. Well, I don't know how you can say that Sing and Marmol have been MORE consistent than VB. AS consistent, yes. I would agree that those 3 have been the most consistent in the organization over the last 2 seasons.

To answer your question, because he's not on the 40 man roster. and yet pitchers who have stunk in AAA like Rohlicek and Bartosh and Leicester ARE on the 40 man. Yet Van Buren who, a lot of Cub "Minor League enthusiasts" say doesn't have Major League stuff, has for 2 seasons now, has had nothing but success, Isn't on the 40 man. But then again, for the most part, this is coming from the same group that thought Hee Seop and Bobby Hill, David Kelton and even Kevin Orie (almost forgot Mitre), were going to be perennial All Stars. Bartosh isn't on the 40-man. Van Buren has had minor league success. On the other hand, Leicester had major league success last season. How do you know this for a fact? My bad on Bartosh. Forgot that he was on it this year but was sooo bad, that noone picked him up. As far as Leicester goes, yeah he had success, for half a season, before opposing teams figured out he had 1 pitch and before his arm died and went to heaven. I don't understand your point though. So this is supposed to mean that Van Buren won't be any good,cuz he's not on the 40 man and cuz he hasn't been given a chance at ML level? Leicester is basicly done, unless he needs surgery and needs his arm cleaned out. He cant even get AAA players out and is on 40 man and yet Van Buren who has done nothing but get AAA players out, isn't. with all the rule 5 elgible guys, VB might not be added to the 40 man this year, but he should've been on it this year over guys like Rohlicek and given a chance over guys like Wellemeyer who is a giant dope and will NEVER get his head straight and be worth a sack of nuts.

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Last I checked, posters here don't control who is and is not on the 40-man roster. Glad to hear that you do. It's a no brainer. How can you keep him off? What kind of message would that send to players throughout the system, if they keep off a guy who's been probably the most consistent player in the organization over the last 2 seasons and let him go rule 5? Don't remember ever saying any poster on here has control over who is and who is not on the 40 man.

To answer your question, because he's not on the 40 man roster. and yet pitchers who have stunk in AAA like Rohlicek and Bartosh and Leicester ARE on the 40 man. Yet Van Buren who, a lot of Cub "Minor League enthusiasts" say doesn't have Major League stuff, has for 2 seasons now, has had nothing but success, Isn't on the 40 man. But then again, for the most part, this is coming from the same group that thought Hee Seop and Bobby Hill, David Kelton and even Kevin Orie (almost forgot Mitre), were going to be perennial All Stars. Van Buren will be added to the 40 man this off season.

Hill obviously needs an effective 3rd pitch to be a successful ML Pitcher. A straight change, would be wonderful.

What do you mean by an unnecessary duplicative bat? To me it seems like they are both speedy guys with fairly good OBP. I thought that was what the Cubs needed more of to go with the power bats of ARam, Burnitz, Lee and Walker? Lawton has more power than Hairston and I agree that they're not "duplicate bats", by any means, especially since 1 is right handed and the other is Left Handed, as well.

Sing not in your top 10?? My top 5: Pie Murton Harvery Patterson Dopirak

How does benching the best hitter in baseball through 100+ games help the Cubs? It doesn't. If D.Lee is ailing b/c of injury, fine, but for no other reason should he be benched. Have you seen him swing a bat the last week?? Appearently not.

I couldn't agree more. Give him a day off Sunday AND Monday. 2 days off will go a long way. He doesn't even remotely resemble the same player of 2 weeks ago. Hopefully it is due to him being tired. Otherwise Cubs are in big trouble. Biggest thing I've noticed is he's having a hard time getting around on the inside pitch again. He needs a day off and 2 in a row wouldn't hurt either. Heck, I'd rather have Murton at first (it's only 1 game) and Gerut in LF than Hollandsworth at first and throwing away 4 or 5 ab's.

Do you think he should've been traded?

The slurs and threats were mailed to him. I'm not sure if he actually heard any. While I hadn't heard of any I'm not surprised that he got some hate mail. Unfortunantely our society is less than perfect and if you're in any facet of the entertainment business, I'm sure it's part of the territory. NOT AT ALL CONDONING IT, just making a point that I think a lot of us would be surprised to see how many players, good and bad players, get some sort of threatening mail. I am sure even the mighty Mark Grace got his share of hate mail. Although most of it was probably for a** grabbin at the local watering hole.

Ditto. When a man making a few million cannot perform his job at a satisfactory level and I am one of millions paying his salary by buying tickets, jerseys, etc., I have every right in the world to show my displeasure in him. Do you boo if you go to a broadway show and are displeased? The whole idea of booing is selfish and dumb. Does anyone think that LaTroy thought "Hey, we lost, but I wasn't bad. Oh wait, the fans are booing, I must've done something wrong." Players know when they screw up, they don't need tens of thousands of their own fans reminding him. Although the booing did help the Cubs run him out of town and get 2 pretty good prospects in return, so it did serve it's purpose. I personally have a hard time booing a player on a team I root for, cuz if he does good, I feel like a total hypocrite if I then cheer that player when he succeeds. So I have never booed a player. I take that back. I did boo Todd Hundley, but then again who didn't. However, I also don't have a problem with people who do boo, cuz they did pay for their ticket and they do live in a relatively free society. Allowing fans to dictate what players stay or go is a very dangerous precedent. Bottomline is Hawkins stunk with the Cubs. If he would've performed, he wouldn't have been booed. You can't realisticaly expect fans who pay hard earned cash to see a game, cheer for a player who CONSISTENTLY and obviously to everyone (except Manager) kept going out there game after game and blow leads and lose games. It's just not realistic.