rawaction

The Jets are interesting. Like Goony said, they don't do anything well. Middle of the pack in rushing yards, but bottom 1/5 in the league in yards per carry. Bottom 1/3 in passing. They haven't been giving up a ton of points, but they are one of the worst teams in the league against the run in yards and ypc. They are bottom 1/2 vs. the pass. They don't rush the passer very well and are just average at protecting their own QB. On the surface, it may sound a lot like the Dolphins...and offensively, the Jets are. But they aren't nearly as good defensively. I'd really be shocked if the Jets gave the Bears much of a contest. They do have the most balanced set of WRs the Bears have seen this year, and the crossing patterns could give the DBs some trouble. But I'd also be surprised if they got into the endzone more than once.

One of my favorite things about last night's game was Madden screaming for the Giants to get the ball to Shockey. I thought the whole time....they can't get the ball to Shockey because Urlacher is guarding him, why doesn't Madden see this? So, I decided to go thru the game log to see what opposing TE's have done against the Bears LBs this season. 9 games, 16 catches, 175 yards. Folks, that's less than 2 catches and 20 yards per game out of the TE position. That stat alone is proof to me that Urlacher is one of the best LBs in the NFL. Combine taking away the TE, with Vasher taking away the #2 WR, Manning playing great in the nickel and taking away the slot WR, and the team speed taking the RB in the flat out of the equation....teams are playing the Bears with usually 1 option in the pass game.

Hey, I got an idea. The refs should just call fouls on IU for no apparent reason.

Depending on how the Reggie Brown play counts (fumble not in boxscore), I have 72-70 me. If it counts as a fumble I calculate a tie.

I worry about a non-100% Urlacher against Tiki Barber. But he should have a lot of help today.

I probably wouldn't mind an opt out clause in this current deal. Having an opt-out at 31 is a lot different from having one at 28.

And that was just a starting deal. I said, somebody would give Aramis 100M.

Who do you suggest if the Cubs go bargain shopping at SP? Only Wolf seems like an interesting option to me. As for the offense, I'd still go after Drew or Soriano to play CF. And Durham to play 2B. To free up extra money, if needed, I'd probably look to trade Eyre and Dempster (along with Izturis). I actually do think that Demp can be a solid closer, with regular use again, despite his walk rate. Howry can close. Wood and Wuertz could set up. Ohman is better at Eyre's job than Eyre. I remember having a fit last winter when we signed Eyre and Howry (I realize wasn't alone). I got into an argument with someone and made the bold claim that Wuertz & Ohman could very well outperform Howry & Eyre. I got beat upon for saying it from a variety of people, too. Anyway... I have nothing against trading Eyre, Dempster & Izzy to free up around $12M extra. At that point, we could realistically have enough money to add three big money players. I haven't really looked into it enough to give an informed opinion on the second / third tier of starters. Hopefully the Cubs would have scouted a couple guys that should be able to provide health & league average performance. Durham at 2B concerns me. His games played over the past four years has been atrocious. He has played over 135 in the last 2 though, and I don't believe he was DL'd this year even with only 137 games played. Even if he plays the 120 or so games like he did in 03 and 04, the Cubs have the depth at 2B. Between Theriot, Cedeno, and Eric Patterson, the Cubs have the ability to NOT miss Durham too much if he can't play 150. If he is willing to sign for 2 years and for less than the 7M he made last year, I'd gladly take the near lock for a .360 OBP and take my chances. BTW, I wanted one of the 2 relievers (Eyre/Howry), but not both.

Who do you suggest if the Cubs go bargain shopping at SP? Only Wolf seems like an interesting option to me. As for the offense, I'd still go after Drew or Soriano to play CF. And Durham to play 2B. To free up extra money, if needed, I'd probably look to trade Eyre and Dempster (along with Izturis). I actually do think that Demp can be a solid closer, with regular use again, despite his walk rate. Howry can close. Wood and Wuertz could set up. Ohman is better at Eyre's job than Eyre.

Wow! I heard Aramis was re-signed, but I've been out of the house all day, and just read the amount. Ramirez is a stand-up guy. When a guy says it's not about the money, it's usually crap. He meant it. He could have gotten $100M easily.

BTW, did anyone notice in the Rosenthal article it said the Cubs were looking at Soriano for LF or CF, and they would likely sign or trade for another player to fill the other spot. Did Matt Murton die? Hopefully, Rosey doesn't know what he's talking about.

Nothing there to kick. To quote an old guy I once hung out with, "just a mud flap for his ". :lol: It is getting Rouncy in here tonight. At least for today mr. Disgruntled Cubs Fan, we can ALL be as Disgruntled as you. For that, I am saddened. Go Cubs (in 2106) I'm just glad everyone is uniting against the Hendry Administration. Sometimes it has to hit rock bottom before it gets better. It's just now hitting rock bottom?

I know everyone is upset, but the board rules still are that ****'s are not allowed to take the place of letters in inappropriate words. Just don't type them.

MSNBC reports sides are still talking, but Kinzer is not optimistic about a deal getting done before the deadline.

Nothing there to kick. OUCH.

If they lose Ramirez, I'd still hope they sign Zambrano. Lee and Barrett, should be traded by Dec. 1, though.

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never lose the top FA in the game, when they are the only freakin team that can negotiate with him! It's not a done deal by any means, but as I said earlier in this thread. Screw a hometown discount. If Aramis said he was seeking a 6-year deal at $15M/year....the Cubs should have immediately offered $16-17M. That is what the hometown discount will end up being anyway if he comes back. There's no way that somebody doesn't take his deal into 9 figures.

Holy crap. That's scary.

That was 50/50 that it gets done TODAY. Although, it's probably not much higher that it gets done at all, once Anaheim and LA enter the bidding. I think Anaheim will offer a $100M contract. Hometown discounts are all well and good til someone completely trumps that.

Ramirez or bust with me. And by "bust", I don't mean Adrian Beltre.

I don't either, but that seems to be the way they go. I don't see any reason for them not to be a 100M payroll team.

I can't wait to see them in action on Monday. Do you think moving Stemler to the starting lineup is the right move? Sampson doesn't think that either D.J. or Allen can guard a player well on the wings, so he is planning on going with Stemler as a starter. I think it is a good idea also-if D.J. gets double-teamed down there, Stemler can be a three point spot up shooter and have his defensive impact. Yeah, it's a good move. Unless the matchup dictates it (i.e. 2 post players on the opposition), this team is not constructed to have Allen and DJ on the floor at the same time. I'd love for Mike White to join the group and give IU a 4-man frontcourt rotation. I know Sampson is not Davis, but I can't handle Wilmont at the 4, for 30 minutes/game.

That's the only start to me. If he can't bring back Aramis, I can't think of a realistic scenario where I would ever say anything good about Hendry again.

Not a bad deal. There was no way the Cards were gonna be able to play to replace Edmonds with a bat that was even his equal for the same money. Drew, Lee, and Soriano are likely out of their price range. Roberts, Pierre, and Matthews don't come close to replacing Edmonds production, nevermind the potential production. They were kinda in a Cubs situation with Aramis. Had no choice but to bring him back, even if they had to overpay, because there are no better options.

HA! Beat by Willis by a matter of seconds! Maybe the reason Hendry doesn't have any talks planned with Kinser next week, is because will get done this weekend! At this point, I don't even want a hometown discount. If Aramis wants 6 years at $15M per, I offer him 6/100 to not even hit the market by midnight.