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That's how I feel. AA is for all intents and purposes the last stop before the majors. Anyone who can hit well in AA is gonna be fast tracked to the majors. I think Matt Murton showed what he can do straight from AA.

Wilson never has and never will be a leadoff hitter. I wouldn't go that far. And I am holding out hope that Hendry won't go after Wilson because of Felix Pie likely being able to take over CF in 2007 at the latest. Wilson won't take a 1-year deal.

defense. and we all know that the 2005 Cubs finished with a losing record because of defense. Is Jones a better defender than Burnitz? Yes. Jones is probably a top 3 RF. He could be a top 10 CF too. Still if he can't get on base (was actually about .350ish around the trade deadline then had the worst final 2 months I've ever seen), I don't want him.

The Cubs could have a nice offseason just on Padres alone. Signing Giles, Sweeney, and Seanez would be a great offseason. Instantly improves the OF, bench, and bullpen greatly.

defense. and we all know that the 2005 Cubs finished with a losing record because of defense.

why is voluntarily leaving ones job spelled the same as signing a new contract to stay at ones job? It is so confusing. Voluntarily leaving is resigning. Signing a new contact is re-signing.

Yes. CSN in Philly last night said that Wagner and the Phillies could be close on a 3 year $30MM package with Wagner that would include a no trade clause. Go for it, Philly! Keep Howard on the bench. Keep overpaying Rollins. Trade Burrell. And continue not making the playoffs.

Is Billy Wagner's agent really named, Bean Stringfellow?

The list you just provided has 7 out of 8 guys who can provide .350+ OBP. You also have Milton Bradley AND Preston Wilson listed. You want to see whining and crying and unhappiness on day 1? Have those two on your roster and only put one of them in centerfield. Trade for Bradley and don't sign Wilson. Trade for some other good OBP/power guy and you have 8 instead of 7. If the Cubs aren't gonna get Giles and guys like Manny, Dunn, etc don't change teams. I would hope the Cubs would go after two .350-.370 OBP guys for CF and RF....along with boosting (or keeping) the OBP in the middle IF. Bradley and Cliff Floyd would be decent, but not necessarily ideal. I think at the very least, the Cubs would be very balanced R/L and OBP/Power, with speed and switch hitters and versatility.

How would you like Lofton at 2/$6m, along with Wilson for 2/$10-14m? Because that's probably the type of people Hendry thinks would help this team. How do you know what Hendry thinks (assuming that's a typo), and yes, I know you said "probably"? Just basing it on his history of overpaying for mediocrity, and ignoring the BB/OBP problem on this team. Lofton, in theory, isn't a bad option. But if Kenny gets more than 1 year, or more than $1-2 million, and he's guaranteed the CF/leadoff job, no matter how he performs, it's a bad move. I actually think it would be kind of interesting to have Corey/Kenny/Greenberg battling for CF. But that would only be acceptable if they go big in RF. And going off Hendry's history, I'm not certain he'd solve that RF problem with an impact bat. I totally agree with you. Ok. I'll agree that he doesn't have a history of great FA signings, but he has brought all of the offensive talent this team has over via trade (Ramirez, Lee, Barrett, Murton, Nomar). I think Lofton would be a decent stopgap, but I agree it has to be $2M for 1 year. I have to think he will keep CF open for Pie. That's what leads me to believe he won't go after Preston Wilson, who would take a multi-year deal. I hope at the very least RF is filled via trade with a capable bat. I just have no idea who that could possibly be, and it likely won't be anyone as good as Giles, who's ripe for the picking.

How would you like Lofton at 2/$6m, along with Wilson for 2/$10-14m? Because that's probably the type of people Hendry things would help this team. How do you know what Hendry thinks (assuming that's a typo), and yes, I know you said "probably"?

That last line says a lot. Also, if you do have 7 .350 OBPs in place, then you might as go with a player with upside like Patterson or Cedeno and save the money you would spend on Wilson.

There's only one Giles that can be signed. The other would have to be traded for. And no, I don't think the Cubs will sign Giles and I've never put much hope into it. I simply believe that it is an absolute no-brainer that it is what they should do. That's how I feel. They won't do it, because it's the best thing they could possibly do.

So you want: Nomar Cedeno Perez For short then? Go with Cedeno. Spend the extra money for Giles and bullpen. Yeah. I'm for letting Nomar walk. We have to be prepared for the possibility of having to overpay for a RF. I'd rather have Cedeno's defense, low salary, and future upside if we can get Bradley, Castillo, and Giles. I think a lineup of Castillo, Bradley, Lee, Giles, Ramirez, Murton, Barrett, Cedeno is about as much as we could hope for.

So you want: Nomar Cedeno Perez For short then? Go with Cedeno. Spend the extra money for Giles and bullpen.

reminds me of that slider Urbina threw Sosa in the '03 series... Yep. That was the only pitch Sosa could have possibly hit off of Urbina. Stupid pitch, but it made me happy.

Hall's a nice player, but he's like like. Big power numbers, but doesn't walk much. I don't know how good he is defensively either. If I were them, I would go after a solid 3B (not sure who's out there, Mora in a trade?). Then I would try and trade Overbay or Lee and Clark for pitching. They could use a solid #2 arm, to push Davis and Capuano to the middle/bottom of the rotation.

That's what I've heard as well. Most of the people who I know that played minor league ball all said it was the hardest, most didn't make it out of AA. However, a couple of guys who pitched and made it to AAA said the bigest jump was from AA to AAA. I think AA to AAA is not much of a jump. I'm sure it is moreso for pitchers than hitters. But if you can hit in AA, you should be able to hit in AAA. The AAA parks are more hitter friendly across the board. And AAA is actually LESS talented overall than AA. Most top prospects can easily skip AAA and not suffer at the ML level.

Yep. So many ways they can go. I would even try to trade Carlos Lee if I were them. I'd be thrilled if the Cubs had an OF like Lee and the Brewers might be able to trade him....that sickens me. Jealous and now sick. Lee's overrated. He racks up the triple crown numbers, but doesn't walk at all. He's the LH Garrett Anderson of 3 years ago.

Yep. So many ways they can go. I would even try to trade Carlos Lee if I were them.

I'll be happy if he keeps the walks down and gets ahead in the count more often than not. He hasn't pitched much over the last two years, so some rust should have been expected going into the AFL. I just want him to work on hitting his spots, making his pitches, and getting his confidence back up. I wouldn't read too much into the results. He's basically getting a warmup against a "who's who" of the minor leagues. It's tough pitching in Arizona too. Everyone's numbers are gonna be inflated.

I think it depends on the league. I think going from low A to high A is big when going to the Florida State League. But in general going from A to AA is the biggest.

I'm not certain Corey would put up that line, but he could. And even if Preston puts up that line and Corey doesn't, Wilson is not likely to be worth twice the cost. I'm more comfortable making real upgrades in RF and sticking with Corey in center, than wasting time and money on the bum that is Preston Wilson in center and inevitably settling for a second rate RF. There is just no way that Hendry goes hard after a big time RF if he goes after and gets Wilson. He'll package Wilson as a real solid signing, rather than the bumgap that he truly is. God I hope not. I still think an OF of: Murton Wilson (Floyd/Giles/Manny/Dunn) CPatt Hairston is solid and if Hendry can Furcal I would be content with that. I think you can cross off those last 3 names. I've been calling for a Murton, Wilson, Floyd OF for 3 months now.

You sure? I think he's eligible. The rule is 10 games within the current season or 20 games in the previous. So right now he's eligible at 1B because he played more than 10 games there this year. But, he's not going to be eligible at 1B in 2006 until he plays 10 games there. Ah, yes. You are correct.

You sure? I think he's eligible.