The Voice of Reason

This is so true, and not just for Hendry. It seems that anyone who doesn't spend like the Yanks or the BoSox had a bad offseason. How were the ChiSox graded last offseason? Articles like this are no win situations for the GMs. He gave the Sox an A.

Baseball didn't need to embarrass ex-baseball players in order to help. They could have helped without hand-picking big-name players, and dragging them through the mud. If they needed names, then why wasn't Clemens there? Why wasn't Bonds? Why wasn't Bagwell? Why wasn't Pujols? They had an easy target for their mud-slinging mission. McGwire fit into their agenda, so they used him. It was a farce. As for Andro........ he wasn't asked about it. And, he wasn't there to play Congress' little games. And he didn't. K-Town - You are wasting way too much time with your McGwire conspiracy/persecution theory. Shouldn't you be out trying to help OJ find the "real" killer? :?: :?: :?: I don't get it. You have as much of a chance of proving your wacky congressional conspiracy theory against McGwire as OJ has in finding the"real" killer, ie., none. Give Congress credit for forcing baseball (against it's will) to adopt a reasonable steroid policy and quit trying to make a martyr of out of McGwire. He made his own bed now he can deal with the consequences.

Mods - Maybe should be tacked onto yesterday's short summary where Perry rated the Cubs off-season a D. This offers much more detail on why he graded that way. Feel free to move if you so desire. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5255580 Summary

Baseball didn't need to embarrass ex-baseball players in order to help. They could have helped without hand-picking big-name players, and dragging them through the mud. If they needed names, then why wasn't Clemens there? Why wasn't Bonds? Why wasn't Bagwell? Why wasn't Pujols? They had an easy target for their mud-slinging mission. McGwire fit into their agenda, so they used him. It was a farce. As for Andro........ he wasn't asked about it. And, he wasn't there to play Congress' little games. And he didn't. K-Town - You are wasting way too much time with your McGwire conspiracy/persecution theory. Shouldn't you be out trying to help OJ find the "real" killer?

I see no reason for the Dodgers "B" grade (or the Padres for that matter). Perry's analysis seems inconsistent. If the Cubs had signed Furcal (Dodgers) or Giles (Padres) they probably would have received a grade of B as well. If they had signed both, they would have joined the White Sox with a grade of A. I disagree that Furcal is that much (grade B) of a difference maker (and I advocated the signing at the time). IMO, Furcal is as overrated at leadoff (especially at 13M) as Juan Pierre. I think the grade is more reflective of Perry's bias toward big name signings. Furcal (SS) and Cedeno (2B) > Cedeno (SS) and Neifi (2B). Despite recent hyperbole to the contrary, I think it's only a matter of time (unfortuneately) until Walker is gone.

I see no reason for the Dodgers "B" grade (or the Padres for that matter). Perry's analysis seems inconsistent. If the Cubs had signed Furcal (Dodgers) or Giles (Padres) they probably would have received a grade of B as well. If they had signed both, they would have joined the White Sox with a grade of A.

Pretty fair analysis http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5198854 Chicago Cubs Needs: Outfielders, shortstop. Off-season grade so far: D. Pierre is roundly overrated, and the Jones signing smacks of a "well, we've got to do something" manner of non-move. The Cubs have done little to improve. If they really intend to make Neifi Perez their starting second baseman, well, they'll make things much easier on the Cardinals. The lowdown: The Boston Globe reports that if the Cubs had dealt Mark Prior to the Orioles in exchange for Miguel Tejada, then the White Sox may have tried to pry Prior away from Baltimore … The St. Petersburg Times reports that the Cubs are among the teams interested in trading for D-Rays SS Julio Lugo … The Daily Southtown reports that 2B Todd Walker is rumored to be on the trading block.

K-Town wrote Why is what Sosa did any better or worse than what McGwire did? In my opinion, he didn't and there was a lot of justified criticism of Sosa's "performance" in print, sports talk radio, etc. as well. Did McGwire ever follow up on his promises to have his foundation contribute to steroid research? Do you honestly think McGwire never did steroids despite all the (admittedly) circumstantial evidence saying otherwise? If you do, I have some swamp land in Florida I'd like you to look at.

It was unfair that they were drug into the process to begin with. I don't blame McGwire for being contrary about the whole thing. Congress' agenda was pretty clear (it was a publicity stunt), and Mac didn't give them the pleasure of twisting his words to mean what they wanted them to mean. It's very common to hold hearings before passing legislation. Bottom line - without intervention form Congress, Baseball would have done nothing about steroids. Congress deserve a lot of credit and all that "witchhunt" crap was a bunch of BS. Big Mac (and eveyone else) knows that if he had denied using steroids (under oath), no one would be questioning his credibility today. It's obvious (at least to me), that his objective wasn't to teach Congress a lesson but to avoid a perjury investigation (ala Palmeiro). You can't possibly be serious. You think that since Sammy Sosa denied using steroids under oath, that nobody questions his credibility?? I don't have a major problem with Congress intervening. They didn't need to drag players through the mud on a public forum in order to help. And if they're going to question players, then why only question a handful of hand-picked players? It was a joke. Sammy's statement was craftily written by his lawyer to "appear' to be a denial but at the same time protect him from perjury charges - go back and read it. If they brought in 100 players, then guys like you would comply about what a waste of $ two weeks of hearings were. They had to pick high profile guys who BTW were for the most part treated with kid gloves. Seeing Selig and Fehr squirm when they had to "try to" answer tough questions for once was highly entertaining and worthwhile. Sure there was grandstanding, there always is - check out the Alito hearings.

It was unfair that they were drug into the process to begin with. I don't blame McGwire for being contrary about the whole thing. Congress' agenda was pretty clear (it was a publicity stunt), and Mac didn't give them the pleasure of twisting his words to mean what they wanted them to mean. It's very common to hold hearings before passing legislation. Bottom line - without intervention form Congress, Baseball would have done nothing about steroids. Congress deserve a lot of credit and all that "witchhunt" crap was a bunch of BS. Big Mac (and eveyone else) knows that if he had denied using steroids (under oath), no one would be questioning his credibility today. It's obvious (at least to me), that his objective wasn't to teach Congress a lesson but to avoid a perjury investigation (ala Palmeiro).

Blueheart05 wrote I've got a better one for you. Guys that want to sit here and read gossip stories are like women. The only reason I brought that up was to make a point (seeing things first hand) that Lugo is NOT the ONLY one with these character issues. I by no means wanted to turn this into an AOL gossip/story chatline...... For those that do, I have a friend that uses that following site. Note the important information on Mr. Eyeshadow himself. http://itsasecretsohush.blogspot.com/2005/11/not-so-blind-items-part-vi.html

I know, I know - consider the source (MLBtrade rumors). Law of averages says one of these times this guy is going to be right. Aubrey Huff To Houston? Got a good one today. I admit I was skeptical at first, but an independent source verified the rumor. It seems that Arizona, Houston, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay have some sort of deal in the works. It is known that Jayson Werth and Aubrey Huff are involved, but the other players have not yet been revealed. Apparently Werth is headed to Tampa Bay or Arizona - my sources differ in opinion here. Both sources indicated that Aubrey Huff will be joining the Astros. Such a move would certainly cloud up the Astros' 1B/OF situation. They'd have Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Jason Lane, Willy Taveras, Preston Wilson, and Huff. We know that Bagwell may not be able to play, and Lane and Taveras are trade candidates. Huff mainly played right field and first base for the Devil Rays this year.

This is where you'd need a follow-up. Okay, so he said you couldn't do more damage, but given the likelihood that Wood will not be ready for opening day, would you not have been better off having him get the surgery a month earlier and starting his rehab earlier? And even though the doctor said he wouldn't suffer anymore damager, wouldn't common sense tell you that a pitching injury could be made worse by pitching? And given your terrible track record of having pitchers stay healthy, and get back to healthy after injuries, don't you think that taking the cautious approach with this one, would have been the wise approach? How about adding given your track record on providing accurate information on pitcher's injuries (i.e., Prior, Wood, etc.), why should we believe anything you say on this topic?

atcfootball - Not much to add to what has already been said regarding Dusty. However, I did want to point out that your avatar made me chuckle. It reminded me of the time I was at Hooters after a game and saw Hector inhale a plate of about 300 chicken wings in a matter of seconds while downing cerveza fria after cerveza fria.

I think this part indicates Huff's displeasure with Tampa (Devil Rays). The Tampa Tribune reports that Huff also claimed the organization hasn't improved this offseason, suggesting that the $10 million being used to refurbish Tropicana field should be thrown at a free agent.

Questions, Questions, Questions? Would you rather have Huff than Murton? Would he fit under the Cubs salary cap? What would it take to get him? Anybody ever heard the "The Cowhead show"? Wouldn't using TNT instead of $10 million be a better way to "refurbish" Tropicana field? Excerpts from the Fanball Fantasy site: Devil Rays first baseman/outfielder Aubrey Huff appeared on a Tampa-area radio show on Wednesday, and voiced his displeasure over the trade rumors he keeps hearing. "As soon as I signed my three-year deal [in 2004], probably a week after I signed my deal, there [were] rumors of me getting traded already," Huff said Wednesday morning, speaking on "The Cowhead Show" on WXTB, 97.9 FM. "That's happened every year since then. If you want to trade me, trade me. Just get it over with. I'm sick of hearing the rumors. If you want to do it, do it. If not, let's stop talking about it." The Tampa Tribune reports that Huff also claimed the organization hasn't improved this offseason, suggesting that the $10 million being used to refurbish Tropicana field should be thrown at a free agent. Fanball's View There are plenty of major league teams that would welcome a player who can hit .275, 25-30 homeruns, and drive in 100 runs while playing the outfield and both corner infield positions, not to mention DH. Huff isn't exaggerating about how long his name has been floated in trade rumors and it remains to be seen if new management will move him. He is a free agent after next season, so expect the rumors to continue well into the season.

Looks like a spring training invitation and not a one year deal. Per mlb.com Bowden was not available for comment, but according to the source, the Nationals are willing to give Sosa, 37, a chance provided that he accepts an invitation to Spring Training, not the one-year deal that has been reported. Sosa's last good season was in 2003, when he hit 279 with 40 home runs and 103 RBIs and guided the Cubs to the National League Championship Series against the Marlins.

I will say one thing, at least he was man enough to sit there and not lie to Congress like Palmeiro did. He might not want to admit to steroid use, but at least he is not willing to lie about it, which at least gives him a couple points up on the character scale.[/quote] True but giving someone credit for having more character than Palmeiro is kind of like giving a player credit for having more patience at the plate than Neifi.

A few excerpts from a long NY Post article on McGwire Sure, McGwire broke Roger Maris' single-season home run mark, but that does not make him a first ballot Hall of Famer. He hit 583 home runs, but Eddie Mathews, who hit 512 home runs in a much more difficult home run era, had to wait five years to get elected to the Hall. McGwire had his chance to set the record straight March 17 in front of Congress and said, "I'm not here to talk about the past." Why not Big Mac? What do you have to hide Mr. Andro? McGwire essentially has gone into hiding since St. Patrick's Day. On that day he was directly asked whether the use of steroids was cheating. "That's not for me to determine," McGwire said. To some other probing questions, all he would say is, "I'm retired." When I fill out my ballot next December, I will remember all that. I will answer the question. Using steroids is cheating - in the worst possible way. In my mind, a corked body is worse than a corked bat. "If McGwire wasn't man enough or honest enough to defend his career under oath in front of his country, why should I celebrate his career?" asked Howard Bryant, a Washington Post reporter and author of "Juicing The Game." "Why should I immortalize something he doesn't even feel strong enough to defend?"

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks. That's a pretty severe stance to take (and offbase). Sammy has the power to hit the ball out of any park. The size of the park isn't the issue and has no relevence to his homerun capability. The size of the park won't change his ability to make contact between the bat and the ball.[/quote] But getting older does.

Oh well, afterall he did sport a moonshiner's beard, had some teeth issues and married an overweight unattractive woman - it probably makes sense that he will be representing St. Louis. :P

he should be concerned about the bottom line, that's part of his job description. you see, a baseball team should run at a profit, or else it's just financially unfeasible to continue running it. the trib will not divert money from other holdings to bankroll the cubs, nor should they have to. the moment that they start to run in the red, they'll sell--which is understandable. the trib is doing what they're obligated to do, make money for their shareholders while allowing the cubs a large enough payroll to acquire the pieces that it needs. if the cubs don't compete, it's not the fault of the trib, it's the fault of the GM and manager. I'm not saying divert money from their affiliates or run in the red. How about using the money from the additional bleacher seats, their ticket scalping business, their dot.com business, the $ from the rooftops owners and all their other cub related businesses that they don't include when discussing their "bottom line" with us lowly fans. The cubs were purchased for 20 million in 1981 and are now worth over $500 million - not a bad unrealized (for now) gain for their shareholders. We can only hope that someday soon the Tribune corp. will realize the huge profit they've made on the Cubs and sell to an owner committed to winning.

The fact that MacPhail is on the record as saying that he would never commmit the $'s necessary to sign a top tier free agent or would the Cubs ever pay a luxury tax (currently budget ovet $117 million) IMHO confirms he's more concerned about the bottom line and keeping the suits happy than winning.

Uk wrote CEOs and Presidents should be held acountable for the company's ultimate results and the people beneath them that they hire directly or indirectly (i.e., Lynch, Hendry, Baker, etc.). The Bottom line is that one fluky 88 win division title in 10 years doesn't cut it. If the Tribune Corp cared as much about winning as they do about being profitable, MacPhail would be gone.

If he had simply answered the questions while under oath instead of dodging them, we wouldn't even be having this discussion as he would be a first round lock.