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Is he still a good defensive SS? His offensive numbers have declined to the point that his contract would not justify him having to play another position. I dont think I would give much for him unless Baltimore was willing to take some salary back.

I am cautiously optimistic about Michigan St against ND. We have had a real solid rushing attack so far this year and I am sure our defense is good enough to handle ND. I think this will be closer than I want it to be though. I also think that North Carolina at South Florida is a top 25 mismatch

Normally 11. Starting this season, if there is an injury that would have a player go on the 15-day DL normally, a team can add a new player to the playoff roster before the next game (not the next series). If thats the case than I would go with a bench of Soto, Ward, Murton, Monroe, Pie and either Fontenot or Cedeno. If a Infield emergency came up then Soriano would have to play 2nd in a pinch.

Probably a stupid question but how many pitchers are usually on a playoff roster? I am guessing 11. I was trying to think of a way to carry both Soto and Blanco, but couldnt. What I do find interesting is that I have an idea on who the Cubs should have on their playoff roster, but I am not sure that is what the Cubs will do.

They showed a stat on ESPN when I was at a bar yesterday that showed the last three times MSU started 3-0 they finished 4-8 (2006), 5-6 (2005 when they started 4-0), and 5-6 or 5-7 (2001 I think). I am tempering my enthusiasm as I said. They really looked good yesterday. The only reason the game was close was because they kept shooting themselves in the foot. Of course this is why they have struggled the last few years. Too many mistakes. Just remember, no more John L. Michigan St can make people that way though. Its almost like managing the Cubs.

They showed a stat on ESPN when I was at a bar yesterday that showed the last three times MSU started 3-0 they finished 4-8 (2006), 5-6 (2005 when they started 4-0), and 5-6 or 5-7 (2001 I think). I am tempering my enthusiasm as I said. They really looked good yesterday. The only reason the game was close was because they kept shooting themselves in the foot. Of course this is why they have struggled the last few years. Too many mistakes.

Michigan St is 3-0. I am trying to temper my enthusiasm though

Floyd and Ward have been hot lately. So had Murton. Until his week of nonplay.

I got some bad news for you. Lou Holtz predicted they would surprise in the Big Ten this year.. Looks like a 1-7 conference record for sure now. Want to place a wager on that? I think Illinois is going to be pretty solid also. I was just saying that Lou Holtz gave them a "Kiss of Death"

I got some bad news for you. Lou Holtz predicted they would surprise in the Big Ten this year.. Looks like a 1-7 conference record for sure now.

I dont want to complain too much since they are winning. The disappearance of Matt Murton again.

Not necessarily so.... just because the Tribune may want something doesn't mean they're going to get it, or even that they're entitled to. Similarly, if 23 of 30 owners don't approve the sale to the highest bidder, this could not be construed as Tribune Co failing in their fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders. I agree with this but, What kind of public relations nightmare would it be for Selig, Canning and the owners who voted against Cuban. Anything short of winning a WS in a couple of years would create a Canning lynching party. I know its not the same thing but it would be like the Cubs being highest bidder for ARod. ARod accepting the offer, Then somehow MLB ruling the contract unfair and ARod going back to the Yankees. I know its not the same thing but thats how the general public would see it. People forget about those sorts of things. Remember when A-Rod was being traded to the Red Sox? The union blocked the deal that both A-Rod and the Red Sox were happy with , A-Rod went to the Yankees, and a year later nobody cared. It would be the same thing except even more so for ownership situations. A lot of casual fans might not even pay attention in the first place to who is getting ownership until somebody is actually approved. I think if it were Cuban the casual fan would notice. I would also say that is DeBartola was turned down by the owners in 1985 instead of 1980, White Sox fans would have been in a uproar.

Looking past Buffalo to the Mighty Michigan Wolverines next week. :wink:

Not necessarily so.... just because the Tribune may want something doesn't mean they're going to get it, or even that they're entitled to. Similarly, if 23 of 30 owners don't approve the sale to the highest bidder, this could not be construed as Tribune Co failing in their fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders. I agree with this but, What kind of public relations nightmare would it be for Selig, Canning and the owners who voted against Cuban. Anything short of winning a WS in a couple of years would create a Canning lynching party. I know its not the same thing but it would be like the Cubs being highest bidder for ARod. ARod accepting the offer, Then somehow MLB ruling the contract unfair and ARod going back to the Yankees. I know its not the same thing but thats how the general public would see it.

no. What if Milwaukee wins 95 next season? Then thats another free agent next off-season, while the existing ones are losing value. I agree that a good free agent signing is a way to get you over the top. If however you have gotten where you are at (mediocre) and are maxed out payroll wise already, then what do you do? You have to increase your payroll or decrease payroll while improving production(trades). I really dont know who is available this off-season off the top of my head. Just to make my point though Milwaukee and the Cubs are pretty equal this year. I dont know each teams payroll and am not going to look it up, but I think its safe to assume that the Cubs are quite a bit higher. Milwaukee has core players that it is safe to assume will be as good if not better next season. They are in great postition to make an over the top free agent acquistion as you say. Because they have built a solid young team that is giving inexpensive production. I dont think it is safe to assume that the Cubs core players will be as good or better next season and the Cubs are not in great position to add another top tier free agent. Its not like Wrigley isnt sold out most of the season already. So most expected revenue gain would have to come from extended post season play. So again I agree not all free agents are bad investments. I guess in my original post I should have clarified that it is a bad way to build a successful team. Also this isnt personal. If I write in a way that you take personal, I am sorry.

Oh crap career threatening surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You hit winners betting on Horses sometimes also. I would say overall its a bad investment. The main point of your arguement would have to be supported by the fact that the Cubs or any other team has no payroll ceiling. As more free agents are signed revenues would increase to support them. At some point than more facilities would have to be made to increase revenues. But just to not let this turn into a silly arguement, I will say that FA is a bad way to build a winning team as opposed to a bad investment. Yes it is necassary to get some. If you dont have a good player development system though, your team will be behind the 8 ball. Personally I think if there is a future HoFer out there in their 20s, go get him. It probably is worth it. The problem is though you need to be smart picking those guys. What happens a lot is a team will pay a good player(Soriano) the same as a future HoFer(Vlad)

How many of you remember Wrigley pre-1984? There were probably 10 games a year where the attendance was less than 10,000. I remember seeing the Big Red Machine there in the 70s and it was easily just as many Red fans as Cub fans. You could easily walk up and get a $2 bleacher ticket the day of the game. Florida can turn it around. Would take a lot of work though.

How many FAs at any position are worth half of what they end up getting? FA is a bad investment. Thats why it is pivotal to develop players within your system. The last step of development is the majors. Players need to play to get better in the majors. This is why Pie should be playing. this is completely untrue. In most cases Free Agents are signed at the end or past prime. They will in most cases get paid more than they were getting paid for declining production. Young players coming up get paid less while there production is improving. I know there is individual cases where players are still improving after free agency, but there are cases where it was better to not where a seat belt in a car accident. I would contend that the percentages tend to show free agency as a bad tool to build a winning ballclub(unless you are willing to spend like the Yankees). As for the part of young players need time to develop in the Majors, I dont know what to tell you. For every Pujols and Braun there are 20 DLees and ARams. Most players dont have ROY numbers right off the bat. They need to play to get better. once again, this isn't true No, it's true. The thing that isn't true however is the insinuation that you shouldn't sign any free agent. You have to, there's really no way around it. You have to overpay for some of your production, because it's simply impossible to get it all, and get enough, strictly from the cheap youth. There's no room for error doing it that way. I agree with this also. I think though a good player development system has to be in place and then the holes need to be filled with free agents. The Cubs seem to do it the other way. Try to build with free agents and then fill holes with players from their system.

I don't agree with your "out of the box" thinking. First, let Kendall go and start Soto with Blanco in reserve. While I like Kendall offensively, he has shown to be terrible on defense. I would love to get Either, but Loney is a big downgrade, offensively and defensively, from Lee. Your idea of trading Howry, Murton, and DLee for Loney and Either and we would probably have to throw in some money and a couple of young arms is unbelievable. The 3 players you mentioned for Either and Loney is so one-sided in the Dodgers' favor that to add cash and young arms is outrageous. I am ok with Soto/Blanco. As for my Dodger/Cub trade scenario I wasnt trying to get equal value in return. What I am trying to do is dump salary and get better value in return than we are getting from Jones/Floyd/Murton/Pagan and Monroe. If that can be done without adding money or a young arm so be it. Replacing Lee in the order will be done with the high end free agent. What I am trying to do is reasonably improve the team without a major payroll increase. Truthfully the only 2 places I see that major payroll can be decreased yet good cheap value can be brought back is by trading Lee or ARam. If we could really get Loney or Ethier or another good cheap OF for Jones and Howry, sign me up. Also Lee isnt outproducing Loney this year. Since Lee is 32 and Loney is 23 what makes you think that Lee is going to outproduce Loney in the future. I think the Cubs should take advantage of Ned Collette(sp) wanting some "proven veterans"

2 1/2 weeks of development time for Pie is not going to be worth the drop of the Cubs playoff chances. In fact, one could argue that throwing Pie in there now could hurt his development. Trying to make adjustments in the middle of a playoff race can lead to some bad habits just to get a quick fix, and it can also lead to a much faster loss of confidence if Pie struggles and the team doesn't make the playoffs. In short, let him do what he's doing now, and then plug him in from day 1 next year (at worst have somebody to platoon with him against left-handers) and then don't remove him for the rest of the year. Your right. It probably wouldnt do much good now. He should have been playing since he came up though.

How many FAs at any position are worth half of what they end up getting? FA is a bad investment. Thats why it is pivotal to develop players within your system. The last step of development is the majors. Players need to play to get better in the majors. This is why Pie should be playing. this is completely untrue. In most cases Free Agents are signed at the end or past prime. They will in most cases get paid more than they were getting paid for declining production. Young players coming up get paid less while there production is improving. I know there is individual cases where players are still improving after free agency, but there are cases where it was better to not where a seat belt in a car accident. I would contend that the percentages tend to show free agency as a bad tool to build a winning ballclub(unless you are willing to spend like the Yankees). As for the part of young players need time to develop in the Majors, I dont know what to tell you. For every Pujols and Braun there are 20 DLees and ARams. Most players dont have ROY numbers right off the bat. They need to play to get better.

My brother who lives in the Bay Area says there is a radio station out there that plays Ron Santo sound bites all the time. My brother is jealous that I can listen to Ron all the time. I tell him its really funny when things arent going the Cubs way.

I think a lot of what we are talking about are minor upgrades. So unless a lot of money is spent, The Cubs are just going to be treading water. So I think some "Out of the Box" thinking is in order. This also involves some gambling, but I dont think we would really be losing as much as some would think. Trading Jones is a decent option now. He has really improved the 2nd half and only has a year on his contract. I dont know who to trade him to, but I dont think the return is going to be anything much. I also think Blanco can be traded(though we would have to take at least half of the money). I think if we can than we should resign Kendall. Have a Kendall/Soto catching partnership. Resigning Kendall with the Jones and Blanco money. Trade Howry, Murton and Lee to the Dodgers for Loney and Ethier. I think we would have to throw in some money and probably a couple of young arms. I know this is a stretch. If I was the Dodgers I wouldnt do it. Maybe some window dressing could be added to help though. Truth is though we wouldnt be giving away crap though. Its not like Eyre and Jones for a good player. Anyway if it could be done, it wouldnt make us any worse and would free up a crap load of cash for a Top flight Free Agent bat. With Loney be able to play 1b or the OF and Either can play center plus we would still have Pie. The Bat could play 1b, CF, RF or SS. I dont know if this would make the Cubs drastically better next season, but it would put us in a better position into the future. Personally I would rather trade Soriano than Lee, but I think his crappy contract would stop any trade where we got value in return.

How many FAs at any position are worth half of what they end up getting? FA is a bad investment. Thats why it is pivotal to develop players within your system. The last step of development is the majors. Players need to play to get better in the majors. This is why Pie should be playing.