SAMMYWHO

Give us back Nolasco, he's been struggling

Just a question: Does it mean anything when CBS Sportsline has us as one of three teams interested in Milton? I was just curious because I find a lot of rumors on there but nobody here seems to pay attention to that site. Thanks in advance.

What about Ryan Harvey? I know he had some injuries (broken leg) if iirc but he's shown some flashes of brilliance.

It seems they also forgot you can still pitch with your right hand and play something besides CF or 3rd base. I know we also drafted a couple ss & 2nd basemen but none project very high from what I seen.

Never mind, I checked baseball discussions and can't believe how out of hand it has went to in the last few days. This is unbelievable, back to not caring.

I'm quite sure he was being sarcastic. Just curious when that fight happened NCCubFan. If it was recently, I've been under a rock, it's calmer than watching the current team.

I think we could do better than "dumping" Barrett. Getting anthing of value, even a B prospect for Eyre would be an accomplishment if we didn't pay any of his salary. Same goes for Jones. I think the problem Hendry faces is he's in a win now mode when most other teams are happy with sitting on their hands. They didn't spend all the dough the cubs did so their's not as much pressure.

Why didn't they just fire him and let one of the minor league guys like Quade manage the team? He would have listened to everything the GM or president told him. The way the 2nd half of last season was handled was terrible. If we would have just given up and played young guys, we would have known that Theriot was good and wouldn't have wasted money on DeRosa. Also, could have gotten Murton a few more at bats. Brutal job, MacPhail and Hendry. I disagree that money was wasted on Derosa. He just needs to be used like he was in Texas. He makes a great supersub. We just need to be in position to use him that way.

Correct, except that he could be called up sooner if it's to replace a pitcher who goes on the DL. My theory, and if I'm right I like the move: Guzman will get two starts to stretch out in Iowa, then after 10 days when he's eligible he will be called back up and replace Miller (who's continuing to pitch himself out of the rotation today). In fact, that DAMN WELL BETTER be the explanation because it's the only justification for sending Guzman down. He's been excellent his last couple of appearances, and you don't send him down for 10 days when he'd only be out of commission for 2 days after pitching last night. If the reason weren't to stretch Guzman out the Ohman to the DL move would have been done to make room for Pie rather than rewarding Guzman for his excellent pitching by giving him an all-expenses-paid trip to beautiful Des Moines, Iowa. :D There's nothing wrong with a paid trip to Iowa. In regards to Miller, I think he should bring his arm back a little farther to try and get some more umph on the ball. Might get a couple more miles per hour out of the fastball instead of what looks like short arming everything.

Isn't Devine the first guy in history to give up a grand slam in each of his first two appearances?

Fill me in on this kid Cherry, is he a long reliever, short. I've never heard of him.

Someone help me understand why we can't get into the reliever for Rowand talks. I would be for bringing Lieber back if it meant Rowand too, for a reliever and one of our bulk starters (Miller, Marshall, Mateo)

The part everyone is overlooking is if it's Z for Arod straight up I'm sure Big Z is wanting 18 a year (5-90). Texas is eating 5-7 a year if I remember correctly so all we'd be doing is shipping Zambrano off before his big pay day even though the tribe have been counting on Z's payday for a while I'm sure. Throw Izturis in there and the money part is a wash.

Maybe he finally figured it out. It's been reported on foxsports that he's been seen throwing in right field.

Fixed. And overrated. Thanks, it's been awhile since I've seen his name. Oh how I wish we had his gridiness. (Sarcasm)

or Shawn Dunston

I'm curious, too. I assume the answer is "not quite as shot as we'd all like," given the money they threw at him. I hope Marquis pitches well and it's not an issue, but if he doesn't I hope it isn't an Estes situation where he gets to stay in the rotation for no good reason. Help me remember, who should of replaced Estes in the rotation? Would it of been big Z?

What guarantee? Some projections have Z declining this year and drastically declining of the next five years. We may choose to disregard those projections, but we can't just look at Z's numbers last year and assume he'll produce them again this year. I would trade Zambrano for Jered Weaver and Brandon Wood. Didn't those same projections once have Mark Prior steadily improving? A declining Zambrano is still better than most pitchers. I'd take that over a couple of question marks that probably won't equal his success. That's just me though. I never understood the whole trade your star player to make the team better philosophy. Yeah, he may have peaked last year, but just because he's not having as good of a year as last year doesn't mean he's still not an awesome player. Would the Chargers consider trading LaDainian Tomlinson because he probably won't equal his production from this year? That's not a fair assessment. LT is probably the best back since Walter Payton. Z is in a croud of pitchers his caliber and his age. The other thing that is sort of being overlooked here is he's about to become really expensive. More than Carpenter and Oswalt, cost vs production is a big part of it too.

I agree with most of that except going up there and taking 7-8 pitches late in the game. I think it's more valuable when your wearing out the starting pitcher then a reliever. Mainly because there's 5-6 left in the bullpen.

Murton was a product of the Red Sox, not the Cubs. I hope Wilken turns things around, but the Cubs farm system is currently below average. I don't understand. 10 yrs from now hopefully no one will remember where Murton was drafted. They'll remember where he made his name. Is Ryne Sandberg a Phillie? I agree with your posts most of the time but Hendry picked Murton out of a million. He does deserve a little credit on that trade. I wish someone would come out and say he seen a little something in Murton. Where's Bruce Miles when you need him? I didn't say anything about not giving him credit for the trade. The words used in the original post were that the Cubs "produced" the likes of Murton. No, they didn't. Boston drafted him and they produced him until the Cubs traded for him. The Cubs can have some credit for continuing his progression, but Boston drafted him. Prior was pretty much a finished product before the Cubs ever drafted him, but I would still say that the Cubs "produced" him, because the Cubs drafted him and he progressed through their system. Ryne Sandberg was a product of the Phillies. There's nothing wrong with recognizing a good prospect and trading for them, but you don't get to take the credit for drafting them and developing them into major leaguers. So, I do give credit to Hendry for the trade. I do not give him credit for developing him into a major leaguer. And I'm still a bit shocked that Hendry did trade for Murton, because he doesn't fit the mold of the skill set Hendry likes. Hendry likes tools guys and Murton does not fit the description. And when the season starts, we still don't know who will get the bulk of the at bats, Floyd or Murton. I guess my point was I remember reading the Nomar thread here and didn't recall anyone being excited about Murton coming along too. If my memory serves me correctly, I don't remember anyone thinking Murton would be called up when he did. Pie was the chosen one. I also don't agree with the Cubs system being below average. We have what everyone wants, Pitching. I realize we have to start developing position players but pitchers are far and away more valuable than position players. As far as Murton goes, it's just funny to look back and see how well we came out of that trade with no presence from Nomar.

Murton was a product of the Red Sox, not the Cubs. I hope Wilken turns things around, but the Cubs farm system is currently below average. I don't understand. 10 yrs from now hopefully no one will remember where Murton was drafted. They'll remember where he made his name. Is Ryne Sandberg a Phillie? I agree with your posts most of the time but Hendry picked Murton out of a million. He does deserve a little credit on that trade. I wish someone would come out and say he seen a little something in Murton. Where's Bruce Miles when you need him?

I prefer our bullpen also....well until the closer

I'm definately interested, the only problem is I'm in your shoes now. I have to be the planner. Send me a PM if you run out of tickets otherwise, I'll try to get 4 people lined up.

Don't take this the wrong way Vance but how would I pay you. I would be interested in 4 tickets.

That ballpark is a castle. I love it. I used to work 3 blocks from there. Now I think Collins St is the Cowboys new parking lot. Anyone drive by there lately? I moved home 6 years ago.