nolanwood

Rusch is HORRIBLE. And Hendry should be canned for blowing money on that turd.

I just don't understand saying we are outta the race and its only the 2nd week of May. And I'm definitely not even thinking about a wild card race this early! By no means am I saying we look good, or that we arent currently sucking it up big time.

When there's the pause.....and then he busts out with "GEORGE CLOONEY"...you been reading about all that.....you been seeing that? I about pissed myself in that audio clip. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm not certain that an interim manager is going to light any fires under this team. I vote to ride out the year with what we've got. I'm still uncertain of how much blame to place on Rothschild, too. You can't blame him for Wood's issues, as you can't completely change his mechanics. Can't blame him for Prior potentially being soft either. I like the pitching depth we have, and Ive been very happy with the rehab project results of guys like Dempsta and Williamson.

I've heard Cuban mention numerous times previously that there's no way his wife would allow him to purchase another team. I've also heard him mention the Pirates as a team he'd like to own.

Im already tired of the Jones ab's. 1,2,3 every time

even better Jerome

nice pitch, Jerome

It might look nicer but truth be told we dont know what we will get from them, especially Wade Miller. I've got a pretty good idea what we'll see outta Wood and Prior. And I can take an educated guess about Miller. I just don't know HOW LONG we're gonna see those guys.

I wish it was an Old Stool sign....

Is there a reason or a need to be critical after a 16-7 victory on opening day?

I agree with you there....I'm not counting them out this year by any means.

I'm not sure who this is addressed to because I never mentioned the Cardinals in my Cubs assement but, I do think they have holes and that you're giving them too much credit. It goes without saying that they have been good but the team they are breaking camp with is far from impressive. Ponson will be serviceable but his outing today reminds everyone that he has a career 4+ ERA. He isn't going to turn into a dominant pitcher overnight. Furthermore, their bullpen looks beatable and who's playing 2B for them and what kind of production can they expect? LF ? Encarnacion in RF isn't any better than Jacque Jones... Picking them to win is safe but that doesn't make it accurate. My pick is the Cubs. No matter which team wins the division, I expect a lot of parity. My post wasn't addressed to anyone in particular, but I was just mentioning that everything that's been stated about the Cardinals for '06 has been pretty much said about them throughout the millenium, and yet they still find a way to play into October. I hope they finish last. But starting the season off with a healthy Carpenter, Mulder and Pujols goes a long way. Yeah, Junior Spivey should be Junior Spivey, but I thought the same thing about Tony Womack, Abraham Nunez and So Tguchi. Yet they still get production out of what should be crappy players. First, a healthy Carpenter, Mulder and Pujols aren't going to carry the Cardinals by themselves. I don't think Mulder should even be included in the same sentence with Pujols and Carpenter in regards to production. Second, I was under the impression that the last few years the Cardinals have improved their team each offseason and spent more $. This being the first year that they cut their budget in some time. Take 05 for example: Williams Lost Renteria, but replaced him with Eckstein who's no slouch. Lost Womack on a career year and replaced him with Grudz. 06, however, there has been a substantial amount of downgrading. Sure, they're gonna have guys step up and they're gonna have average players perform at their career best...as they always do. However, don't underestimate the amount of downgrading they have done. Walker>Encarnacion Sanders>Taguchi Grudz>Miles Morris>Ponson Tavarez>Looper King gone Then take into account an Injured Rolen who's resuming his role at 3b after a crazy career year by Nunez. Rapidly aging Edmonds

More downgrades.....Morris replaced with Ponson AND Tavarez replaced with Looper.

The Cards lost some talent, but also got Rolen back. They're definitely the favorites. The Astros are the team that could be anywhere. Without some otherworldly pitching last year, they finish behind the Cubs. The offense still lacks, and I don't see the pitching being nearly as good. Oswalt could be even better, but I've never been a big Pettite fan, and 4 months of Clemens isn't the same as 6. I could see them finishing anywhere from near the top to all the way at the bottom. Another piss-poor offensive season, and the pitching might not be enough to make up for it this time. The Cardinals lost ALOT of talent and have an injured Rolen back....and Edmonds isn't looking very healthy either.

I sent him an email "Just curious... The Cubs finished in 4th place last year with 79 wins. During that season we lost both Prior and Wood....Nomar was absent for all but 1 month.....and Latroy Hawkins started off the year blowing save after save. For 06 the bullpen has been improved signifcantly. IMPROVEMENT Patterson's dismal bat has been replaced with a much needed quality lead off guy. IMPROVEMENT Jones performs at the same level as Burnitz, and has potential to show more. IMPROVEMENT Murton will be in LF all year, as opposed to month after month last year that the LF spot belonged to unproductive Dubois/Hollandsworth. IMPROVEMENT The Cardinals, for example, got rid of half their team and downgraded at each of those positions. SO, how do you explain that the Cubs will be worse this year with all the improvements they've made, and the Cardinals will be just as good with nothing but pathetic downgrades?"

This guy is an idiot! We've made no downgrades in the offseason. We improved our bullpen and got a significant lead off bat. So how could a team that has done nothing but make improvements finish considerably worse than last season? The Astros lost talent. The Cardinals lost alot of talent. Yet he still considers both of them to be contenders. I dont get it.

I thought the big concern at 2b was defense? Is Hairston's defense any better than Walker's? It would be nice to see 2 guys with speed in front of Lee and Ramirez. But I'd rather see somebody who could get on base in that 2 hole. I'm assuming if Hairston starts that's where Dusty puts him in the lineup. I'd almost rather see Neifi start if Walker isn't in the picture. Bat Neifi 8th and I'll take his stellar defense at 2b. Put Murton in the 2hole.

Zambrano Prior Wood Williams Guzman/Marshall?Hill

I really like what I'm seeing of Marshall thus far!

Korea was the best team in the tournament, hands down. I watched all the games, and nobody dominated on the mound or executed fundamentals like Korea did.

Our bullpen is the one aspect of the 06 season I look forward to seeing. It's going to be really nice, for a change, to look forward to seeing relief pitching. And it should definitely take some weight off our starters as well.

On a postive note, I think Prior will only end up missing 2-3 starts at the beginning of the season. On a negative note, I think he will re-injure himself in the middle of the season and be worthless the rest of the year.

I just hope that when it comes time to lock him up long term, we give him whatever he wants. If anybody has earned it, he has!

puketacchi