polosprt009

Just noticed on ESPN that Mark DeRosa recently did a Q&A. You have to be an ESPN Insider to read past the first question. Are there any ESPN Insiders out there kind and willing enough to post the full interview? Should be a great opportunity to get to know the guy a little better. The Cubs' Mark DeRosa answers questions about the NFL draft, the nastiest pitch he's ever seen, and turning the double play. Q&A Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2853028&name=olney_buster&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d2853028%26name%3dolney_buster

I completely agree. I saw Prior pitch last week in Peoria, and he showed signs of improvement. However it was just one game. He's got kinks to work out still. Before the game while he was throwing in the pen, he was swearing up a storm and showing signs of frustration, inconsistence, and low confidence with his mechanics. As long as he settles down and works into the grove he had going a few years ago, he'll be fine. By window of opportunity I mean their opportunity to succeed in the big leagues. If after this season they both amount to the same low amount of games as last year, why continue to waste time and money on two pitchers that have proven to be lost causes? Lou is not a fool, however he isn't stupid either. How many seasons must a team wait for two once-aces to come back around? It's frustrating as a fan to watch them go through injury after injury, but there's a time when a team just has to throw in the flag. Realistically thinking, I truly think that will happen after this season if nothing happens with them two. However I truly am still hoping for the best of them both.

Lou seems like the kind of manager that wants to win now, and not wait around for guys to come around, especially for two who have been bouncing on and off the DL list since 04. I can easily see them being shipped if not this season, during the off season. Unfortunately I think their window of opportunity is closing quickly.

Not that the use of HGH did him any good, another interesting name linked to the steroid scandal... Sources: http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=2702 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/03/02/steroid.raid/index.html

You can't be serious, can you? Not one for wit I take it.. Was bored earlier, felt like making a joke.

ooo, "Surprise" location. How exciting :D

How fast do hot cakes usually fly past you? On average, I would say 12-15mph, though I vaguely remember a time as a child walking to school when the wind was blowing in my direction. Those hot cakes had to of been soaring at a speed of at least 45mph. I say vaguely because I was knocked out cold by one with a severe concussion and welts the size of grapefruits :cry: It wasn't safe living near the Aunt Jemima factory when they left their windows open..

That's a little extreme. a little extreme but he speaks truth. I've sat right above the netting behind home plate before, and those balls were flying past us like hot cakes. If you weren't always on alert, there was always that chance of being hit by a ball. And after nailing his wife in the ribs, he realizes that it's not such a crazy idea to think that you can seriously injure somebody sitting up there

oops, totally overlooked the "Phillies interested in Pierre" thread that already existed! My fault :D

Should be interesting to see what happens in the next two days. I personally would hate to see us lose JP.. Link to article: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060829&content_id=1634465&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Neifi Perez, a Cub no more.... traded to the Detroit Tigers. Cubs phenom from August 19, 2004 to August 20, 2006, w/ an awe-inspiring batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage of .276, .297, and .384 respectively w/ the Cubs, and highly considered one of the 10 worst Major League players of all time... Neifi, thank you for the memories! just added that to my AIM profile. Yes, I'm quite excited by that!

I agree with everyone so far on this matter, even though there is always a part of me feeling like there is still a chance, no matter how far out of it they may be. While we sit 9.5 gb with 5 1/2 to go, part of me is thinking "well, if they crawl 1.5 or 2 games up the wildcard latter a week, there is a chance." But then the reality hits in that there are way too many teams to sneak past to defeat this feat. Looking to the past, there have been miraculous come backs before, for example the 78 Yankess. In mid July, they were 14gb, behind three teams. By mid august, they were in first place in their division and eventually went to the post season. That makes ya wonder about how a team was able to go from 14 games back to first place in one months time, though they had a great team with a winning percentage of over .500 even when they were 14 games back. It would take a team of mainly talented players to accomplish quite a surprise comeback like that (which we don't have), and also not have that many teams to crawl past (back then- 3, us-11). In all reality, unless the cubs just go on a terror spree like the Dodgers, I don't see the stars lining up for the Cubs this year, even though it is nice to dream..

We'll always have 2003

bring nomar back to chicago

I think I'll pick up Cubs Nation when I return Wrigleyworld back to the library. Sounds like that'll be a good read as well.