polosprt009

Eh, it's all in good fun if you ask me. I don't think anyone openly wishes injury upon anyone, no matter who they are. As much as an injured Edmonds or Pujols would initially trigger our bitter rival sensors and have Cubs fans rejoice in a few high fives, I don't think anyone would truly be serious in being happy for them being injured. It is just good natured ribbing and nothing more than that. As for our scrappy little Neifi, I know we all hold a place for him in our heart ;) I woke up today expecting at least one April Fools article like this, and who better than to write one on than Baker's favorite side dish and our favorite player to love when he's on a hot streak (and disown when he's not, for that matter)? Article got me until about the halfway point. nicely done

I was out to eat earlier for lunch and noticed that the cubs game was on over near the bar. So I walked over to feast my eyes on the game and the first pitch I see, no kidding, two seconds after I started watching the game.. bam, Hairston nailed in the head. Just my luck. Two seconds into watching my first Cubs game of the year and a player is already in the dirt face down not moving. All my best to Jerry. I was quite worried after he got hit and while he was down but he seemed to get up alright and not be in that bad of shape. If it weren't for those hefty new Cubs helmets, it could have been a lot worse. Just thankful it caught the middle back part of his helmet, and not his head, or face for that matter.

This thread is pure class. 19 pages of bliss.

My thoughts exactly

Derrek Lee signed ball (avatar), Mark Grace autograph on a random peice of paper. met grace after a spring training game in Mesa at a Circle K shop at the age of 10. Was quite a huge deal for me at the time

First of all, I'm probably the 110th person to call Hendry an idiot on this board for choices he's made (and didn't make) in the recent past. While him not offering Nomar arbitration is a somewhat understandable move, I just don't agree with it. Second of all, an on again off again "bandwagon fan"? Excuse me? I watched baseball religiously as a kid and then picked up my interest again for the game in 2004. That makes me a bandwagon fan? Religiously watching the cubs again when they were a .500 team? hmm... So you started watching when they started winning, literally. You might even say you 'jumped on board' after the regular season in 2003 to 'ride' the success happening in the '03 playoffs. Sounds like a bandwagon jumper to me. There were plenty of reasons to be a Cub fan before Nomar joined this team. Go ahead and jump off if Nomar's the reason you're watching. But if you're truly a fan of this team, don't let that be why you're upset with Hendry. I'm one of his biggest supporters, but at the same time, I can understand when the Hendry-haters say he made a bad move by not acquiring a better CF, or for feeling the need to trade Todd Walker. Nomar made $8 Million last year and more the year before, and couldn't stay healthy for consecutive weeks. He had his chance. You can only invest so much for a guy like that. I'd be very willing to bet that Hendry offered him a token low-dollar, one-year offer to stay and that's probably when he and Nomar 'agreed to let him pursue other opportunities'. Mr. Penguin, you talk as if you seem to have me figured out or something. Even though it's not important I'm going to back up what I said because you're wrong. I watched the playoffs like everyone else did in 03, but I only watched bits and pieces of the games. I don't think I watched one of those games in full. To me at the time it was like watching any other team in the playoffs since I hadn't watched much baseball at that point in years. I wasn't sharing the excitement of true Cubs fans at the time nor did I jump on any bandwagon. If I did, I would have stayed for the ride through the beginning half of the 04 season. As for Nomar not having one consecutive healthy week with the cubs, wrong again. Let's see here.. he played every game between Aug 7th - 17th (no days off), every game between Aug 26 thru Sept 9 (sept 1 being a day off since there was no game played), and then played every game between Sept 11 and Oct 1st. I believe there's 7 days in a week, correct me if I'm wrong ;) Each of these stretches went longer than that. As what I said before, my opinion of Hendry has been low long before this Nomar decision. Nomar's departure also isn't going to change my love for the Cubs one bit. I'm just dissapointed as is any other Nomar fan. Got anything else wrong with that?[/b]

First of all, I'm probably the 110th person to call Hendry an idiot on this board for choices he's made (and didn't make) in the recent past. While him not offering Nomar arbitration is a somewhat understandable move, I just don't agree with it. Second of all, an on again off again "bandwagon fan"? Excuse me? I watched baseball religiously as a kid and then picked up my interest again for the game in 2004. That makes me a bandwagon fan? Religiously watching the cubs again when they were a .500 team? hmm...

You're not alone. I had quite some man love for the guy. The first game he played for the cubs was the first game I watched the cubs play in years (other then the 03 playoffs). The overall excitement I saw my friends sharing over that trade made me get back into baseball again. Now I live, eat, and breath cubby blue. Sucks to be losing the guy that sparked my interest in the game again.

I see what you're saying. About me calling Hendry an idiot, it's grown to become a habit using that phrase because I'm not been to big a fan of him lately.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm quite upset that Hendry gave up on Nomar. Personally I think Hendry's an idiot for it. Nomar would have easily played in the OF for the cubs and he also would have given the shirt off his back for his town. He made it clear that this is where he wanted to play. He was even building a house out here to start a family with Mia. Hendry just shut the door on him. There's 2 reasons as to why I'm sure Hendry made the decision not to give Nomar arbitration, 1 being that he's very injury prone. The 2nd being that I'm sure they were banking on the fact that they were going to land Furcal. To me, both are asumptions and never should have been the reason to get rid of him. I can easily predict Nomar hitting a good .320 batting avg with over 20 HR's this next season. Why wouldn't the cubs want this? To see Nomar possibly play for the Yankees or the 'stros, or any other team for that matter, truly puts a man tear in my eye. Anyone else feel the same?

Sosa - lost major respect for him. I enjoy watching him slump, he deserves it. Craig Counsell - for no other reason than absolutely hating the way he bats. looks like hes got a stick up his butt. i make fun of him each time i see it Hawkins - for making me cringe everytime he came in from the bullpen on the cubs ARod - still cant get over him trying to slap the ball out of the first baseman's hands in the ALC last year and then trying to play it off like he didn't do anything. Randy Johnson - for looking pissed off all the time. whats he got to be mad about (other than looking like a rat)?

Well, I've been lurking through this thread since it started and I have to say that Jeff (jmajew) puts up some solid ideas for revamping the Cubs team, but at the same time most of you (USSoccer in particular) puts up some great arguments to his suggestions as well. In my opinion most of Jeff's ideas "could" work, but the changes wouldn't please the fans much. They are very Bakeresque for the most part. It would be taking a huge unnecessary gamble to trade away some of our best players just to help out our defense. I don't think trading Aramis would be the greatest of ideas because truly I still think the best is yet to come with him. As for players such as Todd Walker playing in LF or anywhere in the OF for that matter, I would hate to see that. I always cringe when I see a baseball player playing an unnatural position on defense. Look at how scary it was watching Nomar play 3rd in the beginning. He made bad throws and was coughin up errors for a little while. It was hard to watch and very frustrating. While the free agent market isn't really providing the cream of the crop for what we're needing on defense, our farm system could easily be tapped into to test the waters in positions that need to be filled. While who's going to be starting in our OF on opening day remains a huge question mark at the moment, I think it would be ridiculous not to see Murton play a starting OF role. Other than that, we need two spots to fill. Nomar could possibly be thrown out there (which could cause major uncomfort watching him play another unfamiliar position), hairston, pie, and patterson (::cringing::). That is just with what we got right now. I'm not the best at coming up with trade and free agent ideas, so I'll leave that up to you all to come up with. ..My two cents

"Rooting for the Sox right now because you are a "Chicago Fan" is like saying you didn't care how the Civil War turned out becuase you are an "America Fan."

I'm one of UMFan's best friends and was out with him and a few others tonight, and I'm completely appalled by what I saw tonight. Going to the Cubby Bear thinking I'd be in a a safe zone, i was well wrong. we were one of 8 people cheering for the astros (as opposed to the 90 or so cheerin on the white sox). it was pathetic. and just as tony (umfan) said about the peopel standin outside of wrigley, one white sox fan had the nerve to say "the white sox just took over chicago. u guys got nothing! go ahead and watch us as we cheer on our team, hopefully oyu guys will have somethin to cheer on within the next century" i stood by tony as if i were about to take on an army. it was ridiculous. as i put clearly in my recent post about the hypocricy of chicago, white sox fans have no class. this clearly proved that.

Edited for accuracy. :lol: Your editing is allowed in this case.

Frankly, I'm pretty annoyed at how obnoxious some Cubs fans are being in their hyperbolic hatred for the White Sox. I used to think it was the Sox fans who were obsessed with all things Cubs that needed to get some perspective. Unfortunately it looks to me that just as many Cubs fans are turning into that whining paranoid Soxaphobe. Maybe it comes from living in NY for a decade with all their overly arrogant Yankees fans, but I don't see the big deal here. As a Cubs fan, my concern is the Cubs. I spend nearly every ounce of energy I spend on baseball thinking about what the Cubs can do to get better. I've noticed a trend that the people who are 'annoyed' at the obnoxiousness of some of us Cubs fans who are openly bitter and disliking the White Sox right now are those who don't currently live in or around the city. I can't imagine myself being that upset if I still lived in East Lansing, MI because I wouldn't be around all the hooplah excitement surrounding the White Sox, but as I said before, living here in the city you see the obnoxious white sox fan behavior everyday, its everywhere you go, and to see how the city is on the knees to the White Sox right now is like having little needles jabbing you in the back each time you see or hear anything related to the south siders. Yea that may sound a bit extreme, but it's how I feel and I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling this way.

I completely disagree. I would honestly care less if it were the Yanks vs. the 'Stros. Being that I live here in the city (Wrigleyville in fact), it sickens me to see the hypocritical excitement going on all around me (which was the original topic of this thread). I can't walk or drive anywhere in the city without being sick to my stomach after seeing White Sox excitement. If it were any other team, that wouldn't matter to me, but seeing as though I'm right here in the thick of it, it's no fun. It's not that I'm bitter, it's more so that I can't stand to see a team winning that I absolutely for one can't stand and can't stand their fans. As my friend put last night, "it's like I'm living in a whole new city that I'm unfamiliar with." I feel that exact way. So your argument doesn't really say much seeing as though I've never cared about the world series match up at all (not even 2003 bothered me this much).

Well put Outshined_One, I couldn't of put it better myself! I agree with everything you wrote. It's just way too hard to be happy for the White Sox when deep in my gut I pretty much dispise the thought of them. I started off being pretty neutral, not really giving a care about the White Sox because let's face it, before this season, they were never much of a threat, though after their success this season and seeing how classless some of their fans are (come on, a White Sox fan slapping Biggio's wife??? Unbelievable yet not surprising) and friends of mine who support black and white just enthralled by every opportunity to rub it in my face, I want to shove a sock in each and every one of their throats! I cannot wait to see the first week of home games next year for the White Sox, and to see that only 15,000 fill the seats while the Cubs continue to sell out each game. So they have been good this year... Chicago won't care in a few weeks. The team on the south side will go back to being on Chicago's backburner once again until about September (this being if they pull the same magic they pulled this season). Cubs fans: Bitter? Perhaps. Classless? Not in a million years. --I'd rather be a bitter fan rooting for a .500 team over supporting a winning team with scum fans and callous players/management any day of the week.

Why oh why can't the Astros pull off wins that are easily in their possession??? WHY must the other Chicago team be getting wins handed to them this easily?? :x I'm going to HATE the hype this brings to Chicago. If it weren't for the White Sox fans who absolutely love rubbing Cubs meltdowns in our faces, cars all over (even in Wrigleyville) with brand new White Sox stickers that haven't even seen winter grime yet, all the traffic signs saying "GO SOX!" every half block you drive in the city, and all the bandwagon fans wearing black and white apparell that doesn't even look to of been washed yet, I might be somewhat happy for the White Sox, but clearly I'm not at all. 3 months ago the south side couldn't even sell 10,000 tickets to their games. The hypocricy here in Chicago right now is just ridiculous and very very annoying. Who agrees?

I had to come out of lurker mode and comment on this. "Nomar was like jumping over walls to get to the girls." hahaha, amazing. The man is my hero! :D I will wear my Nomar shirt tomorrow with pride because of this :wink:

Do we really need yet another lefty-swinging outfielder? The guy we need to use is a red-haired dude who is already on the team. I couldn't agree with you more. Murton has been nothing but money since he's been brought up from the minors. Why replace him with someone who can't even hit in both leagues? Who can't hit in both leagues? This post confused me..... :? I assume he is talking about CPatt and it would be two levels instead of leagues I believe. Was talking about CPatt and referring to the two leagues as minor league and major league, but i suppose it would be just different levels and not two separate leagues. Didn't mean to cause confusion ;)

Do we really need yet another lefty-swinging outfielder? The guy we need to use is a red-haired dude who is already on the team. I couldn't agree with you more. Murton has been nothing but money since he's been brought up from the minors. Why replace him with someone who can't even hit in both leagues?

Just came to my attention that Wood is in a 12 million no trade clause for next year, so he's goin nowhere. there ya go, newbie status established :)

Okay, well, this season isn't quite over yet, though to most of us, it's starting to feel that way. Most of us are looking ahead to next year and thinking about what could and should be done to fix this fumbling clubhouse into playoff bound kings. For 2006, starting anew with a completely new team is a must. First and foremost, out with Baker and in with a more aggressive, on-his-feet type manager. Someone who won't be sentimental and base decisions off of "feelings" instead of performance. A tactical manager. We have the talent now to do some magical things, though right now Baker isn't utilizing what he's got to the fullest extent. He was hired to motivate players to work to their highest potential, though right now I see him more as a father figure, patting players on the back saying "It's okay son, go get them next time", instead of putting a fire under their feet. As for our lineup, we need a big change. Our offense could be strong, though for some reason it's not been this season. I was thinking about if I were to keep just 5 players from this lineup (not pitchers) and completely revamp the team from there, those five players would be the obvious Lee & Ramirez, with Hairston, Barrett and Walker. Those five are money. Hairston could work a 1 year stint as starting center fielder, while Felix Pie works his way on up in the minors. With players like Garciaparra and Burnitz on the market, we could perhaps acquire FA Furcal at SS, though OF free agent market is a bit weak at the moment. Hendry has worked great deals in the past though. It's still too soon to talk names in the trade market for next year, but I could easily see us with 2 if not 3 new names in the OF next year. A new lead-off hitter is an absolute must as well. As for pitching, everyone talks about how Prior and Wood are the best killer duo on a team since Clemons & Oswalt, though lately they've been no better than an average starter. I'm always hearing all this talk about how if they injury free for a season, their numbers would be fantastic. Though I don't know if I fully agree with that. Prior, yes, though in my opinion Wood isn't consistent. Out of the two pitchers, I'd say one has to go, and I'd definitely choose Wood to leave for that matter. I'd keep Prior, Z, and Maddux, a strong possibly of Williams, depending on how well he finishes off this season. That leaves us with 1 slot open for a new starter. Burnett maybe? Who knows, still too soon to talk new names, though pitching is a huge problem on our team right now. Our relievers are a crap shoot right now. Big things need to be changed in our bullpen to even consider us a playoff bound team. Each year we predict a spot in the World Series. With a few minor changes, I could easily see that happen in 2006. 2005, well, that's another story..

Having optimism is good, especially since most of us are down after slipping under .500 for the first time since the end of May. I've been losing a lot of optimism these past few weeks, but truly the season is just at it's mid-point now. Anything can happen. Our offense really isn't all that bad this season and our starting pitchers are all back in rotation, so in few weeks time we may be looking at a hotter team than what we have right now. Hendry's eyes should be set on next year though by trading off a few names, making our line-up stronger for next year, and hopefully having a go at the world series. Truly, I don't see a run in the playoffs this season, but all that can change with a random hot streak.