Blueheart05

I don't think they need Lugo over Cedeno to be a playoff team and don't understand alot of the fascination with Lugo. Lugo's a nice player, but not leaps and bounds better than Cedeno. he had one nice OBP year at age 29. other than that, he screams average shortstop. I tell you this right now, if the Cubs had Lugo and his usual .335 OBP in the two hole all year, and alot of the people chiming for him now would be screaming. Cedeno has an outstanding chance to match what Lugo usually does this year, if allowed to play. I know, a big if. even if not, with Cedeno gone, the Cubs have a choice for 2007. resign a 31 year old average shortstop to a three year deal, go with Neifi, or try to find a shortstop somewhere else when none will be available except Jack Wilson or Izturis. I'd just as soon pass on all three and stick with Cedeno. I would like Lugo but that's not at the expense of Cedeno. Ronny can play 2B and Lugo can be the SS (or vice versa). I like Lugo because he can hit behind Pierre. Last year he improved his OBP considerably but you're right, it has been in the .330's in previous years. I am leaning in the direction of believing that he's improved his game and that he can only get better once he leaves Tampa Bay (I could be wrong but I think players perform differently when they play on teams that have no chance of winning; kinda like Michael Barrett's improvement since his time with the Expos).

I think when the Cubs missed out on Furcal, it changed the chances of Walker being traded. I disagree based on quotes from Hendry after the Furcal signing. He mentioned having three middle infielders (Cedeno, Perez and Hairston). He suspiciously didn't mention Walker at all which would lead most people to believe that Todd is on the block. Suntimes.com

I don't know much about his supposed attitude problems but given the stricter steroid testing, last season, it raises some concerns.

Link If the only choices are Patterson or Jones in RF (which I don't believe is the case) then I agree with keeping Corey. However, the Cubs also have a surplus of talent and money that can be used to make a trade. If in fact the Rangers, Mariners, or Team X have lowered their demands it would behoove the Cubs to make a trade for a more dependable RF bat (preferably with a strong throwing arm). I'm not sure the Cubs could be said to have a surplus of talent at this point. Our only strength to trade from was our stable of young, near-ready arms, and Hendry already tossed most of them at Pierre. We're pretty much left with Guzman, Hill, and Williams at this point, and we'll want at least one, probably two of them around to fill out the rotation in case of injuries and such. In short, I just don't see the Cubs as being in a good position to make a major (and much-needed) upgrade to RF. That upgrade wouldn't be Mench, either. As far as the Rangers' asking price is concerned, they can keep dreaming. Averge-below average coner outfielders aren't exactly rare commodities. When teams are balking at giving up front of the rotation starters for the likes of Abreu, Manny, and Tejada, I seriously doubt that the Rangers are going to unload Mench for anything remotely as useful. The surplus I was referring to includes the names you mentioned plus Walker, Patterson, Novoa, Wellymeyer, et al. I still believe Walker will be traded so I expect he will be included in an upcoming deal.

Of course they were because Hill has more value than the oft-injured Guzman. I wouldn't make this trade as it stands. Huff isn't a complete enough player for my tastes. However, if they were willing to part with Lugo and Huff I'd be more inclined to deal Hill and other prospects. I still don't believe that Walker will be on this team when the season starts so Lugo fits perfectly into the second slot in the batting order.

I wonder about the validity of option 2 in reference to Mench for Patterson. There have been reports that the Rangers already turned down a trade of Patterson for Mench because they expected a top of the rotation pitcher in return. It seems like a long way to drop in the negotiating process for the Rangers. Link If the only choices are Patterson or Jones in RF (which I don't believe is the case) then I agree with keeping Corey. However, the Cubs also have a surplus of talent and money that can be used to make a trade. If in fact the Rangers, Mariners, or Team X have lowered their demands it would behoove the Cubs to make a trade for a more dependable RF bat (preferably with a strong throwing arm).

Link I don't understand why Aubrey Huff's defense is a deal-killer, but Raul Ibanez's isn't. I think Huff's best position is DH. lol, especially if his offense doesn't rebound from last year's slump.

Link So, does this make Pie expendable? Maybe/maybe not. He's only 20 so he could wait if Pierre is signed longterm. Of course, the Cubs could sign JJ and trade him after a year. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I think it has to be bigger because we've waited longer. On another note, is it just my Cubs bias or am I right when I think that the Red Sox winning the Series wasn't nearly as big of a deal as I assume the Cubs winning will be? I realize that it may sound like I'm contradicting my earlier statements, about the magnitude of a Cubs win, but right now I'm focusing on National/International coverage (instead of local reaction). I think the Cubs are more widely known and loved while the Red Sox are a team that ESPN, and other networks, like to force feed the public. Has NESN provided the Red Sox with the same kind of following that WGN has provided for the Cubs?

Pie in the minors playing everyday is better than Pie in the majors to "fill the gap" in RF by being Macias' backup 4 or 5 days out of 7. Macias was DFA so thankfully he isn't an option at this point.

If the Cubs won the Series next season, Hendry would win a permanent place in Chicago Sports lore, and deservedly so. He could be assigned to the GM position for life as far as I'm concerned along with 110% retirement benefits when he wanted to step down. I doubt that. Kenny Williams' work isnt being acknowledged by many and they waited almost as long as we have. the cubs and sox aren't comparable in this regard. most chicagoans would admit that it would be complete and total pandemonium if the cubs won. probably the biggest chicago sports story of the century. I am a Chicagoan. It would be larger scale just because there are more Cubs fans in the area but I dont think there would be pandemonium.. it would probably be larger than any of the bulls celebrations. and let's not forget that there are cubs fans around the country who would be celebrating. But that's not really the point, the point is this: a Cub world series team would be legendary not only on the local scale, but on the national scale. it would be the biggest national sports story of the year, easily, it would be the biggest chicago sports story of all time--imo, eclipsing the 85 bears easily. There are Cubs fans around the world so I do agree that a Cubs WS victory would have a wider scope. However, I'm not sure if it would be bigger than the 85 Bears but it would come close. Afterall, Chicago is a Bears town above anything else (its about the only thing Cubs and Sox fans agree on). I do wonder how different it really would be locally (for the Chicago fan)? It would be interesting to hear and or read how the Mike North's, Phil Rogers, Jay Marriotti's, and other Cubs detractors would react. Being "Cubs like" would take on a new meaning. I guess what I'm saying is it's harder for me to conceive how ideas about an organization and its fan base will be changed seemingly over night. Its easier for me to visualize the championship.

This time of year and the trade deadline's of years past remind me of that part in Superman II when Superman's (Hendry) nowhere to be found and those three aliens (White Sox) dressed in black are terrorizing Metropolis (Chicago's North Side). Meanwhile, Zod (Kenny Williams) is asking the defenseless people, "Where is your super man now???" I just hope this ends as well as that movie did. Superman (Hendry) comes back from his icy lair (Trib Tower), with his superpowers back, and saves the helpless people (Cubs fans) from the evil clutch of Zod and company (Kenny and the Sox). Yeah, it's alot like that. Amen

If the Cubs won the Series next season, Hendry would win a permanent place in Chicago Sports lore, and deservedly so. He could be assigned to the GM position for life as far as I'm concerned along with 110% retirement benefits when he wanted to step down. I doubt that. Kenny Williams' work isnt being acknowledged by many and they waited almost as long as we have. the cubs and sox aren't comparable in this regard. most chicagoans would admit that it would be complete and total pandemonium if the cubs won. probably the biggest chicago sports story of the century. I am a Chicagoan. It would be larger scale just because there are more Cubs fans in the area but I dont think there would be pandemonium. I am too. May be pandemonium isjust the wrong word. It would be several times larger than the Sox story. Ok, I'll give you that, it would be much larger. It's been brutal living in the city with a mayor who's a Sox fan. Sox paraphenalia all over the downtown (even north). Mayor Daley has even ordered the painting of EL trains to commemorate the Sox win. The only possible difference I would notice is in the size of the parade. Well, it will be more of a national story too.

If the Cubs won the Series next season, Hendry would win a permanent place in Chicago Sports lore, and deservedly so. He could be assigned to the GM position for life as far as I'm concerned along with 110% retirement benefits when he wanted to step down. I doubt that. Kenny Williams' work isnt being acknowledged by many and they waited almost as long as we have. the cubs and sox aren't comparable in this regard. most chicagoans would admit that it would be complete and total pandemonium if the cubs won. probably the biggest chicago sports story of the century. I am a Chicagoan. It would be larger scale just because there are more Cubs fans in the area but I dont think there would be pandemonium..

If the Cubs won the Series next season, Hendry would win a permanent place in Chicago Sports lore, and deservedly so. He could be assigned to the GM position for life as far as I'm concerned along with 110% retirement benefits when he wanted to step down. I doubt that. Kenny Williams' work isnt being acknowledged by many and they waited almost as long as we have.

I think Hendry will be extended but Dusty wont.

I know one nickname that doesn't fit that mold; Dusty (and others) call Glendon Rusch "G-Unit." :lol:

I think he means the Ibanez trade is a long shot but that's just a guess.

I think the longest proposal is for Tampa (Lugo & Huff or only Huff). The Suntimes reported over a week ago that Hendry was awaiting word on a multiplayer deal during the Winter Meetings but at that time the DRays were talking to other clubs as well so I think it's still on the table. I have no idea about the second trade.

I'm not sure if you're kidding but Wilson is a FA so no prospects would be needed o acquire him. According to the Tribune, the Cubs talked to his agent before the Winter Meetings but he isn't a top option.

If you missed the press conference live there is a link available on Cubs.com to view it.

Sideways hat? Yup, he admitted during the press conference that I kinda wear my hat crooked a little bit." LOL, really?

*In before Michael Jackson* >_> Why does his hat always look too big on him? I believe the answer is "because he has a small head". Plus, he shaves his head.

What would you prefer the measuring stick for performance be? Isn't the goal of every GM to get to the World Series? 30 GM's failed at that last year. So Kenny Williams did a better job than every other GM last year? I just don't believe that. I'll turn it around. Who did a better job last year? All the GM can do is make the moves, the players have to execute. He got lucky only when you consider how they all performed. I don't know enough about every other team to answer that. But winning the WS doesn't mean that your GM did the best job that year IMO. Isn't the job of the GM to manage personnel, work within a budget, and produce a championship product (among other things)? I'd say that no one did that better than Kenny Williams in 2005. He started off the year making a controversial trade (CLee) and ended the year a champ. He made the right moves...

What would you prefer the measuring stick for performance be? Isn't the goal of every GM to get to the World Series? 30 GM's failed at that last year. So Kenny Williams did a better job than every other GM last year? I just don't believe that. Yes, he did but it all began in 2004 when he traded Miguel Olivo for Freddy Garcia. He also flipped Loiaza for Contreras. Both moves were central to them winning in 2005. Of course, he got a career year out of Garland, which was a bonus, but you can't argue that he lucked up on a WS. He made those moves because he thought they would better the team. He just didn't know how much better they would be. In the end, it was their dominant pitching and timely offense that netted a championship.