Blueheart05

I think he's out of MLB in 2006 unless he's willing to take a serious cut in pay.

He'll be in the Dominican Republic watching baseball while drinking a pina colada (talking about how everyone knows him because he's Sammy Sosa). :P

Back to Plan B. What's going on with Lugo? Tejada's not going anywhere... If Tejada isn't going anywhere I would rather get an impact RF. Well, I agree but I still think Hendry has plans to shakeup the MI. I firmly believe that he's looking to acquire a SS/2B who can also hit second in the lineup. I certainly don't believe the nonsense about being comfortable with Cedeno, Perez, and Hairston (not when he initially wanted Furcal and Pierre to bat 1 and 2). Where there's smoke there's fire so I don't think that the Lugo talk was unfounded.

Rothschild might be given some consideration.

Back to Plan B. What's going on with Lugo? Tejada's not going anywhere...

Don....do you really think Baker is going to play Murton and Cedeno? I like Abreu too but IMO he is going to take a couple of major league ready players just to start the Phillies talking. Since the Cubs have 2 #1 starters and 3 number 5's I think that hurts the chance of this deal happening. supposedly Baker doesn't want an extension in Chicago, so there is only one more year left of his vet love. Where'd you hear that? from the San Francisco Chronicle. link That sounds like conjecture on the writer's part. When I heard him interviewed on The Score he gave me the impression that he wants an extension to finish what he started but that he was frustrated because (in his words) the team reached it's success too early. Personally, I think Dusty's so busy being defensive that his true intentions aren't communicated. Let's hope that the Cubs change managerial direction in 2007 (too bad Grady is gone!) Listen

You beat me to it!

It is a puff piece becuase it is not news, nor is it news worthy. In addition, it could have been writtten about the vast majority of all professional baseball players. As I wrote, what would people be saying if the story was about Patterson rather than Pierre? Patterson spent last offseason in Mesa working out so he would be ready for the 05 season. A fat lot of good that did him. Whether I like the trade is competly irrelevent. I find it beyond my scope to comunicate how foolish it is to think that professional athelets don't work hard. The people that fit the profile I bolded in your above post usually don't stay around long no matter how much talent they have. Nor would they ever make it to the majors. Apparently, the definition of news is subjective. I certainly learned something new by reading it... Also, it doesn't matter if you believe it or not, there are professional athletes who do not work hard. Most of those people rely heavily on natural ability while applying little or no preparation to their game. I also argue your contention that players who don't work hard don't last. Moises Alou, a 14 year veteran, has long been identified as a player who lacks discipline and preparation as well as being someone who arrives to the ballpark at the last possible moment. Luckily for Moises, he has survived this long on his athletic ability (but as his skills erode he can be viewed as more of a liability). On the other hand, learning team signs and picking up the thirdbase coach require work. To answer your question about Patterson, some people would say he's lazy and or defiant because he has refused to go to winter ball. He might also fit the mold of a player who has relied on his athletic skills without actively working to maintain (or at this point improve) his game. It's obvious we aren't going to agree so I'll leave it that.

I guess one could argue that the Tribune wants to print feel good stories about the club's newest member (considering their vested interest) However, I contend that you view it as a "puff piece" only because you don't agree with the trade. I'm pretty sure the author's intention was to be informative. BTW, I noticed that Bruce Miles also made mention of the good things others have to say about Pierre in his column (so we can't dismiss it as propaganda coming from TribCo). Link Also, the idea that all ball players work hard is ridiculous. There are plenty of guys who get to the park at the last possible minute, don't hustle in game situations, and don't come highly recommended by anyone. At the very least, it's nice to know that the Cubs didn't trade for a slacker (which, I believe, was the point of WilliSC48's post).

True but he was a "big name" pickup designed to rally their fan base while also distracting from the upstart Nationals.

Let the propaganda machine begin. There's no reason to call it propaganda. We're not talking about a guy who has a checkered past or someone that the fans need to be convinced about because he's replacing beloved Cubs. He's already a member of the team so it's nice to know he works hard. :? My old HS basketball coach always praised my work ethic and said I displayed the most hustle of anyone on the team. I'm pretty sure it was his nice way of saying that I sucked. 'Cause I did. So the moral of your story is Pierre sucks and that's why so many people say he's a hard worker? Ok,that makes sense...

Let the propaganda machine begin. There's no reason to call it propaganda. We're not talking about a guy who has a checkered past or someone that the fans need to be convinced about because he's replacing beloved Cubs. He's already a member of the team so it's nice to know he works hard. :?

Cubs.com has his audio conference with media. I think the pictures you're looking for are reserved for signings and not trades. Then again, the Cubs didn't have a formal press conference (as I'm sure you recall, they cancelled the conference but Hendry spoke about the signing singularly).

LOL, good stuff. :lol:

I'm going with JP and Murty Or we can do a variation of the cardinals MattyMo and call him MattyMurt :mrgreen: lol

...if you get a full season out of ARam ARam will play in more than 162 games next season, all in a Cubs uniform. Miggy T will be next to him in every single one of those games. More than 162 games must mean the post season is guaranteed? lol

This trade was talked about on The Score this afternoon. I would not trade Tejada for Aramis. Miggy is a better shortstop option than we were entertaining previously but I do not think he is a better hitter than ARam.

Or how soft this team may have become. Say what you will about Dusty's teams but they are never soft. You didn't notice the 2004 and 2005 teams? They folded like a soft blanket. I meant in a "sticking a ball in a guys ear" sort of way. That's just stupid, not tough. This team isn't tough. That '03 team had some toughness. But this team has been weak minded (they let the announcers affect them, and collapsed repeatedly against bad teams) for 2 years. To say Dusty's teams are never soft is as silly as saying Dusty plays deep into every October, or Dusty's teams never win. Maybe so, when he said the team was soft I thought it was just in regards to willingness to throw at a guy. As I recall, Kerry led the league in hitting batters. I miss Kerry (I hope he's going to be healthy most of the year). He's still my favorite pitcher. :cry:

Or how soft this team may have become. Say what you will about Dusty's teams but they are never soft. Agreed. If anything thay are overtly emotional and will go after the other teams players, a la Oswalt-Barrett and Dusty v. Tony in 03'. Barrett didn't handle it well but let's not forget that Oswalt hit Barrett first because he didn't like the way the Cubs were hitting bombs off of him in Houston. Also, in 03, Dusty had Tony's number.

A team upset about at how the broadcasters talk about them during the game is the definition of soft. This team doesn't have the same approach as they did when they kicked around the Cards in the 5 game series of Sept. of '03. It wasn't the team it was a few players.

Didn't that bad grade come exclusively because the Cubs didn't sign Furcal (without much mention of what they had done up to that point)? Also, IIRC some teams were given a 'C" for making no move at all. It's completely subjective.

Ha ha, which is why you're not getting him.

This has been a recurring question on Cards Talk and Bernie's Press Box. Yes, I would do it but I don't see the Cubs sending Patterson to the Cards. Ideally, they'd like to ship him to the AL but out of the division for sure.

how does this guy have a job to write about sports? the cubs would have the worst OF in baseball w/ pierre, murton and taveras. http://www.suntimes.com/output/deluca/cst-spt-deluca092.html I disagree with getting Tavares but I wouldn't be adverse to getting a speedy SS or 2B'man to bat second in the lineup (provided Walker is traded). We need a power bat (hopefully with a good arm) in RF.

$18/2 + Guzman + Pie + Sing I exaggerate, but Hendry has been giving up the mint for guys this fall...I worry what AZ would walk away with from us.......I would rather it was just $$$$ Is Sing back in the Cubs system? They left him unprotected. No team wanted him. We are overvaluing the guy.