USSoccer

Good. Keep him away from here.

The Cubs aren't a forward-thinking enough organization to do this. You'd also almost have to have a 12 man pitching staff, which I'm not a fan of.

I'm thinking we'd have to give them one other player. Cedeno? Ohman? Both seem like decent fits for what Cleveland allegedly is after. Of course if the Indians are thinking of using Marshall out of the 'pen (at least initially), then maybe Ohman isn't as attractive? I would say Dempster, Marshall and Cedeno might work. That's a hilariously lopsided deal for us, but it would fit what Cleveland is supposedly looking for.

His numbers will probably improve coming to the NL. His cost to aquire is a lot more palatable than paying Gil Meche or Greg Maddux.

I'm thinking we'd have to give them one other player.

Who's Ben Maller?

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal. On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now. On no planet is Greg Maddux terrible. He hasn't even been below average since 1987. He's an inning eating starter who'll put up average to above average #s based on how good the defense behind him is. I wouldn't give him 2/20, but he certainly deserves that more than Adam Eaton deserves 3/24. I'd take Maddux on a 1 year deal in a heartbeat. Sigh... May ERA: 5.94 June ERA: 6.25 July ERA: 5.21 That is not average. That's below average. His April was the Cubs exception, and not the rule for his 2006. He was terrible. He might be average to slightly above average in the NL West with it's division full of giant outfields and pitchers parks, but in the NL Central he's a candidate for a disaster start every time he takes the ball outside of April in Wrigley. He had a great career. He's no longer a viable candidate for the Cubs if they want to compete in 2007. His salary and performance dictate that whatever he signs for would be better spent elsewhere. We have league minimum 5th starter candidates that can put up mid 4 ERA's.

Bench Favre, play Griese.

Pull Hasselbeck, play Griese.

That's hilarious. You're kidding, right? FYI: Year TM | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT 2002 den | 13 | 291 436 66.7 3214 7.4 15 15 That's just one year.

Supposedly, Maddux and Hendry parted on good terms in July. Though still somewhat improbable, with Piniella now in town, Maddux coming back to the Cubs is no longer impossible in my opinion. In fact, if the Padres, Giants or D-Backs don't grab him in the next week or so, I could see Hendry re-signing Greg to a 2-year $20M deal. On no planet is Greg Maddux worth $10m per. He's terrible now.

Michael Smith has a very good article on Grossman up on ESPN.com

As an aside, did anyone see Rex's answer to a question about the fumbled snap? He looked right ticked, and wouldn't talk about it other than to call it the "center quarterback exchange play". I wonder if he was ticked at Kreutz

This is what happens when you are developing a QB. He's going to crap the bed against a really good team on the road. He made the right reads most of the game. Samuel jumped 2 routes and all 3 INT's were thrown slightly off of where they should have been. He didn't heave up prayers to DB's. He tried to make plays and NE's D made better plays. Lovie is saying all the right things about staying with Rex, and I hope he holds true to that. Few QB's don't go through growing pains. If the Bears are smart, they'll deal with them now in order to have a above average QB in the future. Playing Griese does nothing. Behind this offensive line, he might get killed. Rex was "hurried" about 20 times in this game and hit hard about 10. Griese somehow has poorer mobility than Rex does. Griese can't throw deep, so DB's will sit on short routes and the running game will be less effective. We might win games against crap teams 13-3, but Griese isn't going to win you a Super Bowl. Rex could win one or lose one. I'd take the guy who can win one over the guy who can't any day.

so Rex is definetly hurt?

Bears 27 Pats 17 reverse reverse jinx

Between Lee and Berkman...that's a lot of calories per day.

Viva La Gata! My cats can play fetch and sit and shake. This makes them superior to dogs. Although I do like dags.

San Fran radio station call letters would begin with a K. Are you getting the station ID right?

40 year old pitchers don't tend to improve. They tend to regress.

That wasn't exactly a bad year for Counsell. In fact, he's only broken a 700 OPS one time out of the last 5 years (same as Izturis). He has been more consistent than Izturis, but it certainly isn't enough to try to trade Izturis and sign Counsell. His OBP over the last 5 years has been .337, Izturis who has played about 5 seasons worth of games has been at .295. Personally, I would trade Izturis for almost anything. Neifi?

As a 25th man, Bynum gets the edge due to the fact he has the theoretical chance to improve, and that he's much cheaper than Counsell will end up being.

Aramis' comments yesterday really should have bought him some goodwill from the fanbase. He really showed a commitment to this team. If he wants goodwill, then he should show his committment by offering to pay for some of Zambrano's contract. Otherwise he's just a lazy fat jerk. Not only should he pay some of it, he should sprint at full speed from his car to the bank door, shift his feet hyperactively as the teller prepares the certified check, and then speed all the way back to Wrigley, hustle up the stairs and dive in JH's office as he sets the check on the desk.

Aramis' comments yesterday really should have bought him some goodwill from the fanbase. He really showed a commitment to this team.

There's a big difference in giving a guy an opt out clause at age 27 vs age 32. No problems with that on this end.