MeatampPotatoesMan

I don't think Hendry ever thought Dubois and Hollandsworth would flourish, but he definately thought they'd hold down the fort until Pie/FA '06. Still an error, but not a huge error like basing the offense on them or something. Neifi started because he was the best option for the position, I think that says more about the organization as a whole than Cedeno's talent level. I've said it once and I've said it again, the problem with this organization is scouting and development. Signing Rusch and Neifi to overpriced deals, who cares? It's not genius, but it's not going to stop them from signing anyone they want to, so why does anyone care? Oh, also, anyone - including you and me - would have signed Wood to a 3 year NTC deal after '03, don't kid yourself. edit - html sorry, Hendry's handling of Sosa led to last season. he devalued his own trade chip more than it already was with the video tape and character assassination bs! how was this in the best interest of the team? we never should have had a holly/dubois platoon in LF. CPat wasn't Hendry's fault. Burnitz, the offensive nightmare, was. He was counting on Nomar to make up for the lack of production in the OF. Brilliant idea considering Nomar's recent injury history. who cares if we overspend on the likes of Neifi, Rusch, and Eyre? I do. Do you manage the finances in your household with that attitude? The "small" things add up. There's usually a big difference in a player making 5 million and a player making 9 million (of similar age and service time). Money matters. Do you get mad at the government for overspending? i assume you do b/c of your "liberal" comment earlier. but hey, who cares?

Luis Castillo then, Please. Castillo Murton Lee Giles/Abreu etc Aram Bradley Barrett Cedeno Hello division title. Not with a Prior/Z/Maddux/Rusch/Hill rotation. I do like your lineup though. :) I really like Castillo. He's not much of a SB threat anymore, but his OBP and glove are solid.

Will those of you who have criticized Hendry for not going all-out to get Giles please opine as to whether Jocketty deserves the same treatment? He's got holes at both corner-OF positions. Excellent point. I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what? Some of you people need to look into the RECENT past and remember MacPhail. I mean, would you rather have Todd Hundley on a monster deal or Barrett? Wait, don't answer that, also know that we obtained Karros and Grudz for Hundley and they in part helped us reach the NLCS. I'd be thrilled if we got Giles, but if we don't, fine - it doesn't mean Hendry is a goon. Hendry wanted Dempster as closer from day one. Hendry recognized Hollandsworth wasn't working and pushed for Murton. Hendry recognized Cedeno would soon be starting and pushed for it. Hendry traded Sosa. Hendry moved Wood to the bullpen. All five of these moves were whined about on this forum, but all five Hendry ended up doing. I hate to hijack my own thread, but lay off the Hendry-hatred guys. Are you all liberals? We're supossed to hate the enemy! Fine. Good Job. Thanks for letting Dusty waste so much time before the obvious occurred. Hendry put Holly in that position to begin with, thanks to his adept handling of Sosa. A Dubois/Holly platoon on opening day? LOL No one saw that not working. No one! If Cedeno will soon be starting, why did Neifi see so much time? JH has always loved Ronny's glove, so it wasn't a defensive issue. Ronny's offense could hardly be worse than Neifi's. WC hunt, my hiney. Neifi was worthless at the plate w/ the exception of one game in St. Louis. Hendry got a used jockstrap for Sosa and paid for it. Great job with Wood, Hendry. He has been a consistent performer (on the DL) ever since you gave him the big contract complete with NTC. Why do you love Hendry so much that you're willing to let him skate by with little to no objective criticism? B/C he pulled off a couple good trades? That doesn't put us in the playoffs. What is the payroll he has to work with again?

Will those of you who have criticized Hendry for not going all-out to get Giles please opine as to whether Jocketty deserves the same treatment? He's got holes at both corner-OF positions. Jocketty's Cardinals aren't in the OBP starved state we're in. Jocketty's needs and Hendry's needs are vastly different. Jocketty is looking for the last piece of the puzzle. Hendry hasn't even taken the puzzle pieces out of the box.

There is a god. And contrary to popular opinion, he doesn't hate the Cubs.

from our good friendns at http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051118cubseyre,1,6706818.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines [sarcasm]you don't say. I can't imagine why he would not contact other teams[/sarcasm] Yeah, I was a little peeved when I saw that too. Free Agency is Hendry's Achilles' heel. I wish he'd just stick to working his magic via trade. He's above average at that.

My sister is in St. Louis (SLU) :cry: Can't we just concentrate on the Cardinal's stadium, players, and maybe fans? Actually now that I think of it, go ahead and nuke the whole city, just make sure its over the Thanksgiving holiday. That way you get lots of people from out of town in the blast? :? Tell me you don't work at the pentagon. :shock:

They wouldn't do that deal for Beckett, Pierre, Lowell and cash. The reason they want to move Lowell is cash. They're cutting payroll. Flip Lowell where? It's not an easy thing to do. Florida is trying and no one wants just him. He has zero to negative trade value. I can't imagine getting Lowell and Beckett for the players you mentioned, much less Pierre and some cash. Patterson, Cedeno, Hill, and Williams have much less value collectively than Blalock and a top pitching prospect do.

If they don't waive it, they'll be sued. Count on it. It's like punishing a cancer patient for taking steroids. :wink: Hey, let's punish the unfortunate! whoohoo!

Was that a joke by Eyre? he didn't specify which millenium, did he? fixed hehe. every team has a bad century.

Was that a joke by Eyre? he didn't specify which decade, did he?

it depends on how much of his contract they're willing to eat.

Agreed. No use in not welcoming him. If the team plays well enough, he's the kind of guy wo could help us in the playoffs. We can hope anyway. I'd be happy to have Eyre, but not at 3yrs/11mil. water under the bridge, mi amigo.

I'm glad the players are having fun and the clubhouse mood is upbeat. That's not a bad thing. It landed us a free agent who no doubt had similar offers from several clubs. It means this team has an attraction to it beyond $$ and when we're in line for getting another quality player via trade/FA, it might just tip the balance in our favor.

I feel like we overpaid for Eyre and that player option on the third year is worse than just getting him for three years with no option (for the cubs, not Eyre). However, he's a quality arm. Welcome to the team, Scott! :D

Well, if we beat Carolina, all that paper tiger garbage is going to stop.

Nomar really isn't that valuable if he can't play SS. :(

bump for Banedon. :twisted:

dude, we're going to have good defense.

I'll take Marcus Giles off their hands. :wink: This is stupid. Furcal isn't that good. Let him go, Hendry. You have bigger fish to fry (no, not Neifi, Rusch, and Eyre, you MORAN!).

Howry. Most definitely. I wouldn't mind picking up Dotel on a Dempster/Williamson-like contract if we get the chance.

BOOOOO!!! :x <<< see avatar

fyi, he signed a 2 yr. deal with a 3rd yr. option. $ has not been confirmed yet. yeah, it's even worse than a 3 year deal. it's a 2 year deal with a PLAYER option for the third.

Whaaaaaaaaaa? :o I figured someone with your moniker would get that. :wink:

Awesome signing. I love it.