RammyFanny

Haha that's exactly what went through my head. "Wood out 5-10 days after a nest of bees attack throwing arm".

Not too shabby. Just wondering, is there any site in particular you use to see their statlines?

http://cubsaz.podcastspot.com/episodes/07C441 Let's get the damn season started already.

Here's Baseball Digest Daily's take on the top high school prospects:

If I had to pick a high schooler, I think i'd take Burgess. Strong character from what i've read, and has some excellent raw power to work with. Of course I don't want a high schooler, but i'm just saying if I had to... But then again, you have to wonder about taking an outfield guy with Soriano locked in for eternity, Pie pencilled in for the future, and hopefully Murton as well. So after considering that, maybe it is better to just pick a pitcher from the high school crop (if you had to).

I was thinking more along the lines that all that was missing was a skull for him to be in a shakesperean play. Calling all photoshoppers? Or maybe shot of Jose Macias' head? with the quote, "Don't ever take sides against the family" "Talk to the hand cause the face ain't listenin'"

What about his 2006 can he not repeat? The Cubs 2007 offense is a much stronger offense than the 2006 Nats. The Cubs play in the friendliest hitting division in the NL. In other words, playing more regularly in Wrigley, GAP, Minutemaid, the New Busch, PNC and Miller is a huge difference over playing half your games in Washington and some of the other tough hitter's parks in the NL East. While he did draw more intentional walks last year than all of his previous years combined, what might he have done with those "non at bats" that might have improved his numbers even more? His OPS+ of 132 isn't all that much better than the OPS+ of 131 and 128 he's put up in previous seasons. While I would expect his OBP to drop a little bit, I expect his AVG to go up. A .295/.345 season would be pretty good for a lead off hitter. Especially when you consider the .295 AVG comes with a really good SLG. Of course, it's also possible that he'll continue improving his eye at the plate and provide an even better OBP than he did last year. He scored 119 runs last year compared to Pierre's 87. That's 32 runs difference. Pierre can keep leading the league in hits and outs made. I'll take Soriano's production in the lead off spot all day and try to forget Juan Pierre was ever a Cub. Good points BBB. Keep in mind that when this team acquires power bats, they usually know what they are doing. Lee was a pretty good hitter when we got him, now he's superstar good. Ramirez (though you can play the age case) was nothing too special and now he's very good. Barrett was pretty bad in Montreal or where ever he came from, and look how much he's improved. Jones was pretty bad and now he is pretty respectable and a relative bargain for his production (last year). It seems whenever we acquire a potential power bat they always turn out good, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Fonz can hopefully stay at last years pace, or even improve on his OBP and patience a little (come on Gerald Perry).

Its the stress And the chin(s).

April 20th (birthday), Cubs vs. Cards.

Things could still very well shakeup alot at the top. I know it's only one weekend and he will get back to normal, but I heard Weiters supposedly had the worst weekend at the plate he's ever had. Didn't see the numbers, but they said he looked pretty bad (I think it was some scout.com story).

\:D/

Per ESPN. Brewers get a bargain here at 6 million with a guy who can play a bunch of defensive positions and give you 30-40 HR's while getting on at a decent clip.

Just think of the speed.

Boo. Thanks, Bruce. Looking like we are set with Jacque then?

It'd really torque me off if we gave up a legit front of the rotation starter type as a PTBNL. If he shows up out of shape again, and his velocity continues to drop, it might be better to get rid of him before it's too late His velo was back after he got in shape. Hopefully he learned his lesson. He says he did. We'll see. It's still weird for me to imagine him overweight because if I remember right, he looked like one of those naturally really skinny kids in his high school pitching pictures.

You know you can't say this stuff without naming where you heard it and if it's legit. Just curious though, you named specific players in the trade, and then say unconfirmed on the players, so does that mean it's just your speculation on the players?

It means exactly what the previous posters speculated. Perhaps he's holding back on his fastball or afraid to throw breaking pitches.I just wonder who his "guy" is that says this. I mean, he must be really lucky to have a guy around Prior like that because i'd assume there isn't too many people attending bullpen sessions.

Does BA just rank them or do they have any blurbs on them? If they have any blurbs, can anyone tell us what they said for the big three: Price, Brackman, and Weiters. Thanks.

I'm sorry, but you're just flat out wrong. I've watched him on league pass the last 2 years, and he is as good as they get in the post. He also always draws fouls under the hoop, and is usually in the top 5-10 in FTA's in the entire league. All he does is back down players...maybe i'm wrong but i'm guessing you just haven't seen too much of him. Edit: I'm also pretty sure he was in the top 5 or 10 in points in the paint last year. Ok, if that's the case that's better. As you said, I've only seen Gasol a few times - a few playoffs games a few games against the Bulls or the LA teams. I hope you're right but I really would waiver on trading Deng. Yeah, Gasol's game is basically face up, drive past the guy and get clobbered driving into the lane or back down and try something. He's a pretty good passer too. I love Deng, but if he is the centerpeice in a trade for Gasol I'd probably have to pull the trigger. Hopefully the demand will become a little more well known and drive down his value alot, to where all we would need to give is financial relief and a pick.

I'm sorry, but you're just flat out wrong. I've watched him on league pass the last 2 years, and he is as good as they get in the post. He also always draws fouls under the hoop, and is usually in the top 5-10 in FTA's in the entire league. All he does is back down players...maybe i'm wrong but i'm guessing you just haven't seen too much of him. Edit: I'm also pretty sure he was in the top 5 or 10 in points in the paint last year.

Vescey says Gasol has demanded a trade and said Chicago is one of three teams they have talked about, and want Gordon and Deng for Gasol and Warrick. A Bulls insider said that they wouldn't do that deal, but the mere fact Pau has demanded out means his value will be lowered and i'm sure they won't get equal value in terms of talent to Gordon AND Deng, so naturally they are going to have to listen to lesser offers. I'd offer Deng/fillers/plus unprotected NY pick and a future protected first for Gasol and Warrick and see what they come back with. http://www.nypost.com/seven/01212007/sports/pau_er_brokers_sports_peter_vecsey.htm Kirk/Du BG7/Thabo Nocioni/Warrick/Tyrus Gasol/Tyrus Wallace/Allen Now that would be championship calibur. BTW, a guy from Greece said the announcers for one of their games mentioned that Jake Tsaklidas' (sp) agent told them Paxson was trying a deal revolving around Deng and the NY pick for Gasol.

Hey, maybe this time they are serious. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/221821,CST-SPT-cub21.article Good thing the article specifies he is going to be used as a fourth outfielder and not interfere with Murton. I actually like this signing, I mean how nice is it going to be in pinch hit situations to choose from Ward, Floyd, and Theriot (assuming he isn't patrolling center or anything, which this article makes out Fonzy to be locked in center), compared to last year whenever we needed a clutch hit and it was always Neifi, Cedeno, and Mabry to the rescue. Plus for the days Murton and Jones need a break, Floyd gives some nice pop to the lineup still (and a lefty bat) compared to the crap we ran out there last year.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070120cubs,1,318637.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines When asked about the health of the pitchers and if Rothchild was at fault: Nice to hear Lou actually cares about his pitchers and won't over abuse them again like a certain someone... Prior and Wood aside, I still remember last season when there was barely any time left in the season and we were obviously out of any race, and Dusty left Zambrano out there for like 130-140 the game after he was skipped because his back wasn't feeling right (By the way, Zam was at the Bulls game yesterday sporting dreads, and was alot slimmed down and said he worked hard this offseason to make sure the back or anything else wouldn't be a problem in 07).

**Man-Law Violation** :lol: