Gunned

I think it just depends on the board and group of Cubs fans. There are a lot of positive things about NSBB, but I'll agree that there is probably more complaining here than any of the other boards I visit. That could be because there are just a lot of posters, both good and bad, and the irritating ones are (sadly) the people who seem to be heard more. And while this isn't true of everyone of course, I think there is also a greater number of younger posters here than other places -- and you're more likely to get eye-roll emoticons and incessant complaining from an 18 year old than a 30 year old. Like I said, not always true, but I've seen plenty of examples.

That's pretty good, actually.

I'd be outraged any other year that Prior isn't going to be back until June. But I'm so used to the way this goes, it doesn't faze me. But still ... the progression we have followed with Prior is absolutely ridiculous. The delayed throwing in spring training due to the "flu" back in December, the behind-closed-doors throwing sessions, not throwing off a mound for weeks, his "shoulder strain" that was supposed to delay him just a few weeks, and now, all of the sudden, he's not due back until June? The whole thing is just silly and insulting.

I have no idea if this was mentioned anywhere else, since there are 15 threads devoted to Lee -- but I read that Jacque Jones played first base into college, and actually was ready to play it for the Twins a few years back. What about moving Jones to first and calling Pie up to play right? Jones probably wouldn't be great at the position, but I don't think Walker is going to exactly be Gold Glove. I know it seems completely unorthodox (therefore the Cubs would never do it), but I'd rather replace Lee in our lineup with Pie than with Hairston/Mabry/Restovich. Just a thought.

How many of more of Ronny's throws are going to get away from the replacement? I suggest a little extra throwing practice for Cedeno. I'm also concerned about Ramirez throwing over to first now.

A good analysis, but losing Lee's defense will also cost us some runs.

You can only rise so far above what you are. This lineup, without Lee, is one of the worst in baseball. It's just that simple.

It would make a lot of sense to make a trade, but I honestly don't think that Hendry is going to make a significant move. That's never been his style (to trade for immediate need), and he's going to say that we have enough talent to win and part of his offseason goal was to make our team depth better so we could deal with something like this. It's all a load of crap, but I expect that's what he'll do.

I completely disagree, but that's fine.

Pedro has only thrown fewer than 186 innings once since the mid-1990s. He's always a little dinged up, but he pitches through it and definitely produces, no matter the circumstances. We certainly can't say the same thing about Prior.

I thought this thread had been revived because we re-signed Julio to play first while Lee is out.

Wouldn't all of the training, conditioning, analysis and supplements also apply to the pitchers as well?

And I personally think that's okay. A lot of fans say that they'd rather see a great pitching duel, but a lot of them only say it because that statement seems quaint and makes them sound like a real baseball purist. Those people aren't any more astute than the folks who ooh and ahh at a long home run. I'm not ashamed at all to say that I like seeing home runs. If you gave me a choice between seeing a 2-1 pitcher's duel between Peavy and Pedro, or a Red Sox-Yankees game where A-Rod, Manny, Ortiz and others combine to hit seven home runs, I'm probably going to opt for the homers. Call me a stupid baseball fan if you wish, but that's just my preference.

Is future 1st ballot Hall of Famer Neifi Perez gonna be there too? What in the world did my post have to do with Neifi Perez?

"Major League star?" Sure.