Ram1380

[expletive]. LOL Bernie Mac is that you?? :grin:

](*,)

Randy Wells......................Pitcher

Cmon Aram!!! YOU DUE!

Cubs Win!! Cubs Win!! :amen:

Boy that Colvin has some kinda eye up there. :grin:

And a wonderful set of Andres Gallarragas to boot.

"I'm just behind," Prior said of his spring workouts. "I think this year we're going to have more of a structured throwing program. As of right now, April 3, I expect to be in Cincinnati." Greasin' the skids already?? :x

...against the CUBS. It's the curse, I'm telling you. God damn you vile Goat! :x Or the steroids.

I agree as well goony. I believe the Cubs are proud of the fact that they are known around the league to be more than fair, and willing to work with players in these situations, more so than anything else. But I doubt they let themselves be held hostage by someone because of it, or atleast I would hope not.

So, our "goal" is to be better than last year Jim??? :roll:

I'm assuming that means, being last season was Demps 1st full season both as a closer/and back after TJS, that he is not wanting to risk anything healthwise, or even chance the extra burden on his arm. Edit: Preemptive maintenance.....something Baker needs to find an appreciation for when it comes to pitchers. I hope so anyway.

A rookie will always assume the lion is try to eat him. An experienced person may think he has a thorn in his toe or something more dangerious is behind him than a lion. Experience and perspective is important. This is the same reason CEOs are not 20 years old. At the very worst if the vet. thought the lion was hungry he could just trip the rookie and let him get eaten even if the rookie was faster javascript:emoticon('') Smile The problem with that analogy though is that, in the Cub's case, the "veteran" running always has a piano on his back. 8)

Also, I don't feel that Baker's #1 flaw has been a veteran bias, but Murton should've been the regular right after the Lawton trade to the Yanks as well as Cedeno starting the majority of the time at SS. His main problems have been line-up composition and managing the usage pattern of pitchers. Managers take some responsibility when the health of the pitchers fail them as does the PC as well as runs being cost by who is hitting in front of and behind of who. Agreed. The young player angle just happened to be what was brought up. The list of things that make Baker a horrible manager is plenty long indeed.

Yes, she is pretty sharp. For a broad. :shock: :lol: kidding.kidding.

I'm optimistic about Pierre, he had a miserable start(not sure what the cold weather in Chi. will do for him) to the season then came on. I also see more value in his speed than some....taking extra bases...putting pressure on the defense, especially some pitchers. I think he can get on at a .360 or better clip, which I can live with. Edit: Also i'm not on the whole SB% thing either, to me there are far too many variables in a stat like that.

Belhorn over Harris- start at 3rd got down to .180ba (decent obs) Bellhorn .209/.341 Harris .183/.255 One was a 38 year old career pinch hitter, that likely had to borrow a glove, the other a 28 year old coming off of a .886 OPS season making peanuts. Tough choice. Maybe if Bellhorn had been allowed to play through a slump like your beloved Grudz, (who I haven't mentioned until now BTW) things likely turn out differently. HSC over Karros-Was playing 75% of the time until he got hurt and batted low .200s and platooned 75%, Hardly. AND regardless of his batting avg, in the end he was still MUCH more productive versus righthanders than Karros while facing the 1 and 2's of most rotations. Juan Cruz over Estes-Again, let's not go there. One year of decent relif that is about it. Estes was one of the worst starters in all of baseball that year. Almost anyone, let alone a young highly rated prospect with some past big league success under him, would have been logical. Cedeno over Neifi-Look wasn't the right move last year, Neifi did a decent job last year if you look at offense and defense. (yes his obs sucks horribly but so did allot of shortstops in the NL). Cedeno has the starting job this year. Again, going with known garbage over a young promising player who couldn't possibly be worse, and hasn't been in the time he has gotten. I Fail to see the logic. Cedeno was every bit as good defensively last season and likely better, so defense doesn't fly either, Neifi at this stage continues to get overrated with the glove. Also, read what Murton and the players say about Dusty. SI does a who do you want to have manage you and he is usally at the top of the list. What do you think he is going to say after seeing the BS that has gone on with broadcast booth and Todd Walker etc.. and being plenty aware of his managers disdain for young players ??, exactly what he did if he wants ANY playing time.

Haha, if you think this is bad, wait until the Cubs lose 5 games in a row. Or when Neifi starts 3 games in a row, and no one is hurt... Over/Under on which day in April that occurs?? :twisted:

Yes, when you have a history of KNOWINGLY and Consistently playing veteran garbage like Lenny Harris, Eric Karros(against righthanders),Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Shawn Estes etc...Over younger better options, to keep his "good ole boy" reputation amongst the leagues "veterans" intact(Boy the free agents are lining up to play for the Cubs). Which was not only to the detriment of the teams at the time, but to the long term betterment of the franchise as well, Then Yes you are by defintion self-serving.

Where would you like to Start on why people can't stand the self-serving jack-ass in the dugout? I believe someone soaks those toothpicks of his in Thorazine. I'm sure Vance will be here as well, I got all day if you want to open up that Pandora's box.

It's looking more and more likel Molina is the last kid standing after a game of musical chairs. LOL I'd like to know which GM said that, pretty funny. For the record, not sure he's seen 225 in quite some time.

They were going to give him up for Rhodes, Ohman may be just as good against lefties, for a fraction of the costs. Not saying if they would or wouldn't, should get you close.

Because Williams is better than Kearns? I value him more, especially for our situation. Not saying I wouldn't be open to Kearns, just that I wouldn't trade Williams for him. He is 23 and has proven to be better than average starting pitcher for next to nothing $$$$ wise.

If things were to fall apart between Cleve./Philly with recent developments, would you "jump in" and offer Ohman to Philly for Michaels? Slide Rush into Ohmans spot , guarantee Williams a spot in the rotation that he deserves anyway IMO. Baker could easily find plenty of time for Michaels/Murton/Jones between LF and RF, (say 450 ab's?) playing his beloved righty/leftie matchups.

Personally, I don't think I would trade Williams straight up for Kearns at this point.