sporrer17

It doesn't mean they don't have power because they have a low IsoP...just that they aren't showing it on a consistant basis.

Fontenot can't steal a base? He's been around 15 each year of his pro career... Interesting thing you got goin here, though.

Corey's HR against the Sox in Prior's return... Corey's double play against Milwaukee Corey's robbing of Joe Randa's XBH @ Cincy Two huge plays...and one just looked pretty.

Great Story...poor kid...

Harris over Macias (at 3b last year) anyday of the week Cedeno over Perez...they're the same player now, only one's 22. Choi over Karros (at that stage of his career) Hill over Delino DeShields (everyday of the week, twice on sundays) Dubois...well...maybe over Hollandsworth...idk. Thing is, at the time those choices looked like obvious ones...and personally, I think they still do. None of them was a significant downgrade, and they all had some good upside to them. I guarantee no one wants Harris at 3b over Ramirez, Choi over Lee, Hill over Walker....but at the time, I still think they were the right choice.

LOL, I remember that. Quite funny, actually.

He went 1-2 yesterday (8-3-05) with a double for Mesa. Looks like he's signed.

Corey was 2-4 tonight...which helps his cause a little bit. 16% turnover from one day to the next...wow...lol. However all of the players we're getting back are very talented players, potential "impact" players"...who could change this team drastically if they play well. They are replacing role players...Mitre (long relief), Novoa, Cedeno (not playing here anyway), and Hairston (doing alright, but injured)

Bernard was also a player that caught my eye for some reason when I watched Peoria. Didn't do much offensively that night, but I liked his defense. I see he's made quite a few errors this year, however. He's quickly becoming the everyday guy for Peoria...Rick is just..bad.

I'd take him in a heartbeat...and that's an understatement... If we can get a leadoff hitter from 2b or SS (doubtful) we could have an OF of Mench, Patterson, Murton. He'd be a solid #5 hitter behind Ramirez...

This is kinda weird...some people wanted to see Corey brought back, but at the same time wanted Murton here as well...I guess this is one way to achieve that... Patterson-Williamson-Garciaparra-Wood for Hairston-Novoa-Cedeno-Mitre Hairston to 60 day DL if he's not returning...

Moving Novoa for Wellemeyer due to consistancy is hypocritical lol...Wellemeyer showed flashes of brilliance as well, but never did it on a consistant basis. He could be the long man in the pen, allowing us to use Rusch in matchup situations if needed.

Barrett needs to go. Oh no, another one of the anti-Barretts...I hope you're being sarcastic, because Barrett's done far more good than bad while a Cub. One real bad play does not make him a bad player.

A list of "Hendry Guys": Lee (locked up to a 3 year deal) Ramirez (ditto) Barrett (also) Dempster Williamson Guys he made trades for, or took a risk on.

This team, with a steady core over the past year, year and a half, has been painfully disappointing...and just not good. Our C, 1b, 2b, 3b, CF (until recently) were all the same as last year. I think Lee, Ramirez, Barrett are locks. From there, I go younger. C- Barrett 1b- Lee 2b- Theriot SS- Nomar 3b- Ramirez OF- Lawton OF- Patterson/Pie (if Pie's ready, it's him) OF- Murton RF- Lawton 2b- Theriot SS- Garciaparra 1b- Lee 3b- Ramirez C- Barrett CF- Patterson/Pie LF- Murton Rotation: Prior, Zambrano, Williams, Hill, Maddux/Wood (Maddux isn't going anywhere, so if Wood does good in the pen it'll help solve that) Pen: Ohman, Scott Eyre, Dempster, Wood, Rusch, Wuertz/Novoa/Van Buren/Wellemeyer Not sure about bench, too much thinking.

Possibly if there was a spot for him. However, he'll be 24, like in either AA or AAA...trying to earn his way onto the team. As a corner OF, he's not as valuable offensively as he needs to be. The power needs to continue to go up, which could happen.

Dempster is Hendry's guy...he got him fresh off TJS...no way he lets him walk after he finally has a solid, young (27-28) closer. He'll be resigned. I think Ryan likes it here, and the Cubs like him here.

Johnson got torn up on the bases...very Maddux-esque. His high kick has got to go when he's in the stretch, or he'll continue to be run on all day long. It wasn't hard to figure out...myself, my uncle, and my two cousins had it figured out by the top of the 1st...(one of the "bad" calls was in the 1st) One girl who seemed like maybe a sister? kept yelling "Let's go DUB!"...maybe it's cause his middle initial is W :roll: Whatever the reason, she felt the need to do it EVERY PITCH :shock: I can understand being supportive of your child/brother/whatever...but to the point that you make yourself look insane by yelling at umpires and/or his teammates for bad calls/plays?? Come on, that's not helping anyone.

Bottom line, we won...Dempster did his job...sweaty or not. They have showers in the clubhouse, he won't smell the rest of the year, don't worry. This is a ridiculous argument. Even if that was a legit reason for him struggling, he still did his job, and got the save. Like Brian said, we're 17-0 when Dempster appears in a save situation. That is one stat you can not argue with...if you can, congratulations.

That's quite funny, actually. I was so annoyed by the people behind us...it was way beyond tolerable...but I managed to just tune them out for the most part. I mean it was like this lady had never watched baseball in her life...or she was just that biased that it blinded her ability to see the plays clearly enough to make accurate judgements... I mean yelling at the catcher because your son (or whatever he is to her) got stole on because he feels the need to raise his leg 2 feet off the ground before throwing...completely stupid.

Just thought I'd share some Peoria info... First off, Wood looked great. As people have been saying, he worked exclusively from the stretch. His fastball was 96-98, but I think only 2 were at 96, and the rest were 97-98. Slider looked good, made some poor kid look foolish and he just walked back to the dugout. They didn't give Harvey much to hit tonight, althought he did hit a bomb fould down the LF line. Walked in his first AB, and got hit in his 3rd. Oscar Bernard looked good behind the plate, had a good-great arm, solid blocking skills...and he actually looked to have solid speed as well when running. Grant Johnson has a slow delivery, which is the cause for all the SB's...I'm 99% sure that we were sitting in front of his family, because any call that went against them, the one who looked like the mother just exploded. Also bases loaded in the 5th, he got a soft bouncer to 3rd with 1 out, Smith decided he wasn't going to get the runner at the plate and went to 1st with it...she WENT NUTS! I mean she stood up, and screamed HOME!!!!!!!! like 60x. Then she went on and on about how they "teach them these skills in little league" and wow...just absolutely obnoxious. I came VERY close to saying something to her, but just kinda held it in...oh well. Eric Patterson didn't really impress me, looked bad on a couple of K's (first 2 ABs). He had one play in the field with a guy on 1st. A soft chopper to him, he had plenty of time to make the play at first, but he kept looking back and forth between 2nd and 1st...finally throwing to first but it was a very close play with the runner being called safe. Kind of a mental error there, should have easily had an out. However I did miss his double as we left a bit early. That's about it, just a few notes I took mentally during the game. Johnson's got to fix his delivery, or guys will run on him forever. 6 SBs tonight, and it wasn't Bernard's fault.

I would think almost any team would....even this year. His defense and speed and potential bat make him a great 4th/5th OF this year or even a starter if needed. But he's ours...back off :D

I picked him as a potential breakout player this year. I did see him one time last year when Lansing came to Peoria. He never really showed a ton of power, which for a corner IF/OF guy, isn't a good sign. I did like what he did with the bat though. A solid hitter. And the other player I picked to breakout this year was Jose Reyes...lol...oops. If he can hit .250, however, he'd be an amazingly good backup catcher, lol. Henry Blanco-esque...only less pop.

Only thing I'll have is my cell phone, which takes crappy pics and no vids...lo siento.

Go Grant, Go Wood, Go Harvey!!! Can't wait...finally get to watch these guys in person (well seen Woody before, obviously, but still...)