synergy

And that is why we need another catcher.....rofl. God our bullpen stinks too.

Wow Murton looked [expletive] in that attempted catch. He hustled for it, it's just the way he did it, looked like he was a member of the special olympics.

Joke? Not a joke.......at SS, defense is more important than offense. If it's not a joke, it's just very, very wrong. How is it very wrong.......when's the last lineup that had all HR hitters that did well. Not to mention both our infield defense and outfield defense will be bad. Arod isn't young anymore, he can't play SS like the way he used to. but you said we didn't need him because of izturis and cedeno...that, in itself, is very very WRONG. Please learn to read. Where in my post did I say Cedeno? I said Theriot and Izturis. Both are better defensively than Arod.

Joke? Not a joke.......at SS, defense is more important than offense. If it's not a joke, it's just very, very wrong. How is it very wrong.......when's the last lineup that had all HR hitters that did well. Not to mention both our infield defense and outfield defense will be bad. Arod isn't young anymore, he can't play SS like the way he used to.

Joke? Not a joke.......at SS, defense is more important than offense.

We don't need A-rod. We already have Theriot and Izturis at SS. you can't have all HR hitters in the lineup. You need defense too. Getting A-rod would be a bad move. The lineup is fine the way it is. A-rod will suck in Chicago, because there is just as much pressure here, if not more, than New York. He should go somewhere in a smaller market.

This is why I don't get why some people want to put an unproven Pie instead of Jones. Let pie take his time in the minors and eventually replace him. It wasn't too long ago Pie was hitting very bad in the winter league.

Is blanco now the starting catcher instead of Barrett? wtf.

is gameday audio free?

First off, Soriano clocks in at #4 on the "readily-available" market. Aramis, Matsuzaka, and Drew all have been and will continue to be more productive than Soriano for the immediate future. And there's a huge drop down in production from those top 3 to Soriano. That doesn't even take into account the fact we could easily get a few guys in trades, too. ARod, Manny, and Cabrera are all out there for the taking right now... and they're all exponentially better bets than Soriano. I'll hold off complaining about the contract for the time being, as we have no hard figures... but the fact remains that sinking that kind of money and years into a merely "very good" at best player is fiscally irresponsible. Is that much of an issue of the Cubs continue to bump payroll? Probably not for 3-5 years at least... once he declines, it could be trouble (but there is the chance there's some option years we can get out of). The real issue at hand is what happens if the Cubs are sold soon (as has been rumored). If a new ownership group cuts the payroll to the $100 mil level, this signing would be enough to drag this team down the crapper for half a decade. Let's do an experiment. I'll give you Soriano's numbers and a mystery player. You tell me how much this mystery player is worth to you. 2004: Soriano - .280/.324/.484 OPS+ of 98 Player X - .274/.352/.468 OPS+ of 105 2005: Soriano - .268/.309/.512 OPS+ of 110 Player X - .305/.355/.474 OPS+ of 115 2006: Soriano - .277/.351/.560 OPS+ of 132 Player X - .278/.355/.398 OPS+ of 93 Both players had years in 2006 out of line with their career numbers. While Player X is indeed three years older, he has shown himself to be quite capable of outperforming Soriano by doing so 2 of the last 3 years. Would you even think of giving Todd Walker five million per year for 4 years to patrol right field? How about seventeen million per? I sure as hell wouldn't... But he's not that far from being comprable to Soriano as an offensive threat. Drew = injury prone Manny = head case who can only play LF, which is Murton's spot Matsuzaka = do you wanna pay 51 million dollars just to negotiate with him.....someone who hasn't pitched an inning of MLB? Arod, Cabrera = we have nothing to make that trade unless you're willing to give up Zambrano. Please don't think any of our prospects are going to fetch anyone of that caliber.

The one thing better than leading off a game with a HR is leading off the game will multiple runs. A guy who can get on base better and costs significantly less allowing you to invest elsewhere is better than the half dozen or so leadoff homers Sori will hit. Drew, Lugo>>>>>>Soriano, Izturis Drew = injury prone, no thanks.

With Ramirez gone, we should just rebuild. Trade D. Lee and Zambrano for top prospects. Start fresh. This is why Girardi should have been hired not Piniella.

yea but it also depends where those guys wanna play. IMO Cubs should go all out to get Matsuzaka. Zito doesn't want to play for the Cubs. So if Schmidt is off the table, they should go hard after the japanese guy.

All I know is Hendry better overpay for Ramirez. Because if he loses Ramirez, they should just completely rebuild with young guys. Trade away Lee and Zambrano, because I'm sure they don't want to be part of any more rebuilding plans. They will surely give us some top of the line prospects. The problem with the rebuilding mode is we got the wrong manager for that type. We should have gotten Joe Girardi if we were going to rebuild. I can see many avenues of disaster for 2007.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2006/10/what_can_the_as.html

Mark Prior just doesn't want to play for the Cubs. Should just dump him for a B level prospect.

Do what you have to do to get Cano in the A-Rod deal.. rather than giles. 23 years old great obp / avg... The Yankees aren't going to get rid of Cano AND A-Rod. To even think of that deal, they would want Zambrano AND Ramirez.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/99274,CST-SPT-cub17.article Cubs to pursue Soriano, C. Lee, AND Schmidt..... wow.

Let's go Lou!

The reason Rothschild is returning is because alot of the pitchers we have including the main ones (Zambrano, Prior, etc.) are fully behind Rothschild. Piniella is already familiar with Rothschild as well. Zambrano will soon be a FA and he knows he can get any kind of contract he wants with other teams. Z prefers Rothschild and it's why Hendry is probably keeping him.

I found out today from someone who works in PR/community department of Cubs. Although he could be totally wrong, but this is a rumor that's been going on in there. Hendry is leaning more towards Piniella than Girardi, because he wants to win now. There is alot of pressure to win soon before the 2008 (100 year deadline). Even though McDonough prefers Girardi, Hendry is trying to convince him that there are so many unknowns with Girardi. Also, there seems to be a prevailing notion that if Hendry chooses Girardi, it will signify more of a rebuilding process and Cubs brass are worried some of their main veterans (Zambrano, Ramirez, Lee) will leave. Zambrano has mentioned he wouldn't want to be part of a rebuilding effort. Another big factor in Hendry leaning towards Piniella is that he would attract more of the better FA. I think Piniella is going to be the coach. Ohh and expect Pierre to be back unfortunately.

I prefer Girardi or Brenly

You wouldn't trade 3 prospects for Cabrera? That's not the farm. Cabrera is much better than Murton and is still young. That's who Cabrera will be replacing. As far as losing Hill, he's good but also we have some more young pitching in the minors. And your lineup including Pie and Patterson next year....what happens if they turn out to be like Cedeno? Then people will say they're rookies wait till 2008. If you have the chance to get Cabrera, you do it.

Pie, Veal, and Marshall won't get you Cabrera. you would probably have to add Rich Hill or something. Maybe Pie, Hill, and Murton will do it. If that's the case I'd do it. Cabrera playing LF would be nice. Pierre Izturis Lee Cabrera Ramirez Jones Barrett Cedeno That's a nice looking lineup.

So much for winning the attendance trophy in Chicago. If the White Sox go deep this year in the playoffs, I think there will be a shift of fans to the White Sox. I remember when the White Sox were more popular in the 50's and 60's. Cubs then became popular due to the 69 Cubs up till now.