Sammy Sofa

I think his fitness level makes it a fair concern. Once he's over the hill and declining, he could go from great to worthless in a much shorter time frame than most other elite sluggers would. At the end of the '96 season, Cecil Fielder turned 33. He played in 160 games that year, hit 39 HR, and OPS'd .834. By the time he was 35, he was done with baseball. (Granted, I don't know anything about any injuries.) I'm not saying that Prince is condemned to the same progression at the same age, but I think he'll see a similar rate of decline whenever that decline starts. 2-3 more great years for Prince is almost a guarantee. Another 2 to 3 is definitely very possible, but not necessarily a given, and anything past that is anyone's guess. Signing someone like Fielder to a 6-year-deal is nowhere near being in the same ballpark as Soriano's contract unless he just completely breaks down very early into his career. Hell, even an 8-year-contract wouldn't be the end of the world given the projected level of production and that he'd still be 36 at the end of it, though I really don't think he's going to get that many years. 6 years is probably what he'll end up with at the most, largely due to his weight, and the Cubs would be foolish to not go all in since they opted not to sign Dunn and if Pujols isn't available. Opting not to sign him to such a deal because he's fat and might suck for the last year when they have zilch on the horizon when it comes to someone manning 1B would be just yet another example of poor front office management by the Cubs. Come on, him playing excellent baseball between ages 28-30 is only "very possible?"

i'll give you soriano. do people really think aramis and byrd are that streaky? is there any evidence for this? i'm not seeing much (unless august-september of last year counts as a down streak). All players are streaky; it's just more of a dramatic swing with Soriano. BtB lumping Byrd and especially Ramirez in with Soriano is just him talking out of his ass.

Not nearly as much as Brewer fans will hate Prince Fielder when he defects to the Cubs. It really is the reasonable option over 10 years of Pujols. Agreed But how many years will it take to sign Prince? He's certainly a great option over the next 2-3 years but we don't need another Soriano on our hands. Fielder would be 28 next season. Soriano was 31 when the Cubs signed him. Fielder is also much better at baseball than Soriano. I'm not sure why you think a 27-year-old only has "2-3 great years" left in him.

Yes, the team with essentially the 5th best offense in the NL is automatically doomed to be shut down 2 of the next 3 games.

LULZ

AN OFFENSE THAT GETS ON BASE A LOT IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE RUNS THEY SHOULD HAVE SCORED BUT DIDN'T.

You're kidding right? Yes, they missed some opportunities, but ultimately they scored 5 runs, and 4 of those came off of the guy that half the people in this thread were [expletive] their pants over the idea of the Cubs having to face him. How about Coleman and and Wood don't give up 6 [expletive] runs to a team that amounts to little more than Fielder-Braun-Weeks and a collection of hot garbage? The blame deserves to be spread all around. Yes, the offense scored five runs, but they got on base 17 times (including six doubles, five off Gallardo) and had a runner on base in all nine innings (including six leadoff and with none or one out in all nine) and only scored five runs. Could have easily been more. Wood definitely pitched poorly but I think a lot of people would have taken Coleman only giving up four runs through five innings today. The offense blew chances to break the game open and the pen (re: Wood) blew the game late. Even the best offenses are going to leave runs on the table that they "should have scored" in most of their games. 5 runs out of 17 chances (if you're making "chances" only guys who got on base) is typically more than enough.

1 out of 3 is NOT a good series. Sure but it was almost 2/3. Play this way most series and you win 2/3, so I'm not all that upset. It's a long ass season so all I'm really worried about right now is overall decent play. Almost means nothing in the standings. I agree. But in 162 game season, there is a million opportunities to make up for a blown game or whatever. I thought the Cubs were a 75-80 win team going into this season but what I am seeing is consistent hitting (other than last night), acceptable starting pitching, and we'd be 6-3 if i weren't for our strong back end of the pen blowing 2 games. The 8th and 9th guys arent going to blow 2 out of every 9 games. So to me, this is a positive start for the season, if not frustrating of course. But starting 4-5 doesnt take you out of any playoff race at all. Starting 9-0 doesn't guarantee you a playoff spot. I'm just trying to glass half full it because overall I see a lot of good things. Get outta here with that common sense.

Yep, base loaded one out and only 1 run seriously, does anyone remember the last time a Cub got a hit with the bags jacked to break open a game? Happened in 2008 didn't it? Really? You don't remember the last time the Cubs got a hit with the bases loaded?

Some people think based on body language that Byrd went on his own. Whoever made the decision...just awful.

Hold on, I was taking a huge [expletive] during the top of the 9th, so I missed it; Byrd hit his way on...and then Quade had him try and steal with Aramis at the plate?

How was this a good series? Other than game 1: we got shutout, Garza looked like crap, and they left about 400 guys on base today with the bullpen giving up the lead and game. How is that a good series? Dumb post after dumb post. THEY GOT TO GALLARDO. THEY SCORED 5 RUNS. NO TEAM IS GOING TO CAPITALIZE ON EVERY SINGLE RUN OPPORTUNITY. THE OFFENSE DID MORE THAN ENOUGH TO WIN THIS GAME.

You're kidding right? Yes, they missed some opportunities, but ultimately they scored 5 runs, and 4 of those came off of the guy that half the people in this thread were [expletive] their pants over the idea of the Cubs having to face him. How about Coleman and and Wood don't give up 6 [expletive] runs to a team that amounts to little more than Fielder-Braun-Weeks and a collection of hot garbage?

Meh. I'll take it.

SCIENCE!!!

Well, farts.

Alright, Aramis. Your turn for the hat trick. Or did he hit 3 doubles already? I forget.

He looked good last night. I didn't see the last few innings last night. I only seen him one or two times when he had no control. well, I hope Im completely wrong then. Odds are you saw him once. When he came in to face one batter after Shark had screwed up and he walked him.

Hahahaaah! Oh, wait. You were serious.

Maybe Quade was just having him bunt instead of burning someone off the bench since Soriano has to come in for Fukudome? That's true. He might have sent up a pinch hitter had Barney not reached. Is anyone up in the pen? Don't know. Hope so.

Fukudome likely pulled/strained something on the basket catch.

Maybe Quade was just having him bunt instead of burning someone off the bench since Soriano has to come in for Fukudome?

ZOMG WARNING TRACK POWER

So now that's not a strike if the batter leans in to stare at it?

Where was that your last AB?