Sammy Sofa

This attitude reminds me a lot of the questions about Hill, and every other prospect that isn't great in his first year. How long? Well, a long time actually. At least until he's 26, when he'll be reaching his peak. His power is likely to keep improving after that age, even if his overall game declines. Here's a perfectly realistic potential developmental line for Murton: Current - .295/.362/.417 2006 final - .300/.365/.425 (24 years old) 2007 final - .305/.375/.440 (25 years old) 2008 final - .310/.380/.460 (26 years old) That is a gradual improvement, and entirely possible. Do I predict it'll happen that way? No. He might take a big jump next year and have a setback in 2008. Or he might stay stagnant in 2007 and make a huge leap in 2008. I have no idea. But that 2008 season, at age 26, is pretty darn good, and he'll still be pretty affordable. If that happens, I would expect similar production for the next 3 years, and by that time the Cubs will have spent maybe $16-20m on all his pre free agency seasons. That's nowhere near Lee or Ramirez, or the elite outfielders in baseball. But it's pretty solid production for a very reasonable cost, allowing you to spend much more on other positions, to make up for any SLG deficiency. In an ideal world, that's fantastic. But as it stands, he's taking up space in the one OF spot that myopic Hendry wants/needs to fill with an impact bat NOW. We all know Jacque ain't going anywhere. Allow me to clarify...I think Murton is a decent player. On a better team, it would be easy to fit him in and give him his playing time. Unless the Cubs are going rookie-heavy the next 1-2 seasons, they aren't that team. I have nothing against Murton and I don't think he's "bad" or that "he sucks" or anything against those lines...I just think as this particular team stands right now and looking ahead to next year, his development doesn't fit and doesn't help. THAT sucks, but that's sadly who it is and what we're reduced to.

Pagan in CF would be fine if Hendry wised up and platooned Murton & Jacque in RF next year and went out and got a serious masher for LF AND someone who can hit either at 2nd or SS. Anything else and we'll be watching a repeat of 2006 again.

OK, THANKS.

The Cubs are completely screwed for 2007...I'd bet serious cash on it. With or without Ramirez, odds are the infield will be pitiful offensively. Keeping Aramis would be like putting a Band-Aid on a head wound at this point. Lee is coming off of a big injury and has career numbers that, 2005 aside, don't really light the world on fire. Cedeno as the starting 2B or SS is completely wrong either way. Yeah, he's young, blah-blah-blah...either the Cubs suck it up and toss out a truly craptacular team the next 2-3 years trying out guys like Cedeno and Murton or they neeed to make some serious moves. Izturis can't hit and his defense MIGHT be better than Neifi's at best. Players like Cedeno & Izturis have hideous OBP that are only going to hurt this team. Murton has shown some impressive discipline, but he doesn't have the power to be a starting corner outfielder. Yeah, I know we're supposed to wait for it, but how long? When would he officially be declared a 4th outfielder or good platoon partner? How long is this team and the fans supposed to wait? Cedeno and Murton, on a better run team, would get their "practice time" as the primary middle infield/corner outfield backups respectively. I'm all for letting them play the rest of the way this year, but I'm not optimistic that either player reguarly starting in 2007 is going to help this team.

You don't have to be obsessive when you see it a gajillion times over. It's one thing to mention every so often that you're not a fan of another team...it's another to act like this is an anti-White Sox board as opposed to a Cubs board. Of course I'm not saying people can't do that...but they and others shouldn't be surprised when it starts to get on some other posters' nerves.

DO YOU ENJOY THE NICE BREEZE FROM MY WHIFFLING FORTITUDE?!!?

I'll bet a classy steak dinner that Nevin strikes out.

So close, Schlock...so close...

No matter how bad this sucky team gets me down, Aardsma's profile pic always lifts my spirits...

What the hell, man? This team actually starts winning, and the last 2 Big Z starts are some of the few games they lose. What a bunch of jerks...they can't do anything right!

*BARF!!!!!*

He did pull that 66 MPH curve seemingly out of another dimension for a strikeout. That was pretty damn cool...

3 run ARAM-A-ABOMB with Pierre and Barrett on board. Z was wild. How did Barrett get on? It's not showing that he hit or walked, and the Brewers don't have any errors. Did Z just spaz out? I saw how pissed he was after Barrett screwed up that strikeout. Barrett HBP (No Bush wasn't ejected) after Pierre had an infield single. Seems like Z just kind of lost it after Barrett dropped the third strike. Bush almost clocks Z in his first AB, AND hits both Aramis and Barrett? Come on... Z was seriously tweeked, and he wasn't hiding it. I'd be pissed too if my catcher screwed up that bad, but he's gotta move on with those things and focus. Barrett may have gotten the guy on base, but Z gave up the HR.

3 run ARAM-A-ABOMB with Pierre and Barrett on board. Z was wild. How did Barrett get on? It's not showing that he hit or walked, and the Brewers don't have any errors. Did Z just spaz out? I saw how pissed he was after Barrett screwed up that strikeout.

OK, this thread isn't helping...I ended up watching an episode of The Wire shortly after Z gave up the first 2-run homer. How the hell did the Cubs even score? Why is Z already out?

I was at the Friday and Sunday games of that series. Prior to the Sunday game there was what you referred to as a "ballpark hoochie" behind the Nationals dugout that appeared to be trying very hard to get the attention of anyone in a Nationals uniform. She also employed the use of ridiculously short booty shorts. White girl with an outrageously fake bottle tan?

If they could have fit in "headless" and "nude" in there somewhere, they would have.

Let's go, Carlos I!!!!

Mein schlapfzinger ist kaput.

When I saw the Cubs in DC, during the pre-game warmup before the first game, a certain rookie was definitely enjoying the attention of what could only be best described as a "ballpark hoochie," complete with ridicuously short booty shorts.

Why do you hate them? There fans are rude, dumb, and obnoxious people who have this anti-Cubs agenda, that they root for the Twins and Tigers over the Cubs. They are not true fans. They pretend to like the White Sox b/c they hate the Cubs. And why is your SN misleading?? http://www.thefurtrapper.com/_borders/Cooking%20Pot.jpg http://www.columbia.edu/cu/msa/img/meat.jpg http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/pub/Main/PotMeetKettle/kettle.jpg

Come on, Carlos II!

Dirty wave-lover.

I've given up keeping track how many times I end up yelling "JUST LET THEM HIT THE *BLANK* BALL!!!" at the TV screen.

I wanted to laugh, cry and vomit at the same time. Craurf?