Sammy Sofa

It's weird, I thought Murton was a "smaller" guy too until I had great seats at PNC Park last year right behind the Cubs' dugout. Holy crap, Murton's got some guns! And some treetrunk legs, too. The guy just randomly looks smaller on TV, but in person, he seems pretty built.

I don't think it's writing him off if that's the kind of playing he's displaying. Yeah, I agree he's getting a crappy "education" from the coaches and raw deals getting benched for players like Nevin, but he still needs to prove himself longterm. Maybe he will, but it's just as likely he won't. IMO, you go with the proven big players over the unproven rookies every single time, and yes, I think C-Lee is one of those players. Is he one of the all time greats? Heck no, but he's a serious OF power bat that mashes at Wrigley, and the Cubs need one of those like crazy. Bottom line, there's not a lot of options out there that would allow the Cubs to upgrade from a player like Murton to a player like Lee. This team isn't hurting for money, and with Wood and Maddux likely gone next year, they've got even more to spend. Lee is making like he wants to play here and at the end of the day if I'm picking between Carlos Lee and Matt Murton for my LF slot, I'd be a fool not to sign Lee. Murton simply doesn't have the power at this point to be a corner starting corner OFer at this point. Will he? I hope so. Will he get a shot to develop on this team? Again, I'd hope so, but at the same time, I want some serious upgrades. I'd love to see Murton platooned against lefties with a decent split hitter in RF because at this point, he's nowhere near being the bat needed to be a starting OFer for the Cubs.

Very true. A-Rod is A-Rod. He's one of "those players" that's just so damn big their name is going to carry them until they finally quit. Booing him when he strikes out would be like Derrek Lee getting booed for doing the same...or to compare it to a local big hitter having an off-year, Aramis. The fans that (almost always wrongly) boo guys like Jacque aren't going to do the same to A-Rod.

Unless it was some kind of major sticking point to getting him here, I'd keep A-Rod at 3rd and Cedeno at SS and re-sign Walker for 2nd.

You've got to be kidding me? He's a rookie. I cannot believe how quickly some people want to give up on young players. Who said anything about giving up? Teams need good 4th OFers, including the Cubs. I think Murton would be an excellent platoon player and OF backup. He simply doesn't have anything even close to the power needed to be a serious fulltime corner OFer. Sure, that could change, but he has a long way to go. I'd like to see Murton stick around, but I'd start Carlos Lee over him in a heartbeat.

I remember the "good" Cubs routinely getting rocked by the Rockies, too. Especially at Wrigley.

It's not like Carlos Lee is a great player. He may be having a good year this year, but he's typically just a bit above average for a corner outfielder. Expecting the difference between Murton and Lee to make a real impact on this club is unrealistic. I never said he was great. But I am saying he's a LOT better than Murton. And I don't think C-Lee would come anywhere close to solving all of the team's problems...but I do think he's a big step in the right direction. Murton, for better or for worse, has shown himself to be a very capable 4th OFer at this point. C-Lee is more than just a bit better than that.

More than likely, yeah. He might be back in time for the playoffs, but that's a big "might." They need the outfield help, and Jacque could definitely give them a boost with how he's hitting this year. I don't think Pierre would be any kind of centerpiece in a trade for A-Rod, but I'd like to see him gone and if adding him onto the pile seals the deal, hey, give it a shot. Definitely trading up.

I heart the Todd. He's dreamy.

Aramis has shown he's the type of hitter who would thrive in a lineup like the Yankees have, even with the injuries. You surround him with other big bats, and I mean BIG bats, and he slams the ball until it cries. Jacque is having a great year and given his history, I think he'd use the shorter porch in NYC to his advantage. Cap them off with a reliever or two and I think this could and should be done, if there's any truth to it.

Pierre, Jacque, Aramis and a pitcher for A-Rod.

I have a feeling deep in my bones...this is going to happen by the ASB. The Cubs are gonna deliver Aramis, Jacque, a reliever and Pierre plus cash for A-Rod. Checking out the NYC boards and press and talking to my Yankee fans, A-Rod is being made into a scapegoat of Sammy proportions up there. The time is right, and I think this could be the first serious step in the right direction for this team. Do the trade, shed Wood and Maddux, use the money to also grab C-Lee and a starter. But what about CF and RF the rest of this year? I know Pie isn't lighting it up, but maybe give him some time just to let him have a bit of experience? Make it happen, dammit.

And...? I'll take Carlos Lee over Matt freakin' Murton 8 days a week and twice on Sundays. Barrett didn't say anything even remotely close to being insulting to Murton...he's saying the Cubs need some big bats to start winning, and Carlos Lee would definitely help provide that. That's just common sense. I like Murton and all, but really, he's not the team's savior and he's never going to be. If you can upgrade LF with a player like C-Lee over Matt Murton, that's not insulting...that's just common sense.

I was just thinking, "why does it seem like the Cubs win on Mondays?" Lo and behold, Fred swoops in and shows that they are actually 7-3. Weird. Since they always win on Mondays when I'm at work for a night game, I'll give it to this bunch of mugs. Cubs, 6-3.

I want a players' revolt! Send Dusty and his boy toys packing! Nobody will miss 'em...

I automatically assumed you were talking about the doom 'n' gloom singer...and given how this season is going, that makes perfect sense. "Some teams are crappier than others..."

What hurts worse...the rest of the season with Dusty, or Hawk being a douchebag? Priorities, people!

I think they rehire Steve Stone and then fire him again.

DUSTY NEEDS HIS HORSES. AND YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR HORSES MIDSTREAM.

Awesome.

Not to try and explain away Dempster's game today (his biggest mistake was not going after Dye having him down 1-2), but why the funk did Dusty leave Cedeno in at SS in the 9th? Yeah, blah-blah-blah, I hate Neifi and get a kick out of watching Cedeno, but a game this close is when Hendry and co.'s asinine "he can catch the ball" thinking would have come in handy. Neifi probably would have made that play that Cedeno booted...ah well...woulda, coulda, shoulda...

I don't care who you are...root for this team to lose to the White Sox. If there is even a shred of truth to the idea Dusty will be fired if the Cubs are swept, you root your damn hearts out for this team to lose. I don't want a blowout...I want Z to still have some pretty numbers, and wouldn't mind seeing certain Cubs shining through...make it close...Cubs lose, 5-3. Please, God, if you have any mercy...make the Cubs lose, and send Dusty, Clines, Sarge and Rothschild packing. Please. This is what I'm reduced to. Please. *Sobs*

I think I started a thread asking the same question this one is about a month ago. Something is up with the guy...I don't know if it's being on such a crappy team, his wife having a baby recently, he's injured, or just having a couple blown saves rattled him too much, but something is tweeked. Plenty of people talk about it, but it never gets any less true...being a solid, reliable closer really reqires having the mental "stuff" to do it along with the pitching, and Demp's biggest strengths when he's on is that he doesn't lose it when things seem to get out of hand. For whatever reason, that doesn't seem to be the case now. That said, I'd rather see the team stick with him and attempt to get him more regular use to see if he can get out of it. Bottom line, the season is wash, and letting Dempster try and right his ship either keeps the team with a good closer or at least repairs his rep enough to get some good returns if he's traded. Tossing him out now is pointless, unless it's to showcase Kerry Wood: Supercloser...and that ain't happening any time soon. And though I haven't seen it here too much, man, there are some pretty big Cubs blogs out there just loving it up when Dempster fails. Their "told you so" attitude is disgusting...yeah, Dempster doesn't have a long storied career as a closer or in relief, but at this point his time as an excellent closer far outweighs how many times he's tanked it. Why just give up on him so quickly?

Maddux at 78 pitches...should he go ahead and finish up 7 innings?

I was hoping against hope Maddux could keep that ERA under 5. Curses.