A New Era

I find it hard to beleive that some people don't understand, when you have about 4-5 holes. You want to keep your above average LF who is making less than $400k. The difference in Carlos Lee's projected offense and Murton's is not worth the projected $15 million dollar difference in payroll. We do not have a vacancy in LF because we have an above average LF. How hard is that to understand?

Then they are highly overating Giles. No thanks.

If it allows us to spend more money on pitching, AND we have atleast one of Drew, Soriano +1 of Durham, Lugo. Then let Theroit play SS if he earns it in ST. Otherwise you obviously use him as a bench. Since Izturis will likely miss some games and so would Lugo or another older "stopgap 2B". We deffinatly are covered at SS and 2B if we sign a decent 2B stopgap. Because we have Eric waiting at Iowa, we have Theroit and Cedeno as backups, and Izturis. So signing one decent 2B stopgap takes care of those positions. Now you just need Drew, Soriano, or C. Lee for the outfeild. Hopefully enough is left for good pitchers and you fill out the bench with young guys or veterans if you can get decent ones cheap enough. .

However you are forgeting Walker played at 1B alot, not to mention Theroit wasn't even here more than half a year. Honestly, 2006 looked more like this. . . C - Barrett 1B - Mabry. . .Walker. .Nevin. . . . . . . . . Lee 2B - Walker. . . . .Neifi. . . .Theroit. .Cedeno SS - Cedeno. . .Neifi. . . . . . . . . . . . Izturis 3B - ARamis LF - Murton. . . . . . .Pagan CF - Pierre RF - Jones If we just want to argue specifically the point, are we better RIGHT now. I would say yes. Lee at 1b, Neifi and Cedeno's time at 2B severely brought down that positions overall #s. If you account for that. Yes, maybe Theroit CAN do better. SS was mostely Cedeno not Izturis. And Neifi played many games there, including a bit at 2b aswell. Murton played 144 games in LF. We statistically, should be a bit better. Even just, right now.

. . or (possibly) soriano.

You just did. :lol: Seriously, though, all view points are welcome. I think he is itching to show a little optomism. But is worried that might "jinx" the team. Am a RIGHT? right, right right right. :lol:

as were the cards this year. it shouldnt take too much more to win the central in 2007. Just land a couple really good FA or trades and we will be BETTER. Is it really that much of a goal to aim to be better than a 96-loss team? I meant we will be BETTER than the rest of NL Central. Sorry if you read it wrong.

Lee, I agree with you. Prior is another story since his injuries are an annual event (although 2006 was the first time they basically ruined his entire season). JH can't be faulted for what happened to Lee. But not getting a good SP option was one of his big mistakes. .

Padilla I think is a possibility. But I highly doubt we will end the off-season without either aquiring: Soriano, Drew, or Lee. Or a simular type bat via trades. But then again that's just "FA" predictions, right?

No, its really not. Effectively, the Cubs have added Derrek Lee, Rich Hill and a fully rehabbed Wade Miller who over his last three starts pitched 14.2 innings, striking out 13, allowing 8 hits only 1 of them a HR and posted a WHIP of 1.23 with an ERA of 1.84. I'm not saying he will come close to doing that over the course of a full season, but he has shown that he can be effective. Now all he has to do is stay healthy which has admittedly proven rather difficult for Miller of late. On a lesser note, the Cubs also added the infield options of Cesar Izturis and Ryan Theriot both of whom were late additions to the roster that lost 66 games. I realize you wrote "mostly the same" as the roster that lost 66 games, but the relative additions of Lee, Hill and an effective Miller are fairly major additions that seemingly will impact a team's won-loss record. I keep trying to preach that. Good points, and I agree with all of them. I'd like to add on top of that. The cubs are not paying Wood $13 mil and Maddux $9 mil. They have the money to spend to even further improve this team. . . . there is reason for optomism.

AWE-freaking-SOME. I love it. Sounds like Lou, Jim, and the Trib are eager to put a GREAT team out there. And it sounds like we might be discussing how we like our new pitchers, . . VERY soon. . oohh, euphoria. . :shock: :o :lol: :) Actually, on this board, we will be discussing how much Hendry overpaid for some guy and a long contract to boot if the past is any guide. You guys just didn't have enough of me last off-season. :wink:

This is a point that is hard to prove either way. Hendry could come out and say it. But none of us can really say what is going on in Hendry's mind. There could have been many times Baker had talked to him mentioning things like "playing the game right", or "fast guys" and that could have effected his mental approach to the off-season. I do beleive managers have some effect in that regard. And that's why I think with us having Piniella now, we'll more likely see the "big signings" because that's what Piniella wants, and knows what he needs to win.

Thanks Piniella on the final word: Said Hendry will look at trades and made it seem like they will move fast, mentioning many times that Jim would like to get things done at GM meetings this week. . . euphoria. . ::woah::

I just have to post this any time anyone questions if JH is going to make the moves required to win. Piniella on Fox Final Word. . Said starting pitching is number one priority, says Jim will look to add some at the GM meetings this week Said that a big bat will be looked for, and mentioned Soriano Said Trib has said they will spend what it takes to win Said that Ramirez is a good player and he just wants him to play with passion everyday Said Hendry will look at trades and made it seem like they will move fast, mentioning many times that Jim would like to get things done at GM meetings this week

AWE-freaking-SOME. I love it. Sounds like Lou, Jim, and the Trib are eager to put a GREAT team out there. And it sounds like we might be discussing how we like our new pitchers, . . VERY soon. . oohh, euphoria. . :shock: :o :lol: :)

as were the cards this year. it shouldnt take too much more to win the central in 2007. Just land a couple really good FA or trades and we will be BETTER.

Well in fact we are higher than we were before. Derreck Lee isn't injured, we do not have Pierre in CF. We are not paying Wood $13 million. Miller is probably close to fully rehabed and is only getting $0.5 million more and could be our #5 next year (in APRIL). Prior "could" come back. We have a hitting coach that preaches more patient hitting practices. We have a manager that will not stand for loosing and demand the team win close games. (IE: not laying over for the pirates and reds). We have a president and team that knows fans are angry and they are obviously going to push hard for some top talent and the goal is to win next year. And according to sources payroll was upped to $115 mil. So I would hardly say we are were we were last year. We are MUCH better. And it's going to get MUCH better. Getting a bad team more cheaply doesn't inherently make us better. There's plenty of Neifi Perez's and Glendon Rusch's out there for us to spend money on. D-Lee not being injured helps...agreed, but nothing says that he won't get hurt again. Pierre being gone doesn't mean that spot is going to be better either. We've done a good job so far of getting rid of the bad, and keeping the good. Now it's time to add. Until I see those positive additions, I'm going to remain skeptical. I've been burned enough. I'm waiting for those positive actions as well. But we are clearly in a better position now than we were in mid last season with those coaches, woods money and Lee out. While getting a "bad" team (as you call them) more cheaply doesn't make us better per se. It does give us even more money to spend to make the team better. Agreed...I'm just skeptical of Hendry actually spending that money wisely. I'm ready to be proven wrong. Well it's just, to me. Piniella agreeing to come in, the raised payroll, and Mcdunough's statements all point in the right direction. The recent news with Aram. Everything is looking good so far.

Well in fact we are higher than we were before. Derreck Lee isn't injured, we do not have Pierre in CF. We are not paying Wood $13 million. Miller is probably close to fully rehabed and is only getting $0.5 million more and could be our #5 next year (in APRIL). Prior "could" come back. We have a hitting coach that preaches more patient hitting practices. We have a manager that will not stand for loosing and demand the team win close games. (IE: not laying over for the pirates and reds). We have a president and team that knows fans are angry and they are obviously going to push hard for some top talent and the goal is to win next year. And according to sources payroll was upped to $115 mil. So I would hardly say we are were we were last year. We are MUCH better. And it's going to get MUCH better. Getting a bad team more cheaply doesn't inherently make us better. There's plenty of Neifi Perez's and Glendon Rusch's out there for us to spend money on. D-Lee not being injured helps...agreed, but nothing says that he won't get hurt again. Pierre being gone doesn't mean that spot is going to be better either. We've done a good job so far of getting rid of the bad, and keeping the good. Now it's time to add. Until I see those positive additions, I'm going to remain skeptical. I've been burned enough. I'm waiting for those positive actions as well. But we are clearly in a better position now than we were in mid last season with those coaches, woods money and Lee out. While getting a "bad" team (as you call them) more cheaply doesn't make us better per se. It does give us even more money to spend to make the team better.

Well in fact we are higher than we were before. Derreck Lee isn't injured, we do not have Pierre in CF. We are not paying Wood $13 million. Miller is probably close to fully rehabed and is only getting $0.5 million more and could be our #5 next year (in APRIL). Prior "could" come back. We have a hitting coach that preaches more patient hitting practices. We have a manager that will not stand for loosing and demand the team win close games. (IE: not laying over for the pirates and reds). We have a president and team that knows fans are angry and they are obviously going to push hard for some top talent and the goal is to win next year. And according to sources payroll was upped to $115 mil. So I would hardly say we are were we were last year. We are MUCH better. And it's going to get MUCH better.

However you cannot argue, we have started this offseason on a high note. Improved manager and coaching staff. A much improved hitting coach, and got some good deals on Miller, Wood, and Ram. Now it's time to bring in the new guys. It's still a team coming off a nightmare season, and we have so far resigned players who were a part of that ballclub. Let's not overreact here and start celebrating or anything. As for improvements to the coaching staff, that remains to be seen. How many "good" managers and coaches from elsewhere have we brought in only to find out they stunk? Rothschild, anyone? How about Mr. World-Series himself, Dusty Baker? Nothing can be said about Piniella and his staff, other than they are now here and it won't be the same as when they were elsewhere. Please do no compare Gerald Perry (a GOOD hitting coach) with our previous coach or Lou Piniella (a GOOD manager) with Dusty Baker.

Well we did hear "his friends" saying he would probably go for another team and might look for $5 mil or more. So much for "that" rumor. .

However you cannot argue, we have started this offseason on a high note. Improved manager and coaching staff. A much improved hitting coach, and got some good deals on Miller, Wood, and Ram. Now it's time to bring in the new guys.

Very true. I would love to have a 3, 4, 5 of Drew, Lee, and Ramirez locked up for about 4 years. Drew and his HUGE OBP infront of Lee and Ram. That would be really nice.

I'd personally like. . Drew for CF Iwamura for 2B And either sign that Iwagaki picther and Lily. Or trade for a top 2 type pitcher and get Iwagaki (sorry if I am confusing the many japanese players). .

I'm like you. I will remain neutral until I see what happens in the off-season. I still beleive a few positive moves could be made to make this team a very solid team in the NL central. But JH has to prove to me with those great moves before I'll say I'm ready to watch this team win. We suck as is. .