StMarksCubs

This doesn't hold up to any analysis. Hairston hasn't made the most of his chances in the lineup? Neifi has made less of his chances. You make a lot of claims, but don't back them up with anything substantial. Jerry's current OBP is 133 points higher than Neifi's. He was about 40 points higher last year. How is Neifi better in a limited role? Jerry has played all 3 OF positions for the Cubs, plus 2B. He's more versatile the Neifi, and a better hitter than Neifi. The only thing Neifi does better is play defense at SS, but that's hardly a quality to put one player over another. It seems pretty clear to me that you saw Neifi come up with a couple big hits, then let that cloud your perception of the rest of his time as a Cub. I'm not a big Hairston fan, but it's pretty clear he's better than Neifi. Who are you quoting? Do you think Goony wrote the original quote and then argued against the quote? Wouldn't put it past him. :D I wrote that in a blog this morning. And, I agree the numbers do tell a different story, but I didn't feel like letting the numbers do the talking. If I've seen Neifi get some big hits, but overall produce a lower OBP than Hairston (who I've never seen get a big hit), am I wrong in stating a personal preference for one over the other?

In the interest of shameless self-promotion, I blogged about this subject today. Have a look over at: http://cubswatch.blogspot.com

Read this in the Tribune this morning... I LOVE the idea. Could it actually happen?

I am hearing bits and pieces about Doug M being a trade possiblity... has anyone heard anything out there? It's never too early for the Royals to pack it in and start trading guys, right?

Yes, I was going to mention that. The guy should not be allowed to umpire Cubs games anymore. That call officially started my dislike of Froemming. This may not mean much, but I remember as a kid meeting Froemming in Hawaii on vacation with my dad, and him taking the time to talk to me and my brother. And when I saw his name on the crew for that one game playoff in '98, I said to my dad "I know we're gonna win this one." Too bad he tries to screw the Cubs, and drop anti-semitic phrases... http://cubswatch.blogspot.com

Does anyone out there have video of Mike Ditka singing during the 7th inning stretch from Opening Day '99? http://cubswatch.blogspot.com

It's there now! :oops:

I had the same thought last night ... both rallies started with a Pierre double too Wow, shame on me for missing that. I will definitely add that in! Thanks, and thank you all for your feedback!

Hey all, I decided to go and start a Cubs blog. I hope I can update it daily, and bring a bit of humor and insight to the season. I'm on day one, but I'd love it if you guys would check it out and let me know your thoughts! Thanks! -Dave http://cubswatch.blogspot.com

I don't understand why you think it's that simple. Corey did put the bat on the ball and did produce acceptable numbers before, and he could do it again, if he was used properly. The only reason spot in the order matters is because not only did they bat him in the spot, but they expected him to do things he could not do, and de-emphasized the things he could do. You can't judge Corey on 2005 alone, when he was truly awful. He was not always awful, or close to it. He has been as productive or more productive than other guys on this team that management apparantly loves. In 8 seasons with the Chicago Cubs organization, Corey Patterson had two and half seasons in which he did nothing (his first in A ball, and 2004, and 2003 being the half yr. Heck even his LONE good YEAR in 2004, he was still league average as a player. I do blame the Cubs for rushing him. Watching the Cubs rush Patterson and now Pie is like jumping out of a airplane without a parachute. You know what's going to happen, and you have no ability to change it. Cubs should deserves some of the blame, but to keep it simple EVERYBODY was at fault for the development of Corey Patterson, and I said EVERYBODY. I do think Corey may become a useful player in Baltimore, but he won't become the next Lou Brock, or Rafael Palmeiro, or heck even Eric Hinske. unlike corey, Pie has shown progression at each new level. He should start the year at AA in my opinion, but moving to the hitting friendly PCL should not doom Pie. IMO, he has a lot to learn in the minors still but so far I don't think the Cubs have screwed up too badly. So if Pie were, say, a Braves prospect, would they be considering him for a mid-season replacement in 2006 like we are?

You're sounding a lot like a Lakers fan before this season started... and by that I mean, Corey Patterson is Kwame Brown. And we (the Cubbies) got out while the gettin' was good!

Do you think this is a better move than non-tendering him? This board is here to first, second, third guess to death. I realize that, and I embrace it. But let's take a step backwards from what we do here and focus in on what the GM of the Chicago Cubs should have done. You've got a guy with all the potential in the world, and has shown a tremendous inability to consistantly make use of those tools. I understand Hendry is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't, but you can't tell me that there was any compelling reason to keep Corey Patterson. And by compelling, I don't mean "He might, he might..." Seriously, there was no reason to keep him beyond this off-season when his trade value, likely, would have plummeted into PTBNL-land.. Cut Hendry a break here, this was the right call.

That's most sports writers though. It's that whole "standing by your story" journalism. If you think about it, has there been any sports writer (Internet, radio, newspapers, etc.) that we would say was right on the money at least 80 percent of the time? I'd put Peter Gammons and Buster Olney in that percentile.

So now that the Royals signed Grudzielanek, Elarton and Mientkiewicz... 1. This could be the time when Jacque Jones becomes a Cub, since that might have been Jones' money that was spent on those three guys. 2. Now that Grudz is off the table for the Mets, do they open up the Walker conversation again?

Anyone?

Unless they offer McCarthy, in which case we're sunk, and rightly so, do you think we have the edge being an NL team? Not to mention that Stockstill KNOWS our guys... thoughts?

We would have to get some prospect back with Tejada, right?! That's just ridiculous!

Rumor has it Hendry is in touch with Brant Brown's agent...

Maybe he's been voicing his concerns in private and feels he is being ignored. This could be a way of kicking the front office into gear. Baltimore isn't known to be a well managed organization, things have been going downhill since the mid-90s when they were once the top payroll franchise. Believe nothing. Do you guys remember the A-Rod fracas that got kicked up right before he nearly got traded to Boston and then New York? The rumors were flying everywhere, and the Rangers held a conference with A-Rod, the GM, and Showalter, where they all (with the looks of guns being held to their heads) talked about the positive future of the franchise, how Alex really IS happy to be there, and how he was not going anywhere. And then a week later, he was off to New York. This is all spin to either drive up the price, or to avoid an ugly home crowd in the event that he doesn't get traded.

And had they done this a week ago, maybe we'd have Furcal at short stop! Ah, well....

They should be though because they will never overtake NY or Boston with their core. None of those guys you list CPatt, Hill, Williams, Pie, Cedeno is likely to ever be a difference maker. Tejada is for 2006. Normally I agree with you but I think you are crazy if you pass up a chance to win in 2006 to keep those four. Oh I agree, I think the O'sshould be in dump mode - I just don't think they see it that way. If I were the Cubs I'd pull the trigger. Speaking of the O's, I guess Sosa and his agents have SO many teams looking at him that their heads must be spinning with all the choices! Must be hard to decide with half the majors interested!

Are the radio stations buzzing about this in Chicago yet? Or is it just us banging our heads against the wall? LOL

And one more thing... I'd like to know more about Tejada and steroids:

That's what I'm thinking too. A solid platoon in right would also cover the Cubs in case one of the OF's gets hurt or struggles. I'm wondering if there is a way to get a 3rd team involved...say Tampa Bay, or even Arizona with Javier Vazquez being involved. Although I am not sure if Baltimore was one of the teams he voided as an option. Either way, I agree that having Tejada at SS definitely eases having average OF production. To me, it's this simple: If they decide to trade Tejada, give them whatever they want. You only raise prospects in the hope that they, one day, might be half the player of a Miguel Tejada. Look for an article from Bruce Miles about this tomorrow in the Herald..

Call Ned Coletti, let's offer Patterson for Choi and Izturis. :wink: This would be IDEAL, instead of losing Walker (ignoring the part about Jones)... (from MLB.COM)