goonys evil twin

I really hope this doesn't mean they are cutting Brown. Arch, Brown, Manning and Harris could actually make up a pretty solid safety core.

They got him for a 6th rounder, and a 3/8 contract? http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2806226

There's a difference between what a guy can do, and what a guy is likely to do. Nobody is saying he can't go .350/.450, the problem is likelihood. I don't like operating on a "best case scenario" basis. The Cubs, all too often, looks at a guy's best numbers and hope he can repeat them. DeRosa has done .350/.450 once in his life. We would be extremely lucky if he does it over the long haul in 2007 (let alone the duration of his contract).

Is it me or is there an insanely low number of players listed as draft eligible. It seems like a lot more guys are listed as keepers than I'd think would be realistic. Has everybody listed their keepers and dumped the rest yet?

Seriously. He's definitely overpaid. But overrated? I've never heard him praised as anything more than a good player, so, unless there's some corner of the football world rating him as HOF worthy, then I'm not sure how he could be overrated.

Rosenhaus's relatively quiet stance on this matter makes me think he isn't all that comfortable with his leverage. I'd take the 28th pick for Briggs, maybe get them to throw in a 5th from 2008 (I love building up surplus picks for the future). With 3 picks between 28-37, the Bears should be able to get a quality LB, offensive lineman, and either an offensive playmaker of some sort or defensive back. I also think they should be able to trade down with one of those picks, get those first two needs, and then have multiple mid round options.

It's a bit premature to be talking in such absolutes. Hopefully you are right. But history tells us that a lot of baseball managers abandon such logic once the season starts. One 0-4 game by one of those RH hitters against LHP, or one big homerun by Jacque against a lefty could change his mind. I think it would be wise to just wait and see on this one. I'm liking Lou so far, but by no means am I convinced he'll be making all the right moves. There was no absolute in that statement as far as Jones vs LHP. As I said, I don't see a straight platoon in his future but I do see Piniella having a propensity for playing percentages. The only thing the last statement says is that Lou will work to put the best lineup together (not one based on tenure or veteran status). It seemed a little absolute to say he will set his lineup accordingly. And all I'm saying is we've got to wait to see if he truly avoids allowing tenure to influence decisions. He's leaned that way in the past. Most managers do let that get in the way.

I agree...half the time when a game is on, I forget he is even there. Notice how they are interviewing different people from the dugout when in the past they always interviewed the manager. He has only been on once. Says something. I don't know what this means. Or what you think this says. I do know Lou has been all over the place as far as interviews are concerned. He doesn't seem to turn down any requests. Don't really think that means anything, other than he's more comfortable with the media than Dusty was.

I could live with that OPS if he's putting up his .355 career OBP, or better yet, the .365-.367 he had in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Looks like Cotts and Wood right now. Cotts still has 2 option years, I believe, and Wood may be getting primed for a quick DL stint with this triceps strain. I still think one or two relievers get traded before opening day. What could Eyre, Jones, and Pagan bring? Hopefully ARod or Cabrera. I'm still holding out hope for a trade of some of those guys for somebody that can really help the team. Eyre is the expensive reliever I think the Cubs could stand dealing, while Jones is the low OBP OF that could be replaced. I really don't know what they could bring in a deal. Teams are always looking for bullpen help, including Boston and New York.

Somebody inserted the [against left-handers] part. Lou could be talking about the 10-15 games Jones doesn't start due to normal rest, which would still leave him a lot of PA against LHP. I expect that Lou will allow Jacque to hit against some lefties, so there will be no straight platoon, but i doubt he is rested against too many righties. Lou has already acknowledged an emphasis on stats and percentages; he knows Jones' overall inability to hit LHPs and will set the lineup accordingly. It's a bit premature to be talking in such absolutes. Hopefully you are right. But history tells us that a lot of baseball managers abandon such logic once the season starts. One 0-4 game by one of those RH hitters against LHP, or one big homerun by Jacque against a lefty could change his mind. I think it would be wise to just wait and see on this one. I'm liking Lou so far, but by no means am I convinced he'll be making all the right moves.

It's all talk right now, with very little substance and zero results. But I'd give him an A, I guess. I question how willing he is to accept Wade Miller's performance to date, and I really don't like that Tomas Perez is being given a shot at the 25th spot on the roster. But I like how much he's stressed the importance of walks, and he appears to be handling the spring pretty well. But this is like grading kids for how they dress on their first day of class.

Somebody inserted the [against left-handers] part. Lou could be talking about the 10-15 games Jones doesn't start due to normal rest, which would still leave him a lot of PA against LHP.

The Cubs seems to be on an extreme "do not walk people" kick in the spring. Perhaps they are just throwing a lot more strikes and really emphasizing pitching to contact now. I really don't see any reason to be concerned with a pitcher having 0 strikeouts in 7 scattered spring training innings. If such a rate holds up into April, I'll raise an eyebrow, but you can't really take anything out of spring results, especially extremely limited spring results.

If I am available, when is it and where do we click? Is it possible to go auto for part of the draft and manual for the rest?

DeRosa has never played a full season, let alone proven to be good over a full season.

Spammers are worse, IMO. At this point I wonder what motivates spammers. Is anyone really stupid to read emails that manage to get through filters? Is that percentage worth the consistent effort to try to outsmart those filters? You'd have to assume it is worth it, financially.

I doubt that has anything to do with it. It could have been a deal with the Mariners and he'd still be in the picture. These aren't 12 year olds. They have actual rationalizations for the decisions they make. They might not be right, but they aren't based on petty nonsense like that. This comes straight from Paul Sullivan the Cubs beat writer. I also heard Joe Cowley, Sox beat writer, say the exact same thing about Aardsma (both were on the radio, one after the other, speaking to Laurence Holmes as he was in for vacationing Mike Murphy). Doesn't mean anything. Paul Sullivan is the kind of guy who will look for any tabloid-style nonsense to write about. First off, demoting a guy doesn't admit one side got the better end of the trade. Especially not if both are demoted. The Cubs might keep him, but it would be because they foolishly think he's decent.

I doubt that has anything to do with it. It could have been a deal with the Mariners and he'd still be in the picture. These aren't 12 year olds. They have actual rationalizations for the decisions they make. They might not be right, but they aren't based on petty nonsense like that.

I agree, it's not like he's a .220 hitter with no power. Unless you get an offer that will definitely help the team, keep him and spot start Derosa in RF. Floyd is a total butcher in RF especially with bad legs. Use Floyd as a spot starter in LF and backup for Lee. Theriot should play 2B if Derosa is in RF. I would think that if Pie is ready at midseason, there will be a better market for Jones, especially in a package if other players (Miller, Marshall, Cedeno, Dempster) become expendable. Not sure if I missed something but I think Ward is the likely primary backup at first.Otherwise, I agree with everything you said. Today's Tribune lists the likely bullpen candidates and then goes through the bench. I wonder if it was an omission that they didn't include Ward's name. Also, in the Cub's notes section, they talked about Ward really struggling and if he doesn't get it together he could be replaced by Coats (who also wasn't mentioned as being on the bench). They did include Cedeno as a sub. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubsa,1,515226.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed I think this was what the poster was referring to: It was added to the Trib's website last night but technically it's for today's paper... I think van Dyck is reaching a bit; Daryle Ward is going to be on this roster. Link I was just responding to the part where he said they didn't include Ward's name.

Because besides 2005 Cotts has been pretty bad, while Howry's been good for the past three years. As for the 5th starter. It's going to be Miller. Guzman will be the longman. You can set that in stone. I wouldn't set that in stone, only because by May it could all be different. Miller might make it to the opening day roster, but the guy is no more reliable than Prior or Wood have been in recent years.

I agree, it's not like he's a .220 hitter with no power. Unless you get an offer that will definitely help the team, keep him and spot start Derosa in RF. Floyd is a total butcher in RF especially with bad legs. Use Floyd as a spot starter in LF and backup for Lee. Theriot should play 2B if Derosa is in RF. I would think that if Pie is ready at midseason, there will be a better market for Jones, especially in a package if other players (Miller, Marshall, Cedeno, Dempster) become expendable. Not sure if I missed something but I think Ward is the likely primary backup at first.Otherwise, I agree with everything you said. Today's Tribune lists the likely bullpen candidates and then goes through the bench. I wonder if it was an omission that they didn't include Ward's name. Also, in the Cub's notes section, they talked about Ward really struggling and if he doesn't get it together he could be replaced by Coats (who also wasn't mentioned as being on the bench). They did include Cedeno as a sub. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubsa,1,515226.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed

In general, I agree. The only concern with Guzman, however, is his overall lack of innings pitched, and issues with control. Getting regular work in the minors may be more important for building up his arm strength and creating some consistency.

What a terrible game. This is as sloppy as a 2006 Cubs game. Are you kidding me? With all the absolute garbage games this week so far. Its close, entertaining, evenly matched. Entertaining maybe? But it's very sloppy.

What a terrible game. This is as sloppy as a 2006 Cubs game.