baseball7897

I was just trying to be funny. I do this stuff all the time.

What the hell is this supposed to even mean? What's with the Missouri hate, by the way? It was just a joke. I knew you guys would take it to the extreme. I think they were trying to determine if it was a joke or just another ignorant statement. Another ignorant statement? What the hell are you talking about?

What the hell is this supposed to even mean? What's with the Missouri hate, by the way? It was just a joke. I knew you guys would take it to the extreme.

Bush league standings: 1. Missouri 2. Colgate 3. Indiana State 4. Aurora 5. Bowling Green 6. Augustana 7. Temple 8. Northwestern 9. Illinois 10. Missouri State

See Derek Lowe's 2004 season and the contract that he got. He was downright bad that year, but redeemed himself in the playoffs and parlayed that into $9M/year. Derek Lowe isn't a mediocre pitcher. He's quite decent. Derek Lowe would be a great wrigley field pitcher.

I hate Missouri.

Team baseball is when players are willing to sacrafice their self to move a runner over. Hitting the ball to the right side with a runner on 2b is a good example. Bunting, sac flys, and hit and runs are some more examples.

I think Mark has to get this stuff straightened out ASAP. I still believe that he took steroids but that's just my opinion. Why do you think that?

Who is Mark Prior? :lol:

Not only is Lee solid with the bat, but he is probably the best defensive 1b in the game. Lee for A-Rod wont be a good idea.

Finally, something I agree about. :D :D

I used to be a big Juan Pierre fan. I thought he would return to his 04 form this year. But it never happened. He is probably one of the most selfish baseball players I have seen in awhile. His lack of ability to draw walks at the leadoff spot has really turned me away from being a fan of his.

That's simply not true. A guy like John Lackey may be an inferior pitcher to Zambrano, but his trade value is higher because he's two years away from free agency and Zambrano is only one year away. I would love to see Lackey on the Cubs.

The towel drill is designed to help the pitcher with adding extension so he is closer to the plate at ball release. There are two things I dont like about the towel drill. One is that a towel is used not a baseball. A towel not only does not feel anything like a baseball but it is held onto after the arm gets to a normal release point. That can only build in a faulty release point feeling. If you do not hold onto the ball after the release point you should never practice that. Secondly, the only way to get more extension toward the plate is to lengthen your stride toward the plate. The towel drill also promotes trunk flexion before trunk rotation because the pitcher is focusing only on extending his body out toward landing. This is a velocity killer. I have experienced some shoulder discomfort using the towel drill in the past. If you dont do the drill correctly, you're putting alot of stress on your rotator cuff/elbow.

I was told the Chicago Cubs teach their pitchers to use the towel drill. Not just at the major league level, but at all levels.

But nobody is getting Schmidt for a one year deal with an option. He'll get at least three year, IMO. If you're only willing to offer one year, don't waste everybody's time. Exactly. Will Carroll would only sign Schmidt if it was a 1 year deal with an option for the second. Time to switch focus to Barry Zito!!!! I think I'd have to disagree with Carroll on this one. I'd be willing to go three years on Schmidt. That's not to say I wouldn't pursue Zito though. I'm just saying, I wouldn't limit my offer to one year plus an option for Schmidt. Carroll indicated that he doesnt like the work load Schmidt has taken the past couple of years. He said it would be like a Pedro Martinez situation. I wouldnt sign a 34 yr old over worked pitcher either.

But nobody is getting Schmidt for a one year deal with an option. He'll get at least three year, IMO. If you're only willing to offer one year, don't waste everybody's time. Exactly. Will Carroll would only sign Schmidt if it was a 1 year deal with an option for the second. Time to switch focus to Barry Zito!!!!

Will Carroll also said Matsuzaka would not come to the cubs. He believes he will cost way too much money for Hendry.

Will Carroll indicated there is a 1% chance of A-Rod being traded to the Cubs. He also said signing Schmidt to a 3 year deal or any deal that is greater than a year would be a dumb idea. He likes a 1yr deal with a option for the second for Schmidt.

Overrated

Mercker's main complaint was about a dumbass Chip Caray comment, if I remember right. IIRC, Mercker's complaint was initially about Chip gushing about the grand pitching performance of Roy Oswalt in a game in which Oswalt gave up six runs. Mercker called the booth from the clubhouse to ask how in hell was Oswalt's outing such a "grand" performance. Stone then leaked the information to the media and then later commented about it on the air. This pissed off Mercker as he felt the whole affair should have been left behind closed doors. The players, not just Mercker seemed betrayed by the media. The story goes, Mercker later confronted Stone about it. Stone in turn once again leaked details of the confrontation to the media and in a way that made Mercker seem much more beligerent than the encounter likely was in reality. The players then wanted Stone and Caray thrown off the team charter. As broadcasters for the team, the team felt betrayed by them and that is understandable. Furthermore, Stone got more sarcastic and caustic as the season wore on. It was clear he held a grudge. Personally, I want no more of Stone. That could of been avoiding if Mercker never called the booth in the first place. He had no right calling the booth. Shows how much Dusty didnt discipline his players. Mercker is one of the biggest jokes in baseball for doing something like that. Could have been avoided altogther had Steve not stuck his nose in where it did not belong. Chip and Merck are friends from way back and it was a call between friends that unfortunately Steve overheard and decided to feed to the media. And the only reason Steve seems to be such a "brilliant" baseball mind to all of you by watching on TV is because they fed him an awful lot of info to use on the air right down to knowing ALL of the signs. That is how he was able to "predict" a lot of things. Mercker should of never called the booth. Let the announcers do their job, and let the players do their job.

Eyre was mediocre last year. Keeping him for insurance purposes when you can call up Novoa to strike out a bunch of guys and put up a 1.5 WHIP doesn't make sense. Eyre was out of shape this year. He still brings alot of value to the Cubs.

I'm with Goony on this one. The potential upside to Wood is greater than any of the others, because there is a significant chance that he can become a great starter again. Also, I think it would be great to trade Eyre; his numbers this year make him look a lot better than he is: The good: Lefty 61.1 IP 3.38 ERA 10.71 K/9 The bad: 1.48 WHIP .345 OBP Against .457 SLG Against (for an .802 OPS against) 4.40 BB/9 All this considered, and considering his 2005 season, which was a career year for him, he might be significantly overvalued on the market, and could help net something real nice in a trade. By trading one of the relievers, you're taking a risk of Kerry Wood being healthy the whole year. I dont think you should count on him bring healthy anymore. You need some insurance incase he is back on the DL.

What are you basing this on? Lee got a fantatsic deal. Ramirez is well paid. The offer to Furcal was market value (nobody expected the Dodgers to crazy with their offer). If he says these guys are in his sights, and news reports show Soriano as his number one target, why disbelieve it? Just out of natural Cubs angst? Others have posted what I was going for. If the Cubs overpayed for Beltran they would have not traded for Pierre and the list goes on. IMO, when you have a talent like that you do what you have to do to get him. What stinks is that this year their are not any impact hitters out there in the free agent field. I don't recall Beltran ever being a Hendry target - he was a fans target, but not a Hendry target. There is a big difference. I don't think it's an accurate criticism to say he isn't willing to pay for the player. The criticize is applicable if it is changed to say Hendry doesn't usually target the big names, because that is often true. The only bigger names he has targeted he has signed, or was sorely outbid and it was good thing. But that sample is very small and mostly in-house. But when he has targeted a name, he has shown diligence in trying to get that name. The difference this offseason, we as fans hope, is that the organization is truthful when it says it is specifically targeting the big names. I think Hendry's ability or inability to sign the big FA is more of an unknown than anything. I suppose if making an offer of 90-95 mil a year qualifies him as not being a Hendry target, then you're right. He didn't make an absurd offer like the Mets, but it was more than a fair offer, no doubt. The team that made the absurd offer is still playing. That absurd team has also surrounding Beltran with good players.

Why would the Yankees trade a 23yr old 2b that hit .342? Cano wont be traded. No, that's not what I meant. If the Yanks trade ARod and the Cubs can't help them cover 3rd they could switch Cano to third and take in Theriot as part of the trade. I dont like the idea if I were the Yankees of moving Cano to 3b. Its more of a comfort then. Cano played well at 2b. Why move him to another spot on the field?