Abe Frohman

I just want to see the guys glove. It said Louisville Slugger made it, but in the picture there is a Mizuno label on it.

It worked fine for the Tigers in 2000, but I doubt Fontenot will be hitting 3rd. This is a good day for us LSU fans! Yeah, if only Manieri can return them to their past glory. <-- misses Mainieri at ND Sure was nice of Notre Dame's athletic director to let Mainieri out of his contract, seeing as how he has two kids going to ND. That sucks, he still has to pay $500k.

Jacque Jones has a fairly strong arm, his throws are just all over the place. Matt Murton does not have a very strong arm (or at least he hasn't shown it yet), but seems to make the right throws to cut off men and seems pretty accurate. How is arm strength overrated for the RF position? The RFer has a much longer throw to 3rd base, and a baseball golden rule is to have a strong arm in RF for this reason. Players know who they can and can't run on, and Matt Murton is someone they can run on.

Hitting Soriano 2 doesn't make much sense because it will cancel out Theriot's running game. Soriano isn't the type of hitter who is going to take pitches and work the count. I don't think he is a hit-and-run or hit behind the runner kind of player, so I wouldn't understand this. Much the same way I don't understand Floyd hitting 2nd, unless Piniella is just trying to get a left handed bat in that slot (and Floyd HAS been producing in the 2 hole). I like Soriano in the 5 spot though, unless Floyd can handle every day action, which isn't likely.

I have a buddy who is ambidextrous also. He played in the Mariners organization as a catcher, and he can bring it at 75 mph left handed. There are some freaks out there who can do this. Last season in one of our MSBL games, he pitched two shutout innings left handed.

I can tell you this about Theriot/Fontenot as far as hitting approach. Hate to be a "name-dropper," but one of my best friends played at LSU with these guys, and we did some going out back in the day. Spent a good 20 minutes or so talking with Theriot about hitting, and he and I both were talking a lot about the Ted Williams book "The Science of Hitting." He mentioned that Fontenot was also a fan. Both guys have been, IMO, tough outs in college and in their professional careers. Theriot mentioned the importance of getting on base because it translates into scoring runs. It was a good talk. So, I think both guys are looking for ways to work the pitcher into giving them a pitch to hit. Theriot has always relied on speed and OB% to cause his damage, as Fontenot had a more pop and would sometimes jump on the first pitch. Mike hit 17 HR as a freshman at LSU, which I think was a school record. He has good power for a little guy, and that guy ain't tall. That's my two cents.

It worked fine for the Tigers in 2000, but I doubt Fontenot will be hitting 3rd. This is a good day for us LSU fans!

As long as Soriano keeps hitting around .300 with an on base around .350, I think he is doing a fine job at the top of the order. He's hitting doubles, and if he singles he is a threat to steal so he is in scoring position a good bit of the time. That's what we need. I like how Theriot is pretty much replicating his performance in 06, so it looks like we have a pretty good 1-2 punch to get the meat of the order up with runners in scoring position.

Acquiring Miguel Cabrera is pretty much "Pie in the Sky" for every team in the MLs. How many teams have a front office who pretty much are saying that they are going to do what it takes to win NOW. Sure it is far-fetched, but we aren't really sure who is going to buy this franchise, are we? Let Zambrano walk (which I am not so sure I would like to see) and this becomes a pretty possible way to spend $15 to $18 million a year. Who would you rather see playing for the Cubs in late 2007 - Zambrano or Cabrera?

Anyone specific in mind? Sure. Cabrera.

Matt Murton doesn't seem to fit the RF mold because the guy just doesn't have the arm. He isn't going to play CF or LF. What do you do with him? Personally, I think Floyd has been a bit misused. He seems like a pretty good fit for the 5 spot in the lineup (don't understand him or Izturis hitting 2), but he doesn't move well in the OF. I don't know why he isn't playing 1B now that DLee is having neck problems. I know it was Glavine pitching last night, but it kinda seems Piniella is playing the averages a bit much with the OFers. Jones can work in CF, but can't hit lefties. I say trade Jones, Floyd, and Murton and get a legit RFer.

The Cubs bullpen has lost 10 games for us so far. 10 of the losses are attributed to relievers. That doesn't mean the bullpen lost 10 games. It takes a full team to win, if they don't, it's the team's fault. This isn't some juggernaut ballclub being letdown by the bullpen. I agree, really. I am just pointing out that 10 losses are on the reliever's record. I am with you on the team concept.

The Cubs bullpen has lost 10 games for us so far.

That's good right there.

That is a very good point, and probably the reason the Cubs are doing this. Besides, it isn't like the players are going to stop going across the street to Murphy's after the game, is it?

I'm down.

He always plays hard.

I totally agree with you on that point. The Cubs are never going to win unless they grasp the concept that scoring more runs than the opposition is the key to the game. It sounds ridiculously stupid because it is just that. When you are disciplined enough to draw a walk as a hitter, you are going to score more runs. I don't care what anyone says, and I guarantee that a team would be better with Adam Dunn leading off than Juan Pierre. Don't blame Hendry for this, blame him for hiring Gene Clines and Dusty Baker. Ever look at Clines' career statistics? Might as well hire Borat to be your hitting instructor.

I blame a lot more on Dusty Baker mismanaging the 05 and 06 teams than Hendry. Neifi Perez has worth as a late-game defensive sub - not as a #2 hitting starting SS. John Mabry should have never started a game. Todd Walker should have been leading off with Murton hitting 2. The list goes on and on, but Hendry's only fault was having a water-brain running his team.

yeah, these past few seasons have been bliss. considering the low payroll the cubs are working with and the tough division they play in, i'm pretty happy with being below .500. The teams Hendry has assembled the last 4 years, have been good "ON PAPER". You cannot fault the GM entirely for teams not living up to it's potential, and "underachieving". Yes you can, because the problem is the people judging them on paper are clueless about what hte problems were with this team. This team had obvious deficiencies that were quite fixable, and Hendry ignored them, choosing to focus on nonsense. These weren't 95 win teams that underachieved. They were crap teams. They were "crap" teams, but Hendry didn't sit on his thumb and ignore the holes. Last year he brought in a much-needed leadoff hitter. THAT was the problem (outside of injuries) and he addressed it. It isn't Hendry's fault that Pierre and Ramirez swung rubber bats in the first half, and it wasn't Hendry's fault Lee broke his wrist. Nor was it Hendry's fault that Prior and Wood are some of the greatest pitching talents in the game that can't stay healthy. Like I said, I am happy with Hendry, and that's MY opinion. The last 3 years sucked for all of us, but things are looking bright for this season - so keep on being pissed off while some of us are enjoying this season. Hey, the Cubs actually are playing some pretty good baseball right now, so lighten up a bit and have some fun.

He deserves credit for Barrett. And Dempster. And it looks like Marquis/Lilly. It could be worse, and I am pretty happy with Hendry.

he said since he came back last year, not this year. Do I still have to eat an alligator?

This is a good team. 2007 is going to be very fun.

Without looking at the stats, I can say that I'll eat an alligator if Rich Hill has already thrown 90 2/3 innings.

Why are they comparing this "Asian Explosion" of ballplayers to Jackie Robinson? I don't remember any Asian water fountains, or pushing Asians to the back of the bus. No offense, but the comparision is apples and oranges.