Abe Frohman

Actually, he has done this in the past. I will NEVER forget the Cub/Cardinal series right before they shut Woody down in 2005. He was hitting 99-100 on the gun and making the best hitting team in the NL look like HS kids. He most definately is capable of being THE dominant closer in the game, and he has proven that he can come out and dominate for one inning.

Sounds like A-Rod is not getting enough attention.

Quality? I am known for my sarcasm and exaggerating skills. Yeah. I believe the streaking KFC bucket gave you away. No mention of Phat Phil Fulmer of Tenn. failing to catch it?

Quality? I am known for my sarcasm and exaggerating skills.

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis. Forget what the Cubs paid them. If they think they know how to turn Marquis around, we'll see. The thing is, you NEVER know who is going to have a big year. We have enough starters now that there will be good competition for jobs, much like the White Sox had in 2005 with the emergence of Brandon McCarthy. I just hope that the fact that the Cubs paid Lilly and Marquis a ton will translate to they are guaranteed a spot in the rotation. I like what Rich Hill showed last year. He got rocked early, and seemed to get over whatever hump it was - and become a dominant pitcher. Zambrano is virtually a lock to succeed, and Prior could be a HUGE bonus. The Cubs are due for some good luck, but it is good that this year they are not really counting on it.

First: If you need a number to remember certain players and their accomplishments, then you prolly didn't notice the accomplishments as they are being played out. I know what you are saying, but I believe players accomplishments are measured by what he does on the field/rink/court and not by the numbers he wears. The numbers, to me, is nothing more then a self-promotion gimmick, no better then say a "wrestling gimmick." You remember the player, not the number. Second: Did you already forget Devin "Mr. Bear 23" Hester? I don't think you need the number to remember the player, I just think that you remember the number based on what that player did. It's a total association thing. Numbers don't matter, really. Andre Dawson and Mark Grace were great players for the Cubs, but they do not even come close to deserving Sammy Sosa status in terms of retired numbers. Don't forget that at the present time, the Cubs only have 4 numbers retired (Banks, Williams, Santo, Sandberg). It's a pretty exclusive club. I mean if we are going to retire Grace's number, we might as well retire Gabby Hartnett, Hack Wilson and other Cubs of yesteryear that actually led the team to WS appearence. Hey, I agree with you whole-heartedly, but my point is - I feel less than happy when the #'s of great Cubs are worn by new Cubs. Not that it is right or wrong, just that it is a strange site that I don't particularly like. I believe that any # not retired is fair game.

I don't know, Avenger. I agree with you, but I also disagree. Let him wear #21 - it is not yet a retired number. The special thing about retired numbers is that the player that the number represents is HONORED by not allowing another player to wear that number. That's just the way it goes. Until those numbers are retired, they are fair game. We still feel funny, but that is beside the point. I do think the number of a star player is significant, because it becomes a symbol of that players accomplishments/contributions to the team. Tell me you don't think of Michael Jordan or Ryne Sandberg when you see #23, or Babe Ruth/#3, etc.

If Mabry can wear #17, and several players can wear #8, I don't see why it is a problem for someone to wear #21. Even #31 has been worn. I don't like it, but until the Cubs honor a player by retiring their number, there should be no qualms about it being used by others. But 8, 17, 21, and 31 should be put in the closet if I had my way.

The man loves to steal 3rd base.

Your mother is a saint. :)

Because they would rather have Jacque Jones in CF than Taveras.

Taveras very well may have the lowest slugging percentage in ML baseball. If not, he has to be close. If Murton bangs out 30 HR and hits .340, Soriano has another monster season, Lee comes back to 2005 form, and Ramirez produces like he is capable - the Cubs STILL can't afford Taveras with Izturis at SS. That is basically a 1-2-3 inning for the opposition when the bottom 1/3 of the order comes up. Zambrano is easily the best hitter of the three. Regardless, Taveras is a handy guy to have on the team. With this team, he would be a good pinch runner/defensive replacement.

Bagwell is a HOFer. He was the face of his organization his whole career, and one of the finest hitters in the game. Played a solid 1st base also.

Like you said, it wouldn't be wise to give Pie the shot with the glaring lack of offense at SS. Now if the Cubs were to deal for a SS who could swing it, I think that I would roll those dice with Pie in CF. His defense alone would give him worth, and he could man that 8 hole if the Cubs could pick up a slugging SS.

I think that if the Cub brass are trying to increase Felix Patterson's worth, or put the front out that they don't need a CFer, the smart GM will know this is BS because Pie wasn't even called up for the 40-man roster in late 2006. With his sparkling performance in Winter Ball, I doubt anyone is buying that he increased his potential to join the Big League team. Bad bluff, bad idea. Pie is no less than one year away from playing in Chicago. No doubt he will at some point in 2007, but he hasn't proven he is ready as a hitter. The Cubs would be MUCH better served playing a disgruntled Jacque Jones in CF.

Golf clap.

I would rather the Cubs try Dempster as a starter and let him fail at that first before dealing him - unless the deal gives the Cubs a needed player. I think Dempster will bounce back.

I don't know why we debate on what might have been Soriano's OB% if you take out his IBB. His batting history shows clearly that he is a talented hitter with little plate discipline (K/BB ratio). Look at his numbers in the clutch - not real good. He very well may be better in the leadoff spot, but the fact still remains that the Cubs NEED a guy in the 1 or 2 slot who gets on base. The answer is clear: Ryan Theriot or Matt Murton. Both are solid choices. Soriano is going to lead off. He is also going to hit around 30 HR, score 100 runs, and have a K/BB clip of 150/30. Book it.

I think he has already proved himself, and his loyalty to the Cubs. I believe what Bruce Miles says. He is solid.

Well said. And to hell with Baltimore. They should give us Miggy for Jones if we ask. We have received absolute crap for Sammy Sosa and Corey Patterson. We don't need to "give" them another talented OFer for free again.

If I remember correctly, going into Spring Training: *Wood was shakey, but there was hope. We know better now. *Prior was going to bounce back, but the Cubs broke camp not knowing that he was not going to contribute much in 2006. It's hard for Hendry to make up for that loss so close to Opening Day. *Pierre was coming off a bad year, but he was one of the best leadoff men in the game, and the Cubs DESPERATELY needed a leadoff man. Pierre was a solid acquisition. There was no way to forsee his pathetic start. *Jacque Jones was also a solid signing, but he was not a really good #5 hitter. He started slowly (as we all know) but he really did have a solid year offensively. The Cubs never did go into the year with a true #5 guy to protect Aramis Ramirez in the lineup. We Derrek Lee went down, it really was the coup-de-grace. Neifi Perez, in my opinion, is a VERY solid defender up the middle who can play 2B, SS, & 3B with anyone. When Baker fell in love with him in the #2 spot in the order, that is when you heckle the manager, not the player. Neifi is a bench player whose value is his defense, not his hitting/baserunning. I don't know what Hendry was thinking when they gave him 2.5 million. He would have signed for 500K.

Don't doubt you, but source? I have a friend who is being discussed in the trade. A Florida pitching prospect. That narrows it down to about 50 players :lol: As I have learned in the past, you never know who's agent, etc. is lurking on a message board. It's not a real good idea, as I would rather be "cubs.comish" than a name dropper. But I'll bet the scoop fairy visited your PM inbox.

Owned.

You've bought a car before, right?

Don't doubt you, but source? I have a friend who is being discussed in the trade. A Florida pitching prospect.