Abe Frohman

How did you know he was whining if you didn't read it in a newspaper? And if so didn't that change your opinion of him? You know what - that is a really good point.

I REFUSE to let a newspaper article change what my gut tells me about a player. Last year, Hairston turned me off with his whining about playing time. I don't think he would be a bad starter in a pinch, but if Walker is traded I would rather have Cedeno at 2B and Neifi at short. Neifi Perez still has an EXCELLENT infield arm (some consider one of the best in the game) and a good enough glove to play great SS. If Hairston is telling us that he was hurt in 2005, that doesn't surprise me - he has been hurt every year he has played. Personally, I think it is moot. He seemed healthy enough last year to be diving for balls in the OF that he should have caught on both feet. I don't think Hairston would hurt the Cubs starting at 2b, but with the lack of power the Cubs have up & down the lineup - Hairston really isn't what I would have in mind.

OK, here goes..... Ted Williams (x2), Ernie Banks (x2), Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Mark Grace (x3), Sammy Sosa, Rod Beck, Ken Griffey, Ken Griffey JR, Jerome Walton, Joe Adcock, Matt Williams, Willie McGee, Todd Walker, Brandon McCarthy (he's a friend), Vince Coleman, and Juan Gonzalez. Oh, I have a Barry Bonds also, but he is a schmuck.

If Perez is going to play, I want Cedeno playing. I don't want Walker and Perez playing with Cedeno rotting on the bench. Perez played gold glove caliber defense last year. Throw Cedeno in at second. But the Cubs could use more left-handed pop. Defensively - Perez is excellent. Overall, it has to be Cedeno & Walker. It is an odd situation, but one the Cubs keep finding themselves in. BTW, have you heard of V&F Transformers? I used to buy from them a few years back. Quality people from Bartlett, IL. I even visited the plant and Mr. Foderaro took me & the wife to a Cub game (we sat 3 rows behind the 1st base dugout!).

Joe Morgan, though an annoying know-it-all announcer, was a undebatable HOFer. His numbers and results were incredible. Dawson, on the other hand, is debatable - BUT worthy. IMO.

I can't stomach hearing the excuses for Mark McGwire. Sometimes, you just have to realize that the absolute truth will NEVER be evident. If Mark McGwire is a Hall of Famer, the HOF is crap. Don't call me biased, because Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, and several others - in my opinion, are no better. All of the great records of this game have been comprimised, and I don't believe that this is a "innocent until proven guilty" situation. This "steroid era" in unrepairable. You can only stop it with ZERO tolerance and try to rebuild the game. That is not happening. The Commisioner, owners, the Player's Union, and anyone in the know ALLOWED this to happen. It has come to a head. Some people don't think it is that big of a deal. I do. To see Mark McGwire elected to the Hall of Fame would be a disgrace to Major League Baseball (which isn't saying much). It will be bad for the sport, and I don't think it should happen. Not now.

To me, Dawson was one of the BEST players of his day, and most of his career he played with bad knees. I think one year he had them drained 8 times and 2 operations. I am a big Hawk fan, and feel I am being objective when I say he belongs in the Hall of Fame. In a time when steroid-bloated statistics blanket his still impressive numbers, Andre is getting slighted by the baseball writers. I would be willing to put money down that the Hawk will get in eventually, and here is why: * One of the BEST all-around players of his time (some of it was played on bum knees). * 438 HR, 2774 Hits, 1591 RBI, 314 SB. His HR/SB #s put him in a class with only Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, & Barry Bonds. * 8 Gold Glove Awards. * 8 All-Star Games. * 4 Silver Slugger Awards. * NL MVP in 1987, Two 2nd place finishes in MVP (1981 & 1983) * NL Rookie of the Year (1977). * Ranked #44 ALL TIME in hits (2774). * Ranked #24 ALL TIME in total bases (4787). * Ranked #41 ALL TIME in doubles (503). * Ranked #32 ALL TIME in home runs (438 ) . * Ranked #28 ALL TIME in runs batted in (1591). * Ranked #21 ALL TIME in extra base hits (1039). * Ranked #9 ALL TIME in sacrifice flies (118 ) . * Ranked #44 ALL TIME in intentional walks (143). * Ranked #6 ALL TIME in power/speed numbers (365.8 ) . Now if you consider ALL of the players who have EVER played baseball at the Major League Level, and consider the best of the best - Andre Dawson ranked at least in the TOP 50 of ALL TIME in the above categories. The man is a Hall of Famer. A class act, a great player, and a WORTHY Hall of Famer.

The latest rumor is that the Cubs are discussing a trade with Tampa Bay (ESPN 1000) - Julio Lugo for Jerome Williams & Todd Walker. Would you do it if you were Jim Hendry? I definately would. Even though Lugo is good for 20 errors at SS, it looks like he gets to a lot of balls and turns a good number of DPs. I seem to remember he had an erratic arm with Houston, and have to think DLee could save him a few errors. Pierre/Lugo at the top of the order would be a great 1-2 punch, and IMO - the defense up the middle is still going to have to get better for the Cubs to take the NL Central. Barrett, Cedeno, Walker, & Pierre just doesn't really stand out as a great defensive core. Not real bad, but not elite by any means.

Personally, I can't stand grey uniforms. I like the blue tops a lot. Also, the navy BP jerseys & caps get on my nerves. When did navy become a Cub color?

Hang on a second, guys.... Did Hendry even get a chance to counter-offer the Dodgers? I don't think so, and he made a very, very good offer. I wouldn't say he failed. 13 million for 2 years is a lot of money. I wonder if he can pull anything else off. There is a little time....

Sorry about that. I was forwarded that pic and guess I thought it was official. DOH!

I think we just have to hope that they will fly JW's dad to be in attendance every time he starts. Remember that GEM he pitched last season with his dad there?

I don't think you can really fault Hendry for letting Wood pitch as long as he did in 2005. They shut Wood down as soon as it was clear that there were no Post Season expectations, and he was lighting up the pen. I loved watching him mow down Cardinal batters with a fastball getting clocked at 100 mph. I think he may have been clocked at 101 that day. Regardless, what an dummy the Cubs would have looked like if the team caught fire and got the Wild Card, and Wood was on the DL recovering from surgery.

http://www.rabidhogfans.com/rhf_php/upload/399904/New%20Uniforms.jpg They are going to look good losing in these.

Despite the fact that I don't think the Cubs really have a true #5 hitter to protect Aramis Ramirez in the order, I think it is essential to have Todd Walker hitting in the 2 spot. He is tough to strike out, and hopefully can do what it takes to get Pierre into scoring position for Lee & Ramirez. I think Matt Murton has shown that he is a guy who will draw walks (hard to tell, but I'll bet somewhere in the 50 BB range for the Cubs is what we can expect), which would make him a pretty good fit in the 2 hole. Additionally, I hear that Murton has some pretty good pop and may develope into a 20-30 HR hitter, which would be nice if he could go ahead knock that many in 2005 behind ARam. We need more pop. I like the lineup pretty much the same as everyone else: CF Pierre 2B Walker 1B Lee 3B Ramirez LF Murton RF Jones CA Barrett SS Cedeno

Sorry to make a post with no real substance, but that is hilarious!

I believe it is totally possible to change your swing. Hitting really is a mental thing..... the mechanics can be changed with work, the approach with study and actual thinking. I don't think a guy will make it if he can't make adjustments. In Corey Patterson's case - he was stubborn to the point of being stupid. Remember Gene Clines quotes during the season in which he basically threw his hands up and said "I have done all I can do?" I have a feeling that CP still WANTED to be considered a power hitter. The guy has as good of speed as anyone in the league. Really, all he has to do is slap the ball on that thick Wrigley grass and he will beat out 7 of 10, and be a 300+ hitter. Unfortunately, Patterson seems to be perfectly content with the wiffing & popping up, with the occasional meaningless HR. Hell, I think every HR CP hit in 2005 was solo. You have to use your noodle....

I am not really unhappy about the Jacque Jones signing - just can't believe Hendry sunk $16 million into him. Regardless, this team still needs a #5 hitter. When Aramis goes down with his "Stretch-run Hammy," this team is going to be hurting. Better hope Murton is a 20-30 HR rookie....

great to be here, thanks. Nice place, this is definately going to make me more productive at work...

Hey guys, first time poster here. Congrats to Bruce Sutter. I really hate that Andre Dawson didn't make the cut. Even worse, Jim Rice got more votes than him. Do any of you think that Rice has a better chance than Dawson? Does anyone think Rice was a better player?