atcfootball

Hendry Transactions since mid-July, 2002. * I did remove a lot of the "minor" actions, sign a player for spring or something silly and also a lot of the more minor moves with A ball players or minor "FA". I put a few in green/red just because I wanted to make sure that you guys notice them. Traded Darren Lewis to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received Chad Hermansen. August 22, 2002 Traded Tom Gordon to the Houston Astros. Received players to be named later and Ross Rohlicek (minors). The Houston Astros sent Travis Anderson (minors) (September 11, 2002) and Mike Nannini (minors) (September 11, 2002) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. August 25, 2002 Traded Jeff Fassero to the St. Louis Cardinals. Received players to be named later. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Jared Blasdell (minors) (September 24, 2002) and Jason Karnuth (September 24, 2002) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. September 4, 2002 Traded Bill Mueller and cash to the San Francisco Giants. Received Jeff Verplancke (minors). September 30, 2002 Released Ron Mahay. October 28, 2002 Jason Bere granted Free Agency. Joe Girardi granted Free Agency. October 30, 2002 Pat Mahomes granted Free Agency. November 1, 2002 Jon Lieber granted Free Agency. Fred McGriff granted Free Agency. November 12, 2002 Released Roosevelt Brown. November 13, 2002 Traded Dave Noyce (minors) and Gary Johnson (minors) to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Received Damian Miller. November 26, 2002 Traded a player to be named later to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Paul Bako. The Chicago Cubs sent Ryan Gripp (minors) (December 16, 2002) to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete the trade. December 3, 2002 Released Chris Stynes. December 4, 2002 Traded Todd Hundley and Chad Hermansen to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Received Mark Grudzielanek and Eric Karros. Signed Mike Remlinger as a free agent. December 17, 2002 Signed Troy O'Leary as a free agent. December 20, 2002 Signed Shawn Estes as a free agent. January 2, 2003 Signed Rod Beck as a free agent. Signed Mike Mahoney as a free agent. Signed Ramon Martinez as a free agent. January 8, 2003 Signed Dave Veres as a free agent. January 16, 2003 Signed Tom Goodwin as a free agent. January 20, 2003 Signed Mark Guthrie as a free agent. January 23, 2003 Signed Will Cunnane as a free agent. Signed Lenny Harris as a free agent. March 4, 2003 Signed Trenidad Hubbard as a free agent. March 12, 2003 Released Kevin Orie. March 30, 2003 Released Trenidad Hubbard. Why even sign him? (happens about 10 more times) April 21, 2003 Purchased Trenidad Hubbard from the Oaxaca (Mexican). May 9, 2003 Sent Alan Benes to the Texas Rangers as part of a conditional deal. May 12, 2003 Released Will Cunnane. May 29, 2003 Traded Derrin Ebert to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Received Chris Donnels. May 31, 2003 Released Rod Beck. Didn't he save like 20+ games and have a 1 ERA for SD? June 3, 2003 Drafted Jake Fox in the 3rd round of the 2003 amateur draft. Player signed June 29, 2003. Drafted Sean Marshall in the 6th round of the 2003 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 2003. Drafted Sam Fuld in the 24th round of the 2003 amateur draft, but did not sign the player. Drafted Tim Lincecum in the 48th round of the 2003 amateur draft, but did not sign the player. June 20, 2003 Traded Mark Bellhorn to the Colorado Rockies. Received Jose Hernandez. July 6, 2003 Sold Chris Donnels to the Florida Marlins. July 23, 2003 Traded a player to be named later, Jose Hernandez, and Matt Bruback (minors) to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and cash. The Chicago Cubs sent Bobby Hill (August 15, 2003) to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete the trade. Traded Jason Fransz (minors) and cash to the Texas Rangers. Received Doug Glanville. August 2, 2003 Released Lenny Harris. Signed Rudy Seanez as a free agent. August 17, 2003 Traded Ray Sadler to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received Randall Simon. August 19, 2003 Traded Enmanuel Ramires (minors) to the Colorado Rockies. Received Tony Womack. August 25, 2003 Traded Phil Norton to the Cincinnati Reds. Received John Koronka. October 15, 2003 Released Rudy Seanez. October 26, 2003 Doug Glanville granted Free Agency. October 27, 2003 Tom Goodwin granted Free Agency. October 28, 2003 Antonio Alfonseca granted Free Agency. Allowed him to leave. Dave Veres granted Free Agency. October 29, 2003 Mark Grudzielanek granted Free Agency. Tony Womack granted Free Agency. October 30, 2003 Shawn Estes granted Free Agency. Mark Guthrie granted Free Agency. Kenny Lofton granted Free Agency. Released Will Ohman. October 31, 2003 Eric Karros granted Free Agency. November 24, 2003 Augie Ojeda selected by the Minnesota Twins off waivers. November 25, 2003 Traded Hee Seop Choi and Mike Nannini (minors) to the Florida Marlins. Received Derrek Lee. December 3, 2003 Signed LaTroy Hawkins as a free agent. December 7, 2003 Signed Tom Goodwin as a free agent. Signed Mark Grudzielanek as a free agent. December 15, 2003 Traded Damian Miller and cash to the Oakland Athletics. Received Michael Barrett. December 18, 2003 Signed Todd Hollandsworth as a free agent. December 19, 2003 Traded Wilton Chavez (minors) to the Montreal Expos. Received Jose Macias. Signed Kent Mercker as a free agent. December 21, 2003 Randall Simon granted Free Agency. Michael Barrett granted Free Agency. Signed Michael Barrett as a free agent. January 6, 2004 Signed Todd Walker as a free agent. January 21, 2004 Signed Ryan Dempster as a free agent. February 11, 2004 Signed Will Ohman as a free agent. March 23, 2004 Signed Greg Maddux as a free agent. March 25, 2004 Traded Juan Cruz and Steve Smyth to the Atlanta Braves. Received Andy Pratt and Richard Lewis (minors). April 1, 2004 Sent Santiago Perez to the Texas Rangers as part of a conditional deal. Received Kevin Tolar from the Minnesota Twins as part of a conditional deal. April 2, 2004 Signed Damian Jackson as a free agent. April 3, 2004 Sent Todd Dunwoody to the Cleveland Indians as part of a conditional deal. Released Trenidad Hubbard. April 5, 2004 Signed Glendon Rusch as a free agent. April 12, 2004 Signed Trenidad Hubbard as a free agent. April 29, 2004 Traded Felix Sanchez to the Detroit Tigers. Received a player to be named later and Jon Connolly (minors). The Detroit Tigers sent Eric Eckenstahler (August 13, 2004) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. May 18, 2004 Signed Rey Ordonez as a free agent. Signed Ariel Prieto as a free agent. May 19, 2004 Released Ariel Prieto. May 31, 2004 Traded Damian Jackson to the Kansas City Royals. Received Travis Dawkins. June 7, 2004 Drafted Eric Patterson in the 8th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed August 30, 2004. Drafted Sam Fuld in the 10th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed July 9, 2004. Drafted Sean Gallagher in the 12th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed July 9, 2004. Drafted Jerry Blevins in the 17th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed June 23, 2004. Drafted Micah Owings in the 19th round of the 2004 amateur draft, but did not sign the player. June 14, 2004 Signed Ricky Gutierrez as a free agent. July 2, 2004 Traded Jimmy Anderson to the Boston Red Sox. Received Andrew Shipman (minors). July 21, 2004 Sent Ricky Gutierrez to the Boston Red Sox as part of a conditional deal. Released Felix Martinez. July 23, 2004 Rey Ordonez granted Free Agency. July 31, 2004 As part of a 4-team trade, traded Brendan Harris, Alex Gonzalez, and Francis Beltran to the Montreal Expos and Justin Jones (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Nomar Garciaparra and Matt Murton from the Boston Red Sox. In addition, the Minnesota Twins sent Doug Mientkiewicz to the Boston Red Sox and the Montreal Expos sent Orlando Cabrera to the Boston Red Sox. August 19, 2004 Signed Neifi Perez as a free agent. And it starts! August 31, 2004 Traded a player to be named later and cash to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Ben Grieve. The Chicago Cubs sent Andy Pratt (September 3, 2004) to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete the trade. Received Mike Difelice from the Detroit Tigers as part of a conditional deal. October 28, 2004 Matt Clement granted Free Agency. Mark Grudzielanek granted Free Agency. Ramon Martinez granted Free Agency. Glendon Rusch granted Free Agency. Todd Walker granted Free Agency. October 29, 2004 Paul Bako granted Free Agency. Nomar Garciaparra granted Free Agency. Tom Goodwin granted Free Agency. November 1, 2004 Moises Alou granted Free Agency. Kent Mercker granted Free Agency. November 4, 2004 Todd Hollandsworth granted Free Agency. November 22, 2004 Signed Glendon Rusch as a free agent. December 7, 2004 Signed Nomar Garciaparra as a free agent. Signed Todd Walker as a free agent. December 8, 2004 Signed Henry Blanco as a free agent. December 13, 2004 Andrew Sisco drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2004 rule 5 draft. December 31, 2004 Signed Todd Hollandsworth as a free agent. January 10, 2005 Received Stephen Randolph from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a conditional deal. January 14, 2005 Signed Chad Fox as a free agent. January 22, 2005 Signed Scott Williamson as a free agent. February 2, 2005 Traded Sammy Sosa and cash to the Baltimore Orioles. Received Jerry Hairston, Mike Fontenot, and Dave Crouthers (minors). February 5, 2005 Signed Jeromy Burnitz as a free agent. February 9, 2005 Traded Kyle Farnsworth to the Detroit Tigers. Received Roberto Novoa, Scott Moore, and Bo Flowers (minors). February 15, 2005 Signed Dave Hansen as a free agent. February 16, 2005 Signed Will Cunnane as a free agent. March 26, 2005 Traded Travis Ezi (minors) to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Mark L. Johnson. March 29, 2005 Traded Ronald Bay (minors) to the Cleveland Indians. Received Cliff Bartosh. March 30, 2005 Released Stephen Randolph. Sold Cody Ransom to the Texas Rangers. March 31, 2005 Released Dave Hansen. April 1, 2005 Sent Danny Klassen to the Houston Astros as part of a conditional deal. Signed Ben Grieve as a free agent. May 2, 2005 Signed Trenidad Hubbard as a free agent. May 16, 2005 Sent Mike Moriarty to the Baltimore Orioles as part of a conditional deal. May 17, 2005 Signed Enrique Wilson as a free agent. May 28, 2005 Traded LaTroy Hawkins and cash to the San Francisco Giants. Received Jerome Williams and David Aardsma. June 29, 2005 Released Joe Borowski. July 7, 2005 Released Trenidad Hubbard. July 18, 2005 Traded Jason Dubois to the Cleveland Indians. Received Jody Gerut. July 27, 2005 Released Enrique Wilson. July 31, 2005 Traded Jody Gerut and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received Matt Lawton. August 9, 2005 Traded Mike Remlinger and cash to the Boston Red Sox. Received Olivio Astacio (minors). August 27, 2005 Traded Matt Lawton to the New York Yankees. Received Justin Berg (minors). August 29, 2005 Traded Todd Hollandsworth to the Atlanta Braves. Received Angelo Burrows (minors) and Todd Blackford (minors). September 2, 2005 Signed Nate Teut as a free agent. September 7, 2005 Released Nate Teut. October 27, 2005 Jeromy Burnitz granted Free Agency. October 28, 2005 Nomar Garciaparra granted Free Agency. October 31, 2005 Neifi Perez granted Free Agency. And finally its OVER! YES!!!!!! November 4, 2005 Chad Fox granted Free Agency. November 14, 2005 Signed Neifi Perez as a free agent. OH NO! November 16, 2005 Sold Jon Leicester to the Texas Rangers. November 29, 2005 Signed Scott Eyre as a free agent. December 2, 2005 Signed Bobby Howry as a free agent. Released Jose Macias. December 7, 2005 Signed John Mabry as a free agent. Traded Sergio Mitre, Ricky Nolasco, and Renyel Pinto to the Florida Marlins. Received Juan Pierre. December 8, 2005 Juan Mateo selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2005 minor league draft. January 3, 2006 Signed Augie Ojeda as a free agent. January 9, 2006 Traded Corey Patterson to the Baltimore Orioles. Received Carlos Perez (minors) and Nate Spears (minors). January 10, 2006 Signed Jacque Jones as a free agent. January 23, 2006 Signed Wade Miller as a free agent. January 25, 2006 Purchased Angel Pagan from the New York Mets. March 26, 2006 the St. Louis Cardinals returned Juan Mateo (earlier draft pick). March 28, 2006 Traded Todd Wellemeyer to the Florida Marlins. Received Lincoln Holdzkom (minors) and Zach McCormack (minors). March 31, 2006 As part of a 3-team trade, traded John Koronka and cash to the Texas Rangers. Received Freddie Bynum from the Oakland Athletics. In addition, the Oakland Athletics sent John Rheinecker to the Texas Rangers and the Texas Rangers sent Juan Dominguez to the Oakland Athletics. April 2, 2006 May 18, 2006 Signed Tony Womack as a free agent. May 31, 2006 Traded Jerry Hairston to the Texas Rangers. Received Phil Nevin and cash. June 26, 2006 Sent Mark Watson to the Oakland Athletics as part of a conditional deal. June 30, 2006 Released Tony Womack. July 22, 2006 Traded Scott Williamson to the San Diego Padres. Received Fabian Jimenez Angulo (minors) and Joel Santo (minors). July 31, 2006 Traded Todd Walker to the San Diego Padres. Received Jose Ceda (minors). Traded Greg Maddux to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Received Cesar Izturis. August 20, 2006 Traded Neifi Perez to the Detroit Tigers. Received Chris Robinson (minors). YES! August 31, 2006 Traded Phil Nevin and cash to the Minnesota Twins. Received a player to be named later. The Minnesota Twins sent Adam Harben (minors) (September 5, 2006) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. September 5, 2006 Jerome Williams selected by the Oakland Athletics off waivers. October 30, 2006 Juan Pierre granted Free Agency. Kerry Wood granted Free Agency. October 31, 2006 Henry Blanco granted Free Agency. John Mabry granted Free Agency. Wade Miller granted Free Agency. Aramis Ramirez granted Free Agency. Jose Reyes granted Free Agency. November 9, 2006 Signed Wade Miller as a free agent. November 12, 2006 Signed Aramis Ramirez as a free agent. Signed Kerry Wood as a free agent. November 14, 2006 Signed Mark DeRosa as a free agent. November 15, 2006 Signed Henry Blanco as a free agent. December 6, 2006 Traded Freddie Bynum to the Baltimore Orioles. Received a player to be named later. The Baltimore Orioles sent Kevin Hart (December 7, 2006) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. December 7, 2006 Drafted Josh Hamilton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2006 rule 5 draft. THIS NOW LOOKS LIKE A GREAT MOVE! Sold Josh Hamilton to the Cincinnati Reds. THIS NOW LOOKS VERY VERY BAD! December 15, 2006 Signed Ted Lilly as a free agent. Signed Daryle Ward as a free agent. December 19, 2006 Signed Jason Marquis as a free agent. January 24, 2007 Signed Cliff Floyd as a free agent. January 25, 2007 Released Glendon Rusch. February 13, 2007 Traded Jae Kuk Ryu to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Received Andrew Lopez (minors) and Gregory Reinhard (minors). June 20, 2007 Traded Michael Barrett and cash to the San Diego Padres. Received Rob Bowen and Kyler Burke (minors). July 16, 2007 Traded Jerry Blevins and Rob Bowen to the Oakland Athletics. Received Jason Kendall and cash. He really gave them something? July 19, 2007 Traded Cesar Izturis and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received PTBNL. August 6, 2007 Released Wade Miller. August 23, 2007 Traded a player to be named later to the Detroit Tigers. Received Craig Monroe and cash. The Chicago Cubs sent Clay Rapada (August 30, 2007) to the Detroit Tigers to complete the trade. August 30, 2007 Traded Buck Coats to the Cincinnati Reds. Received a player to be named later. The Cincinnati Reds sent Marcos Mateo (minors) (September 12, 2007) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. August 31, 2007 Traded Rocky Cherry and Scott Moore to the Baltimore Orioles. Received Steve Trachsel. WHY? 9/12/07 Acquired nonroster RHP Marcos Mateo from the Reds to complete the Aug. 30 trade. 11/13/07 Sent OF Craig Monroe to the Twins for player to be named. Who was it, still can't find it? 11/12/07 Acquired INF Omar Infante from the Tigers for OF Jacque Jones and cash. 12/19/07 Signed OF Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year contract. 12/12/07 Did not tender a 2008 contract to RHP Mark Prior, making him a free agent. 12/6/07 Acquired RHP Tim Lahey from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash. 12/4/07 Acquired RHP Jose Ascanio from the Atlanta Braves in exchange LHP Will Ohman and INF Omar Infante. 1/18/08 Signed RHP Shingo Takatsu to a one-year Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 1/16/08 Signed RHP Jon Lieber to a one-year contract. 1/15/08 Signed SS Andres Blanco, RHP Mike Smith, OF Andres Torres, C JD Closser, and SS Luis Figueroa to Minor League contracts. 1/11/08 Signed RHP Chad Fox to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. 1/5/08 Acquired RHP Ryan Meyers and OF Corey Coles from the Mets in exchange for OF Angel Pagan. 3/25/08 Signed OF Reed Johnson to a one-year contract

I read here nearly every day, however don't post as often as I should.... Simply I just don't feel like getting into it with someone because they have a different opinion then my own... Having said that, my thoughts on Hendry (I have been thinking about this for sometime.) Why? Why has no one from the top seen that this man has no clue? Why have they not seen the LACK of direction that he seems to have! - He starts out as "farm director" and produces how many "all-star" MLB players in the past 18 years? - He has made ONE trade that has brought the Cubs value over more then one season. (see 3rd base) - He continues signs FA's to 3 or 4 year contracts only to have no use for them the following season. - Jones on the bench within one year and traded in two. - DeRosa he has been trying to find a replacement for him for some time now. - Marquis signs him to be a starter (20M+/3) only to have him compete for a job the second half of the season and into the future. (not all his fault be he signed him). - Continues to trade prospects (if you would call them that) for one year/half season rentals. In addition to this, I have never seen a team trade so many MLB players for PTBNL, this sets off some bells in my head, why? - Traded Pinto, Nolasco and more for Pierre to come hit the ball at second all season... It's not the fact of who he traded, its that he has no direction. Why even trade for Pierre, just to let him leave 1 season later (right choice, but he never should have traded for him to start with). Sure I understand he realized Pierre sucks, but he should have seen that before he traded 3 players for him. If the players he traded turn out to suck no big deal, but he has not given me confidence in his ability to judge talent. - Poor FA choices: Spent 300M+ (that was about the amount right?) on Free Agents last season. The contracts are going to kill us in the later years of them (he will not be here). He got: A second basemen he has tried to replace. A starting pitcher who is 8 games over .500 in 194 MLB starts. A starting LF who is VERY GOOD! A starting pitcher who is good his first 12 starts and VERY BAD after. (who is the 5th starter?) - How many times has he traded away a player with a bloated contract for nothing.... I would assume he would get nothing for them, but maybe that is a hint he made a poor choice in the first place to sign the player to the contract. (he seems to trade players at there lowest value and trades for players at there highest value) He has just continued to make very bad choices and with what seems to be very little direction on were the team is going. I just don't understand, why he did not get fired with Baker and MacPhail? There are GM's in the game today that are worst then him. However there has to be someone that is better! It just makes me sick that this team has ZERO direction from him. All the above and many other poor choices he has made makes me really worry about NOT signing Prior. This is not a post about he should have kept Prior, it's about the lack of skills he has show in evaluation of players. His judgment in putting a team together. His ability to NOT see or give this team any direction. I used to think he was a very good GM. After the Ramirez, Karros (is spelling right) and Nomar (only because of name, he never did anything for us) trades. But this guy truly sucks!

I like Lieber, I think he was good with the Cubs his first go around... Having said that! Why are the Cubs willing to take a 3.5M risk on Lieber who is "older" and has a history of being hurt in the past?? BUT Not willing to pay the 3.5M to Prior? Seems that your getting the same "type" of player... Only one has a HUGE upside (Possible) and the other has a MINOR upaside (possible). Assume the Cubs are smart for a moment; this means that they really DON'T think Prior will play at all this season (or he will play NOT good)... Or they are stupid? To be honest at this point, i have no idea which one it is? SIGN Lieber Fox NOT SIGN Prior I just don't understand the moves this team is making at all? You think for a second letting Prior go they are done taking a risk on over priced pitchers coming off arm/foot or whatever problems.... Within 30 days they have somehow signed 2 pitchers coming off "arm and foot problems" for MORE then it would have cost them to keep the one they had, that had a greater upside!!!!.... WTF?

Never mind all below the first question, a link to "he don't want to play in chicago" or something close to it... I just read that back in April they moved him from the Minor League 15 day DL to the MLB 60 day DL to stop a possible claim by the Players Union about a break in service time. The Cubs decided that the the Shoulder injury happened during ST when he was still with the Cubs; so there will be no "break in service time" with thought to avoid FA next year, I think! :)

Just a thought? I have been reading that he don't want to sign a 2/1+1 year deal, basically he just wants to get the year in Chicago done and move on to another team! First, anyone got a link to this report/something like this? Second thought? Last season he started the year out in AAA, he never came up to the Cubs and did not pitch for them. Will that time count as MLB service time for him? I guess what I'm asking does that time count to his 6 years in MLB, making him a Free Agent at the end of the contract? (I'm trying to make a simple question very difficult because I don't want people to question it, its just a question). Third thought? If in fact that time don't count as MLB service time when he was in AAA it won't matter, he still has 5 years service right now, thus, this year would be his sixth season and his contract is up at the end of the year. Please I understand he is not under contract right now, but if the Cubs offer him arbitration he will be under contract one way or another. Finally.... Why not offer him arbitration, sign him at the 30% less (or whatever the min. is - I think they would win since he has not pitched in a few years)... Then start him out at AAA.. Let him pitch in AAA until he proves himself to be healthy for one year! Then, that one year in the minors would not count (if in fact it don't count) in his MLB service time and basically have him in arbitration again next year and get him for a full season? Everything I read here says he don't want to be in Chicago, but I have not seen nothing in a newspaper (internet or paper) that says this! I'm not trying to think of ways to screw him for a year or make him pay for NOT PLAYING/wanting to play (if he don't) for the Cubs. I'm trying to figure out a way we can keep (if he don't want to stay) a quality (when healthy) starting pitcher.

2 Aug 07 --- hehehe (sorry, just noticed, I'm a day ahead of you so it is the 2nd for me.)

I was thinking for Prior they (cubs) maybe already had an idea that this would happen. This would be a great reason to send him to Iowa. If my understanding is correct, his time in the minor leauges don't count as his Major Leauge Service Time"? Meaning, maybe he would see Free Agency one year later then he normally would have; had he been placed on the Major Leauge DL? (Just a thought maybe would should have done this a long time ago with Prior). With Wood, why not do the same thing to him (he have options?)? I can understand a little maybe why they did not, he took a large pay cut to stay in Chicago (and he should have), it just seems like yearly we throw away 4 to 5 million (10-15M in the past) on the pair with not much to show for a return on the Cubs investment..

Were do we get the idea that if a team is TRYING to move a player,,, his value goes down? This is like saying that if a free agent only deals with one team, his value goes up... huh? So I'm a free agent pitcher. I talk to one team and refuse to tell anyone else I'm a free agent, my value goes up? really? I thought that if I talked to one team, two teams, three teams... My value would go up, because then I have 3 or 4 teams trying to sign me, why is the desire to trade a player any different? Every year at the trade deadline there are players there that EVERYONE knows the team would like to move... Yet somehow, someway the team with said player ends up getting fair value if not more for the said player. The value in that situation was not lowered by everyone knowing the team wanted to move the player, so why would it be so this time? Sosa and Patterson were very different stories... Lets look at Jones first, Jones is coming off one of his better years. He is owed about 4/5M for the next two years. Sosa.... It was very clear to even JH that his numbers were falling, and falling fast. He was getting paid 17M a year. Need I say more? Patterson.... As if I need to even say it, he was sent to the minors. He hit .219 or something like that. He was swinging at EVERYTHING. In both cases the players value was not lowered due to the Cubs desire to move the player... the players value was lowerd simply by poor play and a LOT of money still owed. After reading this board after Jones was signed nearly everyone did not like the signing! After reading the board now, most would say he had a good year, his pay is low.... but he can't hit LHP, he can't field the ball and he can't throw the ball. UHM, okay, why then do we seem to think we will get great returns on him anyways? If we are fans and can figure the above out, what makes you think that other GM's in MLB can't figure the same things out? Thus, lowering Jones trade value! Just a thought!

This may sound crazy but I figure, why not? 1. Jason Schmidt - Of the pitchers there other then Zito he may be the best. Even with the age differences I would rather see Schmidt, he knows the league and would probably cost less for less years. 2. Dave Roberts - The guy has been a productive lead off man for about 3 years now. .350's OBP and will steal about 35 to 50 bases a year! Lineup CF Roberts RF Soriano 1B Lee 3B Ramirez C Barret LF Jones/Murton 2B DeRosa/Theriot (take your pick, but I think it will be given to DeRosa) SS Izturis Also I like Roberts Theriot (if he starts) Soriano Lee Ramirez Barret Jones/Murton Izturis Theriot - just seems like a bat on the ball guy that can take a walk also. I love this about him. Seems like Lee was placed in the the 3 spot a few years ago never to move again. I'm not sure I like this, I thought he was moved there a few years ago so he could get more AB's? Starters Zambrano Schmidt Hill 4 and 5 go to a cast of others (Prior, Miller, Guzman, Marmol, Marshall, Cotts and Mateo) As much as last year sucked for us with the starters, it was also kind of nice to know that there are some arms in the minors. Not sure how good they are/or will become but we know they are there. Also it allowed Hill to show what he can do! BAD PART.... Hill turns into the first half Hill and not the second half. Prior and Miller hurt again. Guzman can't stay healthy, you just don't know what you are getting from Marmol, Marshall and Mateo. It could be a replay of last season with a better offense. Bullpen (in no order because I'm worried about Dempster - Who will close?) Cotts Dempster Eyre Howry Rusch (we are paying him so much he has to make the team) Novoa Wuertz Ohm Wood A Few on the list will not start the season in Chicago, no way we carry 9 bullpen pitchers (duh)... but what ones we don't carry, I'm not sure. Just wanted to throw the list out there. We do seem to have a large number or starters and bullpen pitchers, some good/some not so good. Will be interesting to see how things workout. Just a thought! :)

Hello All, This is by no means a money making idea for me.... I would do it simply as a favor to my fellow cub fans. I'm in the US Air Force and live in South Korea. For those that don't know the Korean people here can make just about anything you desire.. I would be more then happy to pick up some jerseys and send them out to anyone that would be interested. It goes without saying that they would NOT be authentic however they would have ALL the tags on them to make them appear authentic. I could do the same with all Bears and Bulls players as well... or any other team/player anyone would want. Ideas of the cost - All jerseys here sell for $25.00 for each one, unless I buy them in lots of 10 or so... - It is about $10.00 to mail to the midwest, this is a guess, I have never sent anything to the midwest. - I have to take public transp. to Seoul to buy the jerseys, about $5.00 round trip. - So I total cost for a jersey would be about $40.00 to mail and everything back to the US to you. As you can see, I'm not making a dime on this, but I don't mind doing it or atleast looking into it for some of you if you like. Again, I can get any year (I'm almost sure of this?) and or any player... I have seen Santo, Banks and Williams downtown also.. I can post some pictures someplace if you would like to check them out... Just trying to save you guys some money if anyone is interested in it... Again, all jerseys would have the authentic Mitchell and Ness (I think M&N) some have Majestic and others have Russel... Here are a few pics of ones I have got ... Just post a message if interested.... MODS if I'm wrong to do this here.. please just delete this message... I have no interest in spam or trying to make money on this, just help anyone who wants one out. :) My cam not the best.... sorry I could not get a close up of the logo.. http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/longsack/th_Picture014.jpg http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/longsack/th_Picture013.jpg http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/longsack/th_Picture012.jpg http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/longsack/th_Picture008.jpg http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/longsack/th_Picture007.jpg http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/longsack/th_Picture006.jpg

Bonds is a great player, no doubt about that... With or without drugs to make him better, he was going to be one of the better players in the history of the game. Do I want to see him in Cubbie blue next season? I honestly don't think I would mind it, IF he helped the team win! However to me that is to big of an "IF" considering the past two seasons the Cubs have had with players getting hurt. I'm just not 100% sure I would like to give BIG $$ to a player with such a history of getting hurt the past two years. I'm not sure I can take another year of Prior and Wood but this time from our LF position. I'm not sure I can take another Lee problem (Lee was not the problem, but his getting hurt was a problem) on top of Prior, Wood, Bonds and so on... If you would sign Bonds and plays 140 games you are the GM of the year. If you sign him and he plays 50 games, Hendry signed his own ticket out of Chicago. I'm just not sure he is going to be willing to put his future into the hands of a 40+ OF with a history (last few years) of beeing hurt along with all the personal problems that com with it. In the past Hendry has taken chances on players with a history of being hurt... I hope he has learned from his mistakes because this past season is a great example of what happens when you count on players that have a history of not being ready to go everyday! If bonds can play 140 games next season, SIGN HIM NOW! If not, walk away, just my thinking. I would hate to see the money go to him when it could be used better to imporve the team in other areas!

I don't have a problem with Baker doing this! What is wrong with it? It is not an injury that requires a stay on the DL so what is wrong with trying to keep it away from other teams? Now if it were an injury that required a stay on the DL, then I would hope that the Cubs would come out with the true information. Under the situation with no DL stay, I would hope that they would try to keep an injury in house and not let other teams know about it. It would really suck if because of hand injury to one of the Cubs players he could not get around on the inside fastball as well and the other teams found out about it. I say keep the minor injurys in house and don't let other teams know about it.....

I have read, dont' bitch about the bitching....... I asked a question about something I dont like, but I'm learning to accept from the fans of the team I love to root for. I have read in this thread,,,, Cubs fans are sick and have higher expectations..... First off, if the players on the field suck so bad (jones, pierre and so on) suck so bad, why do you have higher expectations? In addition I read we will end the season around .500,,, then why are the exptations again so high? I have read, we know what we were getting with Jones? Uhm, okay so if he is performing the way "we know" we are going to get, why boo him? It seems like booing Hendry would be a better way to display your lack of satisfaction? This is like saying we know we are going to get 20HR, 300AVG and 100RBI's from Murton and then booing him during the season because he is getting them numbers, it don't add up! Pierre had a down year last year and based on 19 games, some Cub fans assume that will continue into this year! Even in a down year, Pierre 50SB, 100R a year is better then anything we have had leading off since EY in his first few years. Basically I'm reading,, it is okay to boo a player because he is performing as expected,,, Pierre, Jones and so on.... However in ARams case it is not okay to boo him because he is performing (at this time) below expectations becaues he has done it in the past? Basically I'm reading. Expectations are high for this team, but everything I read in the thread says it is a 500 team with little chance of going anywere! Why if expectations are so high, why is this a 500 team?

I come to the board, I don't post often, I try not to. However I do read the board everyday. The Cubs now in the early season are 12 - 7. They have now 2 Rookie starting pitchers in the rotation. They have 2 Rookies playing everyday. They have there numbers 1 and 3 starers on the DL to go along with there best hitter. Im I reading correctly, 12W 7L with all the above and people are still talking about a few of the Cubs players that are in early season slumps? They go to the ballpark to boo them players and still can not say one positive thing about them when they do something good. I read last night about someone not wanting to Jones to swing at the first pitch, yet he hit a HR ont he first pitch to put the game away for us! I read today about Pierre not hitting the ball out of the infield, yet he hit a double to the OF last night when we really need a runner on! I read Baker is a bad manager and hurts the team more then he helps it. However I see nothing on the good moves he has made this season, but every time he pinch hits Perez, a new thread on the board is started. If anything Baker has risen the expectations of Cub fans and I don't think anyone can denny that! Prior to Baker coming to the Cubs, I don't recall being at, hearing on TV or radio a Cubs game were our own players were booed, why is that? We won a game tonight, yet I'm not sure I will read once about the sac bunt by Jones. The move Baker made to call it. How Baker took Marshall out at just the right time with 96 pitches thrown, his high for the season. How Baker has been very good about getting Marshall out of the game when his pitch count gets near 80 or 90 pitches. I'm going on, this is not about Baker, it is not about Perez, Jones, Pierre, Rameriz (who by the way has not been hitting the cover off the ball, yet I have not heard one person boo him). This is about why? What will it take for you to be happy? You pay your money, I understand that, and have the right to voice our opinion! Is a classic ansewr, you also have the right not to be a FAN (An ardent devotee; an enthusiast.) If you are so unhappy with this 12 - 7 team, why do you pay your money? If you are so unhappy with a few players on the team, why go? The treatment of the fans to our own players, I had never seen prior to the last few years! NEVER! Why is it? I really don't understand it.. I have never seen so many Cub fans that want to cut up a wonderful win with, Baker should have, Jones needs to stop, or something else negative. I see a thread on "Bad Baker Moves", yet I can not find one for good moves! Have we really as Cub fans become so negative? Please don't tell me well it is has been 98 years since our last WS! That is a great talking point if you have been around for all 98 of them years! Kids born in the 1980's say it has been 98 years, news flash - you have been around for 26 of them and probably have been following the Cubs for 1/2 of them years! All I'm asking is when did it become the "thing to do" to boo our own players? I remember hearing boo's for other teams, but our own team? How can you say in a straight face, I'm a Cubs fan, I support the Cubs and turn around at the game and boo? Is that a new form of support I don't know about?

I hate to say it but "IF" Lee's injury is going to cause him a long lay off, would anyone be willing to take a chance on Rafael Palmeiro? I'm not sure it would ever happen and I'm not sure I would be willing to do it, if I were the Cubs. But I thought I would ask the question.

I understand the people looking for reasons to rip Baker and say he has a butt thing with Perez... But I do think that this is taking it a little far.... Let me see if I understand this. 1. Young player hits for a poor average in ST. 2. Young player makes more errors in ST then expected. 3. Manager says if young player don't pick it up in the field and with the bat he may be replaced. Okay, were is the problem? If you look at it like this, without names it would seem to be a good policy in my opinion..... Kind of the "Perform or we will find someone that will".. I just don't understand.. People are unhappy if the young guys don't get a chance to play. People are unhappy if they get a chance, don't perform and Baker says he may replace them. So would this be better? Leave Cedeno and his .216 avg/error every 3/4 days in to continue to play? Play Perez and his .270 avg, no errors? To me the numbers would favor Perez. Maybe I have lost my mind. How can anyone be afraid because the manager wants the best playing at each position? (It sucks but Perez would seem to be the best option on the team to replace Cedeno should he fail).. I DO NOT care much for Perez myself, but I have to think his 270 average and D would be better than .200 and no D....

Not posting on the topic, just posting again to see how many will reply again with "typical" wise remarks about last post and english leasons. I'm in Korea yes, I'm not Korean however, I'm from Chicago, but in the military. If anyone gets the chance come on over and watch some Korean baseball with me... The first round of "OB" or "Hite" is on me! Peace....

And I will make an exit right now from this post, as I said this is not a topic I wish to talk about... I guess I let it get to me a little..... Chow for now.! :)

As much as I would love to join this thread, I will pass! I have posted topics such as this myself in the past only to have what seemed to be everyone with the rights to post bash me on it, so no thank you! Little advice to the ones that want to post with Baker support here, don't do it. The other posters will simply ignore everything you write, and pick a part minor sections of everything you post. In the past I have posted Baker as #18 all time in win % among managers with 1000 plus wins. In the past I have completed a list of all "Rookies" that have got a shot to play full time under Baker. That list doubled anything the Cubs had over the same time. (please note a farm systems production is not what was being looked at in the topic). I have asked questions, never to have them answered! How does a manager win so many games over 12+ years if he sucks so bad at in game moves? I have showed solid stats with well thought out arguments, with facts about Bakers past winning, only to have them tore up with quotes such as "Perez one line arguments". Some of the arguments I came up against..... Payroll Rookies playing time Pitching moves the list could go on.... Payroll - If the size of your payroll wins you a WS, why do we even play the season? Why not just give the WS the Yankees and save ourselves the pain of the Cubs baseball season? Baker don't pick the players to sign, last I checked that was the GM's job (I'm not saying Baker has no say in it). Rookies - Baker over the course of his career in SF gave more rookies a starting job then the countless Cub managers over the same time. This is not an argument over the farm systems of each team, it is a simple fact. Many want to say well he should have played Cedeno more last year. What they will not tell you is Cedeno's April, May, June & July BA was about .250, they will only point to his final .300.. Pitching moves - uhm, look at the Cubs roster and show me who else you would have gone with at the time. Give me a break with the Dempster/Hawkins thing. Dempster had to start the season were he did do to others being hurt. In the end moving Hawkins and putting Dempster in the closers role did not improve the team so great that it was a playoff team, because of other holes. You know one thing I would think Baker haters could not argue against is this. No matter what you think of Baker since his arrival the Chicago Cubs are no longer the loveable losers. There are expectations to win. Going on 3 years in a row now this team is expected to win. Prior to Baker coming to Chicago, it was always wait until next year or "suprise" if the Cubs played well. Now, we expect it. I for one think that a lot of that has to do with Baker and the way he speaks. I for one give Baker a little credit for that. My last post on this subject, good luck Baker supporters!

It seems like no matter what Baker does/says some people will just have it out for him. It seems that no matter what happens, Grissom makes the team, or he don't Baker is simply following a "tradition" in baseball. As a general rule from best I can tell, most MLB managers would rather have older players rather then younger players to come off the bench. With this thought I decided to look into what other "Cub" managers in the past have had coming off the bench. (it is up to the reader to pick of they think the player was a bench player or given a full time shot) Baylor Darren Lewis Delino DeShields Mark Bellhorn Kevin Orie Augie Ojeda Robert Machado Joe Girardi Chris Stynes Ron Coomer Julio Zuleta Matt Stairs Michael Tucker Gary Matthews, Jr. Roosevelt Brown Jeff Reed Shane Andrews Willie Greene Jeff Huson Glenallen Hill Dave Martinez Sandy Martinez Jose Hernandez Curtis Goodwin Orlando Merced Matt Mieske (Did not include some players because they started there "Cub" career under another manager) Rigs Dave Hansen Miguel Cairo Manny Alexander Rey Sanchez Leo Gomez Todd Haney Dave Magadan Terry Shumpert Mark Parent Howard Johnson Todd Zeile Glenallen Hill Willie Wilson Karl Rhodes (There were many players that played a little with rigs that had less than 100AB in the season. - For this reason I did not consider them full time bench players). If we judged each manager by the number of "Young" vs "Old" players they had on the bench I would have to say, NONE of the last THREE managers (Baker, Rigs and Baylor) like young players. It seems to me even if Grissom makes the team, Baker is only following line with "Most" managers in baseball... Lets not forget Rigs was known as a manager that liked young players, yet he did not have many younger players coming off the bench for him either.

Jehrico, I'm in nearly the same boat as you!!!! You know this is the first thing I thought of myself. In 03 -04 I was in Korea, watching the games daily on AFN, we almost did it that year. Now I'm on my way back to Korea for another year, I will be leaving the good old US of A on "Opening Day". My thoughts when I was in Korea (O3), was wouldn't you know, I'm 10,000 miles away and the Cubs are going to go all the way. Of course we all know that did not end that way. Now my first thought when I found out I was going back was, "this has to be the year!" I'm not around, all things are pointing up... Also, Jehrico, I would love to talk with you some about Korea (share experiances). I loved my first tour in Korea and I have really looked forward to going back. I wish you the best in Iraq, hope we can talk about Korea sometime. See my sig! :)

Wanted to get your thoughts. What was the best one for you? What was the funniest one to you? Wanted your thoughts..... Man I miss Harry...... :)

Really did not think that this thread would bring up so many posts. Anyway, interesting reading your opinions. It seems that most just hate the way he is used. It seems that most just hate were he hits. It seems that most just hate how much he is paid. It seems that most just hate that he is NOT used as the 25th man. It seems that most just hate that he is USED as a 1 or 2 option off the bench, or starter if INF get's hurt. It seems that most just hate his OBP. Just seems to me that when I put them opinions together it leads me think, not many people like him. Thus that is how the title of the post comes about. Let me say, I'm not going to knock the guy for getting 2M or 3M a year for getting 500AB. I really would not knock the guy when I look on the same team and see Wood making 11M and Nomar making 8M a year, the year prior. I was not happy with his OBP or his hitting second in the lineup (and I like Baker as a manager). In looking at Bowa, Dunston and AGone I was not as much compairing the 4 of them. I was simply showing the numbers (and ages) and saying the Cubs have not had a steller SS in sometime, so basically Perez was giving us the production we as fans should be used to. Looking at the numbers if Perez is a backup (and he is), should have Dunston, AGone and Bowa been backups also? Just a thought. I did not like Perez playing so much last year. Many of you seem to say the same thing, so I ask what other options did the team have to play SS? For those of us that would argue for Cedeno I will counter that with.... As of 8/26/05 Cedeno hit .259 with a homer and three RBI's in the Majors. Cedeno has a career minor league (6 seasons) average of .254 Cedeno has a career minor league OBP of .335 I may be in the minority here, but I just don't see this as Major Leauge ready. Bash Baker for use of Perez, that is fine, but please give me a better option at SS once Nomar got hurt last year. I read I like Perez, I just don't like how he was use. That is great, who on last years team would you have filled that hole at SS with?

Let me first say I am NOT a fan of his. I did not like it when he was playing so much last year, however he did come up with a big hits early in the year for us, he just played a little to much I think over the year! His Stats... 59R 157H 9HR 54RBI 8SB .274AVG .298OPB .383SLG 10E .982FP At the same age.... Dunston 38R 92H 11HR 35RBI 10SB .278AVG .313OBP .435SLG 12E .966FP (84G) Bowa 93R 175H 4HR 41RBI 32SB .280AVG .313OBP .340SLG 13E .983FP AGone 30yrs 71R 122H 20HR 59RBI 6SB .228AVG .295OBP .409SLG 10E .984FP Look at it, it's not like we have had rather stellar play from our SS position to start with. When you think of the fact that he was going into the season as a bench player, I think his production was not all that bad. Now I would rather NOT have seen him play, but since Nomar got hurt, Perez was the best option. Cedeno really had not proven (at the time of Nomar being hurt) to be ready for the Majors, he was off to a great start in Iowa, but his prior years in the minors (hitting) did not lead anyone to think it would continue. His avgs 00 - .278 R 01 - .196 A 02 - .218 A 03 - .213 A 04 - .279 AA 05 - .355 AAA Again I want to say I'm not a Perez fan, but look at his numbers and looking at what other Cub SS have done in the past, there were not just plan bad as some would think. Okay, maybe they are bad when looking around the rest of the leauge and era that he plays in, but when i look at what we (the cubs) have had in the past, I have to say, he did not do that bad of a job.

Who would we platoon him with? Here are our options,, what one do you want to see out there against leftys? John Mabry (another lefthanded hitter) Adam Greenberg (another lefthanded hitter) Marquis Grissom (increasing critics of Bakers use of vets, .217 last year and .322 3yr avg aginst leftys) Jerry Hairston (hit .255 against leftys last season, .276 3yr avg) Just your thoughts, is it Hairston or Grissom "if" he makes the team. In addition what is the OF situation if you do play either Grissom or Hairston, do you want them in RF? Move Murton over to RF and play the platoon player (Grissom or Hairston) in LF? Just wanted your thoughts.