cbbryan

So, who are we trading for Soriano?

I hear Matt Morris is a FA at the end of the year.............he's a drama queen, but at least it would hurt the Cards!

I have 7 starts scheduled (2 each for Lowry and Millwood). I don't have any more starts scheduled until Thursday; Schilling, Williams, and Lopez are all scheduled to start then. Regardless of which of us is ahead after the pitching scoring adjustments, it looks like we'll have the top two scores in the league after the first day of the week. We ended up with the 2 highest point totals for the first day. Lieber netted me a whole 1.6 pts! WWWWoOOOOOO! I can't remember exactly what days my starts are on, but I have 1 more start for Lieber, Z, Chacon and Webb. I also have 2 more from Vargas. Should be an interesting week. I believe Chavez may miss Tuesday's game because of the birth of Diego Chavez...............his newborn son. CBS wasn't sure if he'd miss, or not. I won't beat up on him much if he decides to stay home for 1 day. Hopefully, he'll come back racking though!

If? You mean when!!! :lol: Seriously, though............we've scored a bunch of points for a Monday! I picked up Lieber because of his 2 starts this week. I don't know that he'll have any points once you figure in TBA. You got a QS from Lowry for 7 more, but missed out with Millwood. I got QS from Webb and Zambrano so that's 14 overnight. How many starts do you have scheduled for the week? I had 9. Two each for Z, Lieber, Vargas, and Webb.

those are the FAs... these are some of the few I'd like to see the Cubs bring in: Arizona: Tim Worrell, Matt Herges Atlanta: Rafael Furcal, Kyle Farnsworth Baltimore: B.J. Ryan Boston: Johnny Damon, Mike Timlin Chicago: Matt Lawton, Todd Walker (Team + Player options), Nomar Garciaparra, Greg Maddux (Vesting Option), Glendon Rusch (Player Option), Ryan Dempster Cleveland: Bob Wickman Milwaukee: Carlos Lee (Team Option, I dont see how the Brewers dont pick up the option) Philadelphia: Billy Wagner San Diego: Brian Giles Seattle: Eddie Guardado (Mutual Option + Player Option) What about Hildago for an OF bench spot.............didn't he hit the cover off the ball in Wrigley? He'd probably end up playing everyday though.

The DP is going to happen, it's part of the game. I'm not saying ARam is an awful player because he GDP and therefore his #'s aren't legit. But I do have a feeling that if the Cubs were 18-19 games up in the division, I probably wouldn't care either.

How many DPs? Will he GDP more then Neifi? Only time will tell. Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols might beat them both out in that category. And both of their teams may be in the playoffs! So? I'm a big ARam fan, but it seems the guy (and the team for that matter) ground into alot of crucial DP. I could be wrong, but it just seems that this team in general kills alot of possible rallies w/ the DP. While Cabrera and Pujols might end up with more. Here's GDP per PA. Caberera 523PA/15GDP - 34.87AB Pujols 541PA/14GDP - 34.64 AB Neifi 464PA/14GDP - 33.14 AB ARAM 496/13GDP - 38.15 AB ARAM is having a fantastic season, but on a team that's as awful as this one, you can't GDP that often. I don't want him to go anywhere.......don't get me wrong.........just making a point that this team kills it self. Burnitz also has 10 Lawton has 9 Walker and Lee both have 8 That's the top 5.

Considering Giles will likely get 3/24, Damon 4/38, Furcal 4/39, Ryan 3/21...That's adding 34 million in payroll. I just don't see all of that happening. It would be nice, just not realistic. We're not going to be able to sign all those guys, that's for sure. Secondly, Wood won't be in the bullpen next year if the Cubs have anything to do with it. Does anyone have a figure on what the Cubs lose from the current payroll at the end of the season? Here's a list, but I don't know how many other salaries the Cubs are paying for players no longer w/ them: Sosa (around 18 M), Burnitz (option 7M or 500K Buyout), Remmy(?), Nomar (8M), Walker (option 2.5M or if it vests which it won't 2.75M), Rusch (player option 2M), Perez (1M), Macias (825K), and Holly (900K). I think the Cubs will pick up Walker's option at 2.5M, they may buy Burnitz out if they think they have a shot at Giles. I'd rather pay Giles 8-9 M then Burnitz 7M. Cubs should have a ton of money though. I really don't believe they have a shot at Burnett. Too many teams in the AL East have interest...........Damon too. Wouldn't suprise me if they both got alot more then they were worth. Lugo would be great. I think it's going to come down to an offseason trade for OF help though. I don't know if it will be Dunn, or who. Anyone have a list of 2007 FA? That might help in figuring out who might be available.

Speaking of Ty, I have alot of his cards still...........anybody ever needs one, just let me know!!!!

Or the trash! :lol:

How many DPs? Will he GDP more then Neifi? Only time will tell. Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols might beat them both out in that category. And both of their teams may be in the playoffs!

I'm alittle futher south in MO. I had ESPNews as well, but it did broadcast on TBS........no Cub feed either. I didn't buy EI because it was too late in the year when I got the dish, but I have all of the "Sports" channels. Half the time I can't watch anything on them....................I can watch any pregame I want, but no game. They (dish) tell me that even if I buy EI, there are some Comcast games that I still won't get because they're "Chicagoland only." In the 80's it wasn't this complicated.........Cubs were playing..........you turn on WGN.

How many DPs? Will he GDP more then Neifi? Only time will tell.

True, they're spring training AB's, there's a good chance he hit against some ML stuff too. All I'm saying is the guy can hit, no one argues that. The only arguement is his plate discipline. Will he walk, or will he K too much. Would you take Jeff Francoeur? He has 1 BB (Intentional) in 127 PA vs 24 K. Is it possible that Francoeur is patient enough to work himself into a good count, but then swings at good ones..........and can Pie do the same thing?

I've read alot of articles throughout the years about different minor leaguers that have come up and been successful. Even guys that weren't preceived to have alot of plate discipline. And I find alot of peoples opinions on this interesting. I'm sorry I don't have a link, but I read an opinion some time ago about Cano w/ the Yankees. I believe they were talking to Torre about why Cano had been so successful in ML. He stated something close to, You have to remember that minor league pitchers aren't always the most accurate because they're working on different issues of there game, but at the ML level you can count on the pitchers being around the plate most of the time. I thought it was a legit point. What do you guys think? My belief with Pie is that if he has baseball instincts, MLB may be better suited for him. I don't really worry about him being "rushed." BTW, a fun stat...........Pie's been w/ the Cubs on 3 different occasions since being drafted in 2001. He's a ML career .636 hitter in those apperances combined. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/felix_pie.shtml

The report is that Moyer used his 10/5 rights to refuse a claim by the Yankees. This is after nixing a trade to Houston before the deadline.

I'm not planning on shedding any...............

Erik, I think you are being too generous. I don't think he's in a Cub uniform after the 2005 season. I have it on good authority that Hendry will do everything he can to trade Patterson during the offseason, low value or not. Hendry is absolutely pissed off at Corey's play and attitude since he has returned. And, seeing 5 pitches in 4 at bats last night was just the icing on the cake. Although he probably won't play with the major league team this year, I get the strong sense that the Felix Pie in CF era is set to start in March. Hoops Whether or not Patterson is on the team next year, Pie needs to be in AAA. Looks like we're doomed to see the same mistakes the organization made with Patterson. By the end of this year Pie will probably have almost 1500 minor league AB's, which I believe is almost double what Patterson had. I don't see how the Cubs could be accused of doing the "same" thing they did with Patterson. Pujols only had about 500 minor league AB's. Miguel Cabrera had about 1400 minor league AB's. If the guy is as good as everyone says then get him up here and don't waste a year in AAA. Patterson's inability to develop at the MLB level should not force the Cubs to keep every prospect in the minors longer. Each guy is different, and Pie might use the promotion as a catalyst to improve at a quicker pace than he would at AAA. If he doesn't, you can always send him back down to work on his game. What's the main knock against Patterson? Strike zone judgment. Pie at AA has worse plate discipline than Patterson did at AA, and that's with Pie having more AB's like you say. He needs more time to refine that portion of this game, since it is so important. Listen, I like Corey, but I'm so sick of hearing about how this is all the Cubs fault. When does Corey get some? He's always had the tools to be a average, or better MLB player............at some point COREY has utilize HIS skills to be the player he can be. He has to understand that he's not going to hit 40+ HRs a year and with his build, he may never do it. It's not just plate discipline either. He's doesn't think like a baseball player on deck, or at the plate. He very rarely takes a pitch when the pitchers struggling. How many times have you seen the guy in front of him walk and then he comes up and swings at the first pitch? He seems reluctant to cut down on his swing. If he did, he could be an all-fields hitter. Hit to the gaps and run like the wind. That would be utilizing your god given talent..............but that seems to be beneath Corey. I'm sorry, I use to make apologies for him...............I'm just not going to do it anymore.

BTW, Congrats to Buddiga for high points for week 20.

El Scorcho ( 8-12 ) at Alamo Stealth ( 9-11 ) DB Coopers Flyers ( 10-10 ) at Quakers ( 9-11 ) Lynx ( 13-7 ) at Danger Bees ( 9-11 ) Passion of the Matt ( 6-14 ) at Northside Baseball ( 20-0 ) Burning 'Bulbs ( 7-13 ) at Raw Dawgs ( 10-10 ) NC Cubbies ( 4-16 ) at Harrys Budcrew ( 11-9 ) Galesburg Hand Sanitizers ( 12-8 ) at Tootielicious ( 15-5 ) Buddiga ( 11-9 ) at Skeletons of Society ( 6-14 ) East Division Team W L T PCT GB Strk **Tootielicious 15 5 0 0.789 0 L1 Galesburg Hand Sanitizers 12 8 0 0.579 4 W1 Buddiga 11 9 0 0.526 5 W1 Harrys Budcrew 11 9 0 0.526 5 W3 Raw Dawgs 10 10 0 0.474 6 W2 Burning 'Bulbs 7 13 0 0.368 8 L3 Skeletons of Society 6 14 0 0.316 9 L2 NC Cubbies 4 16 0 0.211 11 L1 West Division Team W L T PCT GB Strk **Northside Baseball 20 0 0 1.000 0 W20 *Lynx 13 7 0 0.632 7 W3 DB Coopers Flyers 10 10 0 0.526 9 L1 Quakers 9 11 0 0.421 11 W1 Alamo Stealth 9 11 0 0.474 10 L7 Danger Bees 9 11 0 0.421 11 W1 El Scorcho 8 12 0 0.421 11 L2 Passion of the Matt 6 14 0 0.316 13 L1 ** - Clinched Division (In Playoffs) * - Clinched Playoff Berth I didn't look up the tie brackers.......Sanitizers may have clinched a berth. I know he has alot of pts, but I don't know all of his H2H scores.

I'm thinking........ 6.2 IP 105-73 And he'll get a win, hopefully.

I use to be a guy that said Corey's problems were because the Cubs rushed him up to the majors, but I've slowly changed my thought process about that. I think MLB players have to make adjustments on a daily basis, understand the situations w/in the game, and understand what they're "tools" are and how to utilize them. Corey's big problem has been that he wants to be something he's not. He's not willing to cut down his swing and utilize his speed. When I watch him bat, it's almost as if he's always guessing the next pitch and makes his mind up that he's going to swing, or he's not. I can't know what's he's thinking, obviously........but some of the pitches he swings at and as out in front as he gets on some pitches tends to make me feel that he doesn't see the ball and then swing...............he just makes up his mind he's going to swing, no matter what. The most frustrating thing to me is his patience. I've seen far too many times, a guy walks in front of him......the pitcher's struggling to find control and Corey comes up swinging instead of making the pitcher throw strikes and putting himself in a better hitters count. In the end, it's up to Corey to put the work in and do his job. His talent is something that I haven't heard many argue, but his mindset seems to be the problem. Probably the worst thing to happen to him was to hit so many HRs last year. He's looked like he's trying to hit 40 this year w/ the swings.

Draft already took place, but I need a couple more owners. First come, first pick on the teams. PM me, if you're interested. I'll need an e-mail to send the invite to and the team # you'd like. Here they are: >Team 3 >Jake Plummer - QB >Priest Holmes - RB >Domanick Davis - RB >Rudi Johnson - RB/WR >Nate Burleson - WR >Roy Williams - WR >Alge Crumpler - TE >Ravens - D >Sebastian Janikowski - K > >Bench >Thomas Jones - RB >Tatum Bell - RB >Duce Staley - RB >David Carr - QB >Marcus Robinson - WR >Plaxico Burress - WR >Eric Moulds - WR >Chad Pennington - WR > >Team 7 > >Drew Brees - QB >Willis McGahee - RB >Clinton Portis - RB >Fred Taylor - WR/RB >Javon Walker - WR >Darrell Jackson - WR >Antonio Gates - TE >Patriots - D >Ryan Longwell - K > >Bench > >Warrick Dunn - RB >Hines Ward - WR >Jerry Porter - WR >Isaac Bruce - WR >Larry Johnson - RB >Todd Heap - TE >Antonio Bryant - WR >Deion Branch - WR > >Team 8 > >Brett Favre - QB >Jamal Lewis - RB >Kevin Jones - RB >LaMont Jordan - RB/WR >Anquan Boldin - WR >Muhsin Muhammad - WR >Jason Witten - TE >Steelers - D >Jeff Reed - K > >Bench > >Brian Westbrook - RB >Kevan Barlow - RB >DeShaun Foster - RB >Jake Delhomme - QB >Tom Brady - QB >Amani Toomer - WR >Laveranues Coles - WR >Tyrone Calico - WR

KC is a perfect example of why MLB should have a minimum cap. You have to spend X amount every year in payroll. Don't like it, sell the team to someone that will put a better product on the field. And I think if we ever see an MLB salary cap in our lifetimes, there will have to be a salary floor included. I don't think we'll ever see a hard cap. I think you continue with the luxury tax, increase revenue sharing, and you have to MAKE teams at least try to assemble a good product. Spending the most money doesn't guarantee you a WS title, but not spending any money pretty much guarantees you'll have a terrible product. I think the minimum payroll should be around 50 Million. It would force teams like TB and KC to spend, or bring in owners that wanted to. How many great young players would KC still have if they were forced to spend 50 Million every year? Sure, they wouldn't have all of them, but they would have someone better then Sweeney.

What's another good market? I know they'd draw in Vegas and they'd have casino sponsors out the wazoo, but then there's that whole "Gambling" issue... it wouldn't fly. You'd have to take ALL MLB games off the books, not just Marlins games. IIRC, the other biggest markets without a team are Portland, Vegas, Charlotte, and New Orleans, not in any particular order. In a thread a couple weeks ago, another poster brought up Nashville.