cbbryan

I hope Bill Murray would have more class than to participate in a stupid stunt; the other two hacks, would jump at the chance. What? Is this the NoFunLeague? I think it's funny and should be some good press. Good press, did ESPN forget to talk about the Yankees for an hour, so they needed an attention grabbing stunt. I wouldn't classify it as funny, sort of an "oh, that's so cute" moment instead. But hey, if that's your thing, laugh away. So it would be good press if it weren't the Yankees? I meant it would be good for baseball as a whole. Do you feel the same way about Pro/Ams on the PGA. I don't even like watching golf, but sometimes the highlights of the Comedians are funny. I don't see where this stunt benefits baseball. what Soul said in his post hits the nail on the head. Doing it for a kid would be cool too.

I hope Bill Murray would have more class than to participate in a stupid stunt; the other two hacks, would jump at the chance. What? Is this the NoFunLeague? I think it's funny and should be some good press. Good press, did ESPN forget to talk about the Yankees for an hour, so they needed an attention grabbing stunt. I wouldn't classify it as funny, sort of an "oh, that's so cute" moment instead. But hey, if that's your thing, laugh away. So it would be good press if it weren't the Yankees? I meant it would be good for baseball as a whole. Do you feel the same way about Pro/Ams on the PGA. I don't even like watching golf, but sometimes the highlights of the Comedians are funny.

The Royals have a similar family package. 4 tickets, 4 dogs, 4 drinks for $35-40 (If I remember correctly)

I hope Bill Murray would have more class than to participate in a stupid stunt; the other two hacks, would jump at the chance. What? Is this the NoFunLeague? I think it's funny and should be some good press.

Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton for Jose Hernandez, Bobby Hill, and Matt Bruback Todd Hundley and Chad Hermanson for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek That is all. Couldn't agree more. Hendry's steals have worked out far better long term for him than his busts have bit him in the long run. I couldn't disagree more. Since Hendry became GM: The Tribune has upped Cubs payroll from 70m to 110m+ The farm system has gone from one of the top farm systems to the bottom and back to the middle of the pack Cubs record since 2003 is 407-403 while playing in arguably the worst division in baseball during that span. My expectations are a bit higher than yours, I guess. It's been said before, but Hendry is an average at best GM. You can certainly have a worse GM. Also, the clubs record since 2003 doesn't really rest solely on Hendry. What if Prior and Wood are healthy those years? What if DLee doesn't break his wrist? There's a bunch of factors that go into the teams record and it's unfair to cast all the blame on Hendry's trades. He's average. Nothing more and nothing less.

Maybe the Cubs are actually thinking of DeRo at SS and just haven't made it public knowledge. Or they're hoping Theriot holds down the fort at SS and DeRo can get starter ABs as the "super-sub." I just hope Lou knows DeRo can play SS and is his first choice to replace Theriot when Theriot struggles.

Why let sunk costs dictate how you spend your money in the future? Salary cap. I don't know exactly what the cap limit is and where the Bears are in reference to it. I want to say the cap is 119? Anyway, the cap wouldn't keep the Bears from taking Mendenhall.

I like FREE!

Well, at least Jim knows he has a problem. Doesn't look like he'll change his approach though.

No, it happened when he sneezed.

Uh, wow. The Cubs should disband if they make that trade. My guy says your guy is full of it. edit: Directed at Raw's quote. not Raw.

Like the crook that wants to get caught so he can be on t.v. Priceless.

Yea, that's a bunch of b.s. A handful of sporadic ABs punctuated by weeks of sitting on the bench between them. He got 177 AB's total. shttp://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?statsId=7704&year=2007 Those were split over mostly two windows. If you look at the game log, he got called up and started at least 10 of his first 12 games in April (4 or more AB), and only once in those first 12 games didn't play. With a .250 OBP he got benched, and returned to Iowa. He got recalled again in June, and started almost every one of his first 20 20 games, routinely getting 4 or 5 AB. (The record shows two games with 2 AB and two games with 3 AB.) 79 AB in 20 games, that's full time opportunity. After a while, having gone hitless in five of his last 8 games, and with a .275 OBP and a .227 average, he lost his full-time job. Some sporadic bench play, back to Iowa. When he got recalled in August, he was again given a shot as the regular starter but this time a much shorter window, 4 straight starts. AFter going hitless in two of the last three, Lou bagged the idea it was sporadic defensive replacement usage with only a couple of starts the rest of the way. Basically 10 start, 20 start, an 4 start windows in April, June, and August. Each in concentrated packages, and each following full-time work at Iowa. So it's not like his opportunities involved using him when he was cold off the bench, other than the few scattered AB's during the last 6 weeks. The June window was really the best opportunity. If he'd have done well in April, that would have been great. But by June, they'd abandoned the Soriano-in-center experiment, it was Pie's to take and hold. Are 10 and 20 start windows too short? To adequately judge a guy long-term, obviously not. But that's long enough where a guy who's hitting at Iowa could keep hitting and go from there. I understand that a 20-start window is short; pressured; and even the best of hitters go through 20-game periods where they struggle. I expect it will be longer this spring. But I don't know how many outfielders are allowed to go as the regular starter with OBP in the .275-range. I think Pie will make it a lot easier on everybody if he can keep his OBP on the right side of .300 early on. Then he won't need to worry about how quickly Lou will pull the plug. Check out Pedroia's first 20 games. It wasn't very pretty. Also, Pie was not a "supported" starter. I think he was pressing, trying to do more then he should have been when he played because he knew his leash was short. I hope Pie comes out on fire and wins over Lou. If Lou supported Pie like he does Theriot, I'd be happy.

Probably. And to clarify I know the OL is a problem, but I don't see how the Bears can fill 2 starting OL spots through the draft. While I like Williams I don't know that I like him at 14. From everything I've read on him I don't think he'll handle LT right out of college. He may need a year. So how does that help the Bears? Why would the Bears reach on a pick at 14 when Benson is clearly not the answer at RB and you could at least put that to problem to rest. Sure, you still have an OL issue beyond the 1st round, but that's going to be there regardless.

Angelo isn't going to pop for another 1st rd RB, unless it's Darren McFadden. And he shouldn't, there is absolutely NO NEED to have two first rd picks that are RBs on the roster. RB is a lower priority then OL, S, etc. I disagree. The Bears can't pull a starting T out of this draft at #14 unless Clady falls which is unlikely. They have 2 OL spots to fill and it's unlikely that they'll get 2 starters out of the draft. Personally, I don't really care if Benson is a 1st rounder or not. He's a bust and he's not going to help this team. Why people keep using him as an excuse for Angelos not to pick a RB is beyond me. Fix the line or not, Benson isn't the RB the Bears need to be successful. Bear fans wonder if you could get a 6th rounder for Benson and then say the Bears shouldn't draft a RB. I don't get it! Angelo isn't going to waste 1st rd money on another RB, period. That is just about as written in stone, as you can get. He may draft a RB (Slaton, Jones, in the 2nd rd or so) later in draft, but he isn't going to draft a RB, because quite frankly the OL is a higher priority then a RB. So he'll overpay for an OT that may not even be able to play the position he need him to play and pass over someone who would solve a problem? Does that make sense to you? By that logic he'll draft a player and not solve any problems, period.

+1 Thirded. fixed.

I didn't say the Cubs haven't given his some opportunity. He needs to play everyday though. Not 2-3 weeks stretches. By all accounts Pie is very coachable too. His swing looks shorter this spring and he's much more patient. I think bodes well for his development and his ability to adjust when needed. I just want the kid to be successful and I hope Lou gives him every opportunity to be successful. Obviously, the Cubs as a team benefit if Pie fulfills his promise.

Angelo isn't going to pop for another 1st rd RB, unless it's Darren McFadden. And he shouldn't, there is absolutely NO NEED to have two first rd picks that are RBs on the roster. RB is a lower priority then OL, S, etc. I disagree. The Bears can't pull a starting T out of this draft at #14 unless Clady falls which is unlikely. They have 2 OL spots to fill and it's unlikely that they'll get 2 starters out of the draft. Personally, I don't really care if Benson is a 1st rounder or not. He's a bust and he's not going to help this team. Why people keep using him as an excuse for Angelos not to pick a RB is beyond me. Fix the line or not, Benson isn't the RB the Bears need to be successful. Bear fans wonder if you could get a 6th rounder for Benson and then say the Bears shouldn't draft a RB. I don't get it!

+1

To be fair, those teams, for those years, could have plugged a washing machine in the lineup and still been 90-100 win teams. The Cubs can't make that claim, so the situations are not overly analogous. This is not an anti-Pie sentiment. Given the state of the division compared to the Cubs, there is no reason Pie should be benched or in AAA for 2008. Those Yankee teams where battling for their division as where the Red Sox. They certainly where great teams without those players, but to a certain extent the Cubs are in a similar position within their division. Other then Milwaukee I would be surprised to see anyone be uber competitive and with the additions of Fukudome and Soriano being more comfortable (hopefully no leg issues) I think the Cubs are at liberty to play Pie in CF everyday.

either Corey or the Cubs couldn't decide what kind of hitter he was. he was probably Kenny Lofton but they kept trying to make him Ken Griffey Jr. I don't remember him being hurt that often? (He did have knee surgery if I recall though) edit to note sarcasm

I think he is. I wouldn't mind him being selected, but not at 14. My biggest point was I dont' want Mendenhall to go to Detroit! If Clady's gone I'd go Mendenhall.

ESPN now has their draft projects on the bottom line. Notables: Clady to Denver at 12 Williams to Bears at 14 Mendenhall to Detroit at 15 I didn't know Detroit picked at 14, but even more reason for the Bears to take Mendenhall. Having to see Mendenhall twice a year running us over and then Adrian Peterson in Minnesota............ geez!

i think the cubs will be thrilled if he puts up numbers like that. the problem will be if he puts up a line like, say, .215/.271/.333. If they leave him alone he will be fine. i have thought that about a lot of cubs' hitting prospects. There's been a few I've thought like that about, but I think Pie is a little different player then the Cubs have ever had. I really think he was pressing last year. The OF offensive production as a whole was down so the leash was pulled tight on everyone. However, this year with the addition of Fukudome and hopefully an improved Soriano the Cubs can afford to throw Pie in CF and take what he give you. He'll be streaky. He's always been a streaky hitter, but when he's seeing the ball well he can hit with the best of them. If they allow him to settle in he could develop into an All-Star, IMO. Not to mention he'd probably win a few gold gloves in CF.

Pedroia is a great example. Also, the Yanks have done similar things with Cano, Melky Cabrera, and to a certain extent Alfonso Soriano when he was there. Lou needs to stick w/ Pie and Pie needs to know that it's his job so he can settle in and not press.