Handlebar McSkullet

I want you all to know im going to game 2, and for this occasion, I purchased a Neifi Perez tigers shirt!!!!! "Save us Neifi" Is a gem btw.

Have you seen his numbers the past two years? 2005 .210/.324/.357 2006 .190/.285/.344 Yikes... He said invite to camp not sign to a 5 year 70 mil. Go Team "Belhorn to the Cubs"!!!

I'd like to be a fly on the wall. Jim Hendry: What do you think about having Larry Rothschild as your pitching coach? Candidate: Hasn't the disastrous decline of your pitching staff been a big reason why you suck so much right now? Jim Hendry (this is the response that matters): Well, Dusty overrode a lot of what Larry wanted to do. or, Jim Hendry: But Larry is a respected pitching coach across the league and by the players. OR, Jim Hendry: Um......Thanks for comming in today, and spending time with us. As you know we are interviewing quite a few people for the position so I will try to let you know by the end of the month. In the mean time, good luck in your job search.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/90257,CST-SPT-jay10.article I think he hits the nail on the head on this one. All this managerial searching is a massive waste of time. Girardi is a good pr move, and he has prove he is a solid manager if not the best one availible(no offense to Sweet Lou fans).

1.Resign Aram- Adding Two more years, while bumping this years compensation to 15 mil (-4) 2. Signing Zambrano to 5yr 65 mill extension, 13 mil this year (-3) 3. Trading Jones and Dempster + 2 mil Cash(you would have to) to cleveland for casey blake(he makes 5mil)= lets say casey blake(10mil-2-5)=+5 mil 4. Sign Alfonso Soriano 4 year 65 mil (-16.5) 5. Sign Randy Wolf 1 year 1.5mil (-1.5) 6. Sign Kerry Wood 1 year 2mil (-2) 7. Sign Wade Miller 1year 1 mil (-1) 23 mil spent= C - Barrett - $4.30M (under contract) 1B - Lee - $13.00M (under contract) 2B - Theriot - $0.35M (less than 3 years of service - under control) 3B - Ramirez - $15.00M SS - Izturis - $4.15M (under contact) LF - Murton - $0.35M (less than 3 years of service - under control) CF - Soriano - $16.5 RF - Blake - $5.00M (under contract) C - Blanco - $1.5M (signed to 1 year extension) IF - Moore - $0.35M (less than 3 years of service - under control) OF - Pagan - $0.35M (less than 3 years of service - under control) OF - Some free agent signing - $1.00M SP - Zambrano - $10.0M (estimate $3.5M raise from 2006) SP - Wolf SP - Hill - $0.35M (less than 3 years of service - under control) SP - Miller SP - Marshall (or Mateo, Guzman or Marmol) - $0.35M SP - Prior - $4.20M (estimate $0.55M raise) RP -Wood 2.00M (under contract) RP - Eyre - $3.50M (under contract) RP - Howry - $4.00M (under contract) RP - Ohman - $1.00M (estimate $0.39M raise) RP - Wuertz - $0.35M ( less than 3 years of service - under control) RP - Aardsma (or Novoa) - $0.35M (less than 3 years of service - under control) RP - Rusch - $3.25M (under contract) Um... Not the best staff ever.. this is why im not gm. but i want to empthsize the importance of resigning ram and z

I agree to a point, i think the reason for the offensive empthasis is because they have a chance to sign one of the two best hitters(Soriano or Carlos Lee) in FA. Both have stated a desire to come here, and both fill a need. But I agree that they need to bolster the rotation. If they cant get schmidt(im not even thinking about Zito), then signing mid range starters like Wolf or Lilly for example would be helpful.

Not to nitpick, but I dont think you have a basis for that statement. I could also say that, while the sox made some moves(lee for pod, garcia, no valentine), the overall makeup of the team was simular to jerry manuel's last year. Younger players like joe crede and jon garland had career years under ozzie(whether that was his doing or not). now if you would have said, ozzie's knowledge of chicago had nothing to do with their success, i think that argument has merit. personally, girardi being a former cub has nothing to do with his managing other than experience. the job he did this year is what is most important.

I think my fascination with Girardi is two fold 1)he took a team with a lot of players that "werent ready" and made it work. 2)he managed the team with continued progress when there was alot of outside issues, like with him and loria. something that always happens here ala '94

Very Good Call. All though I still think Clinton is way to strong in the East and West Coast right now.

I was thinking the same thing comparision wise. He has a simular looking swing, at least from what I have seen of him. But, I have also been too busy watching Grossman throw that touchdown pass to Berrian, over and over.

I know out of all of the players Jim Dandy Hendry let go or traded away in the last couple of years, "Gruds", wouldnt be on the top of list(so to speak) value wise. But, does anybody else wish he was still on the team? Something about the web gems, and that ridiculous cycle he hit for the rat birds last year. Here are his Cubs lines: 2003 Chicago Cubs .314 .366 .416 2004 Chicago Cubs .307 .347 .432 Here he is this year for the KC Masterpieces: 2006 Kansas City Royals .293 .328 .407 Not great but did anyone see that catch he made tonight, unreal. I wonder if "Boom Boom" Bynum could manage that.

In the tradition of Bears and Bulls teams of the late nineties and early 00's(aughts?sp?), we can officially hope(hehe) to lose more to get the first pick in next years draft. Can someone with a better understanding of the baseball draft and prospects give a little break down of possible players we can look for. I remember in 01, i knew Prior, Mauer, and Tex way before the draft commenced. Anyone like that this year?

Lets us now turn to the scripture according to our baseball lord, Bruce the Christ, who doth proclaimed a path to baseball salvation. Sorry I tried to writed an original way to say "right on, as usual Bruce Miles"

I WANT TO WIN, DARN IT ALL TO HECK!!!!!!! IM TIRED OF THIS MALARKY!!!! GOSH DANG WIZZ!!!!!!

The part that's actually hitting 276 with an OBP barely over 300. Funny. I like murton to platoon with jones and be a fourth of. Sadly we havent produced any howie kendricks, josh johnsons, or andre eithers to jump out and say "pencil him" in for next year. My god Guzman has talent though.

I still think Restovich should be here. I voted for Jake fox though.

TED LILLY

his fastball either needs to develop a cut or he should savior this as his greatest game of his life

Here are some names I think the Cubs should look at for next year. Position Players (2006 Salary) *- My Preference 2B Adam Kennedy (3.5) 2B Mark Lorretta (3.25)* 2B,3B,LF,RF Mark DeRosa (750k) 2B Luis Castillo (5) OF Mike Cameron (8mil) OF Tori Hunter (11, he lists the Cubs as part of the 5 team teams he has a no trade clause to.) OF Gary Matthews Jr (2.75) OF Darin Erstad (9) OF Frank Catalanotto (2.7)* OF Cliff Floyd (6.5)* OF Luis Gonzalez (11.5) OF Carlos Lee (8.5)* OF Dave Roberts (3) 2B/OF Alfonso Soriano (10) OF Shannon Stewart (6) OF Jose Guillen (4) OF Trot Nixon (7.5)* OF Gary Sheffield (13) OF Gabe Kapler (150k) OF Moises Alou (6) Starting Pitchers RH Tony Armas Jr. (2) RH Adam Eaton (5) RH Cory Lidle (3) RH Jason Marquis (5) RH Greg Maddux (9) RH Gil Meche (4)* RH Tomo Ohka (4) RH Vicente Padilla (4) RH Sidney Ponson (1) RH Brad Radke(9) RH Jason Schmidt (10) RH Jeff Suppan (4) RH Steve Trachsel (2.5) RH Tim Wakefield (4) RH Woody Williams (5) RH Paul Wilson (4) RH Jamey Wright (500k) LH Bruce Chen (3.8) LH Ted Lilly (4)* LH Mark Mulder (8mil) LH Randy Wolf (9) LH Barry Zito (8mil)*

49 more days of "incompetent boobary." John Baker we hardly knew ye. “We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our fans to put the best team we can on the field to try and win because people want to see us win,”- Dusty Baker

I have spoken more eloquently at the tail end of 10 tequilla shots.

Most logical way to go about this. If Hill continues to play like he has there should be little doubt that he should make the 07 rotation, or be a front runner. 07 Rotation Zambrano Zito/Schmidt/Or any solid veteran fa pitcher Marshall Prior Hill Trade value *Gallagher would be higher than all I would think. 1. Marshall 2. Marmol 3. Hill 4. Guzman Me My Self 1. Hill(His curve...) 2. Marmol 3. Marshall 4. Guzman

Yeah your right, he did throw some sliders in the game.

I was wondering what everyone thought of the young pitchers that have started this year (not counting Ryu or Williams). Rate each player (let’s keep it to Marshall, Marmol, Hill, and Guzman) on a point system (0-2, being the highest). Rating fastball, breaking pitch, and location. Marshall Fastball 1.0 (88-92)- Uses the fastball mainly to setup breaking ball, also throws it chest high to get a swinging strike. Breaking Pitch 1.5 (Curveball, Mulder-esche movement)- Is knee buckling at best, at worst it is still an effective change of pace. Can locate the pitch better than most. Location 1.5- When losing, he tends to keep the fastball up in the zone, when winning his fastball come in on right handers or stays away nicely. On lefthanders he can consistently "bend" his curve ball out then into the strike zone. 4.0- A good prospect who should be the favorite to make the rotation next year. On a better team, his record is 8-5, not 5-8. Marmol Fastball 1.5(90-97)- When he is locating well, his fastball can hit 94-96, knee high. Most of the time he needs to slows down his fastball to locate, but still hits 92-94. Breaking Pitch 1.5(Slider)- Tight, late breaking and when it is "popping" down right nasty. Also throws it fast(85-87). Like most young pitchers, struggles to locate, but is still very hard to hit. This pitch causes a majority of the walks he gives up. Location 1.0- Good for how young he is, and should get better. When he can consistently get a head of batters, he is unhittable. Walks are his Achilles heals. If he is not ahead in the count, he will either give up hits trying to locate his fastball or he will walk since his slider breaks down and out of the strike zone. 4.0- If he learns how to throw a changeup(or keeps working on it), and throw it for strikes, he will be a good mlb pitcher. With less walks(aka pitches thrown), he will consistently give them 7 innings, but right now he is good for 5-6. I think he is the best overall prospect the cubs have. Hill Fastball 0.5 (86-92)- His fastball makes me angry. Before these last two starts, his fastball was hitting the gun at 86-90 with little movement and generally belt high. In his last two starts, he has been outstanding with changing the speeds of his fastball, at a major league acceptable speed range of 88-92. His fastball can push into right handers, and like Marshall is a set up pitch for his curve ball. Breaking Pitch 2.0 (Curve, Zito left handed "hammer")- It is legendary in AAA, and in his last two starts has matched the hype. His curve, most of the time, can look like a good solid off speed pitch. It rolls of the table at the batters shoulder or chest and tumbles, depending on the amount of spin he puts on it. When it is at his best it looks like Zito's in that its starts from a high point, like that batters head or neck, and drops down to the bottom of the knee or lower when it crosses the plate. Location .5 - His curve ball is never the problem, but in the ML, you can’t throw 105 curve balls and be successful. His fastball, overall(taking into account all his starts) is slow and consistently floats to the middle of the plate. When he is pitching well he can locate the fastball and throw it harder. 3.0 If Hill is here to stay, his last two outings should be the norm. If he reverts back to the batting practice fastball of his other outings, the cubs should sadly show him door to land of Roosevelt Brown and Julio Zuleta. Guzman Fastball 1.5 (94-98) He throws hard even when he is starting. It moves well, almost too well. Reminds me of early zambrano how it moves fast and from in and out of the strike zone. Location is key. Breaking Pitch 1.5 (Changeup, Curve) All out pitches, all can be devastating. The changeup moves and can drop the pitch speed 8-14 mph. The curve ball does the same, and from what I saw loops into right handers or drops tighter against left handers. His ability to learn and almost master both is what makes him so special. Location 0.0- When he is up to the majors, his location is terrible. Either his pitches move too much or he is just nervous or both. The problem is not that he walks consistently like Marmol(giving up a walk an inning), it that he will pick an inning to walk 3 or 4, or hit a batter, then give up a hit. He will get more chances to pitch but needs to work it out more in the minors. 2.5- He gets downgraded .5 because of durability. Had he been healthy the last three years he would already have been a staple in this rotation. Experience will knock out his wildness but because of his injuries he might need a Rich Hill like time table to get here. Quick word on Mateo- Great location, should pitch faster as he gets more experience. Dusty is correct in saying he must have a definite second pitch. He will be good in long relief and another year in winter league and or AAA next year should get him ready for the MLB.

I think spending money next year on a frank cattalonatto + starting pitching would serve this team with what we now have