JC

i agree. this is dangerous. Its not dangerous, its completely contradictory with respect to Hendry's offseason priority. What an infuriating organization.

Are you confusing Russ Springer with Russ Ortiz? I don't recall Springer being a Giant.

BBTN guys saying Springer threw up around Barry's head. It hit the back of Barry's shoulder. Harold Brains Reynolds says that Springer wasnt throwing at Barry. Well, first pitch was behind Barry. Next couple were clearly inside, with one hitting the end of the bat. Finally, Springer drilled him. NEWSFLASH: Reynolds is an idiot.

Yeah, but that was the 9th, not the 8th. No. Maddux started losing it in the 8th and gave up a run that inning. Piazza's bomb would have only tied the game in the 9th. Maybe its no big deal, but at the kind of clip the Cubs are on, every little run is relevant.

Jim Hendry spent, what, about $27M just to sure up the 8th inning, right? Well, does Dusty go with Howry/Eyre in the 8th, or does Z continue? Remember what happened to Maddux?

Oh. Then ARam does suck. I'm persuaded.

Can someone give me an updated definition of troll? I apparently have a dated understanding of the term.

LOL! The Russ "Take that Armour Off" Springer Fan Club.

Hendry had better get that extension for Dusty signed and announced before Jones comes up again or the inning ends.

As are their prices! LOL!

Unfortunately, only one vote counts.

If a person falls down 8 times, I worry more about why he is falling down than am impressed that he keeps getting up. That concern increases when that person is falling down because he keeps tripping over the same obstacle. Is he not watching? Does he think there will be a different result if he doesn't pick up his feet? To butcher a somewhat famous line, the definition of insanity is continuing to do something the same way and expecting a different result.

Baker's plan for tonight: lots of scotch. So THATS what the J & B stands for!

It would have been nice to see someone go out and calm down Ryu after hitting Cameron, but hey, its not like its his major league debut or anything.

That extension should never have been given in the first place. MacPhail, Hendry and Baker should all go, along with the entire staff save Speier, and the entire front office, scout system, and minor league development people. Silver lining: everything I have heard is that the Trib loves Andy. Maybe Hendry's extension will be proof positive that Andy has flaws and the entire organization needs to go in a different direction. I just don't think the corporate mentality will allow that. The team has made them a whole lot of money over Andy's tenure. They probably value that more that the struggles of the past 2 seasons. True, but the Hendry extension was a bad business decision. It was utterly premature, and I think particularly non-baseball suits can see that.

That extension should never have been given in the first place. MacPhail, Hendry and Baker should all go, along with the entire staff save Speier, and the entire front office, scout system, and minor league development people. Silver lining: everything I have heard is that the Trib loves Andy. Maybe Hendry's extension will be proof positive that Andy has flaws and the entire organization needs to go in a different direction.

I wonder if there is a Youtube exclusion to that "express written consent of Major League Baseball" provision.

And you'd be wrong. Look, I don't agree with his style or approach. I make no bones about that. But, I notice that you don't dispute the facts I set forth. Instead, you just want to assume I have a vendetta against him. Show me where I'm wrong and I'd be happy to discuss it. I just ask that the debate remain civil instead of foisting assumptions around. For instance, I didn't call him a fool. I gave him credit for the Hawkins deal, just not a huge amount. Show me results. He set this team up in 2004 to be succesful and they blew it, and in a big way. I don't blame him for 04'. I do agree that in 2005 and 2006 his foresight and approach have been very bad, bordering on awful. I guess I didn't like the way you approached your argument. For all intents and purposes you argued that he lucked his way into every good deal, a sort of Forest Gump among GMs. Beyond having no proof of this assertion, it also makes no sense that other GMs would be taken so easily. Your post doesn't make sense. In particular, you argue that I provide no proof of an assertion that I never made. You are either mischaracterizing or misunderstanding my points, providing little incentive for me to continue responding to you. I've pointed out facts. If you want, point to facts to the contrary, but don't veil your opinions as to my posts as contrary arguments, because they aren't. The Forest Gump thing is completely off base, and a pretty sophomoric assumption. I have given Hendry credit where credit is due for the ARam deal. He pulled the trigger. Good for him and the Cubs. The facts regarding Pittsburgh's finances and organization, team needs, and league demands remain, well, facts. Further, the sequence of events with regard to the PTBNL is accurate. With regard to Lee, I applaud Hendry for seeing getting Lee. But, circumstances again played a large part in that dea. Further, the club had glaring needs at other positions that ought to have been addressed when pertinent FA were available. If you are going to tout Lee and ARam as evidence of brilliance, explain why the team, at Hendry's control, is as terrible as it is. Explain why the team has regressed each year since he has taken over as GM for a full year. Explain why he has tabbed the bullpen as a priority need for the last three years and has been unable to properly reconstruct it. Explain why Estes got $3M; explain why Alf got a raise after 2003; explain why Hendry thought he was setting the market for lefties by paying a 37 year old Remlinger $11.65M; explain why he did not demand Wendell Kim be fired before or during 2004; explain why he paid a premium for Dusty Baker; and, explain how he has made $100M smell so bad. Sorry if you resent the fact that I have been consistent with my disapproval of Hendry, I don't know what to say. I'm certainly not going to apologize for it at this point.

I really don't get what you have agianst what he has done or is doing. Everytime he is quoted in the paper he makes it clear that losing makes him sick, that he and his mates are to blame, and that the fans have every right to be peeved. What is wrong with this? Don't overreact to everything I type for Pete's sake.

And you'd be wrong. Look, I don't agree with his style or approach. I make no bones about that. But, I notice that you don't dispute the facts I set forth. Instead, you just want to assume I have a vendetta against him. Show me where I'm wrong and I'd be happy to discuss it. I just ask that the debate remain civil instead of foisting assumptions around. For instance, I didn't call him a fool. I gave him credit for the Hawkins deal, just not a huge amount. Show me results.

Barrett seems more and more like a guy trying too hard to be a leader.

mark May 15 down - next off day - so, yea, monday. Beware the Ides of May...

Not all of our perceptions have changed. The example you set forth above lends credence to those of us that believe that deal wasn't a fleecing, but rather a logical result of being at the right place, at the right time, with the right periphrial circumstances. That is to say, the ARam deal didn't require a genius to construct. The Pirates were hamstrung by salary and inept organizational direction. Hendry needed a 3B and the Pirates were an obvious fit. However, if you look closely at that deal and recall the circumstances surrounding, there exists room for criticism as Hendry allowed Pittsburgh to hold the Cubs hostage with the PTBNL (who ended up being Hill). Recall that Grudz got injured and was out for an extended period. The only logical replacement for the Cubs was Bobby Hill. Whether you are a Hill hater or not, he would have been nice to have on hand during Grudz's injury. However, Hendry's lack of foresight failed to recognize that giving the Pirates a number of days to choose between Hill and Beltran hurt the club due to its lack of middle infield options. Hendry if not remotely the GM some hold him out to be. if it was so easy, why didn't one of the allegedly smarter gm's pull it off then? Timing and need, if I had to guess. OK, not trolling but... At the time the Cubs were one of the only teams in baseball that could add significant amount payroll, ditto on the DLee trade. That said, Hendry should be credited with the Nomar and Hawkins deals. Obviously I don't think its trolling at all. There is a lot of context to those deals that gets ignored and/or forgotten. As far as Nomar, I'm glad Hendry was trying to do something, but trading for an "impact player" whom Hendry knew would be subject to limited playing time at best doesn't get me all that excited. I credit Epstein with keeping that deal alive at the 11th hour. As far as Hawkins goes, we paid a load of his salary to SF and haven't gotten a lot in return. I'm not saying it was a bad deal, because Hawkins has been largely worthless since the trade. I'm just saying it isn't that significant of a trade in light of the return to date. It favored the Cubs due to salary, but not by a degree that impresses me.

Cedeno is the best part about this season to date, IMO. Marshall is close.

Well, make no mistake. He adjusted someone's groin.