JC

I wish ZZ was still around to give his valuable insight on all of the Dustybusting that is going on. In addition, I think I'll drive an 8" nail into my forehead.

People, for God's sake, get it right. Dusty's motto for 2005 was "No Worries". Another dead-on quip by the Dustmeister.

Can anyone tell me what the market for Furcal is? Who are the high spending teams this year that will be in search of a SS? $8M/yr for Furcal is crazy.

I'm one of the staunchest Hendry critics around. However, that doesn't mean I, or anyone else I've seen, doesn't think Hendry has made good decisions on occassion. I don't understand the need for such an admonishment. In actuality, keeping Walker should have been a no-brainer. He has a lefty bat that keeps a good average and has pop. His OBP is sufficient to lead off, though Cub management can't grasp Walker's own remarks that "you can't steal first base." He is relatively cheap with a cost effective option for 2006. His defense is better than he is given credit for and he wants to play for the Cubs (which shouldn't be dismissed). Finally, there is nobody ready in the system. So, I'll give Hendry credit for not moving Walker. But, is the credit for making the obvious decision or not doing something stupid?

Personally, I think Patterson needs to get away from baseball for a couple of months.

Who pinch hit, Cuse?

Ha. Nice. But, for clarification, isn't Weldon an IRL racer?

Give Dusty a break. I mean, he hasn't missed the postseason in something like 25 years. He doesn't know how to manage a losing team. Certainly, it isn't from a lack of direction or managerial leadership because Dusty always keeps a happy clubhouse. Uh, except for last year. And, there was that whole booing thing this year. But, irrespective of those things, there is a reason there is a league for AAA players. They simply aren't ready. Oh, and Cedeno and Murton made him look bad yesterday, so they have to sit today.

We aren't here to develop players. Hold it...

906

Harsh. Hey Jay, quit misquoting me! Even if it means correcting a misspelling?

Harsh.

Any favor I'd ever shown for the Angels disappeared when they changed to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

I can't fault Neifi for that. It sounds like a pretty difficult task to me.

I'm confused....to be ready to play next season or to be ready by the beginning of next season. Here's a quote from the AP article on the Trib website: The Cubs hope he'll recover in time to start the 2006 season. emphasis added Um...what happened to Hendry's quote that it didn't matter whether surgery was in August, September or October, that Wood would be ready to go regardless? Not that I believed it then, but it sure looks more questionable when there is a headline expressing hope that Wood would be able to start the season on time.

Take a look at how similar these numbers are: RK PLAYER TEAM AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB BA OBP SLG OPS 1 David Ortiz Bos 489 98 144 36 1 35 117 1 0 78 .294 .389 .587 .975 2 Manny Ramirez Bos 441 91 128 28 1 33 115 1 0 68 .290 .388 .583 .971

SS is a dangerous question for the Cubs. With regard to Furcal, I don't see $8M worth of production there. Further, why in the world would the market even reach $8M? Because of Renteria and Cabrera last year? I don't think there will be a number of teams looking to pay that kind of money for Rafeal. If there are, let them have him. I would try to bring back Nomar, personally. I know, I know. Of course, it would be a contract even more incentive laden than his current one. However, if I brought back Nomar, I'd make certain that Neifi was no longer a member of the Cubs, nor Macias. That way, Cedeno could get time to back-up Nomar. I think the risk is worth it that Nomar could return to a plus player at the SS position. That being said, I don't expect Nomar to resign with the Cubs. I suspect San Diego may make another run at him for 2B with a multi-year contract. If so, Nomar would be hard pressed not to take it in light of his repaired hamstring.

Play Jerry at second for an entire season, or look at his numbers with the O's. As I said back in April, Jerry Hairston is a mediocre player. He could be the Jose Macias in terms of versatility for 2006, but he shouldn't be an everyday anything. Walker should be the option at 2nd next year. There's a couple scenarios in which I'd be willing to see Hairston as a starter, but it should be a fallback option, not a first or second choice. Scenarios, such as? And I agree. It should only be a fallback, a serious fallback, I mean a serious fallback, option. Pursuant to Andy MacPhail's comments, maybe with our pitching surplus we can trade for Chase Utley...

Maybe he will sell it on EBay.

I hope everything goes alright today for Woody in Cincinnati. I hear Dusty and Rothschild are having him do a side session at a local high school before surgery to make sure he is still hurt. If everything is ok, he could be back in Wrigley to start the game today.

Sandberg is probably laughing his arse off.

While this quote is nice to think about for production in the Cub's lineup, everything in the article confirms what I have thought all along, that Giles will remain a Padre.

And their answer would be to play in a division that had a bunch of other teams that are in the same mess as they are in. I don't know what you are trying to say here. The entire division is over .500, with the last place team, Washington, 5 games over. Yet, the Braves still lead by 4.5 games. Its not like the NL West where the teams all suck, and suck badly at that. The fact that each of the teams is over .500 in the East demonstrates, at least, that they feast on other teams throughout the league when they aren't beating each other up.

At the same time, the Cubs seem to enjoy the risk of acquiring players who fall due to injuries or off-field problems. Christiansen, Brownlie and Grant Johnson are such players that have been taken fairly high despite questions of character or injury. Note to Cubs: they haven't worked out so hot.

What else do you judge a GM on other than the success of the team he put together? Am I supposed to praise Hendry for putting together a team with a good batting average (ignoring the lack of OBP)? Should I get excited that he managed to once again field a pitching staff that will lead the league in K's? I am very willing, and very able to make a solid argument about how poorly this team was put together, and how Hendry has failed. I've done it for 3 years on this board. The results speak for themselves. The only way to justify defending Hendry's moves is by ignoring results and living in fairy tale land. What were your moves again?? Keep Choi? Sign Beltran?? The way you carried on about the Choi trade should leave you w/ little authority. Didn't you just bemoan the axe grinding in a previous post in this thread? Bringing up an alleged position of another poster from two years ago certainly sure seems to fit that bill. I don't remember where Goony was on the Beltran signing. However, if you're looking to cast dispersions at someone who advocated to sign him, point your rather feeble remarks in my direction. Beltran certainly has had a disappointing season for the Mets, but there are issues that need to be accounted for, which include injuries and an adjustment period to the Big Apple. You may not think much of those facets of his transition, but I give them weight. In addition, you have to look at the long range availability of difference making OFers available. In short, there are none currently and the Cub OF is an absolute wreck. As far as Goony's "authority" goes, well, based on his posting history, the thought he puts into his posts, and the level of knowledge he generally brings to the table, I give his opinion great weight, much moreso than anything I've see from you to date. Tell me, what exactly have the Cubs accomplished since acquiring Derrek Lee? I love the guy, but was 1B a need position when the trade was made? Could that money been used better, such as acquiring Tejada or pursuing Guerrero? There is a bigger picture here that needs to be considered. Simply taking a juvenile shot at another poster for a single facet of larger scenerio is ridiculous.