apete6

Well, considering we should have made the WS in 2003 and should have made (at least) the playoffs in 2004, I would take that. Honestly, if we would have squirmed in in 2004, our starting pitchers may not have given up any runs in the playoffs. Prior, Wood, Z, and Maddux were on fire, even during that last week. Prior had a 16K game and LOST against the Reds for cripes sake. I would take a repeat of 2003 and 2004 (with different endings) this year and next year, even if it meant that we would look like the White Sox do now in 2009.

I totally agree. All of the talk about Dunn is ridiculous, Griffey is the answer. Of course everything depends on what they want for him. I almost wonder if the Reds don't care about trading Griffey now and will just wait until the offseason and let him get 600 in a Reds uni. The sad part is that's probably the case. They want a guy who hasn't done jack squat in their uniform (team wise) pass an increasingly meaningless barrier rather than try to get some prospects for him in order to build their organization? What a freaking joke. Have fun in 4th place the next 5 years, Cincinnati. I hope the extra 10,000 "Griffey 600 homers" shirts make up for the lack of organizational direction. Not that it's anyone's fault, but their fans really got the shaft in the whole Griffey ordeal. He was supposed to be doing what Bonds is doing and they were expecting their team to go on a nice winning run. Well, Scott Williamson and Danny Graves got hurt and forgot how to pitch, Barry Larkin got old, Sean Casey became a homeless man's Mark Grace, and Junior became best friends with the DL. Sucks for them.

Works for me, but then where does DeRo go, RF, SS?

That would be one hell of a player. A switch hitting guy with an .800 OPS from both sides of the plate and a rocket arm (Juan) and thick skin to deal with fans (Jacque). Sign me up for the official medical combianation of these two. If not, keep it. Encarnacion is a better fielding, worse hitting Murton.

It's going to take Rich Hill and decent prospects at a minimum to get Salty. If they'd take Marshall, Ohman, and a prospect, Hendry would have done this months ago. (I hope)

Len said that if Kerry feels OK tomorrow, he will pitch back to back on Thursday and Friday. That's a pretty big step. Question: Are the Cubs going to keep moving Kerry up the minor league ladder or are they going to fast track him to the big club so they can take advantage of whatever bullets he has available in his arm?

Rob Mackowiak makes Cliff Floyd look like Ichiro in the outfield. God, he sucks out there. Nevertheless, Ozzie continues to trot him out there (I'll give him a bit of reprieve since its a DH). Oh, and Curtis Granderson rules. That is all.

Jake Fox and maybe a lower level pitching prospect. Maximum. Dye could be great...or he could get hurt and we'd never hear from him again. Likely he will put up his average 2001-2004 numbers, which aren't bad, but the risk is very high with him. I can understand why Williams is asking for the moon, however. Dye could end up being a Type A free agent and if the club acquiring him might get a few nice draft picks out of him.

Seriously, I hope the Wrigley fans give him a 10 minute standing ovation the first day he takes the mound. Sadly, it will probably be the opposite. I doubt it. Kerry Wood is probably the most universally loved player the Cubs have had since Sandberg this is the over-statement, I believe most people pray he does well but expects his failure with him returning to the DL. I have never been a fan of his ever since he held out after he was drafted. I would say D. Lee is far more loved followed by Maddox I highly doubt Tommy Maddox is more loved than Kerry Wood I thought he meant Garry Maddox, Secretary of Defense and Awesome Facial Hair: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1332/2100/320/gmaddox86T.jpg But as far as beloved Cubs, there was that guy who wore #31 after Fergie and then was traded to Atl ... I'm not sure what Maddox was traded to Atl, the only one I can think of left as a FA to join Atl and that would be Greg Maddox. Its Maddux. There, can we get back on point instead of railing someone for misspelling one of the greatest players of all time's last names. Thanks. Its a joke lighten up a little Which was funny the first 5 times someone mentioned it. The poor guy made a mistake, big effin deal. People come to this board for information, not jokes or bonding alleged internet friends.

Seriously, I hope the Wrigley fans give him a 10 minute standing ovation the first day he takes the mound. Sadly, it will probably be the opposite. I doubt it. Kerry Wood is probably the most universally loved player the Cubs have had since Sandberg this is the over-statement, I believe most people pray he does well but expects his failure with him returning to the DL. I have never been a fan of his ever since he held out after he was drafted. I would say D. Lee is far more loved followed by Maddox I highly doubt Tommy Maddox is more loved than Kerry Wood I thought he meant Garry Maddox, Secretary of Defense and Awesome Facial Hair: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1332/2100/320/gmaddox86T.jpg But as far as beloved Cubs, there was that guy who wore #31 after Fergie and then was traded to Atl ... I'm not sure what Maddox was traded to Atl, the only one I can think of left as a FA to join Atl and that would be Greg Maddox. Its Maddux. There, can we get back on point instead of railing someone for misspelling one of the greatest players of all time's last names. Thanks.

No. Marmol will be the closer of this team in 2009 at the latest and will be under team control until 2011 (I think). Garland has 1 more year on his deal at $11 million and will require a substantial raise after that. Also, I think the odds of finding an average starter out of the group of: Veal, Gallagher, Mateo, etc...is higher than finding a dominant bullpen guy for cheap. Now if the Sox want Matt Karchner for Garland, then we're talking.

Since everyone's favorite red haired Cub seems to be a polarizing figure on this board, I would like to create this thread so that everyone can vent and argue about Murton here instead of hijacking every single other thread discussing outfields on this team, on other teams, or proposed to be on the Cubs. My thought is that Murton will/should be called up after the trade deadline IF they can't acquire anyone who is significantly better AND more proven than him such as Dunn or Griffey. I think he will be a very solid player who can hit in the .280-.310 range with a .375-ish OBP and 20 HR while being a well below average right fielder and an average-ish left fielder. Some around here consider that awesome, some consider that blasphemy. Whatever opinion you have, please post it here and stop comparing Murton to every outfielder from Tuffy Rhodes to Roberto Clemente in other threads. Thank you...

Pie and Hill and maybe a lower level prospect. Griffey has a few years (games?) left in him and Harang is very solid, but how much of an upgrade is he over Hill, really, considering their contract situations. I'd rather just pony up and sign Z to a long term extension and rough it with Pie or Murton in the outfield.

Harang with a Jack Morris like performance OK, maybe not that good. Hopefully Ross can hit a walk off bomb so he gets the win.

I am not looking forward to that series in Colorado...if our power isn't back by then or if we haven't acquired a power bat. Lilly, Hill, Marshall, and Marquis are all very prone to giving up bombs and I'm sure Colorado wants some revenge after the beatdown they got in Wrigley last time. Also, I think this is the 3rd consecutive season where the Cubs have played IN Colorado the 1st or 2nd weekend in August. I went in 2005 and it was a great trip. Highly recommended for any of you looking to book a last minute trip. I think we will go 12-8 in the 20 games, which is fine. 12-8 every 20 games the rest of the way puts us at...87 wins with 5 games to play. I'll take that.

Cubs are trying to set a record for most players on the 25 man roster in a season while still making the playoffs. Cedeno and Murton need to be up, Fox and Moore can go fly a kite. Ronny and Matt must have peed in Lou's cheerios earlier in the year.

Looks like Satan cashed in on his end of the deal...

This is like watching bad little league. I guess thats what San Fran gets for going after every average player who is above 40 years old. Eat it Bonds. Hope that record is worth this garbage.

Bingo. I point to that game as the reason we didn't win the pennant. The sad thing about it is that Dusty did it because his bullpen blew the game the day before...due to his stupidity. He put in Mark Guthrie to face Mike Lowell because he preferred that matchup to Dave Veres versus LENNY FREAKING HARRIS :shock: :shock: :shock: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Watch the replay of the Cubs-Sox game when Soriano did the same thing. Bowen got the ball and made a flawless tag. If you're not going to hit, at least be good on D and thats what Bowen and Hill did.

Sad to say, but he probably would have caught that throw from Soriano last night. Yikes...

Does this signal the end of the season for Henry Blanco? Is this the end of Koyie Hill's Cub career? (unless he's DFAd and no one picks him up, in which case we can resign him to AAA) Who will start? Kendall or Soto?

Hopefully he can pick it up back to his ridiculous pace from last year for them. Seems like a fair deal all around if he can. He can't really expect more than that as a DH. Why, oh why, can't the Cubs join the extension brigade and get something done with Z tonight?

Marmol is KROD Junior. Although I can tolerate his fist pump cuz he's on my team. I would give a great deal to get Krod

I hate KROD and his stupid fist pump. I hope his inevitable arm injury/explosion happens right after Lee takes him yard to win the game.