srbin84

Yeah, I wasn't saying you can't watch other teams or know what's going with them, read about them, etc. but I agree with you that it is one or the other. I think being an active fan of both would be like having two girlfriends.

I don't think they would outproduce Giles(quick, dirty calculation using 3 year splits puts a Jones/Mench platoon at .350 OBP/.865 OPS using 2/3 RHP faced). In fact, I'd rather just have Mench to play full time than Jones. His numbers v. RHP are only marginally worse than Jones, plus he has age on his side to improve. I agree. I wanted us to get Mench from the beginning. He's young, cheap and better than anyone we considered or signed to play outfield IMO.

Huff might be slighty better offensively than Jones, and I am not a fan of the Jones signing by the way, but Huff's defense is so attrocious that I couldn't start him over Jones. Factor in Jones' speed and I think he is a better player than Huff.

I agree with you that a true baseball fan, as I put it, is better described by your statement about appreciating and understanding the game, but do you think that a Cubs/Sox fan would appreciate a Cubs W.S. victory as much as a Cubs fan and would you, as a Cubs fan (unless you actually are a fan of both) feel that his/her sense of satisfaction, relief and fufillment would be the same as yours? I'm not being sarcastic, just asking a question.

Too bad we didn't get Kevin Mench. I think a Jones/Mench platoon would outproduce Giles for about half the cost.

That's fine, but I just don't agree with the idea that a Cubs/Sox fan is the same as a person who is one or the other. The Cubs/Sox fan can concievably root for a winning team every year rather than endure whatever hardships come his teams way. That's my opinion. If you want to root for both, go ahead.

That is absolutely not true. A true baseball fan can watch any teams play, and just because he/she happens to like a 2nd team does not make that person any less of a fan than anyone else. It's very plausible for people in Chicago and NY to root for both teams since they are in separate leagues. Nearly all of my friends in the NYC area root for the Mets when they're not playing the Yankees, and most of my Sox friends root for the Cubs (and a couple even go to Wrigley when the Sox are on the road). I'm not saying you have to root against the other team in your city, but actually following both seems lame to me. The biggest part of being a true baseball fan to me is the loyalty you have for your team regardless of what they do in the standings, and that that loyalty does not change depending on the season the team is having. Having a second team you can switch to if only one of the two is in contention seems like you are cheating yourself because I can't see how you could enjoy it as much.

Depending on where the teams are in the standings, I think the following could be moved: 1. Soriano. My guess is he's moved sooner than later, but if he's a National on July 31 and if the Nationals are out of the race, he's going to be finding a new home. 2. Moises Alou: If the Giants falter again, I can see Alou finding a new home. 3. Schmidt: See Alou. 4. Luis Gonzalez: He has a no-trade clause, and so he's a bit more tricky. I'm sure he'll be shopped if Arizona isn't in contention. 5. Adam Dunn: Yes, Dunn just signed a three-year deal, but the last year is voided if he's traded. That means the Reds simply bought out his arby years which could make him more cost certain for a team acquiring him. I don't assume he'll be traded, but it could happen. 6. Tejada: I figure this would be a long shot, but it could happen. It would be a costly move for whoever acquires him. 7. Huff and Lugo: Both of these will find a new home between now and July 31. 8. Zito: If the A's are out of it, yes, but I doubt the A's will be out of it. As the divisional races begin to shake out in June or July, this picture will become much clearer. If I were the Cubs, I would only be interested in possibly acquiring Lugo or Schmidt, and even then, only for minor league prospects and middle relievers. I have no interest in Alou in this point in his career, but I'd still take him over Huff hands down. Huff stinks and even if we could have him for free, I wouldn't start him at any position he has played. The rest figure to be very pricey and command major league players.

I wouldn't claim anyone who roots for both. Those people are not true baseball fans. I would think that there aren't a lot of people who root for the Yankees and Mets, but I could be wrong. People here who did that always said they would rather have 2 chances to see a world series before they die, so maybe those people will become full fledged Sox fans now, we can only hope.

I'm a new poster here but have lurked for awhile. If any of you guys are looking for a night or weekend game, I have that package and sell some of that games every year, so just email me what games you are interested and we'll talk. I use ebay to sell games usually and I have an 80+ 100% feedback.