Jon

Pie lines out to center for the sac fly after Guzman loaded the bags on an infield single with the corners charging after showing bunt. 1-0 I-Cubs. Theriot lines out to center to end the inning.

Pie with a leadoff single. Here's the gameday link if anyone wants it. Felix is off to a good 3 for 3 start for stolen bases.

Guzman with a shaky 26-pitch first inning (15 strikes, 11 balls), but he gets out of it.

Here's the latest Miller thread (Premium - non-premium) and Prior thread (Premium - non-premium)

Well, LaTroy followed up a 1.99 ERA over his last two seasons with the Twins with a 2.76 ERA during his time with the Cubs. It's not like he had failed miserably. This is exactly how stats don't tell the whole story. Despite Hawkins stellar ERA as a Cub, I think all in the organization and probably even Hawkins himself would say that his time as a Cub wasn't as good as that stat would indicate. Your points on Jones' contract I can't agree with. Calling his contract absurd is not a good way of establishing it. Compare his deal with the other FA Of's in his class and what they got and it is pretty much the same. Jones was an attractive FA if only due to the lack of quality OF available and the number of teams looking for one. OF was a limited position this offseason (and last one too) thus the market is high. Regardless we beleive that Hendry overpaid or gave too many years to Jones, the market dictates what he gets paid. Looking at the crop of FA OF available I don't think Hendry's deal was a bad one. Looking at what the Cubs would have had instead of Jones wasn't a good alternative either. In a vaccum Jones' contract may not be ideal but given the enviroment it was made in I think that Hendry afforded what needed to be done to fill that hole. Giles might have been the best solution originally but the environment plays a key role in the decision making process and Giles had the freedom to choose. We can't assume that if we had offered Giles more per year that he would have chosen us. Other then Giles, who would have been a better use of the money and/or years? And I'd also argue that fan impression doesn't tell the whole story, either. My point was that Hawkins' ERA made him quite tradeable. Especially if he was going to be traded to a team that wasn't going to use him as a closer, his value wasn't that low at all. When you're dealing with mediocre starting position players, there's a huge difference between a 3-year contract and a 2-year or 1-year contract. In my opinion, the Cubs would have been significantly better off paying $7 million for Burnitz for one more year, not tie up the hole in right field with Jones for three years, and go into the free agent market with some money to spend for right field. Jeff Conine (1-year, $1.7 million with Baltimore) and Jose Cruz Jr. (1-year, $3.21 million including buyout with Los Angeles) would also have been better options, depending on their health.

Well, LaTroy followed up a 1.99 ERA over his last two seasons with the Twins with a 2.76 ERA during his time with the Cubs. It's not like he had failed miserably.

I'm not sure that's a good way to look at it. Heck, Jim Bowden somehow got another shot at being a GM. Most MLB teams are pretty hesitant to hire someone without experience, so even bad ones can bounce around for a while. Unlike the other deals, those Hendry gave to Perez, Rusch, and Jones were all bad from the very beginning and really unwarranted. He most likely isn't going to be able to move Jones unless he either eats a lot of money or takes on a bad contract in return. It just boggles the mind as to what he was thinking when he made those moves. He shouldn't have had to give Rusch and Perez multi-year deals (or deals at all) and giving three years to Jones was just absurd. I don't think the contract he gave to Eyre was that smart (especially because it played a large role in setting the market), but at least he was coming off a good season.

They sure are blowing this opportunity. Down 22.

According to Nathan, he's out with a sprained knee.

Yeah, I didn't know you could just run with the ball until you run into someone and draw a foul. He took a couple of steps, left the ground, landed, and then ran into his own teammate to get the call. Odd.

The officiating is off to a great start. The first foul called on Malik was really something.

Yup. They have decent infield terrace reserve, too. Probably better than paying more to sit out in the corner.

I didn't see that discussion nor the article, but I'd imagine that's on average. Lee's really good season last year and Neifi's really bad OBP are extremes.

The highlights if anyone wants 'em: http://www.jonmdavis.net/cubs/april82006.mp3

Do you really want to be the team that sends Ponson back to the bottle? That would be tragic. I just wouldn't recommend anyone to dress like this person tomorrow night: http://www.amasquerade.com/images/costumes/classics/Classics/judge.jpg

Nice way to bounce back by Z. Now let's go for the sweep tomorrow night!

P4 AND THE CUBS WIN!!!

There's the D!

Insurance, Ronny. And do it before Dusty puts Neifi in the game next inning.

DLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Let the lengthy pitching changes begin!

BARRETT!!!!!!!!!!!!

errors by Cedeno and LEE = 2 runs for the Cards. Let's cut the Bums. Both of em. (Convenient to only single out Ronny). Lee's error put the runner in scoring position. Cedeno's error wouldn't have led to a run, and possibly wouldn't have led to Zambrano losing it. winners don't make excuses. You're enjoying riling them up... Don't deny it. :wink: True. They just need to take the blinders off for a second and be a little objective. :lol: If that is true, then I suggest you stop. B/C I disagree with the groupthink opinion on this board? Riling people up for the sake of riling people up is not constructive at all.

errors by Cedeno and LEE = 2 runs for the Cards. Let's cut the Bums. Both of em. (Convenient to only single out Ronny). Lee's error put the runner in scoring position. Cedeno's error wouldn't have led to a run, and possibly wouldn't have led to Zambrano losing it. winners don't make excuses. You're enjoying riling them up... Don't deny it. :wink: True. They just need to take the blinders off for a second and be a little objective. :lol: If that is true, then I suggest you stop.

What did Z do? All he did after the error on Lee was get a ground ball, give up a walk, give up a bloop single, walk a batter intentionally, and then strike out a guy. That's not exactly losing control.