Jon

Here's the thread on it: Premium Non-Premium And on his illness: Premium Non-Premium

Well, he didn't actually throw off the mound. He's hoping to do that in the next few days, I believe.

It's not just that Pierre shouldn't steal with Neifi batting second. He won't be able to steal with Neifi batting second. The guy just doesn't take enough pitchers. And if Dusty values Pierre's speed enough to not bad Neifi there, that could mean 1) he's not starting at second and 2) might not be starting regularly since Neifi's value to Dusty goes down a bit if he's hitting 7th or 8th. At least I hope.

He's making a pickoff move in that picture, though. I heard the Cubs plan on delaying his surgery so they can use him as a relief picker-offer.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077922.jpg Eyre http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077921.jpg Jones http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077920.jpg http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077924.jpg ARAMIS http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077925.jpg He shaved http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077919.jpg http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077918.jpg http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077917.jpg ARAMIS either hitting a popup or a 525 ft HR http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077916.jpg Howry http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22077915.jpg http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22062680.jpg Guzman! http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22062685.jpg http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22062793.jpg Walker, Jones, and Mabry http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/22062789.jpg Jones

Ahem.

It is the same basic account. And yeah, I got nothing but the "we're upgrading the site" message every time but once. I assume it's just to try to speed up the checkout process, although I seriously doubt it's going to do anything but create problems if they actually make you sign in.

No wristband for me this year since I wouldn't be able to make it down. I have three hours of class presentations to sit through on Friday (including one of my own), but I'm going to borrow my brother's laptop to use in the classroom. I'm only going to go for a value date and the July Cardinals series, though.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.f537527c503049ff93da8441b1d71168.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh115.jpg Ronny http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.b931bba3125e452481638db0e715eed7.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh116.jpg http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.a49ac7665b564975b4eda166b5f5608e.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh117.jpg http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.c2477b667fab4f2894d5946dd95de942.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh118.jpg Cadahia http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.24ca282d6ae845fc825993b7ef0518b3.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh119.jpg Dusty apparently gave Williamson a timeout http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.6b7bac820e634137a9180f2fef439db6.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh121.jpg Mabry http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.8eecf06fc61f4ed6b97b8028e2755fae.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh122.jpg Clines needs to use his legs more

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.4d9a69971e764cbab59c2fb9cb0cb956.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh113.jpg Hairston (for the ladies) http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.849fe2c188a5483e8fe7c23de02b685b.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh114.jpg Hairston again http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.6f714cf34db44d60806bffe6a5033dc5.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh112.jpg Struttin' http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.3018b78c6bee4e7481b237c156deff64.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh111.jpg Slappy http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.e7d57be33c0e478cba1942c2be2c3c69.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh106.jpg Slappy again http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.a6f97240e83046c193cbb4713bbb518e.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh108.jpg Slappy (artsy version) http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.be0501edc1694d3997c694071a6ac06f.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh109.jpg Apparently a certain photographer has a crush on Slappy http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.bbe3c820799544ad9dc78c36db1410f8.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh110.jpg http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.192b67a89ed1456c96d29a4cd9b297c7.cubs_spring_training_baseball_walker_aznh107.jpg http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.b22dd7d5cad646be9067fb2e24c7d2b9.cubs_spring_training_baseball_walker_aznh103.jpg http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.dbd723f8c9ed40f59a3be412977ac786.cubs_spring_training_baseball__aznh101.jpg Dance on, Walker. Dance on. http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060220/capt.b7e8889e59824431ac36443d5b336f9e.cubs_spring_training_baseball_aznh105.jpg Enjoying their final spring together...err...chillin'

I was at the game, as well. Nothing like horror and profanity followed by hard laughter in person. Of course, now that I think about it, I don't think that was one of his triples. I think he was going first to third.

and one horrendous slide on one of those.http://xd1.xanga.com/8fb800ea002315452375/b4714116.jpg

http://www.jonmdavis.net/zambrano30.jpg Says it all.

Hmm. This is a little confusing: If that's the quote they incorrectly attributed to Pettitte, did they change it to make it seem like Pettitte said it? It makes a little more sense that Pettitte wouldn't say any of that stuff, but Ausmus is still quite wrong.

Yes, and made a few visits during the season too... And after.

Was it Aardsma who had the two-out syndrome last season?

I'd guess closer to 20%. And the percentage of people who'd leak that to the Chicago media would be much, much, much smaller. And even if it made it to a reporter, I'm not sure how many would print medical information like that without the player's consent. If they did, I'd imagine that they could kiss talking to Prior goodbye.

I get the feeling that he's either going to break it by one or not come close due to injury. Right now, though, I just don't see how he'd be able to make it through a full season.

Some more:

And apparently still doesn't like the media:

That list also doesn't take into account final incentive numbers (not that I'd expect it to). Then again, I'd feel better knowing the Cubs didn't pay Neifi $2.5 million last year.

There's downplaying the absence of Clemens, and then there's this:

That's what I thought when I read that, but according to Cubs.com, Aramis will be playing. He just won't be starting, apparently. Sadly, Neifi didn't make the cut.

If I were Prior, I wouldn't want to tell the media that I had to go to the emergency room during the off-season for a respiratory infection. I don't see why he would give the Cubs the consent to release that information.

Apparently we can blame California: