98navigator

Can't wait. This is going to be a great season. ditto

Stay tuned... San Diego Union Tribune

The podcast of the program is now available for anyone who is interested: Link

LOL, it was amusing. He also wrote his usual informative piece about the team's ST day. http://dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp

Agreed. However, their hesitation in making it official led to increased speculation that an imminent sale of the Tribune (by extension the Cubs) was in the works. Afterall, a new owner would most likely want the flexibility of hiring it's own president. As it stands now, he has a new contract & title and a bit more security. Perhaps this quietly signals that the Tribune Company has resolved to recapitalize instead of sell? We shall see.

Bruce Miles had a nice column today on the names of Cubs' Player; Theodore Roosevelt Lilly, Jason Marquis, Cesar Izturis, Angel Pagan, Rocky Cherry, Felix Pie, etc. Check it out here

Link Other news:

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/sports/274449,271SPT8.article

I'd like to know what's taking the picture day photos from being uploaded... :-k

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070227/capt.azmg20702272113.cubs_spring_baseball_azmg207.jpg Dempster

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070227/capt.azmg20502272108.cubs_spring_baseball_azmg205.jpg Lou Piniella pats Jeff Samardzija on the back http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070227/capt.azmg20602272108.cubs_spring_baseball_azmg206.jpg Rich Hill http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070227/capt.azmg20402272103.cubs_spring_baseball_azmg204.jpg Jeff Samardzija http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070227/capt.azmg20302272101.cubs_spring_baseball_azmg203.jpg Ted Lilly http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070227/capt.azmg20202272058.cubs_spring_baseball_azmg202.jpg Kerry Wood

He may have looked angry at the time, but he did it for the good of mankind. Do you know how many people around the world he made smile that day? :lol: Plus, roast mean he is generally kind and happy to CUBS fans. A.J. is completely moot to the point. I know, I hate AJ too, it was just a joke. Oh I understood it as a joke. Just because I'm generally boring doesn't mean I don't get it. I'm just boring, like Derosa. We'll arrive at the location in approximately 2.5 seconds sir. Lilly seems more boring than DeRosa. So you're only sort of boring. :wink:

Paul Sullivan on Piniella's plans for upcoming Cactus League games:

Prior's comments from the Tribune. Also Sarcasm by Sullivan

Hmmm, the show's almost over and I don't think Lou's coming on. Either he canceled or they suckered me. :oops: Oh well Edit: I call BS! Tonight was the inaugural show so I think they baited people to listen. :evil:

Thanks, these are cool!

. Sorry, I posted during the Cubs talk. They'll switch it up. Carmen is a Sox fan and Bruce is the Cubs fan.

He's scheduled to come on sometime soon. I don't know if he'll have anything new to say but for those who would like to listen go here

The nation ain't buying it. Prior will have to start 25+ games this year before people start believing again. I certainly won't buy it after the Cubs decided to push back Prior's start for once and then decided, the next day no less, that they don't need to push back his start after all. There's too much history with this organization and this player for me not to be suspicious. If the Cubs get 10 starts out of Prior, I'll be surprised. If he starts 25 games, I'll be stunned. I can understand feeling sort of jaded but I don't understand the idea that the Cubs are hiding something. All reports are that he's pitching and looking good which is a far cry from what went on under Dusty's watch; the back field pitching shrouded from the media... There's new onfield management that has no ties to the previous group. Do you really think JH is telling Piniella or Rothschild to deceive the public? Or that JMcD is pulling the strings from Chicago? I guess anything is possible but it seems highly unlikely. If the Cubs were going to pull something to trick the fans, they would have announced Prior's pitching date just before regular season tickets went on sale and then balked on starting him... You were suspicious when they planned to hold Prior back a start (and given his history it's warranted). However, I don't understand being against having him pitch on schedule. Which way is it? As for Prior's number of starts, he made 30 in 2003, 21 in 2004, 27 in 2005, and 9 last season. So he's averaging only a bit over 21 starts in his full seasons. That's concerning but if he truly is healthy he should blow by 10 starts... I can't blame you for taking a wait-and-see approach but there is room for optimism. He didn't throw off a mound at all last ST nor did he make a start. That's an improvement.

Sure, we're talking about it here: http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=38698

No exact date yet but Lou said some time at the beginning of next week.

As you can see, Kerry Wood has been much more reliable (IP, GS) and far more dominant than Wade Miller during the course of their respective careers. Just think about how ridiculous Wood's numbers would be if he had been able to stay healthy! You complain because the guy made $12M last year but you give him no credit for sticking with the Cubs this year for, what amounts to, a lot rent contract this year? The only thing Miller has over Wood is a better winning precentage which says more about the quality of the teams each pitcher played for than their respective numbers. Oh yeah, Kerry has also walked more guys on average but he also struck out way more batters than Miller... Now you aren't going to cry for Wood's small salary, I'd kill for what he makes. You said it best and the if he could stay health is a big if. Lou should have marshall waiting in the wings. I still don't get your gripe about Wood. Your contention has been Wade Miller is better but they have pitched the same number of seasons and Wood is CLEARLY superior. He's been more durable as evidenced by the higher number of games played, game starts (and that's saying something), and he's been more dominant (5 shutouts to 1 shutout, career WHIP, K/9, H/9, ERA, etc). You just don't like Wood which is fine but don't imply that Miller is or has been the better pitcher because it isn't true. It's not hyperbole to say Wood's been one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation.

Are you kidding? "2 yr wonder Wood" has had more than two good years and he was under a longterm contract which is why the team has been patient with him. Kerry Wood wouldn't have survived this long without a tremendous upside. Wade Miller's age, risk level, and small contract make him easily expendable. Add to that diminishing stuff and its a recipe for getting released. what is he 30 now? Do you remember when he was in contention for the Cy Young? risk Level? He pitched five games last year, not much to judge a man on. Kerry is coming in with a torn shoulder, and he over-ruled doctors, he definetly has a risk value and now a low contract. I see Wade as a guy that will get traded and be another Denise Eckersly, but not with the drinking problem. LOL, Wade Miller was never in any serious contention for the Cy Young! He's a year older than Wood and like I said, Kerry was under contract and the fact that he is homegrown comes into play as well. Wade Miller is very easily expendable. Wood's decision to rehab instead of surgery is probably a wise choice. He said he spoke with other players who successfully completed shoulder rehabs instead of going under the knife. Miller does not equal Dennis Eckersly Hope I don't sound too snobby but this is a guy ,wood, who has no formal education beyond High School he has been treated like a spoiled superstar since high school. I can't see an upside to a guy that hasn't finished a season in a cpl of years, home grown or not I got a gut feeling he will let us down again and be on injured list by July. Wood could make it through spring training that one year before his arm went out. I was at that spring training game when it went out, as well as the week before. Wood didn't hustle a bit. Soul searching may just tell me that I like Miller over Wood because of first impressions or it could be because he is injury proned and we payed the smuck 12 mill to sit on last years bench. I want to put to rest the comparisons of Wood and Miller. Specifically, the idea that Wade Miller has been better than Kerry Wood in their careers... First of all, they both have 8 seasons of active baseball. Wood started in 1998 but he did not pitch at all in 1999. Miller began his ML career in 1999. As you can see, Kerry Wood has been much more reliable (IP, GS) and far more dominant than Wade Miller during the course of their respective careers. Just think about how ridiculous Wood's numbers would be if he had been able to stay healthy! You complain because the guy made $12M last year but you give him no credit for sticking with the Cubs this year for, what amounts to, a lot rent contract this year? The only thing Miller has over Wood is a better winning precentage which says more about the quality of the teams each pitcher played for than their respective numbers. Oh yeah, Kerry has also walked more guys on average but he also struck out way more batters than Miller... Edit: I needed to correct the shutout stats. They were reversed. Wood has 5 Miller 1

Are you kidding? "2 yr wonder Wood" has had more than two good years and he was under a longterm contract which is why the team has been patient with him. Kerry Wood wouldn't have survived this long without a tremendous upside. Wade Miller's age, risk level, and small contract make him easily expendable. Add to that diminishing stuff and its a recipe for getting released. what is he 30 now? Do you remember when he was in contention for the Cy Young? risk Level? He pitched five games last year, not much to judge a man on. Kerry is coming in with a torn shoulder, and he over-ruled doctors, he definetly has a risk value and now a low contract. I see Wade as a guy that will get traded and be another Denise Eckersly, but not with the drinking problem. LOL, Wade Miller was never in any serious contention for the Cy Young! He's a year older than Wood and like I said, Kerry was under contract and the fact that he is homegrown comes into play as well. Wade Miller is very easily expendable. Wood's decision to rehab instead of surgery is probably a wise choice. He said he spoke with other players who successfully completed shoulder rehabs instead of going under the knife. Miller does not equal Dennis Eckersly Hope I don't sound too snobby but this is a guy ,wood, who has no formal education beyond High School he has been treated like a spoiled superstar since high school. I can't see an upside to a guy that hasn't finished a season in a cpl of years, home grown or not I got a gut feeling he will let us down again and be on injured list by July. Wood could make it through spring training that one year before his arm went out. I was at that spring training game when it went out, as well as the week before. Wood didn't hustle a bit. Soul searching may just tell me that I like Miller over Wood because of first impressions or it could be because he is injury proned and we payed the smuck 12 mill to sit on last years bench. I get it, you don't like Kerry Wood but since when has academic achievement been a precursor to professional athletic success? I get the feeling that you are basing your assessment of Wood (and Miller) on preception rather than actual career contributions.

Piniella on Guzman and Gallagher: Blanco on Guzman