MSG T

Since you mention USC, They played 4 teams that are currently ranked and 2 BCS level teams (I'd definitely give them that for playing Notre Dame) in the non-conference. Better than most but still not quite at Iowa's level. Again, who needs to improve their schedule? Because it's not Iowa.

Only states to go 2-0 in bowls this year: Iowa, Idaho and Utah. Totally dominant game by the defense. Stanzi showed how good he can be at times and then he goes through stretches where he doesn't see the field and makes bad decisions. Fake field goal call was interesting. They obviously must have seen on film that the outside man crashes hard and thought they could sneak past him. Should end the season ranked #6 or 7. 4th time in 8 years they'll finish in the top 8. Hopefully one of Spivey/Bulaga will come back. Should be somewhere between 5-10 preseason next year. Any chance they'll start playing a little tougher teams in their non-conference schedule? Two BCS conference teams is more than most big time schools play. And considering one of them won their bowl and the other is (at least before the bowls) ranked, I don't see a problem with their schedule. When Teams like Florida, Alabama and Texas start scheduling a second BCS conference team for non-conference games, maybe the Hawks will add a third one. Iowa played 5 teams that are currently ranked. Texas played 3 including Alabama, Alabama played 4 including Texas and FLA played 3 including Cincy. Who has played the tough schedule and who beats up on weak competition?

Because the people that vote for the Hall are freaking idiots. I'm probably tougher on voting than most on here and Larkin is easily a HoFer, as is Alomar.

Don't forget, their #2 RB, Jeff Brinson, also missed the whole season because of injury. IIRC, he played 1 play in the second game. They'll have 5 RBs next year that are either RS FR or Sophomores. And 3 will have a ton of game time. Don't remember who asked, but Iowa has 16 underclassmen starters. Figuring Spievey and Bulaga probably leave, that's 14 returning. The only question mark will be the O-line. They return 1 starter if Bulaga leaves. Two of the probable replacements have a decent amount of experience, and they have recruited there very well the last 2-3 years, so hopefull there's not much of a dropoff. The defense will be nasty. Even losing the 3 that they do, they get 2 probable starters back that were injured all year, and the D-Line will be intact. They'll go into next year with the best D-line in the nation.

I don't konw why, but I recall hearing it's not allowed. I'm quite sure the Cardinals fans in your office pulled this straight from their collective asses. I'll fully admit to pulling this out of my arse, but they could mean he gets part ownership after he retires, not as part of his current contract. Kind of a buy now pay later unwritten agreement thing. I doubt it's a possibility, but that's probably what they meant.

They're usually the smart thing to do with a contract like this and a team that's under somewhat of a budget crunch. This is hardly unique to Hendry and is very common around MLB with most GM's. Plus. in his case, he's maximizing everything he can do and won't be here to see the ramifications of his work, in all likelihood. He's just putting the best(in his mind) on the roster, which in turn, will be someone else's mess to clean up, assuming the longterm deals that are backloaded inevitably don't work out. Still, like was just said, it's a common practice...... A common practice. And we'll have an average to below average 34-year-old outfielder making $6.5 million. It's much better to pay an average to below average 34 year old outfielder $6.5 mil than an average to below average 38 year old outfielder $18 mil. We'll still be looking forward to that AFTER Byrd is long gone.

While I liked the DeRosa trade, but not who he was replaced with, I'd have to go with last year. I look at Hendry like I do the government, the less they do, the better.

Give us a reason to cut your lard ass...please. Oh and welcome to the team. Why are the Cubs starting to remind me of the beginning of Major League? 'I thought you said we didn't have any high-priced talent, Charlie.' 'I forgot about Dorn cause he's only high-priced.'

Sure, if he killed somebody, or raped a chick or something like that I would strongly advise not bringing him back to the team. Why that's not going to make his teammates hit any worse or forget how to catch the ball etc etc so who cares what he does off the field. Right? Personally, I've been pretty consistent in saying that I draw the line at breaking the law. DUIs, wife beating, PED using, etc... Last I checked, being a dick wasn't illegal. And jersey cubs fan has been pretty consistent in saying that all of the criticism heaped on Bradley for his attitude and clubhouse demeanor is essentially bogus because has no effect on how his teammates perform on the field, and thus no effect on the Cubs' W-L record. So I'm left to wonder how this other stuff matters, since it seems to me that it too would have no impact on the rest of the team. Because being a dick and not causing your teammates to suck is completely different than committing a felony and not causing your teammates to suck. You really can't see a difference between being an a-hole and killing someone?

Nobody is stupid enough to take Silva unless he's a throw in coming over with Pujols, Arod, oh...wait.

I realize it is by no means scientific and as bad of a sample size problem as this message board, but the comments on the facebook announcement were 105-21 thinking this was a great deal. Including one guy that think Silva a 4/$48 was reasonable. There's time I hate my fellow Cub fans, not you guys, the "normal" ones. It's sad that there are people that think Hendry is a genius for making this trade.

Other than complaining on a message board, how else are people supposed to show their frustration at having an idiot run the team? I love the Cubs, but watching them and having that viewed as supporting Hendry's ability to do his job makes me sad. And mad. I'm already in the boat of watching my Hawkeye basketball team and the Raiders get run into the ground, I don't need another one in the same position.

:blink: Is he an idiot or was that a misprint?

:grin:

I agree, of Hendry did this then why not pick up Wells from Toronto? at least he's useful. Wells is under contract for 5 more years and about a billion dollars (ok, so it's only $100 mil left). Absolutely not. I'd rather have Silva, at least he'll be gone in 2 years.

I can see it now, Opening Day lineup: Podsednik CF Kosuke RF Lee 1B Ramirez 3B Soriano LF Soto C Baker 2B Theriot SS Zambrano P- with Silva pitching the 3rd game of the series. My disgust with Hendry is growing every day.

Not to mention we have a good chunk of money coming off the books after this coming season, unless Hendry decides to extend Lee and Lilly again before the season is over. Also have Aramis' salary potentially coming off the books if he opts out. If all 3 leave after the seaosn that's $40 mil off the books. There should be no reason not to consider Crawford in the offseason if that happens assuming, like you said, that Tampa doesn't extend him if all 3 of those guys leave we're going to have a lot of holes though it sucks because the contracts that are coming off the books are the good contracts, the ones you don't want to end. I don't know if I'd care if Lilly or Lee left after their contracts. Aramis will probably hurt if he leaves, considering Vitters probably won't be ready for at least another year, but you never know. It would create some holes, but it would open up the pocketbook quite a bit, and there are several really nice potential free agents (though most of them will likely get extended/have their options picked up in reality). Here is a list of the premier/big name potential free agents after next season (according to Cot's): Lance Berkman, Carlos Pena, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Johnny Peralta, Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, Garrett Atkins, Jorge Cantu, Victor Martinez, Joe Mauer, Carl Crawford Michael Cuddyer, Adam Dunn, Jermaine Dye, Brad Hawpe, Magglio Ordonez, Jayson Werth, Josh Beckett, Matt Cain, Aaron Harang, Tim Hudson, Cliff Lee, Javier Vasquez, Brandon Webb, Chris Young, Brian Fuentes, J.J. Putz, Chad Qualls, Mariano Rivera, Scot Shields, Huston Street, Kerry Wood. Obviously a pretty sizable chunk of those guys will have their options picked up and/or be extended, but that's what the potential free agent class looks like. It's pretty nice. With a possible $40 million off the books, we could find some nice players. Maybe not to replace, but to fill other weak positions will finding stopgaps to replace the new holes... sign Mauer, trade Soto for a 1B :) There's about 4 guys on that list I'd target. Pujols, Crawford, Mauer and Cain. With the available funds, they should be able to get 2. If they couldn't get Pujols (most likely they don't), that leaves the other three, I'd either- Try to extend/resign Aramis for say 3/$40-45 then move him to 1B when Vitters is ready, and hope that Vitters can get to Chicago. That leaves roughly$25-30 mil per year. Try to get Crawford and Cain, but at least one of them. or Try to get Mauer, and move one of the two (most likely Soto) to 1B. Or even platoon them between 1B and C. That keeps both bats in the lineup and both fresh behind the plate. Then try to get either Crawford or Cain. Unfortunately, my guess is at least 2 extend with their teams prior to becoming FA.

I'm old enough to remember pitchers hitting in the AL, and I think it's an abomination to the game. Why not let some really fast guy who can't hit pinch run for your catcher every time he gets on base? Why not let a team use a specified LHP to pitch to all of the LH hitters through a game? We don't allow designated runners or designated pitchers because they're a ridiculous idea. Same as a designated hitter.

He was traded to Baltimore who couldn't get a LTC worked out. Then Hendry swooped. Baltimore? Did you mean Florida, or am I not remembering someone that I should? OK, I didn't remember that. I stand corrected.

Baltimore? Did you mean Florida, or am I not remembering someone that I should?

He's pretty short and stocky too, isn't he? Not Kirby short, but he looks like a fullback, not a CF. This would have to be a 1 year deal, or maybe 1 plus option. It says 6'/245lbs. Having seen him a couple of times at Iowa in 08(I think), that seems about right. Not short, but definitely stocky.

I'd pay more for Cameron. For the reason, look at his numbers away from Arlington in the post above yours. Plus Cameron is really good defensively.

That's about how I'd feel. But the fact that the only reason he'd be here is likely because they are paying Bradley to play elsewhere, it becomes more disappointing. He's got as much downside as Bradley on the field, with none of the upside. I don't know anything about his defense, but I thought back in the day the talk was he'd eventually have to go to a corner. If he's some defensive stud, it would be easier to talke, but he's a part-time player with a shoddy track record. Fangraphs has him at the following UZR/150 in CF: 2007- 1.2 in 63 games 2008- 15.3 in 57 games 2009- -9.5 in 104 games Given the range of scores, not sure if he's good, average, bad or if UZR/150 sucks. He's all over the place though. Last year and 2003 are the only years he's played over 100 games in CF. In 2003 his UZR/150 was 14.6 in 131 games, but the next year was -23.1 in 93 games. I'm guessing he's probably around average defensively, but having not watched him, at all, I can't say for sure. There's not really any trend there to go by, he's way too up and down.

No, it's not better than nothing. I'd rather not make a single move this offseason than sign Marlon Byrd. i guess its just me feeling like i want the cubs to make some kind of news. Evidently, you're a masochist. All Cubs fans are to an extent. Otherwise we wouldn't be Cubs fans. :-$

Except Byrd has reverse splits. Byrd has better numbers against RHP 3 of the last 4 years. 2007 he was .809(OPS) v RHP/.826 v LHP. Other than that, he's been even(2008) or way better (06 & 09) against RHP. 2009 he was .090 (OPS) better against RHP.