Vinestal

I'm missing something on this one. ARod has stated already that he has no intentions of leaving NYY, and wants to make it work. Cashman has gone on record saying (more than once since the end of the season) that they have absolutely no intention of trading him. Boras has also chimed in saying that ARod holds the "hammer" with his no-trade saying he won't waive it. So again, am I missing something here? I dont know why people keep bringing it up, its a great dream but in reality we dont have the talent to pull it off and Alex apparently doesnt want to go anywhere. If they Yankees wanted to trade him they could get many better offers than what the Cubs are able to offer and probably places that are more attractive to Alex (if he actually wanted to be moved).

I think Tampa is to greedy, in that I think they must ask for to much for thier players and maybe thats why they never really make many deals. They look for the Kazmir trade to happen again and its highly unlikely that they will ever get a trade that lopsided again.

I doubt they have that much faith in Theriot's ability. I like that scenario as well but wether or not Lou and Jim will see it that way... I kinda doubt it.

Agreed. Matsuzaka and Lilly are my top choices in each category. What in this thread has proved to you that Lilly is the top choice of the second tier starters, the high amount of fly balls and homeruns allowed, or the high walk rate? Personally, this thread helped cement my opinion that neither one of them is likely to live up to their contract, and both should probably be avoided like the plague. I couldn't agree more. Why burn 6-7mil on a pitcher who will do marginally better than someone like Marshall, Marmol, or Guzman. I don't want to rely on the kids and Miller and Prior, but I don't see a better choice. Hendry needs to do anything possible to sign one of the big 3 and hope that Hill continues the success he had last year and that Prior, Miller, Marmol, Marshall, and Guzman can hold down the 4th and 5th spots. I don't really see a better alternative. Edit: I don't know if this has been discussed, but if Wood makes a successful transition to the bullpen, is it conceivable that Dempster could make a return to the roation if needed? I'd prefer to trade him for some more salary relief, but I don't think it'll happen. With Wuertz, Eyre, Howry, Ohman, and Wood all in the pen, Dempster isn't really needed. Would Dempster be much worse than Lilly or Padilla? Maybe he would, I dont know. I just really don't want to pay anything over 6 million for Padilla or Lilly. Your really going to be steamed then when they burn 10 mil per on Padilla. I think Hendry will go out and over pay for some back end type of starting pitcher so he doesnt look like he didnt try to improve the rotation by adding someone. I think he will have a hard time convincing Schimdt or Zito to come to Chicago and he has to do something so he'll sign some mediocre talent.

Sure there is, haven't you heard? Hendry is an idiot. exactly

This team is going to be worse than last year (and thats pretty dang bad) if they dont sign ARam and I dont care who else they sign. Hendry has to go, grrrrrrr I think Im going to explode into tiny pieces.

SO when will we hear something official?

Still no word eh? this sucks *sigh*

we are all scouring the internet looking for some ray of hope lol... man what is wrong with me? Probably wont have any real news till sometime tommorow evening.

Thats true if it was mentioned on NY radio the NY fansites would be lit up with it.

*sigh* please dont play with my emotions like that .... *grumble grumble*

And then this to sum it up. Well maybe it will scare off the Yankees and Rangers lol (wishful thinking)

Scott Boras is about to be on XM radio's Homeplate if anyone wants to listen and post a summary I cant listen cause Im not going to sit in the car to hear it.

*sigh* maybe some kind of leaked hint? I think the rest of the offseason after Matsuzaka is gone is going to be pretty boring. I dont think Schmidt or Zito are going to want to come to play for us and I cant really get all that excited about Soriano or Lee. Its really a pretty weak free agent market and we dont have alot of chips for trading. The suspense is killing me though...

***Vinestal stares blankly at his computer screen, refreshing every 5 minutes shaking violently, drool falling from the corner of his mouth like some drug crazed fiend*** please... Jim... I ... I... I need this signing...please .... pitching ... dear lord please Jim...

Yeah Im really trying not to get excited about this, I think he's going to wind up in NY or maybe Texas.

There are other Japanese pitchers out there for the Cubs to pursue beyond those two. If Igawa ends up being posted, yes. If not, who did you have in mind this offseason? Iwamura maybe? I realize he's not a pitcher but I wouldnt mind getting him.

He's not pitching in this year's MLB-NPB series. Japan roster. Bah! I guess I missunderstood. That would have been kool though. Thanks for the quick response 1908. I found some video of Matsuzaka on youtube, man he's got some nasty stuff. Im wondering if umpires are going to allow his wind-up. He brings his hands up over his head and then just stands there rocking slightly for about 2 or 3 seconds then delivers. He has both feet on the rubber when he stands there with his hands on his head its bizare. Saw the video here: http://itsouttahere.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/daisuke-matsuzaka-revealed/ sorry if its been posted already. Its video of him throwing a slider (if thats what you want to call it, it moves more like a forkball).

I heard on XM the other day that Matsuzaka played in one of the All-star U.S. vs Japan type games that are going on over in Japan right now and he pitched lights out for the first 4 or 5 innings and then blew up in the 6th or something to this effect. Does anyone have his line for this game or more info on how he did. This thread has 30+ pages so Im not really wanting to go digging for it. A link would be great if the info has already been posted. Also are the leagues over there in post season as well? Or are they currently playing regular season, I have no idea what the time table is for thier season. If its the offseason that could explain the fatique in the later innings I suppose.

nm

Yup, Its a popularity contest. I believe its votred on by other players ect so thats why the same guys win it almost every year. It should be based on some kind of stat mix instead so that the guys that actually deserve it get it.

I wonder when they actually sent Von, just recently or when Pie started down there? Good to hear that he is there either way.

What does that mean exactly?

Could someone explain how a slotting system would work? Are they talking about putting a cap on how much of a bonus you can offer per pick? That would kind of suck for the Cubs since you'd have less players sliping to us. I dont like the idea of slotting at all if thats what it is.

Well if they were going to change draft pick compensation that would be consdered a "major change" I think.