Backtobanks

Since the Mitchell Report is obviously just the tip of the iceberg, how can writers vote anybody into the Hall of Fame? Many writers are saying they will not vote for Bonds and Clemens, yet how can they justify voting for anybody when they don't know the extent of the steroid and HGH use during this era. Do we know for sure that Greg Maddux, ARod, Tony Gwynn, or Cal Ripken didn't use performance enhancing drugs? If Selig takes Mitchell's recommendation about not punishing past behavior, how can they deny Clemens, Bonds, Sosa, etc. entry into the Hall of Fame?

Some of it is nothing...but having someone testify that he himself injected roger clemens is something It's certainly not a surprise that Clemens took steroids and whether he injected himself or someone else did doesn't really interest me. As some sportscasters pointed out, basically they named the Balco group (West Coast) and the NY group (East Coast), which means there are a lot of players that weren't named from Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Kansas City, etc.

Personally, I think the whole Mitchell report is a lot of talk about nothing. Are there any names (having serious evidence) on the list a surprise? NO! Everyone will kick this around for a few days, but to most fans, the result will be the same as expressed here on NSBB.......basically, I hope it drives the price down on Roberts and I loved watching Glenallen Hill hit long home runs. Let's get on with the Hot Stove League, spring training, and the march to the World Series.

I know that the Hendry is not done filling out the roster for 2008, but early returns seem to show that the Cubs might need a right-handed power bat (Blanco, Ward, Cedeno(?), Fuld/Pagan, ????) unless Derosa is on the bench. I would imagine some team would give Mench a shot at starting, but if he's still available, would he be worth a shot?

I wonder about all of the Bonds' criticism if somewhere down the road we find out ARod has used steroids or HGH. As you said, there's no way of knowing who is clean and who isn't.

I reach out to my enemy (Kenny Williams) and offer some advice on trades to keep the White Sox out of last place: Proposal 1: Sox trade Crede to the Dodgers for Juan Pierre (Dodgers pay $3 million, $4 million, $4 million, $3 million for 2008-2011). AND Sox trade Cabrera to the Cubs for Murton, Cedeno/Theriot, and Marshall/Pignatello/Petrick. Dodgers view: Get out from under some of Pierre's bad contract, clear up some of OF glut, and take a chance on Crede's return. Sox view: Reunite Guillen and Pierre, add speed, add CF, get younger and save money at SS, LF, and pitcher. Cubs view: Cabrera solves SS problem and allows DeRosa to start at 2B. SS obtained for "spare parts". Proposal 2: Sox trade Konerko and Crede to the Angels for Kotchman, Mathews Jr., Wood, Willits/Rivera. Sox view: Get younger, solve CF problem, add possible star (Wood). Angels view: Get slugging 1B, solve OF glut, chance of slugging 3B.

Murton really has value. I wish he would play here, but I get why they are dealing him. He'll likely be part of the package that lands Hendry Brian Roberts. This seems less likely with the Orioles' acquisition of Luke Scott. The Orioles might use the Murton/Scott platoon that some of us hinted at (for the Cubs). If they do it will probably end up .290, 30 hrs, 100 rbi, .375 obp, .650 slg and cost them $1 million per year.

Murton really has value. I wish he would play here, but I get why they are dealing him. He'll likely be part of the package that lands Hendry Brian Roberts. This seems less likely with the Orioles' acquisition of Luke Scott. The Orioles might use the Murton/Scott platoon that some of us hinted at (for the Cubs). If they do it will probably end up .290, 30 hrs, 100 rbi, .375 obp, .650 slg and cost them $1 million per year.

Rowand's OPS+ the last five years. 102 130 93 86 123 Rowand isn't even a great bet to be an above average hitter. And while he certainly hustles on defense, he's only above average with the glove... nothing special. Rowand is league average... him getting five years, and getting 12 mil per year, are both absolutely ridiculous. Being league average at the right position and at the right time gets you these kinds of contracts. Last year pitchers like Marquis and Meche were in the $10 million per year range.

You can't help but wonder how well the Cubs would have done last year if they would have used Murton in LF and Soriano in RF. That move and moving Soriano down in the batting order might have saved a whole bunch of money this offseason. We'll never know.

Bruce, Anything in the way of some other starter (besides Bedard) on the horizon?

I consider them to be winners in this saga, not signing Rowand or Hunter. Who plays CF. Owens? does it matter? they probably weren't going to contend next year and getting rowand or hunter wouldn't have changed that. not getting one of those two (add jones to that list as well) is a good thing considering the price. Might as well clean house now. If Williams had half a brain he would have figured that out by now. Look at the trades being made and tell me what in the way of prospects the White Sox could have gotten for Buerhle, Dye, Konerko, Garland, Vazquez, and Crede. They could have received a minimum of 6-7 top prospects and 3-4 middle prospects. Instead they're stuck with an aging team full of players with NTCs that has no hope of contending in the next 5 years.

My prediction from 4 hours ago was wrong. Headline: Cubs sign Fukudome Tomorrow's Headline: Williams signs Rowand for $200 million over 10 years. Sox fans are ecstatic. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Marquis can out hit Chavez.

Headline: Cubs sign Fukudome Tomorrow's Headline: Williams signs Rowand for $200 million over 10 years. Sox fans are ecstatic. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Backtobanks wrote: "I've said this before and I will say it again. Lou has decided that Theriot is the starting SS and his is the only opinion that counts. I would love to see the Cubs have open competition at SS and let the better player start. I think the hangup with Cedeno is that he makes too many mistakes (physical and mental) for Lou. I think Cedeno needs to dedicate himself to reaching his full potential. His reputation as a playboy might have an effect on his onfield play. The problem is that once a player gets neglected by Lou (Cedeno, Murton, Marshall, etc.), I think there's little hope of the situation changing". Hoops wrote: "All good points. It wouldn't surprise me if Lou was telling Hendry every other day to trade those guys for a proven bat or arm." I'm sure Lou is telling Hendry exactly that. The roster is overflowing with spare parts, so you know quite a few players will have to go. That brings up another pet peeve of mine: the fact everyone is bashing Hendry while nobody is bashing Lou. Lou is the one playing Theriot over Cedeno. Lou is the one who played Floyd over Murton. Lou is the one asking for a lefty bat and more speed in RF and the middle IF. Lou is the one who wanted a veteran C (Kendall) over Soto for quite a while. I'm not defending Hendry, but many of these decisions are being made because he is trying to give his manager what he wants. Now Hendry will end up overpaying for Fukudome and Roberts and be bashed for that.

Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome? UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we've read. The Cubs don't expect he'll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They're having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though. FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am: Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today - he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him. It's hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who's never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years. The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team's offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.

Sorry, but Cedeno has done exactly jack when he's had his opportunities. If you guys are ripping on Theriot for his numbers how can you not rip Cedeno's numbers? He was also pretty bad defensively in the majors. OK, so he does good in the winter leagues and the minors, then why is he so damn bad when he is with the Cubs? Until he proves he can hit in the majors,it's Theriot's job to lose unless we trade for an actual SS. I've said this before and I will say it again. Lou has decided that Theriot is the starting SS and his is the only opinion that counts. I would love to see the Cubs have open competition at SS and let the better player start. I think the hangup with Cedeno is that he makes too many mistakes (physical and mental) for Lou. I think Cedeno needs to dedicate himself to reaching his full potential. His reputation as a playboy might have an effect on his onfield play. The problem is that once a player gets neglected by Lou (Cedeno, Murton, Marshall, etc.), I think there's little hope of the situation changing.

According to Fox Sports, the Dodgers are looking at Inge to play 3B. Looking at the numbers, we have a better 3B (DeRosa) to trade to them. DeRosa: (2007) .293, 10 HRs, 72 RBI, .371, .420 (Career avg.) .278, 10 HRs, 58 RBI, .341, .408 Inge: (2007) .236, 14 HRs, 71 RBI, .312, .376 (Career avg.) .241, 16 HRs, 66 RBI, .304, .394 Obviously, DeRosa's numbers have been improving with more playing time the last few years. How about DeRosa plus young pitcher for Eithier? Another possibility would be DeRosa, Marshall, plus ????? for Furcal/Hu.

Thank God he's not lefty.

Are we really comparing Chicago's weather to San Diego's? San Diego wins, hands down. Of course that nice, little 1-bedroom condo in San Diego will probably cost you $600.000. As others have mentioned, the fan base in San Diego is laid back compared to the diehard Cub fans. Of course, the bottom line is that Hendry will give him probably $2-3 million more per season and that will cure the problems dealing with Chicago's weather.

Dayn Perry from Fox Sports rated the five worst free agent signings of 2007: 1. Matsui - $16.5 million over 3 years 2. Linnebrink - $19 million over 4 years 3. Cordero - $46 million over 4 years 4. Hunter - $90 million over 5 years 5. Kendall - $4.25 million for 1 year Just go to show that Hendry isn't the only fool in baseball. A lot of Chicago "links" in that list.

Mama raise your kids to be lefties.

I don't know why any team would trade anything for him since it looks like the Cubs are going to non-tender him and they can get Prior without giving up anything. Am I missing something?