jersey cubs fan

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/07/usc-plans-to-return-reggie-bushs-heisman-trophy/1 I didn't realize it was USC's option to return the Heisman. They had it?

Well, Ramirez has always been close, as I said, but he's been a tick behind the best guys at his position and hasn't been able to play full seasons. That matters. Also, since we're talking about this offseason, Ramirez's stud status is no longer just in question, but gone.

We shouldn't need to sign much, if any, pitching. With Cashner, Diamond, J Jackson and others looking ready for a major league rotation (or close, at least) we shouldn't put any FA money into pitching. And there's not really a "big" 1B FA in this offseason. The best first baseman likely available are Jorge Cantu and Adam Dunn. Cantu would be a good option, but Dunn will likely be too expensive. It would make more sense to find a stopgap first baseman (Cantu) and wait for the 2011 offseason when Gonzalez and Fielder are available (and in a longshot, Pujols). The second base free agents are also terrible, so a Baker/Fontenot platoon should be the way to go. In what way is Dunn likely to be too expensive? As in more than he's worth or more than they can afford? Because with Lee and Lilly and Theriot as good as gone, I don't see how money is an issue unless they are slashing payroll.

Wright has been better at a pre-prime age and missed a lot less games. He's got a career 137 OPS+ to Aramis's 112, his best years have been better than Ramirez's best years, he's played 160 games a few times and his worst/injury plagued year was essentially a typical Ramirez season as a Cub. I'm struggling to see how anybody could miss the obvious delineation between the two. Meant to mention from their first full seasons with their teams. Aramis had outhit Wright during that time. What time was this?

I think it's 90% PR and 10%, "wait he actually likes bunting and all that BS that we love." Joe Torre is a little too full of himself in my opinion. He thinks he matters. His teams also make too many outs on the bases and via the sacrifice. On the other hand his teams were always incredibly patient walk machines. So who knows. I'll just reiterate that what matters most is the GM.

Yes, I enjoyed the Cup. I would not get much enjoyment from watching DVDs of the games later on though. It already happened. I know it happened. If a game was on ESPN classic while I was flipping through channels, then I could see watching it for a few minutes, but actually putting it in the DVD player and watching the whole thing wouldn't do much for me. If it's 20 years from now and they haven't won another cup it's only going to start annoying me to see video of when they were good. 85 Bears highlights aren't fun anymore.

YES! You want this to happen. If Dunn is traded to the Sox, there's no way that he'll re-sign with them because he doesn't want to DH and most indications are that the Sox will re-sign Konerko. Thus Dunn will become a free agent and available to fill the void of DLee. Not wanting to be a DH is a noble thought for a 20-something position player looking to establish himself in the league. However, when you're in your 30's, everybody knows everything about your game and somebody is offering a contract, I think that stance can be adjusted. He's in his age 30 season currently. Is it that much of a stretch that he believes he can want to play the field for another few years? Say a three-year deal worth about $42 million from the Cubs? That way if his skills deteriorate in the field, he'll still have time to make an adjustment to DH and prolong his career. But an AL team that has the luxury of the DH can afford to risk paying him a much bigger deal, since they'd have a place to hide him down the road.

Championships 1,480 - 1,060 for a .583 winning percentage. #20 all time in wins and #9 all time in winning percentage. One World Series title and three World Series losses. Lou Piniella 1,826-1,691 for a .519 winning percentage with 1 World Series Title and 3 Manager of the Year awards. Sure his winning % is not as good as Weaver's, but he managed the frigging Rays for 3 years. He has more wins than Weaver and as many titles. Look around here to see how he is thought of as a manager. More wins is meaningless. Winning percentage matters, and Lou's pales in comparison.

Ok let's judge Sandberg on his win-loss records 71-68 60-78 (QUICK!! PROMOTE HIM!!) 71-69 (OVER 500?? PROMOTE HIM AGAIN!!) 51-44 That is a stellar 6 games under 500 for his managerial career. Surely, no other minor league managers are out there with that kind of track record. And I was just assuming his teams actually did enjoy a lot of success.

The guy who screws up the least.

Wright has been better at a pre-prime age and missed a lot less games. He's got a career 137 OPS+ to Aramis's 112, his best years have been better than Ramirez's best years, he's played 160 games a few times and his worst/injury plagued year was essentially a typical Ramirez season as a Cub. I'm struggling to see how anybody could miss the obvious delineation between the two.

The next manager matters a heck of a lot less than who hires him.

Well, I don't really think that is saying much. Or at the very least, it's glossing over the very difficult task of actually acquiring that impact bat.

So how old were you when you suffered the massive head trauma? Seriously, I could never see myself sitting down, popping in the DVD to watch the video of a sporting event that I already know what happened and just about every other side story that went along with it.

It's not a core if you don't have your best players. The Blackhawks have a core, which is their best players. Any additions need to be role players. The Cubs need a freaking stud bat, which is the core of just about any really good team, and something the Cubs do not have. When you have to add a star to be able to contend, you don't have a core in place. You have a lot of role players and some nice pieces, but not a core. How would one define a stud bat? I'm not trying to be a jerk, but let's get into specifics here. Upon what criteria does a player walk around with a "stud" label? Let me first define what it's not. Ramirez and Lee. Ramirez has been a consistent bat, and pretty close, but I think 2nd tier, especially since he misses several games year. Lee has had a couple seasons where he has been a stud, but most seasons he's just been a 2nd tier 1B (or horrible). Guys like Pujols, Gonzalez, normally David Wright, Morneau, Cabrera, Arod, Teixeira, and in the case of a surprise position like 2B, Utley. Basically, the Cubs need an excellent hitter at 1B if they want to have a realistic chance of contending. They may be better than most at a position or two but they aren't better than everybody by a wide margin. If Castro or Soto gave them 150 games of 900 OPS type production, then that could make up for the lack of 1B production. But I wouldn't count on that. They just aren't good enough at the postions they are good at to withstand not having a big bat at the one position you almost have to have a stud at.

YES! You want this to happen. If Dunn is traded to the Sox, there's no way that he'll re-sign with them because he doesn't want to DH and most indications are that the Sox will re-sign Konerko. Thus Dunn will become a free agent and available to fill the void of DLee. Not wanting to be a DH is a noble thought for a 20-something position player looking to establish himself in the league. However, when you're in your 30's, everybody knows everything about your game and somebody is offering a contract, I think that stance can be adjusted.

It's not a core if you don't have your best players. The Blackhawks have a core, which is their best players. Any additions need to be role players. The Cubs need a freaking stud bat, which is the core of just about any really good team, and something the Cubs do not have. When you have to add a star to be able to contend, you don't have a core in place. You have a lot of role players and some nice pieces, but not a core.

Jim Hendry better not make the next hire.

I think that bridge has finally been completely burnt out.

I think it would be a terrible waste to force a 1B prospect into the trade simply because he might be able to play right away. I didn't say anything about forcing, only trying. Well, then I will say I don't think it is important to try and snag some sort of first basemen in a trade with the sole qualification being that he's going to be able to play soon. That's a great way to get ripped off in a trade. If some team had some 2nd rate 1B prospect who served little purpose, they would love to be able to trade him for a team that is desperate for anybody to fill the position. I'd rather trade for a hitter at another position, and then shift somebody over to first. SS and C are the only positions you can be desperate for a body to fill them. Anybody can play first.

I think it would be a terrible waste to force a 1B prospect into the trade simply because he might be able to play right away.

Howard led his team to WS titles which is all you can ask.

Right after they won a friend asked when I was buying the DVD. He is a pittsburgh fan who has the DVDs for Steelers and Penguins championships, and he watches them at like 3 in the morning instead of just going to bed. I find that weird.

A joke or you mistook Atkins for Stevens (who isnt' on the roster)?

i really don't get why people buy these videos