jersey cubs fan

Tim, the problem I have with your scenario is the pocket the money and wait for the free agent you want strategy is just far too risky. It's not the same thing, but the Bulls have failed miserably trying this (and they are going to do it again). The Cubs can't play this game with the Yankees and Red Sox around, not to mention the occasional Mets splash or Dodgers/Angels spending spree. There's too much competition for the top flight free agents to think the Cubs can get away with essentially tanking and waiting for guys to come to them. He could sign elsewhere, be traded elsewhere, get hurt or maybe even start to decline. As to Mauer specifically, he's over 5000 innings caught already in the majors, and he'd be going to an NL team that can no longer hide him at DH for a couple dozen extra games a year. So you either spend a crap load on a guy who will only play 130 games a year, or you maximize your investment and make him play 150 games and risk running him ragged before he comes close to fulfilling the contract. I'm not against taking a one year hiatus for the good of the organization, or against the deals you are discussing, necessarily. But I just think they can't really deal him, pocket the money and expect to fix everything by signing Mauer in 2011, when they will also have 3B, 1B, CF, RF and/or LF and middle infield holes to fill.

He's been the GM for 7 seasons and during that time the team has been no better than the Florida Freaking Marlins. Who cares about giving him credit for the occasional good get, he sucks at putting together good baseball teams with any sort of consistency despite having more than enough financial advantage to do so with what should be relative ease.

It's really baffling that two years in a row the Bears have had 3rd round draft pick receivers who do not even see the field in their rookie season. Earl Bennet is talented enough to play in this league, the Bears offense is painfully dull and predictable, yet the explanation was that Bennet couldn't figure things out his first year. Maybe the problem is Turner isn't developing his system to work with the talent he has, rather he is trying to force feed his lackluster system onto guys who might not be ideal for it.

In the debate about who is to blame more, Angelo or Lovie, it comes down to this for me: The Bears are clearly much more talented than the worst teams in the league, looking like crap but still thoroughlybeating Detroit, Cleveland and to a lesser extent, St. Louis. They went into Seattle, played incredibly sloppy and still won. They beat Pittsburgh. They arguably "should have" beaten 2-3 other teams this year. That would leave them below acceptable, but clearly they are talented enough to have a better record. And they can beat and/or hang with teams while playing like absolute crap. But they have been demolished repeatedly by the better teams in the league (not elite, just better). Last year they got destroyed a couple times, and got beat late in "should have won" games and of course fell short. I think the talent is there for this team to compete, but the coaches are doing a terrible job of getting the most out of it. Sure, they aren't near the top talented team in the league, but they were the most talented NFC team in 2006 (pro bowl caliber all over the defense, solid talent on offense including 2 guys who are currently top 7 in the league in rushing) even if a lot of that talent never developed. This coaching staff was essentially Lovie Smith and a bunch of college guys. And they have failed miserably in developing the talent they have had on the team. Quartersbacks regressed, receivers disappeared, running backs did more after leaving the team, etc. I think Angelo has clearly left a lot to be desired, but he's done enough to make this team competitive from a talent standpoint, but the coaching has been horrible, whether it is maximizing that talent, game planning, limiting losses, putting the team in the best position to win, or anything else involving coaching.

But we could get Melky!!!

Yeah...I wish he was worth something in trade value. I don't know if it's a "baby" situation, but we've always known Tommie is mentally unstable. I think he's the one guy most capable of benefitting from a change in leadership (while Cutler is the one who could benefit most from a change in actual coaching).

It leaves them with financial flexibility, but nobody to spend it on.

I now have serious doubts about whether or not Cutler is the QB of the future. I mean, I'm sure he'll be here another couple years, but he has completely tanked the back half of this season, and unless they get an honest to goodness offensive guru in here to work with him, I don't see significant improvement coming. He's making horrible decisions.

If that's what it takes to get Melky, I'm on board.

I don't see how any pitcher other than the starter would contribute the most to the victory. Starter goes 6 innings giving up 5 runs, team wins 6-5.

I'm guessing 3/19.25

I think you're right, but it doesn't really matter. Traditionalists would say he shouldn't have left after 5 innings.

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? There's a canyon between raping a girl and being grumpy enough to piss off the rich guys you work with. And Milton would probably murder that canyon.

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? Depends on who he killed or what method he used. But regardless, those are meaningful offenses. Being a dick is not. Meaningful how? I mean in a baseball production, winning and losing games sense. Law

always marry oprah kill barbara and [expletive] your wife

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? Depends on who he killed or what method he used. But regardless, those are meaningful offenses. Being a dick is not.

Your urge goes away sometimes? He defines smarmy.

What's he saying? I don't know. I'm just forseeing that bald jerkoff leering like Christmas came early on Chicago Tribune Live. Punctuating his points while holding his thumb and forefinger together and extending his pinky.

You really think you needed to explain the reasoning? We know the reasoning. You know we know the reasoning. You were attacking the people that were criticizing the reasoning.

[expletive] kill marry?

I remain non-plussed. He might be okay, but he might be horrible. Either way, it's an incredibly long distance from the ideal.

thank you. for all here that absolutely know for a fact of what silva will do, well what's your excuse for what you absolutely knew for a fact of what bradley would have done this year from past history, all of his past history on and off the field? when silva starts trashing the main people who help pay his salary (that would be the fans who show up to the ballyard, buy overpriced concessions and souvenirs), then i'll throw him under the bus. until then silva may or may not do well this year. but none of us knows FOR 100% CERTAIN that he will be a bust this year right now. Is it possible to measure the level of stupid in this post? I don't think it is.

So you don't trade him. You keep him and take advantage of his baseball playing value.

It's 5, and no. I bet you'll think differently if an injury occurs to some other team, or if at the trading deadline some other team comes along and takes Bradley from Seattle. Even giving Bradley away in a salary dump for a career A prospect come July is still going to be a good deal for the Mariners as it gets money off the books. Hendry however is stuck with Silva for the two years and the money on his contract. Noone is ever going to trade for Silva. I don't think you understood my answer.

Sure, if he killed somebody, or raped a chick or something like that I would strongly advise not bringing him back to the team.