jersey cubs fan

The Feds just charged the founder, who apparently declared bankruptcy about 5 times this decade.

What happened to that scar tissue that supposedly broke away that made him all better? I'd like to see them DL him, but I'm not convinced it's health that is making him struggle. He's looked gimpy throughout his time on the Cubs. Even when he is rolling he appears one misstep away from snapping those skinny legs.

What's his status as a prospect? He's 21 in A ball doing fairly well. But it's his 3rd season in A ball, even if he's always been relatively young for his level. Is he somewhat similar to the guy they just drafted in the first round? Talented CF with contact issues and little power? Sort of. Burke was a supplemental round pick where he was supposed to have above average power (that was supposed to be his greatest asset). He does have serious contact issues (although he's decently patient at the plate as well) but the home run power hasn't shown itself like it did his senior year of high school. The hope is that he turns some of that doubles power into more home run power. He does have a frame that can do that and he has shown it before, so it is possible. I'm just happy right now that his K rate is at the lowest its been throughout his career. He's still an upside type of prospect. He has quite a bit of potential and time to develop it. It is encouraging to see him take steps of development over the past year, but he needs to take a few more. When is time going to start working against him? Does he need to earn a promotion this season, or by next season, to the FSL? Do they have a couple years before they need to add him to the 40-man? If he is going to amount to anything, I'd have to imagine we'd need to see him doing something positive in AA by 2011, when he'll be 23.

What's his status as a prospect? He's 21 in A ball doing fairly well. But it's his 3rd season in A ball, even if he's always been relatively young for his level. Is he somewhat similar to the guy they just drafted in the first round? Talented CF with contact issues and little power?

Von Joshua is the anti-Reggie Cleveland. No idea he was black. I blame it on Von Hayes, the only other Von I've ever heard of.

I'm fine with that. With the entire lineup struggling, I don't have a problem leaving him where he's most comfortable. Even if it's just a mental thing for him, it could help him out of his slump. There are no other good candidates for more ABs at the moment (maybe DLee). Leaving Soriano at leadoff wouldn't "help him come out of his slump" anymore than moving him to 6th would help him come out of his slump. If you want to leave him there because there's no better option, fine. But if/when he does come out of his slump, let's not pretend it was because of the comforts of leadoff. If that were true, then you could say he went into the slump because of the comforts of leadoff.

There is really only one way to fix the offense. More Cutler.

He only has 3 more guaranteed years. New owners are generally more likely to axe a guy despite that much time on his deal. They can fire him and still make him be a scout or minor league guy, which is where he had his success in this organization. And it's not like anybody would have to be admitting a mistake. You're talking about costing the team maybe a couple million to hire another GM while Hendry is still under contract.

Cubs fans have treated Bradley with kid gloves up to this point. I was scared they would get on him early if he made the slightest mistake, and he would handle it poorly. But he's played like crap all year, when he has played, has been an idiot at times, and up until now, they haven't killed him. But how long can you honestly expect fans to hold their tongue when a guy pulls the crap he pulled in this game?

Booing Bradley is not idiotic at this point.

I'm not sure why we'd trade Marshall if we're in a selling mode. Ditto for Lilly, I guess. Even though he'd bring really good returns at this point, he has to be looked upon as a building block for next year's team. I assume they will want to be in a position to go for it again in 2010, no matter what happens this season. Bradley is less than 1/2 season removed from being AL OPS champ. Even though he's struggled to start the year, he still has value. Lee has been hitting well lately and is one of those players whose perceived value has usually been higher than his numbers would indicate. Bradley's contract destroys any value he had. Lee cannot justify his contract at his position. I can't think of a contender with money that he would actually improve. I'm not begging for a Marshall trade, but the Cubs have pitching and no hitters. Lilly could be an actual sell high guy taht they actually get real value for. I wouldn't just give him away for some help, but I'd bet some team would be willing to give up a lot for him. He's been a real nice pitcher for the Cubs, but he's not an ace. He's not irreplacable. And I'd have very little interest in seeing them extend him after next season when he's 35. This team is really screwed if they don't win this year. If they aren't good enough to win now, they probably aren't good enough to win in 2010, and at that point you have to think about 2011 and beyond.

Did Snyder Electric buy Square D? Because they have the same god awful approach to radio ads on Cubs games.

I'm guessing the book on Ayala is swing early and swing often.

What do you think this is some sort of athletic contact where you can just decide to replace guys in the middle of the game so you can take advantage of your players strengths and weaknesses against the opponent?

In the first inning they called what looked like an outside ball on gameday as a strike, and an inside strike as a ball. They did the same thing here. Seems like a consistent zone at least, and the calls balanced out.

Yeah, like the manager with a million dollar contract is going to listen to the guy in his mom's basement. Come on.

Andres Blanco is probably the best defender on a lot of teams. What does this even mean? I was gonna say isn't he really really good with the glove? My point is that its not a good sign when a AAA player gets called up and is immediately your best defender. The minors are littered with all kinds of all glove no bat types who would be considered very good major league defenders.

Lilly, Wells, Marshall and Fukudome would seem to me to have the "easiest to trade and actually have some value" label. Lilly and Fukudome have the added value of clearing up payroll. Harden is obviously a possibility, but his health will upset some people. And to be quite honest, I'd kind of like to see if they can bring him back next year at a team friendly salary with incentives. I can't imagine anybody would want Soriano, Lee or Bradley.

I think it was genius. Milton wasn't going to score unless there was a HR. A single pretty much guarantees he'd explode while rounding 3rd. So, instead of Lee being out at 1st, Bradley is out between 2nd/3rd. Lee is probably more likely to score, and stay alive, from 1st than Bradley is from 2nd.

I'd take a double with a leg injury as he pulls into 2nd. Or maybe not the injury, unless the reason he ran himself out on the basepaths is so he can go to the bench and rest a hidden injury.

I'd take a double with a leg injury as he pulls into 2nd.

Get this stupid hick off the radio and call the playbyplay Patrick.

Brenly ripping them isn't going to do much. Lou needs to invite the media in, then rip the team a new one. If Lou doesn't erupt like Mt. St. Helens, he's gotta go. So Brenly ripping them won't accomplish anything, but if the manager does it will? Brenly isn't in charge and has no power. Lou is and does. The power to make his insults make a difference? Unless Lou actually puts different people in the lineup his bitching isn't going to change a damn thing. Do you think the problem is that these guys don't know that Lou would like them to play better?

Brenly ripping them isn't going to do much. Lou needs to invite the media in, then rip the team a new one. If Lou doesn't erupt like Mt. St. Helens, he's gotta go. So Brenly ripping them won't accomplish anything, but if the manager does it will?

I wish I could listen to the TV audio.