jersey cubs fan

I like seeing them show-up and reading the stories, but the minute-by-minute updates of practice, and fan reaction to practice, is a bit much. It would be impossible not to follow it at all until September though.

Agreed. It bugs the heck out of me that he's still on the 40 man. Get someone else on there for once! He's not taking a space from anybody, there is already an open slot available. It would be better to put him on the 60-day DL.

Reminds me of my first day of practice senior year. Stretching before the first two-a-day, I managed wrench my back, how embarrasing.

Wuertz has been walking a lot of guys this year, and he just gave up 3 more in his last outing. I can see why they'd hesitate to bring him up. Between Samardzija and Ceda, I'd probably prefer Ceda. However, that requires adding Ceda to the 40-man, and likely means burning an option when they send him down in a few weeks. This could be a setback to Samardzija's development, however, to equate it to the stupidity of signing Neifi Perez is just plain wrong. He's over the 110 IP mark right now and he threw 140 last year. Even if he comes up and stays in the major league bullpen through the end of the year, it wouldn't be hard for him to match that 140 level, giving him back to back solid totals for a guy still learning to pitch. He's been in the bullpen off and on a couple times the past two years, show there shouldn't be much of an adjustment. I think the Cubs still view him as a front end starter longterm, so I doubt there's a lot of risk they will keep him locked into the bullpen - unless he pulls a Marmol, in which case I can't say I'd be disappointed. If he comes up and struggles, then you send him back down in early August and he still gets enough minor league starts to have 140-150 IP for the year. And at that point you have Lieber coming back, hopefully Wuertz figuring it out, and maybe Howry finally improving. I don't see a lot of downside to calling him up.

Ceda could always take Fox's spot. Although i was thinking they might be saving that for Guzman. Don't we still have an open spot on the 40 man right now after trading Murt, EPatt and Gally for Harden and Gaudin? As mentioned before, we've got several guys that could be dropped from the 40 man if needed with no worry. Ceda makes sense as he'll need to be added in the offseason anyways, or we'll end up losing him. Our farm is too thin to risk losing any of our few decent prospects, I think the 40 man is going to get quite a shaking in the offseason. There are 40 names on the current 40-man, with one on the 60-day DL (Guzman) and another who probably should be on the 60-day DL (Fox). At this point they could add somebody. But if they add Ceda, and then send him down, they will have used an option year and maybe they don't think it's the right time to start burning his options (although I don't see why that would be the case).

No. This was just a Gorden Wiittenmeyer article. Nothing to see here, move along now... Trib has a story about it too.. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080723-kerry-wood-blister-chicago-cubs,1,6972131.story Why are you guys ignoring Bruce? I will say, I don't have a problem with it. I'm baffled by the Samardzija situation. He was so bad, but he's been pitching well for a little bit, and brief stints in the bullpen have appeared to do him well. He's still under 300 IP as a professional and will need to go back to starting again at some point to keep learning how to pitch, and develop his arm. But this would be interesting.

Yes he has leverage, but no, they don't need him more than he needs them. He needs them a lot. He's not anywhere close to becoming a free agent. He's not making any significant money outside of football. It's not like he's a lock to be a great receiver. So, let's say the hold out goes until early August (when he'd have to report or risk losing service time for free agency purposes). The Bears can just slot him back into a return man only job, and the effect on the team may only be negligible. Meanwhile, Hester would have to play this year at significantly less than the $415,000 he doesn't deem acceptable right now. And he's still be a long way away from free agency. I completely agree with Hester that he deserves more. I don't have a big problem with him sitting out the first day and making a stink. But anything beyond that and he starts to lose the benefit of the doubt. The Bears have shown over and over to be completely fair with their players who are being underpaid. Only the ill-informed or ignorant can call them cheap. Any reasonable person would think there's an agreement to be made if they keep negotiating. As others have said, it's a tricky point between a hybrid KR/PR/3rd receiver (which Hester is now) and a KR/#1 receiver (which Hester may become). I think they need to negotiate a deal that protects the Bears if he fails to improve as a receiver, and rewards him if he does do well as a receiver. But that's not easy to do with salary caps and the CBA.

They never said he was the number one. They said they thought he could become a number one. As for an earlier statement, no, Hester is not listed as a CB by the Bears, there's no reason why espn should still be labelling him as a CB, he hasn't been one since 2006.

I think there are 2 PUP lists. The one now means they can come back at anytime. The next one is when the season begins, at which point he'd have to sit 6 games. Hester sitting out is annoying, but understandable. He's outperformed his contract possibly more than any player in the league. I hope he gets signed, but not to #1 receiver money. But why the hell is ESPNnews saying Bears CB Devin Hester? He hasn't been a CB in a very long time.

I disagree with everything this post stands for. When a player are slumping like the 3-6 hitters in the lineup. Forcing the player to swing and try to hit the ball to the opposite field often helps. Most slumps are the result of a player pressing. Putting players in motion help two fold. It takes away the thinking aspect of the at bat. Second it force the defense to be moving around and can create more holes for the hitter. The Cubs have had the leadoff hitter on quite a bit lately and they seem to die on first. Lee,Aram, and Soto are in really bad slumps. I feel the best approach to getting out the slump is by forcing the action. You can see how well it is going for the cubs to hit a three run homer. Sounds like something Joe Morgan would say.

I remember that first game last year vs the Chargers - what a defense. With Dusty, Brown, and Harris hopefully back healthy this defense could be really good. I hope Forte can chip block and catch a little swing pass, cause whoever is QB is going to be under a lot of pressure. I want to see more from Olsen this year. I hope he gained some strength, especially in his legs. Lots of If's there. The D is also a year older, Brown hasn't stayed healthy for an entire year since what 2003? Forte is a rookie, but should bring some promise. The only we we succeed this year in my mind is if Brown is healthy, one WR (Bradley?) emerges Bernard Berrian style, and Grossman is Sept 2006 Grossman for half of the season (should he be named starter) The D is a year older, but they aren't that old. They still have young stars at defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback. Mark Anderson, going back to being a pass rush specialist is still young. If Grossman is Sept 2006 Grossman for half the season, they will win all 8 of those games.

I disagree with everything this post stands for.

I should mention that the article says that there is a chance Canning can still make a stronger bid to show they are serious and get back in the race. I am guessing because of Selig's support for Canning, he should still be considered in the race. That said, I am really surprised their bid is that low. Maybe the ground doesn't want it as much as we thought? Or Selig told him to underbid as punishment for the Cubs recent pissing off of MLB.

I don't think that was a critique of the play on the field. As they said, the Bears were in the SB 2 years ago. The rankings the way I see them, are reflections on how each team is run "as a business" and in that aspect, the Bears fare poorly. Right, but are there any stats? Anecdotally it's easy to bust on the Bears ownership. But as Wilson pointed out, that analysis was quite weak. It's a healthy profitable organization that still employs the vast majority of the people that brought them to the Super Bowl 1.5 years ago. The fact that Silver wrote this speaks volumes. In typical NFL media fashion, Jerry Jones is inexplicably listed at the top, despite the Cowboys having done very little since the Jimmy Johnson era. There are a lot of groups arbitrarily thrown ahead of the Bears ownership, simply because, it appears, he likes them better. He's basing this off of whether or not guys spend like crazy and sell every bit of ad space possible.

It's training camp time!

That's not an offensive personnel choice. If you have a QB battle, whomever takes the first snap is going to be labeled the leader of the competition. If they actually do have a coin flip, this would serve as a way to shut the freaks up about wanting to know right now who is in the lead. How is it not a personnel decision who will get snaps with the 1st stringers? We're now allowing decisions on the offensive side of the ball to be dictated by media freaks? Wut? A personel decision is deciding who the starter is. Would I prefer they just choose a guy? Sure, but this is a non-story and absolutely nothing to fret over. They aren't letting a coin choose, or the media choose. They are doing everything they can to have an even competition.

That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Baseball is a game where a pitcher throws a ball and a hitter tries to hit it where the defense aint. The umpires have nothing to do with the game itself, they are merely a necessary evil brought in because players can't be trusted to accurately or fairly police themselves. Getting rid of umps would not take anything away from the game.

If it gets us turned around, fine... but at the same time, to think one man can mean so much to a team/season. Good thing it was just 6 weeks and not a season-ending injury! One man doesn't mean so much. This is still the highest scoring offense in the NL and Soriano has only played in half the games, so they've reached that number 1 ranking without him.

That's not an offensive personnel choice. If you have a QB battle, whomever takes the first snap is going to be labeled the leader of the competition. If they actually do have a coin flip, this would serve as a way to shut the freaks up about wanting to know right now who is in the lead.

I'm guessing Hoff goes down, then Hart when Eyre returns.

My favorite positive Cubs fact is they still have 8 regulars with an OPS+ over 100, and almost an entire pitching staff with ERA+ over 100.

The Cadrdinals?

Shouldn't be a surprise. Last offseason they were coming off a Super Bowl run, the year before they were looking to build on a playoff appearance. I don't think they are purposefully wasting the best years of the defense, the problem is they haven't found a quality offensive coach or the correct quality offensive personel. They've drafted RB and QB in the first round. They've spent big on free agent lineman and WR. They just aren't good at picking the right guys and developing them. I have a hard time envisioning this team being in the same picture as the 2005 and 2006 versions, but I'm still somewhat excited for football season. It's not a hopeless season, like the 2005 and 2006 Cubs. They could make some noice.

Those might be three of the least frequent walkers on the roster right now. Edmonds and Fontenot are taking bases on balls, as is DeRosa.

Is it any wonder why this organization hasn't had a genuinely good offensive team in ages? You are against swinging hard?