jersey cubs fan

That is a poorly written and completely worthless preview.

Okay, next time you want to buy a house, put an offer down and let them sit on it as long as possible. It has nothing to do with manning up. It has everything to do with not being a fool in negotiations.

I don't see how that is possible. The only way that happens is if they go with 1 backup middle infielder, and I don't see anyway they pull that off. .... With the normal 5-man bench, if one is a catcher and you burn one on a 1B-man (Ward), that leaves you 3 guys to cover infield and outfield. Either it's one outfielder (Johnson covering all three spots, supplemented by Ward or Cedeno), and two infielders (Cedeno and Cintron). Or it's one infielder (Cedeno) and two outfielders (Murton and Johnson). Personally I don't see why going with Cedeno only wouldn't be just fine. When's the last time a team went into a season with 1 backup infielder? When's the last time the Cubs even considered it? It's not going to happen. Cedeno only is impossible because of the "what happens if 2 go down in the same game" question. You can always throw Ward into the OF if need be, or DeRosa, but there's nobody on that roster that can step in at 3rd, SS or 2B if needed. The smart thing to do is not waste a roster spot on a 7th reliever.

I'm going to guess they start with: Blanco Cedeno Fontenot Johnson Ward Cintron will be on the DL and will replace whichever young backup MI plays worse by May.

he's been gone more than 5 years Has he really? I thought we traded him in 2003, which would hit the five year mark. I believe he was traded after the 2002 season, which would put him outside a 5 year range. I would assume a 5 year range includes anybody who was on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 or 2007 teams.

Something tells me he's going to do more than spell Felix against tough lefties.

Sure, that bench can hit a little. But it has 1 backup infielder, and there's no way they start the season that way.

I don't see how that is possible. The only way that happens is if they go with 1 backup middle infielder, and I don't see anyway they pull that off. Unless they wise up and go to 11 pitchers.

Yes.

Everyone puts up huge numbers in the PCL. Big deal. Interesting Theriot sucks in any league. Ronny Cedeno sucks in the Majors. Neither help the Cubs. That's great. Theriot sucks at every level, including the majors. So the fact that he didn't hit better at Iowa than elsewhere is irrelevant. Cedeno hit well in rookie ball, very bad in A ball, below average at AA and outstanding at AAA and bad in the majors at age 23. So his stats at Iowa should be disregarded because "everyone puts up huge numbers in the PCL" - except people that suck, then they suck in the PCL too - except people who suck at some levels and are great at others, then they suck and their numbers are inflated... I'm lost. How do we know when to consider AAA numbers? When Ronny Cedeno doesn't suck. :roll: That was a fruitful little discussion. Speaking of fruitful... an eyeroll! . I don't know what there is to discuss. I said lots of players' numbers in the PCL are inflated, you showed me that Ryan Theriot's weren't. I don't see what that proved, because I'm still right: Lots of PCL numbers are inflated. Ronny would appear to be a case. I don't care that Cedeno has great minor league numbers, because he's had a lot of major-league at bats to show something. He hasn't shown anything. Major league pitchers keep getting him out with breaking balls and pitches out of the zone. He hasn't adapted. Seeing as how he's one of the dumbest baseball players I've ever seen, I don't see it changing. I know everyone around here loves Ronny, and good for all of you. I'm glad. But I'm not convinced, and I see no reason to argue about it any further. There's a difference between saying everyone puts up huge numbers and a lot of numbers are inflated. Ronny has a lot of disappointing major league at bats. But not enough to completely write him off. I have severe doubts about Ronny's future, but he's done more than enough in his professional baseball career to warrent further opportunities, especially when Ryan Theriot is the guy in front of him.

Yeah, it's clear what the word is meant to represent, in context, it just seems out of place to me. If somebody were to describe a player's performance as fair, I'd think of him as something akin to above average.

Negotiation 101. If Hendry made an offer 3 months ago and kept it on the table, he's a bigger moron that I thought. Yeah, but once again, I don't think we really know that sort of thing. We're just hearing media jabber, it doesn't necessarily match up with the details of what happened behind the scenes. Well I'm not the one who said this is what happened. Cubinny seems to think all the Roberts talk is fan/media nonsense, and that Hendry made one offer a few months ago and left it on the table. I'm saying I doubt that is the case because it would be incredibly stupid.

How sure are people that Johnson can play CF? It looks like he played a little while young, then less and less as he reached his late 20's. Now he's in his 30's. The more I hear about this the less I like. It seems to make a hell of a lot more sense to put Fukudome in CF from time to time when Pie needs to sit, and let Murton play RF.

Welcome to yesterday.

Negotiation 101. If Hendry made an offer 3 months ago and kept it on the table, he's a bigger moron that I thought.

on some cases they have ridiculous self-inflicted mandatets, in others they let trades drag on for the better part of four months. I think you (by that I don't necessarily mean you specifically, but fans/news media) have let it drag on. My thinking the Cubs made an offer and left it on the table. The rest is mental masturbation by fans and the media. You'd have to be a complete moron to leave an offer on the table that long.

But his SLG last year was .386... But with that .120 AVG the .266 IsoP was quite impressive.

Why does this team continue to insist on putting itself in unnecessarily unfavorable positions with self inflicted mandates? This team doesn't need a backup OF who can play all 3 positions and bat RH by opening day. It just doesn't.

Soriano needs protection so he can hopefully see a steady diet of fastballs. You guys are kidding yourselves if you think Soriano is ever going to see a steady diet of fastballs just because Lee is hitting behing him. Protection is a junk idea. Pitchers are going to pitch to Soriano the same no matter where he hits, which is trying to convince him to get himself out.

Cedeno??????? Yeah, there's no way they go with a bench that has 2 OF, 1 2B, 1 backup catcher and a guy who doesn't have a position. Cedeno, or another IF is going to be on that bench.

I think he may be able to manage a bit of average to above average for a while. But your point stands. He was never going to make 33 solid starts.

He's also a good bet to eventually implode with disaster start after disaster start. And he's guaranteed big money this year and next. I want him traded ASAP. But I can live with him in the rotation right now, assuming he does maintain that halfway decentness.

If Cedeno falters, replace him with somebody else next year, and keep Theriot on the bench.

I'm curious about the "fair" option. It appears as the option above Poor and below average. I would think something closer to "below average" would be there. I had Ramirez and Lee at the top, Fukudome, Soriano and Murton as good. A handful of others at the average point, Fuld, Blanco, Theriot, Fontenot and Pie all at poor.

Unexpected? Theriot at leadoff has been about the only clear-cut Lou decision for the past couple weeks.