jersey cubs fan

4 goals, that's a season high right? Nah, they scored 6 once. But 4 is still shocking. I thought we'd just win every game 2-1. Have you been to the Prudential Center yet? Or did Barry Melrose scare you away? I'm like 15 minutes away from it and I might be going soon. Freaking Blackhawks are doing just enough to keep faint hopes alive without actually making up any ground. But I think it can be good for a young team like this to play well down the stretch, even if all it does is mess up their draft status.

I agree it is not exciting, but in terms of production, he might not be that far behind Berrian and will cost something like a third as much. Booker could easily have 70 catches for something like 800-ish yards. Berrian won't be that much better, and Booker is a better blocker in the running game (an underrated ability, IMO). EDIT: Those nos. I predicted are a bit inflated. More realistic is the notion that he'll have 60-65 catches and 700-750 yards. Again, you get what you pay for. I was going to reply to the original, but your edit took care of that. I think this is a smart sign. It's financially wise and cap friendly. Booker is more likely replacing Moose than Berrian, but either way, he's going to get a fair amount of catches. I think 2008 Bradley, Booker, Hester, Draft Pick, Olsen, Clark should have no problem being as productive as 2007 Berrian, Moose, Davis, Hester, Bradley, Olsen, Clark. Hester and Bradley are going to fight for deep opportunities, Booker is going to be a possession receiver who can get a few yards, and a draft pick should be able to do something out there. The key to the passing game is Olsen, followed closely by Hester emerging. And there's no reason why Hester can't improve this year. A lot of people pointed out that 2007 was going to be a learning experience for Hester the WR, and I think he showed more than enough to believe he learned on the job and will get better.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=147165&src=152 This is just silly. Why does Lou think he'd have to hit Soto, Theriot, CF 6, 7, 8 with Fukudome 2? Why can't Theriot hit 8? Why is this a problem? Why must the CF hit 8th?

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=147166&src=152 I could be wrong, but I believe Wuertz has started each of the past 3 springs with issues that held him back at the beginning. He seems to take a long time to get ready, to the point that the managers always wonder if he's really going to be able to help the big club - yet he always ends up helping the big club.

I'm going Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. I think I'm also going to all three Philly games two weeks earlier.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=145622

Oh you lucky devil, you got the Grossly Awesome bleacher seats. Man, you're in for a treat. The Cubs will actually send a limo with a fully stocked bar to your house to pick you up and take you to the game. You get your pick of seat as well. So whenever you show up, just tell the usher you have the GA seats and, if somebody is sitting in your preferred seats, he'll make them move for you. It can get a little complicated to fill out some of the additional paperwork needed for the transportation and what not. And some people have complained the front office will make things a little difficult on opposing fans, because these GA seats are supposed to be held for the diehardest of the diehard Cubs fans - the John McClanes if you will. Anyway, if you'd like, you can send me your tickets and I'll take care of all that extra paperwork so you can just relax and wait for that limo. You're going to have a blast.

basically, he said what everybody has said for 3 months now, nothing.

listening now. i think it will happen not sure if it will happen today or tomorrow Cubs and orioles need to do more scouting names i've heard, combination of gallagher marshall, cedeno murton and a few others. payton may be involved roberts seems enthusiastic, millar told him to pretend he was hurt i think roberts will be gone, it just makes too much sense i will be shocked if deal isn't consumated

Wow, this post makes absolutely no sense. It doesn't make sense that he'd let a friend know about taking steroids, but lie to the public about how often he used them? Seriously? You don't think that makes sense? Wow. Andy Pettite did the exact same thing by the way. History is littered with people who have been forced to admit a wrong doing but who also downplay the frequency/extent of their wrongdoing. It makes perfect sense why he would try and downplay how often he took them.

Was he horrible, or could he have been better? I don't think he was horrible when you look at the complete year, I think he was horrible in a few stretches. Defensively, Theriot is rarely going to make hightlight plays, but he is going to make the plays he should be making. His range could be better, but he isn't a liability defensively. He's a smart player, who maximizes his abilities. Offensively, he was very streaky in 2007. It was also his first full season in MLB. His OB% was below par, but I will not be surprised to see a better year out of him. Scoring 80 runs is a respectable number in MLB, even for a first year guy on a playoff team. I don't understand all the hate. He was horrible. The Cubs had the worst SS production in the NL last year and he was largely responsible.

I agree. He's really not who I'd like playing there but if he's struggling I'm sure the Cubs will make a move before the deadline and upgrade the position. I'm rooting for the Riot to have a career year. I'm not so sure. He was horrible last year and they didn't lift a finger in trying to replace him. I don't get why people think his horribleness would not be tolerated this year. The problem is the Cubs think Theriot isn't a problem. He would have to get signficantly worse in order to be bad enough for them to wake up to the problem.

That's utterly ridiculous. If you want to argue that spring training should be cancelled, that's one thing. But players come into spring training in shape-this isn't 1934 where they're pulling a double shift at the factory in the offseason. The only thing that can be accomplished during Spring Training is for management to get a feel for the team, especially new players. Aside from that, you're taking the quote waaaaaaaaay too far. In no way, shape, or form did he state that a decision had been made. He simply stated that he MAY make a change TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. That's about as noncommital as possible. To imply that he simply made a snap decision and has completely made up his mind is dishonest. If anything, Piniella has shown a penchant to think out loud with reporters, and speculate as to some possible changes that, realistically, won't come to pass nearly as quickly as he states (see Dempster situation last season). This is a non-story. Game shape wilco, I'm not talking about guys doing laps. It's about getting pitchers arms stretched out, for starters to get ready to throw 100+ pitches, for relievers to get ready for back to back days. It's for hitters to get their timing ready. I didn't say anything about cancelling spring training. It serves a purpose. Unfortunately, some people think it's capable of serving more than it's purpose. Lou experimented with a guy hitting third and didn't like what he saw after 7 ABs, and now he wants to change things up. I'm not taking anything too far. Managers have a horribly inflated ego with regards to their ability to "get a read on guys". Lou is no different. They can't learn squat from a handful of at bats. Thankfully, in the grand scheme of things, whether Fukudome hits 3rd or 2nd probably will not make a lick of difference with how well he hits and how well the team performs, so this sort of tinkering won't hurt too bad. But it won't help either.

This is a very stupid post displaying an extreme lack of knowledge regarding NFL.

I think this is kinda ridiculous. You wrote it yourself-this is Spring Training. The whole point, especially with players a manager has never seen before, is to try various things out and see if they work. Piniella said himself: "I might drop him back down to the two-spot and see what happens." It sounds like he's tinkering with things to see what works best. The last time I checked, that's the point of practice games. Why not? I'd much rather have a manager who tries things (ESPECIALLY in Spring Training) to see what might work best over a manager who is so wedded to his stupid philosophies that he refuses to try anything new. I think his quote here is telling: "Maybe the three-hole might be asking a little much too soon. We might drop him to the two-hole, and he might be more comfortable there." I don't think this has anything to do with "protection," or anything else we flippantly label "old school." I think it has more to do with the fact that Piniella probably believes that Fukudome is trying to drive the ball too much, thus expanding his strike zone, instead of remaining patient and trying to simply get on base. Putting him in the #2 hole might be a way to allow Fukudome to re-establish those facets that make him a good hitter. Most importantly, however, I think an Allen Iverson quote is probably the most important to remember for some perspective here. Practice? You're talking about Practice... Not the games. Practice... That's all well and good, except for the fact that he apparantly tried the 3 spot for all of 7 AB and was able to determine that Fukudome in the 3 spot didn't work. Spring training should not be about trying things. Spring training should be about getting in game shape. If you want to throw guys into different defensive positions, just to get them some experience, fine, but spring training is a horrible place to "see if things work". Nothing that happens in spring training should determine who plays, and where people hit, in the regular season - with the exception of injuries or trades.

pawelek??? if that guy hadn't been drafted in the first round, he wouldn't even be talked about as a prospect any more. he's done absolutely nothing to affirm his status as a prospect. He was top 15 last year, along with Harvey and Dopirak, so clearly these lists don't care much for what guys actually do while playing the game of baseball.

Absolutely unacceptable. The Bears had been rebuilding for years and years (with the exception of the fluke 2001 season). They finally make it back to the playoffs for two years. Rebuilding AGAIN so quickly after only two playoff appearances is not an option.You may find it unacceptable, but it is the truth. Currently the Bears need 2 more WR's, an OT, and OG, and and another RB. I won't even get into the QB situation. That is 5 key positions on offense, and the FA market is dwindling. Do you really expect Angelo to plug these holes via the draft? Espcecially considering his track record regarding offensive players? NFL teams are constantly rebuilding, unless they have a QB who can provide them steady pro bowl caliber play, year-in and year-out. I don't see how it's unacceptable for this team to be rebuilding. And I don't see why it should take more than 1 season to be back into the playoffs.

As a Sox employee, he may be contractually obligated to give his opinion about the Cubs even more frequently.

He was fairly similar to what I thought he would be for the Bears. Not bad, but not good. If this was a very good team that just needed hand holding at QB, he could have done the job. Unfortunately, the Bears needed more than hand holding at QB.

not always true

okay that is gross. mayonnaise or nothing on tuna. It had mayo. But after so many years of tuna+mayo and nothing else, you need to add a little. It really gave it a nice... awesome mustard taste. Honestly, it worked well. I'm kind of crazy when it comes to ingredients in food though. A madman. oh yeah, did you go out and get this stuff yet? freaking crack mustard Yes, tuna/mayo is nice, for 5th graders. But you gotta kick it up a notch later in life. I like a little spicy mustard in there, sometimes some relish as well.

Trading a prospect is not giving up on a prospect, nor is it giving away a prospect. Value such as what Roberts brings requires losing something of value. While I agree with your statement that trading somebody is not "giving up on" or "giving away", I don't think our friend from across the pond was suggesting it was. He was asking if the upgrade was worth the talent going the other way, acknowledging, I believe, that you have to give up something to get something.

definetly don't disagree but it the late in the game, the drain is clogged and the level is up a foot. I don't know how a troth can help anybody get in and get out of anything, except for perhaps a wedding in the middle ages. A trough is a fantastic receptacle to pee in. I've never seen one in Wrigley that was a foot deep with pee. Then again, I'm not a woman who needs to pee every inning.

Except for the fact that he was the one who signed Marquis to that predictably bad contract in the first place.

it's a friday during lent :cry: The best time of the year to get seated at a steakhouse.