jersey cubs fan

Have you considered that maybe there is a reason that Bill James was wrong? For instance, maybe Bedard's strikeouts in the minors were on pitches more likely to strike out major league hitters than Hill's were? Don't they strike out essentially the same amount? 8.74 to 8.43 in the majors, with Bedard's 2007 being the one outlier of all the seasons that tilt it in his favor?

I like PTI, mainly because Kornheiser and Wilbon aren't prone to sweeping generalizations, stupid statements and general d-baggery like the ATH guys. They may not be the lowest common denominator types like those on ATH, but they are only the next level up.

A marketing job, no, regardless of level. If she's working in player development in any capacity, or providing any other services that may in some way shape or form assist players players on the team, whether it's buying their steroids or busting their slumps, then yes.

The fans did not boo him for his season stats. They booed him because he was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he had a horrible start, he got picked off repeatedly, he threw the ball directly into the ground or 100 feet over the cutoff man, AND HE WHINED ABOUT THE FANS IN HIS FIRST WEEK IN UNIFORM. I'm not going to say I approve of the booing, but this is a completely different situation.

He's a fan favorite ever since the Game 7 catch and his career year in 2006.

That is true, but it seems they have grown a little more impatient since 2003. I guess it is the Old Style fans with the "New Stlye", "Gen-Y" I want it now, and don't care about the ramifications of my actions type attitude that concerns me. I just don't think booing is ever productive. I would rather you phone into radio shows or boycott tickets (although the latter doesn't work in Chicago). I am not the only one thinking about this http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_whatsgoinon/2007/12/will-cubs-fans.html : The man he essentially replaces, Jacque Jones, got a three-year, $16 million deal in 2006 that Cubs fans hated and voiced their displeasure at every opportunity, first with Jim Hendry -- by booing Jones -- then with Jones' slow start -- by booing Jones. Then they booed him some more. Jones rallied to hit .285 with 27 homers and 81 RBI that first year, which was better than what Cubs fans should have expected based on his numbers with the Twins the previous two seasons. But he never won them over. Fukudome brings a .305 lifetime average in Japan and the reputation as a patient hitter to the Cubs outfield, which easily will improve defensively. He also comes with a lot of hype, a nice, new four-year, $48-50 million contract and an elbow injury. Fukudome averaged 29 home runs between 2003-06, but hit .294 with 13 homers last year in a season cut short by the injury. Cubs manager Lou Piniella says to give him a year to adjust to day games. But will the fans wait that long? Will they even wait a month? Jacque Jones was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he played like crap from the beginning, and whined about the fans after the initial smattering of boos. He made himself the fans' target with his repeated "rookie baserunning gaffes" and those absolutely amazingly bad throws. Fukudome's signing has been seen as a positive by practically all involved, there really isn't a comparison. I would expect it to be much more like Soriano and the extended honeymoon he enjoyed, if not quite the Nomar level of absolute love.

Theriot. Khalil Greene will start No offense to you in particular, but why is everyone so nuts about the average SS Khalil Green? Leaving out for a moment that average may be understating it, I will just say that average would be a huge improvement over what the Cubs have at SS.

The Cubs spent 2.5/yr on Neifi Perez. The Cubs spent $6 million over 2 years on Glendon Rusch. $3 million isn't much to roll the dice and see what you can get out of someone with the potential of Mark Prior. But he's not staying. Also, wouldn't it be a smart move to not repeat past mistakes? Just because they've made some foolish moves in the past doesn't mean they should continue making them. That's only a good point if you are under the mistaken assumption that keeping Prior would be a mistake. You gamble on potential greatness, or even goodness. Those foolish moves were wasting money on guaranteed crap.

I think more likely the wrench comes from the Orioles side. On one hand, it's been said that Andy needed to trade other guys before he could trade Roberts. On the other hand, once Angelos gives the OK for trading Tejada and Bedard, he can probably justify saying, okay, that's enough, we have to keep Roberts for PR reasons.

That is......., I don't know. Laughable I guess. Did you forget trainer-gate? All the issues with timetables for returns and whatnot? The Cubs are awful with health. Those all involved Prior though. The trainer's decision to leave him out there after Giles was horrible, and he was rightfully fired after that. I can't think of another player where the Cubs mishandled his injury though. Wood pitching in relief when he had surgery scheduled anyway and the season was over? Wood, Prior and many others pitching 130+ repeatedly and having management thing nothing was wrong with that. Prior and Wood were not the only guys who saw 2-4 weeks turn into 4-6 months. And just because all those things happened to Prior, it doesn't mean they don't count. The Cubs are boobs with health. Hey Lieber, pitch through a 2 hour rain delay would ya, and then do it as many times as possible until you need TJS. Clement, same thing. Scott Eyre, why the Cubs? The Cubs don't make you excercise. This team has been roundly criticized for their ignorance of modern baseball analysis, but they've also maintained an old school, "just tough it out pansy" attitude with pitching injuries, and a rub some dirt on it philosophy with injuries in general.

That is......., I don't know. Laughable I guess. Did you forget trainer-gate? All the issues with timetables for returns and whatnot? The Cubs are awful with health.

So the Cubs wanted surgery...then get upset when Prior wants it too? Again, it doesn't add up. The Cubs wanted him to tought it out and pitch. I'm done with this topic. I don't have the energy to discuss the painfully illogical notion a parting of the ways is somehow best for everybody involved. It's a shame, but it's hardly a fluke that something like this would have to the Cubs organization, and the people who run it.

All of this is incorrect. All of it. Hendry even came out once in 2004 or 2005 and ripped Prior for coming out of a game when "nothing was wrong with him". They waited until 2007 (!) to have his shoulder properly examined and operated on. I'd like to see this ripping that was done by Hendry. Also, Prior is a smart man and I'm sure he could have had his shoulder looked at on his own if this was the case. There were numerous quotes by Hendry that more or less insinuated he thought Prior was a big baby. I wouldn't call it direct ripping, but it was plainly obvious he shares your opinion that he's really just a wimp.

I felt the same way. I'm no scout, and I can't look at a guy and dissect the swing properly. But it appears long to me. Although he also seems to be able to keep his hands back.

His other jerseys said Fukudome. Is he really going to go with Kosuke? I've never owned a Cubs jersey. I have a Ramirez T and a couple sweatshirts, but if it's Fukudome, I will have to get one. And yes, that is because of the immature word play.

Dempster has 1 year, $5.5 million left on his contract. Marquis has $6.375M and $9.875M remaining.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Interesting. wow. so it wasnt the highest bidder. I wonder if all that talk of 5 years $70 mil was Texas?? I always take this "we were right there financially" talk with a big grain of salt. It's very convenient for teams to leak to their fans that they were willing to spend big on a guy they won't ever have to spend a dime on.

Am I nitpicking, or is that just a poorly written, very confusing phrase? Their contracts will average $60 per season suggests to me that there are 4 guys whose individuals contracts will be $60m per year on average. Or that combined they will cost $240 million per year. Perhaps he should have said, their contracts will combine to cost the Cubs $60 per year, on average over the course of the respective deals. Nitpicking a bit. I don't have a problem the way it's written. When he says average I assume he means the average of the 4 players. Yes, you can assume that. Anybody with a sense of baseball's salary structure will understand that. But the way it's written, it suggests the 4 of them average $60m per year, individually, as opposed to the sum of their 4 contracts averageing $60m per year.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7553926?MSNHPHMA Am I nitpicking, or is that just a poorly written, very confusing phrase? Their contracts will average $60 per season suggests to me that there are 4 guys whose individuals contracts will be $60m per year on average. Or that combined they will cost $240 million per year. Perhaps he should have said, their contracts will combine to cost the Cubs $60 per year, on average over the course of the respective deals.

I don't want Soriano in leadoff, but I can live with it. I still feel it's far less important than just getting the right guys in the lineup in the first place.

Manager Lou Piniella, who called Fukudome a cross between Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, said last week he expected to bat the new Cub fourth or fifth in the order. Wow. I didn't think he had enough power to bat 4th. I always thought he was a leadoff or #2 guy. Just like OBP isnt the ONLY important thing out of a leadoff hitter, power isnt the ONLY important thing out of a middle of the order hitter. Also, while he doesn't have HR power, he definitely has great doubles power and will probably lead the team or be very close to the lead in 2bs. But it sure would be nice to have his OBP at the top of the order instead of a 330. Yeah I was thinking Roberts and Fukedome at the top too. I wonder if Soriano has made noise about being moved off the leadoff spot? Do you think the Cubs should actually obtain Roberts before everyone starts to pencil him into the lineup? That's why it's in pencil, you can erase it. Is there a pencil font we can use?

Jacque Jones and Latroy Hawkins...just off the top of my head. Hundley. Juan Pi........ or wait, I hated him playing for the Cubs.

Pay him to see if you can get 3-4 months of quality pitching out of him this season, and then see what you can do about resigning him next offseason. But what if you can't and you now use the money for another pitcher that can have an impact now? They aren't going to find any pitcher of any value for $3 million.

Must win game for the Blackhawks tonight. Too early for such a statement? I don't think so. They have faded this month. Last in their division and 12th in the West right now. They are just 2-3 at home since returning from the long trip. And they are facing the last place team at home tonight. You simply have to win these games if you are a young team hoping to climb into playoff contention this season. Savard is playing with the lines on an almost shift to shift basis right now. If this team does fade, I believe he will lose his job, and the new regime may even dump Tallon and replace the whole crew by the summer. I hope it doesn't come to that. Even if they ultimately may need new leadership to get to the Stanley Cup level, I want to see this group at least make the playoffs this year and find some success. With all the attention and pressure on Kane and Toews to succeed this year, it would be a shame if the team disapointed just as people started paying attention.

Pay him to see if you can get 3-4 months of quality pitching out of him this season, and then see what you can do about resigning him next offseason.