Little Slide Rooter

How is it Rickett's fault?

To me, there's just a bunch of these guys througout the entire system that project to be back end starters, spot starters, or long relievers and it's tough to sort them out as far as the rankings go. To name a few, Rusin, Raley, Beeler, Struck, Jokisch, Loosen, and Kirk may all be very different pitchers, but they seem like any one of them could very well fill the type of role that Randy Wells or Casey Coleman have the past few years in the next 2-4. Even Rhee hasn't done much to distance himself from the pack. This being said, while I don't follow other team's fringe prospects, I'll assume that everyone has a handfull of these guys scattered throughout their system.

I remember reading that he had a ceiling of Ryan Howard, and this was before the season started. I forget where, perhaps from Sickels.

I think that Clevenger's due back sooner than later.

He'll beat us single handedly in each of the 3 games.

If all goes according to plan, in a few years time we'll be able to mock your team again.

Cubs sign light hitting, career minor league middle infielder. Moments later, remember that Jonathon Mota exists.

Remember all the [expletive] they gave you back when you dared suggest that this could be a 100 loss team?

I'll be there for the first two games. Hope to see history, and any starting pitcher other than Maholm, also. I went to a game vs. the Twins in '09. You wouldn't think it, but they were some of the most obnoxious visiting fans I've ever been surrounded by. One of the only Cubs games in which the away fans drowned out the Cubs fans. I remember it was shortly after Milton Bradley tossed a ball into the stands thinkin there were 3 out, and some doofus in the stand was harping on it the entire game.

I don't like our chances with the Bucs and Pads coming up. I could see us going 2-4 but 0-6 is a tall order. However if we can manage it, with a 3 game set @ San Fran, this streak could be legendary.

Between the end of 2011 and the end of 2012, we'll have cleared: Post 2011 Ramirez 14.6 Fukudome 14.5 Pena 5 Grabow 4.8 (really Hendry?) Added after 2011 DeJesus 4.25 Maholm 4.75 Stewart 2.237 Post 2012 Zambrano 15.5 (the rest covered by Marlins) Dempster: 14 Byrd: 6.5 Pena 5 ( i think that's how it worked) Kerry Wood 3(I'm assuming already off the payroll, but since it was a part of the opening day, I'll count it) Reed 1.15 Baker 1.375 I'm not sure, but I'm thinking that we're still paying something in the Bradley/Silva debacle. It made sense not to give Pujols or Fielder the type of contracts they got. While I commend them for not just splurging a a big chunk of it on players that they didn't want or feel could help them get the team where they wanted it to be and keep it there, although Darvish and Cespedes certainly seemed like the type of investments that would have fit the mold, but sometimes you just lose a bidding war. This being said, while there's no reason to splurge it all on whatever's available, there's no exscuse not to use some of it on the type of free agents that can help us long term. As much as I still want Hamilton, I cringe at the thought of giving a 31 year old former substance abuser more than 5 years, so maybe Upton would be the better answer for a long term fix. I stand by Hamels or Greinke, and forgot about Marcum.

I never thought that he would end up Jim Hendry's greatest gift.

I blame the radiation poisoning.

For what it's worth, the Cubs have followed up each of their last 3 95 or more loss seasons with a >.500 season.

Vitter's double just missed being a homer, according to I-Cubs twitter... if anyone cares. His iso numbers are actually not hate able. .267/.311/.421...11 doubles to his 4 HRs....More K's than I guess I expect from him but nothing absurd. I think he'll end up doing quite well. The guys a living, breathing roller coaster. One week he's 3-22 and the next thing you know, he's on a hot streak. Sound like someone we know and are paying 18MM? Nah he usually picks up after a slow start at a new level. Last year he picked up in May until he got hit in the head. I completely forgot about that. How much time did it cost him again?

So is the general consensus still that we'll avoid 100 loses?

Dolis might need a little vacation in Iowa, and I only say this because unlike the majority of our awful relievers, he has a future.

Vitter's double just missed being a homer, according to I-Cubs twitter... if anyone cares. His iso numbers are actually not hate able. .267/.311/.421...11 doubles to his 4 HRs....More K's than I guess I expect from him but nothing absurd. I think he'll end up doing quite well. The guys a living, breathing roller coaster. One week he's 3-22 and the next thing you know, he's on a hot streak. Sound like someone we know and are paying 18MM?

Yes, this I can agree with you on. Much of anything else, not so much. Damn even my baseball stuff? Things I choose to edit out for no reason? You have a way of writing that makes my head hurt. The minor league stuff is okay when it's not completely out of left field. N&G tormenting you doesn't help either, but you have to learn to not poke a bear with a stick at some point. N&G and I are the same person. Also, even when I'm serious nothing I write is serious enough. It is a fatal flaw. It could be said that I'm not one to talk, but I'm thinking this is what he means.

Somehow, Reed's managed an OPS of .789 in limited duty.

Not only a testament to our awful offense, but bullpen as well.

Well that's horrible.

There was 0 doubt in my mind that the leadoff double would not leave the comfort of 2nd base.

Don't worry, I'll try to remember Micah Hoffpauir and Jake Fox when he's 32 and OPSing 1.600 in Iowa.

.... and if frogs just had wings, they wouldn't bump their little butts on the ground !!! If my wife had balls, the GOP would have opposed our marriage. You're opening up the door to a whole lot of really ugly retorts.... let's don't go there, eh? I can't breathe life into the Cubs, but maybe I can into the game thread.