Little Slide Rooter

This. I still stand by my theory that Ramirez+Fielder+decent 2-3 starter=contention if not division favorites.

Only The Cubs.

Do you think signing Dave Bush is distracting him too much to make trades as the deadline approaches, or do you think he thinks signing Dave Bush plugs a hole, and now he doesn't have to worry about the rotation going forward? Personally, I just think it was a waste of time in general. I highly doubt that he thinks that Bush plugs any kind of hole any more than Davis, Ortiz, or Lopez did, but on the other hand, if they are looking for another starter, they should just call up Coleman, Jackson, or Cabrera, who have been bad, but theres a chance that they could have some kind of future. If your a team on the brink of contention, it would make sense to keep trying out every retread you can get your hands on in hopes of finding lightning in a bottle, but as is, 12.5 games out of 1st and 19 under .500, I just dont get it. I can understand looking at washups that were once good like Colon, Garcia, and Milwood, but we just keep picking up these guys who were decent at best when they were in their prime. I strongly doubt they'd want to destroy what has to be shaky confidence in Jackson and Cabrera right now. The way they have pitched this year, they would be destroyed in the majors. Is that what you want to see? Agreed, but isnt Casey Coleman a fingey enough prospect who seen enough big league action that they could just call him up and see what hes got?

Do you think signing Dave Bush is distracting him too much to make trades as the deadline approaches, or do you think he thinks signing Dave Bush plugs a hole, and now he doesn't have to worry about the rotation going forward? Personally, I just think it was a waste of time in general. I highly doubt that he thinks that Bush plugs any kind of hole any more than Davis, Ortiz, or Lopez did, but on the other hand, if they are looking for another starter, they should just call up Coleman, Jackson, or Cabrera, who have been bad, but theres a chance that they could have some kind of future. If your a team on the brink of contention, it would make sense to keep trying out every retread you can get your hands on in hopes of finding lightning in a bottle, but as is, 12.5 games out of 1st and 19 under .500, I just dont get it. I can understand looking at washups that were once good like Colon, Garcia, and Milwood, but we just keep picking up these guys who were decent at best when they were in their prime.

On Iowas site, it looks like McNutts been passed over again, and they have Searle as the SP. Maybe its just an error on their part, as they had McNutt going yesterday when Raley did or maybe hes hurt. Or maybe their just doing the inevitable and moving him to the pen.

You dont have to do this Fred. We wont think any less of you.

The revolving door keeps-a-turning. Whose next? Estaban Loiza? Woody Williams? Hideo Nomo? I really dont see the point. Just give the starts to guys like Jackson or Coleman.

Pretty much. The Cubs will be garbage for at least most of the next decade if they go that route. Really doesn't jive with how savvy the Ricketts are as businessmen/women. If Ricketts really wants Joe Cowleys prophecy to come true and have Chicago become the White Sox town, then he should definitely go this route.

Ive said this before, but Id be surprised if we waived his unwritten NTC for the D Backs. As much as he wants to stay in Chicago, I wouldnt be surprised if he agreed to go to a real contender like the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, or Rangers, but for such a fringe contender like the D Backs, I dont think hed be willing to make the move. Maybe we can interest them in an overpaid LOOGY instead.

I see, you ask the question and then answer it in the affirmative without anyone having a chance to say no. I'll have to adopt this tactic more often. That wont hold up in court, especially when the poor girls in tears.

They might not have the money, but they certainly have enough prospects to send over for Fukudome and make it worth our while to eat whats left of his salary.

The Phillies have placed Placido Polanco on the DL, and there next in line for 3B is Wilson valdez and Pete Orr, both are awful with sub .250 avg/sub .600 OPS. While Aramis may be too rich for their blood, might I recommend Jeff Baker or Blake DeWitt? the Phils are coming to town after the Marlins leave, and that could be a good time to get something done.

Something wrong with Dolis? Ever since returning from the DL, hes been uncharacteristically awful. Either the injury is still lingering or hes taken on John Grabow as his personal pitching coach.

The reason that black and Hispanic players have been booed more than white players in recent years is that they are the ones who have been brought in under high profile deals in recent years, the saviors so to speak. Yeah, Grabows gotten his share of boos, but Zambrano, Soriano, Ramirez, Bradley, and Pierre to name a few have been the guys with high expectations attached to them, so therefore, they're going to get booed a lot more than guys like Miles, Theriot, or Campana. a lot of people like to say real fans don't boo. The this, I say real fan boo the loudest and fake fans turn their back until the team gets good again, of course in the case of the Cubs, it's hard to blame people for walking away considering how many god awful years we've had to endure in comparison with the hand full of good ones.

Now THAT'S how you kick off the second half when your chasing the Fecal League Championship.

Jackson and Flaherty each with a 2B in their AAA debut. And Raleys pitching for Tenn, not McNutt, even though Tenns website has had McNutt scheduled. Hope hes not hurt again.

Jim Hendry was never a player.

According to MLBTR, Feldman made it through waivers, but has rejected a minor league assignment, imassuming that makes him a FA or they'll want to trade him. I say we get him. What do we have to lose, Rodrigo Lopez or Ramon Ortiz? I think I could live with that.

Koyie Hill might not be the best candidate of all the backup catcher playing today, let alone all-time. It's hard to tell catcher's defensive ratings very well, but Hill is not particularly close to being the worst offensive catcher in the league. WHUT BUT ONLY THE COBS AND THE FUTILITY AND THE MANGLED HAND AND HENDRY LIKES DONUTS I guarantee you there's at least one person here who honestly believes that Soriano should be on this list. I don't know who that person is...but they're out there. I'm surprised Gville hasn't surfaced to nominate Ryan Dempster

Too bad for Ty Wright. Seemed to be doing well enough for himself in Iowa, and while I woulodnt exactly consider him a "prospect", hes certainly more so than Montanez or Snyder.

Baseballs answer to the Canadian Crippler.

Hitting .290/.392/.475 with 10 HR. Similar to last years numbers. How did the Rays end up with him? Was he just a minor league FA? Doubt hes someone we'll ever really miss, but just curious. Only 25 too, I thought he was closer to 27.

Decent game for Ben Wells. 5 Ip 6 H 1 BB 4 K 2 ER And Logan Watkins with another 2-4, average up to .291. I know hes young, but I cant help but notice that he doesnt hit for much, if any power. Does have his share of extra base hits though. Could he be the second coming of another NSBB favorite who happens to play for the Cardinals?

That might be aiming a touch high. Shields, Niemann, or Davis might be more realsitic. Maybe if the Rays hung onto that Garza guy.

Im actually somewhat shocked that one time mega prospect/it boy Joe Charboneau was nowhere to be found on that list.