Little Slide Rooter

My GOD this team is all kinds of pathetic. Were really going to lose because of an error and a meatball to the pitcher. We really suck.

I really have no interest in rebuilding, and Id rather give this group 1 more go and hope they can stay healthy. Now I know this is just a pipe dream, and highly doubtful, but if the Twins decide they cant lock in Mauer long term and decide to trade him rather than lose him, assuming wed have the money to sign him long term, would a package of Geovany Soto, Josh Vitters, Jeff Samardzjia, and Sean Marshall be enough to make it happen?

Its really hard not to like Sam Fuld.

Not sure what that was, but whatever works.

More proof, as if it was needed that Aaron Miles has no business on this team.

Yes. Have you not seen what he has done over the last 8 years with far less money to spend? aaahahahaaahaha seriously... ned colleti? NED COLLETI? You mean we can sign such player as Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones, and Rafael Furcal to big contracts too? ALRIGHT! Alfonso Soriano and Todd Hundley say hello. My point is if were going to get rid of Hendry, we dont want to replace him with a guy whose going to make the same kind of boneheaded moves.

I dont. They could be the 1 thing standing between the Cardinals and another championship. besides, the first baseball games I ever went to as a kid were Yankees games, so Ill always have a soft spot for them.

Yes. Have you not seen what he has done over the last 8 years with far less money to spend? aaahahahaaahaha seriously... ned colleti? NED COLLETI? You mean we can sign such player as Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones, and Rafael Furcal to big contracts too? ALRIGHT!

I was discussing this with someone at work today. It was exactly 2 weeks ago when the Cubs began that fateful trip to Coors field. As I recall, at the time we were in 1st place by % points. That would not last, as the Cubs went 4-9. That would not be so horrible, except that the team we were neck and neck with went 11-2 in that same stretch. This brings me to the point, which is that our entire season has been essentially sunk by 1 bad 2 week period. I know we could have played some better ball in May and June, but this is what it really comes down to. We knew that this stretch between the Rockies, Phillies, and Dodgers would be trouble, but I never imagined how disaterous it would turn out to be.

So he wants to keep Lou and Hendry and get rid of Zambrano? No.

So basically its where it has been for a while now.

So were rebuilding around Soriano, Soto, and Fox and a a"serviceable" rotation? I think I'll take a pass on that.

I'd be all for trading Lilly if it meant the Cubs could keep Harden. I love Lilly but Harden is younger and better. As for the other two, they both are having good seasons but nobody on this team is untouchable. I'd love for Hendry to find a way to get Soriano off the team, even if it means eating some of that albatross. lilly is the best pitcher on this team...the problem with harden is that whatever is wrong with his shoulder hasn't healed...he needs surgery...which should have been done during the offseason Where in the world are you getting this Harden shoulder crap? Since the All Star Break hes 3-1,has a 1.64ERA, striking out over a batter an inning,and has a BAA of .136. He had a no hitter going into the 6th inning of a start vs Philly, and a 1 hitter in his last start. Hes allowed 2 runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts. There is noway in hell hes doing that while being hurt. Rich Harden is the best pitcher on this team. Starting pitchers Brandon Backe (32) Miguel Batista (39) Josh Beckett (30) - $12MM club option with a $2MM buyout Erik Bedard (31) Kris Benson (34) Daniel Cabrera (29) Chris Capuano (31) Bartolo Colon (37) Jose Contreras (38) Doug Davis (34) Justin Duchscherer (32) Adam Eaton (32) Shawn Estes (37) Josh Fogg (33) Freddy Garcia (34) Jon Garland (30) - $10MM mutual option with $2.5MM or $1MM buyout Tom Glavine (44) Mike Hampton (37) Rich Harden (28) Mark Hendrickson (36) Livan Hernandez (35) Tim Hudson (34) - $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout Jason Jennings (31) Jason Johnson (36) Randy Johnson (46) John Lackey (31) Cliff Lee (31) - $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout Braden Looper (35) - option Rodrigo Lopez (34) Jason Marquis (31) Kevin Millwood (35) - Rangers can decline $12MM salary for '10 unless he reaches 180 innings in '09 Brian Moehler (38) - mutual option Brett Myers (29) Vicente Padilla (32) - $12MM club option with a $1.75MM buyout Chan Ho Park (37) John Parrish (32) Carl Pavano (34) Brad Penny (32) Odalis Perez (33) Andy Pettitte (38) Joel Pineiro (31) Sidney Ponson (33) Mark Prior (28) Horacio Ramirez (30) Jason Schmidt (37) John Smoltz (43) Tim Wakefield (43) - perpetual $4MM club option Jarrod Washburn (35) Brandon Webb (31) - $8.5MM club option with a $500K+ buyout Todd Wellemeyer (31) Kip Wells (33) Randy Wolf (33) If you look at this list of 2010 FA starters, assuming that Lee, Becket and Webbs team options are picked up, which is more than likely, Harden, Bedard, and Lacky are without a shadow of a doubt the cream of the crop, and a lot of teams are going to want them. It may be very hard to hang on Harden even if they try to. Chances are someones going to risk a 3 year deal for him, and I cant see the Cubs matching that.

Maybe its the Cubs. I know it doesnt matter for this year, but if he does well, you could get him for 8 mil next year, whioch sounds like a lot for a closer, but at least you dont have to give a multi year deal to soemone like Valverde or Soriano.

I'd say he's near the top. Soriano clearly tops it. But your biggest offseason acquisition disappointing in a big way is a significant problem. The fact that others make more than him is pretty meaningless. Most of those guys have been pretty damn good. Bradley is really picking up steam, and hopefully next year he'll be adapted to the team. The only guy who would be worth dumping would be Soriano. Thats 90 million over the next 5 years, and for that kind of money he should one of the top players in the game. Id be all for doing what the Blue Jays did with Rios and just send him through waivers and see if someone takes the bait. That money could go a long way.

Ideally no, but when talking about young guys with limited playing time under their belt and a decision that has to be made sometimes after just 3 years, it's not horrible to be swayed by his last month before that decision has to be made. Yeah, but hes also a former top 20 pick who came off of major surgery, so it would be hard to just let him go at this point.

so we know what he did?

He then went on to complain about the rock and roll and the dope and the hallogen head lights before the nurse came in with his custard and he accused her of stealing his pills before he forgot what he was talking about and went back to watching Matlock.

lol...apparently i don't think like you Or any other Cubs fan for that matter.

This season feels like 2005 more than anything else, imo. True. No playoffs like '03, '07. or '08 or end game meltdown like '04 or even the all out horror of '06. Just the basic mediocrity of '05, the difference being the expectations.

Papelbon is going to be 27 next season and has spent limited time past AA. We'll probably keep Grabow, and Gaub, Lambert, and Russell all seem to have passed him up as far as left handed relievers go in the organization, and they're all younger so if someone really wants Papelbon, let them have him. Its probably in his best interest anyway. If he does well, more power to him, but I cant see him making it very far before ending up back here.

I'd be all for trading Lilly if it meant the Cubs could keep Harden. I love Lilly but Harden is younger and better. As for the other two, they both are having good seasons but nobody on this team is untouchable. I'd love for Hendry to find a way to get Soriano off the team, even if it means eating some of that albatross. Obviously, but thats much easier said than done. Even if Soriano gets better, the team would be much better off without that contract. That 90 million could go a long way.

The only thing worse would be a Dodgers/Yankees WS, which may cause ESPN to collapse into a drooling epileptic fit of "Joe Torre & Manny vs. the Yankees" obsession. I suppose theyd also love a Mannys vs. Red Sox World Series. However, froma ratings standpoint, I cant imagine anything topping Cubs vs. anyone. Not going to happen this year, but when it does...

The GM makes the roster moves. A manager can 'want' anything, but it's the GM's job to put the right personnel on the field. I know you already know this, just sending a reminder. Still the manager has a lot of input though. Im sure that any major moves are discussed in depth before they go through with them. I doubt Hendry just called Lou and said oh, by the way, I traded DeRosa for some minor leaguers, but dont worry, Im close to a deal for Aaron Miles whose essentially the same guy only hes a switch hitter.

Yeah, we need a fiery guy to replace that old softie Lou Piniella. SORIANO!!! PLAY BETTER OR I'LL ASK YOU TO GIVE UP 100M CAUSE I'M ANGRY Im saying Soriano would be begging to opt out. A lot of people dont quite know the extent of Bobby Vs reputation. no, he wouldn't. no, he wouldnt but still, if nothing else, we could get some great post games out of him.