ChiCubsFan

For who? The Astros. There going to cut into their second best hitters playing time for a streaky Huff and in the process traded away two solid prospects for a rental. So Huff is streaky but Ensberg hasn't been? He posted an insane April followed by a poor May and a horrible June (.588 OPS). He has a .685 OPS in the past month. I'm not denying that Huff is streaky, because he's about as streaky as they come, but I wouldn't hold that against him. Ensberg isn't the player everyone is making him up to be. If it weren't for that amazing first month, his overall season stats would be horrible. I realize it doesn't make sense to just take a month of a player's statistics out, but I'm just saying he has been pretty brutal at the plate over the past 2 and a half months. It's also important to note that he has a sub .800 OPS (.764) and only a .337 OBP on the road over his career. The guy can mash in MMP, but who can't. I think relying on Ensberg and Lamb (who has been garbage over most of his career) would be stupid. Huff is going to help that team out a lot, and I don't think taking ABs away from Mike Lamb, Preston Wilson, and a cooled off Morgan Ensberg is really a big deal. The NL is horrible and Houston has as good a shot as any to make it to the playoffs. As for the prospects, I agree that they are solid, but I don't think its overpaying. Neither were on their top 10 list according to BA prior to the season. I think it was a good trade for both teams. It gives Houston a much better shot at the playoffs and they got to keep their top prospects (Hirsh, Patton, Pence).

4th and Goal selects RB Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. Da Bars is OTC

Since Adam Everett has a 605 OPS, and Houston's relief pitching ERA is ranked 10th in the NL, why not trade them Scott Williamson and Neifi Perez (hitting very well in July) for a prospect? Houston selects any prospect to trade if they pick up Neifi's salary in 2007; the Astros select one prospect from a group of 10 specified by Cubs scouts, if the Cubs pick up Neifi's 2007 salary. Sounds good to me.

Awesome! Excellent edition to Team USA. Hinrich is exactly what previous olympic teams lacked.

For who?

I like Cesar Carillo and George Kottaras, but not nearly enough to trade them Aramis.

Ensberg is in a gigantic slump and I would bet him PT (along with Wilson's and Lamb's) will get reduced.

You couldn't just post in the "Jason Lane anyone?" thread?

DeJesus makes Pie expendable. While Pie has the potential to hit for enough power to be a corner OF, we can only hope he will be able to be what DeJesus is now. DeJesus is a relatively inexpensive cornerstone to the Royals rebuilding effort, Pie plus more would definitely be necessary to get him, unless Dayton really really likes Shane Costa. Trust me, I like DeJesus a lot but I think Pie alone could/should get him. Pie's ceiling is MUCH higher than DeJesus's.

I'm very big on DeJesus and would love to see him leading off and playing CF for the Cubs for the next 10-15 years, but I don't see it happening. I wouldn't mind giving up a package of Marshall, Dopirak, and another decent prospect but I dont know about giving up Pie. I would MAYBE consider doing Pie for DeJesus straight up, because I don't have all that much confidence in the Cubs developing Pie into the player he can potentially be.

4th and Goal QB-Eli Manning RB-Shaun Alexander RB-Rudi Johnson WR-Chris Chambers WR-Roy Williams WR/RB-Jamal Lewis TE-Randy McMichael K- D-Carolina Panthers Bench-Javon Walker (WR) Bench-DeAngelo Williams (RB) Bench-Kevan Barlow (RB)

4th and Goal takes WR Roy Williams, Detroit TT is OTC

Maddux, Williamson, and Aramis for LaRoche, Broxton, and Billingsley/Elbert. They also have Kemp, Guzman, and a few others I'd be interested in.

I believe it used to be WR RB flex Yeah, last year I believe it was too, but this year it says 2 RB and 3 WR and no Flex. I just need to know, as it will affect my pick.

I thought we had a WR/RB Flex position??? Did that change now to 2 RB and 3 WR?

We need one more stud SP at least. Either Zito or Schmidt. Add in Prior (plz stay healthy), Z, and 2 of Marshall/Hill/Guzman/Marmol and i think you got a good rotation. I think Marmol needs to be sent down to work in AA/AAA and Maddux needs to be traded. We need to pitch Hill, Guzman, Marshall for the rest of the year to see what we have.

Sucks that the Bulls aren't in the Atlantic Division. But they'll still do well regardless. BOOOOO to steve smith! I can see every team in the Central making the playoffs for several years in a row. I could see 4 making it, but there is no way all 5 make the post season next year. All you need is a key injury to Indiana or Milwaukee and they'll miss the playoffs. Same goes for Cleveland if LeBron gets hurt and misses an extended period of time. Too many things have to go right for this to happen. Didn't all 5 make it this year? Besides, I don't see any reason why Philly, Boston, NY, Toronto, Orlando, Charlotte, or Atlanta would be better than Indiana or Milwaukee. Of course, if there are injuries to key players, one of the 5 might not make it, but I'd say there's a better chance for it to happen than not happen.

Mark Rogers, Yovani Gallardo, Ryan Braun, or Corey Hart. Any of those would be fine with me.

How A.J. made it over Hafner, Liriano, and Verlander is just insane. Not to mention that the other Catcher who was nominated (Ramon Hernandez) has way better stats as well. It's a shame. OH well, there will be plenty of ASGs for Liriano and Verlander in the future.

I liked Tyson too. However, when you consider he started 50 games and played an average of 26.8 mins per game, and Big Ben started all 82 and averaged 35.2 minutes, you can clearly see the upgrade. Part of the problem with Tyson were the injuries. He wasn't *always* hurt, but he often seemed slowed by a tweak here & a tweak there. It wasn't all that often that you could feel he was playing at 100% and had been playing that way for long enough that he was in a groove. Big Ben seems to always play, and the double-digit rebounds will be like gold to our shooters. Having PJ in there can only help as well. I believe we're at the point where injecting a couple solid veterans can send this team over the top. Not saying it will definitely happen, but I'm on board with the direction Pax is going. Yeah, I totally agree that Ben Wallace is an upgrade over Tyson. Another big reason Tyson's minutes were much lower than Big Ben's is because he was constantly in foul trouble. Ben doesn't have that problem too often. I love the moves Pax has made, I'm just going to miss Tyson. Just like last year I said I was going to miss Eddy, but got over that pretty quick (thanks to Isiah ruining the team and giving us excellent draft picks).

Don't they need somebody to score points? Plenty of room on the sunny side of Chicago sports. I'm ready for football season already. I can get behind that...but I'm good with what the Bulls have done. I don't know much about it, but it seems rather obvious they are still a long way from being a stud team without somebody who can score. Wallace sounds like a better version of Chandler's defense only game. An upgrade certainly, but not a guy who will take an already great defensive team that was mediocre overall due to inability to score, into a great team. Are they just expecting to win every game 79-78 or do they think one of their young guys is going to take a huge leap this year? As Bill Simmons and many other NBA gurus will tell you, the 3rd year is when many guys start really hitting their stride. Kirk had easily his best year yet last season in his 3rd year, and four of our best players (Gordon, Duhon, Nocioni and Deng) are entering their third season this year. It's not a stretch to think that at least three of them will improve this season, two of them significantly. Have I mentioned that I'm stoked we didn't even have to give up Malik in the Tyson deal? Yeah, and Noc really stepped it up late last year. At worst, we have improved at least a little. At best, Deng, Noc, Gordon turn into great players/stars and we make a run at a championship. I am going to miss Tyson though. I loved the energy and enthusiasm he brought. I know Big Ben will bring that energy and Brown is a great vet for the locker room (like AD was a couple years ago) and Smith has nice upside, but I will still miss Tyson. These moves by Pax have been brilliant and I can't wait for the season to start. Anyone think anymore moves will happen? Do we have any money left or are pretty much maxed out?

I'm shocked at how close this is (not that its close but ALOT closer than i thought it would be).

Why did Songaila opt out of his contract?

This team is really coming together nicely.

I second that idea.