italianocubsfan7

Orlando Hudson possibly?

Cubs expect to finalize a deal to bring Wood back by the end of the week: http://www.csnchicago.com/12/15/10/Homecoming-Wood-close-to-returning-to-Cu/landing_cubs.html?blockID=374304&feedID=661

Now there is this out there — http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5896458&campaign=rss&source=CHICAGOHeadlines Maybe something is imminent??

Konerko would have to be 3 years at it least $15 million per year. Based on what has not happened this off-season with the Cubs, they're not singing Konerko. I could definitely see DLee to the Sox, though.

Whatever the Cubs are going to do, they need to do it fast. With Konerko probably not resigning with the Sox, the crosstown rival might snag up Pena or LaRoche. No matter if these weren't the No. 1 options for the Cubs at the start, they do need to sign one of them — Pena or LaRoche. Let's go Hendry, stop sitting on your hands! You have the budget to make at least one move at the winter meetings.

Understood. Earlier dew pointed out that signing Dunn to this deal would've been "a different story" if the Cubs were better positioned to contend for the WS. And I'm saying the Cubs took that same "one player away" mindset into the Bradley situation. As we all know, that ended very poorly. For some reason that was labeled a "really, really ridiculous take." I dunno, seems spot on to me. :shrug: Because it's really, really ridiculous. Adam Dunn and Bradley are completely different in every sense of the word and Dunn IS the type of player that can put a team over the top. There was no reason for the Cubs to go into next season effectively surrendering in such a weak division, and that's what they've effectively done by not landing the one difference-maker FA they had a shot at getting on the market right now. People can spin it all they want, by any combination of dinking and dunking moves they make instead of getting Dunn isn't going to do anything except almost certainly result in a mediocre team that can't even compete in a division this weak. Your overgeneralization is a silly take on this, and the Cubs easily could have been just one player away given their competition, and Dunn is that type of player. To compare it to Bradley in any way is just absurd. The Cubs very realistically were just a Dunn away from being competitive and having a real shot given the circumstances of their division whereas Bradley was nothing but an oft-injured role player at best. You're drastically undervaluing Dunn's impact on this team to make your point. You're wrong. The Cubs may have "kicked the tires" on Dunn, but they never actively pursued him. Berkman and Pena are the options for them at 1B this winter, so stop living in a fantasy world. Secondly, the Cubs aren't "just [one] Dunn away from being competitive ... ." This team seriously lacks leadership both on and off the field. While Dunn may have provided some home runs, there weren't leadership qualities there, as there is with other players the Cubs are pursuing (i.e. Berkman, Kerry Wood, Brandon Webb). Besides, did the team get anywhere by hitting solo home run after solo home run last year? No.

Heyman is now saying he can't see Konerko going to the D'Backs or Cubs, and he was offered a contract by the Orioles recently. White Sox can still fit him into their budget too, apparently. Heyman tweets that Lance Berkman and Carlos Pena are likelier options for the Cubs, with Pena planning on meeting with Cubs people at next week's winter meetings.

Adam Dunn to the White Sox (4 yrs, $56 million) has been confirmed. The signing will be official tomorrow when Dunn takes his physical. Additionally, SI's Jon Heyman has heard today that the Sox still want Paul Konerko back, according to his Twitter feed. Heyman also tweeted that rumors have been running rampant today about Konerko possibly heading to the North side, and signing with the Cubs. Sources question that, though, since Konerko is one of Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf's favorite players.

This is what Hendry means: Trading Fukudome (for Daisuke?) Signing Adam Dunn (3-4 yrs) Signing Kerry Wood (1-2 yrs) Signing Jake Westbrook (1 yr) Signing Bill Hall (1 yr)

I'd settle for 2009. I'd settle for 2010 Adam Dunn. That's not how it works, man. Dunn is out of the Cubs budget, so Pena, Nick Johnson, et al., are now targets for Hendry.

Lee officially traded to Braves for three pitching prospects. The prospects are RHP Robinson Lopez, RHP Tyrelle Harris, LHP Jeffrey Lorick.

In what spot in the batting order does a player have that many sacrifices?

Carlos Gonalez is hitting just three points higher. For Castro to win the NL batting title as a 20-year old would be fantastic. Needs to work on tagging runners at second, though.

Reds seemed poised to win the Central, and they very well may. Edmonds is a nice addition, especially with Drew Stubbs' late struggles. He certainly doesn't put them over the hump, but it is a nice veteran addition to have. But yeah either way, as good as the young pitching might be on the Reds, they are no match for the Yankees, Rays, Rangers, or Twins/ChiSox.

The Cubs have announced that Thomas Diamond will start on the mound Tuesday against Milwaukee, according to Carrie Muskat's Twitter feed. Diamond is 5-4 with a 3.16 ERA at Triple-A Iowa. He also has 104 K in 108.1 innings; opponents hitting just .218 off him.

Jayson Stark reporting Lilly and Theriot are likely Dodger-bound.

Wow, impressive list. I like this a lot, can't say I disagree with any of these points. I'm convinced Colvin has the longest swing in the nation now and Grabow is just useless. I think Bobby V could fulfill these points well. But like you said, I would hope the other candidates could too if they are truly "legitimate" candidates.

I know this team has won two straight games over the division leading Cardinals, but with the Cubs now having a set lineup everyday 1-8 (for the most part), Ryan Theriot remains far too inconsistent and stands out among the rest. Sure, there are some other hitters out of those eight that have their flaws, but to me anyway, Theriot sticks out like a sore thumb these days. .273 with 19 rbi and a .315 on-base going into today's game — not good. Yes, he does have 16 stolen bases, but it's the second base position, others can fulfill the role for now just as good as The Riot. With all this being said, and the fact that Fontenot and Baker almost never start anymore, maybe this is a time to promote Darwin Barney from Triple-A. The Oregon State product is hitting .302 with 41 rbi in 96 games for the I-Cubs. With this team 8-9 games back in the standing, Barney in the lineup over Theriot sounds fine. He will probably get called up Sept. 1, but the Cubs should do it earlier.

Shut up. You sound like an idiot with statements like this. We all know the sacrifice fly would have been nice. But it's absurd to say the GM should be fired because two outfielders did not hit sac flies. It's baseball, guys cannot hit the ball on command. On command? When did I ever say that!? Look, it's 2-1 now in the 12th and the inning still isn't over. Those two guys didn't get the job done, end of story. I can hit a pop up too for $17 million. This is only part of the reason why Hendry should be fired.

Whatever.

His approach should be driving the ball center, right-center to end the game. Bottom line.

I understand what you're saying, and I too acknowledge the fact that the team has lost too many games under Hendry's tenure. But specifically under Piniella, it's situations like these why the Cubs lose. Look at all the one-run games this team has lost. If the Astros win 2-1 today, you have to point to those two at-bats at being turning points in the game.

What is then? Because Piniella wasn't up to the plate in that inning, so you can't blame him.

Alright, so the game is still going on, but if the Cubs lose today here are two reasons why this franchise has done poorly this year and have not had as much success as people would think: 9th inning, runner on third, one out. All the Cubs need is a healthy fly ball. Only a pop up or strike out really does not get the job done with the infield in. Soriano hits a soft fly ball to center, too shallow for Fukudome to score. The next batter, Tyler Colvin, struck out to end the inning. But that inning solely rests on Soriano not putting that ball in the air deep enough. He's paid $17 million a year and he can't hit a fly ball. 10th inning, runners on first and third, one out. Again, fly ball to any three spots, and the game is over and the Cubs win. Fukudome strikes out against Brandon Lyon. Fukudome paid $10 million a year. No fly ball for the game-winning RBI. The next batter, Geovany Soto, flies out to left field to end the inning. These two outfielders, among other players, have failed to produce in these situations. Not just this year, but throughout their entire years with the Cubs. Yes, they have had game-winning hits, but these are things that triumph those. Hendry overpaying for players that can't even hit healthy fly balls. What a shame. Unbelievable. Tom Ricketts, I hope you know what you're doing.

Heard something bounced around this morning about Joe Torre possibly testing the waters in the front office ranks. If he so chooses that route and Hendry is fired, I'm not quite sure he would be a good fit for Cubs GM, but it's something to think about. I'm interested to see if Greg Maddux's name pops up further after the season is over. If Sandberg, Girardi, or Brenly becomes Cubs manager I could definitely see Maddux signing on as a coach, probably pitching coach.