Bruno7481

What a difference a year makes. Last year when DeRosa was signed the popular sentiment was that he would never repeat his "career year." Now the argument against Roberts is that he's not a significant upgrade over DeRosa. Baseball is a funny game.

Will Jan 09 be THAT much better? I can't imagine why IG responds to you with shots at Sampson when you ask questions. Illinois under Weber is a guard oriented team. Adding Legion and Smith are huge additions. We'll infinitely increase the number of guys on the team who can make a damn jump shot. It was an honest question. I don't know Illinois like you do. I know you lose Pruitt and Randle. They aren't worldbeaters but they are decent. I know all your young guys are 2010 or later, that why I wondered about 09. That is why I asked the question. Quit looking so deep into things, I was honestly curious. You do understand why most Illini fans dont take too kindly to IU fans asking questions that could be deemed as shots right? This isnt like somebody from Purdue asking if 09 will be that much better. 2nd semester 09 will definatly be alot better than right now. Legion and Smith at least give the Illini 2 guards who have scoring potential, and the young bigs this year will have another year of experience. Right now this Illini team has nobody plain and simple. I do understand that, but just because I am an IU fan isn't going to stop me from asking questions. I had forgotten about Smith. BUt I would be concerned about how he will come back and adjust to being THE guy, instead of the 3rd option.

Any idea how many of Cedeno's errors came at SS as opposed the OF? The errors made in the OF are forgiveable since it is new for him. I know the fields aren't ML quality, but that many errors at SS is concerning.

Will Jan 09 be THAT much better? I can't imagine why IG responds to you with shots at Sampson when you ask questions. Illinois under Weber is a guard oriented team. Adding Legion and Smith are huge additions. We'll infinitely increase the number of guys on the team who can make a damn jump shot. It was an honest question. I don't know Illinois like you do. I know you lose Pruitt and Randle. They aren't worldbeaters but they are decent. I know all your young guys are 2010 or later, that why I wondered about 09. That is why I asked the question. Quit looking so deep into things, I was honestly curious.

Will Jan 09 be THAT much better?

The fact that Cedeno was mentioned and not Murton makes me think, that if Roberts were to come to the Cubs, that Lou would make DeRosa the starting SS. While I would hope that would happen, I don't see it happening. Cubs management seems to think Theriot is the guy for the job at SS, and they have also made it sound as if they like DeRosa in a Super-Sub role. I think we have to take a lot of what Hendry and Lou worth a grain of salt. For them to give an indication that there going a different route at shortstop right now without Roberts in the fold yet would be foolish. Any interest in Alex Gonzalez from the Reds they have Keppinger waiting in the wings. Gonzo hit 16 homer runs last year in only 110 games. If his defense is as good as I remember he could provide the Cubs with 20 homer, 30 double power from short with plus defense . Roberts Fukodome Lee Ramirez Soranio Gonzalez Soto Pie If Hendry found a way to add some more bench help and another starter I would be more than happy with his offseason. Keppinger has always been able to hit, he isn't known as quality defensive player. The Reds are planning on playing him at first base against lefties this year.

Cedeno/Theriot is also very likely to be a black hole. I don't think it matters all that much. Well Cedeno has at least put up numbers(albeit in the minors) that suggest he could be something other than a black hole. Theriot/Cintron however, would just be brutal. Although all this wouldnt matter if we could get Roberts, and slide DeRosa to SS. But that wont happen. I'd love it if Cedeno proved me wrong, but I just don't expect too much out of him. DeRosa may be able to fill in from time to time at the SS position but I don't think he is capable of playing it on a full time basis.

Cedeno/Theriot is also very likely to be a black hole. I don't think it matters all that much.

Does Frazier have some kind of blackmail material on Weber? That guy is atrocious.

Illinois is in pretty bad shape, I didn't think they would be this bad.

What did you expect? Indiana got into a bowl game by the skin of their teeth in a year where the Big Twelve was an embarrassment. A team like Vanderbilt didn't qualify for a bowl because they played a tougher schedule but are probably a better team. OSU is much like Vandy in that they had a tough schedule. Indiana getting drilled was predictable. Next year they'll fade back into Big Ten football obscurity with like their normal 4-7 or 3-8 record. I'll take that bet. I agree that this game was an easy mark. IU was fortunate to be where they were and accomplished their goal of playing in a bowl game. You obviously have no idea what their schedule looks like next year. No reason to not expect them to be in another bowl next season based on their schedule. Please note that I didn't say they would be a great team, but you don't have to be to make a bowl. They will easily win more than 4 games next year.

He won't get much sympathy from me. I am a teacher and last year a student was involved in an accident, she had been drinking. The accident resulted in a fatality. Here is where it gets really sad, the person she hit was actually a fellow student at our school. Of course, the student who had been drinking walked away without a scratch. That was rough....

Why is Chester Frazier allowed to shoot the ball period? Does he honestly think those 25 footers are good shots? This drives me nuts and I'm an IU fan....

Why are you gettng angry? I'm an impatient man, and this thing dragging on is annoying me. It's just baseball man, don't let it bug you that much. Your a fan of the wrong team if this stuff gets to you that much. :wink:

Murton isn't a shame to give up at this point. There us no spot for him in the immediate future. Get something for him.

I give... what do they have in common? They all play proffesional baseball Well, to be fair, so does Bryan Bullington. The answer is that they were all in the 2002 draft where the Bucs had the #1 pick and chose Bullington. $$$$$$ Thank you... I faced Bullington many, many times. He was good, but I never thought he was #1 pick good. It was a money decision.

one half of 2003?

No matter what you think of Hendry, I don't think he'd non-tender Prior if there was a possibillity of bringing him back. I understand the Cubs position, wanting another year on the deal. The Cubs have paid Prior good money for nothing the last few years. Its obvious Prior doesn't want to come back here, it doesn't even matter anymore who's fault that may or may not be. If they know Prior doesn't want to be here, and he won't be in position to pitch a full season, it is not unreasonable at all to want an extra year. It is too bad it has to end this way. I just think if there was a way to repair this the Cubs would tender him an offer. They obviously have a better handle on the situation than most of us do.

NSBB on December 11th: "Way to go Hendry!" NSBB on June 11th (Fukudome with a line of .245/.335/.400): "Damn you Hendry!" :P

Yeah, I wasn't expecting that today after the news on Gordon and Bassett. Hopefully Gordon can recover and there is nothing seriously wrong. He can sit the rest of the pre-season schedule as far as I am concerned.

Does that mean we aren't allowed to criticize any player on this board? And who has said he doesn't have any baseball ability? No, of course not. I know the poster was probably kidding around but to say, "How to be Successful in the Absence of Ability" is a little too hyperbolic for me.

Kentucky is worse than I thought.

Waiting for some non-opinion based reasons as to why Bradley is/was better than Dawson. Dawson, despite his knee issues he developed in Montreal was very durable. He was also usually on very bad teams, and still hit a ton. Defensively he was also very good. No knock on Milton, but he has a long way to go to be mentioned with Dawson.

Is Cedeno playing shortstop barehanded?

There always has to be a whipping boy... Trying to imagine Theriot's reaction if someone told him he didn't have any baseball ability to his face.