Four and Twenty

Who are you? I was wondering the same of you.

Keep up the esteemed community service citizen-moderation, C.C. Good work.

"Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. Crane Kenney, President of Business Operations." Done and done. It's as easy as that.

Yes, let the fallout over the lost wild card, John Lackey, and Carl Crawford begin. I wish I lived in the Boston area so I could hear the sports radio meatheads wield their verbal torches.

This. You people freaking out over the media nonsense need to calm yourselves.

Exactly. It's merely posturing. Much like the reports that Hendry was going to be retained, perhaps in order to facilitate a smoother draft signing process.

I should correct myself and state that it's a ploy in playing down the Cubs' interest in Pujols and Fielder in the eyes of other interested teams, not their agents. And the more of these press releases by the Muskat and others I read the more I believe that. I won't be surprised if, when the free agent season rolls around, we hear nothing of the Cubs' interactions with their agents until a signing is agreed upon.

Really, my point on this being a ploy on the part of the FO is don't get too concerned with media reports we're looking to resign him. There is plenty of room for subterfuge to be utilized by the Cubs, something they haven't done in nearly a decade, and hopefully this is a sign they are willing to play that game now. Edit: Rickett's handling of the Hendry firing is already testament to his deft use of covert business operations. Not a leak until it was announced. It shows a willingness to operate with a bit more tact than before.

Keeping him signifies that we are content with him manning first base. Trading him signifies that we are wishing to head in a different direction. As I said, it's a weak ploy, but if it is indeed part of their reasoning I'm glad to know the Cubs are using their heads and considering even the smallest of angles. As trite and hackneyed the saying, everything counts.

What? No. Fielder and Pujols are going to ultimately get their money from somebody, and whether or not we hang onto Carlos Pena isn't going to change that. Keep in mind, the GM who would even make such a play hasn't even been interviewed yet. Obviously. I even stated it was silly. I don't actually believe it would have much effect at all on the negotiations. All I'm saying is that no matter how small the advantage, it's important to use every angle possible to gain leverage. It isn't much if anything, but it may be a sign the Cubs are attempting to operate with a bit more cunning and intelligence than they had in the Hendry Era of blatant transparency.

Keeping him around could be viewed as a ploy to strengthen the Cubs' hand when dealing with Pujols/Fielder's agents. Something along the lines of "we're happy with Carlos if you're not happy with our offer." A very weak ploy considering the players and the likely interested teams involved, but a ploy nonetheless. It just may outweigh any potential gain we would garner from dealing him if salary relief is not an option. While not definitively, trading him before the end of the season essentially states that they're not interested in him next year and are moving in another direction. A bit silly, I know, but it all adds up, and I certainly don't mind if the Cubs become a bit more Machiavellian and use every possible angle to their advantage.

In this thread: over-reaction to a non-story.

I can see how the 100+ year championship drought might actually work in the Cubs favor. It seems a bit ridiculous, but for someone like Albert, he can stay with the Cardinals for another 10 years making less than he is worth and be known as one of the greatest of all time that gave his 'hometown' team a discount and perhaps win another championship or two. Or, he can join the Cubs, earn the premium he deserves, and be a part of a team that has the financial and farm resources to build a powerhouse around him. That and be the man that killed the 104-114 year misery of the city of Chicago. He will be legendary, but joining the Cubs and winning a championship will make him a legend among legends. All a bit sentimental and silly, but it's something I've considered he may be considering.

One would hope you wield a position of skepticism when considering the writing of any author, national or otherwise. Furthermore, assuming the authors present a more intelligent argument than that of our very own NSBB residents simply on the basis that they have published a book is, yes, unequivocally silly. Also, if you are going to decry name calling I suggest you refrain from doing so yourself. People joking off the cuff about a synopsis to a book on a private message board is not ridiculous. Taking their jokes and comments too seriously is ridiculous. Again, if you are going to decry bullying, I suggest you refrain from belittling others. Yes, perhaps. However, most around here already understand that statistics aren't the end all be all of the sport. We grew up loving the sport because of the players, because humans aren't always predictable and are capable of extraordinary efforts. Understanding the statistics and science behind the sport serves to foster a greater appreciation for those 'magical' moments. Jokes are fun. Being too serious is not. Also: internet. You should probably stop doing that yourself, then. You realize that you disagreed, repeatedly questioned others' intelligence and called them names, right? Such hypocrisy is the sole reason I bothered to write this reply. Your hypocrisy aside, I find these sort of sentiments increasingly tired. Yes, there are some who could try to be a bit more civil, but this is the internet. Things said here should hold no sway over you. Bullying and insults are only as effective as the victim allows them to be. Either kindly disagree or take their criticism as possible things you could work on. Complaining about "bullies and jerks" only serves to make you appear a victim. I am sure that splicing these quotes together took a fair amount of time. Thank you for pointing out my failings in my frustrated rants. I appreciate your excuses for the lack of civility from other posters here. However, I will disagree with your assertion that what people say here should not have an effect on someone else. Cyber-bullying is a very real and concerning issue that many youths struggle with. Texting has also affected this. No matter if it is typed somewhat anonymously or said in person insults, name calling, criticisms and off color comments are not something that can just be waved away simply because it was done on the internet. What I find out of sorts is that you are singling me out as a problem here because I called out several posters for having bad form. Perhaps a different approach may be more effective but I suggest that instead of taking the time to splice my quotes and complain about them, you should have spliced the multiple people here who acted inappropriate in response. Since you haven't I take this to mean that you are implying that their actions are acceptable and mine are not. If that is the case, we will never see eye to eye. There are some regular posters here who get joy from putting others down. It is clear in this thread and getting joy from hurting others is never something that should be acceptable. You missed the point altogether. Simply put, you are taking the comments on a Chicago Cubs baseball forum far too seriously. Of course cyber-bullying is real, but the occurrences here hardly constitute as such. Never did I mean to imply you were the problem, rather you were letting the problem be a problem. So what if someone here calls you a name or criticizes you? Why allow them to wield such influence over your sensibilities? They only have the power to bully you if you grant them that power, which is especially true over the internet. It comes down to this: There are no such things as insults, just those that feel insulted. I'll ignore the veiled insults this time and grant you reprieve from me 'splicing together' (or in actuality just breaking down) your quotes and detailing how you are doing much of the same antics that you bemoan. And with that I'll drop the subject, though you are welcome to have the last word on it.

Yes. It isn't as if the synopsis to a romance novel is filled with jargon about plate tectonics. The function of a synopsis is to outline the content of the book. Such as it were, it is clear this book is rife with anecdotal evidence. Evidence that, while still valuable, is prone to the whims and wants of the human brain.

One would hope you wield a position of skepticism when considering the writing of any author, national or otherwise. Furthermore, assuming the authors present a more intelligent argument than that of our very own NSBB residents simply on the basis that they have published a book is, yes, unequivocally silly. Also, if you are going to decry name calling I suggest you refrain from doing so yourself. People joking off the cuff about a synopsis to a book on a private message board is not ridiculous. Taking their jokes and comments too seriously is ridiculous. Again, if you are going to decry bullying, I suggest you refrain from belittling others. Yes, perhaps. However, most around here already understand that statistics aren't the end all be all of the sport. We grew up loving the sport because of the players, because humans aren't always predictable and are capable of extraordinary efforts. Understanding the statistics and science behind the sport serves to foster a greater appreciation for those 'magical' moments. Jokes are fun. Being too serious is not. Also: internet. You should probably stop doing that yourself, then. You realize that you disagreed, repeatedly questioned others' intelligence and called them names, right? Such hypocrisy is the sole reason I bothered to write this reply. Your hypocrisy aside, I find these sort of sentiments increasingly tired. Yes, there are some who could try to be a bit more civil, but this is the internet. Things said here should hold no sway over you. Bullying and insults are only as effective as the victim allows them to be. Either kindly disagree or take their criticism as possible things you could work on. Complaining about "bullies and jerks" only serves to make you appear a victim.

Google Maps can't help with the ideal routing, or whether to walk, take the bus, ride a bike, rent a pedicab, or somersault to Miller Park. Or simply put, he is looking for insight a map can't offer. Since I have never been to Milwaukee, let alone Wisconsin, I can only tell you to wear head protection if you are planning on somersaulting.

People in need of anger management in the anger management thread.

Not when there's a 700+-page politics thread and a 900+-page movie thread in Social. I do think it could become the longest thread actually related to baseball, though.I think once people navigate to the "Boo the dog" thread, it will pick up steam as well... I just found it and you just made my evening. It's so pristine I can't bring myself to defiling it with a reply.

If Soto is hitting eighth again this year, there will be a lot of kicked puppies. Kitten cigarette burns.

But, yeah, really, Carlos is 29. I know his arm has logged an avalanche of innings, plummeting him toward Camp Orthopedic Surgery, but that day could still be long off. After the final months of last season, I can't wait to see him get back to work.

This is the internet. Nothing said here is an insult to your family unless you make it so. Why let another individual wield so much influence over your sensibilities?

Carlos Zambrano is 29 years old.

Is there any substance to the speculation that his age may be different than officially recorded? Or does it all derive from jealous and petty Cubs fans attempting to tear down his character?