RedFlash

Ok, Vance, did you tickle him, to get information out of Elmo?

He may not be happy about being the 4th OFer, but he needs to put it in perspective, he's is going to continue to make nearly $9 freakin' million dollars per yr. That should cure all ills. If not, Pierre can sign over his checks to me, as I could put to good use that money.

I rather how Marshall in AAA as a starter, where he is better suited for, then at the major league as a reliever, in which he would be a square forced into a circle. At least in AAA as a starter, he can keep his arm loose, and stretch out in case of an injury. It's not that the Cubs hate Marshall, quite the opposite, it's there is no room. Dempster getting moved to the rotation and Lieber/ Marquis being signed created no room. Dempster should be goneat the end of the season. Marquis is easily a decent trade chip after the season, especially if he can keep his ERA in the mid 4.00. And Lieber is likely to retire after the season. So all Marshall has to do is bid his time in 2008. Which sucks for him...and the Cubs. He has 43 major league starts of the last two years and is a better pitcher than all three of those guys. It's not like Hendry and Piniella didn't have a choice in moving Dempster to the rotation, keeping Marquis there, and signing Lieber. When it comes down to it, I prefer Marshall to Lieber/Marquis and Dempster, but right now, what's best for Marshall is go to AAA, keep his arm stretched out,and be ready to be call up at some in 2008. Essentially get ready for 2009. Which sucks for him, but if he stays positive his time will come.

I rather how Marshall in AAA as a starter, where he is better suited for, then at the major league as a reliever, in which he would be a square forced into a circle. At least in AAA as a starter, he can keep his arm loose, and stretch out in case of an injury. It's not that the Cubs hate Marshall, quite the opposite, it's there is no room. Dempster getting moved to the rotation and Lieber/ Marquis being signed created no room. Dempster should be goneat the end of the season. Marquis is easily a decent trade chip after the season, especially if he can keep his ERA in the mid 4.00. And Lieber is likely to retire after the season. So all Marshall has to do is bid his time in 2008.

Trade is DUNN. Take it however you want.

el comercio es hecho, pero ellos dont quieren quitar el foco de Hendry que intenta a trad e Matt Murton. Habas frescas, gente

I rather how Marshall in AAA as a starter, where he is better suited for, then at the major league as a reliever, in which he would be a square forced into a circle. At least in AAA as a starter, he can keep his arm loose, and stretch out in case of an injury. It's not that the Cubs hate Marshall, quite the opposite, it's there is no room.

All I was to say was, the Cubs had their 25 man roster pretty much sewn up, especially offensively. There was no way Barton was going to make the roster, and/or play regulary with Lou Piniella. I guarantee you, Piniella would NOT be thrill with having a Pie/Barton platoon in CF, especially if you're trying to end a streak. Would Barton be a better fit for the future....yes...but in 2008, I don't think he'll be better then Johnson, to be honest. Atleast Johnson can help immediately, Barton IMO, is 2 yrs away from contributing anything for the Cards. If the Cubs could stash a Rule V player on their roster, without hurting anything, so be it, but with very few spots open heading into Spring Training, Barton would not have made sense. The Cards can afford to stash Barton in RF and let him play through his mistakes. The Cubs don't have that luxury. Personally, the Cubs should have skipped the Rule V draft, unless there was somebody they ABSOLUTELY LOVED, and could stash him for the yr. Otherwise, they should have skipped it, and saved themselves some heat over some no name rookie. It's Barton, for god sake. IF or when he turns in a star, then I'll eat crow, but considering the %%% of that happening, I'm not eating crow anytime soon. With that said....there is a time and place to criticize Hendry, but over a Rule V draft pick? Come on.....people are just being nitpicky.

Which four are you talking about as being "very good to great teams?" Is it USC/Nebraska/Tennessee/Penn State or FSU/Florida/Miami/LSU? Because if you are talking about Group A: then I disagree. USC has been consistantly good, but the other three, are pretty much hit or miss at this time. They can be good, but as of right now, Tenn/PSU/Neb are middle of the pack average teams in their conferences. Now if you are talking about Group B: I disagree. Miami and FSU has basically been mediocre since the start of the new century. At this point of time, Miami and FSU are recognizable based on school rep, moreso then on-the-field production. Of those 8 teams, only three of them (less then half) can be caterize as "good to great teams." The other 5 teams are.......need things to break right to have a good season. While Tennessee isn't an elite program right now by any means, to say we're "middle of the pack average," is overexaggerating our recent downtimes a bit. 2007: 10 wins and an SEC East title - lost the SEC Championship game with 2 late picks 2006 : 9 wins and a second place finish in the East 2005: 5-6 - most definitely a terrible year where every break went against us 2004: 10 wins and an SEC East title - gave an unbeaten Auburn (should've been in the National title game) everything they wanted 2003: 10 wins and a 3-way tie for the SEC East title There's no doubt we haven't been quite as good as I would have liked, but 10 wins a year (save one) and top two in the East four of the last five years (including twice being in the SEC Championship game) is better than middle of the pack SEC. RedFlash is a Bammer. 'Nuff said. Damn straight. And in less then two yrs, people are going to be jealous at the amont of talent that Saban has brought in, to a point people are going to use the old standard cliche "the coach bought these players" comments. And if you hated to hear Alabama and their 2008 class, just right till you hear about their 2009 class with Tana Patrick, Nico Johnson, Kendall Kelly, AJ McCaron, etc, etc. I'm telling you...Alabama will be in a major bowl game in 2 yrs, and the National Championship game in 2/3 yrs. Get use to it, now, and your disgust of Alabama will be held to a minimum. And yes, Tennessee is or will be a middle of the pack SEC team.

Yes it is. And it is one of my favourites.

The problem tho is....Hendry DOES NOT have to make a pick in the Rule V draft. And chances are Barton would NOT have made the team out of spring training, if for the simple fact, Lou would not want two rookies handling CF. In other words the Cubs would have had to hang onto a rookie liek Barton for the full season, (which would have hurt both the Cubs, and Barton's development) or trade for him. And chances are Shapiro would have asked for Gallagher, Marshall or a longshot like Rich Hill for Barton in a trade. Which means it would have been a gamble all around. IMO, if the Cubs can't keep a player they draft from the Rule V on the roster the full yr, and it doesn't hurt, then I prefer them not making a selection. Because ultimately people are going to nitpick every little thing Hendry does. I like the pick of Lahey, and you can't have too many quality arms, imo. It's unfortunate, the Cubs couldn't work out a trade for him. He's Philly's problem, and I have no problem with NOT having Barton on this team, seeing as in 2008 Reed Johnson will be better then he will be.

I wouldn't even call it stupid. All picks in the Rule V draft all high risks. I mean did the Cubs feel comfortable going with essentially two rookies in CF? Apparently. Did the Cubs believe Barton would stay on the roster the WHOLE yr? Lahey didn't even make it to Opening Day. And I doubt Barton would have stayed with the Cubs all season. Barton may be a better player, but he's still a couple of yrs from actually contributing to team. I am more unpset of the Cubs taking and trading Josh Hamilton of last yr, moreso then passing on Barton this yr. Now, I do agree that taking a RAW relief prospect, when you already have Wood/Howry/Hart/Marmol/Wuertz, and to a certain degree Dempster, didn't make sense, but going with two rookies in CF, made even less sense. Barton is a better fit for a team that is likely to struggle this yr. That way he can stay on the roster the whole yr.

Come on, Hendry can't be that dumb, can he? Hendry isn't going to sign Woody. Give the man some credit. I see Woody going back to St. Lou, or retire.

Which four are you talking about as being "very good to great teams?" Is it USC/Nebraska/Tennessee/Penn State or FSU/Florida/Miami/LSU? Because if you are talking about Group A: then I disagree. USC has been consistantly good, but the other three, are pretty much hit or miss at this time. They can be good, but as of right now, Tenn/PSU/Neb are middle of the pack average teams in their conferences. Now if you are talking about Group B: I disagree. Miami and FSU has basically been mediocre since the start of the new century. At this point of time, Miami and FSU are recognizable based on school rep, moreso then on-the-field production. Of those 8 teams, only three of them (less then half) can be caterize as "good to great teams." The other 5 teams are.......need things to break right to have a good season.

That's why, I can't wait for their to be a "legit minor league" team for every NBA team. I mean, if given a choice of playing for Everytown USA in the NBDL or playing for a highly ranked D-1 school, where do you think raw kids like say....Tyrus Thomas would have choose, if this option was available two yrs ago? So I like the if you go to school, you go for 2 yrs, minimum, or if you decide to go pro, you run the risk of playing in the minors, for "essentially minimum wage", rule.

The Cubs should only trade Murton if it benefits the Cubs. Murton's best interests are only a concern if what is best for Murton is also best for the Cubs. That's a sad reality, but the Cubs should not give Murton away just because he isn't a starter or on the bench this year. Agreed.

Man, Dallas must REALLY want the title of "America's Favorite Felony Team" back from Cincinnati. I really can't watch to see a Plaxico Burress, or a Santana Moss, or a Reggie Brown (or the flavor of the month Iggles #1 WR will be) torch Pacman Jones. I can't wait. There's a reason why teams are not going after Pacman. There's a reaso why Detroit and NE have decided against going after Pacman. Just draft a CB, Cowboys....

I like your list. Though I'm too young to really remember Sandberg or Dawson. I don't know anything about why you would/wouldn't like or dislike Dawson - but everything I see Sandberg say just reeks of bitter old man "Well back in my day!!!" type stuff. Though, If I would have seen him play I probably would have loved him. i just think dawson is a beast of a human being and sandberg is dumb. Please explain? I've meet Dawson a couple of times, and he's been the nicest person. So naturally I don't get your "beef" with Dawson.

Wait, I'm confused. You have a "cheesy consideration" category, and also included "Living on a Prayer" OUTSIDE of said cheesy category? That makes no sense. No, Livin' on a Prayor isn't cheesy by any means. And I wasn't implying it either. I was simply saying Toby Keith's song "Red, white, and Blue (geez, I wonder which Chicago baseball team has that colour scheme) was cheesy if it was used as Kerry's entrance theme. With that said, KW has shut the door on the entrance theme, so this thread is as about as useful as a Brian Roberts trade thread... Oop, didn't mean to go there.

Wow, pretty bold prediction for Soto, with Martin, Molina, McCann all young and in the N.L. Offensively, I say he is SIGNIFICANTLY better then Molina, about equal to McCann and Martin. Defensively, Soto is clearly better then McCann and Martin, and is on par with Molina. So it is definately a possibility Soto could make the ASG, considering he is playing for a major market team, he should get enough publicity.

So, I've known about Gathright's "jumping ability" since his Montgomery Biscuits days. Cool guy, but can't hit consistantly to be anything more then a 4th OFer. But may be the fastest player in baseball.

I aaaammmmmmm havvvvvvvvvvvving Brrrrrrrrriiiiannnnnnnnnn Rooooooobeeerrrrtssss WITHDRAWAL.....I can't quit this thread. Somebody.........HELP ME... or maybe not.

Apparently, Cintron has been released....

I know being compensating with both the 3rd and 5th rd picks from the 9ers would have been great, but let's face it, the Bears lose nothing.

I realize this....but people here---including myself---believes PGA is the man that holding up the deal, when "apparently" that's not true. I honestly believe, it is MacPhail who is trying to squeeze every last prospect he can get for Brian Roberts, nowing Brian is prolly he's last MAJOR trade assets. He's not going to get much fo Mora, Sherrill, Huff, and Millar, thus Roberts is his LAST major asset.