RedFlash

ESPN, and FOX, and Comcast, and TBS... #-o How could I forget those bozos?

I'm going with Theriot with the inside the park homerun.

Agreed. It seems to me that ESPN is out to embarrass the Cubs as often as they can. Because I swear every time there is a Cub news on ESPN, they have to show that incident.

I won't even say Vazquez was better last yr. To be honest, Lilly and Vazques are on the same level based on the 2007 numbers.

Oh, Yost....you lovable rascal, trying to justify the suckage of Jason Kendall. And come My, you will wish to have Estrada back.

I like Bob in the 8th inning, helping to get the ball to the closer. I don't mind Howry getting certain opportunities to close, when the team is given the reg closer a day off, but I see Howry's value to the Cubs as the 8th inning guy.

I don't think the Indians are in, to be honest. I mean realize there was a burp about a Guiterrez (sp?)/Miller deal about a month or so ago, and since then....zip. I personally believe MacPhail is trying to use a past rumor to drum up leverage in this deal, especially after Roberts saying he would welcome a trade. If they are in, again, how come the Cubs/Indians/O's haven't talked about a three team trade? Each team have what the other is needing, and yet apparently common sense is severely lacking by all three GMs.

I don't buy that rumor about the Indians are "very much in the pic" unless they are planning on moving either Cabrera to short (which would leave Peralta available, to which the Cubs could actually fill a need). And I don't understand why the Cubs/O's/Indians can't work out a 3 team trade? Cubs get: Peralta Indians get: Roberts O's get: Barfield, Gallagher, Cedeno, pitching prospect.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-millar0219,0,832439.story Nice, Mr. Cowboy up.....nice......

Agreed. We definately need some baseball games, stat.

(Imitating Rosie Perez from "Walk Men Can't Jump): Oh no, you didn't. (snaps fingers)

I think Cintron's an insurance policy if Cedeno or Theriot gets traded. No one else on this roster can play SS at the kind of level this organization clearly values to the extent that they would merit any significant playing time. Moreover, between Pie, EPatt, Colvin, and Fuld, the Cubs have enough guys in the organization who can adequately play CF. Moving Cedeno out there would not help settle any conflicts between that glut of players. Well, considering there have been rumors that Cedeno has been working in CF this offseason, and the fact that Pie/Patterson/Colvin and Fuld are ALL left handed hitters, it might make some sense. Naturally I would prefer someone who has played CF more then one offseason, but if the price for Byrd is Murton plus quality prospect, I much rather see Cedeno platoon with Pie in CF. But what would Cintron have to do with that? RH pitching: Theriot playing SS, Pie playing CF -- injury occurs -- Cedeno moves out to SS or CF. LH pitching: Theriot playing SS, Cedeno playing CF -- injury occurs to Theriot -- Cedeno moves to SS, Pie comes in at CF -- injury occurs to Cedeno -- Pie comes in to play CF Perhaps, Cintron would fill the role that would have gone to DeRosa, had the Roberts deal gone through. IDK, what the Cubs are thinking. And yes, I do wonder if they are, sometimes. I think Cintron is the NEW Macias. I sincerely doubt it. I'd bet good money that Cintron is in AAA all season unless there's a trade or an injury. I didn't say I would support such of move, I was trying to understand why Hendry made such a move. But I doubt he'll be at AAA, he'll either make the team out of spring training, or he'll be released. I just don't see him going to AAA, when he had "supposedly" a major league contract from the O's. Him being released after ST, would be great for me.

I'd say Kosuke should be the EARLY favorite, due to his experience in pro baseball. But don't count out kids like Steven Pearce, Colby Rasmus, or even Maybin.

I think Cintron's an insurance policy if Cedeno or Theriot gets traded. No one else on this roster can play SS at the kind of level this organization clearly values to the extent that they would merit any significant playing time. Moreover, between Pie, EPatt, Colvin, and Fuld, the Cubs have enough guys in the organization who can adequately play CF. Moving Cedeno out there would not help settle any conflicts between that glut of players. Well, considering there have been rumors that Cedeno has been working in CF this offseason, and the fact that Pie/Patterson/Colvin and Fuld are ALL left handed hitters, it might make some sense. Naturally I would prefer someone who has played CF more then one offseason, but if the price for Byrd is Murton plus quality prospect, I much rather see Cedeno platoon with Pie in CF. But what would Cintron have to do with that? RH pitching: Theriot playing SS, Pie playing CF -- injury occurs -- Cedeno moves out to SS or CF. LH pitching: Theriot playing SS, Cedeno playing CF -- injury occurs to Theriot -- Cedeno moves to SS, Pie comes in at CF -- injury occurs to Cedeno -- Pie comes in to play CF Perhaps, Cintron would fill the role that would have gone to DeRosa, had the Roberts deal gone through. IDK, what the Cubs are thinking. And yes, I do wonder if they are, sometimes. I think Cintron is the NEW Macias.

Sorry, its gone now. But it is not correct. Average is very important. There's a reason why that is the 1st stat shown when a player comes up to bat. It shows how good a hitter is. There are other stats that might tell more about a player, but there is no way that average isnt an important stat. You are a very good hitter if you can bat .300 over a season. Hopefully you have some other tools as well besides being a batting average hitter, but having a high average is a good stat to have. The reason average isn't that important is that it can't stand on it's own. If a guy has a .300 average but a (let's say) .320 OBP, he is not a good offensive player. It doesn't matter that he can hit for high average because overall he's making outs too often because he doesn't get on base in other ways. On the other hand, if a guy has a .240 average but a .370 OBP, he's a pretty good offensive player (might even be very good, depending on how much power he hits for), regardless of the low average. OBP encompasses BA and tells you more about the hitter on top of it. There's really not that much of a reason to look at his BA, other than if you want to evaluate how likely a player is to continue to perform at the level he has previously exhibited. In other words, you might want to look at it to see if a given player's OBP is highly batting average dependent, because if it is, without getting too far into detail about stuff like BABIP, it's probably less repeatable, particularly as the player ages. If a guy hits .240 hes a terrible hitter regardless of his OBP. Hits are better than walks. Hits can get you more than one base, and can actually drive in runs. Id rather have the .300 .320 guy, but it depends on his power and speed too. quick quiz: who is the better hitter? A) .264/.386/.554 B) .309/.356/.382 I prefer Adam Dunn over David Eckstein, personally. Agreed.

I think Cintron's an insurance policy if Cedeno or Theriot gets traded. No one else on this roster can play SS at the kind of level this organization clearly values to the extent that they would merit any significant playing time. Moreover, between Pie, EPatt, Colvin, and Fuld, the Cubs have enough guys in the organization who can adequately play CF. Moving Cedeno out there would not help settle any conflicts between that glut of players. Well, considering there have been rumors that Cedeno has been working in CF this offseason, and the fact that Pie/Patterson/Colvin and Fuld are ALL left handed hitters, it might make some sense. Naturally I would prefer someone who has played CF more then one offseason, but if the price for Byrd is Murton plus quality prospect, I much rather see Cedeno platoon with Pie in CF.

I'd take some exhibition games, right now.

There have been rumors that the Cubs have been experimenting wsith Cedeno in CF. Any chance that the reason why the signed Cintron, is that Cedeno progression as a CFer is coming along real nicely?

Then the Texas Rangers are being run by idiots. Byrd is not more valuable then Murton. I much rather sign Brady Clark, then give up a quality prospect with Murton for Byrd. I much rather see what the Indians would want for Jason Michaels. Nonetheless, if the Rangers keep insisting on a "quality prospect" with Murton, then they can KEEP Byrd.

I'm tired of arguing, give me baseball, even exhibition baseball.....something that will bring us Cubs fan back together, united. How about we laugh at the Cards, can we agree on that?

Someone asked if the two in question might be Colvin and Veal and he replied For the love of Cubs fan sanity, PLEASE Hendry back the heck away. There is no way Brian Roberts is worth more then two solid young players, much less 4 players.

Let's play "Lou's Adovcate" and say for argument sake....that Soriano is moved down to 4th or 5th spot, who bats "leadoff" for the Cubs? Don't say Brian Roberts, he isn't a member of the club. To me this arguing over where Soriano is going to hit is moot, because unless the Cubs acquire Roberts(or another hitter who can bat leadoff) Soriano is the best and only option to hit leadoff. DeRosa---right now should be penicled in either 2nd or 6th. Theriot---should never see leadoff again.Fukudome is already penciled in to hit 5th. So, backers of moving Soriano out of the leadoff spot, using the current club (and not rumors players), who would you put at leadoff? There is not a viable option on the club other then Soriano to hit leadoff. Blame that on Hendry if you right, blame it on Soriano's ego/pride if you chose, but the fact is unless Brian Roberts or whoever comes strolling through the door, Soriano is the ONLY option at leadoff. It's that simple.

"He chose...poorly." Dang. Even that is out of juice...Major League references anyone? Scorched. Pow. See if you can figure out what I AM referencing.... :lol:

You're not wrong...

Who postion on the field is designated "leadoff?" Leadoff is a term, just like cleanup is a term. You can leadoff the game, or leadoff innings. You don't hear an announcer say, "and no batting and playing leadoff it's Brian Roberts." No you'd hear, "now batting leadoff, and playing 2b....Brian Roberts." Leadoff is simply a terms used to describe when a player is hitting in the lineup.For instance you realize, if Felix Pie starts off an inning, let's say th 5th inning, he would be consider a "leadoff hitter?" Besides....Roberts would "leadoff" once a game, and MAYBE two times a game, if that. Most of the time, Roberts would be like the 2nd hitter, or perhaps the hitter in the hole. Like the lochness montster, Bigfoot, and Tyrus Thomas's jumpshot, the leadoff hitter is a myth. An Urban legend. Besides what's wrong with hitting DeRosa first---outside of the speed factor? So the theory that the Cubs need a "leadoff hitter" is clearly just that, a theory. What the Cubs need, regardless of what term you used to apply to them, is guys who can get on base.