Moonshot

I have no idea why the O's never made that deal. They're going to regret not making that deal. They keep thinking that somebody is going to top the Cubs offer at midseason, but nobody is going to give them a starting SS and 2B (which is what they need). Nobody knows for sure who the 4 players the Cubs offered (supposedly Gallagher, Veal, Cedeno, Ceda), but I'm sure the deal could have been done for Gallagher/Marshall, Cedeno, Patterson, and Veal. That would have netted them a starting SS, a starting pitcher, a possible starting 2B, and a future starting pitcher. Really stupid on their part. Did anyone catch the interview that Comcast Sportsnet Chicago did with Roberts? Nothing really big, but he did make one comment that I think shed some light on the whole situation back in January. He said that at one point he got a text from his agent saying the deal was done. This leads me to believe that MacPhail and Hendry agreed on a deal and that Angelos nixed it as had been speculated. FWIW.

The funny thing to me is that he talks about how the Cubs won't win the division because they always seem to find a way to screw it up. That is so true......wait.....what? They are the defending NL Central champs? How did this happen without the rest of the world knowing? Wait, the rest of the world does know? :shock: So I guess Marty and I are the idiots here? As for the actions of a few idiots. There are bound to be a few idiots in a crowd of 40,000+, but I guess Marty and Reds fans wouldn't know anything about large crowds, would they? What a joke.

Just get Theriot to do it.

This song would probably be more appropriate for the song that the whole team takes the field to, but....... Been A Long Time by Black Label Society. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dogPr8q3ZF0

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7949132/Sources:-Roberts-to-Cubs-looking-unlikely I like the last sentence the best...."The Cubs, contrary to published reports, are not interested in Nationals infielder Felipe Lopez."

I'd like to see the quotes because it sounds unprofessional. He has a job to do. If he doesn't like the rumors he can elect to not answer questions about them (and stop reading the latest gossip as he has confessed to in the past). Yeah, stop being human, DeRosa! He can be human on his own time. He has a job to do. Allegedly making excuses about the trade rumors disturbing him, especially after saying as recent as last week that he wouldn't, is just stupid. He should keep those comments to himself. He's actually having a pretty decent spring, I think he's hitting about .294 and has an obp somwhere around .400. So I don't know that he's making excuses, because there is nothing to make excuses for. It's not like he's having the kind of spring like, oh, I don't know, Derrek Lee? He's not hitting below the Mendoza line. It doesn't matter. He should remain diplomatic about the whole thing. Roberts may well show up in the next two weeks; there's no reason for DeRosa, or any other player, to start talking about distractions. That's something a manager does to help deflect for the team (which Lou did for the younger players). I like DeRosa but he isn't the type of player who prevents a team from making a move. If the Cubs get Roberts, he will have to deal with it and be a backup. I'm sure DeRo can handle it, which is why I don't like hearing dissension this close to the end of Spring (when the trade could be coming close to fruition). He should just remain cool and not be baited by reporters. Let's say you have a career, a career you have been working at since you were 5 years old, training and working your tail off, giving it everything you have. Now let's say that your boss has gone publicly back and forth for 4 months saying that he wants to replace you. If I asked you how that made you feel and you said that you were alright with that, I would question your heart. I like the fact that DeRo hasn't come out and said that he's fine with being a bench player. He believes in his abilities and wants to play. That's called being competitive. If he had rolled over and said he hopes they get Roberts, a lot of people would be on this board saying he's soft, he doesn't have the desire to play. So if anything I'm glad that he would come out and say that of course he wants to play everyday, and the talks are a little bit of a distraction.

I'd like to see the quotes because it sounds unprofessional. He has a job to do. If he doesn't like the rumors he can elect to not answer questions about them (and stop reading the latest gossip as he has confessed to in the past). Yeah, stop being human, DeRosa! He can be human on his own time. He has a job to do. Allegedly making excuses about the trade rumors disturbing him, especially after saying as recent as last week that he wouldn't, is just stupid. He should keep those comments to himself. He's actually having a pretty decent spring, I think he's hitting about .294 and has an obp somwhere around .400. So I don't know that he's making excuses, because there is nothing to make excuses for. It's not like he's having the kind of spring like, oh, I don't know, Derrek Lee? He's not hitting below the Mendoza line.

I'd like to see the quotes because it sounds unprofessional. He has a job to do. If he doesn't like the rumors he can elect to not answer questions about them (and stop reading the latest gossip as he has confessed to in the past). He was apparently on WSCR this morning or afternoon (I heard a clip of it later on, but not the whole interview). He was basically saying that he understands he's a professional and has a job to do regardless, but that he'd be lying if he said it wasn't somewhat of a distraction. Sorry, I can't quote, I can only paraphrase, if someone has the actual quote, feel free to add. I personally don't put much into it, I think he was just answering a question honestly. I mean, it's a distraction for EVERYONE, players, coaches, front office people, broadcasters, fans, etc. This is the exact reason why Hendry needs to give the O's an ultimatum, "This is our final offer, if you don't accept it right now, we're walking away."

Any minute now somebody is going to post a lame "the deal is done but they don't want to announce it on the same day as [insert random current event] joke. It's coming, I can feel it. The deal is done, but they don't want to announce it until this thread reaches 300 pages.

I don't recall reading anything that says Hendry offered or MacPhail requested. Everything I've seen to this point is speculation as to the names involved. Who point those names in there, I don't know. Fair enough. My point is this though, if Hendry feels that he has put his best foot forward and MacPhail is the one jerking him around, then walk away. If Hendry is jerking around MacPhail, then he needs to pull his head out and get on with it. I'm in agreement. I'm no Hendry apologist, I just don't think there's enough evidence to suggest that he's guilty of a lot of the accusations that have been flying around. If there is hard evidence that he's offering way too much or that MacPhail is trying to screw him and he doesn't have the sense to walk away, so be it. I haven't seen it yet. Bottom line is that Hendry has to know that the reporters are all over his players getting their opinions on Roberts and the potential trade. He also has to see that his team is 5-10 in the spring so far. Are those two things connected? I don't know. But I know that if I were the GM and I saw the players' (especially DeRo's) reactions to these questions, and saw how my team was performing, I would do something as soon as possible to put that to rest. Either make the trade, or come out publicly and say we are not pursuing Roberts anymore.

I don't recall reading anything that says Hendry offered or MacPhail requested. Everything I've seen to this point is speculation as to the names involved. Who point those names in there, I don't know. Fair enough. My point is this though, if Hendry feels that he has put his best foot forward and MacPhail is the one jerking him around, then walk away. If Hendry is jerking around MacPhail, then he needs to pull his head out and get on with it.

You should have stopped after "tabled". You would have had me on board. These discussions need to stop, period. No more talking, it's time for MacPhail to put up or shut up. If some of these "insiders" information is correct, and Hendry has offered some of the names being mentioned, then he has offered a more than fair deal in my eyes. Roberts is a good player, he's not a superstar, just because he's got sentimental value to PGA doesn't make him worth a king's ransom to another team, contrary to what Orioles fans seem to think. If MacPhail isn't happy with the offer from Hendry, then it's time for Hendry to walk away....not for a while, but for good. Period. has Hendry offered or has MacPhail requested? That's a good point. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the rumors I have read say that Hendry has offered Gallagher, Cedeno, and then possibly two more players. Names linked to that pool have been Patterson, Ceda, Veal, Colvin, Marquis, Murton, maybe a couple others. I'm not even counting the puds that seem to think they can get Pie, Hill, or Marmol out of this deal. I would say Gallagher, Cedeno and two players out of the pool above (assuming that those two players are not BOTH Ceda AND Veal) would be a steep price to pay, and more than fair to the O's in my opinion. If MacPhail is demanding Pie, Marmol, Hill or some other ridiculous package, then I don't even know why Hendry hasn't come out and said, we're through negotiating with the O's. Table the talks permanently.

You should have stopped after "tabled". You would have had me on board. These discussions need to stop, period. No more talking, it's time for MacPhail to put up or shut up. If some of these "insiders" information is correct, and Hendry has offered some of the names being mentioned, then he has offered a more than fair deal in my eyes. Roberts is a good player, he's not a superstar, just because he's got sentimental value to PGA doesn't make him worth a king's ransom to another team, contrary to what Orioles fans seem to think. If MacPhail isn't happy with the offer from Hendry, then it's time for Hendry to walk away....not for a while, but for good. Period.

When Hendry hired Dusty, he had just taken the Giants to the World Series!! I'd be willing to bet that when Hendry hired Dusty, you thought it was a GREAT signing. I'll take it one step further and say that in 2003 when the Cubs were 5 outs from the World Series themselves, you were probably one of the people holding up the "In Dusty we trusty" signs. So all of a sudden that's a bad move in your eyes? Hindsight is the red-headed step child of foresight.

Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton for Jose Hernandez, Bobby Hill, and Matt Bruback Todd Hundley and Chad Hermanson for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek That is all. Couldn't agree more. Hendry's steals have worked out far better long term for him than his busts have bit him in the long run. I couldn't disagree more. Since Hendry became GM: The Tribune has upped Cubs payroll from 70m to 110m+ The farm system has gone from one of the top farm systems to the bottom and back to the middle of the pack Cubs record since 2003 is 407-403 while playing in arguably the worst division in baseball during that span. My expectations are a bit higher than yours, I guess. My expectations are as high as anyone on this board. I was specifically remarking on his trades, not FA's, drafts, etc. As for his overall record, it wasn't Hendry that broke D. Lee's wrist in 2006, it wasn't Hendry who let Prior and Wood in for 120+ pitch counts on a regular basis. The GM's job is to give the manager the pieces to win, and the manager to put those pieces in the right place to win the games. I'll say that Hendry's drafts have been putrid to say the least, but FA's and trades, I can't complain too much. Overall I would rate him an average GM, slightly above. Just my opinion though.

Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton for Jose Hernandez, Bobby Hill, and Matt Bruback Todd Hundley and Chad Hermanson for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek That is all. Couldn't agree more. Hendry's steals have worked out far better long term for him than his busts have bit him in the long run.

I'm hot blooded, check in and see! I've got a fever of a hundred and three! C'mon baby do you do more than dance? I'm hot blooded, hot blooded! Hot blooded? Don't you mean "Don't Fear the Reaper" You would be correct in assuming that, actually, the fever is for more cowbell. Baby.

To quote Dark Helmet.... "s@#t!! I hate it when I get my schwartz twisted."

This whole rumor is giving me a fever..... http://colossus.mu.nu/WFcowbell.gif

It wouldn't surprise me, one bit. Well, in fairness it's likely that MacPhail is as frustrated with his boss as the Cubs are with him. I mean the man obviously can't take a crap without approval. Completely and totally ridiculous way to run a ballclub. I think the Angelos stuff is a bunch of garbage. A couple of crappy radio reporters say that Angelos might be involved just because it's the trendy thing to say. Plenty of people have confirmed that Macphail has full control. This strategy of continously hollding out worked with Bavasi in the Bedard, and that's why MacPhail is doing it again. The talks have been going on for 3 months now, and Hendry hasn't cut talks off. What does that say? It says that AM can continue to hold out knowing that Hendry won't walk away. It's annoying and frustrating, but it worked with Bavasi, so why not do it to Hendry? Hendry has shown in the pas he'll overpay to get what he wants. I think MacPhail has a set price in his mind (probably a price way too high for Roberts) and won't budge unless Hendry caves and decides to overpay. If not, AM can just hold onto him and wait for someone to overpay. First of all, Angelos makes the late Bill Wirtz look like Mark Cuban. The guy is a disgrace. But I won't even get started on that. Here's why MacPhail is walking a dangerous line if you are an O's fan. O's fans can kid themselves all they want, if there was anyone else bidding for Roberts than the Cubs you can bet your lunch money that they would have been public, or a deal would have been done by now. It's not a good idea to figure that with Bavasi AM did good by holding out and figure the same result here. There was a lot of suitors for Bedard. The Cubs for one, the Indians, and basically anyone who lost out on Santana. I have two trains of thought on this... 1) If the Cubs offer is so disrespectful, or such a slap in the face to the O's, then don't you think other teams that were even quietly interested would think the same thing, make a better offer and snag Roberts by now? It doesn't take 3 months for another team to see what's been said about these discussions between Hendry and AM and figure that the Cubs are lowballing, if in fact, they agree that the Cubs are lowballing. 2) There is no other suitor for Roberts, and MacPhail is putting all his eggs in one basket hoping Hendry blinks. I don't think he will. In the end, I think you are going to see that either the O's will be sitting on opening day with a guy in Roberts who is not happy to be part of a rebuild or you will see Roberts on the Cubs at Hendry's price.

It's possible that Hendry just said, hey, this is our offer and come back to me if you want to deal. Mean while, Hendry can still look around for another fix somewhere else. I don't think that's enough if that's what he's said. He needs to either s@!t or get off the pot if you ask me. If he just leaves it with the O's as "here's our offer talk to me when you want to accept it", then DeRo and the rest of the Cubs are going to be dealing with Roberts questions all season. He needs to end the distractions and either make the deal and soon, or tell the O's to go home and fire off a few more knuckle children because the Cubs are no longer playing the game that MacPhail (or Angelos) seems to be playing here. And publicly take the deal offered off the table and walk away. I honestly don't know if the O's are really waiting for someone else to get involved to drive the price up, but I hope Hendry sees through that. I don't know. I do know this, I hope the Cubs don't do business with the O's for a long time after this. Of course, unless they want to reacquire Treshel! I couldn't agree more with you about not dealing with the O's from here on out.

It's possible that Hendry just said, hey, this is our offer and come back to me if you want to deal. Mean while, Hendry can still look around for another fix somewhere else. I don't think that's enough if that's what he's said. He needs to either s@!t or get off the pot if you ask me. If he just leaves it with the O's as "here's our offer talk to me when you want to accept it", then DeRo and the rest of the Cubs are going to be dealing with Roberts questions all season. He needs to end the distractions and either make the deal and soon, or tell the O's to go home and fire off a few more knuckle children because the Cubs are no longer playing the game that MacPhail (or Angelos) seems to be playing here. And publicly take the deal offered off the table and walk away. I honestly don't know if the O's are really waiting for someone else to get involved to drive the price up, but I hope Hendry sees through that.

This is seriously starting to just make me tired. All of it. I really wish Hendry would just come out and say that the O's are being ridiculous and break off talks with them. This kind of distraction can not be good for a team trying to compete. We won the division with DeRosa last year as our 2B, WE DON'T NEED ROBERTS!!! Just move on.

Just wondering if anyone has read anything or heard anything as to why ARam isn't in the lineup today. I thought today was the day for him to return, yet he's not in the lineup.

Thanks for the update. I'm assuming all hell is breaking loose (par for the course) at OH. I'm assuming that half of their posts over there are all about what they are going to do with Hill, Marmol, Pie, and half our farm system too. I don't put too much stock into what's said over there. As much as I hope that is true, I am officially in the "I'll believe it when I see it" camp.