mikeyt34

I still don't think Woody is going anywhere, he'll resign with the Cubs at below market value, just to stay in Chicago. Kevin Gregg is going to take over Howry's role as a set up man, nothing more. I've seen Ceda pitch on a few occasions at Spring Training last year, he was nothing special in my opinion, and I think the Cubs felt he was still a couple of years away from contributing, if ever. I'm always willing to get an established veteran over a the "potential" of some kid. Maybe not the best deal for Ceda's potential, but I see what Hendry is thinking.

I just hope this gets done. Either the Braves get Peavy or the Cubs, or the Pads decide to pull him off the table. A resolution going into Free Agency time this weekend is crucial. I would hate to still be talking about this two weeks from now, and the Cubs holding off on their FA acquistions, still trying to get a deal done.

hendry's got to let him know how much better his numbers might be at petco and NL west ballparks. his salary for the next few years is set anyway. And Jeff would probably be a lock to become a starter for the Pads, assuming that's what he wants to do. All in all though, I doubt Shark will be in the mix. I think he likes Chicago, which is a good thing.

But wouldn't this rumor have to last through spring training and into the first week of the season to be considered "Roberts Part II"? This won't last nearly as long. There wasn't pressure to trade Roberts from Baltimore's side last year, but San Diego is determined to get a deal done, whether it's with the Cubs, Braves, or whoever.

Yes and the save money to sign a left handed bat i.e Dunn or Ibanez. Edit: Or Vance's idea about Furcal is good too. Although Furcal seems to have had some injury issues as of late so that would concern me some.

That is scary. A 16 game winner as your 5th starter. Actually my rotation would be 1. Peavy 2. Zambrano 3. Dempster 4. Lilly 5. Harden. Until Harden proves he can stay healthy and can go every turn, you should send him down to the 5th spot and rest him from time to time. The Cubs could possibly win over 100 games with that. The other teams in the Central have to be Howrying their pants if this deal goes down. The problem is, who is going to show up to hit the FREAKING ball in the post season. :cry: An as-of-now-undetermined lefty bat of consequence? Let just say if the Cubs get Peavy. :beg: Take the money they were going to spend on Dempster and sign Raul Ibanez to play right. Platoon Fukie and Reed in CF. Sign Woody back as the closer. Pick up another decent arm for the bullpen. Pick up another utility infielder. Marquis, Hill, or Veal is your 5th starter. They are set, don't ya think?

That is scary. A 16 game winner as your 5th starter. Actually my rotation would be 1. Peavy 2. Zambrano 3. Dempster 4. Lilly 5. Harden. Until Harden proves he can stay healthy and can go every turn, you should send him down to the 5th spot and rest him from time to time. The Cubs could possibly win over 100 games with that. The other teams in the Central have to be Howrying their pants if this deal goes down. The problem is, who is going to show up to hit the FREAKING ball in the post season. :cry:

Personally I'm one for always trading unproven talent with "potential", for an established MLB veteran superstar. You know what you are getting with Peavy. However, Shark, Ceda, Veal, Vitters, etc. are unproven to this point. Do what you have to, to get a talent like Peavy, and worry about restocking down the road. It's a freakin' Catch 22, but damn Peavy is good. Give them Shark, Pie, Ceda, and maybe Fontenot. Maybe too much? I would hate to give up Shark, but Peavy in a Cub uniform for the next several years in his prime, and with a one two punch of Z and Peavy, would keep the Cubs in contention for years to come. At least competetive.

It might have had something to do with him possibly going into the NFL draft, so the Cubs sweetened the deal? Here's an article about his signing, although it's kind of vague about the reason he was given a no trade clause. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2736354

The Cubs, unbelievably, don't hold this particular futility record. The 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks went 98-64 and then took NLDS sweepage from the Cardinals. The sad part is the Cardinals went 97-65, whereas the Dodgers were hovering around .500 all year long, so what does that make us. The Dodgers do have good pitching, I'll give them that, but I refuse to believe they are a better team than the Cubs. The Cubs basically beat themselves...

"Charlie Brown Ain't Got Nuttin' On Us" [attachment=0]lucy.jpg[/attachment]

We all know the "It's Gonna Happen" signs were everywhere in 2008, but it would seem these signs should be put into retirement. Any ideas for next year's slogan... Not to rip off the X-Files but... "I Want To Believe???"

Seriously, how can you even remember any great moments about 2008 without thinking, "oh yeah, but wasn't that the year the Cubs had the best record in the NL and choked it away in the playoffs." I was at the clinching game a couple of weeks ago, one of my greatest moments as a Cub fan to see in person, and now that great memory has been tarnished forever...

Not to be a jerk, but I don't find this article remotely funny...depressing is more like it.

Are you serious? Do you really think the players went out there thinking,"Man, I really want to win this for that fan in seat 4 in section 220, thatd be great"? The players want to win it for themselves plain and simple. They know if they are on the Cubs team that wins the World Series, it would be epic. You seriously don't think the players have a relationship with the fans and what they have been through? I would hate to believe that someone like Kerry Wood or Derrek Lee doesn't care about "that fan in seat 4 in section 220". Sure there are some players who probably could care less about the fans, but the guys on this Cub team for the most part don't strike me as those types of players. Does Mark DeRosa strike you as that selfish of a human being, to not give a rats behind about the Cub fans? So yes, I do believe they are feeling the pressure of not winning in 100 years, and after hearing about it every day since March, how could they not? My point is I hope they try to forget about letting everyone down and just go out and win it for themselves, thus taking a lot of pressure off.

Hey, maybe we are looking for the wrong type of motivation for the Cubs...Ok boys, win the next three and she will cut the string...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGX-Fxx52M&feature=related

I honestly believe a big reason the Cubs are choking is they are feeling this kind of pressure, from this kind of post. I don't really mind the spirit of this post, and it's intent, and would love to see the Cubs win it for anyone who has been watching this team their whole lives. I think the Cubs players need to just forget about the city, the fans, and the organization. Just play ball! The Cubs PLAYERS have to want to win it for themselves...Maybe that will take some pressure off.

[attachment=0]airplane.jpg[/attachment] Looks like we all picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue...

Someone in another post mentioned it would be a good idea to see a fist fight in the clubhouse...I've got dibs on Z!

Funny...I said that when I was 27...about 20 years ago...I'm getting too old to really care anymore...Family and friends are what's really important so who really cares...Don't worry, you'll get to where I am young man.

+1

I think the Cubs got the match up we all were looking for a month ago. I know I didn't want anything to do with Arizona's Big 3 (Webb, Haren, and Johnson) in a 5 game series, no matter how bad their overall offense and bullpen was. The Mets were playing decent baseball up until the last month when Wagner went down. Maybe it's Karma, I don't know. All I do know is the Cubs would be losing a 5 game series to the Royals, Pirates, or Padres with the way they are playing. I refuse to give LA this much credit. They are a decent enough team, but my god...

If the Cubs can somehow find a way to send it to a 5th game at Wrigley, anything can happen, although I have absolutely NO CONFIDENCE this will happen with the way they are playing. If the "offense" (quotations on purpose) can somehow find themselves you never know. I do know one thing for sure though. I live in Arizona. I go to about 10 spring training games in Mesa every year (I'm a spring training season ticket holder). I go to all the Cubs games when they come out to AZ (God I hate Dbacks fans). I follow the Cubs up the coast on their West Coast swing when they go to San Diego and LA (5 of 6 games this year I made it to). I travelled to Wrigley and saw the Clinching game in person (lucky travel plans but I'll take 'em.) I have my Direct TV MLB package every spring ready to go (I would say I've seen about 150 of the 163 games this year but who's counting). The one thing I can be sure of is this... I will do NONE of these things next year! I will not commit myself to this team for an entire season ever again. Why should I? I plan to make a concerted effort to not watch many games during 2009, only to check the box scores and standings on a somewhat daily basis. I plan to never ever commit myself to this organization the way I have this year. Call me a whinnier, a fair weather fan, whatever. I have had it! IF they come back to win in 5, GREAT, I'm as happy as the next guy, but this is getting to the point of self mutilation.

I don't know either...