WindyCity

Is Sosa playing for the DR in the WBC? If he is, maybe he is counting on improved performance this Spring to generate more interest and a guaranteed deal.....

There have been several posts wishing a 2007 option was included, but correct me if I'm wrong here.... couldn't the Cubs just offer Miller arbitration after 2006? At $1mil the risk is low if he accepts, and if has a great 2006 and rejects arbitration, the Cubs get draft pick compensation. Not bad at all either way.

I like this move a lot. =D>

The White Sox won't have the MONEY to land Zambrano when he possibly becomes a FA. Besides even if they did, I doubt Zambrano goes to the Sox, anyway. Can't see Z ever going to the AL -- he loves to swing the bat too much. :D

Add me to the list please. Thanks.

And would be grossly overpaying IMO.... especially for a guy entering his contract year. I would think the Cubs could get a lot more than Lugo for Welly, Dope, and Marshall or a combo of Welly, Harvey, and Marmol (and I consider Welly pretty much a throw-in at this point).

Unless Dusty decides to go with Neifi in the 2-hole, I think you can pretty much bank on Jones batting second.... he is fast after all.... :(

I'm all for signing him to a Dempster/Willamson deal.... and if Dempster struggles, we could rev up the Wade Miller for Closer BandWGN again.....

Funny to see this today -- I was just trying to think who could be the target of 1 of the 2 open trade offers that Hendry supposedly has out.... and the name that seemed to make the most sense to me was Jenkins. I wonder what it would take to get him?

I think the White Sox are about to try and do what I was hoping the Cubs would..... after acquiring Vazquez, they now have an extra starter that they can deal for an upgrade on offiense (read: Tejada). :cry:

fixed Not Funny Vance! http://www.kermitage.com/graphics/collectibles/Paper%20Stuff/Fan%20Club/Miss%20Piggy%20Fan%20Club%20Photo.jpg

My assumption is the need for a big bat to play everyday is still a greater need than another starter.... I would have no problem keeping Vazquez though.

It seems like the only way the Cubs can trade for a big bat like Abreu or Tejada is to trade a starter that is a known commodity with past success and young enough to interest the Phillies or O's..... not wanting to give up Z or Prior in any deal leaves the Cubs without any currency to use in such a deal. Therefore, it seems like the best approach is to try and trade for a quality starter that you a) believe is good enough to be the centerpiece of a deal that can net you Abreu or Tejada and b) don't mind keeping on your staff if for some reason you can't move them. Zito and Vazquez seem to be the likely options that are available. Not sure on Zito, but with Vazquez requesting a trade, he may come at a lower price. Though if rotoworld is correct in their claim of the White Sox offering Contreras or Garland for Vazquez, that price doesn't seem that low..... The D'backs have interest in CPat -- so would Corey and 1-2 arms from the farm be enough for AZ? What quality of pitching prospect would they need to be? or do folks think AZ would need ML-pitching in return -- maybe Corey, Jerome, and a pitching prospect not named Hill/Guzman? Thouhts on this appraoch and what it would take to pry away Zito/Vaz? If one of the them is acquired what else would need to be included in order to land Abreu/Tejada?

Nice. =D>

Niefi will often be bunting him over (wasting an out and lowering Pierre's SB total in the process). Should be fun. :(

I'm guessing that Tejada is trying to temper his public statements in the event he is not traded -- that way he might be able to avoid being booed by O's fans next year. If he really wants to be dealt, his agents can continue to convey his wishes to the Baltimore front office without all the media hoopla....

Oakland did not offer Durazo arbitration. He would be a nice bat of the bench -- but doesn't seem to fit the Cubs MO of trying to get bench guys that can play many positions.

Their biggest problem is that they are in the AL East. :wink:

Sorry if anything on this topic has already been posted in another thread, but does anyone have any updates on Adam Greenberg? I believe the 10 days have now past since he was DFA'd.... just curious to know if he was traded, released, something else? Thanks in advance for any info.

Absolutely fantastic news! Gordon, Carlwell, Semrau..... add Rose and that's an awesome start to the '07-'08 squad.

Yes, it is possible to put together a deal that doesn't include Pie -- folks often forget that the Cubs have another top outfield prospect that can be used in a trade.... Ryan Harvey. With a cannon arm in RF and 30-40 HR potential, Harvey would be very attractive to the Phils I would think (assuming they don't mind that he is 2-3 years away at best). No , not worth it for 2 years of Abreu. Now if the Marlins want to deal Cabrera, I would personally buy Felix a ticket to south Florida. :D

Folks that think a Sox WS win won't affect them should plan on attending a Cubs/Sox interleague game in 2006. I can already hear the 1908 chants and much worse..... there will much violence and arrests. Sox fans did not support the Cubs in 2003 and they openly taunted and mocked Cubs fans after the NLCS was lost. I see no reason to be happy for them now.

A free (and conveniently legal) demo of the game is available on the site. Here's a link. You can test drive it to get a feel for the game play, though the demo will allow you to only play 1 season each game. Multi-season play, building the farm system, and making a dynasty is where the real fun is with this game.

I've been playing Baseball Mogul Online (BBMO) since the early days of beta in 2001. Its a lot more fun to match wits against 30 human-controlled teams online than the often easy to beat CPU teams of the PC game. A great game and very addictive, though for stats purists it can be frustrating -- it is still a bit buggy at attributing certain stats correctly.

Would White Sox fans be supportive of a Cubs pennant? I think not. I hope they lose the World Series in a very painful way. There isn't a fanbase in baseball more deserving of having their hearts crushed. GO ASTROS!