cubsfan26

Yeah they did, I think Lou will be with the Cubs as long as he wants to be the Cubs.

Lou contract doesn't end to 2010, and with this current teams window probably lasting through 2010. I think Lou will finsh his contract, and try to win a World Series in the next two seasons. But if the Cubs win a World Series next year, he might retire on top.

Not a surprise to see Jacque and Dusty together again. I'm sure he talked Jocketty into giving Jones a chance on a minor league contract. Just like he did with Corey Patterson a year ago. Darlye Ward never played for Dusty, but he still feels like his kinda dude.

The Braves already spent like 30m plus on starting pitching this offseason. There's no way they add another big pitchers contract, with Hudson, Vazquez, Lowe and Kawakami making big money next year. So the Braves are no longer a option for Peavy, and he probably doesn't wanna go there anyways.

I'm fine with Marshall as the 5th starter, I'm just worried about Gaudin or Heilman staying stretched out enough as swing guys. Since we will never know when Harden might need a start or two skipped. I think Marshall is best suited to be pitching out of the pen for a month, and can step in and start random games when needed. Plus I don't think there will be that much of a difference between Marshall and Gaudin when starting 30 games or so. I think both guys can be good number 5's next year, and average number 4's on teams with average pitching staffs. I think Heilman has the talent to be better then both, but I'm not counting on him to figure it out as a starter now. When he couldn't 3-4 years ago, when he was starting all the time. It's possible though, it depends on if his velocity drops as a starter, and how good he gets his 3rd pitch. It doesn't appear he has the same work ethic that made Dempster so good last year though, but we don't really know much about Heilman either.

Murton value has fallen alot over the last few years, he was traded for some infielder that was the Rockies 26th best prospect, and unclaimed in the rule 5 draft back in December.

I always felt Murton might be a 20 HR hitter at Coors. Maybe he will get will get a chance to play with Holiday gone.

Gaudin was a little worse than Marquis was this year. Marquis had a 101 ERA+ in 2007, while Gaudin had a 95. Marquis' 2008 ERA+ was 99. True, but most of that was because Gaudin kinda wore down towards the end of the year(after relieving all of 06). I don't see him making 34 starts, as our 5th starter. If you keep it to 28-31 starts, I can see simliar numbers to Marquis. Plus Gaudin is still kind of a young pitcher he might improve a little bit still. Just as long as he doesn't fall down drunk and hurt his back like last season. I still think the best situation for us is Gaudin as the 5th starter, Marshall as the swing guy, and Heilman as the 7th or 8th inning reliever. I think Marshall can stay stretched better then Gaudin, and feel Heilman can be a really good reliever when he's right.

Fukudome makes too much money to be in Lou doghouse long term Hendry wouldn't allow it. So Fukudome will get a fair shot, but if he struggles in April/May like he did in August/September he will start to lose playing time. Even if that happens, I expect him to still have a chance to play here and there and get his spot back.

Didn't Chad Gaudin put up very simliar numbers to Marquis in 2007 as a starter? He had a 4.43 era, pitched 199 innings and had simliar WHIP at age 24. I don't see why Gaudin couldn't possibly repeat those numbers or better at age 26 next season.

LOL why would we fire anybody, were coming off a 97 win season, and favorites to win the division for a third year in a row next year. Plus we don't know how good or bad this offseason is yet. When has a GM or manager been fired during in Febuary because the fans didn't agree with the moves? IMO I think Hendry/Lou combo will be here through at least 2010. If the Cubs don't win a WS by then, or star going backwards. Then I can see Ricketts stepping in and making some changes.

I wish Hill just had a bad season, and got hit around. In that case the Cubs would have kept him around. But if you can't even throw a strike in the minors or in the winter league. You have issues

Thats because you don't understand how good Bradley is. He's had a 947 and 999 OPS the last two years. Then if you look at his road OPS in 05-06 when he played in horrible hitters parks, you could see how good this guy actually is. He had a 890 road OPS in 06, and 861 OPS in 05. I'd be shocked if he has a OPS below 850 playing half his games in Wrigley.

Didn't the Cubs have something like 4y at 36m offer on the table for Meche? I recall the Blue Jays having something like 4y at 40m offer on the table, and the Royals had a 4y at 44m deal on the table. Meche was deciding between the three teams, and many thought he was leaning towards the Cubs. Then the Royals added that 5th year to steal him away. I recall wanting Lilly alot, and at the time I liked Meche better then the other free agents on the market. I think after that the best free agent pitchers on the market were Jeff Suppan and Jason Marquis, and the Cubs went with Marquis. I will admit I liked the idea of signing Schmidt and Westbrook, but wasn't a fan of Padilla, or Jennings. That was a pretty weak year for SP free agents it seemed. Overall it seemed like Hendry had the right game plan, when you figure he went after Lilly, Meche and Marquis, who probably were the three best deals made for pitchers that offseason.

Honestly other then DeRosa trade and Miles signing, I have been happy with this offseason. But even with that move, I think it was more to get Fontenot regular playing time, and I still think the Cubs have some type of back up plan for Bradley. Like I said in the past I wouldn't have made that move, but I'm willing to give it a chance. But I like signing Bradley, I like resigning Dempster for below market value, I like not giving Wood a big contract and adding Gregg, I like adding Heilman, I like trading Marquis, I like Miles over Cedeno, I'm ok with Gathright as the 25th man, and I don't really care about Blanco or Bako. So I'm fine with the offseason, besides the DeRosa trade, but who knows maybe Hendry has a trade in mind for Mark Teahan or something.

Which I agree with, but you have expressed this same opinion over and over again for the last month. I think everyone on this board knows how you feel about DeRosa, Miles and Bradley by now. But every chance you get you bring up, your issues with this. It has to come to a point were, you just sit back and see what happens.

I don't have any blind optimism I have good reason for why I feel this way. If we have major injuries and there's a problem it will be taken care of, so will the depth. Lou/Hendry wanna win way too bad, not to make things happen. Too many fans are WAY to negative and freak out on Febuary 3rd. But whats new I saw this stuff the last two years, and I felt the Cubs were gonna be better then most did, and they were.

I don't really recall Hendry adding those type of hitters the last two years. Just because he added Miles and Gathright that doesn't mean he is obsessing over that type of player. He just feels in mixing a few bench guys like that will help the bench and help them score runs easier late in games. I know Gathright speed could be a nice asset, over pinch running Marquis or whoever else last year. Piniella said this offseason, that he felt the Cubs offense problem in the playoffs was. That they had too many of the same type of player. Almost all of them were RH, and almost all of them swang for the fences. So the Cubs wanted to add a few slap hitters, LH bats and guys with speed to mix things up a bit. This team still has a ton of power, and isn't gonna be lacking power next year at all. Then have a little faith in the first GM, to bring us back to back division titles, and more wins in a season in 60 plus years. Many didn't think last year team was better then 07 either. We still have two months to opening day lets see what the team looks like then. If when they start playing they don't appear better then last season, then feel free to make these comments again. But right now, almost every post you make has something to do with you being upset over trading DeRosa, signing Miles or Bradleys health. Put it this way when was the last time Hendry didn't cover himself a little, when he's had injury prone players? So either he truely believes, the guys we have hear can do the job better then guys we had last year(which is possible), or he's still gonna make a couple of moves before opening day. Do you really think Lou will put up with Johnson getting alot of AB against RH pitching, or Gathright playing everyday? If Hoffpauir isn't on the team hitting well? Lou wasn't happy with that type of situation last year and thats why we signed Edmonds. All I'm trying to say is take a break on the complaining, and give it some time.

You worry way too much, teams aren't always evil and will charge premium prices for crap. Especially not for a their back up outfielder or a veteran outfielder. If the Cubs try to get a Garrett Anderson, Cliff Floyd, Ken Griffey, Luis Gonzalez, or someone like that. I really doubt teams will be charging a arm and a leg for guys they picked up for next to nothing this offseason. Sure it might take a few weeks for Hendry to find a deal at the right price, but do you really think some team won't give in at some point? If you do I think you worry way too much. Especially considering the Cubs picked up two outfielders that were released last year. Plus with the economy so bad, noncontending teams will be cutting payroll probably more then ever this season. Cedeno had 4 AB's at 3rd base last year, and 82 AB's came as a SS, which Wigginton won't play. Again Wigginton doesn't wanna be a back up, and he wouldn't come to wait for these guys to get hurt. There's isn't many AB's backing up Lee and Ramirez in most seasons, and who knows if Wigginton can play 2b. Plus how do you know Hendry didn't call him up, and heard he wanted regular playing time and big money, then moved on to Miles? You don't know that and just like to complain like you have done all offseason. Like I have said over and over again, lets see what happens. Doesn't complaining over and over again, and saying the same thing get old? It's time to take those Mark DeRosa posters off you're wall, and see if Hendry is smarter then all of us again or not.

If Hendry thought there was a strong chance he would miss a good amount of time, then he wouldn't have signed him. Bradley wasn't healthy 05-07, Bradley is healthy right now. If Bradley goes on the DL, and is gonna be out for a long time. Then you bring in another veteran outfielder. It's no lock Bradley gets hurt for a long period of time, and playing Johnson/Hoffpauir/Gathright for 30-35 games isn't gonna kill us. If Bradley misses more then that there's a bunch of guys you can get to fill in for a very cheap. That guy doesn't have to be on the roster on opening day. Why would Wigginton wanna come to the Cubs to be a precaution? He wants to play, not wait around for if or when guys get hurt so he can play.

Not really, there isn't that many AB's behind Ramirez/Lee, and you can't really expect Soriano to miss that much time again. The Cubs don't plan on Bradley being hurt alot, or they wouldn't have signed him. So how can the Cubs promise Wigginton 400 plus AB's, unless they could put him at SS. Because Wigginton isn't gonna play over Ramirez, Soriano, Lee or Bradley when their on the roster. He can't really play 2b anymore, and wouldn't get alot of AB's even if he played there. Miles might get 300 plus AB's, but he will get half his his AB's playing SS and filling in for Theriot. So I really don't think the LH/RH had alot to do with this move, since the Cubs are currently looking for a RH bench player, and Miles is better from the right side, then the left. Wigginton wanted regular playing time and the Cubs couldn't offer that, while the Orioles could. Especially with having the DH and Wigginton being a bad defensive player. I too would rather have Wigginton over Miles, but I'm not gonna be mad over this. Because I understand the situation.

Alot of people still wanted Vincente Padilla, Jason Jennings and Jake Westbrook. Adding one of those guys would have been a big mistake. Hendry wanted both Lilly and Meche that offseason, how great would it be right now if he end up with both. One interesting from reading that old thread is. There are a few people who wanted the Cubs to add Aaron Heilman.

I don't really we could have gotten either cheaper. Well maybe we could have gotten Bradley at 2 years. But at the time we signed Bradley he turned down simliar two year offers from the Rays and Nationals. The Cubs went three years with Bradley, but the third year can be a team option year if Bradley doesn't play 125 plus games next year. I still think Dempster gets paid, and gets more if he stays on the market. The top starting pitchers still got paid this offseason, Dempster was right there with AJ Burnett on teams radars. If we don't resign Dempster, I bet the Braves end up signing him to something like 4y at 60m or 5 at 70m. From everything I read they wanted him pretty bad and even more then Burnett.

Wigginton had to take alot less money then he was asking for a few months ago(wanted 5-7m per year). I doubt Wigginton would have signed with the Cubs anyways. I'm sure the Orioles promised 400 plus AB's in either LH, DH and 1b. The Cubs couldn't promise him that many AB's with there the way it is. How Wigginton defense at 2b anyways? I heard he's a horrible defender at 3rd. I'm not really sure about his outfield defense though.

In 2007 when we traded Izturis who was our second middle infielder from June to September? Mike Fontenot was our only middle infielder for half of the 2007 season. Bradley has been hurt 3 seasons 05-07. When he didn't play in 02-04, it was for non injury reasons(besides 1 month in 02). So averaging out games played from 02-08 to prove you're point based on him playing because he was hurt isn't fair. Bradley made one trip to the DL for one month from 02-05. He also always played alot from 98 through 01 as a minor leaguer. In June of 2005 is when he started to have issues. So sorry that If I believe a guy can recover from having three injury prone seasons. Being 100 percent healthy now, is probably healtier then he's been at any point in years, and playing RF and in half his games in small Wrigley should help. He won't play 160 games, but saying won't play over 100 games because he had three years were he was hurt alot, is unfair. Ken Griffey Jr. played in 70,53,83 games from 02-04. But from 05-08 he played in 128,109,144 and 143 for example.