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soapy

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Everything posted by soapy

  1. soapy
    I'm still personally split on this as well. I still think the real Bears are the team we've seen 6 of the 8 games, but being that the two worst games have come in the last three weeks, I'm a little concerned. I think the real Bears are the Bears we've seen in 8 of the 8 games. That is, they are an incredibly dangerous and potent team, but they are prone to mistakes. I don't think it's a Jekyl/Hyde thing. It's more of a case of playing on a fine line of a risk taking team. The defense is all about attack attack attack, and relies heavily on speed. There is nothing methodical about this team. They might be able to rein in the risk taking on offense, by focusing more on running the ball. But I think part of the goal over the first half of the season was seeing what they were capable of at their best. They had a new car and wanted to see how it handled the open highway. The question is whether or not they are willing to drive that car in traffic at reasonable speeds. Part of their inconsistancy on offense also comes from Grossman being young (playing time wise). He is still learning and is prone to several mistakes. I think he's also a risk-taking kind of quarterback. I hate to make Favre comparisons, but Rex may be of that "mold".
  2. soapy
    I'm still personally split on this as well. I still think the real Bears are the team we've seen 6 of the 8 games, but being that the two worst games have come in the last three weeks, I'm a little concerned. There really is no "overlooking" a game like this and I'm sure the Bears will be focused. I'm optimistic that they've had their "wake up call" at this point and Lovie will have them well prepared. I'd still like to see them focus more on running the ball and see better adjustments to the blitz.
  3. soapy
    I'm obviously just speculating here, but I get the impression the Hendry told Lou he was going to make some moves to improve this team and give him the talent he needs to be work with a contender. It would be pretty stupid to follow that up by letting go of (arguably) your best offensive player. Orrrrrrr...maybe I'm just being foolishly optimistic today.
  4. soapy
    I go back and forth on this every day. Right now, I say he signs with the Cubs because Hendry promises him he's going to make some bold moves this season and the Cubs will be a contender. Whether or not Hendry will actually make said "bold" moves will be an interesting question (I'm not holding my breath).
  5. soapy
    This is exactly my concern. I have no problem going after guys like Figgins or other "role players" (I hate that term, but bear with me). The important thing to do is to get your impact players first, then if you have enough money (or trade chips) left over, you pursue guys like Figgins.
  6. soapy
    I heart Len.
  7. soapy
    That's what Hendry is offering, or that's what Ramirez is asking for? Either way, that's more than fair for both sides. They said that he is close to resigning, and that the deal would likely be 5 at an average of $14m. Which, if true, is really good news, financially and from a roster standpoint. That would be great news.
  8. soapy
    What a load of crap. I mean...wow...I just can't get over this. Unbelievable. I really don't know what else to say. Mind-boggling
  9. soapy
    Alou
  10. soapy
    I guess you could also probably argue that anything any player does on any team besides the world series champions is meaningless. Derrek Lee's 2005 was meaningless. Don't forget Ramirez' 2003 playoffs and September 2004 (yes, I'm going to keep saying this over, and over, and over).
  11. soapy
    Wow-that's all I have to say to that. I guess everybody has their scapegoat, and I guess it is Ramirez for him. I could at least accept that as his opinion if he then didn't want to go out and re-sign Pierre even if I don't agree with him. The fact that he can't even be consistent drains the remaining credibility that the rest of the article works so hard to destroy. It's not just him!! People are piling on this whole "Ramirez is lazy" story because one person ran with it and they are either too stupid or too lazy to come up with their own stories (see: Eckstein or Arod).
  12. soapy
    OH JESUS!! I'm going to freaking lose it. What a sham. So you laugh about said "meaningless" arguement...and then make said arguement. Cool. Three year splits Soriano: .275/.329/.519 (will be 31 years old in January) A. Ramirez: .304/.361/.569 (28 years old) So, Mr. Couch, your solution is to deny $15 to Ramirez and instead spend $17 on Soriano who is a) older; and b) less productive. YOU ARE A GENIUS!! Edit: I just noticed that the stats I pulled off of ESPN are 2004-2006 for Soriano, but 2003-2005 for Ramirez. If you factor in 2006 for Ramirez, it's probably even more lopsided.
  13. soapy
    Oh jeez... Okay, let's talk about what Ramirez did when the Cubs "needed him most" like the 2003 playoffs or September 2004. Oh, wait, that doesn't fit into your arguement. What did the Cubs ever win with Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, your namesake Ron Santo? Not to mention: Everybody's golden boy Derrek Lee put up a not so monstrous .710 OPS in September 2004. Where was he when his team needed him most?
  14. soapy
    The simple solution here is to re-sign Ramirez AND trade for Tejada. Now everyone is happy and the Cubs can concentrate on pitching.
  15. soapy
    I'm really shocked at the number of people that think the Cubs will be fine or okay if Ramirez walks. I just don't see how that's possible. They would need add at least two bats in that scenario, plus pitching. That's going to cost money and/or players. Picking up someone like ARod, Tejada, etc. (hell, even Ensberg) is going to require giving up talent in return. That will limit the Cubs options to make necessary additions in other areas besides what they lose in Ramirez. He's been the most productive offensive player for the team over the last three years, his defense has improved to being solid, and he (supposedly) worked extra hard this past off season in a hope to avoid the leg injuries that plagued him in the past (which worked). I don't believe there's any hope of making this team a contender in 2007 without Ramirez. None. I'm not panicking about him opting out, yet, but they simply have to re-sign him.
  16. soapy
    Lee was out most of the season. Why focus on only two months of that time? In fact, Lee played the first half of April, so really you're talking about one and a half months of the season and using that to dismiss the need for the Cubs to hold on to their most productive offensive player over the last three years because all you "remember is him dogging it and slacking." Sound reasoning. Ramirez in 2006: April: 71 ABs; .197/.321/.394 (Derrek Lee had 44 ABs) May: 109 ABs; .266/.296/.495 (Lee had zero ABs) June: 105 ABs; .276/.325/.476 (Lee had 22 ABs) July: 96 ABs; .344/.414/.750 (Lee had 53 ABs) August: 111 ABs; .333/.400/640 (Lee with 12 ABs) September: 98 ABs; .306/.346/.551 (Lee had 44 ABs) Ramirez was VERY productive. He played in the most games of his career and he improved greatly on defense. Oh, I guess he's just a "second tier" guy though because of the few grounders he didn't bust ass down the line on.
  17. soapy
    The bolded has me worried as well. I don't know how much to get worked up about this article, it sounds like speculation. If there is some truth to it, this reaks of Hendry's past seasons. Sign some SP's who they hope will be ready by May, then June, then the all-star break, etc (and it's the same three guys from last year, no less). You're talking $6-$10 million being wrapped up in three guys who may not bring much value to the team at all. As we know, Hendry hasn't hesitated to over-pay guys with little or no value in the past. My own personal opinion is keep Prior. I simply don't think you can get anything of value by trading him right now. If that means you have to cut ties with Wood and Miller, so be it. If Wood doesn't have a chance to start, or become an effective closer, I think it's a waste of resources to re-sign him (unless some of the current bullpen arms can be traded). I don't mind Miller as a #5 starter, but if there really are concerns about his health still, I'll pass. I think, Cuse, Hendry wanting to trade some of the young pitchers (Marshall, Marmol, Guzman, etc.) and bringing in Miller as insurance is very possible
  18. soapy
    They are not going to blow this thing up! Hendry's Cubs career is riding on this year. Also, McDonough promised to win a WS, and I don't think Lou Piniella would've signed a contract having to wait two to three years. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, and I'm sorry if it will already be posted. oh i agree that it won't happen, and i didn't say that it would. i'm saying that it should (if Aramis leaves).
  19. soapy
    What is a prime time player? In their 3 years on the Cubs, Aramis has outperformed Lee 2 years. Ramirez has a 950 OPS in the playoffs. And when the rest of his team was choking away 2004, Ramirez was producing. I was going to say the same thing. Thank you, goony. I really don't understand the amount of "piling on" on Aramis. He's arguably the best offensive player on the team. Second at worst.
  20. soapy
    If Ramirez doesn't re-sign, they should probably just blow this thing up. The amount of money and/or talent they are going to give up to replace him is going to prohibit other necessary upgrades (both offensively and starting pitching).
  21. soapy
    Are we talking about the same Aramis Ramirez that hired a personal trainer and incorporated a new stretching and diet plan last offseason, got into (better) shape and then went on to play more games in a season then he ever has in 2006 while reaching a career high in HR's and RBI's while also improving drastically on defense? That Aramis Ramirez? Yes? Okay. Just checking.
  22. soapy
    I don't think Patterson ever showed the kind of progression Pie has shown in the minors (from what I can remember). Another key is to make sure the Cubs don't try to turn him into something he's not, like they did with Patterson. I agree that there should be some caution used to avoid "rushing" him, but I think there are some differences between he and Corey. The fact that Dusty, Clines or Sarge will never get their mitts on Pie is reason for optimism And Baylor
  23. soapy
    that lineup is terrible. It's not supposed to contend in '07. Thanks for your constructive and articulate insight though. :) well, i guess i'm just not too keen on a team with $115 mil payroll going through a rebuilding phase...especially when you have relatively young talent like prior, lee, ramirez, barrett, zambrano, etc. i suppose i just disagree with the idea that they can't contend next year. in the past, i thought that may be the case, but not if they're increasing payroll 15%. i gotta think it's nearly impossible to field a terrible team with a payroll that large. I think they can compete if they spend wisely (and are serious about going up to $115 million). Between Lugo, Soriano, Schmidt and say Padilla (just as an example) you'd probably be adding less than $40 million. You've got somewhere around $20 million coming off the books and a possible increase of $20 million in the budget. I think they'd compete with those additions.
  24. soapy
    I don't think Patterson ever showed the kind of progression Pie has shown in the minors (from what I can remember). Another key is to make sure the Cubs don't try to turn him into something he's not, like they did with Patterson. I agree that there should be some caution used to avoid "rushing" him, but I think there are some differences between he and Corey.
  25. soapy
    This is important. Lofton isn't going to go out there for 150+ games at this point. A reliable backup would be needed.
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