CubfaninCA

Well, if Walker's so valuable and cheap, the Cubs should be able to get back a really nice prospect.

Offering Giles 3 and 30 could get him in Chicago. The SoCal teams may not be willing to offer as much. However, I'm doubtful the Cubs can get Zito. I'd like to see the Cubs move Wood. I mean he's probably gone after 06 anyway, and a team like Boston would probably extend him another year. They have money to throw around for a pitcher.

Bradley didn't keep it in house. He was ordered too, but took things into his own hands. Apparently, the Dodgers are really ticked @ him.

Nomar's body may be wrecked. The Cubs have to make a major push for Furcal.

I'm sure a few of the potential playoffs team could use him. He's an insurance policy on the bench.

So, who are we trading for Soriano? Patterson, Walker, Welly & Mitre. Welly & Mitre are great!

I'd like to see them go w/ this lineup the rest of the way. Lawton, Murton, Lee, ARam, Nomar, Walker, Patterson & Barrett.. If Murton struggles, then you guys can blame the Cubs for bringing him along too quickly. ;)

Hopefully Furcal. Nomar can take the Boston curse elsewhere. I recall him being a workout maniac years ago. He may have wrecked his body and I wouldn't be surprised if he took "enhancers" to push his body way beyond it's limits.

Figured you were one of the people wanting an outfield of Murton, Burnitz & Lawton??

Actually, the most realistic FA pickup could be Furcal. Lots of the big market teams are set @ SS. Yankees - JeTaah Boston - Renteria and H. Ramirez NYM - Reyes & Matsui (Ok not exactly set, but have a real good prospect and an expensive SS). Anaheim - Cabrera Baltimore - Tejada It's doubtful the Cardinals make a big offer. Perhaps Seattle, Philly or the Dodgers get in there, but it appears there will be more competition for Giles (LA & Anaheim for starters, he's a SoCal guy) than Furcal. Furcal's obp this season isn't that great, but he's been raising it the past few months. He's only 26 and his average obp the past 3 years is about .345. I know some people love the walk, but another problem w/ the Cubs is that they don't manufacture runs. Furcal's one of the top base stealing threats in game. Also, he has tremendous range @ SS, a cannon for an arm and cut down on his errors. This lineup could be fun to watch ~ Furcal, Murton, Giles, Lee, ARam, Soriano, Pie & Barrett. And gmafb about Walker being nearly as good as Soriano in the 6th hole. Walker's a 2 hitter... I'd rather put Murton there and go w/ more power, youth and speed @ 2b. The Cubs have plenty of money.

I assume he got through waivers. Just bring Murton up, put Lawton in rf, and get a decent prospect for Burnitz. It's not like he's helping the team anymore. He has to be one of the worse middle of the order hitters in the NL. If Murton starts to struggle against righties, just play Hairston or Holla in lf.

Since Boston has H. Ramirez coming up soon, will they possibly deal Renteria?? I know he's had a high number of errors this yr., but that guy's had a great glove in the past. A deal of Manny, Renteria and $5 million of cash for Wood, Patterson & Walker wouldn't bother me at all. Murton can take over the 2 spot. As for Giles, being that he's originally from SoCal, it will be tough to get him. I can see DePodesta going after him hard, as well as Anaheim.

Perhaps cause he had a .840 for half a year in 2003 before getting hurt and his .772 ops from last yr. would place him 11th amongst cf's this year, and ahead of baseball god, Carlos Beltran. Cf's aren't ops monsters and Patterson steals lots of bases. Something the Cubs don't do much of. Altogether, the guy probably needs a change of scenery. His current attitude is not good at all.

I'd rather have Lugo @ ss. Nomah's just awful defensively. I don't know if he's overly concerned about getting hurt, which limits him, but the guy's having major problems. Also, my guess is that he'll get hurt again. It seems his body's a wreck. HowevAh, Tampa's an idiot organization, and far worse than Cincy, so it will be difficult to deal w/ them, even if Lugo becomes too expensive for them. Perhaps they'd be happy if they could get Mitre and Welly, who apparently have trade value according to some. My guess is they'd ask for something ridiculous like Pie and Hill. Lugo could leadoff and Walker and Murton could fill the 2nd spot, Lee 3rd, Giles 4th, ARam 5th, Walker or Murton 6th, Barret 7th, Patterson 8th. The Cubs can use the remainder of their money for another starter. Either Milwood or Weaver.

Erik, I think you are being too generous. I don't think he's in a Cub uniform after the 2005 season. I have it on good authority that Hendry will do everything he can to trade Patterson during the offseason, low value or not. Hendry is absolutely pissed off at Corey's play and attitude since he has returned. And, seeing 5 pitches in 4 at bats last night was just the icing on the cake. Although he probably won't play with the major league team this year, I get the strong sense that the Felix Pie in CF era is set to start in March. Hoops Whether or not Patterson is on the team next year, Pie needs to be in AAA. Looks like we're doomed to see the same mistakes the organization made with Patterson. By the end of this year Pie will probably have almost 1500 minor league AB's, which I believe is almost double what Patterson had. I don't see how the Cubs could be accused of doing the "same" thing they did with Patterson. Pujols only had about 500 minor league AB's. Miguel Cabrera had about 1400 minor league AB's. If the guy is as good as everyone says then get him up here and don't waste a year in AAA. Patterson's inability to develop at the MLB level should not force the Cubs to keep every prospect in the minors longer. Each guy is different, and Pie might use the promotion as a catalyst to improve at a quicker pace than he would at AAA. If he doesn't, you can always send him back down to work on his game. Are you really sure that you want him to develop up here after Dusty's comments on teaching while in the majors? The coaching staff will get a hold of him and he will swing at anything that doesn't already. Guess Murton's better off in AAA then. Dusty could eventually ruin him. :wink:

I doubt the Cubs have much of a shot @ Damon. With the Yankees needing a cf, they'll probably offer him a long term deal. I can't see the Cubs offering Damon more than 4 years. I'd be cool w/ giving Patterson more time to prove himself in cf. The guy has tons of talent, and could turn out to be an Andruw Jones type. However, if they can trade him for a starter or a hitter that's fine too. As for Pie, it doesn't sound like he'll be quite ready. Ideally, I'd like to see the Cubs get a major upgrade in rf and a defensive upgrade @ either 2b or SS.

I honestly don't think it's such a good thing for the Cubs to keep winning with these players just for the sake of winning - I think it could do more harm than good for them to keep winning with the players they have now because I feel that will only make Hendry/Baker want those same players back and we all saw what they're capable of doing. We know what the vets are capable of. We dont' know what the rookies will provide. Let's find out now. I really don't believe the Cubs will be going to the post season. Look to the long-term future and see what the young kids can do given a consistent chance. 1) The organization isn't going to give up on the season so easily. They're in the business of making money. 2) I'm baffled by those who want to throw in the towel so early. Baseball isn't like pro basketball. In pro basketball, the last team into the playoffs has about zero chance to take it all. In baseball, things change in the postseason, as rotations shorten. One of the Cubs big problems is lack of starting pitching depth. If they make the playoffs, there will be no more Williams or Rusch and more Z and Prior.

I like that they're giving Patterson another shot. He's the most talented of any of the guys who have been up recently. It seems his psyche was set back when Dusty agreed to lead him off, and Patterson failed miserably. Hopefully, he can get it going again. For all the people who want Murton playing everyday and Hill pitching every 5th day, you should take Corey Patterson into consideration. Putting someone in situations where they can be successful, shouldn't be scoffed at. These guys are not robots.

Rusch pitched poorly on Saturday?? Did you watch the game and see the defense behind Rusch?? If Rusch doesn't keep his composure, the game could have been 12-0 by the 5th. The defense was crummy behind Hill against the Mets, but then you insisted it was on him. Can't have it both ways. Did Rusch give up 9 runs? oh, i forgot, you were the guy who said he's rather lose 7-1 than 9-1. So you can't admit that Rusch had a solid start yesterday? It must kill you to see him do alright. rusch pitched fine last night. he had some bad d behind him, so that was unlucky. but at the same time, there were quite a few hard hit outs early...plus he got a good call to save him from walking in a run. right now, i'm just not interested in watching glendon rusch have bad/mediocre/average starts in cub losses. what does that accomplish? and if rusch's start last night was 'solid' then so were hill's first two starts. and if that start by rusch was solid, then what would you consider hill's last two starts in AAA? phenomenal? other-worldly? koufax-esque? It appears Hill had a couple real good starts. However, I'm more concerned w/ the Cubs trying to win every game right now. Rusch put them in a position to do so last night. The defense and hitting didn't come through though.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YES! BURNITZ FIRST HOMER IN A MONTH. ABOUT TIME!

88 sounds about right. Agreed, I've always thought 90 seemed high. If any team gets hot and goes over 88, my pick's Florida. They have the most talent, but sounds like injuries have slowed them down. I'm not certain of the status of Delgado & LoDuca.

88 sounds about right.

Rusch pitched poorly on Saturday?? Did you watch the game and see the defense behind Rusch?? If Rusch doesn't keep his composure, the game could have been 12-0 by the 5th. The defense was crummy behind Hill against the Mets, but then you insisted it was on him. Can't have it both ways. Did Rusch give up 9 runs? oh, i forgot, you were the guy who said he's rather lose 7-1 than 9-1. So you can't admit that Rusch had a solid start yesterday? It must kill you to see him do alright.

Rusch pitched poorly on Saturday?? Did you watch the game and see the defense behind Rusch?? If Rusch doesn't keep his composure, the game could have been 12-0 by the 5th. The defense was crummy behind Hill against the Mets, but then you insisted it was on him. Can't have it both ways. Did Colorado score 9 runs yesterday?

Dang! Getting plenty of runner's on. No clutch hitting tho. :x