CubfaninCA

The Cubs would have to eat his contract right?

If Soriano's brought in, Murton will become the backup OF and will platoon w/ Jones. Not a bad move, considering Murton isn't tearing up righties. The Cubs need power desperately. If I recall Fred's stats correctly, the Cubs are about 80 hr's off last years pace. The thorough documentation of lefties in the Central is more evidence that the Cubs need Soriano, who has a .957 ops v. lefties.

Mike [expletive] Piazza. Unreal. Get SD the helloutta Chicago.

Cubs win the next 2. The offense is showing a little life and they're due to beat SD some time. Maddux will get it done and Hill gets his first win on Sunday. The last 3 of 4 has been a rough stretch. Schmidt & Wright have given the Cubs a tough time for a while and Guzman went today.

they didn't copy boston's jamesball.

So bring him up for a start on the 17th?

I can't agree with this. What Williams did was take a team that rode their way to a World Series via the starting pitching, and give the team another dynamic that doesn't force the starting pitching to carry the team again this year. In other words, he took a team that was heavily pitching oriented, and gave them balance without weakening the pitching staff. For that, Williams definitely deserves credit. If you're looking at only 2006, sure. But Williams became GM in 2001, and the only pitching carryovers are Buehrle and Garland. Vazquez, Garcia, Contreras were all added to the team since then, and Buehrle and Garland have resigned. What GM can step right in and institute their philosophy of how a team should be put together and then make it happen within a year or two's time? I believe the going rate is approximately 5 to 6 years. If that's the case, Williams accomplished his mission within a normal time frame. DePodesta got fired within a years time in LA. He got horrible results from his first year. Sometimes it takes a huge turnover to mold a team into what you believe will be a winning team. Everyone slams on DePodesta being a horrible GM, but in reality, he just wasn't given the necessary time to prove whether he would be a good GM or not. Whoever takes over for Hendry once he's gone will have a mammoth undertaking if they they want to change the approach that Hendry took with building this team. Next year will be Hendry's 5th correct? World Series here we come! :D

how many runs has he given up?

That's very true, but it's more of a tremor than a big shakeup. This team needs about a 9 pointer on the Richter Scale. Hmmm, I think it's like pulling a major trade. Guzman has great stuff, but just isn't ready. Without Lee, the Cubs almost have no shot of winning when Guzman takes the mound cause the opposition probably gets 5-6 runs off him and the middle relief. Wood gives them the chance of winning 4-3 or 3-2. At least he can go 6, giving up only 2 runs, and hand it over to Eyre, Howry and Dempster.

put pierre on the cards, and he'd be hitting .350 now.

Don't forget Javier Vasquez, who's pitching like a monster. BTW, I am on record saying the Thome move was fantastic, my brother being the witness. I knew they got a steal with that one. I also said he was gonna hit 100 home runs, so we'll see how that pan outs. Good point about Vasquez. I'm pretty sure there was a Thome thread here when the deal went down and many poo pooed that move.

ESPN Insider mentioned Abreu. I think they try to get Jose Guillen. Cubs don't have anything they need.

after further thought, hendry has to admit error if he cans baker, so the cubs will really have to suck to get him canned. it's easier for him to deflect blame if they don't resign him after this year. since hendry's about as stubborn as baker, i don't think the firing will happen. some good news - a shake ups coming soon. Kerry Wood. Wood >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Guzman

rants

hope things go well and he's back on the 17th. can't afford another start by guzman/rusch

well, the offense showed up, but the pitching and defence didn't. the "big" move will be guzman getting sent down. another great game by aram btw.

you're awesome ramirez

Ok...how many runs did WE score in those games? I bet there's a lot of 0's and 1's.... Nope. Lots of 3's tho. 3 today and yesterday. 3 on sunday & monday. 1 on tuesday.

you see if he bunted the ball over at least we would have a man in scoring position. JK! baker's got burnt twice now. ;)

And perhaps the pitching coach has something to do with that. maybe. they seem to like to nibble the edges a lot.

dusty swallows his pride and doesn't bunt.

not many lineups would have won 5 of the last 6 games. the pitching's getting lit. 8 runs today. 9 runs yesterday. 6 runs on tuesday. 8 on monday. 6 last sunday.

prior's coming back?

travesty

zero. they'll wait til wood and lee are back.