CubfaninCA

When was the last time you where in Pittsburg? I was there last year for a few Cub games over the couse of a weekend. The city is alive and well. The downtown is thriving and they have new shopping and tourism attractions. IMO, the problem is that they haven't been good in a long time. If the Steelers can sell out Heinz field, the Pirates can sell out PNC. Why would I want to go to Pittsburgh? Yikes! So what, they threw a bunch of government money to bring alive downtown. So did Cincy. It still doesn't change the fact that they're both old economy cities. Both places should be one sport towns. Send the baseball franchises to the East or West Coast or to Chicago. So, in your point of view, all cities in Middle America with the exception of Chicago should be one sport cities. Get a clue! Depends on the city. As someone else pointed out, Pittsburgh is a football town. Hence it's very difficult for baseball to be competitive given that there's no salary cap. St. Louis can survive w/ baseball and football, cause it's a baseball town by far, and football has a salary cap.

Completely agree. If we don;t land Furcal we might be in a good amount of trouble. Quite possible, but there's still Pierre and Lofton out there, and they could always bring Walker back. Slim shot, but ya never know. There's still options after Furcal, but yes the Cubs will be limited.

I'd like to have Castillo, but have a feeling Hendry much prefers Soriano. Start building your Hendry's a moran strawmen fellas. :o

When was the last time you where in Pittsburg? I was there last year for a few Cub games over the couse of a weekend. The city is alive and well. The downtown is thriving and they have new shopping and tourism attractions. IMO, the problem is that they haven't been good in a long time. If the Steelers can sell out Heinz field, the Pirates can sell out PNC. Why would I want to go to Pittsburgh? Yikes! So what, they threw a bunch of government money to bring alive downtown. So did Cincy. It still doesn't change the fact that they're both old economy cities. Both places should be one sport towns. Send the baseball franchises to the East or West Coast or to Chicago. whatever. I just find it funny (not really) that you would bag on a place you know nothing about. The old economy you talk about was gone a long time ago. But to each his own I guess. Yes, it's gone and what has replaced it besides a bunch of government money??? I've taken quite a few economics classes and read often, I'm not just wingin it here.... They don't have much of a shot going against the big dogs, NY, Boston, SoCal, Chicago & Houston. The Cardinals survive on a rabid fan base, good management & tons of luck. For the most part, baseball's a rich man's game. They need a salary cap.

Where does Pittsburgh rank in revenue with the likes of Oakland, Minnesota, Cleveland and Florida? I have no idea, but I wager they are on the same side of the scale. Am guessing the same. Considering regional economics, I'm not expecting much from Cincy, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Milwaukee, for quite some time. Yes, they might have a good year from time to time, like Cleveland did last year, but those regions are continuning to decline economically. Either they need someone like Cuban or Billy Beane needs to clone himself or baseball needs a salary cap like the NFL. How do you explain the Minnesota Twins????????? They just nabbed the best 2nd in the NL. Notice I didn't lump them in w/ Pitt, Cleveland, Cincy.... I should have seperated them from Pittsburgh though. I think their payroll was in the high 50's, and Minny's a more innovative/thriving city than Pitt, Cincy, etc.

Where does Pittsburgh rank in revenue with the likes of Oakland, Minnesota, Cleveland and Florida? I have no idea, but I wager they are on the same side of the scale. Am guessing the same. Considering regional economics, I'm not expecting much from Cincy, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Milwaukee, for quite some time. Yes, they might have a good year from time to time, like Cleveland did last year, but those regions are continuning to decline economically. Either they need someone like Cuban or Billy Beane needs to clone himself or baseball needs a salary cap like the NFL. How do you explain the Minnesota Twins????????? They just nabbed the best 2nd in the NL. Notice I didn't lump them in w/ Pitt, Cleveland, Cincy.... I should have seperated Minny from Pittsburgh though. I think their payroll was in the high 50's, and Minny's a more innovative/thriving city than Pitt, Cincy, etc.

When was the last time you where in Pittsburg? I was there last year for a few Cub games over the couse of a weekend. The city is alive and well. The downtown is thriving and they have new shopping and tourism attractions. IMO, the problem is that they haven't been good in a long time. If the Steelers can sell out Heinz field, the Pirates can sell out PNC. Why would I want to go to Pittsburgh? Yikes! So what, they threw a bunch of government money to bring alive downtown. So did Cincy. It still doesn't change the fact that they're both old economy cities. Both places should be one sport towns. Send the baseball franchises to the East or West Coast or to Chicago.

Where does Pittsburgh rank in revenue with the likes of Oakland, Minnesota, Cleveland and Florida? I have no idea, but I wager they are on the same side of the scale. Am guessing the same. Considering regional economics, I'm not expecting much from Cincy, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Milwaukee, for quite some time. Yes, they might have a good year from time to time, like Cleveland did last year, but those regions are continuning to decline economically. Either they need someone like Cuban or Billy Beane needs to clone himself or baseball needs a salary cap like the NFL.

Isn't Pittsburgh actually on the upswing? Everything I heard about their young players, and what I saw from their young pitchers, leans toward the postion that the Pirates may have a shot a renewed respectability. With a productive farm system, good things can happen. Look no further than Milwaukee. I wouldn't consider Nomar washed up anyway. There is no arguing that his injuries over the last two years have made him a risky bet, but his bat is still potent. If he is resigned to the fact that SS is no longer in his future, at least on a full time basis, Nomar still can have tremendous value. I don't think washed up fits for either entitiy. Unless someone like Cuban buys Pittsburgh, I can't see them turning it around, as they just don't produce the revenue to be real competitive. That franchise just like the city seems to be going downhill. Garciaparra needs to go to the AL and DH. His body's a wreck.

Let them have him for 4 and 40. Of course, he'll probably win the Cy Young in St. Louis. That franchise has tons of luck.

Perfect fit. Washed up player & washed up organization.

There were a lot more teams in the horse race for Giles. Why should Hendry spend his time "driving up the market" when there's such a small chance of getting Giles? I see no reason to drive up the price just for the helluva it. Again you guys are creating strawmen...

I tried to edit the last two posts. Didn't realize my post made it earlier. Not trying to hurt anyone's feeling here.

So, the Cubs should have never even bothered looking at a free agent because of his desire to stay where he's at? How many stories have I read now that Furcal wants to stay in Atlanta because he's in love with Bobby Cox? Should Hendry have never even hinted that he was interested in Furcal, just the same way he never hinted he had any interest in Giles? I mean, both have made it known they would prefer to stay where their at. Giles really blew my doors off. I was pretty convinced he wouldn't come back to San Diego. With the way management treated him, Hoffman and Ramon Hernandez, I'm not sure why he would. Right now, I'm penciling San Diego in for 4th place next year even with the announcement that Giles is coming back. The Dodgers will be better. The Giants will be better. Arizona will be better. Take away a few of those game that they won in a row in the heart of summer, and this team is under .500 for the season. They have 15m rapped up in Woody Williams and Chan Ho Park for 2006. I'll readily admit that I was wrong in commenting that Giles would not be back in San Diego. But, I don't need you rubbing mine or anyone else's noses in it. If the Cubs were in negotiations to get him and he wouldn't come anyway, then I could live with it. The fact Hendry showed no interest whatsoever doesn't make you right at all. It just shows Hendry is so much more interested in a lead off hitter than a good heart of the order hitter, that he ignored the one player who would have given the Cubs the most improvement in offensive production. With guys like Bradley, Pierre, Wilkerson and Lugo available for potential lead off hitters, finding a lead off hitter was not going to be nearly as difficult as finding someone who could even remotely come close to Brian Giles production. "I told you so's" have nothing to do with "baseball discussion". Brag to your family if you must. You're WAY to sensitive man.

Gee not a surprise whatsoever that Giles remains in SoCal. So much for all the fussing and griping.

Gee not a surprise whatsoever that Giles stays in SoCal. All that fussing and ripping for nothing. :o

1) It's Southern California. Since it's the second biggest metropolis in the U.S., obviously lots of people like living there. 2) He's likes the Dodgers work w/ Dominican Republic players. Most free agents seem to be choosing either NY or SoCal nowadays. Just off the top my head: Giles, Vlad, Colon, Cabrera, Kent, Drew, Beltran, Pedro, Wagner, Sheffield..

Goodbye Jerome Williams. Haven't they had interest in Corey Patterson too?

This same notion about Pedro was thrown around last year. Nice job Theo!

LA's owner sucks. He doesn't want to spend money whereas Anaheim has offered Konerko 5 and 60.

Who they throwing 5 and 60 at?? The Cubs have never given a 5 year contract btw.

Am glad that Jim has put his time elsewhere. I am too as it looks as it looks this has gotten a little out of hand. I guess it pays to be the only impact OF out there in the free agent market. Perhaps Hendry learned his lesson w/ Ordonez. Should have figured something ridiculous would be offered to Giles considering the insane contract Ordonez got last year. I just figured NY would throw something outrageous at him. Still time I guess.

LA's not going to give up an asset for nothing in return. Am not a big Walker big, so decent deal. Wouldn't be surprised to see Soriano @ 2nd though.

Am glad that Jim has put his time elsewhere.

Toronto may have just saved Hendry from lots of verbal abuse. :) Shades of Magglio Ordonez.