CubfaninCA

I used "romanticist" after goony had used it a few times. It's an approved label. :) People need to lighten up. This isn't the Lifetime board.

You mean Hollandsworth, look at the game logs from early on, it was a one sided platoon. It was a stupid idea to have a 4th OF'er as a starting LF'er. It's not like he didn't play. DuBois got 142 at-bats. They tried working him in there and he didn't produce after April. People want to complain about prospects getting no shot. Yet when the prospects get a shot and fail they like to wash their hands and blame it on Dusty and Hendry. If there's blame, it's on Hendry's poor assessment of DuBois. Of course, many had the same poor assessment. Jesus Christ. Can you make a single point without incorporating some levle of poster bashing? Yes, you're correct, there are those who may have overvalued Dubois. Then again, there are legitimate arguments that Dubois was not handled properly. Not to mention myriad other aspects/issues/components of the Dubois situation. But, you like to skew issues into black and white arguments in support of your often weak positions. Every freaking post doesn't need to have a shot at other posters, either specifically or generally. Do you think you are perhaps being a little overly sensitive? #-o You complain about his statement that many had a poor assesment, and then make a statement like Pot meet kettle. Not even remotely germane to what I referenced in my post. So, the over used and unclever "pot meet kettle" remark isn't applicable. Further, oversensitivity is not an issue because many times, my beliefs don't apply to his remarks. However, I fail to see why anyone needs to repeatedly point fingers at other posters. You can make your point without doing so. If you make it part of your common posting habits, it demonstrates that you are more interested in pissing people off than simply supporting your position. Then why do you continue to try to make smart remarks? I was just pointing out the irony of your post. You may not agree with his remarks but to act like an immature 12 year old because he does not agree with you doesn't make any sense. In the post you refered to all he said was that many poster made a poor assessment, you have to be pretty sensitive to believe that is "poster-bashing" Apparently, sarcasm is ok. That doesn't piss people off.

Iirc the general consensus was that the OF was a little weak, but the infield was quite strong. Lots depended on Nomar and Patterson. Unfortunately, both failed big time. No. Use the search button and you'll find lots of complaining about the outfield in the spring. I myself thought it totally sucked. The LF platoon was almost universally condemned. Whenever you have a straight L/R platoon the left-handed hitter is essentially the starter, and nobody but ZZthorn thought Hollandsworth was a legit everyday LF. Backing up glass-bodied Nomar with Neifi was also widely condemned, and many pointed out that Neifi would bat at the top of the order. Many were ticked about Burnitz and rightly so, but what were the options for rf given the budget?? Slim and none??

You mean Hollandsworth, look at the game logs from early on, it was a one sided platoon. It was a stupid idea to have a 4th OF'er as a starting LF'er. It's not like he didn't play. DuBois got 142 at-bats. They tried working him in there and he didn't produce after April. People want to complain about prospects getting no shot. Yet when the prospects get a shot and fail they like to wash their hands and blame it on Dusty and Hendry. If there's blame, it's on Hendry's poor assessment of DuBois. Of course, many had the same poor assessment. Jesus Christ. Can you make a single point without incorporating some levle of poster bashing? Yes, you're correct, there are those who may have overvalued Dubois. Then again, there are legitimate arguments that Dubois was not handled properly. Not to mention myriad other aspects/issues/components of the Dubois situation. But, you like to skew issues into black and white arguments in support of your often weak positions. Every freaking post doesn't need to have a shot at other posters, either specifically or generally. Truth hurts? What level of "bashing" was I incorporating? That was a pretty tame post.

Iirc the general consensus was that the OF was a little weak, but the infield was quite strong. Lots depended on Nomar and Patterson. Unfortunately, both failed big time.

You mean Hollandsworth, look at the game logs from early on, it was a one sided platoon. It was a stupid idea to have a 4th OF'er as a starting LF'er. It's not like he didn't play. DuBois got 142 at-bats. They tried working him in there and he didn't produce after April. People want to complain about prospects getting no shot. Yet when the prospects get a shot and fail they like to wash their hands and blame it on Dusty and Hendry. If there's blame, it's on Hendry's poor assessment of DuBois. Of course, many had the same poor assessment.

Ok so who should he have signed? Beltan? Lowe? Pavano? Let's face it, last offseason looked promising on paper, but most of them have been busts. And expensive busts at that. I'm d#$@ grateful we didn't get tied down to someone who can't hold their weight now. EDIT: I'm sure glad we got rid of Sosa somehow though. He would have been a nightmare in RF this year. Let Walker walk and sign Kent... Let Nomar walk and sign Eckstein. Deal off Sosa and sign Dye instead of Burnitz and the Cubs offence would have been quite good. Howevah, I'm sure most were thrilled w/ bringing back Walker and Nomar last offseason. Yet they want to nitpick once things don't pan and disregard that their boys (Walker & Nomar) were the big reasons for failure. It's funny that they want to bring both back too! Having the worst OF was probably a bigger reason. Also having a manager who doesnt play the best players nor can put a consistent lineup together didnt help anything. So Hendry was supposed to deal off Patterson and not give DuBois a shot?? I recall that many were content w/ giving DuBois a shot in LF, as part of a platoon. Unfortunately, DuBois & Holla flopped big time. Also, there weren't many options for RF. There was Drew, who they didn't have the money for and who only played 72 games. There was Sosa, who some on this board wanted back. There was Burnitz, who had a better season than Sosa. There was Dye, who was coming off a .793 ops season w/ Oakland. Contrary to nitpicking history, the pickings for RF were slim. Yeah, well that thinking is exactly we we had th worst OF. We let Alou walk. If Hendry was so set on moving Sosa and Alou he should of had a better game plan, but like I have stated before I dont think Hendry has/had much of a game plan. So giving DuBois a shot, and not spending money on Alou wasn't a plan?? Many would have disagreed w/ you back in March of 2005.

Ok so who should he have signed? Beltan? Lowe? Pavano? Let's face it, last offseason looked promising on paper, but most of them have been busts. And expensive busts at that. I'm d#$@ grateful we didn't get tied down to someone who can't hold their weight now. EDIT: I'm sure glad we got rid of Sosa somehow though. He would have been a nightmare in RF this year. Let Walker walk and sign Kent... Let Nomar walk and sign Eckstein. Deal off Sosa and sign Dye instead of Burnitz and the Cubs offence would have been quite good. Howevah, I'm sure most were thrilled w/ bringing back Walker and Nomar last offseason. Yet they want to nitpick once things don't pan and disregard that their boys (Walker & Nomar) were the big reasons for failure. It's funny that they want to bring both back too! Having the worst OF was probably a bigger reason. Also having a manager who doesnt play the best players nor can put a consistent lineup together didnt help anything. So Hendry was supposed to deal off Patterson and not give DuBois a shot?? I recall that many were content w/ giving DuBois a shot in LF, as part of a platoon. Unfortunately, DuBois & Holla flopped big time. Also, there weren't many options for RF. There was Drew, who they didn't have the money for and who only played 72 games. There was Sosa, who some on this board wanted back. There was Burnitz, who had a better season than Sosa. There was Dye, who was coming off a .793 ops season w/ Oakland. Contrary to nitpicking history, the pickings for RF were slim.

Ok so who should he have signed? Beltan? Lowe? Pavano? Let's face it, last offseason looked promising on paper, but most of them have been busts. And expensive busts at that. I'm d#$@ grateful we didn't get tied down to someone who can't hold their weight now. EDIT: I'm sure glad we got rid of Sosa somehow though. He would have been a nightmare in RF this year. Let Walker walk and sign Kent... Let Nomar walk and sign Eckstein. Deal off Sosa and sign Dye instead of Burnitz and the Cubs offence would have been quite good. Howevah, I'm sure most were thrilled w/ bringing back Walker and Nomar last offseason. Yet they want to nitpick once things don't pan and disregard that their boys (Walker & Nomar) were the big reasons for failure. It's funny that they want to bring both back too!

Becuase if you don't demonize Sosa and make it impossible for him to want to stay in Chicago then he never waives the guaranteed year for '06 and you're stuck with him. Hendry's hands were tied, but not becuase of the video, they were tied because of the huge option that became guaranteed if Sosa was traded. You think Sosa would voluntarily leave 19M on the table if he was still (somewhat) a fan favorite? Good point. The Cubs were just screwed w/ Sosa. I still can't fault them for doing that 4 year deal though.

So you don't want to see Williams and Hill traded for hitting?? Don't get your hopes up w/ this free agent market.

he tied his own hands with the sammy video drama. no sympathy here, not after watching a 100 million dollar team put up a sub-.500 record. walk on water? hendry is treading water right now. one more '05 performance and we take off the floaties. so he should have brought sosa back?? That was a lost cause any which way. Some people are quite fickle. Some of the people blasting Hendry are the same one's who were advocating signing Beltran last offseason. That wouldn't panned out either. If anyone was saying, sign Pedro, or sign Jermaine Dye or sign Eckstein, then they should be entitled to gripe. He's not saying that Sosa should have been brought back, he's saying why let it be known that Sosa was caught on video tape leaving the final game if you were planning on trading him. That really tied Hendry's hands because it pretty much meant that Sammy had to be traded. didn't the media catch him?

he tied his own hands with the sammy video drama. no sympathy here, not after watching a 100 million dollar team put up a sub-.500 record. walk on water? hendry is treading water right now. one more '05 performance and we take off the floaties. so he should have brought sosa back?? That was a lost cause any which way. Some people are quite fickle. Some of the people blasting Hendry are the same one's who were advocating signing Beltran last offseason. That wouldn't panned out either. If anyone was saying, sign Pedro, or sign Jermaine Dye or sign Eckstein, then they should be entitled to gripe.

dusty would try to make him into a leadoff hitter b/c he has speed. :oops: That's a concern, but I doubt Baker's going to waste 36 bombs and Sheffield like slugging % in the 1 or 2 spot.

I have to wonder something. Hendry should know by now that Rusch is at his best as a regular starter. However, this makes me curious... Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddux, Hill, Williams, and Rusch can all start next season. I'm thinking that guys such as Pinto and Nolasco will also be ready for the rotation if called upon during some point next season. Yet, there's only a 5 man rotation. I'm thinking this deal just made Rich Hill and Jerome Williams much more expendable... Are you saying what I think you're saying because if you are I might agree. If Hendry does that I want an impact bat and not Soriano. Soriano is exactly the player Hendry coverts: toolsy, power, fast. Those 30 SB's must look awfully tempting to the scout in him. I hope I'm wrong. 36 homers and a .500 slg from the 6 hole wouldn't look too bad.

The bottom line is that the Cubs need a 6th starter, and maybe Williams and Hill will be dealt for hitting.

Does TX want to dump Sori's contract?? Figured it would take at least Patterson & J. Williams. Probably more.

won't corey sit on the bench & pout?? wonder who Texas would give up for Patterson?? Not enough to justify trading him. No reason to sell low; we have nothing to gain by trading him. As for him pouting, where do you get that idea? He expressed disappointment but didn't cause any stir when sent down to AAA. And Corey has never shown anything to indicate that there's anything wrong with his attitude. I'm not sure where people get this idea that he's any sort of a problem in that department. i'd rather go w/ hairston as the bench guy. corey just seems to hang his head from time to time when things aren't working...

won't corey sit on the bench & pout?? wonder who Texas would give up for Patterson??

Yes, they know quite a bit more than mere fans. Probably more than most writers.

570 is the worse especially now that they have added MORE blowhards to the Hacksaw show and have added Mancow. Crazy station and all they talk about is Lakers and Dodgers. Unreal how insanely stupid they are to listen to. Lee Klein at night isn't that bad. One good show is the "Big Show" with Mason and Ireland on 710. They are fun to listen to and aren't pretenious. The only good show on 1090 is the Coach Katera show. The others are just a whine-a-thon about SD sports. You don't like the guys they have added to Hacksaw's show (I can't stand Hacksaw)? I love them - probably because I listened to Money on KROQ and Joe Grande on Power 106. And, most importantly, Money is a Chicago transplant and a diehard Bears, Bulls and Cubs fan. Hwhat? Hacksaw's a bleeping god. Money's alright. Grande's about as bad as Vic the Brick. I'm tired of infotainment radio.

It'll take much more than a tweak. The problems that have plagued this team, have plagued them for years and are not being exaggerated. The Cubs were 9th in runs scored this year. They were that low because of low OBP, and the low OBP was because they took few walks. It would take 1 or 2 bats to turn things around if those 1 or 2 were big impacts like Giles. But things will not be fixed with Furcal and a mediocre RF. They need impact out there. No matter what you do with the pitching staff, there's no way to guarantee a top 1 or 2 staff, with the fragile nature of that aspect of the game. You can't put all your emphasis on pitching and just think this offense will get fixed with tweaks. They've been tweaking it for 3 years and it just keeps getting worse. They were 23 runs out of 6th and 36 out of 5th. Replace Neifi/Patterson @ the top of the order w/ Furcal and replace Floyd w/ Burnitz, and they should be able to get into the top 6. Get some hits w/ runners on base for a change and they can be top 5. Weren't they near the bottom in hitting w/ RISP?? Burnitz needs to go!! There is no way to go out and acquire AVG with RISP. It's not something that carries over from year to year. They need to get production, plain and simple. It doesn't matter how far they were from being 5th or 6th, they weren't 5th or 6th. Year after year they fail to rank high in runs and it's always because they fail to recognize the importance of having their hitters work counts and take walks. Lack of OBP has been the problem and it has to be addressed. If Hendry simply "tweaks" this offense, he's committing malpractice. Well, if they move Burnitz out of the 4 or 5 hole, that has to help avg w/ risp, but I mostly agree that you can't go out and acquire avg w/ risp. However, if the law of averages balances out some the Cubs should be able to get some more runs across the plate. Furcal & Floyd would be huge improvements over what they got from the 1 and 4/5 hitters.

Since the Cubs aren't desperate for pitching like a few of the Northeast teams, he won't be on the radar for long. Boston, NY or Baltimore will overpay him.

It'll take much more than a tweak. The problems that have plagued this team, have plagued them for years and are not being exaggerated. The Cubs were 9th in runs scored this year. They were that low because of low OBP, and the low OBP was because they took few walks. It would take 1 or 2 bats to turn things around if those 1 or 2 were big impacts like Giles. But things will not be fixed with Furcal and a mediocre RF. They need impact out there. No matter what you do with the pitching staff, there's no way to guarantee a top 1 or 2 staff, with the fragile nature of that aspect of the game. You can't put all your emphasis on pitching and just think this offense will get fixed with tweaks. They've been tweaking it for 3 years and it just keeps getting worse. They were 23 runs out of 6th and 36 out of 5th. Replace Neifi/Patterson @ the top of the order w/ Furcal and replace Floyd w/ Burnitz, and they should be able to get into the top 6. Get some hits w/ runners on base for a change and they can be top 5. Weren't they near the bottom in hitting w/ RISP?? Burnitz needs to go!!

A few things... If healthy, Prior and Z are basically #1's and Zito and Wood are basically #2's. As for my statement about preferring a #1 pitching staff and a #5-6 offence, I was just emphasizing my preference. There's never guarantees w/ anything. As for getting a #2 or #3 pitcher, the options are slim just like getting a really good rf. Burnett & Millwood could be way overpriced. The Cubs could pull a deal for Livan Hernandez though.