UMFan83

That was such a tease when I saw that headline last night. What is the point of taking the time to write an article about a signing that the writer himself knows there is 0 chance in happening?

Why would he take a NL team when he can play OF and DH in the AL. The only disadvantage to Seattle is their lack of coverage by national media. I just meant because people tend to hit better in the NL. But good point about the DH, wasn't thinking about that.

That's a nice story, but if Griffey was smart he would have chosen the NL team. Oh well good for him, I'll look forward to seeing him play in Seattle next year.

It's the only way to win in the NBA. You need superstars. They could also trade their expiring contracts for a star as well. That said, 2009 would be pretty much the same as this season. Maybe a little better if Rose, T2, and Noah continue to improve. I have no problem waiting for 2010 if it means we get either Amare or Bosh and another good #3 option to go along with one of them and Rose. OK, I understand this. But last time we had a load of cash, every FA in the league said no to us and we wound up with nothing. So there's no guarantee. I hesitate to say any top FA is really going to want to play for Vinny. Everyone knows he's a joke so please tell me part of this plan is to get a real coach. Here's what I know. A couple days ago we were going to get Amare. Today, we wound up with nothing. An all-too-familiar position to be in with this franchise. At some point the big acquisition needs to be actually completed. Positioning is great n' all, but my confidence in this club to close the deal with a top player remains very, very low. This was the Bulls roster the last time they went shopping for FAs: Chris Antsey Ron Artest (lightly regarded rookie) Corey Benjamin Elton Brand (ROY - ok) Randy Brown Chris Carr Kornel David Hersey Hawkins Fred Hoiberg Michael Ruffin Dickey Simpkins Tell me what FA in their right mind would want to goto that team. Is Tim Duncan going to make that team anything? Now look at the players we will have under contract in 2010 Kirk Hinrich (if not traded) Luol Deng Tyrus Thomas (will be RFA but likely to be part of the team) John Salmons Derrick Rose Joakim Noah All 6 of those players are better than anyone on the 00-01 team except Brand. You have one probable superstar (Rose), a nice 3rd or 4th option (Deng), and several above average role players in place. That situation screams for a superstar low post player to jump in and start competing for the top of the Eastern Conference. And prospective FAs know that. As an added bonus, most NBA players absolutely LOVE to play with elite PGs like Derrick Rose. He makes players better and scoring statistics higher.

i agree. It sounds like there are as many Bulls fans there as Bucks fans.

So much for Project 3000?

I was hoping he'd be a fallback option in the offseason (as a FA) in case the second base situation sucks. Now, we've got a whole heck of a lot riding on Fontenot playing well. Of course, I wouldn't have been thrilled with paying Roberts $10 million a year over 4 years, either. Maybe that's a bad value in this market, but I don't think that's overpaid. He is a very very good player. In DeRosa's career year last year, Roberts outplayed him in several areas.

you think you'll get tickets below face value on the secondary market? or am i misreading your post? Yeah, its not impossible for that to happen at all. I mean White Sox/Cardinals game? Probably not, but a Wednesday night game against the Reds its very doable. If you're smart you can get good values anytime. Remember the Red Sox series in 2005? That series had so much hype, the secondary market was making a killing. I sold some tickets to the weekend games for almost triple face (I kept my friday tickets). My friend got to Wrigley 10 minutes before the Friday game, talked to the first scalper he saw, and talked him down to face value. He sat 3 rows in front of me.

4 years/$40 million. There goes one potential midseason trade target. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9235970/Sources:-Roberts,-O%27s-close-on-4-year,-$40M-deal

I'm getting one just for the novelty. I doubt I can afford to take off work to stand in line. If I somehow get a really good wristband position (like 2005), I'll definitely consider it but not likely. It's definitely fun to go down there if you get a decent wristband number. It's a festive atmosphere, everyone talking Cubs, wearing Cubs gear. Scalpers running around trying to offer you money for your tickets, etc. Unfortunately, this year it looks like it will be brutally cold on Friday morning, so it probably won't be as lively. The year I went, I believe it was in the low to mid 40's so it was much more bearable.

Anyone getting a wristband today? What games are you going to try for? As usual, Opening Day, White Sox and Cardinals weekend summer games will be the most difficult ones to buy. I bet the Indians games sell out quickly with DeRosa and Wood on the other side of the dugout. After that it will be any weekend game between Memorial Day and Labor Day, then the rest of the Cardinals games and any Brewers games. I'm kinda broke, I think I'll just be going for Opening Day and goto games randomly throughout the season without the benefit of tickets in advance like I had last year.

what does it matter? Because he wants people to visit his website to see the pictures.

Yeah I didn't want to post all the pictures because I believe the person who took them is protective of his content.

Thanks, this is a fun read. BTW, Cubsaz has more photos up....photos of Fontenot meeting Bradley, Aaron Miles, Chad Gaudin, Sean Marshall, Reed Johnson, etc. Here is your preview picture of Milton Bradley http://www.boysofspring.com/journal/game.jpg

Oil Can is a scab

Wow, I'm a moron, of course that game.

Yeah I can't remember one. I don't care, tying games in the 9th and winning them in extras is just as fun. I'll never forget the game against Atlanta when Edmonds hit the HR to tie it with 1 out in the 9th, only to win in the 11th Or the Soto game

WTF????!!?!?! http://blogs.suntimes.com/fullcourtpress/2009/02/bosh_to_bulls_in_threeway_trad.html

I doubt they'd make a run this year. There are still issues with defense and low post depth, Rose still being a rookie, and of course Vinny. But they'd set up the cornerstones. If they can get rid of Hinrich and Nocioni to clear up cap space, then we're in business. Oh and if they got Amare, I'd say its 75% likely they make the playoffs, with a 25% chance they gel slowly and can't get it going. But either way, there would be flashes. The Bulls still play Boston 3 more times this year, and for the first time since Garnett and Allen arrived, I'd think we have a shot at being competitive during some of those games.

Or that. But doesn't that screw over the team. If a team sets a budget, and the player you offer arby to doesn't accept or decline his arbitration, and the team hits their budget, and the player on March 20th decides to accept arbitration, he can really mess things us. I guess then the next argument would be "then don't offer him arbitration". This is true, but this would probably lead to more teams dealing their upcoming FAs the previous July in order to get something for a player they won't be able to afford to resign in the offseason.

The deadline should be like April 15th and then you lose Type A/B status. I realize that rule is in place so that teams don't make backdoor deals with players to sign later in the offseason when they lose their status, but obviously this is an extreme example that screws over a player for no reason. And no one is doing anything about it.

I could see Fox making the team out of camp if he hits well. Remember the Cubs still haven't signed a player to back up 1B and 3B. If they can't find one, I bet Fox is their contingency plan.

Good, I think he will be a hard worker on this team.

Cubsaz.com has updated their Spring Training Photos... A preview photo here (Kevin Gregg): http://www.boysofspring.com/journal/Gregg.jpg The rest can be found here: http://www.cubsaz.com/journal/journal.php

My dad is actually friends with Oil Can and plays in baseball tournaments around the Northeast with him. I called him when I saw this and he said he had been working out with Brooks Robinson (?) for some reason, but didn't realize he was going to try to come back. He hasn't talked to him in 3 weeks though so I guess it's legit.