UMFan83

There's no way the Cubs have a top 5 lineup. The Cubs will be trotting out 2 rookies with upside and a black hole at SS. Top 5 in the NL possibly. I think the Mets and Phillies are clearly the cream of the crop, while the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers, Rockies and Braves fill in spots 3-7

Are you sure another NSBB reader wasn't playing a joke on you?

I think Crasnick's assessment is very fair. Time to put up or shut up Pie. However, due to the Cubs track record for developing prospects, I don't see the Cubs giving him more than 2 months to prove himself before they start looking at other options.

Or they are leaking information about Loretta because they'd rather have Gallagher, Marshall, Murton, filler.

I would think that the Cubs would have tried to groom him at another position already if they thought he could be of any value to the big league team. Still, with his numbers last year and in the spring, I think some major league team would bite on trying him out.

To get really optimistic for 2009: Z Hill Wood Lilly Gallagher What if Hill keeps getting better? We're going to trade Z, Hill, Wood and Lilly to the Orioles? I don't think BRob is going to want to go to the Cubs if thats going to happen.

Gammons still believes, even after he previously called that this would be done the weekend after the Bedard/Jones trade. Peter Gammons predictions are the kiss of death

Man another XBH for Pie...hurry up and get here Crisp

Is it just me or does Murton have a new stance this year?

I thought this was going to be about David Wells

I think chances are good Marmol is again the best reliever. He's the youngest and most talented of the group. At worst, I think he'll be a close 2nd to Howry, unless Wood completely dominates while staying healthy all year. Think about how many middle relievers, even closers consistantly put up numbers like Marmol did last year.

Crisp plays terrific defense, Pie plays terrific defense. Crisp can bat around .290, Pie hasn't really shown he can bat above .250. Crisp doesn't strike out as much as Pie, and can steal 25-30 bases. I think Crisp brings a lot more to this team than Pie. But I agree that Pie has a high ceiling, but he isn't certain to get to that ceiling. If Pie hits the same as he did last year, then he would be a big detriment to this team. Crisp can actually help this team a lot. Plus we would be giving up absolutely nothing for him. And who knows if he would even start for us. Maybe he would just play versus lefties. We wanted a centerfielder whom can bat righty, we were willing to give up Murton for someone like Marlon Byrd. Now we can get that CF and give up garbage. This would be an amazing move by Hendry. I like Pie and think he can be good, but I wouldnt mind this deal at all. I think that maybe Pie would be traded though if we got Crisp. Why are you assuming that Pie hits like he did last year? The kid just turned 23! It's like not hes 25 or 26. He is 23. At some point you need to take a gamble and play a prospect. Pie has been given ample time to build up his abilities and mature into a baseball player. This isn't another Corey Patterson situation. Now it's time to play him or trade him, because his value will never be this high again unless he turns into a star. Blocking him with Crisp, who has already created enough of a disturbance in Boston that he is being shipped out rather than being a nice 4th OF, would be a horrible move for the Cubs present and future. If they start Pie and he doesn't pan out, the Cubs have several options to replace him. A) Start Fuld or Cedeno in CF B) Move Fukudome or Soriano to CF, start Murton C) Make an in season trade for Crisp or another OF D) Make the Roberts trade, move DeRosa to corner OF and Fukudome or Soriano to CF

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_rsoxjo09_03-09-08_059ACEH_v10.2f78416.html

I don't' get the reasoning for Crisp at all. Crisp's biggest attritube is his terrific defense. Pie's most developed skill right now is his defense in center field. With Crisp you know what your going to get on offense, a mediocre hitter most likely, a slightly above average hitter at best. With Pie, the ceiling is high. This move makes less sense than the Roberts move.

I'm not greatly against selling the naming rights, but personally, I will not give money to whatever company buys the rights.

3-6!

I guess there will be a few less 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties now that Garay is gone.

Man I wish we had a spot for Murton in our everyday lineup. If we traded for Roberts, we would have an IF and an OF who could start for many teams, but are on our bench.

I knew we'd at least try to blow it. I am actually kinda hoping we do, it would be hilarious for Lou to flip out over a spring game.

Which one of our Cobs is going to blow it today?

Lee says some things that can indirectly seem critical to Fukudome's signing in that article.

And exactly how many World Series' have the Mariners been in/won? The Mariners are one of the few teams that can't laugh at the Cubs misery, although they have of course only been around a fraction of the time.

All of those guys sent to minor league camp just need to wander across the complex to minor league camp. The guy optioned to Iowa has to go back to Iowa immediately and wait there until the rest of the team arrives from minor league camp in a couple of weeks. What's the point in that?

Mariners and Cubs pretty much throwing out their A lineups out there today. I think 7 of the 8 M's starters are in there, as well as 5 of the Cubs 8 (with 2/3, Soriano and DeRosa, hurt)

And the good thing is the division stayed exactly the same over the offseason.