UMFan83

Well some of the dates are value dates, some are prime, so I think it comes out to be just even.

It was like Mark Prior's second half of 2003, but better and for the entire season. Everytime Pedro pitched in 1999-2000, Boston was going to win or lose a very close game.

Sammy Sosa 2001: .328/.437/.737 203 OPS+ 64 HR 160 RBI 146 Runs, 116 BB Certainly not in the top 10, but definitely a season that compares with some of those seasons.

I just got 9 for the Bleachers 4/2 - Brewers @ Cubs 4/3 - Brewers @ Cubs 4/15- Reds @ Cubs 4/29 - Brewers @ Cubs 4/30 - Brewers @ Cubs 5/13 - Padres @ Cubs 6/20 - White Sox @ Cubs 6/24 - Orioles @ Cubs 7/8 - Reds @ Cubs

Got through to the ticket selection screen but it keeps saying high transaction volume.

North is a Sox fan so he probably doesn't even care about throwing hardball questions at him.

Thanks! I appreciate it, despite me being correct about him not saying anything substantial

Yeah I would do that but I'm at work and am going to be on a conference call in 7 minutes so no can do.

I read in the Roberts thread that Hendry is supposed to be on Mike North today (1/17) at 9AM CT. If true, can someone recap his appearance on here for those that can't listen? Thanks in advance! I know it will just be a bunch of non-answers and 57 uses of the word "obviously" but its still interesting to hear.

Cesar Izturis says "Me TOO!" Neifi finished 11th in ROY voting, does that count for anything? Of course it does 8-) Hypothetical: Would you rather have Kaz Matsui at second with his contract or Brian Roberts for Gallagher/Marshall/Cedeno? Obviously Roberts

Cesar Izturis says "Me TOO!" Neifi finished 11th in ROY voting, does that count for anything?

?? Your MLB source again? Does this source know how close the Cubs were to getting Roberts a week or two ago? Not close. They want more than utility guys. Utility guys? 2 potential rotation regulars and a potential starting SS. What the heck do they want? They have to trade for potential. They are rebuilding. I don't mind dipping into the upper echelon on our potential players as long as its not Soto, Pie, Hill or Marmol. Those 4 pieces we need on the 2008 Chicago Cubs.

?? Your MLB source again? Does this source know how close the Cubs were to getting Roberts a week or two ago?

Says? someone in MLB. That is all I can say. Does your source know if Jim Hendry is done laughing yet? Cripes we are trying to make our team better for next year. Other than expendable parts like Marquis, Dempster, Murton, Cedeno, we shouldnt be trading anyone on the projected 25 man.

The funniest thing about this poll is imagining what the results would look like last year. I'm guessing it would be like 50% - Bears 40% - Bulls 10% - Cubs

I'd love to hear the "Perfect World Projections" for each of the top 10 Actually, they do 11 this year...most of them are pretty lame, but here they are. Geo Vitters Veal Ceda Donaldson Gallagher Colvin Patterson Castillo Thomas Samardzjia Thanks so much!

Says?

I highly doubt it. Roberts would have been traded yesterday then. I don't think we get Roberts. I think this was sarcasm, playing off the speculation that the trade was delayed so as not to steal Goose's thunder last week. And if so - well played, UMFan. 'Twas indeed.

Hey I didn't put a timetable on the title...it could happen in 2195!

I'd love to hear the "Perfect World Projections" for each of the top 10

So if he's a pretty good option for a 5th starter, what is Marquis? The whole basis for people supporting him seems to have been, "he's okay for a 5th starter". So I guess now we have two? I get what you're saying and don't necessarily disagree, but I don't care to see both Lieber and Marquis in the same rotation. Lieber's actually fine for a 4th starter. A good 4th starter is league average, and a lower end 4th starter is a little below league average. That's Lieber, and he's consistently there. Projecting him for a 4.75 ERA or so would put him as an average 4th starter. Marquis jumps around. Last year he was a #3 starter. He's had years where he shouldn't have been in a rotation at all. It's hard to project what Marquis is because of his huge inconsistency. Lieber and Marquis as the #4 and #5 will likely outproduce most of the #4's and #5's around the National League, unless 1 of 2 things happen: 1) Marquis absolutely collapses (another season above 5.50 ERA) 2) Lieber gets hurt, only pitches 70 innings again, and his replacement from the minors is awful. If #2 happens, then it would have happened anyway because the alternative is that replacement from the minors getting all 200 innings. We just have to hope #1 doesn't happen. As I said in another thread, the Cubs were #2 in the NL in their starting rotation last year. Their #5 spot had a combined 5.10 ERA (Miller, Guzman, Marshall, and Trachsel). Z is not likely to drop off much more and might improve back to numbers of a previous year. Lilly will drop off. Hill will likely get a little better. Marquis might stay the same, might drop off a little bit, might drop off significantly. Lieber and anybody who replaces him will likely do better than a 5.10 ERA, so the #5 spot will be better than last year. That makes this rotation of Z, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, and Lieber almost as good as last year. The rotation will likely be top 5 in the NL once again. I think the problem that some posters have with Lieber and the likes is that Cubs fans were spoiled with Zambrano, Wood, Prior, Clement, Maddux (or at least the concept of them all being healthy and pitching to potential) and expect every pitcher in the rotation to have a sub-4.00 ERA. Reality is, this is not the case. Obviously, I'd love for us to have this happen, but if we are projecting an above average offense with Fukudome and possibly Roberts, we might have to deal with an average to slightly above average rotation. Combined with a very good bullpen and a good bench, thats a NL Central winning ballclub most likely.

Aside from the "I'm in favor of signing Lieber", this post is right on the money. Unless the cubs didn't believe Prior could pitch in the majors in 08. And if so, they wouldn't have been the only team that thought that way from what I read.

Aside from the "I'm in favor of signing Lieber", this post is right on the money. So you'd rather have Prior sign for the same amount so that he can rehab until August, give us 2 months at most of pitching (for the first time in over 2 years mind you) and then let him go for nothing?

Why? Why is it so upsetting to everyone to get 100 innings of league average production from the 5 spot as opposed to 200 innings of below average production? seriously? where are the other 100 innings that lieber can't go coming from? also, i don't think it's written in stone that a fat, oft-injured, 38 year old lieber is league average. Gallagher? Marshall? Hart?