UMFan83

ridiculous. Howry and Donaldson for Crisp? If Hendry does this I am going to blow a gasket

DLee and collisions are never good...are they ok? Edit: Eyre and DLee were involved the last time DLee collided with someone WTH?

He didn't really have heart surgery, he was secretly transforming himself into a lefthanded batter. Expect to see a series of these "heart surgeries" in the future so that Hendry can finish his master plan of an all lefty lineup.

I guess taking called strike 3's and check swing k's is part of the territory when you have an elite OBP guy. I wouldn't know because I'm a Cubs fan.

That's just their regurgitating of what was posted a couple pages back from Stark.

And Theriot for another starting SS after I kidnap him.

I really hate when people post info a day late, but I don't remember seeing this. If it has already been posted, ridicule me From SI.com's Jon Heyman yesterday

Bye bye Shingo, you certainly served your purpose

Todd Walker for Jose Ceda I am mostly kidding though because anyone can trade 10 Todd Walkers and you will maybe get 1 decent prospect like Ceda. It is looking like a nice move but it could have easily been David Crouthers. Hendry is a slightly below average GM who looks good based on his resources and the weakness of his division. Would we have nearly as good of a bullpen if we couldn't just throw millions at Howry and Eyre 2 offseasons ago? Would most teams have already cut their losses with Kerry Wood and allow him to rehab and convert to a reliever on another teams buck? Would most teams be able to 'fix' a dysfunctional team (built by the same GM) by throwing $136 million at the top FA hitter, and giving mildly outrageous sums to 2 starters? A good GM robs another team more than he is robbed in trades, and consistently can find value in places where other teams cannot (and are not willing to pay for). The DLee and Ramirez trades were fantastic and literally shaped the franchise for the next decade. The Cubs have certainly dealt with adversity during his tenure as well (Wood/Prior, Mueller blowing out his knee, etc). But the bottom line is trades for "veteran starting pitchers" for 2 decent prospects when our starting 5 was not a problem, and throwing all your eggs in a basket for a player who doesn't play a position of need, while other positions remain a problem are not signs of a competent GM.

You think? I figure Soto will produce more than Barrett/Kendall did last year. You gotta figure Pie/Fukudome will be more productive than Jones/Floyd were for us last year as well. This is definitely a better lineup than last year, IMO. In addition, you really would think at least 1, if not 2 or all 3 of Lee, Ramirez, Soriano will have better years than last year.

I agree with everything that has been said thus far but IMB, the Cubs clearly have the best line-up in the NL Central. Milwaukee is a close second. I'm almost positive he was kidding. There is just no way the Cubs are worse off than the Pirates. I don't agree the Cubs clearly have the best lineup in the Central. The Brewers up and down have more sure things in their lineup than the Cubs, and their 2 biggest thumpers (Fielder and Braun) are probably better than the Cubs biggest thumpers (some combo of Soriano, Ramirez, Lee). I think it goes 1. Cubs/Brewers (tie) 3. Reds 4. Astros 5. Cardinals 6. Pirates Sorry Jake

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.