UMFan83

It's funny because normally the majority of our posters are fiscally conservative about what the Cubs are spending for big names, but now a lot of people don't care...just sign a bunch of people and worry about the negatives later.

Don't forget some injury prone players we signed in the past like Moises Alou and Michael Barrett. Both remained pretty darn healthy during their runs with the Cubs. Not saying being a Cub magically keeps players healthy (OBVIOUSLY), but just because someone has been injured often in the past doesn't mean it will hold true in the future.

All those numbers does us no good if he can't stay healthy. Yet he has been 2 of the last 3 years. Honestly, I think Soriano would be like 4th or 5th on my list of players to acquire (through trade or FA).

Please tell me why we want Soriano over Drew. Not saying this is the consensus, but I would imagine from what the Cubs are saying Drew would be the backup option to Soriano. Soriano has had one season with an over .900 OPS (last year with .911, barely over). JD Drew has a CAREER .905 OPS. Sorano consistantly has below average OBP, and his OBP was only average last year in by far the best year of his career. I didn't see his OF skills much last year, I am told they were solid but flawed in some areas (to be expected). To me, doesn't seem anywhere near worth getting into a bidding war over.

And it sounds like your workin hard too! Fake Edit: I just got to work too :oops:

The funny this is....Frank has never made more then $10 million in a season before this contract.

Santo, Banks, Williams, Sandberg They've never left :lol:

Someone want to volunteer to send at least 5 faxes a day to that number that say only:

That doesn't sound like someone that's going to trade Izturis to me. Why tip his hand? If anything it can be construed as talking up Izzy for a potential trade.

Don't forget (if no one has pointed this out) that he would be moving to the NL from the AL....that should help his walk rates a bit, and his overall ERA

This is a baseball club, not a baseball team. We have to treat our members well. How is this going to affect Hank White's presidential bid in '08

Well one thing to consider is if a player has an unusually high BABIP for his career numbers. This will overvalue numbers on a year to year basis. For the case of DeRosa, I am under the impression that his BABIP was unusually high last year, leading to the thought that his will regress this year at least slightly.

Good for the DRays. I would rather see them contend then any other team in the AL. Of course they have a long freaking way to go

What did the Cubs bid for Matsu? Seems like more then I expected them to: Doing the math, that makes it 29.6 million that the Cubs reportedly offered...why they would go up to 30 mil I don't know, but honestly, I thought the Cubs would make a lowball 15-20 million offer

I agree completely about the difference between Boston and Chicago. I thought I overreact about the Cubs...those Red Sox fans get in screaming matches on the radio arguing about their team. It's no wonder that the last time the Red Sox won less then 66 games, it was 1962ish

He came across as really egotistical to me, but that could be because I twisted his words to seem that way. Overall though, honestly I think he's gonna end up being like Ernie Banks and Billy Williams as Cub ambassadors. I think once the Cubs and Sosa mend ways (and they will because Sosa is willing and actively campaigning...more then Gracie ever did), he will be that figurehead of the 90's Cubs....partly because Sosa loves the spotlight, and will realize that this is the best way to remain in it.

Notes are a little jumbled because he's hard to understand at some points, and its hard to pickup what is important in what he's saying. Departure from Chicago: -He misses the fans, they were there for him all the time -He thinks hes the greatest Cub of all time "If theres another one (better), I want ot shake his hand" -What I did in Chicago was try to make the people happy -If they don't want to forgive me thats fine, but thats what I did for Chicago -"If someone is going to be like me, I don't think so" -Found out his name was not on Hometown Heros list. Fans didn't vote for players on list. Fans would have voted for him if he was on the list -You have to take responsibility for leaving early. He didn't think it was going to cause trouble. But when it happened, and everything blew up, he realized how bad it was -He got permission from Dusty and Dusty said "Just fine" -Cubs made it worse and blew up the story -Time heals everything, just wnats the Cubs to let it go and mend the relationship -They have to blame somoene, and he was that person that they had to blame -They made a big deal out of a little thing, its over though and you have to move on. -Holds no hard feelings and wishes the Cubs well -Believes at that point it was time for him to leave Chicago and move on -Praises Lou Piniella, who knows how to get the best from his players, believes he will do a great job. -Gail Fischer calls Sosa a 'latin king' -Ozzie is a great manager, he is his 'boy' -Does not replace Sosa as the Latin King of Chicago because hes a manager not a player (what an ego) -Rooted for the White Sox to win the World Series, thought it was awesome, especially for Ozzie -If Sammy played for Ozzie, they'd be fighting every day (jokingly), Ozzie is not afriad to tell you the truth and knows how to deal with players -Regrets never having a world series ring, says it was very tough that he was so close in 2003, relives the moment a lot. Does not want to criticize anyone for what happened in 2003, but it still eats at him, really really really still kills him he emphasizes -Says his biggest regret in his career would be never winning the World Series....it goes on and on -No direct shots at Dusty, but pretty much hinted at it. Lou means the Cubs have a 'respectable manager now' and also said that the Sox didn't bring in minor league replacement for Manuel (supposed to be a jab at Bruce Kimm)

In case anyone was interested and can't get Comcast, I tried to recap it. So far not much interesting has been said. -Time away has been satisfying. No stress....can be relaxed. Feels that he needed that -Went to Vegas, SF, LA, Hawaii, Japan, Tawan, South Korea, Argentina, Europe, Brazil. Done a lot of traveling. A lot of fun. -BEing with family is the best part of his time off. For the first time he feels like a father because he can do those little things with the family,Feels blessed and has matured. Past: -Never was himself in Baltimore. Was hurt a lot, but his performance wasn't what was expected of him. -Having poor season made him feel like he needed a break from baseball. -Money wasn't issue for not taking Nats offer, he just felt like he needed a break. -Now feels great, feels like he hasn't missed anything. -Has a lot of come back to. Wants to come back for the fans. More coming up after the commercial

This team blows. Skiles refuses to try anything else on offense when this entire lineup on the floor couldn't score if you tripled the size of the basket. Sweetney? Khryapa? Thomas? Sef? No we have to stick with this entire crap team full of crap jump shooters. Oh wait thats the entire team, just stupid crap jump shooters. Good thing we got that great postup player in the offseason....oh wait we didn't we threw $15 million at some crappy offensive player who seems to have little effect on the interior defense right now. /rant

What an uninspiring game so far.

DePaul is awful. Just lost to Northwestern (no offense Jon) 45-36 (ok theres 31 seconds left but its over)

So we get 3 type ABs just from the usual rules, and then we get 1 more because we will lose Pierre? If thats the rule, why the hell did we trade Maddux and Walker away for nothing. We could have used their FA departures

Man I knew the Cardinals winning the WS was bad (besides the obvious) Now Hendry is trying to build an 83 win ballclub

ESPN said the actual bid was...................51.1 million dollars............................... Edit: Link http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2662193

Apparently they were really impressed with his HR robbing abilities