dalgreen

I would agree; however, you're not sent to an EAP just for being drunk at a bachelor party. I have a feeling there's more to it than just being drunk at a bachelor party.

Wait a minute..... didn't they build a new stadium so that payroll wouldn't have to be as big an issue as it was pre-new stadium? I apologize; I digress. I would re-sign Mulder, and as I said during last season, they should deal Marquis during the off-season. What a difference five years make. Five years ago, people thought the rotation for 2005-2007 would be anchored by Morris, Ankiel, Bud Smith and Chad Hutchinson.

I'm one of the few who viewed 2003 as the Astros losing the NL Central more than the Cubs winning it. The same thing goes in 2004 -- the Cubs losing the wild-card more than Houston winning it. I've said it before, but I think in certain aspects we might have been better off if Houston had won the division in 2003. Anyway, it makes no sense to let 5 outs more than two years ago dictate job evaluation. Hell, Dallas Green (the best GM in my lifetime) didn't let being 12 outs from a World Series in 1984 affect his decision to fire Jim Frey in 1986. By the way, hasn't MacPhail's "5-year plan" expired?

That's a good question, I'd feel more confident in ATL making that decision. Pie would've had better instructors during his ascent to the majors as well as having more confidence in their decision makers as far as him being ready compared to the Cubs making that same decision. Once he got to the majors, you have Bobby Cox compared to Baker, Cox dwarfs Baker as a manager and ATL has better instructors at the Major League level as well. Comparing the track record of the Cubs and Braves as far as position players, is a model of success vs. a model of futility as far as drafting and developing quality position players. Is it that you don't think much of Zisk + Joshua or do you just think that much of the Braves instructors? I always though UK loved Zisk. The cubs players seem to start to fade high in the minors - this is very troubling. I don't think it's solelyCubs coaching. Cedeno is doing very well at a young age. Choi has been with two other teams and hasn't improved much. Bobby Hill hasn't done much either. I have been pretty skeptical of any Cub position prospect for at least ten years now. I agree, I don't think it's solely organizational coaching (although I do place a great deal of blame on them), but I've always wondered if our scouts just aren't up to par as well.

That was the worst game I have seen Auggie play in a while. Augustine and Randle better show up in Iowa City on Saturday. I still don't see any improvement with Augustine's aggressiveness with the ball since his freshman year. Randle is probably our most gifted player but he seems to lose confidence quickly. As great of shape as Dee is in, his legs may be a little heavy come Saturday afternoon.

I'll continue to say if we score 65+ points every game, we might only lose one or two games this year. As an alum, I hate how many alumni get the choice seats particularly in the A section behind the benches. All they do is sit on their hands. They're the fans that are there just to be seen or so they can brag tomorrow at the water cooler how they were at the game. The way the Assembly Hall is made doesn't create for a true "home-court" advantage. The sound level never gets real high in that building. It was even worse several years ago before they added more floor seats opposite the benches.

I'll go off the board and say Brian Randle. That guy is probably the most gifted player we have and he's showing he's just not ready for big time basketball yet, even though he should be. I know he missed last year, but it's amazing how his easily his confidence can get shaken. I love Augustine, but once again he's decided not to show up for a big game.

Illinois lost the national championship game in the first half... I think they only shot like 27% in the first half. Their second half shooting improved as well as their defense in the second. To me, they were a streaky shooting team all last year.

I try not to do pre-season predictions especially in collegiate sports. But it does seem that there's always one player who comes out of nowhere to make the All-Big Ten team. I agree with the list of the obvious candidates, but someone off the radar like a Haluska could make it.

There is no doubting you are an "illiniguy." You should watch Reddick more, he isn't the same player he was as a freshman. He is very good at creating his own shot. I don't think he would have much of a problem "getting a shot off" on Dee. I guess time will tell, but the Illini have to get some quality wins before I believe they are a legit top 10 team. I think by the end of the year you will see that the UNC win at Chapel Hill could be classified as a quality win. I will say the same thing I said last year. We will go as far as our shooting takes us. Our defense again is so good that if we score 65+ points we shouldn't lose but two games at the most all season.

I'm probably one of the biggest U of I homers there are, but I'd take Williams over Augustine. I love James Augustine, but for crying out loud James will you quit being so darn unselfish? I hate when he gets the ball down low then immediately looks to kick it out instead of taking it to the basket like Williams does. I just hope he doesn't get into foul trouble during the Big Ten season. Yes, if Augustine played at Duke and Williams played at Illinois the hype machine would be Augustine and Williams would be the lesser known. Augustine is the better shooter, rebounding wise I call it even. I do think had Williams played for Illinois last year in the national championship game, he wouldn't have been in foul trouble like Augustine. But you're right part of the Williams mystique is because he's at Duke.

Thanks for the info.

Does MLB do the scheduling of games or have they hired a company to do it for them? I've looked at schedules of several teams and it just makes little sense, and it's made little sense to me for the last few years. Is it really necessary that the Cubs have three off days in the first week of the season? Is it really necessary for them to come off of the All-Star break then play a weekend series only to have the Monday after off? Seems to me the MLBPA would be scoffing at the number of 18-21 consecutive days they have to play partially due to poor scheduling. It's just hard for me to believe that inter-league games (which, to me, have run their course) and the unbalanced schedule are the root causes. I'm just curious who does the schedules.

I didn't realize that non-roster invitees automatically make the 25-man roster. I think this frustration could be directed in other areas. It will be a minor miracle if Grissom even gets through spring training healthy, let alone the 162 game season. I will be more upset come spring training if the 25-man roster is what it is now than Grissom coming to spring training.

I didn't feel like reading the entire thread, but I did read the first page. As a Cub fan, I'm glad we have both. If I were an opposing hitter or manager, I'd feel I have a better chance against Prior than Zambrano. However, that's like saying I'd have a better chance against Koufax than Satchel Paige. Sounds like fans are just talking about a coin-toss opinion. During the season even this board talks about Wood vs. Prior, Prior vs. Z and Z vs. Wood.

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again. I guess I've become more of a pessimist. Being hurt one year I can see, but two straight years to me and I start believing it's a trend. I could be wrong, but there's no way I'm taking any chances on believing he'll be healthy. Just as I no longer would take chances believing Wood and Prior will remain healthy. Am I wrong, but hasn't Nomar been on some kind of conditioning program the last three off-seasons? Yeah, but Aramis only missed about 10 games due to injury in 2004, and it was only the blowout that kept him out the last month and a half of 2005. Plus, it's muscular and not structural, like with Wood and Prior. It's easier to learn to stretch and be more flexible. Unlike 2004, ARam is our "rbi guy". In 2004, at least someone could argue, "Well you still have Sosa and Alou." This year, I don't know what to say since Lee would/should get pitched around every at-bat, especially if ARam is not hitting fourth or not in the lineup. I'm just going to have to see a full healthy year from ARam before I pencil him in for a full season. As I said going into the offseason, I wanted to see one more high OPS guy in the lineup in case ARam had to miss time. We haven't seen that yet.

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again. I guess I've become more of a pessimist. Being hurt one year I can see, but two straight years to me and I start believing it's a trend. I could be wrong, but there's no way I'm taking any chances on believing he'll be healthy. Just as I no longer would take chances believing Wood and Prior will remain healthy. Am I wrong, but hasn't Nomar been on some kind of conditioning program the last three off-seasons?

First, I'm glad I'm not living in St. Louis anymore. Second, when Busch Stadium II was built downtown was no longer a ghost town 365 days a year.... instead it became a ghost town only when the Cards were on the road. Third, the same "it will revitalize downtown" argument was made when the dome was built a little more than a decade ago. The dome has done nothing to revitalize downtown. Yes, they are trying, but the dome wasn't a significant reason why they are trying to revitalize downtown. The new stadium and "ballpark village" I don't think will significantly change downtown St. Louis. There's still no movie theatre complex in the city ---Union Station had one, closed it, reopened it, and closed it again. There is no mall, no significant shopping area downtown. I just find it interesting how the average price of a ticket has increased over last year's, with new revenues from the new stadium, new revenues from the radio station and so far the same payroll. I understand they're paying for the stadium, but a good chunk of it is being paid for through a loan from St. Louis County. I can understand why some fans would be pissed, but unlike the Cubs GM, the Cardinals GM seems to make smart personnel decisions even with less money than what other clubs are spending on players. Since this is a down year in terms of free agents, perhaps the Cardinals can get by this year without spending a lot of money.

Oh, by the way, yes, Baker would be dumb enough to hit Jones fourth.

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

Wow, I leave St. Louis and all hell breaks loose -- Mike Martz looks like he'll never coach in St. Louis again, the Blues look like they'll miss the playoffs for the first time since the early '70's and now this. Hagin wasn't too popular with the fans, at least the Cardinal fans I knew and from what I heard on talk radio. There were also rumors that he and Shannon didn't get along, and it seemed as if they were going overboard last season to show that they do get along.

Wherever Nomar plays, the Cubs better have a great second option available since I'm already assuming Nomar will miss at least forty games. If he does re-sign with the Cubs, I hope it's not for a high base salary. I'm looking at the bench now and wondering how much it would take to pick up Marlon Anderson and Eduardo Perez.

So you're saying all we have to do is acquire an entire new OF in a weak market. The Red Sox and Yankees seem to be doing just fine with terrible defense at their catcher position. White Sox survived with an awful defensive catcher who wasn't even that good on offense. You take good players no matter where their position is. It's not like Barrett is a Piazza back behind the plate, he's decent enough considering the great offense for a catcher that he brings. A run scored is worth just as much as a run prevented, and you don't take a huge downgrade on offense for less of an upgrade on defense. Especially considering how cheap Barrett is for his production. I never mentioned Barrett's defense, so I don't know why you brought up Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox. I will say it again, my priority is not to trade Barrett. My priority is getting more offense and if that, or part of that, can be achieved by trading Barrett then so be it.

So...who is this high OPS right fielder that will be on the market? Giles is going to get resigned by the Padres. I don't see anybody else out there. How do you know Giles will be re-signed by the Padres? I haven't heard that yet. I think you guys are getting too emotional with this discussion. I don't want to get rid of Barrett, but if it brings us more offense then yes I'd trade him. I just don't understand the love with Barrett as if he is an untouchable.

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.