dalgreen

Murton has excellent discipline at the plate and great bat control. He lacks the power a lot of teams desire for a corner outfielder, though. Just to add, in his prime you can probably expect a 25ish homer a year hitter. Nothing more than a hunch, but I think Murton is getting short changed on the power. He is 6'1", 215 right now. From what I have seen, I honestly believe his stroke and his build can lend itself to quite a bit more power. I'm not a big fan of guys like Ryan Harvey. Sure, he puts on shows during HR Derbys and he has projectable size, but I'd rather have a guy with nice swing first, and let the power develop. Rafael Palmeiro comes to mind. I know its mostly a hunch, but I think the kid has the potential for +30 HR power. I agree with you, JC. But to umpunk's point, I agree with him. Murton had a great game, but looking at it objectively and not looking through the "I love kids" glasses that many seem to do, he showed me that he's able to hit ML fastballs. Now I want to see him hit ML breaking pitches. I think too many fans forget that prospects are brought up with their team already suspecting they can hit fastballs, but it's the breaking pitches that will make or break you.

I don't think I would have a problem with that. Once the Jaxx season is over if they wanted to call him up to be a pinch runner and get the occasional spot start, it could be good for him. I really hope they let him finish his season at West Tenn. though. The Jaxx have games schduled through the first week of September. I don't know what their playoff picture looks like, or what that schedule is. However, I think the Atlanta series has left a significant mark on the Cubs with respect to not being afraid to bring up young players. I suppose we will see whether that mark was written in indelible or disappearing ink after the break. This is usually the time I reiterate, I do not want to see Felix Pie in a Chicago Cub uniform until September 2006. Having said that, at least Hendry, unlike Baker, seems to be willing to make corrections to initial mistakes. Too bad it took this long to bring up young position players instead of poor re-treads.

Why do you believe his stock could've been higher? He was coming off of three straight years of declining numbers in hrs, OBP, avg, rbi's and total bases. I think slugging pct, too, but I'm not sure. I am sure of the other categories, though. I don't know what team would've overpaid an aging guy with those numbers. I suppose Sosa's value might have been higher if more teams wanted him. I doubt they could have gotten much more for him. However, had they gotten Cliff Floyd it might have made a substantial difference in the standings. His hot start coupled with Lee's could have been big. But we have no way of knowing if the Mets-or anyone else- were even interested. I also reject the idea that the bad pub hurt his value. The Cubs publicly were shopping him because of clubhouse issues. That had to be better than trading him because he's no good anymore. Sosa having something to prove was enough to convince many people that he'd rebound. He still might put together a decent season. I was one that was very interested in getting Floyd. I was only concerned with his knees, though. But the pub surrounding Sosa didn't have as much to do with lowering his value as much as his offensive stats declining over the past three years.

Why do you believe his stock could've been higher? He was coming off of three straight years of declining numbers in hrs, OBP, avg, rbi's and total bases. I think slugging pct, too, but I'm not sure. I am sure of the other categories, though. I don't know what team would've overpaid an aging guy with those numbers.

Let me begin with my usual statement: Managers get too much credit and too much blame. Dusty has many, many faults (as do other managers), but to be fair to him, after the 2003 season he said that they would work with Ramirez's defense and he will get better. I think Ramirez has gotten a lot better defensively. Prior to the 2005 campaign, he said he wanted Lee to start off hot (and Lee has said this) and he gave him more at-bats during spring training and he's having an unbelievable year. But they both had talent before Dusty got to them.

I'm a Cub fan but I don't understand the vehement disagreement with Pujols. It's not like people are saying Jose Guillen or Brian Giles should get it. There's still way too much time left in the season to get worked up over it and there's no such tangible thing as a first half MVP award. Pujols is having an outstanding year, it's just that Lee is having a monster year. I'd vote for Lee, but don't have a problem with Pujols winning it. Remember, we can still make the playoffs rendering the "he was on a playoff team" argument moot.

Which goes back to what I said that out of all the problems we had, it was the players not producing that was the biggest.

I didn't like the Burnitz deal and I neither cried nor jumped for joy with the Sosa trade. But with Sosa's numbers, I honestly would rather pay his salary and not have him on the team than pay him and have had him DL'ed, booed by the fans, and not being productive. I know last year, he was the only ML player to have a three year drop off in HR, RBI, AVG, OBP and total bases. I wonder if he'll be the only one to have that in four straight years?

I always thought this year Rusch was living on borrowed time. How a guy with his WHIP was still being an effective starter was beyond me. But it has caught up with him over the past month. I hate that we have 12 pitchers, especially since it looks as if Wood and Prior are really healthy, and we have at least three of our five starters able to get us deep into games. Although Rusch's numbers aren't great, I would think he would be an attractive option for other teams.

It all goes back to what I said a week ago. Which is the real team? The one that has two losing streaks of seven this year or the one with the seven game win streak and now a three game win streak? Hairston and Walker have to remain at the 1-2 spots, and Dusty can no longer "experiment" with anything. But I still say, it's important for the whole lineup to have OBP and not just the 1-2 hitters only. If you notice, this series, the whole lineup got on base at a much better clip. The Cubs are still contenders. Honestly, every team in the wild-card hunt can say if this and if that. There's not one team that I see that is just head and shoulders above everyone else. We need to take care of business against the Pirates. If we do that, we gain ground on either the Cards or the Astros, who play each other next weekend.

I would be curious in knowing how many of the people who criticize the organization for rushing Corey are the same people wanting to see Pie brought up. I personally, don't want to see him in Chicago until September of 2006, with the intent on him starting in 2007. I too think Corey's struggles are his fault and the organization's. Then, again, if Gary Matthews, Jr. had been able to hit, the Cubs wouldn't have felt a need to rush Corey. Yes, I'm stretching it with that one.

Spare us, please. That was an amazing play he made. But please don't pretend that he doesn't ever just create plays, either. At least this time he ran straight back, and in unusual for, outstretched his glove. It was a great play - and a legit one. What was amazing to me was that he didn't roll on the ground in agony then jump up as if everything's alright. But it was a great play.

That would be my guess. People read far too much into things sometimes. I didn't read too much into this. I was just stating that LaRussa and Duncan were showing us a level of respect not usually seen toward a team 12 1/2 games out and in third place. By the time we play the Cards in late July we could be 12, 15 or 18 games out. Or we could be 6 or 7 games out. Regardless, you don't see teams change the rotation for a team they won't see for three weeks and who are currently in third place. As I said, I thank them for the respect.

I apologize for being selfish, but I wouldn't mind a rainout tonight. Thanks to the geniuses at MLB and FOX, those of us outside of the Marlins broadcast area and Chicago Comcast, won't be able to watch the game since it starts at 6:05 ET instead of 7:05 ET. Stupid league rules!!!

That's silly. Placing responsibility on million dollar athletes instead of just the coaches? Come on. [-(

you could just stop reading baker quote threads Brilliant come back.

I think the two are similiar in a lot of ways than what people want to believe. If Hendry really had intentions of Dubois playing everyday vs. just platooning he wouldn't have signed Hollandsworth and Burnitz. If he really wanted Cedeno to be on the team, he wouldn't have signed Macias and Perez. Now you can say that Hendry, unlike Baker, is more willing to correct initial mistakes, but I don't think they are total opposites when it comes to player development. I really doubt Hendry envisioned Dubois starting only vs. lefties, as Dusty did. Hendry touted Dubois as a potential Rookie of the Year, which would be an impossible goal for a rookie who doesn't face righties. First, let me know if you're on the Hendry can do no wrong and Baker can do no right train, so at least then I'll know what I'm dealing with. My claim is based on 1) Hendry and Baker promising Hollandsworth more playing time... that's why Holla signed. There was a huge thread on that dumb decision back in December. 2)What in the world is the purpose of signing Burnitz then? If they already promised Hollandsworth more playing time, than he could've easily not signed Burnitz and had Holla in right and Dubois in left. Why the need for two left hitting corner outfielders if you really want a right handed everyday corner outfielder?

wrong. cedeno is on the big league club because he was hitting .370 in iowa. based on what he did last year, he wouldn't have merited being called up to chicago. neifi and macias had to be signed a *little* before this year started. I understand that. My point was if he thought (and I know Cedeno had a not so stellar season last year) Cedeno could help this club, he perhaps wouldn't made it easier for him to make this team. If you look at the number of middle infielders we had prior to Nomar's injury, Cedeno wouldn't have been a bad selection as a 25th man, instead of shelling nearly $2 million out to Perez and Macias.

You know, perhaps some should just stop reading Baker quotes altogether. You haven't gotten accustomed to his quotes, yet? How long will it take to realize he says bs to reporters just to show has has his players' backs? He's not going to say what I want him to say, "Neifi is unlucky because he doesn't have the talent to be a good offensive player." And, no, Dusty, you're wrong, most of Perez's contact are either weak pop ups/outs or ground balls. I think it would be less stressful if those who read Baker's quotes and get upset (knowing he's going to make you upset) because they take them too seriously would just stop reading them.

I think the two are similiar in a lot of ways than what people want to believe. If Hendry really had intentions of Dubois playing everyday vs. just platooning he wouldn't have signed Hollandsworth and Burnitz. If he really wanted Cedeno to be on the team, he wouldn't have signed Macias and Perez. Now you can say that Hendry, unlike Baker, is more willing to correct initial mistakes, but I don't think they are total opposites when it comes to player development.

I don't know how some of you are going to make it through the rest of the season because Dusty is not getting fired. He might resign, but he's not going to get fired. Too bad Tampa Bay is at home this weekend. Looking at the forecast for the weekend and there may be at least two rainouts.

It's important that Murton and Greenberg start when they come up. Dusty has a tendency to give the young guys an AB or two in a PH role when they are first called up and then let them sit a couple days before giving them a rare start. That's just a terrible way to debut a youngster in the majors in my opinion. Look no further than how Cox handled Francouer last night. He looked very nervous in his first couple AB's in front of the friends and family. Getting those AB's out of the way set up his blast in the 8th. There is no way in the world he comes off the bench in that spot and does anything similar. Now, he has Francouer's confidence elevated and if there were any doubts in his head that he could not handle ML pitching; they are eliminated. Bobby Cox does this with all the young players. They start a game or two as soon as they arrive to the club. Then, Cox decides how to best incorporate those young players over the long haul. He did the same thing with Nick Green and Charles Thomas last season. The same goes this season for McCann, Langerhans, Johnson, and now Francouer. I have utmost confidence in Dusty that he will handle Murton and Greenberg in the worst possible way. I agree with almost everything you have stated. One thing is Francouer's homer had little to do with his previous at-bats, it had to do with Rusch throwing him multiple fastballs all at only around 90 mph. Rookies can hit fastballs. Anyway, I would love to see the new kids play.

Anybody know the chances of this game being played tonight? I don't remember if I heard the outer bands of the hurricane will hit the keys and South Florida tonight or tomorrow.

We must still be in the race for the division title. In the STL Post-Dispatch it's reported that LaRussa and Duncan have already tweaked the rotation so that Morris and Carpenter will have to face the Cubs when they meet in late July. They must still feel as if we're alive if they're changing the rotation for a late July series vs. a series right after the All-Star break. I appreciate the respect.

And jealousy rears it's ugly head. Jealousy nothing. It's called calling it like it is. I had no problem calling out Sosa when he would dive for no reason on many balls. Or do you really believe all his dives are necessary even when his arm is bent and not outstreched? Look, I gave him props on the over the wall catches and some of the few necessary diving catches, but more often than not he's just being an entertainer. He's just giving some gullible fans what they want. But his dives are really only needed sometimes because he has only average speed for a CF and plays shallow.