Outshined_One

Eh, it all depends. I agree that the BoSox would not pull the trigger on a deal like that unless some one like Sheets was involved. However, right now the key to this offseason for Boston hinges on what the heck they are going to do with Manny Ramirez. I simply cannot see them retaining him for another season, especially given the fact that he's putting up gaudy numbers, is due a heck of a lot of money, and that it seems as if all sides have soured on one another. Yes, it could well be that they retain him, but that's unlikely. At the moment, it seems like the Mets are the most likely to end up with Manny, but things might change. If this happens, I predict he is traded for some package involving Lastings Milledge, Petit, and one of either Mike Cameron or Carlos Beltran. Adjust contracts accordingly or throw in some prospects on Boston's end if you don't think it's even. If that happens, that should address their need for a CF, but open up a hole in LF to go along with their hole in RF whenever they are facing a left handed pitcher. Geoff Jenkins doesn't particularly hit lefties well, so I think he could be ruled out of trade speculation here. Now, given that the White Sox managed to put a (s)crappy leadoff type of guy in left field for most of the season, I'm curious as to whether the Red Sox would be willing to do the same with Brady Clark in LF. They definitely would be upgrading hugely from a defensive standpoint, but I wonder if they would be able to absorb the hit or not with Clark in LF.

I'm impressed at the sheer lack of quality in umpiring in this year's playoffs. Then again, it's not like the players are overcoming those obstacles.

Alternatively, if they want to add a talented player who would cost them a decent amount of dough, they have the depth in terms of prospects to make a few trades if they so desire. The Brewers are kinda hard to predict now that they're no longer run by a bunch of cheapskates. Couple that with '05 first round draftee out of UMiami FL 3B Ryan Braun looking terrific in limited action down in the Sally League...yikes...

In other words, it'll be business as usual.

Ugh, Uno's outside of Chicago is absolutely terrible. There's one here in Madison and I refuse to go in there and waste my money on what I know will be a subpar attempt at a Chicago classic. It's odd considering that I don't mind Uno's and Due's in Chicago. They're not that bad. And also, people, people, Giordano's does not make deep dish pizza. They make stuffed pizza; there is a difference. Deep dish pizza just has the crust, cheese, and sauce topping it all. Stuffed pizza has a small layer of dough over the cheese, which is then covered with the sauce. Giordano's does not make good thin crust pizza (imo), but their stuffed pizza is a personal favorite. The outer layer of the crust is dry and occasionally burnt, but the inner part of the crust is always moist and delicious. If you want good deep dish, it's all about Lou Malnati's. I hate getting pepperoni pizza from anywhere except when it's homemade or when it's at Malnati's. Moist, cheesy, and really darn tasty. Crap, now I'm homesick for pizza.

Yep. Compare how often in the mainstream you hear about "1908" and "The Curse of the Billy Goat" as opposed to the Black Sox. Some people have tried to make it a curse, but it never exactly caught fire in the mainstream. If the White Sox win the WS, who's next on the list of teams with the longest drought without a title? Giants or Indians?

I don't buy it. Are you saying that the Tribune willingly says to themselves, "Gee, why should the Cubs be any good? We should spend ~$100m on a payroll that never wins a thing!" ...right. What pressure will this put on the Tribsters? The casual yuppie fans won't go out to the Cell en masse if the White Sox win the World Series. They don't care for baseball, they care for going out, getting drunk at the park, and then stumbling out to the neighborhood bars afterwards to get even more drunk. You can't exactly do that at the Cell, ya know? The dedicated and hardcore Cub fans won't jump on the White Sox bandwagon. I think Jim Hendry has come into each season having assembled the best possible team to compete for a playoff spot and the World Series in each year of his tenure with the Cubs, given payroll and player availability. Now, plenty of us question this particular conception of assembling a competitive team. But I don't think Hendry willingly holds back because of the lovable loser concept. It's bad business.

Some attainable players: LHP Jeremy Sowers OF Brad Snyder LHP Tony Sipp Sowers is a pinpoint control freak who could really benefit if he sees action this year and attaches himself at Maddux's hip. Not an overpowering guy, but definitely some one with a nice future ahead of him. Snyder is a lefthanded version of Murton, only with a bit more power from my understanding. Outstanding prospect from a maturity, instinct, and makeup standpoint. BA likens him to Fred Lynn and Paul O'Neill. Sipp is a deceptive lefty reliever with great movement on his fastball and slider. He's developing a changeup and could be a starter, but as a reliever he could make an immediate impact.

I'm unsure where I stand on Joe. He seemed to have a nose for the game back when he played and former catchers seem to do fairly well for themselves when they become managers. Tack that onto his involvement in the Chicago community and how fondly some Cubs fans remember him and you have a nice situation for a homecoming. But, at the same time, I don't know what to expect with him. Does he know what OBP is? How about managing a bullpen, is he any good at that? Would he be willing to surround himself with effective coaches who would be willing to coach? Would he be against playing rookies over established veterans? I'm 50/50 on whether or not I want him here.

So, anyone else still regretting the Cubs getting Novoa, Scott Moore, and Bo Flowers for Farnsy?

Speaking of The Score, does anyone have Maddux's numbers offhand in his past two seasons as a Yankee?

Nixon can't hit lefties worth a lick and needs to be platooned. Again, I will not at all be surprised if Manny is traded to the Mets for some package involving either Mike Cameron or Carlos Beltran along with some prospects (with Lastings Milledge at the top of Boston's wishlist).

Word is that Derek Jeter and A-Rod are both in good condition and are grateful for Nomar's help. :D

Someone may have more details, but I believe it surfaced after the draft that Tim had some arm troubles. He disclosed them prior to contract talks, and the result was a reduced bonus, but Tim could sleep soundly at night. Yes, I believe he actually gave money back, or countered a much higher offer with the 750K. He disclosed after he was drafted, the Padres had him take an MRI and offered him a lower contract to which he agreed. As I recall, it was a shoulder injury that curtailed his stuff a fair amount. He still turned into a decent prospect, but is nowhere near the level he was before that injury.

No offense, but i doubt that many Sox fans care about support from cubs fans. They have a little more to think about then support from cubs fans. I meant Ozzie & the Sox, not the fans. Although their fans aren't exactly shining examples of class and good sportsmanship, either.

I think the Cubs would have to offer much more than just that package. Sub in Jerome Williams for Rich Hill due to the park the Phillies play in, and then toss in Scott Moore & Felix Pie and you'd have a deal they might bite on.

Tim McCarver still has the Cardinals to root for.

Seriously, the Angels farm system is borderline unfair.

Angels >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Astros >> White Sox >>>> Cardinals If the Astros win it all, I won't have to deal with a ton of excessively annoying Astros fans since I know maybe one or two of them. I know more Cardinals and White Sox fans than a Cub fan can tolerate in life and can't stand the majority of them. Go Angels!

This coaching staff has killed my love for the Cubs.

Swank. Does it hoard as much memory as the previous version?

What do you think I'm going to be doing from 12 - 3? ;) Good man. 8) Thanks for all of your hard work Tim!

The irony is, this might not be a bad idea. Just have the bench coach be the motivator with the various coaches doing their things. If you have the computer set with complete statistics (including the psychotically crazy and complex ones) and have definitions set up regarding the way it goes about its operations (top OPS guy batting 3rd, best SLG guy batting 4th, etc) and you'd be good to go. Seriously, I don't see it as being a worse option than the majority of managers out there. Hire Deep Blue or something and see where it can take you.

Couldn't you have gotten things started at 12 PM CST instead of 3 PM? At least from 12-3 I'll have the Bears game to keep me occupied. :D

Izzy is in for the four out save. He's been shaky lately, so this should be fun. Well, one out down. Three to go.