CubsInNC

And this is why we should know who is cheating and who isn't. If I were a GM I'd hire Jim Rockford for 200 bucks a day plus expenses and get the dirt on who's cheating and who ain't. Roberts indicated just before that season that he had had corrective eye surgery, as well as, was wearing the contacts that enhanced the color red, so he was able to pick up the pitch almost as soon as it started moving. He followed up that great year with a .757, and an .809, so to me that doesn't explain it very well.

Because it's illegal. Kinda like why you'd get suspended for running a dog fighting ring or illegal possession of firearms. If you don't like the law, you can fight it. But it's still illegal. Yeah, it's a much bigger issue than sports. And yes, company costs DO play a role. Anyone who could be a health insurance liability is a potential target. Alcoholism is a protected sacrament in this country, mainly because alcohol is legal. And I think its time will come. Obesity is the target next on the horizon. Illegal activities at work should be dealt with harshly, I agree. I don't think the issue is just productivity and fewer accidents. Although, if the threat of testing and dismissal is present, I'd bet that an employee is less likely to partake in an activity that could have lingering effects that diminish their capacity to produce. If an employee on a business trip, at a convention, etc, etc, does something illegal, and gets caught, that reflects on the company. Regardless of the employees "on the clock status." If an employee goes straight from work to the bar, gets drunk, and crashes and kills someone, that too, is a reflection on the company. Whether it's fair or not, media spin and public perception make it so. What a person does in their own time is their own business, yes. But those activities aren't guaranteed to not cross the doorstep at 8AM when their shift starts, or never interrupt their business day. Also, there's a study from UofTex (here) that indicates (in a small sample size) that there's a significant chance of use of other illegal drugs (greater than 40%) for those who use marijuana, and in their study that illegal drug use without marijuana use was much smaller (warning really, really, really small sample). The validity of that data can be argued, but it's data that confirms the hypothesis. It's going to take a lot of data indicating any other result, to change the minds of most.

I agree with the above for the most part, but I think that it's a real shame to see someone run out of a league for something as innocuous as pot. Ricky Williams can't play in the NFL ever again, but Leonard Little is making millions. Go figure. Drinking and driving is against the law, as is vehicular manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and murder. Leonard Little bought/famed/what have you his way out of more serious charges that he, and many, many others SHOULD face for their actions. The NFL and the local prosecutor both should have taken a tougher stand, and had that happened in 2005 or later, he likely would have been out of the NFL for at least a year, instead of the 8 games he got (tougher than Williams' first pot failure). Possibly looking at Vick-like indefinite suspension. Which, IMO, isn't out of line. Williams was fined and suspended 4 games for his first NFL punished infraction with marijuana (his second failed test). He tested positive 2 (or 3 depending on source) times before retiring the first time. After unretiring the next year and serving his suspension, he failed a test/skipped a mandatory test, that offseason. His 4th failed test. Fourth failed test meant a 1 year suspension. He'd be 30 when he was available again, and one would hope he attempted to maintain his body and stamina. In May of this year, he failed again, while he was supposedly "clean." His 5th failure, they recommended he never be allowed back. Yet, he's been reinstated and will be eligible to play week 12. That's a pretty lenient policy for a banned substance if you ask me.

I'm not trying to say that he is or will be, but the color in this cubbie kool-aid comes from Roosevelt Brown. Mixed success at low levels in the minors, and much greater success at AAA. Even a flash of brilliance in a short stint in the majors (albeit Rosie was older, and Ronnie has a higher ceiling). Rosie Brown, Gary Scott, Kevin Orie, et. al, ruined several generations of Cubs fans view of how our prospects might actually do in the bigs.

Probably wouldn't have affected your lead too much, but regardless the transaction is done. ;) First and Second Transactions: Drop Tex, add Holliday Drop Hall, add D. Wright Not like it matters.... :D

Down in the basement web programming, Fred's my only update source for the game. Keep up the great work!

Outright removing them from it requires waivers, and the potential to lose them to any team who wants to put them on their own 40-man roster. Putting them on the 60-day DL just opens up the spot.

Thanks for that, I think he said he'd have 7 or 8, IIRC, while bonds would have no more than 5.

Really? When did he make that prediction? Last night in their segment where each of them pulls a random unlikely event out of their you-know-what and says it for shock value. As they said last night, they were 0 for 3 on predictions the month before. I don't remember Kruk's prediction, but be assured it's about as likely as A-Rod borrowing 75 cents for a can of soda.

I'd guess Cherry is odd man out on the 25-man and Blanco is placed on the 60-day DL. Wouldn't hurt to do it to Guzman instead, as I'd guess both are done for the year with the big club. Also guessing that Murton is again odd man out when Ward is back.

Unfortunately the most likely explanation for his poor performance today was that he's Sean Marshall. Weak argument. How is what he said in any way wrong? Right now Marshall is a No. 5, No. 5's get lit up from time to time. He's young and he's not a guy that you expect to dominate every time he steps on the mound, he's the exact kind of pitcher that you would expect to give up a lot of runs every once in a while. #1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, spot starters, closers turned starters, starters turned closers, Mariano Rivera, K-Rod, etc, etc, etc get lit up from time to time. Yes, Marshall regressed to the norm, and that should have been expected sometime. But to say it's simply because he's Sean Marshall, is implying that he's Jason Marquis or something.

On the lead-out for that segment, he specifically even said 5 games up. I doubt it, but it would be nice to head into September in first place, let alone 5 games up.

Yeah, I deleted it as it was being discussed in the Murton thread... but link: http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/wigginton-likely-on-the-move/

Good. Murton is worth more than Ty, much more. Why would Tampa want Dan Wheeler? Are they in the playoff chase? The opposite is true too. Why does Houston want Wigginton? Keep him from the Cubs? I'm not sure Houston thinks they're out of this. Link

It looks to me like he's there to stay. But in a month and a half, he would be anyway. Makes limited sense. Soto's done well in in AAA as a repeater, and maybe a longer taste (even if he's not playing much) will do him some good getting to learn the staff, and the pitchers he will face in the majors. For all we know he's here to stay, so he has a better chance to be the opening day starter next year, by getting extra time to learn the staff. And, the Cubs must be convinced that when they DFA Hill to get him off the 25 (and 40 man), he'll either opt out, or someone will claim him.

that's no fun So you're against fun, huh? Oh gosh, now the terr-ists have won. Good goin Bob. :P

Absolutely not. He doesn't deserve it based on his season as a whole. Nor do I want him pitching in the exhibition and getting hurt or losing time he should have been resting up for our August collapse! I think based on the results, if no, vance should spend his time voting for Young or Webb, to ensure that Carlos doesn't get in.

Andrew Miller Alex Gordon Justin Verlander Price Fielder Jose Reyes

Second transaction: Drop M. Tejada, add Adrian Gonzalez

Dennis Dixon: Ranked as a tremendous baseball prospect as the outfielder was chosen in the 20th round of the 2003 Amateur Baseball Draft by Cincinnati.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

funny ball-shrinking, anti-steroids ad sponsored by MLB.... hypocritical, no?

We got a member on the 'roids and HGH. Time to start random urine testing. Line up fellas and ladies.