UK1679666180

Pinilla never pinch hit with Blanco until the roster were expanded b/c they only had 2 catchers on the 25 man roster.

Nothing yet, but don't be surprised if it's delayed for another week.

oh yeah they did Yes, I can vouch for this. The Ramirez/Lofton trade was met with a lot of mixed emotions and the overall tone at the time was negative. The Lofton part of the trade excited me at the time. I sure don't remember any mixed emotions. It seems to me that everyone (including the writers) thought that the Cubs were the big winners in the deal. This is right. Everyone thought the Cubs got a good deal, but some were simultaneously upset at what had become of the 2B situation(Hill never getting a legitimate shot). No one thought "I can't believe we're giving up Bobby Hill for just Ramirez and Lofton". I remember when Kelton, Montanez, Hill, and Choi were the "Infield of the Future" I thought the trade itself was fine, the Cubs were getting someone undervalued with Ramirez who had shown prior success before an ankle injury led him to a bad year. Ramirez was still young, productive, and cheap for his production (even though that production isn't where it is now). My concern was in the potential shift of philosophy, going from a team trying to win for the next 5 years to a team trying to win it this year. This involves them trading prospects for spare parts like we seen in '98 and allocating more towards major league free agents rather than the draft and international FAs. Whether it was by accident or not due to the Cubs firing Leon Lee, the regression of the farm system had to with a lack of international free agents and bad draft picks rather than drafting top 10s as they did in '98, '00, '01, '03, and '07. I am encouraged by their recent involvement in the Pacific Rim. I didn't think they were complete enough on offense to really compete but it turns out that given the injuries to Wood and Prior that '03 was their best chance.

UK hasn't played well as of late and you already mentioned Fulmer. I hope this streaks, any record that dates back to the 80s is awful.

The Bears are bad, they're just not in top 5 pick overall bad.

They needed a game like this. At halftime, I would pull Orton if this keeps up.

Good to see them stopping the run and not giving STL as much time to throw the ball. Even though the Rams are bad, it is good to see.

I actualy the WR screen. You're 3 yards away, why put the WR in a spot to catch the ball 6 yards away from the 1st down.

Was that a stunt from the D-Line? Between that and seeing actually 'Wale actually in on a play, I am shocked.

You deserve a kick in the nuts.

KC would be getting screwed in that deal, but in general, I support the Cubs going after Dejesus as the CF'er. Of course, I'd still want them to go after Bradley as well, leaving 4 expensive OF'ers as well as Johnson being expensive for a bench guy for 3 spots and seeing what sticks for 162 games. It doesn't help that both Soriano and Bradley are injury prone and who knows what to expect from Fukudome as the Cubs would be making a mistake by having him as their starting RF'er next year, IMO.

This is a rough start to the year.

Peavy, no. Johnson, yes. They still have to address the RF, , bullpen, backup C, poss. the bench if they don't feel comfortable with Hoffpaiur.

His peripherals as a starter are bad, but his work against lefties and as a reliever have been solid.

Hendrickson based on value will be a better signing than Affeldt.

Pujols didn't deserve it in '05 (Lee deserved it, IMO), but he earned this one as well as getting robbed in the past.

I think Vasher has regressed this year, whether it be by design or himself, he does not jam WRs at the line and doesn't have the speed or the agility of top DBs to make up for it. The best asset with Vasher was his instincts and this scheme has taken that away from him.

But, both of those guys were released by the Bears and are doing better than the Bears highest paid and expected to be #1 WR. Even a declining Moose is doing better. I haven't seen anything from Orton that says it's his fault, to me, it's a combo of Turner, lack of talent from what they have now, and Angelo not providing any talent. None of the WRs are worth a lick, IMO, which is why I want to see Bennett. I don't know if they're doing better...but certainly just as good.... Hester is 26 for 318...they have a few more yards, but I get your point. I'm just saying that the problem isn't losing Gage and Wade. They aren't any great loss. The problem is a poor job replacing them. My point is they go onto other teams and do better than they did here and often better than the ones who replaced them, something isn't adding up here, which is why I'm mad that they are not Bennett more of a chance. Find out if he is crap, we already know that Booker, Lloyd, Davis, Hester, etc. are bad, if they were better we wouldn't have Olsen and Clark split out on every pass play.

Besides unable to field a winner, we can't even get the owner we want. This has been a miserable 2 months.

Agreed. I'd also look at WR early. Another rant... Is Earl Bennett worse than Davis, Booker, Hester, Lloyd, or the two TE they have lined up at WR? This WR group is awful and Bennett (a 3rd rd pick) can't see the field. Maybe one day Bennett will join the list of WRs that couldn't get reps with the Bears but are shining elsewhere. That list includes Justin Gage, Bobby Wade, and now Mark Bradley. Moose is right about Chicago being the place where WRs go to die. Gage and Wade have done better than any Bears WR and Berrian is on pace for well over 1200 yards. Both Hester and Rashied Davis have better DYAR than either Gage or Wade. That stat makes no sense to me, they have Hester almost equal with Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens despite the fact that both will likely end up with 20 or more catches, more yards, and similar TDs. You can't analyze based on opportunities b/c WRs often create their opportunties based on their ability to separate. And QB's miss open receivers or make bad throws (Grossman overthrowing a wide open Hester last week). But in any case, neither Wade or Gage are in the top 40 receivers in yardage. Gage has 21 rec for 376yds Wade has 38 rec for 399yds Rashied Davis has 29 for 369 Unless you think that Davis has been "shining", I'm not sure how you can claim that either Wade or Gage has been... But, both of those guys were released by the Bears and are doing better than the Bears highest paid and expected to be #1 WR. Even a declining Moose is doing better. I haven't seen anything from Orton that says it's his fault, to me, it's a combo of Turner, lack of talent from what they have now, and Angelo not providing any talent. None of the WRs are worth a lick, IMO, which is why I want to see Bennett.

Agreed. I'd also look at WR early. Another rant... Is Earl Bennett worse than Davis, Booker, Hester, Lloyd, or the two TE they have lined up at WR? This WR group is awful and Bennett (a 3rd rd pick) can't see the field. Maybe one day Bennett will join the list of WRs that couldn't get reps with the Bears but are shining elsewhere. That list includes Justin Gage, Bobby Wade, and now Mark Bradley. Moose is right about Chicago being the place where WRs go to die. Gage and Wade have done better than any Bears WR and Berrian is on pace for well over 1200 yards. Both Hester and Rashied Davis have better DYAR than either Gage or Wade. That stat makes no sense to me, they have Hester almost equal with Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens despite the fact that both will likely end up with 20 or more catches, more yards, and similar TDs. You can't analyze based on opportunities b/c WRs often create their opportunties based on their ability to separate.

Agreed. I'd also look at WR early. Another rant... Is Earl Bennett worse than Davis, Booker, Hester, Lloyd, or the two TE they have lined up at WR? This WR group is awful and Bennett (a 3rd rd pick) can't see the field. Maybe one day Bennett will join the list of WRs that couldn't get reps with the Bears but are shining elsewhere. That list includes Justin Gage, Bobby Wade, and now Mark Bradley. Moose is right about Chicago being the place where WRs go to die. Gage and Wade have done better than any Bears WR and Berrian is on pace for well over 1200 yards.

Right now, defensively the only ones I feel have done their jobs so far are Briggs and maybe Dvorcek, who played well early on but has fallen off recently. Tillman was playing great before he injured his shoulder and you might be able to say likewise with Vasher, but I thought he wasn't doing that well before the injury unlike Tillamn.

Agreed. I'd also look at WR early. Another rant... Is Earl Bennett worse than Davis, Booker, Hester, Lloyd, or the two TE they have lined up at WR? This WR group is awful and Bennett (a 3rd rd pick) can't see the field.

Good to see Harris man up after all his comments whining about the media and the fans as well as how he didn't choose to be here, he was drafted here even after signing that contract. Wait, he declined to speak to the media after his and the defense's miserable performance. What a punk bitch, even with the cap hit, I'm looking forward to when they drop his ass. He took the money and ran (well, if he could run he would).