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He took advantage of them trying to hit the ball out of the park, he knew they were going to do that w/runners on. They were overswinging w/runners on. They wouldn't be overswinging if they weren't pressing and struggling to score runs all series. They're an aggressive team to begin with, they took it to a different level in the playoffs.

It all depends which Renteria shows up, he's streaky from year to year. If he puts up a .330-.340 OBP hitting 2nd, the offense would be better off going with Murton 2nd and Renteria 6/7.

I'm not sure how one judges the softness of a team. Is it just every team that comes up short? The Cubs didn't do enough offensively because they aren't a good offensive team, haven't been for many years. This sounds like the whole Jeter and ARod in the postseason talk. Lots of guys on this team had a lot of really big pressure hits throughout the year. The problem is they just aren't that good. A team that swings at everything, and has always swung at everything, is going to look like they tried too hard. They were pressing, they were overswinging and it caught up to them. Struggling that 1st night against and then having to come from behind after Soto gives them a 2-0 lead. They're not a talented offense (avg.) but they're better than what we saw vs. Davis and especially Hernandez. They're approach changed, Soriano became even more aggressive during the playoffs, Lee, Ramirez and Derosa on the 3-1 fastball were overswinging.

I really didn't have too much of a problem with their approach, obviously, he didn't Soriano to swing at bouncing curves or roll over every outside FB to SS. He can't turn water into wine, you have a group of aggressive hitters, there will be a high amount of walks or OBP without hitting .280+ as a team. I don't blame Perry for a line-up that was way too tight. I said it in '04, that I think that team is soft, I think this team is as well. They were pressing the entire series, once they got down after game 1, especially struggling on offense, they tried to do too much.

They don't want another Steinbrenner.

It's an improvement, but having a typical year from Renteria isn't a big splash move. Especially, if he has a typical year and hits 2nd. If Murton played 130 games in RF, I think he would likely be as productive with a better chance for a higher OBP. Of course, that's coming from a corner OF'er rather than SS.

While I'm not a shareholder, I imagine that is done more by request rather than requirement. I've owned shares which that corp. was bought out by another and I never rec'd a detailed transaction record of potential bidders and various amounts offered.

MLB has to approve ownership from the other 29 owners, I forget what the req'd ratio of approval has to be. As far as why, MLB is still a private entity and it helps to have backings to get into the good ole boy network. I assume most teams/owners don't want someone with the personality or the willingness of someone like Cuban owning a team.

Isn't the big wild card in this the fact that the Trib is a publically owned company, and therefore the process of buying the asset has to be transparent? That's a good question as far as it being a publically owned company, I'm not sure if they have to list the amounts offered compared to who has offered.

Isn't there a confidentiality guideline as far as who was the highest bidder and so on. I don't see Cuban getting past the 29 other owners, despite it generating more publicity for the game and the improvement likely headed for the Cubs and their facilities.

M's.

They need to though, that's how they won in the 1st place by bringing up players from within rather than trying to buy every FA and hope it sticks.

Cashman had more to with that than Torre. Not surprised his job is on the line again though, if they get swept it would make it the 2nd year in a row they were outed in the first round. Steinbrenner has his hand in the cookie jar, too much. If they allocated more into scouting and player development rather than bloated contracts on declining players, they prob. would have some more rings this decade.

Jody Davis. If he hits like Wilkins did in '93, Soto can play defense like LeCroy behind the plate.

Sure it is, I don't see them having the resources to make any big splashes until they trade for someone like Renteria. Which I don't consider that big, unless you expect to contribute like he did last year compared to his career norms.

Agreed, we'll see what happens in Minnesota. I'm not too sure about their OF situation once Hunter leaves.

Some of that's luck and some of that is scouting and development, I highly doubt Wilken has changed anything in his approach as the Dir. of Scouting from his days with Toronto till now. The Cubs are competing against 29 other teams, I'm sure they had players slotted that were taken right before them, which is part of luck and chance. Of course, it might also show the Cubs are not as productive with the scouting and development as other teams. Wilken was very glowing about the scouting dept. of the Rays.

Are the Cubs content w/Hendry as their GM? I assume so, but for the increased payroll and only 85 wins to show for it & the disappointment of the previous 3 years and the avail. of Jocketty, it is a fair question to ask. Personally, I think Hendry's job is safe. 5th starter-Should the Cubs have an open competition for the #5? I think they will and should, Marshall while posting more than adequate numbers has never been able to last a full season as a starter. Obviously, you need durability and production combined to be a starter and he hasn't been able to show he can do both. I assume Hart and Gallagher will get their shot in ST to become a 5th starter. Prior is the darkhorse, though they should consider moving Marmol to the rotation I don't think they will. I think Hart will be the #5 next year. Will Theriot go into Mesa as their starting SS? I'm hoping they upgrade this position, we'll see how the finances play out, if they don't increase the payroll and can't upgrade the position, I assume he'll be starting and likely hitting 2nd or 8th. I would let Theriot and Cedeno battle for that spot and give a slight edge towards Cedeno given that his ceiling is higher than Theriot and Theriot is more suited as a utility player than Ronny. But like I said, if they don't upgrade SS, Theriot has the inside track as the starting SS next year. Will Dempster be the closer next year? He had his ups and downs, he was much better in save opportunities than non save chances. If needing to cut payroll to improve other areas has to happen, I can see him being traded depending on the market for a closer with avg. stuff. I think Marmol will go into next year as the closer with Howry as the set-up and the Cubs looking to explore trading Dempster. Will Wood be back? He loves playing in Chicago, he gave the Cubs a nice discounted contract, performed well down the stretch and once again will become a FA and likely can make more than last year which might tip the scales of him testing the market and a diff. team offering more. I think he is back next year once the Cubs trade Dempster. Will Soto start? This is the easiest of the off-season questions, there isn't a doubt in my mind he strts next year. I think Blanco will give it another go next year prompting the Cubs to go with a Soto/Blanco duo. Who will play CF? Will the Cubs try once again to trade Jones? I think they will and they'll be successful in doing so, they'll eat some of his contract. This will open the door for Pie, who should have the inside track as the starting CF'er for next year. Don't be surprised to see an upgrade with a 4th OF'er who can play CF. Who will play RF? I hope Murton has opened some eyes as far as his ability at worse to be a platoon player out there in RF, despite a fair ability to hit RH'ers. If they don't feel confident in Murton, I would expect this to be the position when they spend the most of their avail. off-season money. The crop for RF'ers is weak, which makes it more diff., I think the option Seattle has on Guillen is worth watching. I mentioned this earlier, I would look into acq'g a young platoon partner to compliment Murton. I think Seth Smith is the perfect example. Right now, I'm guessing Floyd/Murton as next year's RF.

This is from perfect game, top 9-29 for '08. They have it very college heavy at this point, obviously it's not going to look like this next June.

Let's go Red Sox.

It's when the Cubs get a 2 out hit after hitting into a double play. :)

I'm surprised idiots have the ability to create stuff on Youtube.

If they could get trade Marquis and Jones, they should. But, who knows what type of market there is for either of them. Jones wasn't traded b/c of the amount the Cubs were sending to Florida and I'd expect the Cubs to eat much of the salary if they trade Marquis. I'm definitely not optimistic about the Cubs improving their roster as much as others this off-season, last year was the year to make those improvements and they were the biggest spenders of the offseason. Now, it's time to let the youngsters come in and try and fill in pieces. I'd love Renteria, but if he's avail, the demand will increase the cost likely beyond what the Cubs might be willing to give up. I'd be content with getting a LH'ed bat to platoon in RF like Seth Smith, stick Pie in CF, Cedeno at SS, and Soto behind the plate. I hope improvements next year will come from players like Soto being better than the revolving door at C, Cedeno better than Theriot/Izturis at SS, Pie better than what he was and Jones in CF. Lou has a better idea on how to handle this pen, pray for a mircale named Prior and try and progress. Like I said, this is one great player away from competing (Rodriguez) or 3 good players (SS, RF, and SP), I don't see either of those occuring with the limited resources they have to spend.

I really like the idea of Pie and Murton in the OF with Soto behind the plate, a rotation that includes Hill and possibly Marshall, a bench that includes Theriot and Fontenot, and a bullpen with Marmol and maybe a guy like Hart. That's a lot of payroll cleared up for a SS upgrade. I don't see alot of payroll being cleared up. They owe an additional 20 mil worth of salary to Z, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, and Derosa compared to '07. That's more than salaries of the FAs that would leave. They'd have to unload salary to take on additional salary. They already have to have a large increase to keep a somewhat similar roster, adding someone like Renteria/Tejada, without them taking on salary doesn't seem like it fits. Which is unfort. b/c this team is still one (great/Arod) to 3 (good) players from becoming good enough to contend.

Who will hit 2nd would be my follow-up question.