Soul

I disagree. Aww ta hell wit it. Sign Drew up too 8)

It was BB.

Even you real die hards can't tell me you aren't starting to panic a little now. This is getting very, very bad.

I may be way behind the curve, but I heard Schmidt won't be leaving the west coast. I think the Cubs try to sign a mid-range guy like Westbrook, and then maybe a few bench positions. Then done.

I'd like to see Soriano in RF, Jones in CF, and then Matty in LF. I must admit to being a bit disturbed with reports that the Cubs would put Soriano in CF. Not sure that's a real good idea, but it's so early right now, ST is months & months away so who really knows what's going on.

I agree, it's not bad for the short term. Not sure about the option years, we'll probably find out tomorrow. I think Jimbo needs to get going on signing a mid-range SP who can eat some innings.

I have to disagree. Izturis sucks DeRosa is largely a question mark Soriano Murton Lee Ramirez Barrett DeRosa Izturis Pie no thanks. I have faith in Pie. He would do the job IMO. He's either good, or CPatt mach 2. It's a 50/50 shot IMHO. Cubs haven't had a home-grown position player of real value since Mark Grace. Consider that...

Me too. I ham happy to have Soriano, but those years scare me. If 2-3 of them are team/mutual options, that will mitigate things significantly. If it's 5/85 guaranteed, I don't see how it could be called a terrible signing. Soriano was always going to cost someone big money, it's just a matter of whether Jimbo would show the stones (for once) and pony up the really big cash for the really big fish. This time, he did.

And the fact his numbers are even in the same ballpark as Soriano's while he'd be lucky to get a contract at all doesn't scare you? It makes me angry that I'm not a GM. Are you talking about Todd *Walker*??? .278/.356/.398 9HR 53RBI Soriano: .277/.351/.560 46HR 95RBI 40+SB I fail to see how they are in the same ballpark. Not at all. Soriano is also a multiple all-star and has been each year since his rookie year. I don't get it. There's no comparison whatsoever. Soriano is a great player in his prime. Walker's got one foot out of the league, IMO. We can argue about the deal, but Soriano is such a quality pick up it isn't even funny. The comparison was the last three years production. I don't care about allstar appearances since those are just opinions of managers/players/fans/whoever. I do agree that the fact that you could get Walker and Drew for the same $ as Soriano isn't funny at all. all star appearances do reflect opinions. but opinions are formed, more often than not, because the player is actually getting the job done. they matter to me......slightly. i'm more concerned that someone would think that walker and soriano are in any way comparable players. throw Drew in there and i suppose it becomes a different argument. i like Drew but i don't think it's clear whether a deal for him would even be a possibility, so i think that's playing the game with some cards that might not be in the deck.

Soriano to Cubs, 8 years/135 million. Don't forget 2-3 of those years are options. Don't give him a heart attack now. He hasn't responded. You OK, Vance? 8)

Soriano to Cubs, 8 years/135 million.

Are you serious? Personally, I think what you just said is completely, utterly absurd. Soriano, regardless of what team he's on, has a position to play. Just MO. Let's just have fun with this, shall we? If what people are saying is true, i.e., the Cubs are penciling him in for RF, then I worry about it. If he's replacing Murton in LF, then I hope the Cubs can get a RFer. If he's in CF, then I worry. We know he is terrible at 2nd, but the Cubs have signed DeRosa. Even with the poor defense at 2nd, that's where I'd play him. I know it is self-evident, but the point is making a good team, not signing a collection of good players and moving them around. I understand what you're saying, but teams move players around all the time. Pujols played 3B, LF and then 1B for example. Worked out pretty well for the Cards. Soriano is an extraordinary offensive player. Given his defensive weaknesses, I think it's a good thing he can be moved around.

does anyone realize that would trash Pie's development completely? did anyone contemplate that maybe this strong push for Soriano was due to Drew's demands shooting up considerably the past few days? I think Pie is talented enough that he could handle any position in the outfield. I think it's a 50/50 crapshoot whether Pie will ever even be a solid major league player.

And the fact his numbers are even in the same ballpark as Soriano's while he'd be lucky to get a contract at all doesn't scare you? It makes me angry that I'm not a GM. Are you talking about Todd *Walker*??? .278/.356/.398 9HR 53RBI Soriano: .277/.351/.560 46HR 95RBI 40+SB I fail to see how they are in the same ballpark. Not at all. Soriano is also a multiple all-star and has been each year since his rookie year. I don't get it. There's no comparison whatsoever. Soriano is a great player in his prime. Walker's got one foot out of the league, IMO. We can argue about the deal, but Soriano is such a quality pick up it isn't even funny.

Excellent!! Agreed. First it's "Hendry won't spend the REAL money necessary to land a top free agent." Now it's "Hendry's an idiot for overpaying!" That's hypocrisy. Hendry, for once in his life, went out and got the big FA on the market. I think he learned his lesson with Furcal.

The sideline report was *NOT* a concussion, but that he was "shaken up." Tillman then returned to the game a bit later. So I feel safe in saying he's alright. I think Tommie Harris and Ogun are OK as well. One interesting note: the Bears completely shut down the Jets, including the running game, in the 4th quarter. And that was without Tommie Harris playing. It was Tank & Ian Scott I believe.

nowhere near to the extent they can go crazy on the Big East teams. the comparison is UConn and South Florida and Syracuse v. MSU, MN, and NW. Syracuse beat Illinois and UConn beat Indiana what's your point again? Illini actually beat Cuse the year before. Cuse and UConn being two mid-range Big East clubs beating the 2 dregs of the Big 10 means nothing in a one game deal. Beat MN & MSU (two mid-range Big 10 teams) after having gone through a Big 10 schedule like they do, and you might have something. Until then, it's still meaningless and the Big East isn't the conference the Big 10 is. Sorry but Syracuse and Illinois didn't play last year. Cuse and UConn are in last place in the Big East. Yeah OK, the entire country realizes the Big East isn't on the level of the big 3 conferences. You don't have to believe it if you don't want to, that's fine. But you're wrong. Big East might have some nice schools and might be putting out some decent kids, but overall it's not the same level of football over the course of a season. Maybe it will be someday, but it isn't right now. The entire country also thinks that wins are an excellent metric for evaluating pitchers but does that make them right also? Also the teams are all young with 6 QB's that are Sophmores or less. It's only going to get better IMO so face it Big 10, SEC and Big 12...we are no longer just a basketball conference! Of course the "established leagues" voting in the coaches poll will try to keep us down. Well I'm all for a playoff system, so getting rid of the Bowl 'establishment' is just fine with me.

I thought that injury looked like it was a little, uh.......strange. Looked like he had a sudden onset of the world's worst food poisoning, only it wasn't the stomach he was grabbing. :oops:

nowhere near to the extent they can go crazy on the Big East teams. the comparison is UConn and South Florida and Syracuse v. MSU, MN, and NW. Syracuse beat Illinois and UConn beat Indiana what's your point again? Illini actually beat Cuse the year before. Cuse and UConn being two mid-range Big East clubs beating the 2 dregs of the Big 10 means nothing in a one game deal. Beat MN & MSU (two mid-range Big 10 teams) after having gone through a Big 10 schedule like they do, and you might have something. Until then, it's still meaningless and the Big East isn't the conference the Big 10 is. Sorry but Syracuse and Illinois didn't play last year. Cuse and UConn are in last place in the Big East. Yeah OK, the entire country realizes the Big East isn't on the level of the big 3 conferences. You don't have to believe it if you don't want to, that's fine. But you're wrong. Big East might have some nice schools and might be putting out some decent kids, but overall it's not the same level of football over the course of a season. Maybe it will be someday, but it isn't right now.

Looks like USC & Florida have a shot if they both win. Interesting that Arkansas looks to have no shot no matter what, but Florida does. Not sure about ND........if they beat SC, it would be very close. WV/Lou not possible.

nowhere near to the extent they can go crazy on the Big East teams. the comparison is UConn and South Florida and Syracuse v. MSU, MN, and NW. Syracuse beat Illinois and UConn beat Indiana what's your point again? Illini actually beat Cuse the year before. Cuse and UConn being two mid-range Big East clubs beating the 2 dregs of the Big 10 means nothing in a one game deal. Beat MN & MSU (two mid-range Big 10 teams) after having gone through a Big 10 schedule like they do, and you might have something. Until then, it's still meaningless and the Big East isn't the conference the Big 10 is.

Ouch. That would be enough to make me go home and kick my cat :shock: NEthing but that stupid COUGER song. Yes, that's right John, I said it: JOHN COUGER! :P

makes a solid run, but it doesn't make up for it IMO. that nice run could have come with 30 fewer seconds on the clock. Tommie J makes me so mad one minute and so happy the next. Bottom line it's a 100+ yard game so good job TJ.

Yeah, ultimately weighing the good & the bad and given our situation I'm going to call this a good move by Hendry if it does happen.

Nice run it out of bounds!!! My GAWD.