Soul

Yes, a nice signing if your sights are on creating a .500 ballclub. World Series champs aim a tad bit higher. If we had a thumper in left and a better run producer in CF, Jones would be perfectly adequate in RF. Too bad we don't. Having said that, there wasn't much else available this past offseason (which wouldn't have been an issue had Hendry signed someone last offseason). Yes, yes. There's never anyone available. That's why we suck. ..........I'm goading you because I know you know better..... Hey, I am blaming Hendry for this mess. But who else was available this last offseason (and I don't want to hear Giles)? Hendry messed up this year's OF last offseason. He messed up alot of things, including the decent minor league situation we used to have.

All things considered I'd rather see Dunn hitting doubles down the line than 3 run bombs.

You: apparently hitting the pipe or bottle a bit. Discuss...... :D Only the bottle atm. :( Can't say I blame you.

Yes, a nice signing if your sights are on creating a .500 ballclub. World Series champs aim a tad bit higher. If we had a thumper in left and a better run producer in CF, Jones would be perfectly adequate in RF. Too bad we don't. Having said that, there wasn't much else available this past offseason (which wouldn't have been an issue had Hendry signed someone last offseason). Yes, yes. There's never anyone available. That's why we suck. ..........I'm goading you because I know you know better.....

The obligatory 0-2 Cub count.

Yes, a nice signing if your sights are on creating a .500 ballclub. World Series champs aim a tad bit higher.

Probably a decent move. Nevin's not in need of coaching, he is what he is at this point. That's good, because Dusty couldn't coach a player out of a wet paper bag. Hairston was junk. Not sure why Tex wanted him. I guess because they know he was on the Cubs so he's probably better than what he's shown.

Just put someone in charge who gives a damn and is accountable, and the success will come. There are many paths to victory----but all of them start with a burning desire to succeed, and a dire hatred of failure.

If I was a betting man, I'd go with Prior. That would mega suck. Wish I could argue it.

I don't see how he's going to return to action just 10 days after the cast comes off. I realize medical technology has advanced, but I broke my wrist and when the cast came off 6 weeks later you could have taken a picture of my wrist and anyone looking at it would have thought it was from an Ethiopian. Took me quite awhile to build it back up, and that was just for normal use, not to play baseball. If he can do it, more power to him. But then someone explain how DLee can build his wrist back up from nothing in 10 days, but it takes Prior 6 months to build his muscles back up just from a bout of food poisioning, or flu, or whatever.

I'd rather bring new blood in from the outside. But, I admit that would be difficult in the middle of a season when all the good prospects have jobs.

Next up to be destroyed by the Cubs only to find his career blossom elsewhere? Matt Murton. Bet on it.

Totally cool, thanks for posting DJAXX.

There are ways around the salary cap in the NBA which is why the New York Knicks can have a team salary of $123 million. Dallas is second in the NBA at $96 million. I'm not sure on the rules but I know there are ways around it. The NFL has a strict salary cap and there is no way around it. I just don't see how the trib is the reason for the current crappy team outside of their support of andy MacPhail. it seems to me that they are more than willing to spend money, they just have an admin that spends it stupidly. I don't think their current payroll is the problem, its how they spent that money. Now if you want to say they should replace MacPhail because he hasn't replaced Hendry maybe i would agree, but generally when things go this bad the firing starts at the bottom and works its way up, so I guess I don't know any organization that would have removed MacPhail already. Besides I don't want to be the Yankees. I hate the Yankees. I wouldn't mind being the Yankees of '97 where alot of their players came from their farm team, but there is no way I would support a $200 million payroll team. and any such team that won the Series would certainly be a bitter sweet win for me. I have to disagree. The Trib has shareholders to answer to and as long as they can point to the Cubs as a money-maker, than they really have no reason to get rid of MacPhail because they are making money. Now if they were TRULY interested in a World Series winner, than MacPhail and his crew will be fired. Any owner interested in winning the World Series would have fired MacPhail after 11 years of failing to attain that goal. Even reaching the World Series. And who cares if the Cubs go the Yankee route to winning a title? Isn't 98 years of failure enough? I honestly don't know why anyone would be aganist Cuban buying the Cubs. The Trib have had 25 years and I think they have proved they don't know how to do it. I think so too. And the whole "top 5 payroll" thing really doesn't work anymore. They've shown they'll spend money, yes. But it doesn't mean they spend it the right way, or that they have the knowledge to make that money work for them. Plus, I don't like having a faceless corporation running the Cubs. MacPhail isn't really in charge. It's some board committe or something. I don't think that's the best arrangement for a Pro Sports franchise.

I know it's disappointing, but let's just take a deep breath and relax a little bit. Nobody knows what he was trying to do out there, and Prior's traditionally more of a pinpoint control guy than Wood, so I would expect Woody to dominate more than Prior at this point because Wood's stuff is more jumpy and loopy by default. I really didn't expect Mark back until after the All-Star break. Looks like that's what will happen. The season's basically over in terms of a playoff run (I know some of you don't want to concede that yet, but it's pretty hard to deny) so there's no point rushing Prior back. Also, I am of the belief that this is Prior's last shot with the Cubs. He needs to come back and produce for a long period of time before hitting the DL again. So we may as well let him take his time.

Don't let Clines anywhere near the kid, unless you want CPatt part Deux.

I think you're right. The Cubs spend the $$$, but something is missing. The money is flowing from the Trib, but is the homework being done? I'd have to say no, considering where we are right now. The Mavs have done more than just spend tons of cash, they've really dug into the details on a few players to fill crucial roles and out-scout (if you will) other clubs. Plus, they knew when they could handle letting go of Steve Nash. It's never an easy thing to get rid of a top player and continue being successful. But, they pulled it off. That's doing more than just spending buckeroonies. That's knowing what you're doing. Wish I could say the same for Hendry and the Trib, but I can't.

I'm not sure I can blame him for having no confidence in Pierre at this point, though. But. If he doesn't, then the guy shouldn't be hitting leadoff. Or in the starting lineup. DFA :D Hey, I can dream can't I?

I'm not sure I can blame him for having no confidence in Pierre at this point, though. But. If he doesn't, then the guy shouldn't be hitting leadoff.

Indeed. I hope that means Dusty is finally getting ready to move Pierre out of the leadoff spot.

Or possibly a leadoff is he goes back to being more patient. Though either way would be fine by me...ideally, Murton and Walker filling the 1-2 spots in the lineup once Lee is back is the way to go. If it means we can stick Pierre in the 8 hole or something like that? I'm all for it.

Up comes Juan to throw water on the fire.

Matty Murt softie single. I can't remember who said the Cubs think Murton will be a power hitter. I sincerely doubt that... Looks more like a 2-hole hitter at his best if he continues to improve.

I don't believe your implied assumption that it was Furcal OR Pierre. I believe it was Hendry's intention to acquire Furcal AND Pierre. I believe that's true. Hendry wanted both of them. Hendry would not have traded that kind of stock for Pierre if he would have found his leadoff hitter in Furcal. I wouldn't be so sure. I wish I could say he'd be a fool if he did do that, but looking at the team he's assembled since '03, he might already have acquired that characteristic regardless.

Wood losing it.