XZero771679666304

Jay Mariotti? Is that you? Pointing out the truth makes him Jay Mariotti?

And does anyone think this year's team has any chance of reaching the playoffs? I'm sorry, but when Kenny talks about the Tigers "competing with us", that is freaking funny. Or the Indians for that matter. 2005 might as well be 1905.

It probably would, although it does deprive the Cubs of pretty much their 2 CF prospects in the entire system, and the Orioles really don't have a need for either one of them, let alone both. Gallagher would have to be pretty special to prefer the Cubs resort to finding stopgaps to play in CF for the next 5 years. I love Gallagher's potential and put him right up there with Pie now as far as value, but he's the more expendable piece if we have to give up one of them. I have to imagine the O's will want pitching first and foremost, especially after dealing Bedard.

Daryle Ward

That's just stupid. The Marlins are set at the corners, so they sign a guy who is a corner OF, and likes to piss and moan when he isn't getting his PT. And it's not like he's any good anymore.

I'll be shocked if either are correct, but if it helps other by eliminating possibilities...

Not this decade.

Sissy.

You don't undertand how much defense means if this was a serious post. Most sources have him listed as an .800+ OPS C which makes him top 5 or so in the NL even if his defense doesnt' show up. As for the pitching, Zambrano is in a clear downward spiral over the past 4 years and I don't think last year was fluke. Lilly had a career year that I don't see repeating. Marquis and the #5's are all worse than they pitched last year. The real difference is i don't believe in the Cubs defense from last year, I don't think they are a top 5 defensive team. I agree with most of what you say, but I think you're dead wrong about the Cubs' defense. And this won't be the Cubs defense from last year, it'll be better. Before you even say Aramis' name, he's been in an upward trend defensively each of the past 4 years, so it's safe to say he should be at least as good in 2008 as in 2007. Lee had a down year in 2007, and I don't believe for a second he just morphed from an elite into an average 1B in one year. As for the rest of the defense: Pie >>> Jones Fukudome >> Floyd/Murton/DeRo Soto >>>>>>>> Kendall/Barrett/Hill Soriano should be about the same (his numbers in LF last year were pretty close to his numbers in LF in 2006), and DeRosa's 2007 defense was right in line with his career numbers at 2B. Theriot's defense will be mediocre, but it was last year. I think it's a real stretch to say the Cubs defense will be worse in 2008, when it really should be better. At the very least, it'll be as good, with better control of the running game, and a lot more OF assists. As for the Brewers defense, even with Cameron, it is only better than average at one position. It's still going to be a huge weakness. 4-5 wins better? Maybe. But the loss of Cordero may well negate that by itself. There are a lot of variables floating around here for both teams. I find it just as likely that Braun, Hart and especially Hardy will regress a bit as it is that the Cubs' rotation will regress as a whole. Lilly did have a career year, but he also moved from the most brutal division in baseball to one of the softest. As for Z, I think is issues are all in his head, so who the hell knows.

You are right about Theriot. But Ramirez has been getting better each year, and Lee had a down year in 2007. If Pie actually gets much time, that will help a lot. Felix is a stellar defender. I am going to reserve judgment on Kosuke.

Thats how he always looks. The man is perma-stoned.

And they play in the same division as the Indian and Tigers. And Twins. Don't forget the Twins. I didn't. The Twins will likely get the better of them, but the Tigers and Tribe are gonna lay the lumber on the Sox. The Sox are a fourth place team in 2008.

I think the Patriots are going to roll. Not a bold prediction, but I think this game is going to be nothing like the week 17 game. Pats by three scores.

And they play in the same division as the Indian and Tigers.

If it keeps going like this, it may soon be the only thread in NSBB history. Never before has a thread's content been as much about the thread than it's supposed topic. It's become a blob-like movie monster feeding on itself, expanding, soon to absorb all other threads past and present. I love it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/XZero77/pizzathehut.jpg

His medical report was so bad that it scared off a bunch of teams and he was only able to get a 1-year deal with a $1 million base. This kind of garbage can probably be put to rest now. He plagarized it and only told San Diego the real story. It was all a part of his diabolical plot. He also covered up the part where the medical staff discovered that he is in fact the antichrist.

Personally, I really like Lieber, always have. If he didn't get that (was it?) elbow injury when he was a Cub during his FA season (in part thanks to Baylor's demonstration of how to burn a pitcher's arm with an egregiously large amount of innings), Lieber might well have been a career Cub. But at the time the front office couldn't risk a 2 yr deal, while the Yankees could and did. This rotation (especially Z) can be really good, but all too often the K zone has been elusive for these guys. Liebs will not get into that situation, but we're going to need a speedy and agile OF because he is a fly-out guy. At any rate, I think this deal is a good idea for at least the first half (remember Lieber has enjoyed success for most pre-ASGs in his career - it's almost as notorious as Maddux's second halves), and he can eat some innings if the young guns suck or get injured. As for Prior, good riddance. I suspected two years ago that he was resting his arm and biding his time to get to the West Coast. I hope he gets shelled. Actually, Lieber is a ground ball pitcher. Not extreme, but he does have a gb/fb ratio of about 1.5/1, IIRC.

I wish they would bring those back. No thanks. They were cool at first, but got old in a hurry.

Um, that's pretty much what I said. I just said some do care.

youre right i know nothing about the game and have never ever contributed anything meaningful here. oh wait i have....and a lot more than most. the only reason im still here despite my antics is that i know quite a bit and use it a fairly oftenish. You have contributed a lot, but you're still a relative neophyte. Now I don't think that really matters in light of your input, but many do. Hoops is a well respected guy around here, maybe enough so that insulting him may make some forget your positive aspects.

I am reserving judgment on this point until the end of the offseason. If Marquis and/or Dempster are traded, then there could still be a slot for Gallagher. Why? We're hearing Dempster being talked about, now Lieber is signed, Marquis is still up in the air. Still pretty quiet about the rooks. I'm hoping that that both Seans and Kevin have been told privately that their hard work over the off-season (hopefully Marshall getting stronger and Gallagher cont. his off-season conditioning) can be rewarded with a verbal commit. from the Cubs that they'll be given a shot. I have a suspicion that the talk of Dempster to the rotation was simply to drive up his trade value. I have no tangible reason to think this, but I don't think there was ever any real intent to give Ryan a slot. As for Marquis, it may just be wishful thinking. But Lou seemed awfully put out with him at the end of the season, so there may be some impetus to move him out. Also, if any trades happen, I think one or two of Marshall, Gallagher and Hart will likely be moving out, cutting down the number of slighted youngsters. I can only hope Gallagher would be the one left.

I am reserving judgment on this point until the end of the offseason. If Marquis and/or Dempster are traded, then there could still be a slot for Gallagher.

I don't see what there is to be upset about here. It's a low risk, moderate reward deal. If he is healthy, he's better than Marquis and Dempster. At worst, he's slightly better than the average #5. He'll likely benefit from getting out of CBB, and he still throws a decent amount of ground balls, which should work to his advantage with the Cubs. If he's not healthy, the Cubs are only out 3.5 million. Plus, this may well be the precursor to a trade. If it's not, there's nothing wrong with pitching depth.

It's kind of off topic, but do we know that the infield grass will be grown long again, now that the entire surface has been replaced? I hadn't heard either way.