Larry Horse

have a feeling a big trade is coming? I heard the Cubs listed as potential Baez buyers. I think a Huff and Baez trade to the Cubs is going to happen. Just pure speculation on my part, no sources etc.

I heard on Sporting News Radio on the way into work tonight that Byrnes is going to Colorado in exchange for Joe Kennedy and a prospect. It is Kenny Rosenthal, so take it for what it's worth, it was also announced in the update that the Preston Wilson deal to Washington was done with Wilson and cash going to Washington, and Zach Day and a minor leaguer or two to Colorado Peter Gammons is reporting that the A's might trade Payton to the Yankees. Is Gammons ever right?

No they can't. Atlanta will be getting some players back in the second half and history tells me that they will not fold.

lol, damn. I was thinking of that when I saw the thread about Neifi was unlucky, and I was going to type exactly that. :lol: I was thinking the same thing when I read the posting title. The thing that is so frustrating is that I was so psyched when they signed Dusty. What a disappointment.

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp?id=71917 "Youth served? Dusty Baker had an interesting take Saturday on his reputation as a manager who doesn’t like young players. “Who plays more kids than me in spring training?” he said. “I probably play more kids than anybody in spring training. That’s why (with), ‘Dusty doesn’t like kids,’ I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, you haven’t seen my track record.’" I almost spit my coffee out when I read this. Hey Braniac, every team plays young players in spring training, because it's SPRING TRAINING!!!! That's where young players get a chance to prove themselves. This isn't some sort of novel concept you've come up with. And Dusty proves his "track record" with this nugget: "As far as Hollandsworth goes, Baker is likely to start him today, even though the Marlins will throw lefty Al Leiter at the Cubs. “You can’t just shelve Holly,” Baker said. “Holly’s doing an outstanding job for us. He’s finally got his act together. I don’t want Holly off too many days. I’m going to play Holly tomorrow because if not, Holly would be off almost a week. That’s a long time.” So let me get this straight. Murton gets called up, goes 2-4, provides a much needed spark, yet he will sit today against a lefty because "You just can't shelve Holly." Hey Dusty, you can shelve Holly, because YOU MAKE OUT THE LINEUPS!!! Holly is not the future for this team. Here are your own words regarding Murton's first game: “That was a great first game,” said manager Dusty Baker, whose team improved to 41-44. “That was a way to start your career. That was huge.” So his reward? A trip to the bench after his second game. Who gives a rat's ### about Holly? Dusty's response to criticism that he doesn't like rookies is that you have to have young players to play. So a young player comes up, looks pretty good and is benched. Which is it Dusty? You can't have it both ways. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

I hope all the idiotic Cubs fans who still blame him read this and ponder their misdirected and pointless anger at this poor guy. Sorry to name call, but the treatment of this guy still gets under my skin.

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=71301 Good reading.

I don't have a source, but I remember reading on this board when Dusty was hired from a San Fransico fan that Chicago will be sick of "Dusty traits" within 3 years. He also said that Dusty is not suited for a town like Chicago beause he had trouble with the media from San Fran, let alone what chicago can bring to the table. I thought Dusty was a guy, but I may have been in the minority. All I knew at the time is he had just gone to the World Series and was a winner (record wise) over 7-10 years worth of managing. also, he seemed respected by the players and was a good ballplayer. Who is the next manager in Chicago? Grady Little or Chris Speier

called up their 10th minor leaguer this year. Hudson, Hampton and Chipper are injured and they still are running away from the Cubs. All I've heard about is how the vaunted Cubs farm system was ranked #1 by Baseball America in 200whatever. My question is: Where in God's name are all these great players? Could the Cubs call up 10 minor leaguers in one year and still win the wildcard? Discuss.

Agreed. Forget the Cardinals. The Braves should be the only thing the Cubs worry about.

I wouldn't even worry about Prior and Wood's careers until they can prove that they can stay healthy for 2 or 3 years straight.

They do have Steve Stone though. Woo Hoo, another bitter self proclaimed genius. Doesn't anyone ever wonder why, if he's so smart, nobody hires him to run a team? I know why. Most of you should figure it out too. He NEVER helped any pitcher on the Cubs, just a critic. Not much demand for a thin skinned, second guessing critic. That's funny, because I listened to Steve his entire career, and I hear him every week on the Score and I have never once heard him refer to himself as a "genius". His job with the Cubs was not to "help pitchers". That job would fall under the description of an employee called a "pitching coach", while Steve's job was a "analyst" which calls for praising and criticzing the team he "analyzes". Sadly, a lot of Cub fans could not quite handle that "criticizing" part. They prefer to hear only "praising". Well, not to worry, Brenly is going to make a lot of Cub fans a lot more comfortable. And as I have said before, Stone is a first guesser, not a second guesser. That's a huge difference. And he is also still thinks that the Cubs will win the wildcard. I wish I could share in his optimism.

Agreed, is being "negative" actually being a realist?

Agreed. I cannot name a stud position player who was developed by and had a great career with the Cubs. I don't have the greatest of memories, so everyone feel free to pile on with names. I also remember Hendry saying he would not pursue Kent or Thome because the Cubs had their left side of the infield set with Hill and Choi.

Next Cub manager: Speier or Little

I heard they are going to go after Carl Everett.....

I agree to hoping that they lay off Corey. however, I saw a post game interview with him last night where he was asked about that, and he's handling it very professionally. he understands why its happening and is shrugging it off well. he said it hurt last year because it was the first time it ever happened to him, but is doing well taking it in stride this year. fact is, if not for Corey, the Cubs probably don't win these past two games. Here's how I look at it: When a player plays well, fans cheer. When a player plays badly for an extended period of time, they will boo. That's it. Fans shouldn't be expected not to boo because a player is in an extended funk, especially a player such as CPatt who has pretty much thumbed his nose at any suggestion of a different approach to hitting. This attitude of laying off of a player because he is playing crappy baffles me. Fans should be allowed to cheer only?

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.vecsey30jun30001633,1,6337385.column?coll=bal-sports-columnists&ctrack=1&cset=true Looks like Sammy's act is getting tiresome somewhere else. I can't believe the Cubs are over .500 without this guy. Sorry, I forgot that's "Sammy bashing". :roll:

I like Lew also

Serena, he will be the same old Wood. Get him healthy and trade him. I've had enough of "balsa".

Heard Paul Sullivan say today that scalpers were selling at face value this morning. Large number of scalper tickets available. For what that's worth.

DUSTY BUSTERS!!!!! DUSTY BUSTERS!!!!!

Chris Speier or Grady Little are my early bets.

Will this thread hold the number of posts that will be made? By the way Dusty, Macias is now 1/12. HE DOESN'T HAVE TO PLAY!!

If the Cubs choke again this year......Grady Little, come on down!!!!!!