David

there are few baseball analysts I dislike more than Orel. he's absolutely terrible

Count me in the "doesn't like Santo as an analyst but does occasionally get a laugh out of his rambling" camp... "I'm gonna hit him!"

Is Darvish being posted this offseason or the next one?

Both looked absolutely awesome. Dempster had pinpoint command and Marmol's slider was nasty. That's just great for Marmol! Hopefully he'll be back to his usual dominate self after the break.. ](*,) ](*,)

They need to get, be, and stay healthy. That's all they need.

The Bears won before with the same QB and less talent at WR. Every WR on the roster now is better than Rashied Davis (the #3 WR in 06) was then. At least 1/2 are better than Moose was in 06. Are you referring to 2005? I don't see how our current WR's are better than that. People keep downlplaying the loss of Berrian, but he is one of the best deep route runners in the NFL. He's referring to 2006.

If it's terrible, it won't be because of those things. Or will it be because we are relying on a 2nd round draft pick RB and another RB with 2 major leg injuries? Or a rookie starting at one of the most dificult positions to play as a rookie(LT), on an offensive line that was brutal last season and made no major upgrades other than the draft. Bingo.

I don't think the offense will be terrible. I would hope the defense and special teams would go back to being elite. Below average (better than terrible) offense, elite D, and elite special teams equals a pretty good team. I was about to re-word it that exact way. The special teams and defense (when healthy) would be elite, not just "above average."

If it's terrible, it won't be because of those things.

I hate getting buried at the end of a page...especially in a thread like this.

Looks like he will take a rehab stint, too... http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1057769,CST-SPT-starnt16.article

Going into 06, all anyone talked about was how bad the offense would be and how the Bears had no deep threat and needed to make a run at Deion Branch, Ashley Lelie, or Jerry Porter. Then they went on to destroy a bunch of teams by 20-30 points for the first half of the season (while the defense was healthy). If the run game is remotely effective, the offense will be fine. It all hinges on just how much the line improves. With the run game, the play action deep pass will follow. Should be interesting to see, but I can definitely see them having an average offense, which would be enough to be a very good team (especially with their ridiculous return game) if the defense is healthy and dominant.

Great news on the "clean bill of health" part.

Absolutely not. It's unfair that the Cubs lost home field advantage (assuming they make it to the Series in the first place) because a Brewer couldn't throw out the runner at the plate. Maybe. That said, we still wouldn't have gotten home field this year had it been the old system. I still feel cheated by Billy Wagner, Uggla, and everyone else's suckitude. Dempster striking out the side was cool, though.

Wow, some people here have REALLY short attention spans. ...and I thought I was bad.

No, he went in as a Red Sox. He's the reason they changed the rule. http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=111153 Still, why the hell does he have a Yankee hat on, besides the typical forced special moment from Fox. Prolly cause he's in Yankee Stadium.

No, he went in as a Red Sox. He's the reason they changed the rule. http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=111153

haha so I just looked up "let's chop cats" so I could figure out what the hell IMB's location meant and found the youtube clip.... friggin hilarious carry on.

Definitely. It gets mentioned with Wrigley and Fenway but it's not even in the same league.

I felt weird watching that pregame speech. It was just...odd. I just realized why after watching George Brett. It's so SCRIPTED. I thought Brett's was pretty good. Ernie's.....kinda sucked.

I approve, even though I didn't like when he thought Kendall should start in the playoffs last year because he was more experienced.

Probably partied too hard last night. Same "flu" MJ had in Utah.

per ESPNEWS

I went to my first Cubs game at 7 and sat in the 2nd row behind the Mets dugout. I loved every minute of it and can still remember yelling to Strawberry as he went into the dugout (got him to look up and my mom took his picture). Maybe I'm the exception, but I'm really glad my parents took me to a game that young. But to your point, I have a young son and my parents have wanted to take him to a game since he was 1. We went to our first college football game last fall and he loved it. Then he fell asleep in the 2nd quarter and we left in the 3rd quarter. I don't have a problem with people taking kids to a game and then leaving early if they get bored/tired. If they're over the age of 5 they'll probably remember (or "remember" upon seeing pictures) and it'll be a cool memory. And if they leave early, why do you care? I can't understand why this would be so bothersome. I get annoyed sitting by young kids at certain things, but it's not like I need total peace to watch baseball at a stadium. I'd rather have the annoying 8 year old for a few innings than the guy that swears all the time or talks like he know everything but actually makes everyone around him a little dumber. I never said it bothers me that they do it. They can do whatever they want. I likely won't take my (theoretical, lol) kid to a game until he/she is at least 9 or 10, but if someone wants to take a 5 year old to a game, that's their prerogative. Kids don't annoy or bother me at all (as long as I'm not the one that has to deal with their problems). All I'm saying is I don't understand why they do it. I guess it's a cool memory, but you can have create cool memories for them when they're a little older and actually enjoy the game they're watching, too.

haha