WrigleyField 22

I am just glad he did not say he was mad about the trade rumors. However, his words about wanting to stay didn't put a lot of faith in me. I read the trib article, and he basically said he liked the city a lot. He didn't really mention the Cubs organization. I can't blame him. Another guy who could leav, Dusty, also didn't seem like he had much interest in stayng with the organization. He said he didn't lik moving. Didn't say he wants to win with the Cubs. Now, I don't want Dusty to return, but when are we gonna hear someone say how much they wanna play for the Cubs and this organization. I mean, apparently Prior could pitch on the south side and be just as happy, becuase he really just seems like the city.

Augie and his 2004 splits vs. Righties is gonna save us!!!!!! .385 .468 .519 .987 Plus that domed stadium(whatever its called) in Minnesota killed him in 2004, check his road splits that year!!!!!! .375 .462 .563 1.025 Do I also need to point out his splits hitting in the 4 spot? 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000 He is a rally starter, check his splits with none on!!!!!!! 324 .432 .486 .918 Or leading off an inning? .400 .550 .600 1.150 Augie in 06!!!!

At one time he was pretty highly touted. Possibly will ensure Grissom isn't on the team? Is a non-French OF?

Eh, the deal struck me more as Ibanez being a throw in becase of salary and Reed being the real value in the deal. This deal minus the trading for Clement part would have been great before giving a spot to Jones. OF- LF-Ibanez CF-Pierre RF-Reednot sure he has the arm for it, but whatever 4thOF-Murton 5thOF-Mabry If you COULD do Hill,Patterson for Reed that would be nice

Jose Reyes projects as a backup catcher. Really, big deal if someone wants him really badly in the Rule 5 draft, chances are he's almost certainly not going to stick and even if he does, so what? As for your point about Van Buren, some negotiating 101 for you: you have a lot more leverage when there's no obligation on your part to move the player. Via the roster crunch, Hendry effectively gave himself that obligation, needlessly. Well from reports I've heard, Reyes could be a very capable backup catcher just based on his defense. If that it indeed the case, it would be a lot better to have your defensive specialist catcher at league minimum next year rather than paying whatever it is we are paying to Blanco. And Reyes is still very young. I would guess he will play in AA again this year, and will still be about average age at 22, correct? And I have to say that I don't know anything about mechanics, if Van Buren's mechanics are a concern, I'm glad we got something for him before we were left with nothing. Even if he was still healthy by next year, you might want that spot for Gallagher(who I believe is 40man eligible next year) or maybe even Grant Johnson. If you were in that position where you needed to get rid of him, then that leverage you speak of would be gone. Perhaps Hendry used that leverage this year,and that was the best he could do. Now I don't agree with all of Hendry's 40man moves, but I don't see the huge problem in this one.

I love Augie. I don't want to see him anywhere near our major league team, but hes the kind of guy you like to root for.

If he isn't at his highest value after the past two years, I doubt his value will rise much more. Hendry may make some stupid moves (in fact he does, plain and simple), but the one thing Hendry knows more than ALL of us no matter how smart we think we are, is the real value of a player based upon the leagues opinion. None of us know how much interest Reyes could have recieved if left available to rule 5 or how good of a player Hendry could have gotten for JVB. Trades are tricky because you always wonder what other offers may have been available, but with Hendry's good track record of trades, I'd be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm not even talking about the Lee/Nomar/Ramirez type trades, but even the small trades for Connelly, Barrett, etc.

Well although we fell WAY short of 100 the quality in this thread was good!Good job to those who contributed! 54) I'm drunk right now!

A thread like this worked in 2004 when optimism was sky high, kinda in 05, but we didn't get 100. At a time when optimism is at a low, will it work this year? P.S. If you are new to this, you should know the best responses are funny ones, but I'll try to not be so pessimstic and start it off with couple reasons why we might really be better (I'm not feeling real funny right now, also) Also please don't junk the thread with your stupid arguments why the Cubs will suck. This thread is the one place where we'll speak abuot optimism. If you don't like the idea of the thread just let it fall back to page two of the forum. 100) Healthy Wood 99) Healthy Prior(no lie rives hitting elbow) 98) Full season of MATT MURTON 97) A reliable closer 96) Hendry will choke and die on a donut that was just filled with too much jelly, forcing the hiring of a new GM who will fire Dusty and get rid of that stupid French guy in RF 5)The cool French Guy in CF will return to 2003-05 numbers

Here is an iterview with Ciaramella with RedSoxNation

Teach the prospects that control of the strike zone is the #1 priority. #2 on my list is to improve the flow of prospects from outside the US. Agreed

Thanks for the corretion. I had postd in my earlier thread that each was one higher than that. Maybe we could still try and get him on the fast track and knock out two levels next year, Daytona and WestTenn. Always a possibility. Murton started out in Daytona when he came to the Cubs and didn't post much in terms of numbers worth mentioning. Then he went to West Tenn the next season and the rest is pretty much history. The similarities between the two are enough for me to keep an eye on Ciaramella, though. I'll see what the Red Sox people have to say about him... I've been looking at Red Sox sites ad haven't found anything yet. By the way, was this anounced on the radio or is it on cubs.com?

Thanks for the corretion. I had postd in my earlier thread that each was one higher than that. Maybe we could still try and get him on the fast track and knock out two levels next year, Daytona and WestTenn.

So Jim knows when to hold em...knows when to fold em? Knows when to walk away and knows when to run? Jim never counts his money, when hes sitting at the table. There'll be time enough for countng... When the dealings done. Yes I changed one key word to make it baseball related. didn't want your awesome usage of kenny rodgers to go unnoticed

Wow, I can't believe some of the posts here. The love for Van Buren I can understand. Its easy to get excited about minor league numbers. I don't get the hate for Ciarmella. Right after being drafted he went to low A, (pretty impressive they thought him ready for that right away) and apparantly struggled because of injuries. He came back last year and after what looks like a short rehad stint in rookie ball, goes right to high A and puts up a very respectable .302 .360 .422 average. He'll be 23 years old and likey at AA. Thats where Matt Murton was last year. Based on reports he has at least 3 strong tools- average power speed- and is athletic, fundamentally sound, trong, and intelligent. He wil require a spot on the 40man next year, but if he can put up another stronf season at AA he will warrant it. Settle down, and enjoy the new year.

LOLOLOLOL Why are people stupid?

Well, they did draft a 2B in the Rule V draft. Someone from the DBacks organization. Even though they are my hometown team, I cannot remember which guy it was. Anyway... can't imagine that they'd draft a guy to sit him for a full season behind pokey. Fine then Pokey can backup. Bottom line is they need veteran presence. Think of it as Antionio Davis/Adrian Griffin/Eric Piakowski for the Bulls last year. If you don't follow the Bulls then I don't know what to tel you. But especially AD was huge in leading that team. And even though they had a guy, in Tyon Chandler with nice potential, he sat behind him on the bench behind him. Its a little different in basketball where a lot of guys see the court anyway and you can sub in and out as much as you need, but the point remains,veteran presence is a need over there. All but about 5 guys were born in 1980 or later.

Is any one besides Ramirez a top middle inffield prospect currently? Looking at their 40 man roster, nobody look like the guy you don't wanna block. So why not have a veteran presence and let him compete for the job. They need SOME veteran presence. It would hurt all those young guys in such a clubhouse. I don't know how well Borowski will do, but with the way contracts have been handed out this offseason to relievers, hes probably one of the better veteran pitching influences they could get a a decent price. And if there was someone who could relate to the young guys when times get rough, it would be him.

Being that I already gave up on this year I'm curious about next years rule 5... Based on my limited knowledge, I think the following players might be first time eligible: Patterson Johnson Harvey Reed Gallagher? Fuld I'm i correct? Any other noticables? The possibility of losing Gallagher scares me the most.

You're probably right, but that $6 million is still significant. Even if they could fit him, I think if we could give them a worthy replacement in Walker/Hairston and bullpen depth like Wuertz/Williamson and some cash it'd be a good start with what they want in a prospect(s) to be decided. Now, I'm not giving them Pie of course but I'd be willing to "overpay" if it made their decision easier. Even if they can afford him in 2006, can they afford him any longer than that? Or is he simply unavailable now? I might consider giving up Pie. I'd try to avoid it, and there are players I'd rather have if possible, but Gileswould be a nice ickup if we coul sign him to a long deal to ensre he'd be around. Only 27-28 yrs old. .290 avg .360 obp .460 slg.... Pie would be about all going their way besides couple of below avg/marginal prospecs and I would want some type of decent prospect heading ur way, but I'd consider it. Of course Walker offers close numbers, but we all know how much Henrdy seems to want to trade Walker.

If he is available that would be great. I'm guessing it is not likely though.

Probably would have to throw in Murton too, which would be fine, of course. We could also send them an extra arm such as Wellymeyer if they so desire. But I wont get my hopes up. Rather than throw in Murton, I'd try to take back Milton which would get them out of that contract. But what use would we have with Murton? Like it or not, we are stuck with Jones.

Probably would have to throw in Murton too, which would be fine, of course. We could also send them an extra arm such as Wellymeyer if they so desire. But I wont get my hopes up.

I'd prefer he just stuck with Walker... SIGH....

Except Perez for Walker and either him or Jones hitting in the two hole. Thats more likely. And what about Gonzo requiring an extension to 2007 in order to waive his no trade rights? Meh. Hendry needs to think even more creative.