WrigleyField 22

The biggest thing that will keep us from improving drastically is the fact tht Lee is not likely to return to last years numbers. He still is a good hitter, but unless we get a capable number 4/5 hitter, and make sure Jones stays 6 or lower, the regression of Lee will ofset many of the improvements.

On the topic of International signings, did we ever get a new Pacific Coast Scout. Finding guys like Ryu and Choi is valuabl to the farm as well.

But, you can argue in a sense that the Cubs got that #1 pick back, and then some, when they acquired two former #1 picks for Hawkins (Williams, and Aardsma). Aardsma probably won't pan out, but Williams seems like a fair return for Hawkins. What I would like to see is that 2nd through 4th round money put back into players from the international market. I've been disapointed in the Cubs efforts to sign impact players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela the last couple of years. I'm not sure if that is Wilken's responsibility, or if that falls more on the scouts in those countries - Ortega & Serra. Whatever the case, I hope the Cubs use that money to find the next Felix Pie, Ronnie Cedeno, or Carlos Zambrano. I'm sure its not even and issue of having money from the draft class. The signing bonuses that are handed out to high roung picks should be more than enough to cover the cost of a project from Latin America, so much so that with or without those picks we should be trying to find the next Carlos Zambrano.

Last year the Cubs ranked 16th in the NL in OPS from CF. Florida was 15th. Wow. I didn't realize that Pierre was the only offensive output on the Marlins! Besides, it was a bad year last year, he is likely to rebound IMO. And also, his OPS isn't as important as his OBP. He needs to get on base. He has the speed to score from first. Anything extra just makes his job easier. Some of these new-fangled fans are dangerous. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. They read a couple books about sabermetrics etc. and all of sudden everything boils down to someone's OPS. Pierre's OBP and ability to disrupt pitchers rhythms are his primary attributes. I don't care if the guy doesn't hit a home run all season. Well, you guys are real class acts. New fangled fans? Okay meat. If you don't think OPS matters, fine, Hendry and the Cubs don't seem to think it matters much either and we've seen the results of their theories. Pierre was pretty much the Marlins only CF last year, and he sucked. Corey was not the only Cubs CF. Their overall production from CF sucked, but Florida's wasn't much better. If you replaced FL's CF production with the Cubs, they'd have still sucked as a team. This is why people think Pierre is only a slight upgrade. People actually take the time to investigate this sort of stuff and don't just base their opinions on conventional wisdom, cliches and myth pushers of a bygone era like Joe Morgan. Oh crap. I just realized I misread that original post. I didn't see that "CF", so thought you meant team as a whole. My mistake. Sorry But I still stand by my other statements. OBP is more important than OPS out of leadoff, and I believe Pierre will rebound fromhis down 2005 season. And although this statement may seem ironic considering my sig, Pierre's speed should help him. (my sig is in reference to someone like Jones that offers speed, but not OBP)

Our first pick is in the top half though, so hopefully they pick up an impact player. Someone who will be ready in a few years to come and make an impact, at any position.

Well after the events of last night I feel too bad for myself to feel bad for Edward anymore, so I present: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/snetsrak43/eddy.jpg

Last year the Cubs ranked 16th in the NL in OPS from CF. Florida was 15th. Wow. I didn't realize that Pierre was the only offensive output on the Marlins! Besides, it was a bad year last year, he is likely to rebound IMO. And also, his OPS isn't as important as his OBP. He needs to get on base. He has the speed to score from first. Anything extra just makes his job easier.

I don't get people saying Pierre is only a slight upgrade offensively. Is he overratd? Yes, but he is way better than Patterson was for us this year, and what he would likely be this year. Pierre is a good player. Don't judge him on one poor year. That being said it probably wont be enough to turn around this team. White Sox type pitching will change this team. I predict 82 wins. Also remember that Perez was actually good to start the year, and there is no way Lee matches his numbers from the first half. Its quite possible he will start out slow like normal. Combined with possible slow starts from Cedeno(since he is still inexperienced) and Wood missing early on, we may see a team that improves later in the year.(under a new manager ) At this point even if we got Tejada,I would only predict about 86-89 wins. The reasoning: Tejada would hit 4/5 allowing Dusty to put that "speedy" Jones in the two spot.

IM STUPID!!! Thanks for noticing sweetpeteman!

Beuerhle Carl Everett

And he can play 3B in a pinch, as well as a coner OF spot. Do it.

Looking at Drew's career he has alternated betwee seasons of 140sh games to 100ish games. Hes due up for another 140ish season. I'll take it!

Anyone think taking a chance on trading for Cruz would be alright? There's probably still better options left, but if they all go away and we are left between Cruz and Jones he might be the better option. On second thught if we are helping LA take a OF off their hands JD Drew might look nice in RF...

Why has Hendry neglected to target more guys with a high OBP? Giles was a free agent and adds high OBP with high SLG. Other cheaper trade options such as WIkerson and Bradley were present as well. Why has this not been addressed? - Edward K., Indianapolis, Ind. I feel bad for the poor guy. Its pobably not his fault he's stupid.

Poor Edward K not the only like this. This kid I go to school with is a Cubs fan so we are always talking about it. Hes a baseball player, so you figure he would be knowledgeable right? NO. Earlier in the offseason he thought that Niefi would be great at 2B. He brought up that he did so well early in the year. I don't remember exactly what he said, but here are several of the possibilities. "He's a Gamer" "He saved us last year" "OBP doesn't mean anything, he hits for a pretty good average" "Hes good at defense" "5mil is a steal!" He also thought (and I've talke to many people like this) who thought the Pierre trade was AMAZING. Now I like the Pierre trade. We overspent a little, and he alone won't save us. But the casual friend thinks we got the "best leadoff hitter in the game" for "nothing"

what will you do if that season actually comes to pass? I'd laugh at Maddux bringing Pina Colada's to the pitcher's mound. Then I'd cry watching drunk Maddux looks over his shoulder at a Pujols HR.

Choi wouldn't be a bad Lefty off the bench if we thought we could make him a LF. Otherwise he is strictly a PH and only plays 1B in blowouts or the 2 games Lee might miss throughout th season If he is non-tendered, I would like the Cubs to at least lok into it.

It would be prety stupid if we decided to look towards 2007 after trading a few good pichers for Pierre. Hendry is stuck now. Even if he wanted to aim for 2007, he can't- he's made the commitment to winning. He just needs to make a move for a good RF. Chances are he'll still have loads of money, so the smart thing would be to make a move for Millwood. Let's just say Wilkerson is available still, and we trade Williams, Novoa, and a lower prospecty You could still wait around for Tejada for a while before you lose out on Millwood. I won't even pretend like Walker is back so he gets traded for bench/bullpen. CF- Pierre LF- Murton 1B- Lee 3B- Ramirez RF- Wilkerson C- Barrett 2B- Perez/Hairston SS- Cedeno (Just trying to be realistic with that lineup- smart thing would be to keep Walker and then swap him to the 2 hole w/ Murton 6 or 7) SP- Prior Zambrano Millwood Maddux Wood(Rusch for when he's inured) Not as good as it could have been, but not throwing away the season. RF could be a variety of guys as well (Huff) I just happen to like Wilkerson the most. Even with Millwood's contract you should still have some money patch up the offense and cover raises next offseason. You have Hill and Guzman(or Williams if Guzman/Hill went in a Huff deal) with shots at the rotation, with guys like Mashall with an outside chance.

What did Barrett do to your family? Lowest BA, Lowest OBP, second lowest SLG only to Pierre In reality with the way the offseason is looking, hes more likely to be about 4th or 5th in all those categories.

Green would be nice in RF. But if we are going to trade with Arinona, I'd like to see the Cubs make a big splash and get Green and Quentin/Jackson/Tracy. One of them is bound not to fit and if we take on Green's whole salary plus throw in Patterso for their CF hole, along with some other payers, it might just work. Has to be worth a try, at least, and if you fail, you settle for only Green. Patterson Dopriak Novoa Marmol Sing (You could shift prospets around depending on who they like, thats just o I'd offer) FOR Green-paying full salary Quentin(would seem likely) Then Murton/Green/Quentin become basically a 3-way rotation between LF and RF. Yea, I know, I'm dreaming.

Jerry Hairston in RIGHT FIELD? Is this really how bad our offseason has gotten?

Pie's Age-Relative Chart http://firstinning.com/i/profile/2005-pie1985-02-08.gif

Or we could bring back Dubious! Even though his name doesn't sound French the way he prononces it. Should be DuBWAH right?

Maybe I'm crazy, but when they said they were expanding the bleachers I didn't expet them to just add a new structure to the previous one. I'm sure beause of building codes they had to ust completely gut it in order to meet new standards. Its not like they are changing the inside walls(except for that hole thing) and it doesn't appear like they are doing something radical on the outside. It is still Wrigley. Now at some point, it won't be Wrigley(say they completely gut and redo the upper deck), but it not at that point yet. And even if they want to take Wrigley away, so be it. I love it and all, but it will have to come down someday, and when that happens it won't take anything away from what was. And bottom line is, I'm a Cub's fan first. Wrigley is just a nice compliment.

Where's that pastor who posts on here? Maybe he can offer some insight into this trade from God.