CaliforniaRaisin

As a longtime Corey supporter who would like to see him given one last chance, I have to admit that I completely understand where you're coming from. It's very difficult to justify bringing him back. The only good reasons I can think of is there aren't any good available CF to replace him, and Felix Pie should not break camp with this team next year. He missed half of this season and prior to this season he wasn't exactly lighting up the stat sheets. I'd rather have him in AA or even AAA next April, showing that the first half of 2005 was for real. I'd like to see an improvement in plate discipline, most notably in the k/bb ratio, and he still needs work on the baserunning. Remember, the majors isn't a place to learn, at least that's what the manager thinks, and if he hasn't shown the willingness or ability to develop any other kids, there's no reason to think he'll do so with Pie. There's still an outside shot that Corey could have a decent season next year, if only they'd stop trying to turn him into Otis Nixon. No, I don't have much confidence in that happening, but I don't see much of a realistic alternative either. Sign Giles & J.Jones & either bench CPatt or send him back to the minors. He is no longer a capable big league hitter, which his performance the last two years has proven. His defense is stellar, but the big league is meant for good overall players & CPatt is no where close to the major league level for a hitter. He does not belong on anyone's big league club. I still don't get why anyone would still consider starting this guy in CF for 06! It boggles my mind. Everyone's entitles to their opnion, I guess! His performance two years ago was not bad, especially before he got tired in September (he had been working back from injury since January).

At least Fred's stats haven't given up...

Congrats to Ricky Nolasco and Brandon Sing for combining to break 5 Jaxx team records.

I would: 2B Todd Walker LF Matt Murton 1B Derrek Lee 3B Aramis Ramirez RF Brian Giles (3-4 year deal only) C Michael Barrett CF Corey Patterson SS Ronny Cedeño SP: Carlos Zambrano Mark Prior Kerry Wood Greg Maddux Angel Guzman/Rich Hill/Sergio Mitre RP: Closer: BJ Ryan (free agent) Set-up: Ryan Dempster Scott Williamson Mike Weurtz/JVB Will Ohman Scott Eyre (free agent) I would love to get AJ Burnett, but I think getting Giles and Ryan would be better for the Cubs and I can't see them signing more than 2 big-name FAs (heck, I can only see them signing one). I would stay away from Furcal and Wagner.

I would: 2B Todd Walker LF Matt Murton 1B Derrek Lee 3B Aramis Ramirez RF Brian Giles (3-4 year deal only) C Michael Barrett CF Corey Patterson SS Ronny Cedeño SP: Carlos Zambrano Mark Prior Kerry Wood Greg Maddux Angel Guzman/Rich Hill/Sergio Mitre Bullpen Closer: BJ Ryan (free agent) Set-up: Ryan Dempster Scott Williamson Mike Weurtz/JVB/Robert Novoa LHP Will Ohman LHP Scott Eyre (free agent) I would love to get AJ Burnett, but I think getting Giles and Ryan would be better for the Cubs and I can't see them signing more than 2 big-name FAs (heck, I can only see them signing one). I would stay away from Furcal and Wagner.

I hope someone from the media caught this..

I can't consider Pinto on a list like this because of his poor performance at AAA to start the season.

As I read the question, these ar the top 5 prospects, just based on 2005 minor league stats, not tools/athletic abilities shown this season. Here goes: Position Players (in order): SS Ronny Cedeño OF Brandon Sing OF Felix Pie 2B Eric Patterson OF Matt Murton Pitchers (in order): RHP Ricky Nolasco LHP Rich Hill LHP Sean Marshall RHP Sean Gallagher LHP Mark Pawelek Of course, Ronny, Felix and Murton didn't qualify in terms of ABs in the minors and Pawelek in terms of IP. :P And, of course, my top prospects list looks quite different from that.

RHP Scott Taylor (Boise: 0-0, 15.00 ERA, 3 IP; Overall: 0-3, 8.19 ERA, 18.2 IP) vs. LHP Broc Coffman (1-2, 3.38 ERA) Boise is 1 back of first-place Tri-City with 2 games left. To make the playoffs, Boise has to win their last two games and hope for a Tri-City loss.

Unless they lied about the Achilles injury in 2004 and were covering for an elbow injury.

Yeah, I got the impression from listening that Berg was tiring. This was the first time I got to listen to Nathan in a while - the volume was fine and everything. It was great listening to you; it's a shame it was the last broadcast of the season.

While most of the SF media seems (seemed?) to love Dusty, most of the fans I've talked to couldn't stand him and were thankful to get rid of him after 2002. (Of course, the same ones now hate Felipe Alou just as much.)

Is a longshot at a division title with a .500 record and getting swept in the divisional series worth risking Bonds' health for next season? Then again, who am I to stop them? Long shot at the division title? I disagree. They're 5 back with about 10 games against the Padres upcoming (plus games against the pathetic Rockies and Dodgers). I think Barry wants to show he can still productive if he's going to the Angels or Yankees as a DH next year. Something very fishy about all of this - apparently two weeks ago, the Giants had said there was no way he'd be back this year.

It has sounded like Dusty really has grown to dislike Chicago this season - I don't want him back, so hopefully he won't want to re-sign. Keep up the good work, Bruce!

Barry took BP today at Dodger Stadium and did a bit of running before the game. The rumor is that Barry will be starting tomorrow for the Giants. Mike Krukow/ Duane Kuiper (SF broadcast) and Vin Scully (LA broadcast) both addressed the rumor, saying it was all the talk amongst the press folks at Dodger Stadium, but no one could find confirmation for it.

lets go back with the Koronka experience :wink: and no im not on drugs...if were going to lose, lets lose badly. I think Koronka can pitch better than Rusch has his last 4 or so starts.

So far, they haven't extended Dusty yet. Hopefully they don't.

The Cubs will need more OBP than just Giles to fix the offense. Won't Murton, Giles and Cedeno help "fix the offense??" It's not like they're in the bottom tier. The bigger concern should be getting the pitching back to where it was in 2003 and upgrading the defense will help that. Murton I think will help, but I don't expect Cedeño to hit that well in his rookie year. CF might be plugged by Corey, who will have to make major strides to put up a respectable OBP after this year's debacle. CF might also be filled by Felix Pie, who'll probably have a rougher jump to the big leagues than I think Cedeño will have. I don't think those three new faces in the starting lineup is enough to fix the offense.

The Cubs will need more OBP than just Giles to fix the offense.

How much "truer" does Aramis' throws have to be? Derrek Lee can handle "untrue" throws, I think.

EPatt finishes the season as the MWL batting champ, Harvey the HR champ. Ryan Harvey misses the RBI title by 1, 101 to 100. :(

Berg went 3.2 IP, gave up 4 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, didn't catch the K totals. Justin gave up all 4 runs in the 9th and some of those runs were inherited and scored on by the reiever who followed him.

The Chiefs win it 8-6. All the Peoria and South Bend players are giving each other five - nice gesture by both teams.

South Bend has scored 4 in the 9th and it's now just 8-6, Peoria. The go-ahead runner is up to bat, but there are two outs.

If you want to thank us, take Dusty Baker off our hands. We'll make it a trade. We give you Dusty, you give us Pujols. O:)