NorthsideAvenger

with a little "change of scenery," "proven veteran," and "post-season experience" talk sprinkled in. But he started in Game 7 of the World Series? Doesn't that count for som.....never mind...the Cubs ain't making the WS.

(Feel free to move this topic, if you believe it doesn't belong here) I know, it is Gammons, so take it with a grain of salt, but when they were talking about Samardzija on BBTN, Gammons "reported" the Cubs were close to signing, Sammy to a "reported" $8 million dollar major league contract :shock: , which instantly blew my mind. If THIS was true, then the Cubs are truly trying to convince Samardzija to give up football. To which got me thinking....what would it take to get Samardzija to give up football for good?

Don't forget that comes to :shock: 0.98 WHIP. If he velocity comes back, maybe 2007 might not be a longshot. I don't think the velocity will be that big of a deal; it will be mentioned but it shouldn't affect his game too much as long as he mixes his pitches and his speeds good enough. It shouldn't, and I agree. BUT....Prior was most effective---when heatlhy---throwing between 93-95. If he is only throwing 88-91, then.....he could be hurt by ML hitters.

The problem with Hendry (I WAS a backer of Hendry, not a hater, just not a supporter) is that he focuses too much on a certain need. Hendry has been focusing too much on specialists type players (Hairston for versatility, Perez for his glove, Mabry because he hits left handed, and Rush because he "throws" left handed), and not enough on "jack of all trades" players. Guys who can hit, field, throw, run...have baseball instints, and produces. And until the Cubs learn how to spend the money CORRECTLY, this team will continue to be mocked as a "Major League franchise."

Don't forget that comes to :shock: 0.98 WHIP. If he velocity comes back, maybe 2007 might not be a longshot.

The Cubs are not good enough to be a contender, but not bad enough to be considered one of the worse teams. In other words....they are mediocre. And yet how the Cubs fans see mediocre, and the Cubs management see mediocre are completely different. Visions of medocity: Cubs fans: blow it up, and chalk another line in the wall. Let's make it officially 98 yrs since the last title. We see the sitaution realistically. Cubs managment: Dude, we need all of our horses back. They believe that once Prior, Miller, and Lee come back, a miracalous run is in store. They see the situation with pixie dust. Blah.....Cubs.

APPARENTLY......the Cubs felt they gave everything they had just to reach 3 game winning streak. These guys are exhausted. :roll:

Russ Ortiz= Dusty Boy. Should the Cubs fans be worried?

Next game....try and find Waldo at a candy cane store. :D

No, I don't want Soriano. Not because of talent, attitude or anything like that, but simply because he would be a two month rental. He's not going to re-sign with an NL team unless he got a similar deal that Beltran got. And quite frankly, neither player is worth that contract. Besides....the Cubs are about 20 wins away (10 wins to get to .500, another 10 wins to get to 10 over .500) before they can consider adding talent to this roster.

Your comfort level isn't important to the Cubs. Not to sound mean, but I don't think Hendry goes around claims that he needs MPrior--a Cubs fan on the MB---to be comfortable with the decision on KW. My guess is, if they are going to make the move, somehow your "comfort" level won't be a part of the decision. Your really could have saved this. It's pretty unnecessary. I don't think the Cubs are consulting you for your opinion on the matter, either, but that didn't stop you from expressing it, did it? Look, I apologize ahead of time when I said "not to sound mean". Look, I am naturally thick skin, and I apologize if there are some thin skin fans on the board. Call it insensitive, fine, but I won't change, I may ADAPT what I say, but I won't change. I will apologize that it came off as STRONG, and MEANSPIRITED, that wasn't my intent, and if you think it was....well that is your problem (not singling anybody out, specifically), not mine. I was trying to be sarcastic. Which apparently, NOBODY got. :shock: And I NEVER said they are considering "my opinions", so stop putting words in my mouth. I just said that I highly doubt (and I apologize for singling out a certain poster) the Cubs are going to consult Cubs fan on every move. Look, everybody has opinions, I respect that, contrary to popular belief....but let's have REALISTIC opinions, and not fear based opinions, shall we? (burp) How about that Marmol? Maybe, TC Hinrich was right....sometimes this board can be abit oversensitive. I like the board, but boy...thin-skin it is.

I call his RIGHT ARM.

Your comfort level isn't important to the Cubs. Not to sound mean, but I don't think Hendry goes around claims that he needs MPrior--a Cubs fan on the MB---to be comfortable with the decision on KW. My guess is, if they are going to make the move, somehow your "comfort" level won't be a part of the decision. . He's never healthy enough. And when he is...he hardly ever goes more the 6 innings, and and hardly throws less then 100 pitches in said innings. In his short stin as a RELIEVER in 2005, he posted: (IN 12 IPs) 2.25 era .100 BAA 17:5 k:bb ratio 0.75 WHIP To me...he did all right as a RELIEVER. And I don't think those numbers would change if he was a permanately changed to a reliever. Which is why, if you are planning to use him, USE him, and not yo-yo him throughout the game. As a reliever he could give the Cubs 2 to 3 innings every other day, which would save the pen. Now if you give KW all offseason to prepare for a permantely role in the pen, I think he will make the transistions nicely. Wood, I hate to say...has had 8 yrs to prove his worth as a starter, and he hasn't earn his place in the rotation. Fault the bullpen, or the offense, all you want....but he hasn't gotten the job done. As of right now...Wood maybe more helpful to the Cubs as a reliever.

:-$ [-X

People who need an excuse not to like him, and have no other proof besides the (unfortunatley) accepted myth that he is a poor defender. Walker is a poor defender, that's no myth. He's a poor defender if you compare him to guys like Castillo/Hudson/Igauchi/, but with other 2B, Walker a mere average defender. He does the job at 2b, IMO, and that is all that counts.

The Cubs could reach NEW territory after today. I mean the Cubs are looking at a 3 game winning streak, something that hasn't happen since April 23-25 :shock: . And 3 games is the longest winning streak the Cubs have had this yr. I hope Johnny B and the Cubs are not afraid of heights, because they COULD soar to 3 games in a row..... :roll:

UNPOSSIBLE? Is that even a word, Tim? :wink: If we were playing Scrabble, I would definately call for a "challenge." UNPOSSIBLE. :lol: Sounds like word Johnny B. would use.

I think I saw Prior doing the worm at a bar Saturday night, does that count :D ?

You know what guys, I still take a HEALTHY Prior, Michael Barrett and a developing Mark Reed (.312/.367 OBP last time I look, his slugging isn't there, yet, but only time) over Joe Mauer. Joe is going to be great, but, I'd still take young pitching like Prior, over young hitting, anyday, with the exception perhaps of Miguel Cabrera, or David Wright. Even then, I'd still have to think long and hard. Besides, Joe Mauer would had gone to FSU, if he wasn't selected by the Twins, so I seriously doubt Mauer would be even in the ML with any other teams, considering he was ultra talented in football.

I'm with you. The kid doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. Save the snark for the truly deserving targets. Agreed. The fact that he came up clutch with a GRAND SLAM in the ninth, makes him BETTER then any current Cubs..

Sweeney is also quoted as saying that he spoke with Grimsley and was told that he didn't mention any names. That sounds to me like Grimsley told the Feds everything out of fear but now he's trying to keep face with friends and former teammates. In which case, Sweeney has no real idea of what is or isn't true. Link Well, if Grimsley told Sweeney that, then there's two possibilities. 1. Grimsley is lying to Sweeney. 2. A federal agent lied in an affadvit signed and submitted to a Federal judge. I think I'll go with door number one. And if Grimsley lied to Sweeney, it's just as easy that his people lied to Mihfiled when they asked if he were named in the affadavit. 1: Lying to a fellow player, and lose all credibility and NEVER pitch in the bigs again, and he would be consider a RAT...OR... 2: Lie to a FEDERAL AGENT about he used/using in an affadvit signed and submitted to a Federal Judge, and face prison time for obstruction of justice, perjury, falsifying documents, etc....to which he will never pitch in the BIGS again. Either way...Grimsley career is over, and he is BONED. Grimsley is trying to save face, by saying he never "mentioned" anybody's name. Prison time, is most definately in Grimsely (great name for his situation..GRIMsley) future. How much time, is clearly dependant on how cooperative he is.

You can't be disappointed with Murton, considering the team his on, and the manager. This kid is going to slg as he gets older. Maybe not like a BARRY BONDS, or whatnot, but I could see him put up OPS in the Carlos Lee range, once he learns ML pitching. Hendry saw Bynum at a TruVale Hardware store, and felt the kid had some tools.

Physically and talent wise, Colvin reminds of this guy..... http://baseballreference.com/o/o'neipa01.shtml Pretty good player, wouldn't you say? Now, I am not saying Colvin will be another O'neill, but I do believe that Colvin will be a darn good player for the Cubs. I believe Colvin is going to justified being the 13th pick. That is why I DISLIKE short-term analysis, esp during/immediately after the draft. That is so shortsided. You have to wait till 2008 before you can fully critique the pick of Colvin at 13th.

Tim Wilken has had alot of recent success with the draft. If he believes this kild, Colvin, will be a fine player in baseball, than I going to believe him and the scouting team (who prolly scouting him all yr, and they already know the strengths/weaknesses of Colvin) over certain fans who were not happy about the pick (wasn't singling out anybody). I am going to trust a guy who has been at his job for over 20 yrs, and had success, over message board scouts/coaches (no offense).

I believe it's actually Arizona, not ASU. And the Cubs have offered him $500,000. But he's a Padres fan. Eww... Nah, he will be a fan of the Cubs, if they pony up the dough.