NorthsideAvenger

Whoa.....the Yanks are rumored to be interested in Jacques Jones? My response is...why the h-e-double hockey sticks, isn't Jacques playing RF for the Yanks? I'd take Andy Phillips STRAIGHT UP for Jones.

Uh...no? :D I don't know of any "nicknames" he Samardjiza had before the Cubs drafted him, so instead of posting his last name, I saw he had Sam, and thought it would be easy enough to remember. I didn't start calling Samardjiza, because it could catch, I call him that, to help me remember he had an alphabet type last name. I like calling him Sammy, and I will continue to call him Sammy, with sometimes calling him Shark. You don't like, handle your business, but I am going to continue to call him Sammy and/or Shark.

I have a BRILLIANT idea...how about the Cubs DON'T sign any of the big FA pitchers, and let guys like Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman, JK Ryu, Sean Marshall all battle it out for the 3-4-5 spots. Or how about signing/trading for a decent workhorse guy like a Steve Trachsel (I know, I know) if any of the young guys are struggling. I'm more interested in getting a big bat for the OF, moreso then getting a high price FA pitcher, ala AJ Burnett, or Mike Hampton.

KW Update: KW could be done for the year: http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-csep21.html I just wish the Cubs organization would have people that ACTUALLY know what they are doing.

These are some of their top prospects and you can't forget number one pick in the draft, Josh Hamilton. I had no idea Dukes had behavior issues. Here's something I found about Elijah Dukes: "Dukes was a multi-sport star in high school, and had a signed scholarship with NC State to play linebacker. However the Rays were able to persuade him to play on the diamond after taking him with the 74th overall pick in the '02 draft. Dukes actually slid quite a bit because of his football scholarship, but also because of some off-the-field issues. He has been arrested for assault, has taken anger management courses the last two years, and has had his share of ejections and arguments on the field. " http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:-S0h4LXxQK4J:raysbaseball.com/Elijah_Dukes.shtml+Elijah+Dukes&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 On yeah, HE DOES have attitude issues. The only reason why you didn't hear much about Dukes, is because of the fact that Delmon Young considers himself the baseball god, and that everybody should kiss his butt. Dukes was able to stay in his shadow, which was good, but also bad, because Dukes has a serious jealousy of Young, and how the DRays has handle him literally like a "millon dollar baby." Put it this way....Montgomery COULDN'T WAIT for Young to live the city. Dukes wasn't exactly given a "farewell party," either. Both kids are incredibly talented, but I wouldn't trade for either, seeing as they would spend more time "discussing their problems with Selig" then actually playing the game of baseball.

BK; Appreciate the time and effort for that analysis, and whatnot...but I haven't the clue what you just said. :-k Was it in english, or should I go to college and get a PHD in some mathematical course, to understand what you just wrote. =D> on the research, and th detail report, but again....what your said could had been written in Arabic for all I know. My belief is that while studying statistics can be vital, it can be overrated, and overstated. Again baseball isn't play through statistics, or on paper, it play on a Diamond.

My 5 yr old nephew could upgrade the Cubs statistically.

Now that Clemson has been eliminated from the CWS, how long till Tyler Colvin signs? I heard this Drew Rundle kid could be a sleeper/keeper. Can anybody give a quick rundown on him? He sounds intriguing.

Furcal's OBP isn't that much better than Cedeno's. I just hate Cedeno's inability to see pitches at certain points. I think Furcal is a better player at this stage, hopefully Cedeno improves his patience. Remove your sunglasses, dude, please. Cause considering AGE, and FINANCIAL commitments, Cedeno is performing better then Furcal. Cedeno didn't start progressing as a offensive player, till like 3 yrs ago. So he still have a ways to go. Not to mention this is Cedeno's first full season in the majors. So, you expect similar numbers to what Cedeno has put up. I fully expect Cedeno to improve in those areas as he gets older. What is Furcal's "excuse" for being a below-average SS?

The MLB draft rules are really bizarre. A gentlemen's agreement exists among all of the teams. While there is no slotting system for picks in terms of salaries, there are still recommended contract amounts for each pick/round. If a team's offer goes over one of those amounts, MLB can send a sternly-worded letter to that team asking them to rescind the offer, which teams can follow or blow off altogether. Nonetheless, Selig has NO authority to stick his nose in the day to day business of any franchise in MLB. Especially if said franchise are going by written bylaws of the game. These "handshake agreements" does not---at least to me---open the door for Selig to be able to step in an act as an owner (regardless of the fact he used to be an owner, himself) and help with the negotiations. Unless the Cubs are breaking a LEGITIMATE rule, then Selig needs to bit his tongue. If the Cubs want to give Sammy $7.25 mill signing bonus that is THEIR business, not Selig. Besides HOW MANY 5th rders are going to demand that kind of bonus, anyways? Sammy is a special case, an exception to the rule.

I understand that. And a part of me, really hopes that Sammy struggles in his senior yr that drops him from the 1st rd to say...the 3rd/4th rd.

I don't believe they've ever scored more than 26. The Cubs FRANCHISE once score 36 runs in a game against Louisville back in 1897. :shock: I remember day as if it was yesterday...aw...memories... Ya know..... I vaguely recall the CUBS beating Louisville the day before Custer bought it out in South Dakota !! Ya know, I vaguely recall seeing some "unmanlike" guy claiming to be a guy name "Clint Eastwood" wearing some very gay like cowboy clothes, claiming to be from the future.

I don't believe they've ever scored more than 26. The Cubs FRANCHISE once score 36 runs in a game against Louisville back in 1897. :shock: I remember day as if it was yesterday...aw...memories... Ya know..... I vaguely recall the CUBS beating Louisville the day before Custer bought it out in South Dakota !! Fred wrong on a stat?? :shock: Not "wrong," but overlooked. And technically...it wasn't the Cubs per se, it was your fighting Chicago Colts, same franchise to. :D

Wouldn't work. Games spent on the DL don't count toward the suspension. He'd have to serve the 10 game suspension immediately after coming off the DL. That happened recently with Eric Gagne. Not to sound like a prick, my apologizes...but reread the bolded part. It was a nice thought, just to mess with Selig.

chicagosports.com First: Sammy a fifth rd pick got more in $7.25 signing bonus, then Upton the former #1 overall pick got. I wonder how Upton feels now? :shock: Second: Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the president of baseball can't personally get himself involved with a MLB franchise. I know he has done it before (ARod trade, and the Expos/Nats situation), but to me...Selig had NO RIGHT to interfered in the middle of a transaction. Once again, Selig has proven himself to be the biggest dummy in sports.

Of course:

I don't believe they've ever scored more than 26. The Cubs FRANCHISE once score 36 runs in a game against Louisville back in 1897. :shock: I remember day as if it was yesterday...aw...memories...

The Cubs actually had a discussion with Piven about this before it happened and he told them he wouldn't use the "B" word, but then did it anyway. You gotta love it. Stickin it to the man. besides Z flirting with a not hitter this been the best Cubs moment this season for me. Shades of Steve McMichael... :lol: Tag team?

LaTroy Hawkins' ERA as a Cub - 2.76. That statement is so wrong it's not even funny. 69% Save Percentage disagrees. A good percentage of those came as a set-up man, where he only had opportunities to lose the lead and never an opportunity to get a save. Every set-up man in the majors has a dreadful save percentage, because every time they blow a lead, it's a blow save, but when they do their job, it's a hold and not a save. In any event, the notion that a guy that gave up less than 3 runs per 9 innings (substantially better than league average) is somehow the "worst" Cub pitcher over any period of time is insane. In fact, it's so insane that I can't even believe you're taking that position. If I remember correctly, Hawkins was very good as a setup man but moved to closer early in the season and had a terrible time holding a lead ever since. Maybe you take out a couple blown saves, but it's still an attrocious percentage for a closer. 80% is pretty much the bare min. to hold the position on a halfway decent team. srbin; Hawkins was GREAT as a set-up (which he should have been kept in THAT role) as was well-worth his contract. The problem was Baker thinking that Hawkins could close (NM neither Kelly or Gardenhire couldn't get him to close in Minny), is when he wasn't worth his contract. So, Hawkins is eliminated from the worst pitchers in recent memories that played for the Cubs. Estes Rusch Fassero Those three are tied for the worst pitchers in the last 15 yrs on the Cubs.

You know how the Cubs can beat the 10 game suspension? By announcing that they have put Barrett on the 15 Day DL. I mean he had miss three games due to his back. The could retroactive it the day he missed his first game. That way...all Barrett would miss, in theory, is 5 games. But I know somehow that is no allowed, but hey.... :twisted: just to miss with baseball, and to see Kenny Williams get crazy again, would be well worth it.

I agree. I was a fan or Rothschild but it's wearing down. I never saw anything special from Spier, but I think a lot of people here like him for some reason. I think people like him because he has been solid at 3B. Having wavin wendell as your predecessor will do that to ya. Yeah, I'd just rather not keep anyone around connected to Hendry and Baker. It's nothing personal against him, but since he hasn't done anything noteworthy, flush this whole thing down the toliet and start over. The only reason why Speier is connected with Baker, is because they are both on the staff. Speier is not a "Baker boy" and Speier replaced a "Baker Boy" in Wendall. I still prefer to keep Speier, seeing as I think he would make a solid bench coach and/or manager. If for nothing else, firing Baker means Rothschild, Pole, Clines, Sarge are gone...I can't say the Cubs would do anything BUT improve.

I personally believe that is Sammy had devoted himself to baseball strictly, HE would be the best pitcher in the 06 draft, and NOT Miller. But because of his "split commitments" we don't know where Sammy is in terms of development. Sammy is said to be able to hit low to mid 90s, touching high 90s alot of times. His off speed pitches are definately a work in progress, and depends on who you ask...some people likes Sammy slider, (I've heard it's been compare to Clement's, not sure how accurate that is, but if it's true... :shock: ) and some thinks is a sloppy curve. Nonetheless....Sammy is definately a FIRST RD PICK, that dropped due to his "football commitments." If the Cubs get him to drop football for good, then the Cubs, will without a doubt get the TRUE STEAL of the 2006 draft. He used to throw the loopy curve before this season and scrapped it for the slider. It's supposed to be a better pitch but he still has a lot of work on it. if we have to pay him this much money, i don't see how it could be considered a steal. also, in response to those who say he'd be a better prospect if he concentrated only on baseball, i'd like to add that he'd also be a better prospect if he could throw a 110 mph screwball. neither appear to be the case though. The fact that at worst he was considered a 2 RD talent (could had gone in the first rd to supplemental) and the Cubs got him in the 5TH RD. That, to me, is considered a steal. Now he has to produce in order to be considered a "steal", tho. I wouldn't say he would be a better prospect in he stuck to baseball, but I will say this...he would have a better chance at living up to his talent, if he chose one sport, and dedicated himself to it.

They had to do something like that to even get him to sign. I like this deal...we won't be out much if he sticks to football...and if he plays he could be well worth the money... Agreed. If he picks football, the Cubs are out only 500k, but if he picks baseball, then they could possibly get the bigget steal of the 06 draft. This is definately a worthwhile gamble.

No, it's extremely back-loaded. By the time those years come around, he'll have to have picked one sport. The Cubs did a "smart move" by backloading the contract? Who knew Hendry could pull one from his bottom.

The problem is that the Cubs will end up paying some or most of the salary to "dump" these players, so it might be a great idea to play the kids, but the Cubs certainly won't be saving much money. At this point, I don't care if the Cubs save money, if they can move the "bums" off this team (Everybody knows then verbatim), then that would more the helpful to this team.