NorthsideAvenger

I agree. The odds on the Cards and the Cubs working out a deal for a rule 5 guy that can't stick must be astronomical. I doubt Mateo would have been the player that prevents the Cubs and Cards from working out a deal. Chances are...the Cards did NOT like what they saw from Mateo and we all too glad to return him to the Cubs.

Personally, I like Johnny Defendis---you know the Cubs resident player with a superhero name--- and Darin Downs as my two sleepers of the yr.

Don't be too excited, Meat.... http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060323cubs,1,1629361.story?coll=cs-home-headlines GAHHHHHHHHHH :wall: Means nothing. It's an article about the Hairston legacy. What are they gonna say. "all this heritage isn't going to earn him a spot"? It's not "nothing." (dang double negative) Hendry and the Cubs have been on this "pitching and defense" kick all offseason, and this statement confirms what most fans were afraid of, and that the Cubs---as of right now---value Hairston's "glove" over Walker "bat", which is a shame.

Don't be too excited, Meat.... http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060323cubs,1,1629361.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

No. You can find guys like Texieria---not necessarily switch-hitting---who can hit a ton to stick at first base. But guys like Prior don't come to your organization that often. So I doubt the Cubs "regret" not taking Tex. Not that this is a big deal, but the quote you attributed to me above was not something that I wrote. Just for the record. Fixed, and sorry for that.

Mateo won't pitch for the Cubs. Chances are he'll be dealt for ptbnl or he'll leave as a 6 yr FA whenever that is.

And who gets the short end of that stick? Probably the Pirates, but they also save the most money. I was refering to our OF situation. Prolly Matt Murton.

That's only if you believe the organization still view Hill as a starter---which I don't. The feeling I get is that while they do love his "curveball" the organization---like it's fans---are still confused as to where to put Hill---starter or reliever. Personally, I see Hill as a reliever, seeing as his stuff is hardly starter quality---notwithstanding the curve. I still think it is too early to say who is ahead of who to be the 5th starter or the first one called up. But even if Marshall is at AA and Hill is at AAA, I don't think it will matter much who is at the higher level. The Cubs decision will likely be based on who they think is throwing better at the time. Agreed. Alot of fans only want to see the "hyped prospects" instead of the "right prosepcts" and that is not a smart decision. If Marshall is pitching better then Hill by the end of April and the Cubs need him...so be it, or vice versa.

Let's not forget who the Cubs are....by deadline the Cubs will be in no clearer position then they are now. I seriously doubt the Cubs are going to make any big moves. You know the Cubs will be too good to give up the season, but too mediocre to actually think they'd make the playoffs.

IMO, he hasn't earn the job, simply because this is a small sample size in SPRING TRAINING (scrubs supreme). Marshall has given Baker/Hendry a good impression about what he can do (and Marshall has leapfrogged Hill as the first pitcher to be call up during the season), but Sean still needs at least a strong half yr at AAA before he is ready.

No. You can find guys like Texieria---not necessarily switch-hitting---who can hit a ton to stick at first base. But guys like Prior don't come to your organization that often. So I doubt the Cubs "regret" not taking Tex.

Korea WAS THE BEST TEAM IN THE TOURNAMENT, anybody who disagree apparently wasn't watching the WBC. KOR 2, TPE 0 4 Mar KOR 10, CHN 1 5 Mar KOR 3, JPN 2 12 Mar KOR 2, MEX 1 13 Mar KOR 7, USA 3 15 Mar KOR 2, JPN 1 18 Mar JPN 6, KOR 0 They beat the HIGHLY more talented USA team---convincingly. They beat Japan---twice in HIGHLY competitive games. They beat the teams they needed to in China and Chinese Taipei. To me...Korea was the BEST TEAM in the tournament, and you have no facts to prove otherwise. On the flip side, being the best team, doesn't mean squat, if you run into a team that "turn the switch on." Cuba is arguably the most talented team in the WBC, but Korea...was hands-down the best team in the tourny, WITHOUT ANY DOUBT.

I could see Boston being interested in Scott Williamson for a late inning, possible closer if Foulke continues to suck. Or Baltimore is Ray fails, or Atl if Resitma/Villereal/Cormier fails. The Cubs don't need to trade Williamson just yet, seeing as their is a market for Williamson, just got to wait for it.

Overall, it was a success. BUT there are still major flaws with the tournament, such....how is it that the tournament's BEST team---Korea (who went 6-1, I believe) was left out of the championship game? Sorry, but neither Cuba nor Japan should have been in the championship game....Korea should had been given the automatic bid after their 6 win, and Cuba/Japan should have battle it out to see who face Korea in the championship game. Japan maybe the "Paper and hstory champs" but we all know who was the BEST team in the tournament, thus....IMO, because of the rules of the WBC, Korea got cheated. That is something baseball has to fixed before the next WBC. The OTHER MAJOR FLAW...has to do with roster. American born player should not be allow to play for other countries, even the their family heritage is rooted through that certain country. If you are not from the country of your heritage (Mike Piazza :roll:) .you should not be allow to play for said country. Otherwise it was a great tournament---although they were overshadow by March Madness.

Damn right!The MLB season matters more ,this tournament doesn't matter etc.Excuses.Thats probably the attitude the players took.Thats why I'll be watching Japan play in about 5 minutes.They thought they were so far superior that they could play themselves into shape while winning it all.Its obvious who wanted it more. TRY AND TELL THAT TO THE NON-US PLAYERS of the tournament. Besides nothing ever matters, until there is some history. By 2009...HOPEFULLY, the WBC will become a more settled and entertaining tournament, and by then....who would need the Olympics.

I'd rather play for KC or Pittsburgh, yes. Right now, I'd rather play for South Africa then Tampa Bay.

Theoretically, you are correct. But in practice, that's just not true. You can hold a guy down for only so long before he will turn on your franchise. If I ran a low budget team, I'd try and accumulate as much young talent as possible. I would keep my best guys in the minors as long as possible, but that's really only about a few months to one season after it's become obvious he should come up. They've probably already crossed that threshold, and risk losing any sort of good will between them and the player. If you call a guy up early enough he might be willing to cut you some slack when trying to extend him through his arbitration years or possibly even free agency. When you go too long, he's not going to play ball as willingly. Your post would hold water, if it weren't for one fallacious assumption you're making... The DRays are a competently run organization with a long term vision. They aren't, so... They could be. There's new ownership. New GM. New manager. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm not saying they're good or bad. Just that there's no track record. They might, in the end, turn out OK. Certainly, it's better this year than last for them. It certainly can't be worse. Well, they could be the Royals...:jocolor: That would be a step up from the DRays. At least from time-to-time the Royals ATTEMPT to put up a competent (even tho thy sign the wrong players for too much money) team on the field.

If memory serves me correct, but Adam Everett (4th rd in 1995) was drafted by the Cubs in 1995. Jon Lieber was drafted by the Cubs in the 9th rd of 1991. I know they sign and developed with other teams, but you COULD TECHNICALLY put these two players on the list of players the Cubs drafted after the 1st rd, who went on to a useful career.

Albert went to a community college in Kansas.

Delmon Young has already become a malcontent in the DRays organization, and for the right reason. The DRays are a cheap-butt organization that is looking for money in the pocket, instead of the best possible team. It is of my opinion that EVEN right now, you could argue that Delmon Young is a better player the Huff. So, the DRays should go ahead and deal Young and Upton, cause I see NO REASON why either will want to re-sign with their franchise when FA hits. Tampa Bay is the reason why MLB needs to contract a couple of teams. TB has no intentions of actually competing, thus they should be eliminated from major league baseball. Rant over.

Is that like OJ Simpson saying he will continue to find Nicole's "killer?" Selig is a farce of a sports league president.

I haven't exactly followed Halladay's career much, but when I looked up his stats, the main thing that jumped out at me was that he threw 239.1 IP in 2002 and 266 IP in 2003. That's a lot of innings. Today Seinbrenner is :cry: and that makes me :D . I hope Halladay never leaves Toronto.

If this deal goes down, how can the Cubs justify keeping Grissom, then? Correct me if I am wrong, but Pierre/Murton/Jones are the starters....then you have Hairston and Mabry who would "feesibly" play the OF adequately. The you add Matos, alledgely, and that would bring the total of 6 players (not counting Grissom) who could play the OF (even tho a couple of those players can play the IF). I mean...Matos would be the Cubs best defensive OF bar none. So how can the Cubs "justify" keeping Grissom, even if they acquire Matos?

Why are the Cubs considering this deal when they got in-house candidates who can do the same type of production that Matos would provide. I mean between Grissom/Pagan/Restovich (Restovich is still in camp, ain't he) couldn't they do the same as Luis Matos? And if the Cubs have interests in Matos, why couldn't the O's/Cubs do a Matos for Patterson, straight up? Nothing in this Walker discussion makes sense. Well, right now....nothing with the Cubs makes sense.

Now WHY did we re-sign Nefti, again? Oh well, I wouldn't mind if the Cubs sign Bobby Hill.