NorthsideAvenger

If KW finishes the season with those numbers....he would be considered the TOP FA pitcher available, and I almost positive that he could get a long-term deal. And no, the Cubs should cut bait---either way---on Wood this offseason. It is apparent the young man needs a change of scenery.

Not going to happen. Hendry already got his extension, so I seriously doubt they will fired him about month after re-upping.

Baker wouldn't even stand up for Barrett. He may have thought Barrett was wrong (or really didn't see the play), but he should had stood behind Barrett. Seeing that, I am not surprise to see him take a shot at ARam, even tho Dustbrain needs to take a shot at the WHOLE team.

Yes. I think the premium membership has generated enough money to surpass Florida Marlins payroll. Pitching Staff: soccer10k, HHHBK21, Cubbies75 C: Long hair. Good at hiding brass knuckles. 1B: Some tall guy. 2B: IowaCubsFan 3B: Cubbies75 SS: Some short guy who can stop. RF: Roast CF: Outshined LF: BigSlick Bench: ndistops, reggiemiller rules Ryan Theriot: UMFan83 Manager: Anyone who believes the 27 outs is the most valueable posession we have. i called short im short and i have lightning speed and i have the glove work for short well.. hitting wel ill do better then neifi! :D Fine, I guess I can babysit you guys while you are playing baseball. But player be ware...I demand players, who actually KNOWS what OBP means. I demand the players play the game "the right way." I want players who actually do more then "just show up." Willing to do that....then we got the Baker's Cubs beaten before a pitch is EVEN thrown. :wink:

I need some grass. I need something harder. And what are the odds that the Cubs will reach 70 wins in 2006?

Out of spite against whom? Cubs fans? Whatever. You believe in your conspiracy, and I'll believe in my conspiracy. And the reality is....Hendry has FAILED to do his job. Baker's teams have progressively gotten worse since he started in 2003, and thus FAILED. And the players have FAILED.

The Rangers picked up ~$50 million, depending on what part of his salary that applied to, and how much the Yanks would be willing to pick up of the remainder, it should be discussed. Although I'd remain on the sideline if it's the full contract (throw Pierre, Jones, Neifi, Rusch, Hendry and Baker together and I might talk). I wouldn't care if it was the full contract. He's the 2nd best offensive player in baseball. Behind who? Manny? And no I don't think Pujols is the best offensive player in MLB, I think ARod/Manny are just as good, if not better, and they play in a league where pitchers are more unpredictable then the NL. You are wrong. There is nothing you can point to to even make someone unfamiliar with the league say "eh, maybe he's got a point" It's not close. The difference in OPS between pujols and the #4 guy is the same as the difference between #4 and #60. Pujols has been consistently top 3 since he started playing while being much younger than all the people above him. this year he's simply crushing everyone. edit: I should point out that ARod and manny aren't in that top 4, or even close (top 20) I'd still take ARod or Manny over Pujols, any day of the week. Arod because he is a BETTER player, slightly worse hitter (still one of the game's best), and in his prime...Manny Ramirez simply because he is MUCH more feared then Pujols. I would RATHER pitch to Pujols, then Ramirez.

(Shaking head) The only thing that will surprise me NOW, is if the decide make the nightmare official and officially announce that Baker has agree to an extension. Outside of that...nothing surprise me about this team, this year.

To be fair, he's just swinging at batting practice fastballs. Bob Hamelin used to look amazing doing that, too. And, if I remember correctly, the Cubs became infatuated with Ryan Harvey after he put on a display for them during batting practice. But, I do like to see that the kid has a very good eye at the plate for a high school player. He'll likely do well with whatever team drafts him, after the Cubs draft some fast guy with a rocket arm who has no clue what to swing at or what not to swing at. Drew Stubbs! I'm tired of toolsy High School players. If there is a college hitter that can be taken with the Cubs pick, I would rather have a kid that has a better chance at reaching his potential, over some raw HS with enormous potential. If Stubbs/Longoria are still there, I'd take them over any HSer right now. The Cubs haven't hit with a HSer in the first rd in yrs. CPatt/Montanez/Dopirak/Harvey are either coloassal busts, or momentual busts. So, how about the Cubs go after a college hitter---if applicable---in the first rd. I am on the Drew Stubbs bandwagon (or is it bandwgn?)

BTW - Anyone else surprised that the Baseball Lords haven't passed down a suspension yet on Barrett? Maybe the "Baseball Lords" were just as pleased that somebody punch the crap out of AJ.

The Rangers picked up ~$50 million, depending on what part of his salary that applied to, and how much the Yanks would be willing to pick up of the remainder, it should be discussed. Although I'd remain on the sideline if it's the full contract (throw Pierre, Jones, Neifi, Rusch, Hendry and Baker together and I might talk). I wouldn't care if it was the full contract. He's the 2nd best offensive player in baseball. Behind who? Manny? And no I don't think Pujols is the best offensive player in MLB, I think ARod/Manny are just as good, if not better, and they play in a league where pitchers are more unpredictable then the NL.

So everybody else ready for another day of exciting Cubs baseball? Yeah...well, me neither. --------------------------------- I think the Cubs are gearing up to complete the game in 27 pitches. I think tonight's the night they make that history.

I don' think the Dodgers will be too much of a factor in getting Maddux. Unless they are willing to give up Billingsley and/or another top prospect for Maddux...they ain't going to get Maddux. I think there is too much bitterness from the Milton Bradley fiasco for the Colleti and Hendry to pull off a trade.

The question is: wasn't he the young Banks boy on Fresh Prince?

But then again...who is going to throw AJ Burnett money at Prior...when he is still on the DL?

Bingo!!!! Z needs to shut his piehole. Why because AJ was "showing him up?" Run the dang bases as a PROFESSIONAL (and not on your back, either) AJ. AJ....reminds me of Jack Parkman of Major League 2, in that he is BEYOND an pesk, and he bordering the level of John Rocker in terms of being hated in baseball. Well...AJ, I think has MOVED ahead of Rocker in terms of being hated in baseball. Who thinks....AJ will want to sit out the three games at Wrigley? Cause I am willing to bet...if Carlos is pitching....AJ has one in his ear coming.

First: If Baker gets the extension, I think it will be more to Hendry doing it out of spite, moreso then it being a smart move. Second: I can see the Stros/Cards/Reds/Brewers gathering together as a family at a civic center someplace...just waiting for Baker getting an extesion. And the moment it comes....they'd celebrate knowing that during the duration of Baker's stay in Chicago, the Cubs won't be a factor.

Don't forget his teams "fans" give him a "standing ovation" for being a dirty player. So, the White Sox definately deserve their "thug like" reputation. Good riddance...the sooner the White Sox leave Chicago.....the sooner Chicago will be a safer place to live.

Sad thing....WHEN the Cubs trade Pierre they won't get nearly the quality back. But hey....that fits the Buy high/sell low mantra the Cubs have been trying to establish.

I think you're overpaying in both cases. GROSSLY.

Fixed. And it ain't the Cubs. --------------------------- Any trade NOW, would be a feeble attempt at trying to salvage a crappy season. Let's call a spade a spade, this season is pretty much done, and the Cubs should be looking to UNLOAD, instead of RELOAD.

I really don't know if performance or fan reaction matters one bit in terms of Dusty getting his extension. Maybe...but Hendry knows he would be BURNED AT THE STAKE by the media if he even tried to give Baker an extension.

Silver lining: As long as the Cubs continue to play worse then the "Benchwarmers" (Heder/Schneider/Spade), then Hendry has to keep Baker's "extension" in his back pocket. And if the Cubs play bad long enough, then Hendry can not ever justify giving Baker and extension.

Yeah, well...those 79 pitches might be enough for Nolasco to throw a complete game shutout against the Cubs.

Mike Piazza was a 62nd round pick, and the only reason Lasorda took him was as a favor to Piazza's relative (I forget which one exactly). Why can't we catch that? Maybe because....Piazza is the exception and not the rule. Name another player from rds 45-60 who is likely going to the HOF? Heck name another from rds 45-60, who is EVEN playing in the majors? Well, since 1998 the MLB has limited the draft to 50 rounds, that limits a lot of "current" players who were in the 45-60 range. Yes Mike Piazza is an exception to the trend. But so are Keith Hernandez (rd 42 1971), Kenny Rogers (rd 39, 1982), Jeff Conine (rd 58, 1987), Isringhausen (rd 44, 1991), and Mark Buehrle (rd 37, 1998). And just as an aside, Scott Seabol, who was on the 2001 Yankees AL-Champions, was an 88th round pick. I drew my line in the sand at rd 35, because no matter where you draw it, it's rather arbitrary. These guys are exceptions. But looking at draft histories, the success of 1st rounders while becoming more commonly contributors in the Majors, success isn't a guarantee at all. Many of them never make it at all. And yet...only Buehrle is the only one that COULD be a HOF when it is said and done. The point is....somebody wonder why the Cubs couldn't catch a break and find a Mike Piazza late in the draft, and all I said was...the Dodgers were pretty much lucky in finding Piazza.