NorthsideAvenger

Don't know if anybody posted a link but.... http://ksdk.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=88452 Mabry will be a Cubs by Wed. afternoon.

Cubs are NOT suitors for Giles :roll: (or atleast not major suitors) The Cubs are interested in Burnett, but NOT at five yrs. Sorry Brian Giles FANS but here goes.... Won't target Giles, but could target players like Wilson? :cry: :evil: :x I get the real feeling that Hendry clearly doesn't know how to build a team. Here's the article.... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5116520

Darn double post.

This is our only hope - Giles really doesn't want to go to New York. Still, money talks in the end. Always. It's possible Giles wants a ring, and thinks playing in New York is the most probable way of getting it. I think it's important to note that the Yankees have always been on the list of teams that Giles could not be traded to. Just wondering, but were the Cubs on that list? Not that I'm aware of. Both NY teams were and Toronto was. I think the Expos were when they were in Montreal. IIRC, the "ONLY teams" he would accept a trade to---when he was still with the Pirates---were the West Coast teams, and the Atlanta Braves. Every other team had to convince him to accept a trade. Obviously the only teams that virtually had no shot at Giles were crappy teams, and teams on the East Coast-sans Atlanta. My guess....it's either Anaheim or San Diego for Giles. Brian simply has NO INTERESTS in playing for the Yankees, or why play "phone tag" with Torre and O'neill? As it had been mention, the Yankees are simply being used to get more money.

Neo, you have gotten bitter.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3993 As you can tell, since his breakout 2002 yr his BA, OBP, SLG, OPS has all turn south. His power numbers are still there, and he can still run, BUT ONLY if/when he got on. I am not in favor of getting Soriano at any cost. He is simply Corey +too much money. No thank you.

He makes too much money for a team like KC, TB, etc, etc...But he isn't good enough (as of right now) to start for a contender. It wouldn't surprise me if Corey ends up in Minnesota or Texas.

First: It's Brosius not Brouscus. Hard name to spell, but it is Brosius. Second: i don't think Brosius officially announced his retirement. I think he just simply stop playing baseball. Cause I can't find an article, whatsoever, that stated he retired. I think after the 01 WS, he simply "quit baseball." Third: 12 pages of conversation about an OBVIOUS fake rumor. Man, we are desparate for something to happen.

I, for one, do like BJ Ryan, but I never thought the Cubs would have had a chance to sign him. And looking back at it now...getting Demspter sign at the contract he sign, and getting Howry/Erye are looking like relative bargains. With that said....who thinks BJ Ryan will be the #1 bust of a FA signing next yr?

Which Captain Caveman have YOU watched? Johnny Damon has maybe the 2nd weakest arm in baseball. We joke about Piere needed a cutoff man to get the back to the INF, but guess what...so does Johnny Damon. And giving up a couple of prospects for Pierre is better then giving Damon almost $10 mill per yr.

1) Felix Pie +10 +10 2) Mark Pawelek +10 +10 3) Ryan Harvey +10 +4 4) Rich Hill +10 +8 5) Eric Patterson +10 +4 6) Ronny Cedeno +10 +6 7) Carlos Marmol (my one of the board prediction) 8) Grant Johnson 9) Angel Guzman +10 +4 10) Brian Dopirak +10 +8 134

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/baseball/13252956.htm Must be hanging out with those Cubs fans, who believe Brian Giles will be in Chicago in 2006.

First: :shock: :roll: :shock: Second: As much as people are hating on Hendry for overspending, the BJ Ryan is simply mindboggling stupid. BJ Ryan is a good closer (not great, yet) but considering his numbers aren't significantly better then Dempters (as a reliever) in 2005, the Blue Jays should be hanged upside down by their toes on the flap pole. To pay twice as much as the Cubs did for Dempster is simply reeks of desparation. I rather have Howry and Eyre at a combine $7.7 then BJ Ryan at over $9 mill, simply because Eyre and Howry's contracts would/will be easier to move (if nec.) then BJ Ryan. Because the difference between Howry/Eyre and Ryan, is that in two yrs, if the Cubs would pick up a portion of the contract those two could be move to any team (hoping we won't need to move them, because here's hoping that are very good for the Cubs), whereas with Ryan, in 3 yrs....the Blue Jays will be begging Boston, Baltimore, LA, somebody to take him off their hands. Third: This messes up what the Mets are trying to do with Wagner. There is no way Wagner signs for 3 for $30 mill or 4 for $40 mill. But hey.... ](*,) to any team willing to pay $10 mill per for a 34 yr old closer. And :-s for the Canadian to give a pitcher who just complete his first season as closer to a slightly less then $10 mill per. Fourth: I know Dempster loves Chicago, but somewhere in the back of his mind he must be...... :shock: at the fact he could had gotten more. :oops: and FIXED.

He was hanging out with Glenallen Hill and Mel Rojas in the "Most ridiclous ways to injury oneself" club. With Clint Barmes as the president.

Now if we can get this statement: "Murton is the starting LF for the Cubs 2006" inbedded into Dusty's head, maybe we are on to something with the "Bright Red One." And I agree....Murt is ready to hurt some major league pitchers.

But considering the fact, that around September he had to be shut down, and it found it that Izturis needed "Tommy John surgery." Something tells me his 2005 was more of a product of playing through an injury he shouldn't have been playing through, moreso the fact he turn into Rafael Belliard. Once he gets healthy again, he won't be THAT bad again.

Can someone plz explain to me why rotoworld.com had down TWICE the Cubs a were "close to acquiring Juan Pierre" (on Nov. 14, and now on Nov 23), and yet on the three MAJOR newpapers in Chicago, all you basically get (from Bruce Miles), (from Toni Ginnetti SunTimes), and (and Dave Van Dyck from the Tribune)? If you read the articles, you get the feeling that the Cubs are still "window dressing" about Juan Pierre, but if you listen to ESPN1000 and WSCR 670, they say Pierre is just about a Cub. Is there a REAL reason for the degree of interest that the Cubs have shown Juan Pierre?

Actually M&P. while Mauer was consider a 1st rd pick, he was consider an "overdraft" at the #1 pick overall. There was two reasons why he went #1: 1. the Twins couldn't afford Prior, 2. he is the local hero. The decision for the Cubs wasn't between Prior and Mauer, it was between Prior or Teixeria. Remember the Cubs and the Philies ende up with the same crappy yr in 2000, so MLB went back to 1999 records as the "tiebreaker" and since the Cubs sucked worse in 1999, the Cubs got the #2 pick. He went through the minors, simply because he was polish and DIDN'T need much time in the minors. He worked with Tom House for a few yrs, so all he needed was some time in the minors to get his feet of professional baseball. Prior could had easily made the jumped from college baseball to the Cubs, but the organization waited on starting his option clock. He spent what...2 seasons in the Cubs system and MAYBE half a season in the Marlins system. So I don't give credit that the Marlins system developed him, I give credit to the scouts who saw "something" in him and wanted him included in the Clement deal. Agree. Blasko, Hagerty, Sisco, Christensen etc have tremendously disappointed me, but more importantly the Cubs organization. Which is why I am hoping that they DON'T rush, or quick to trade guys like Pawelek, Johnson, Harvey, Pie, Dopirak, and Eric Patterson. If the deal make sense then sure, but seeing as these are really the ONLY prospects to keep an eye on in the Cubs system, I would rather hold onto them instead of giving them away.

.310/.353 .327/.378 .287/.332 .305/.361 .326/.374 .276/.324 (.305/.355 career numbers) I’m leaving out SLG/OPS cause let’s face it, Pierre won’t provide any power whatsoever, nor would he be asked to. Pierre has had two yrs in which he didn’t hit .300 nor got on base at a .350 clip or higher. Pierre knows what kind of player he is (Patterson doesn’t) and he knows what he has to do to be successful. Pierre is slap-hitter, and anybody who using his “lack of power” as a detriment to his ability is not gauging him as a player. The Cubs wouldn’t need him to provide power, what the Cubs would ask of Pierre is to slap the ball around the field, get on, and create havoc on the basepaths, in other words…..create run scoring opportunities for the “Big Guns” in the middle of the order. And while Pierre had a down yr, I expect him to rebound EXTREMELY nice in 2006 and put up numbers closer to his career numbers of .305/.355 instead of his 2004 numbers. Some of you guys might not like Pierre, but I for one---outside of the weak arm---like the player, and I think he brings it to the field everyday, and I see a lot of Kenny Lofton in him, in terms of spunk. He has a down yr every three or so yrs, so going by career numbers his first yr in Chicago should be something along the lines .305/.360 type season with around 60 stolen bases, 100/110 runs scored. And the most important stat……HE WOULD PLAY EVERYDAY. He isn’t Ichiro, but he could tremendously help the Cubs out in 2006 and maybe beyond. I rather give up three decent prospects for Pierre (who is 28 yrs old), then give out over $10 million a yr to Johnny Damon (he is 32 yrs old).

After the 2005 season, sure. But after the 2003 season the sentiment was Hendry > Williams. I know Hendry has had a rough 2 yrs, but I rather him be the GM then Kenny Williams, who is a moron, who happen to find the ultimate "lightning in the bottle" experiment.

But does Hendry care? Nope, not when he already have a similar player in Matt Murton already on the roster.

I wasn't crazy about Eyre, but Howry is a much better deal, IMO. If Dempster starts blowing games regularly, we'll have someone capable of stepping in to close (howry). I would have rather spent the money on the offense rather than on the bullpen, but WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO MR. HOWRY!!! :D Have 3 awesome seasons, please. 8) FIXED.

Anybody here remember the last time the Marlins had a firesale, that the Cubs could had participated in? Instead of targeted GUYS like Brown, Sheffield, or Alou....the Cubs landed a chump name Kurt Miller. Does anybody actually see the Cubs jumping into the firesale salsa? I don't.

If the Cubs are giving up a very talented lefty in Pinto, along with 2 prospects, then the Cubs better get a second player in the deal, perhaps Vargas. There is no way the Cubs should trade away 3 players for perhaps a 1 yr rental...no way. It didn't work out for Arizona with Richie Sexson, it didn't work very well for the Expos/Nats with Colon AND Floyd, and I don't want the Cubs to fall into the group. The Cubs should get a 2nd player, or they move on. ----------- Tim, I understand your's and most people apprehension about Howry and Eyre. But to based it on "stuff" is, atleast to me, not a valid argument. It they had the "stuff" they would either be starting or closing. So apparent they don't have that stuff, but IMO, they do have good enough stuff for situational scenerios. Are they are going to be worth their contracts....NO. But Hendry is looking at it this way...it's just cheaper to sign quality relievers in the offseason, instead of standing pat, watching the bullpen implode and having to give a couple of solid prospects to get an arm for the bullpen during the season. And if Dusthead would use Howry and Eyre PROPERLY, I think too many people are going to have any REAL problems with Eyre, and Howry. But that is just it....Dusthead doesn't know how to put his players into position to succeed.

I don't. They have Podsenick and Dye currently in the OF, then they have Chris Young, Brian Anderson, and Tom Collaro currently in their system. Having Podsenick all but gurantees the White Sox prolly not going hard after Pierre. Not to mention Brian Anderson is a personal favorite of KWilliams. Unless it was a deal that blows KWilliams mind away...I don't see the Sox going after Pierre.