NorthsideAvenger

I don't see that this is necessarily the case. It will simply allow a larger pool of players to be accessed for the games. Its all just reminded me of the term Plastic Paddy, for which I am grateful. The problem I have is....I seriously doubt Piazza has ever held a citizenship or even a place of residence in Italy. Thus that is NOT his home. He was born and raise in the US, thus, if he is selected to play for USA, there should be no agruments. Now if a player was born in a say.......Dominican Republic to American parent,s the player should have the right to chose who he wants to repesent. Piazza shouldn't be allow to play for Italy, just because he has Italian blood.

Or his 2001 season where he pitched nearly 200 innings with a 12-6 record that should have been more like 16-4 with any run support. Or his 2002 season where he pitched over 200 innings and should have been a 15 game winner with any run support. Or his 2003 season where he pitched over 200 innings and should have been a 15 game winner with any run support. Or the 2003 NLDS where he owned Atlanta. As for the 2003 NLCS, Dusty riding him the whole year (as he did prior) two of the highest pc/game may have had an effect on the burnout - but he certainly didn't pitch his best there i'll give you that. OR the fact that he has some of the filthiest stuff in the majors. But I guess we can go on saying he worthless other than 20 K's in 1998. It makes more sense. Blah, blah, blah blah blah. Kerry Wood has DONE nothing in the majors but tantalize baseball with his enormious gift. But like Todd Van Poppel, Brien Taylor, Adam Johnson, etc....Kerry is a million dollar arm, .10 cent brain. I don't know how to nicely say this, but what you're saying is completely and unequivically incorrect. Wood has done plenty, his problem has been staying healthy. That problem has nothing to do with some mental deficiency(million dollar arm, 10 cent head is one of my most hated cliches), and there's really no evidence to support Wood being a "stupid" pitcher. And there is no evidence to support Wood being a smart pitcher, either. Besides, I didn't mean to imply that KW was a stupid pitcher, I meant that "legandary" "light goes off" won't ever apply to KW. I love the ability KW has shown, but I am tired of waiting for his consistancy. Add in the fact that Z has find consistancy at a younger age then Kerry, is disturbing for Wood. And if KW doesn't win atleast 15 games or more in 2006, then it's time to say good-bye, to maybe the most overrated Cubs prospect since Jerome Walton. That's alot pressure, I know, but that is how I see it. [begin rant] I can't take it. I just can't take it. How many pitchers have found consistency as quick as Z. How many with injuries have? What were Nolan Ryan's and Randy Johnson's careers like through the age of 27? See your rationale they should have been gone. :roll: :roll: Oh and I really can't take it anymore: Wins are the most baseless stats by which to judge a starting pitcher because they are team influenced. Yes that was written with emphasis so people stop saying, so and so only won 10 games so they suck. It really is the dumbest thing to base a pitcher's stuff/season on.. i.e. look at Clemens this year. I have NO idea why people continue to use wins as THE stat by which to judge if a pitcher had a good/bad year. ERA BAA WHIP K/9 HR/9 BB/9 K/BB and even innings pitched are all MORE indicative factors of how good a pitcher is. NOT WINS. [/end rant] Fact it...W/L records are use to determine a pitcher's worth, right or wrong. The fact is....while Kerry is a tantalizing talent, he has not even come CLOSE to reaching his potential (ugh), and for somebody making close to $11 million dollars, I think the Cubs are in the right to demand more then 14 wins in a season, and not spend half the season in a trainer's room, don't you? I want consistancy from KW. He has been in the league too long now, to not have consistancy, and that is the bottomline.

:( :( :arrow: #-o #-o Thx badger, for ruining my day.

Or his 2001 season where he pitched nearly 200 innings with a 12-6 record that should have been more like 16-4 with any run support. Or his 2002 season where he pitched over 200 innings and should have been a 15 game winner with any run support. Or his 2003 season where he pitched over 200 innings and should have been a 15 game winner with any run support. Or the 2003 NLDS where he owned Atlanta. As for the 2003 NLCS, Dusty riding him the whole year (as he did prior) two of the highest pc/game may have had an effect on the burnout - but he certainly didn't pitch his best there i'll give you that. OR the fact that he has some of the filthiest stuff in the majors. But I guess we can go on saying he worthless other than 20 K's in 1998. It makes more sense. Blah, blah, blah blah blah. Kerry Wood has DONE nothing in the majors but tantalize baseball with his enormious gift. But like Todd Van Poppel, Brien Taylor, Adam Johnson, etc....Kerry is a million dollar arm, .10 cent brain. I don't know how to nicely say this, but what you're saying is completely and unequivically incorrect. Wood has done plenty, his problem has been staying healthy. That problem has nothing to do with some mental deficiency(million dollar arm, 10 cent head is one of my most hated cliches), and there's really no evidence to support Wood being a "stupid" pitcher. And there is no evidence to support Wood being a smart pitcher, either. Besides, I didn't mean to imply that KW was a stupid pitcher, I meant that "legandary" "light goes off" won't ever apply to KW. I love the ability KW has shown, but I am tired of waiting for his consistancy. Add in the fact that Z has find consistancy at a younger age then Kerry, is disturbing for Wood. And if KW doesn't win atleast 15 games or more in 2006, then it's time to say good-bye, to maybe the most overrated Cubs prospect since Jerome Walton. That's alot pressure, I know, but that is how I see it.

Bradley has "the spark." He can do it all....run, throw, hit, field, and flat out lay out, whereas Ramirez is a 1-D player. Granted the 1 dimension he does do well in, is amazing...gimme Bradley's "intensity" and the ability to play the game the right way...hard and fast...over Ramirez, who IS disinterested in playing most of the time. In some way...Bradley is what Patterson should be, but isn't. Bradley, IMO, is a better fit for Chicago, then Manny, and Hendry would have to be a fool to not go after Bradley. Bradley dogging it in the OF was one of the big reasons Cleveland traded him. That and the fact that they had Crisp(the ex-Cardinal farmhand, mind you), Sizemore, Lawton, Gerut, Escobar, already in the organization, made his trade abit easier to handle. Granted Bradley is better then Crisp, Lawton, Escobar, and Gerut, but Bradley did fetch a darn good of PROSPECT IN Frnaklin Gutierrez, and a solid pitcher in Andrew Brown. I fully believe Derrick Lee would be a calming influence on Milton Bradley. I'd still take a chance on Milton Bradley, b/c regardless of what you think, Bradley plays for the name on the front of the uniform, and not on the back.

(Disclaimer: I should have said, "Furcal would have a bigger impact on the Cubs, then Giles would have on the Cards, Angels, Dodgers, etc) I understand the man-love certain Cubs fan have for Giles, cause I would love Giles, but for a team that doesn't have a LEGIT leadoff hitter, Furcal will impact the Cubs lineup, if Chicago signs him. I mean people will say that well they believe Murton and/or Cedeno can handle the leadoff spot, to which I reply, "no you don't." Neither was asked to leadoff on a consistant basis in the minors, and neither leadoff in the majors. So you don't have a clue how Cedeno and/or Murton, besides Baker wouldn't put either in the spot, anyways.

This is horse poop: http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9029988 :roll: Piazza could play for Italy in the WBC, simply because he has an Italian heritage. This WBC is going to be messed up from the begining?

Bradley has "the spark." He can do it all....run, throw, hit, field, and flat out lay out, whereas Ramirez is a 1-D player. Granted the 1 dimension he does do well in, is amazing...gimme Bradley's "intensity" and the ability to play the game the right way...hard and fast...over Ramirez, who IS disinterested in playing most of the time. In some way...Bradley is what Patterson should be, but isn't. Bradley, IMO, is a better fit for Chicago, then Manny, and Hendry would have to be a fool to not go after Bradley.

Or his 2001 season where he pitched nearly 200 innings with a 12-6 record that should have been more like 16-4 with any run support. Or his 2002 season where he pitched over 200 innings and should have been a 15 game winner with any run support. Or his 2003 season where he pitched over 200 innings and should have been a 15 game winner with any run support. Or the 2003 NLDS where he owned Atlanta. As for the 2003 NLCS, Dusty riding him the whole year (as he did prior) two of the highest pc/game may have had an effect on the burnout - but he certainly didn't pitch his best there i'll give you that. OR the fact that he has some of the filthiest stuff in the majors. But I guess we can go on saying he worthless other than 20 K's in 1998. It makes more sense. Blah, blah, blah blah blah. Kerry Wood has DONE nothing in the majors but tantalize baseball with his enormious gift. But like Todd Van Poppel, Brien Taylor, Adam Johnson, etc....Kerry is a million dollar arm, .10 cent brain. BTW; what is that former poster child of the HYPED UP YANKEE PROSPECT Brien Taylor doing know? Doe anybody know?

Let me say, I like Furcal, but he isn't going to be worth what he is asking. (He shouldn't get more then what Renteria got and here's why: Furcal:: .284/.348/.409/.757 Renteria:: .288/.345/.399/.744 You notice how EERILY similar Furcal"s are to Renteria, with Edgar being only 2 yrs older? I would only offer Furcal what Renteria got, maybe $1 mill more in INCENTIVES. If he doesn't take that, I would move on. With that said, I still hope Furcal is a Cub, b/c IMO, I think he'll have a bigger impact then Brian Giles offensively. Just my opinion.

Not if he is on the Cubs. I would safely say....that AJ would unite the Cubs fan together against him. I would rather bring back Todd "Finger-flip" Hundley back, then acquire that pansy, AJ.

The problem is...unless the Cubs grossly overpays him, Brian ain't coming to Chicago, move on. Up to the part where you say "play Walker in left field" did you make sense. Have you seen Todd Hundley play LF, Walker would be in the same catergory. So no thank you. Trad Walker (if you don't want to keep him) but just don't put him in the OF, where he would cause more harm then anything. First: I don't WHO you got the info about the Cubs were offer Mark Teixeria (Sullivan and/or Roger are the prime suspects), but I can promise....Texas never OFFICALLY made THAT Tex for Wood offer. Nor should they had made the offer. Second: ARam has proven he is worth his contract, thus it WOODN'T ( :lol: ) be another Kerry situation. All Kerry is good for, is memories of the 20 K game. I'm not opposed to trading Aram, but not Manny(no defense) or Torii Hunter(no offense). Arod, Pujols, Vlad, Ichiro, someone who ACTUAL play both OFFENSE and DEFENSE, would suffice. And seeing as those are not available, I would said NO to any Ramirez deal. You're not the only one who feels a shake up is necessary. And you're not the only one who wants Baker gone. But to make up ridiculous trade options for Ramirez, isn't going to solve the Cubs problems. Again, you're not the only person that dispised the re-signing of Rothschild. On Mark Grace, he seems to full of himself, a Dusty Baker esque type manager? I'd stay away from Grace.

wow. :shock: omfg. they wouldn't take ramirez + cash for sizemore and prospects? i'm sorry, sizemore is awesome, but that's just stupid. as good as sizemore is, some of that is a function of pitchers not knowing your hole(s). his ceiling will never touch manny's numbers. How is the Indians stupid for not trading a young, cheap and PRODUCTIVE CF (an all-around player to boot) for an expensive, malcontent, awesome hitter? On talent, Ramirez would be great to trade for, but the Indians are NOT ready to commit that much money into one player (regardless of who the player is). I don't understand why the hate on Sizemore, Meat? This kid is going to win GG, and continue to hit around .300/.360 with 25-30 SB, and 20-25 homeruns. I promise a YOUNG valuable player like Sizemore (and he is the face of the franchise) is more valuable to Cleveland then Ramirez. Regardless of what you believe Meat, Sizemore AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE, period.

I don't think those things are necessarily mutually exclusive. Hey, I didn't say they were "mutally exclusive", I'm just saying, Hendry may just turn his attention to players that have shown interests in the Cubs (Furcal/Burnett), over players not over-joyed about the prospects of playing for the Cubs (Giles)..

I agree with that sentiment. Batman is the ONLY superhero/supervillian Superman fears.....END OF STORY. Nonetheless, Batman will always be the coolest, superhero (or anti-hero) because sometimes...you have to bend the law, to uphold the law. With that said......

If you were on ESPN, I would cry BLASPHEMY. Come on....how can you call the Yankees-Red Sox "boring?" Don't you know...ESPN puts ALL OF IT'S MONEY behind that "rivalry" and then forced that "rivalry" down everybody throats, and then sell that "rivalry" as being the best in sports? Ok, maybe overblown, (holds thumb and index finger an inch apart).

No, might as well add their TWINS in New York and make a full hour, Hell, I have an idea....The Red Sox and the Yanks star in a new TV drama on ABC that will debut this fall and it is call "Lost............and Forgotten"

I will say.....AJ Alphabet (thx vance). He comes off as he is the greatest player to ever play the sports, and he doesn't have to "work at his craft". People will Barry, but atleast he has EARNED his accalades, what has AJ done, outside of being dealt for a BIG-TIME Closer? But AJ Alphabet Lance "I hate Wrigley" Berkman Jason Giambi Kenny Rogers Those are my most annoying players in baseball.

. McGee had a .396 slg% over the course of 18 yrs. Furcal has a .409 slg over the course of 6 yrs. Both are career SLG%. Neither have too much power, but I would say they are similar power wise. Pierre has a career 267 to 96 (SB to CS ratio), very close to 3::1. Not dominate, by any stretch, but a solid ratios. Yes, Pierre was caugh 17 times in 2005, but consider he was caught 20 and 24 time the previous two yrs, I would say that was an improvement. Stealing bases is a SKILL. Right now Pierre is rely on his speed only, instead of a combination of speed/smart. You can't teach speed, but with the right coach, you can teacha guy with speed on how to use it properly.

Bruce? Bruce......if you are watching this board, plz advice Hendry not to give Nefti a 2 yr deal. 1 yr deal is tolerable, but not two.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't get the feeling Brian Giles is ALL that interested in joining the Cubs, to be honst. I say...Giles will sign with Anaheim. They got the owner, with deep pockets. They are a contender. They are still consider home for Giles. And he gets to play his more natural LF (with GA moving to full-time DH). Any hope of Giles coming to Chicago, is buried, to be honest. I would love to see him in Chicago, but it ain't happening.

This Felix Hernandez kid must be the second coming. I knew he was highly touted, but I recall Baseball American saying they would take Felix or Prior for the career, this is the same site that said Prior would definitely win a Cy Young or two this decade. Based on what I've seen of him, the Doc Gooden comparisons are legit. If he can stay healthy throughout his career...wow. Well, wasn't Kerry Wood compare to Doc Gooden? I like Felix Hernandez, but let's not go overboard.....just yet.

I think Rosenthal's credibilty took a hit: "The Royals", Ken? :pig:

:shock: ](*,) :-k :roll: [-X :x :( #-o Dusty needs to stop thinking he is the GM, and allow Hendry to fill a COMPETITE team, not an "All Boys Clubs."

This Felix Hernandez kid must be the second coming. I knew he was highly touted, but I recall Baseball American saying they would take Felix or Prior for the career, this is the same site that said Prior would definitely win a Cy Young or two this decade. I'm not doubting Felix's talent, but, IMO, I think Zambrano is the BEST young pitcher in baseball.