NorthsideAvenger

He had a compression fracture in his pitching elbow. Maybe that had an impact on his pitching. He's certainly not pitching as well as he has in the past (2003). He's also still usually able to make adjustments within a game, but the first inning of games has just killed him recently. I'm willing to consider causes. Whether he gets a pass from you for any reason is obviously up to you. Yeah, now you're just making excuses. If he's not healthy enough to pitch, then he shouldn't pitch. It's been plenty of time since that injury. If he's not over it by now, he never will be. I consider causes too. Want to know what 'causes' Mark to give up runs? Lack of pitch variety. All the rationalization in the world can't manufacture a third pitch out of thin air. so what was his third pitch in 2003??? Ha ha, IG You're welcome to your take, Soul. I'm welcome not to agree with it ... which I don't. Prior's not sharp right now. Still not ready to call him washed up just yet. No I don't think he is done, I just don't think he has gotten any better in almost 4 years with us. In fact I would argue he has regressed. As has Kerry Wood. Thus I think it is obvious that the blmae should fall more on the organization than the player. But, we all know from the last year it was probably the announcers fault. Prior washed up at 24 yrs old? What people don't realize (especially the non-Cubs fans) is that Cubs have one of the most crappiest Pitching Coaches in America. What this Cubs staff needs is a FRESH voice, and I would love the Cubs if they could land either Bud Black, Mike Maddux (not b/c of his brother, but because he is a HECKUVA pc) or Rick Peterson. The pitching staff has gone staled, and thus they need a new voice. And if they get a NEW voice, it wouldn't surprise me to the staff take off.

I've never used this emoticon becuase frankly I hate it but this surely calls for it :roll: All this tells me is that Baker has master the art of "self-preservation." He knows there is HEAT surrounding him, and that the Chicago Cubs fans, and perhaps some of the media wants him fired, so he is saying that he has liked Murton, to try and win some brownie points, with the Cubs organization. This self-preservation act of his has driven my nutty.

I'm not too critical on Baker's quotes, but these were pretty bad, despite the fact he's quoting someone else in the 1st bolded one. That means Sammy Sosa is coming into his "prime" with Baltimore.

I mean we won't go after high "OBP guys" because those guys would simply clogged the bases and we can't have that, can we? or Murton doesn't play, cause we don't want other teams to have a book on him, right? or Baker is the best manager in the majors.

Or Royce Clayton.

Personally, I think you can rule out Jackson, Quentin and Tracy as trade potentials (seeing as all three would command atleast Felix Pie and maybe Sean Marhsall or a Sean Gallagher and are still reasonably cheap). So that lead me to believe that it will be Glaus (remember Tracy came up a third baseman, and played him at 1st the OF, to keep his bat in the lineup) or Luis Gonzalez. Seeing as the Cubs already have 1st and 3rd locked up, I guess the Cubs COULD be looking at bring the former Cub Luis Gonzalez back to Chicago.

Maybe in the short term, but in the long-term, both Felix Pie and Ryan Harvey---IMO---will be better then Quentin. Conor Jackson on the other hand.....

What about Todd Walker, doesn't this former Tiger get any love?

Cubs motto: "We strive to be the best mediocre team in baseball."

And how does Baker expect the Cubs fans to have excitment about the ballclub, when EVERY time they have an opportunity to surge forward, they fold like little sissies, they are?

Cards. :twisted: If Neifi goes to the Cards and does well, I may lose hope and interest in the game of baseball. :-k Are we talking about the same Nefti Perez who couldn't hit in COORS FIELD?

I wonder how Baker would do as a General Manager (of the Cards)?:-k just kidding

.338 .378 .574 .952 (in 60+ AB in August) .318 .360 .682 1.042 (so far in September) Methinks, Nomar is trying to convince Hendry that he is healthy, and is worth another 1 yr gamble? We know when healthy, Nomar is CAPABLE of these numbers, so this is not a fluke. But will Hendry take the risk on bringing back Nomar, or is he deadset on acquiring Furcal? These kids, Murton and Cedeno, they are pretty darn good for being "rookies."

.338 .378 .574 .952 (in August) .318 .360 .682 1.042 (in September) Anybody realize this? It looks to me that Nomar is playing for another contract (possibly)with the Cubs. We know offensively what he can do, so these numbers are not a fluke, but they are making me rethink what the Cubs should do for SS. Now, don't get me wrong, I really, really like Cedeno, BUT, if the Cubs could bring back Todd Walker for one yr, sign Nomar to a decent 1 yr deal (cause in my eyes, Nomar is looking like he is close to 100% healthy, if he isn't there already) and use 2006 as a bridge for Cedeno, I would love to do that. Then the Cubs could go after Giles and/or Damon with my vengence.

Steve Nebraska was no Johnny Utah. Or Ron Mexico. Or Michael Davis. Or Brooks Kieshnick.

It's the Yankees or back to Japan, is the rumor I've heard. So don't consider Matsui as an option.

Let's go for bigger fish, and add a solid prospect like Brownlie or Ryu and get Scott Shields instead.

Now a Lee for Mench/Gonzalez deal is very intriguing. But I would insist on a very good prospect be thrown in the deal.

I could imagine a conversation between Hendry and Baker going like this: Baker: "Dude, where's my car?" Hendry: "Where's your car, dude? And over, and over, and over.

I mean I know teams who are jumping at the bits to trade "top notch players" for a CF who puts .223/.261(!)/.364/.625. Let's face...a Patterson trade won't hurt the Cubs, ala Brock. I like Patterson as a person, but as a baseball player, he is dumber then a box of rocks. You can't teach "baseball instints", and Corey have no baseball instints. If the Cubs could get a decent player or two for CPatt then jump on it. Cause the Cubs ain't getting a TOP prospect for Patterson, that ain't happening.

Don't let Scoop Jackson get ahold of this story, cause he would think it was "Racial profiling." I mean Barry Bonds did get into 2 SEPARATE confrontations with Jeff Kent and now Jason Christiansen, both of who are white. With that said, maybe Vince McMahon can hire up a tag-team mayhem type match of Kent/Christiansen .v. Bonds/Bradley, with the winner being shot out of a cannon, and the losers just kicked in the nuts.

raises hand. Raises BOTH hands...

The difference is....the Cubs have the money to land AJ Burnett if they want. BUT the Cubs have bigger issues to deal with over landing another starter.

i like walker, and i want him back next year, but what is this guy's obsession with what the announcers are talking about? he knocked stone and chip last year, brenly last week, and the cardinal announcers today. someone get him xm radio so he can weigh in on pat and ron. Personally, I think people are reading too much into what Todd Walker said. I do agree with Walker and that LaRussa is NO genius, but compare to Baker, I could see why the Cards were hyping TLR as a genius. I wish Walker would focus on the game, instead of the announcers, but this isn't a big deal.