NorthsideAvenger

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.

You're asking for Cubs fans to be "positive"? You're not asking for too much out of Cubs fans. :roll:

Not according to Olney (source was his ESPN radio appearance, BTW). This money comes from divesting themselves of Thomas and Everett, leaving $ for Konerko if he chooses to come back. Thome appears to be headed to DH-land. Nice job by Kenny Williams. This is a nice move only if: 1: Thome can remain relatively healthy. 2: Brian Anderson (the kid they brought up late in the season) plays as well as Kenny Williams hopes. 3: Paul Konerko re-signs. You can't trust Thome to be healthy (especially with the back) at this stage of his career, plus he is 35 yrs old. If they don't re-sign Konerko (it's awfully tempting of Konerko to stay knowing that he has a bonafid hitter watching his back), it would be the end of the season when Thome injuries himself. Cause who would be the "backup" at 1st? Dye, Bourchard, Gload? The White Sox would almost have to re-sign Konerko.

IF KW is in the bullpen next yr, then it would have been a LONG yr.

But, dude, Baker has lead the Cubs to a back-to-back winning seasons....that has to count for something....right?

Juan Encarnacion, Jock Jones, or Jeromy Burnitz in RF in 2006? Discuss.

As long as the guy in the Cubs uniform from the bullpen, can get the OUTS consistantly, I have no beef. It's when they struggle, I have a beef with.

Yes, he is. Dude got on base 68 times in 78 games and stole 20 bases in 25 attempts. He's fast. But its not like he is 21 anymore. He'll be 25 in April and has just 95 games in the big leagues. He has yet to translate his great OBP numbers from the minors to the majors (.316 career OBP), but that number will likely improve. What won't improve is his weak arm in CF. Unless he can be had on the cheap, I think the Cubs can do better. The Cubs have talked about Juan Pierre, who I consider have the weakest arm in pro baseball, PERIOD. I would trade for Gauthright before Pierre, who I do like.

Well, keep wondering. Considering Giles is playing phone tag with the Yankees of ALL teams, and the Cards seemingly pull out of negotiations mybest guess is Giles stays in S.D., at worst he stays in Cali and plays for one of the tw LA teams. Now Abreu 8) and down with that idea. Make it so, Ensign Hendry.

rumor still Good, then I can still hope it doesn't happen. I'd rather have Dotel than two Howry's. Well, vance, I suggest you get over that disappointment, quickly, cause Dotel isn't coming here (perhaps Baltimore?) and I doubt Howry gets any better deal then what the Cubs alledgely offered him. My guess is...the Cubs AND Howry are working out the small details on the contracts, ie incentives, NTC (or minimal NTC), etc... It wouldn't surprise me if Howry signs later tonight.

I am not at all high on Huff. If we thought Sosa was bad defensively in RF, Huff makes Sosa look like Andruw Jones. I don't see the Cubs getting a big bat for RF, at least not this yr, even tho it is a weakness. I know this is going to anger some people but, if the Cubs can land Furcal (or Lugo) and/or Pierre, I could definately see the Cubs bring back Burnitz for another yr.

Same here.

That's what I am waiting for. You know Steinbrenner is :evil: :x right now. And you know Steinbrenner won't allow Boston to have a "moment in the sun". And regardless of the newfound power Cashman seems to have, I suspect either Brian Giles, Johnny Damon, or AJ Burnett will be a Yankee within 48 hours.