NorthsideAvenger

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.

If you want to thank us, take Dusty Baker off our hands.

Rotowrold.com Tell me, Hendry isn't trying to alienate as many Cubs fans as humanly possible? Tell me Hendry isn't trying to condemn any young player in the Cubs system? If this is true, the Cubs might as well trade Dopirak, Harvey, Pie and any other young player (with any value) because these youngster would have no value to Baker. Plz, Cubs don't make the 2 yr mistake. 2004/2005 Cubs are the real team under Baker, not the 2003 team. http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub05.html Well guys, Baker will be here for awhile. Get out your booing sticks.

Come on...who doesn't want the pitcher who has the distint honor of having the UGLIEST NO-HITTER in baseball history? I wouldn't mind Burnett, but I seriously doubt AJ comes here, unless he starts the conversation with Hendry and it starts with a discount "contract", which everybody knows WON'T happen. Hendry have bigger fish to fry (non pun intended) then acquiring Burnett.

No it doesn't, at least not to me. I love Walker, but the man simply cannot field. But neither does Jeff Kent, and he is a questionable HOFer. I am of the school of thought that the team is only as strong as the "Up-the-middle" defense. And right now, the Cubs up the middle defense is PRETTY bad. I love Walker's bat, and has always wanted him on the Cubs going back to his Rockies days, but the Cubs have got to get players who actually can field his position (not necessarily a GG caliber). If the Cubs decide to go with Cedeno at SS, then maybe Walker "shortcomings" at 2B can be overlook, but if the Cubs go with Nomar, or Furcal, or any offensive minded SS, then the Cubs have to find a good glove 2B, who provides decent offensive #'s.

Nice, Harry Doyle moment.

A Cardinal fan, dressed in White Sox colors, nonetheless. Maybe Buehrle is feeling the heat of the Indians. Because if the Indians catch and pass the White Sox, and the Sox miss the playoffs, I think they would be considered one of the great choke jobs in history. You know what they say, Buehrle...."If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

I am more the confident that Murton and Cedeno can do a very nice job next yr for the Cubs, IF, and I stress IF, they allow the kids to play. Murton got a good enough bat to START right now, his defense is what's being questioned. Cedeno's glove allows him to START now, but his offense is a "BIG" if. But these kids would bring more to the Cubs, then what Furcal and or any OTHER big name players....and that is spunk. I don't like the idea of just "throwing" money at the Cubs problems, ie leadoff and at Rafael Furcal, when there is a solid enough leadoff option available in Ryan Freel, who "could be" available for a decent pitching prospect or two. Offer up Ryu/Welly and see if they would bite, and put Freel in CF---thus non-tender CPatt or trade him for something. I mean take a look at Freel's numbers over the past 3 yrs combine--http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6685&type=batting3 in particular look at the position he plays and the spot in the lineup portions of his 3 yr averages and what he would bring OFFENSIVELY. We'd keep Walker's bat, Cedeno's glove, and add Freel's obvious offensive talents. He would be our Brady Clark. I rather give up two solid prospects for Freel, then OVERPAY for Furcal. Not to mention Freel would add abit of grittiness to this team that needs a persona. Freel/Walker/Lee/Giles/ARam/Murton/Barrett/Cedeno would look very nice.

Knowing the Rangers they'd settle for Wainwright or Hawksworth, instead.

What people haven't touched on is the fact that Walker has an cheap option for 2006. So the Cubs DON'T have to trade Walker. Because of his production, and his contract status, and the option yr, the Cubs should be able to get a couple of prospects/players (perhaps Riske/Phillips for Walker?) that can only help the Cubs beyond this yr. And yes, I think the Cubs could get a Riske/Phillips (yes, I am still high on Brandon Phillips) type deal for Walker. So I wouldn't necessarily say that Walker "is as good as gone" like the Trib says, but I think Hendry should hold out for as strong of package as possibile.

I don't. The Cubs have as good as scouting as the Braves. The Cubs didn't pick up these guys because they like them, or the Braves sold them a bag of goods, the Cubs pick the guys as ORGANIZATIONAL players, that's all. Getting Murton more playing time, and taking another "veteran" away from Baker is ALL Hendry was trying to do here, not find a "gem." So stop thinking the Cubs don't have a good scouting, because they do. This was a crap for crap deal.

Am I the only one who remembers the Cubs ALMOST getting Giles for Steve Trachsel(or some crappy pitcher on the Cubs at the time)? :-k Besides knowig the Cubs they prolly sign this http://baseballreference.com/g/gilesbr01.shtml, instead of this guyhttp://baseballreference.com/g/gilesbr02.shtml.

I WANT RICK PETERSON of the New York Mets. He helped Zito/Mulder/Hudson become the BIG THREE (all three have credited him with their development), and he has turned the Mets rotation (with the help of Pedro) into a strength, instead of a weakness. He is prolly the most overlooked PC in baseball, and I want to see how he would do with Prior/Z/Wood. If not Peterson, I would go with the "Bulldog", or maybe Bud Black.

I believe, sir, that is only HALF the quote. The quote should be "I'm rooting for somebody to fire Baker.......................out of cannon."

I don't know where he'll end up, but I am hoping Matt LaPorta ends up back with the Cubs.

All this transaction talk if fine and dandy, but want mean a darn thing, if Baker is still managing this team. Baker is a manger---coughs----excuse me, Baker is a babysitter, who allows the inmates run the aslyum. Baker would turn the "Murderer's Row" of the 20s into a flying piece of burning---well you get my point. I know what has been said in the papers, but if Baker is still managing in 06, then we are realisticially out of the 2006 playoff race, no matter who we get.

Since I have been at work on a Saturday, and then come home to a Cubs loss :( , I figure I cliff notes my thoughts: On the trade of Matt Lawton: I wasn't disappointed in trading Dubois, and I am still not disappointed in that Jason Dubois turned out to be Justin Berg. So, this series of events wasn't too suprising. Lawton's a FA, and the Cubs gave him a LEGIT chance at winning. I wish they could've gotten my boy Andy Phillips, but oh well. On the Bartosh for Bay deal: I definately in the minority here, but I still see Bartosh as a solid 2nd LEFTY in the bullpen. What people don't realize that the Cubs have the MOST INCOMPETENT coaching staff---this side of Kansas City. With a REAL PC---wish we could get Rick Petersen---I think he could turn into solid reliever. I don't regret the trade, at all. Walker/Burnitz trade? Trading Burnitz, is a foregone conclusion. But trading Walker is a murkier decision. If it doesn't improve the team for 2006 and beyond (considering his production, and his $$$, the Cubs SHOULD get a very good---not necessarily a blue-chip prospect---prospect or two seeing as they DON'T have to trade him) then it isn't a good deal. Walker for JC Romero would be a great deal (not that I expect that kind of offer) for the Cubs. Walker for 2 25 yr old "org players" is not a good deal. Don't trade for the sake of trade, make a trade with a PURPOSE.

Not if Nefti Perez and/or Jose Macias get the majority of PT while ARam and Nomar are out.

Hendry deserves some blame---ie he should have took away Baker's "Toys, ie Perez, Macias, etc---when this team was struggling. But to say that Hendry hurt the bullpen is a boldface lie. When the Cubs signed Remmy, he was one of the game's top lefties, period. Is it Hendry's fault that Baker didn't use him properly(against rigthies)? When the Cubs signed LaTroy Hawkins--who was the GAME'S TOP SETUP MAN, and many declared him the final piece to the bullpen---was Hendry's fault that Baker COULDN'T recognize the fact that Hawkins couldn't close out a LLWS game, much less a MLB game? When the Cubs traded for Nomar, did ANYBODY actually expect Nomar to play in as little games as he has? Look Hendry deserves some faults---mainly not standing up to Baker and force him to play certain players---but I would put about 15% of the Cubs season on Hendry, about 55% on Baker, and 30% on the players themselves. Hendry isn't the problem---Hendry haters---the problems is Baker REFUSES to use players in roles they SHOULD be use for.

Minnesota has Johan. :D Seriously though, Minnesota needs a 2B, maybe we could take advantage of their overcrowded OF and pen. I thought that Minny was talking to Texas about Soriano? Soriano ain't going to Minny, plain and simple. As for Walker, I would love to trade Walker/prospect prospect for JC Romero, BUT I don't see Minny doing that trade.

All I can say is...WOW. You're done, Todd. Might as well get something of value and write this season off. Do you really expect him to come out and say, "yeah, this season is over. We don't have a chance. Let's pack it in and wait till next year." I don't think that would go over very well. Let me ask you this Willis, if Walker had said, ""yeah, this season is over. We don't have a chance. Let's pack it in and wait till next year," would you agree with him?

Here is a quote by Walker after the game: All I can say is...WOW. You're done, Todd. Might as well get something of value and write this season off. At best your a longshot to jump atleast 5 teams and make up 7 games in the standings to reach the playoffs. The season is done.

I know, I know it is Ken Rosenthal, but it :shock: me to know the Cubs could have had Vicente Padillia for Glendon Rusch. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=insidedishbostonsepstein&prov=tsn&type=lgns Second to the last paragraph in the article.

[-X on Corey Patterson ](*,) on the Cubs and their "style of baseball." :roll: to anything Baker/Hendry says in reference to the Cubs playoffs hopes.....Baker future with the club.... But hey....the good news is....the Cardinals are NO LONGER the favorites to EVEN make the World Series, cause their lineup---as is---is very Cubs-like. :lol:

Don't forget Alex Gordon HAS NOT signed with the Royals, and he has just register for classes at Nebraska. With the season the Royals are having, it wouldn't SURPRISE me if Gordon returns to school, instead of signing with the Royals.