NorthsideAvenger

And if there is ANY JUSTICE at all, it would be Michael Barrett ending Oswalt's night with a grand slam. :lol:

This is what bothers me most about the Cubs. Not the fact the Cubs told the Cards "not in my house" by taking 3 of 4 :lol: , but they raise the hopes of Cubs fans that they might have one serious RUN left in them. If they"BELIEVE" they still have a shot at the Wild Card, then they need to start acting like a contender, and put the engine in 5th gear and go. No more BAD DAYS.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/articles/0811sportsdigest0811.html Not that you really need confirmation, but here it is....he just SIGNED with the Cubs on the 11th of August. Weclome to the Cubs org, Dylan.

corey is a boras boy I've tried searching for the same kind of website.. no luck. If anyone knows of any, please share. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Boras As you can tell, the reaso why Boras and the Cubs seem to do very well is because Boras did "play for the Cubs" in his brief career. Not saying that plays any part (Maddux leaving in 02, for example), but the fact he does have a history with the Cubs, helps/hurts the Cubs. You can see several current Cubs prospects/players on that list. It is an imcomplete list, but you get the idea.

Hey Brian; I don't know if you know this or not, but alot of Cubs fans have been calling your "Home run" the "Dope-slap." What's up with that? 2 serious questions; 1: What's the biggest difference between--if any--High A and Low A in your eyes? And let's end the debate among Cubs fans....who has MORE power.....Yourself or Ryan Harvey?

OML. I seriously think it is only Cardinal fans who think Carpenter deserves the Cy. Does anyone know how long it's been since a pitcher finished with a season with an ERA as low as Clemens? I'm no fan of Clemens, but he's clearly earned this Cy Young. I think Carpenter should be given STRONG consideration, but in the end it will be Clemens getting the Cy, if for no other reason, he LITERALLY keep the Astros afloat until they were ready to take off. Clemens=Carpenter, but Carpenter AT BEST will finish 2nd in the Cy Young.

I never understood why people are calling Prior "injury-prone." KW...yes...Prior. No. And getting back on topic, NO I WOULDN'T TRADE PRIOR, period. Finding quality PITCHING is hard to do. Do you want to go back to the days in which the Cubs were getting guys like Mark Clark, Danny Wilson, Jamie Navarro, etc, etc. Because I don't. I sorry someone says that Prior "won't become a legend like Maddux" is basing tha off a couple of seasons? http://baseballreference.com/m/maddugr01.shtml Would anybody call Maddux a "legend" after a couple of seasons? Of course not. To become a "legend" it takes time, consistancy, and dominance. So to right off Prior at 24 (25 yrs old later in the season) is mind-boggling madness. So, I would build around Z and Prior (since we wouldn't get the package that it would take) in the rotation, and go from there. Trading Prior would be a very CUB-LIKE move. And they differently would be regretting it, within moments of it. No trade of Prior is worth it. As for the Prior's trade value, I'd ask the moon for him. We're talking top young players who can only get better (i.e. Miguel Cabrera, Jake Peavy, Joe Mauer, etc), elite prospects (i.e. Felix Hernandez, Delmon Young, etc), and/or All Star caliber players who likely won't start declining any time soon (Miguel Tejada, Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez, etc).

This is such short sighted managing with a team out of the running. I agree. Shut Wood down for the yr, get him the surgery as quickly as possible. Then for the rest of the offseason, have him work out of the pen, cause I am starting to jump on the KW for closer bandwagon. I mean how many closer's are out there that can touch 100 MPH, and have the nastiness that KW has on his secondary pitches. NOT many. There is NOTHING wrong with becoming one of the game's TOP closer, and somebody needs to convince him that. Could you imagine, Prior and/or Z going 8 strong innings, and then when the opponents thinks they can catch a break, they then have to face Wood as closer. Nasty. But the pan for 06, NEEDS to start now.

Not me. But I wouldn't mind having Kevin Millwood. I'd take Millwood. He still has the ability to dominate on any given day. He will likely fly under the radar this offseason, then again....with nothing else available, he could get big money. Just looked up his numbers and didn't realize he has been so good this year. His lack of success in 03 and 04 may keep him from getting a big deal though. Not a bad option. If the Cubs are committed to keeping Wood in the pen (IMO, closer) then getting another starter has to be one of the first things they do. Not top priority, but like the 3rd or 4th thing they have to do. I would look at guys like Kevin Millwood, etc thru FA, and maybe, JUST maybe see if Kip Wells could be had. I really like Well's stuff, and I think he would be a great fit as a #3 starter for the Cubs. Don't know if the Pirates would be WILLING to trade another youngster to the Cubs, but it can't hurt to ask.

What is he saying? If I had to venture a guess it would prolly be "Dude......where's my car?"

He got Ramirez because he DID HIS HOMEWORK. Name another team that was hot after Ramirez at that time? If other teams knew ARam would be a legit MVP candidate, don't you think other teams would have made an offer for Ramirez. Him getting ARam wasn't lucky, he bought low, like a good businessman. Plus don't forget Hendry was a head coach (Creighton University) at one point in his career, so maybe he coaching part of his personality felt he could help Ramirez. I'm sorry, YES Hendry has made mistakes, but contrary to popular belief Hendry isn't a GOD. Would he like to upgrade the bullpen.....who wouldn't? Would he like to get a leadoff man....again who wouldn't? Bullpen help is such a yr-to-yr basis, you don't if a reliever is going to be good from yr to yr. Finding quality bullpen help is not easiest to do, considering there is ah.............29 other teams DOING THE SAME THING. On the leadoff guy...name a leadoff guy who is available, that a team isn't asking for the moon for? You can't blame Hendry, entirely, for something he can't control. But I do agree, if Baker is fire---which I believe he will but it will mutally agreed upon---then the pressure will be on Hendry to build a championship caliber team for 06. If you want to hate on Hendry....go for it, I can't tell you not to (same to you dalgreen), but you would be misplacing you haterade.

What I will suggest might bring some heat to me, but who cares... Should Maddux be DFA? I know DFA a future HOFer is NOT a good PR move, I understand that, but keeping a player/pitcher who isn't really helping the team, is not a good baseball decision. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=1800 This is not worth letting him get his option picked up, I'm sorry. I love Maddux, and he is truly a genius at pitching, but he isn't helping the Cubs---not hurting--and if the Cubs are going to suck for the rest of the yr, I would rather suck with guys like Mitre/Welly/Leicester etc getting a shot at getting more experience. Let Maddux pick where he wants to go (Atl, perhaps) I realize the Cubs would get hammered in the media for letting Maddux go, but no harder then BoSox letting Clemens leave. The season is shot, so public opinion really wouldn't matter, now does it? But DFA Maddux wouldn't be the ONLY move....I would move Burnitz, Lawton, Walker in waiver wire deals. If the Cubs are going to suck I rather suck with the kids playing.

And what is it that he's done? Yeah, he's improved the minor league system, but where are all the supposed studs? Over the last five years, what position player, right now, is the top prospect? Murton? Well he's not even a product of the Cubs system. If you're fond of Hendry then you should really be fond of Walt Jocketty, who seems to turn everything he touches to gold in St. Louis, with less of a payroll. How about Hendry turning guys like Choi, Bobby Hill and Matt Bruback for Aramis Ramirez, and Derrick Lee. Or how about finding guys like Brendan Harris (he will still be a very good player in the majors, he needs the right team) Kyle Farnsworth, Sergio Mitre outside of the Top 5 Rds of the MLB Draft. Look Hendry is no innocent victim here, but he doesn't get AS MUCH blame as Baker and the players. Look at this way, he won't have to deal with Sosa and ego this offseason, meaning he can go to work earlier this offseason, legitmating improving this team.

(Jumping up and down) Pick me, pick me. I wanna clean the Cubs house, PURTY please. PUL-EASE. There is some trash (rubbing hands together) I would love to get my hands on.

What me even more upset is that Hendry/Baker and the Cubs are trying to pull the wool over Cubs fans eyes by saying the Cubs "haven't quit." ](*,) You can see it with your eyes, I can see it with my eyes, and any Cub fan can see it, the Cubs have quit. I don't care how they tried to spin, the Cubs have quit. And that makes me :evil: :x

Who thinks WGN could broadcast the D'Jaxx quest for the AA Championship instead of Cubs games, they would rake in better numbers?

Something tells "playoff atmosphere" will not be in the air when the Cubs/Cards play. You can thank the recent play of the Cubs for that.

I dont know what the chances are, but I personally believe that Hendry may be fighting for his job as well, so for him to go young and just give up may not send the best message to ownership. Again, I may be wrong, but just my $.02. Slim to none, RIGHT now. Hendry has legitmately put the Cubs back on the map from the day he started, thus he gets a little leway. BUT....if Baker is let go in the off-season.....the Heat on Hendry will begin.

Why do we want Boston's equal to Steve Bartman running the Cubs?

My guess it will be close until late in the game, but a mix of terrible defensive play and a bullpen meltdown will give it away. That said, go Cubs, don't screw up! That's the problem with the Cubs, with Harang---or any Reds starter---it shouldn't be close in the late part of the game. There should be NO reason why a Reds pitcher should even make it to 5 innings. But hey there are positives.....I'm positive Baker will be gone not to long after the World Series.

Now if the Cubs can get Dopirak going again, then we might be on to something.

Now that the Cubs got their "threat" of the game out of the way, who now sees the Reds taking control of the game in the 2nd inning?

That's exactly the kind of thing winning organizations do worry about. Or PARANOID organizations.

Doesn't that mean that every day that a team is off? That's bad revenue for baseball to have teams not playing on a Friday, Saturday Sunday. Not to mention it makes scheduling an even bigger headache than it already is. Yes, i thought I already explained this earlier. You can't have odd numbered teams in each league. Fine, make it three WC; with Top 2 seeds with byes and the seeds 3-6 playing in a best out of 3 series.

Maddux? Something tells me you don't want Maddux back in 06. Not that I disagree.