NorthsideAvenger

You're right, Wood is no dummy. He KNOWS he isn't going to get a BIG deal, and most likely will only get a incentive laden contract. So if you are going to settle for that kind of contract, why not stick to the ONLY organization. KW loves the city, loves the org (I don't know why, but he does), so like ARam, KW will be back in Chicago.

Hendry would not had gone after Piniella, if he felt he wasn't going to re-sign ARam. I have no worries about ARam playing anywhere but Chicago next yr.

So winning a World Series in 2002 and 2006 isn't good enough? :twisted: Why not just sign Craig Counsell? He was on the 97 and 01 WS champs teams. Maybe Counsell will be "Hendry's Top Target." Shut.Up. I think Counsell can play 3B. We don't need to be giving anyone any ideas. #-o

So winning a World Series in 2002 and 2006 isn't good enough? :twisted: Why not just sign Craig Counsell? He was on the 97 and 01 WS champs teams. Maybe Counsell will be "Hendry's Top Target."

If someone drafts a guy who isn't Ken Griffey or A-Rod, and guarantees that guy will make the big leagues, he's either lying or has way too high an opinion of himself. Albert Pujols is a prick. Hope he's proud that he's part of the reason an elderly man is stocking shelves at WalMart instead of doing what he loves. How depressing that he'll soon have a world series ring on his finger. Gives me another reasons to dispise Pujols. In fact if they win the Series, I know of a place where I would like to see Pujols put that ring........hint: it ain't on his finger. But it doesn't surprise me he is a prick, because look who his manager is...."The King of Pricks." Not to mention he is teammates to Rolen and Edmonds, who are the "Clown Pricks of baseball." So,is it any wonder why Pujols is such a prick.

Would you believe, Judge Whitey from Futurama?

People talk about his offense, but let's fact it...at this point, Bonds defensively position are limited to pretty much 1st base and DH. This guy looks SOOOOO OLD in the OF, he makes Todd Hundley look good. I say let Detroit or Anaheim go after him.

per Joel Sherman of the NY Post. He isn't suggesting that the Cubs will go after Sheffield, he is suggesting that the Cubs could be interested IF the Yanks pick up abit of Sheff's contract. But I still say heck no.

It was a crappy ending, but that was A FUN SUMMER of baseball.

And the Cubs can't seem to figure out what FA can help them (Beltran, Vlad?), and which FA can't help them as much (Rusch/Perez/Jones). Apparently, in the Cubs eyes, EVERY player is on the same level.

If Boras/Jones are going to want $20 mill, then Boras better advise his client to find another profession, cause he won't be playing baseball for that amount. And no, let's not focus on Vernon Wells, who is looking for Johnny Damon type contract (and yes, so is Torii Hunter) for his next contract. Let's focus on Felix Pie, or one of the lower tier CFers, like Roberts/Lofton/Crisp. Yeah, let's switch focus to the lower tier CFers. That's a great idea!!!! And your choice for CF is? Both Wells/Jones are FA after next yr, and like Pierre, both seems determine to hit the market. So trying to acquire either one of them RIGHT NOW for prospects, seems to be a waste of trading chips. I rather have Crisp/Lofton/Roberts for one yr, and then make a making FA splash next yr, over trading for one them, and losing them for nothing, ala Pierre. So what is YOUR plan?

link A half-assed bid isn't going to get us Matsuzaka. Super. Give me that #4 starter, baby! Whoohoo!! So apparently, Hendry plan is to COPY the Cards plan. Whoopie.

Maybe you just worded this poorly but I don't see how this makes sense. Boras' association to Matsuzaka is what doesn't matter at all. Since it's a mutually blind bid, there's no upperhand here. Boras will only enter the picture once the top bid is accepted and at that point there's only one team allowed to negotiate anyway. Boras isn't going to make Daisuke sit another year out and there's no real fear of losing Matsuzaka altogether for any team making a legit attempt. The Cubs aren't going to significantly increase their bid in anticipation of Boras giving them a friendly discount of $1M. Besides, it's been known Boras would represent him for his posting for over a year. All I was saying to be blount, is that if the Cubs win the bid, signing him will not be a problem.

OK, but the Cubs are going to stay bad that way. Just because the Cubs sign "big name FA" doesn't mean they're the RIGHT free agents. Something to keep in mind with Alou's rough start is the transition players make coming to Wrigley with all the home games - but all in all, I liked the Moises years (not the throwing or baserunning, but those are small complaints). Yeah, but go with the young guys? That's pretty much how it turned out last year, and the Cubs were brutally bad. Teams in baseball strengthen themselves through free agency, trades, and their farm system. You need to be active in free agency to field a good time, as long as you make the right move rather than get mediocre has-beens like Steve Buechele. Sure, you can put in Sean Marshall rather than Ted Lilly, stick with Ronny Cedeno at second base, etc. But there are plenty of Kevin Ories, Gary Scotts, Mike Harkeys and Todd Wellemeyers that turn out to be nowhere close to major league average. You have to USE the right young players, not just ANY young players. The Marlins plan worked semi-decently, because they had kids like Willigham/Uggla/Ramirez/Jacobs, etc, that were talented enough to play. If the Cubs improve themselves through FA, fine, but the Cubs don't have a good history of doing that. The Cubs have been burned through FA(Dawson was the last FA who wasn't a bust), hence the reason why they are better through the trades (Sandberg/Sosa/Lee/ARam/Sutcliffe). So if the Cubs are going to improve they have to look at all avenues, and use a combination of them all.

What's the chances we like where this ends up? :( 50/50 on the Cubs. FYI; Did anybody know why Scott Boras have such a great working relation with the Cubs organization? It is because the Cubs once paid Boras tuition to go to law school. And say what you want about Boras, but apparently he will always give a call to the Cubs about any one of clients (giving them atleast a heads up). So, if the Cubs are interested in Matsuzaka, then this brings a smile both from a professional, and personal standpoint. And I think Matsuzaka association with Boras gives the Cubs a very good chance at him. Rather the Cubs win the bid or not, it don't matter. But I like the chances now.

All this talk for Alou is moot (just like trading for Dunn), as I think he will either go to a team with a DH, or New York Mets. At least in NY, he could platoon with both Green and Floyd and form a solid platoon with both. So, I don't see Moises Alou as a viable option.

"Could have" may not be good enough, but with the Cubs history of "wooing FAs", that may have to be good enough. Besides, I actually the young arms the Cubs have, and like to see them further developed. All I know is that when "big name FA' put on a Cubs uniforms, they go to crap..ie Hundley/Alou. So, pardon me, if I rather give the youngsters a chance, over veterans. Little extreme aren't you, gooney?

Please name these two pitchers Hill and either Marshall or Veal (who I think could see significant time in 2007).

I'd stay away from Sheffield now, then and in the future. I had been in favor of atleast exploring something with Sheffield, but after I read that article, I am in the group that wants to STAY AWAY from Sheffield. He is simply not worth it.

Per Rotoworld.com: I'd stay away from Sheffield, now.

Is it me, or is Ryno being "rumored" to be the next 1st base coach strictly a PR move? I mean, Girardi was the people's choice for manager, and yet Hendry went with Piniella. So, I'm thinking to appease the fans for missing out on Girardi, they would hire Sandberg as first base coach/PR move. Because let's face it...how many "HOFers" are coaching 1st base in the majors? Besides, isn't possible that the Cubs will have a better middle infield sitting in the dugout next yr, then on the field (Sandberg/Trammell .v. Izzy/Theriot.)?

Jerry "The King" Lawler loves "puppies." But something tells me that is a "different kind of puppies" he is referring to, but I could be wrong? :wink:

But to be fair, Howry/Eyre performed admirably especially for their contracts. And while it seems the best bullpens are consisting of "failed starters" you have to take in considersation "Stuff" and "other intangibles" also. Wainwright and Johnson both are considered to having "GREAT" stuff. So, to honestly think to throw a "failed starter" into the bullpen is the best bet to build a bullpen, is abit naive. It needs a little of both to succeed.

The Cubs motto for 2007: Zambrano, Matsuzaka, and Hill then go take a pill. Not exactly Spahn and Sain and pray for rain. And it doesn't roll of your tongue either.

If Boras/Jones are going to want $20 mill, then Boras better advise his client to find another profession, cause he won't be playing baseball for that amount. And no, let's not focus on Vernon Wells, who is looking for Johnny Damon type contract (and yes, so is Torii Hunter) for his next contract. Let's focus on Felix Pie, or one of the lower tier CFers, like Roberts/Lofton/Crisp.