NorthsideAvenger

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.

I rather have a package centered around either Edwin Santana (or Jered Weaver) and Howie Kendrick, with perhaps Jeff Mathis (I still think the kid will be a very good player in the majors) and perhaps even Scot Shields. If you going to deal Z, move him to the AL.

Maybe NOT officially, but cheating is a part of the game. Or why else do you see the catchers having to go to the mound, when the runner reaches second, and change their signals with the pitchers?

You're being naive. Cheating is a part of the game, so players/teams hide is better, and there is alot of cheating that goes unnotice. But to think "is not a part of the game", you really are being naive.

I completely agree. No team will trade a 25-27 year old top of the rotation pitcher for Crawford. They will be willing to trade a 20-22 year old pitcher who is still in the minors that has the potential to be a top of the rotation guy. With that said I think Veal, Mateo and Marshall would get the job done in a heartbeat and if I were Hendry I'd offer that as soon as he can. Side note: The more I think about the more I like it. I'd love to trade for both Crawford and Burrell and then sign Lugo. Lugo, Crawford, DLee, Ramirez, Burrell, Murton, Barrett, Theriot/Izturis has me salivating. I rather keep the young pitchers, insread of trading the for Crawford. I especially want to keep Veal.

Why go after Lilly when the Cubs have two lefties already that COULD HAVE similar numbers for considerably less already on the roster? Lilly would make a decent Deadline deal pitcher, but I wouldn't sign him, unless it was a "last act."

Fixed. :D Moyer will be heading to Social Security with Pujols, talking about how "the elderly" get no respect.

First: Anybody who is bidding for Matsuzaka, is MORE then likely going to sign him to play for their team. Or why bid? Second: As mention, I think that would be a HORRIBLE manuever to "spend $50 mill" on a player who said team had no interests in signing. Third: If said team was going to waste said money, why not use the money to acquire players that can ACTUALLY help you, instead of using the money to block a player from a team you don't want him to go to? I doubt a situation you "mentioned", KCtigers, will happen.

If i requires Zambrano to get ARod, then move on. ARod is a pipedream. A fun pipedream, but one nonetheless. I rather keep Z over acquiring ARod, anyday.

Sure he does. A walk is a leisurely stroll, sometimes outdoors, sometimes indoors (such as at a mall). A longer walk is called a hike. :D Of course, he knows what a hike is. I mean he hiked it back to the dugout from second, MANY a times this past season.

So, if the Trammel rumor is correct, we have: Bench Coach: Alan Trammel Hitting Coach: ? Pitching Coach: Larry Rothschild Firstbase Coach: ? but believed to be Quade. Thirdbase Coach: Bullpen Coach: Matt Sinatro. All right....I'll take the hitting coach job then since nobodys taken it yet. Those last 2 openings are pretty important IMO and may distinguish what idenity this team is going to have. No way, man. I've heard rumors that you preached swinging at a curveball, no matter the count, is a good thing. :lol: That's why it's called hitting and not walking. Johnny B, is that you?

Mark Prior's "salary" won't prevent the Cubs from going after Matsuzaka. And the two salaries are not mutally exclusive. This is going tosound classless---thus I apologize---but I rather wait till Prior is just about done as a pitcher, before I let him go. I don't want to see Prior go and pull another Maddux. That's just me. No way do the Cubs let Prior go, until they know for sure he won't come back and haunt the Cubs.

So, if the Trammel rumor is correct, we have: Bench Coach: Alan Trammel Hitting Coach: ? Pitching Coach: Larry Rothschild Firstbase Coach: ? but believed to be Quade. Thirdbase Coach: Bullpen Coach: Matt Sinatro. All right....I'll take the hitting coach job then since nobodys taken it yet. Those last 2 openings are pretty important IMO and may distinguish what idenity this team is going to have. No way, man. I've heard rumors that you preached swinging at a curveball, no matter the count, is a good thing. :lol: