javy knows my name

No one wants to answer these comp questions it seems. I think Justin Upton is a bad word or something. Am I missing something (I'll admit my sarcasm meter isn't as good as it once was) or did you miss something? This was already covered. Don't give MonsterFight the benefit of the doubt again, please

I'll bet he didn't say exactly this. Where is that from? Mid-Atlantic?

Yeah you are. I think I speak for all of us that this off season has been crap. Anyone disagree? So, bad at reading, then. Fair enough. Enlighten us. There are many people on here who are borderline ecstatic with this offseason. You have obviously spent no time reading about any of our additions to both the major league team and the farm, and presumably even less time evaluating the cost of some of the guys who "got away." There was unprecedented stupid money flying around all offseason, and our guys decided to invest in the future rather than take expensive risks. You can hate that we have resigned to not compete next year, but for the love of God, stop throwing around the pro-Hendry hyperbole [expletive]. It's so tired. Speaking of making hacky, obnoxious posts on a message board - maybe you should find a new hobby.

Yeah you are. I think I speak for all of us that this off season has been crap. Anyone disagree? So, bad at reading, then.

CC has had a KKvG-style mental breakdown. It's fascinating.

After 35 years in this country, Ozzie is basically still English-illiterate

Is it really that good? Certainly pricey. I almost went there for brunch last weekend. It's outstanding. Mojitos and Pork Shoulder are glorious. There's a place near the corner of Western and Charlestown in Bucktown that it is pretty damn good as well. 90 Miles is better

Signing Edwin Jackson or Roy Oswalt to a short-term (1 or 2 year) contract would be pointless given the Cubs' situation. It adds a few wins to a sub-.500 team. Who cares. The best you can hope for is to trade them later on. That may be one way to acquire prospects, but it surely must be the least efficient. Yeah, you completely missed the point. Had the Cubs front office wanted to, they would have been able to field an over - .500 ballclub while staying within the budget and without saddling the payroll with poor long term contracts. Is it the optimal way to acquire prospects? Absolutely not. But there would have been some semblance of competing during the process. And we'd still be able to make moves to leave us better off in the long run. I'm guessing the Cubs did make inquiries into guys like Oswalt and Jackson. It's pretty clear Oswalt doesn't want to play here (or anywhere in the Midwest), and Jackson turned down a 3 year deal with the Pirates (who are similar to us) to take a one year deal with someone else. Theo can't make these guys come here, and he shouldn't overpay for them so that they do want to come here. For once, we have a management team willing to show restraint, which is why I won't be upset if we lose out on Cespedes because the Marlins gave him $70 $80 million. Last year, we headed into spring training with a bad team that, if everything went right, could be above .500. This year, we head into spring training with a bad team that, if everything goes right, could be above .500. The difference is that we'll be relying on young-ish players taking a step forward, whereas last year we were relying on old guys repeating career years. I never understood the desire to overpay and give up assets this offseason for a better shot at 83 wins. That's basically been the Cubs' strategy for the past 20 years. This team would really need everything to go right to have a shot at .500. Gigantic rebounds by Dejesus, Soto, Dempster, and Marmol in addition to breakout years by Lahair, Stewart, and T.Wood might give them a shot at .500. What? No.

This guy is upset with Selig right now

I can't believe you think this is funny

Why the vindictiveness? Still salty from Bigbird/Brian Roberts?

Yes. Collect and spend to collect better things...Ever check out how much prime star+ talent can hit the MLB FA market over the next 3-4 years? No doubt Justin Upton will eventually be traded...Felix Hernandez....A Zimmerman? That'd be sweet, especially the 3B one....Tim Lincecum...Stud talent will hit the trade market because teams might prefer the prospects to the picks. There will be a Josh Beckett trade. Maybe even two if Luck and Skill keep having threesomes with Theo. Oh God...you're back. He never left. Lol no, I did. Must be pretty devastating considering the raucous I caused before...All those insults I was throwing around and such. I was a havoc causing machine here who took no prisoners. Plus what I said up there was so unbelievably wrong. Yeah, it was the worst. I'm not sure why you're allowed to post here.

It's even more beautiful than I imagined.

Yes. Collect and spend to collect better things...Ever check out how much prime star+ talent can hit the MLB FA market over the next 3-4 years? No doubt Justin Upton will eventually be traded...Felix Hernandez....A Zimmerman? That'd be sweet, especially the 3B one....Tim Lincecum...Stud talent will hit the trade market because teams might prefer the prospects to the picks. There will be a Josh Beckett trade. Maybe even two if Luck and Skill keep having threesomes with Theo. Oh God...you're back.

hahahaha

That's pretty impressive, considering he doesn't owe anything to anyone. You'd have to be a real anus not to root for the guy.

Glorious was the word that popped into my head, too. I fervently celebrate its existence.

I WANT HIM IN LF. MY BUDDY SAYS HE WANTS HIM TO PLAY LF AND I WANT THAT TOO

sulley does that to all cubs players anyways Now THAT'S rofl-worthy

Joe Paterno -- the Neville Chamberlain of college football This is the only good post you've ever made

If you think it's a crapshoot whose results shouldn't dictate your opinion of an entire baseball season, then no, you don't. Most here, that is.

+1 Everything after '03 seemed like they were chasing the magic of '03...G'damn that was such a great baseball season to watch. 2008 was a fun peak, but the pitching on that roster didn't come close to the talent of the '03 staff and that made all the difference. I think 2003 was the greatest year for the Cubs since 1984. I was 15 in 84 and I don't think there has been anything like it since, even 2003 was a little less magical. However, 2003 was supposed to be only the beginning, and it should have been. I think Hendry was on course pretty well but he and the rest of the brass got carried away and let Dusty abuse the rotation. By the playoffs Big Z was done, we now know Prior was hurting, and the innings for piled up. But the optimism going into 2004 was unmatched in my lifetime. Theo and the boys have a lot of work to do before there will be another year like 2003. Whaaaat. 2008 was superior to 2003 in every way but one. Theo and company should be looking to re-create 2008, not an over-achieving team that got hot at the right time. What the 2008 team did really really well (offense) was way more fun to watch than what the 2003 team did really well, anyway. I do agree that pre-2004 is a team that Theo and co should very much try to emulate. That [expletive] was supposed to be a powerhouse.

SOPA dude

So would he.