Wheelimus

Cocaine's a hell of a drug. nice post. Anything to back up that claim? Or do you just like slandering people? Pretty sure he was just giving UM a hard time...saying he was smoking (or snorthing) a little something...I don't think any harm was intended by it. Essentially he just went Rick James on his ass...

Going to be a crazy last 9 games. If you simply go by opposition, we should have this one in the bag...knock on wood. You just know that Atlanta and San Diego are not going to phone it in. I wouldn't say the same about our opposition. All that matters are the results though. Go Cubs!

If you could go back in time to the day we signed him and tell me he'd have thrown 180 innings at this point with a 4.07 ERA, I would have asked you what you were smoking and where I could get some. So, yeah, he has performed far above my expectations.

But, I can't discount race because people aren't talking about Raffy and Mac because they're not black. You're completely right- the record plays a huge role. Maybe even 100%, I don't know. And maybe his jerk personality plays a role. But, I can't help but wonder about race in this situation when the darkest dude catches the most heat. In the NFL, black players are getting a pass when they get busted (Harrison, Merriman), so maybe that should set me at ease and let me know for sure it's the record or his personality or baseball's poetic higher standard even though the game's had cheaters since it started. I can only speak for myself, of course. I do not doubt that some peoples hatred is rooted in his race. Just like there is a very small percentage of Chicago Cubs fans whose hatred of Dusty Baker was rooted in his race. Probably you could even say that about Jacque Jones. But I would hope that the percentage of baseball fans who dislike Barry Bonds for reasons other than his race would be in the mid to high 90's. At least I hope so. I don't need to lose anymore faith in the human race. For me it's the record, that's it. He didn't take this heat when he broke the single season homerun record. And we certainly didn't need to see the smoking gun to know it was there. Why? Because nobody really cared about Mark McGwire. Same reason that we didn't care when McGwire broke the record the first time. Nobody really cared about Roger Maris. I guarantee you if that record had of belonged to an Aaron, or a Ruth, or a Mantle (someone iconic) McGwire would have gotten a lot more scrutiny when he broke the record. But otherwise it's just a fun fact. What really matters and what people really care about is the long haul. Sure, Neifi Perez probably holds the "greenies popped in 15 seconds" record, but what we care about is longevity! :D To be serious though, I know growing up as a baseball fan I was told of Maris but I was indoctrinated with Aaron. My father spoke of that record like it was written on a stone tablet and handed to Moses. So I think the reason Bonds gets so much hate is that there are so many reasons to hate him. He broke the untouchable record. Artificially. It wasn't supposed to be broken. People have lived their lives since Aaron took it just assuming they'd die with Aaron still the home run king. So obviously it doesn't help that he's a jerk, an apparent tax cheat, a bad husband, and so on and so on.

Sweet **adds a little more vodka to the kool-aid**

Yeah, it really isn't even fair to bring race into this. People hate Barry Bonds because he's a jerk and he broke an incredibly high profile record that a ton of people care deeply about. If Bonds were a retired player who held no records and we found out he cheated, nobody would give a damn beyond the media over-sensationalizing it for a few weeks. Case in point, if Bonds would have retired prior to last season I do not think anyone would be talking about Barry Bonds. We damn sure aren't talking about Mark McGwire or Raffy.

Not really. He only has a player option for next year, not guaranteed. We all just treat it like a guarantee because there was no logical scenario where he didn't use it. And that was prior to his troubles this year. He'll pick up the option and we'll see what trade value he has at 1 year, $3.8 million dollars. Also do not forget he will be able to submit a list of 10 teams he can't be traded to without his permission.

Reasonable move by the Cubs. If it were any of us getting the chance to live our Cubbie dreams, they'd have to yell at us not to sleep in the clubhouse. You know, just to make sure we're on time. :D

I want this team to make the playoffs because I'd much rather deal with 1 in 8 odds than 1 in NOTHING odds. I'd rather make it, lose, and know what happened rather than always wonder "what might have been". There's still a month to go in the season. The Mets could be hit by injuries and took down. Who knows.

What the writer of that article doesn't realize is that it's an auction, and that means your usual rules don't apply. The only thing that matters are two simple words...two people. That's what it takes for something to go for a ridiculous price at an auction. Two people who really want the item and will pay at or above market price. I have very little doubt that there are a lot more than "two people" out there when it comes to a one of a kind item like this. I do think it will go for well less than McGwire's ball, but I'd put the likely sale price somewhere between 1 and 2 million.

I do think it will be more than 2 games. Not that I'm willing to predict a total of wins larger than your 84, lol, but I am willing to predict the Cards and Brew Crew to be more pathetic than you've predicted. If we've been treading water and somehow gaining ground with Soriano out and our other injury woes, I have to think we're going to go on another good run towards the end of the season. And if not and we've clinched the division on the last day of the season but are some pathetic 82-79 or something, we can all only wear half paper bags at the game. :lol:

Agreed, a one year deal would not be a problem at all. Good insurance.

fixed cautiously optimistically fixed. :lol:

First time he comes in a game it's going to be tough to not tear up.

Well, lets not forget that in some cases the whole team is pretty much "waived" tomorrow to see who gets through and who doesn't. Of course, since the cat is out of the bag he'll probably get claimed.

Not really

Teixeira is not a 2-month rental. They control him through next season. And as a player at the beginning of his prime he's a much more valuable than both of those post 30 players who have been inconsistent in recent years. My bad, I just recalled Tex being under a two year deal that ended this year and forgot that he's still under team control. Still, I consider the price paid for Tex to be very high. Salty is a stud and plays a position that offense is hard to come by at. Not to downplay Tex but it isn't quite as hard to find a power hitting 1B. Added with a high ceiling like Andrus and two other prospects, with only a decent reliever in Mahay in addition, and the price is high. Not saying that Griffey = Tex but I think the price wouldn't be that much different. Especially since, with Tex off the market, the talent pool just got a little smaller.

I suppose "good enough" depends on what exactly we're good enough for. To win the division? No doubt in my mind. We're a game back and the Brewers are falling apart, somewhat literally. We have them beat rotation wise easily. Hell, just look at the WHIPs of the 5 pitchers currently in each teams rotation. I'm of course leaving out Ben Sheets which isn't fair, but he's on the DL for another 2 to 4 weeks and coming back is no sure thing. We've learned that the hard way. Cubs - 1.12/1.17/1.23/1.25/1.30 Brew - 1.08/1.33/1.44/1.45/1.56 Not even close. And that 1.08 for the Brew Crew is Gallardo who could no doubt start struggling. Bullpen wise, they probably have the advantage. Wood coming back could change that, I don't know. Probably not the difference maker in the race. Offense wise, even, they aren't beating us as badly as you might think just looking at home run totals. Only Fielder and Hart are really impressing in OPS. And I'll take Lee and Ramirez's bats over those two any day of the week. Now, if we're talking to win the World Series, who knows. Nobody thought the Cards had enough last year. Few thought that the Sox had what it took in '05. Hell, when was the last time a World Series winner has just stood out as a perfect team? So I think, as is, we win the division and once you're in the playoffs, who knows. I'd like to see us upgrade, but I think we can get there as is.

Well, Bruce Miles did say that the prices being asked were ridiculous. And if Mark Teixeira (for a two month rental, no less) cost Salty, Elvis, and another prospect, I shudder to think what the price would be for a Griffey (under control past this year) or Renteria (ditto). Such as the deal below, for Arroyo (to spin to the Braves), Griffey, and Renteria. No way the prospects listed get a deal done. Not in a time when contracts are so bloated and talent so over-valued. A situation we helped create, mind you, by giving Soriano the contract we did. We might wind up with Griffey and Renteria on the team if we're willing to give up Pie, Gallagher, Marmol, and Veal (among others). Price is too high for my liking.

We wouldn't get Renteria for anything less than one of the pitchers in our rotation. And they wouldn't take Marquis. Not worth it.

They both might have done well to see if the pitcher could throw a strike in the first place.

I'm not sure what the Phillies are going to rack up more of, runs or injuries.

Its like 11 extra doubles, the general consensus is that 1 caught stealing offsets 2 successful SB's. 19 for 23 is still a good rate though. Fair enough. Would give him 27 doubles, 3rd on the team. Sounds about right.

That's why I think some undervalue Ryan. 19 for 23 on stolen bases. That's like 19 extra doubles. He may not always knock himself there, but he'll get himself there sometimes.

I'd give up a bag of balls and get Sammy Sosa. Bat him against all lefties and any righties he might have had great success against. Not earth shattering, but it would make for a feel good story and it might slightly improve the team. Of course, I'd also first inquire for what the combined Sosa/Gagne tab would be. :D