Scott G. F.

I believe this to be a possitive thing for Barrett. He'll be catching a lot of great pitchers. Hes' bound to learn something from these guys and I hopre he returns a better catcher for the Cubs.

Attempting to put a positive spin on things I haven't come up with very much. Offically the excitment of 2003 is dead to me. I have zero expectations like I did going into 2004 and 2005. I'm at such a neutral place for the Cubs I wouldn't be suprized if they came out and smoked everyone or fell completely to pieces. The key for 2006 and from this year forward will be pitching. If the Cubs starters decide that they want to pitch at the major league level and not in simulated games then I'd say we have a pretty decent shot at things. If the Cubs keep putting the pitching staff on the DL and running up pitchers they accquired off the trash heap then we'll have the same result as the '04 and '05 seasons. The offense will produce what it will produce. The Cubs built the line up the last couple of years for the long ball. Now they have a veteran lead off man, solid 3 and 4 men, some youth on the left side and a vet pen. I like there chances. Either way I'll be watching and sipping the blue cool aide hope the wheels don't fall off, or Kerry Wood's arm.

It's been around for a while, that is true. But oh so relavent. So much so it scares me.

Thanks, I just laughed out loud and people came into my cube. The Tampa Hurricanes The Tampa Dopplers The Tampa Potential The Tampa Panther Cheerleader Bathroom Stall Shags The Tampa Jeb's The Tampa Ybor's

The Tampa Suck

Yeah I remember sigining "Take me out..." at Comiskey with Harry. Good times. I like it when he called Ryne Sandberg, Ryne Santo. I could feel Steve Stone in the booth want to correct him, but he never did, that I can recall. I miss him.

If Cedano comes out smokin then this thread would have been useless. That is until Cedano get rolled by Travis Lee and Neifi! has to cover. has anyone see this scenario before?

Oh man, that was something. I think NSBB just nearly imploded with that. I was just in disbelief. I was about to bring that up! I was thinking, "Hahaha! The Cards just got served by Neifi fricken Perez!!!" The announcers didn't believe it either. I believe Joe Morgan was silent moments after that. Neifi! played a solid first half last year (look back at the Neifi! for the All Star Game Threads) but fell off.

Best Neifi! moment: Winning Granny vs. St. Louis. Who would have thunk that?

I had Neifi! on my fantasy team. He is a streaky player. I don't hate him. I like him but off the bench. The numbers for Neifi! have been established whereas Cedano might have superior numbers. He has the "potential" (another favorite word that is becoming a "Red Badge of Corey" around here). That's what frustrates me to no end with Dustyball. He'd rather know he's getting Neifi! numbers then to relay on an unknown Cedano that has a possibility be being much better. My 2 cents.

Thanks for the link UK. It's nice to know that some people are still rational, good natured and keep things in perspective.

Largely agree. Group think and over reaction reign on here currently. Jones has one glaring attribute over Burntiz. He should be able to handle play much better during the summer months. (has little smerk on face....looks at shoes) Plus, with a the whinning and crying around here I'm not seeing any alturnatives to Jones except Burntiz. Like someone said crap vs. crap. Which to me is not fair to either. Burntiz was decent just not the usual RF production for a "gladiator" type person. One more point. Just because you're a GM running a fantasy baseball team doesn't mean you know what's going on and you're better then JH.

So let me see. In the season of Hope us Cubs fans already called in the 2006 season. Yep everything is back to normal after the 2003 season. Hendry has addressed the needs of the Cubs. Pen, Lead-off CF and RF. Why is that a bust? You can only determine a bust over time. You all are not counting on pitching at all and are expecting the offense to carry this team. Well it isn't. Hendry is building a balanced team with OBP and speed in the front of the line-up followed by power and then a Barrett mix. Hendry has helped build a better defensive team too IMO. He's trying to Dusty proof this team! Pierre and Jones are high energy guys that'll bring a nice balance to the team. I like the moves. All nay says need to have a "smart egg nog" and relax! Hendry's not finished yet.

Cubs signing of Jones isn't as bad as what people think. I'm happy we got him. I always was a Jones fans and kept an eye on him. I think in Cubbie Blue he'll exceed expectations, just like Pierre will. Looking at the options Hendry didn't have much to choose. I like the signing. Welcome Mr. Jones. (Still hate to see Corey Patterson go, damn I liked him!!).

Either that or it's purely chance. Dusty Baker will be along shortly to explain why Pierre is better during the day. :D LOL (is he darker then CP? Just asking)

The Cubs have a lead off hitter. This is good. The player will play Center Field and take the place of CP. This is also good. I'm happy we got this guy. Furcal would have filled more holes but Hendry needed to land this guy to lead off and he got him. The Cubs farm system is so bloated with marginal prospect that have unrealized potential it makes me ill. Lets try and win one WS and if it takes making hard choices then so be it. Touch call JH, but you get your man! Good job!

Nope, you don't use sabermetrics to rip every signing, only the BAD ones. 10man A bad signing is in the eye of the beholder. You could make any player look crappy dwelling on the negative stats. I'm just wanting and hoping for consistant play from the Cubs. You get that with signing people that are consistant. Not world beaters one week and then getting swept by a lesser talented team the next like 2005. Unfortunately bench players are bench players because of there inconsistant play. The Cubs had a lot of bench players seeing alot of action in 2005 and the results showed it.

I disagree. Macias is a lower end bench player that apparently has nude photos of Hendry and Dusty. Gooney, I guess a defintion of steady eddie is called for, to clarify. Steady Eddie (ST_ed_EE) (Edd_EE): A baseball player that can situational hit in any part of the baseball game. Has the capability to play solid defense. Shows hustle, has heart, has fun and wants to win everyday. So I agree we need solid baseball players and not wait around for players to reach their potential, or a young pitcher to show consistancy.

I disagree. Macias is a lower end bench player that apparently has nude photos of Hendry and Dusty. Gooney, I guess a defintion of steady eddie is called for to clarify. Steady Eddie (ST_ed_EE) (Edd_EE): A baseball player that can situational hit in any part of the baseball game. Has the capability to play solid defense. Shows hustle, has heart, has fun and wants to win everyday. So I agree we need solid baseball players and not wait around for players to reach their potential, or a young pitcher to show consistancy.

I guess reports indicate the Cubs have signed John Mabry from the Cards. He's another steady/solid bench player with pop. I like it.

Rocket Come on. The Red Sox and Yankees make headlines everytime someone sneezes or pee's in a cup in the green monster, whatever. Look at the Marlins in 2003, The Red Sox had a lot of "eddies" on the team, Belhorn, Roberts, Nixon, and Veratek come to mind. Murton looks like he could fit that bill, T. Walker is too. D Lee, Am-Ram Prior, Wood, Dempster, Barrett, Blanco, even the departed Burnitz fit the bill. CP could. He has potential. (Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...potential) Anyway, Hendry should be looking for role players and not budding superstars. (Does anyone agree with this?)

The last thing the Cubs need is a flashy high profile player. I hate looking at a team and having one face embody that team ala Sammy Sosa. Don't get me wrong Sosa was good for the time he was here, but that time has past and Sosa has dried up and blew away. (Sorry Sammy) The signings of Eyre and Howry are a step in the right direction. Yeah the money's a little high but the alternative is allowing the youngsters to suffer growing pains in the pen to the detriment to my health with every "learning experience loss". These signings provide the Cubs 2 steady pen guys. Pen guy's that will not flake out and call a press conference to tell the press their not going to talk to the press anymore ala L. Hawkins. They seem to be the "Steady Eddie" type guys. Guys that go to work and play hard then go home to get ready for tomorrow. That is what the Cubs need and that's what Hendry needs to sign and trade for to Dusty proof this team. Now all the Sabermetric numbers guys will rip each and every signing this off season. No player in the MLB is flawless they all have warts and holes in there numbers. Oh well. Am Ram is not a good defensive 3rd basemen, but D Lee is an exceptional 1st basemen. Their play in the field complements each other. That's what this team needs. So sign Pierre, Furcal, Giles, Mench whoever or stick with Murton and CP. Either way I hope their flaws are over lapped and hidden by another teammates strength. The Cubs don't need a flashy "look at me" player to win the WS! If you need proof just look south!

How do you spell it then? Corey patterson? Cory Paterson? Corey Paterson? Kory Patursun? The correct spelling is Jerome Walton. I thought it was Damon Buford LOL, very good. I was thinking Damian Jackson.

How do you spell it then? Corey patterson? Cory Paterson? Corey Paterson? Kory Patursun? The correct spelling is Jerome Walton.

I read that 5 times and didn't understand what you were saying. But now that I read the first post I understand. Yeah at the Trop you can bring in your own food. Just not a case of beer!! Oh well. The Piniella years in Tampa will be looked upon as the turning point of this franchise. It's to bad he was here for the house cleaning but not the party yet to come. I predict a winning record next year for this team. sorry about that - I meant to reference the 1st post - They went 39-34 after the AS break last year, have great young talent, players to trade, better mgmt, and are upping the payroll a bit. I don't know if they will be able to contend this year but they might and I will be rooting for them. I’ll be pulling for them like I pull for my neighbor’s kid. Great if he wins but no big deal if they lose. Now the Cubs win or loss affects my entire persona. Devil Rays not so much. One cool thing is I have a chance to meet JoBo and A-gon from the 2003 Cubs. well at least JoBo. A-Gon not so much either.