CheeseHead Cubs Fan

Post All-Star break, JJ put up a .308 BA and a .866 OPS. I wouldnt exactly call that struggling. Also, when looking at his numbers the first half of last year, you have to take into consideration that JJ basically skipped AAA because of a shoulder injury he suffered early in the 2004 season. Why focus on just Post-AS stats? He hit .187 before the AS break. That being said, he is going to have to hit better than a combined .247 for the year for the Brewers to make any noise.

But he would have 30 dingers, go figure!

Nope, I am not kidding. They replaced Overbay with a "promising young talent" in Fielder, he could be great, he could be a bust. He is no Pujols or DLee. They are counting on JJ Hardy to hit - something he struggled with most of the year. Brady Clark will come down from earth and Jenkins will continue to be Jenkins. Carlos Lee will have a huge contract year, other than that I don't see their offense doing much better than last year. Miller behind the plate is great for "D" but leaves much to be desired with the bat. Other than "1 year older" what makes them better this year?

:shock:

Couldn't agree with you more. They were at .500 last year, honestly what have they done so well this offseason to push them into WC or Division champs?

Must be late bro, seriously I was making a sarcastic remark in my original post. I did not assume you even put a parking sticker on your car. My bad on the misunderstanding!

They are only cool if you put a bunch of race stickers on them, fart can muffler and a bunch of really neat gauges that light up at night! What? Hey sorry, some of us aren't rich enough to afford all those exotic cars and idiotic looking things (like you described) on their cars. Relax man, it’s just funny to see kids run around in a 4 door commuter and try to make it into a street tuner. Not ripping on your ride, but it's not meant to resemble a sports car. Do you know what I am talking about or is this not making sense?

They are only cool if you put a bunch of race stickers on them, fart can muffler and a bunch of really neat gauges that light up at night!

Didn't he already pass that point in his career in his last season here in Chicago ? He should have stopped right after we lost against the Marlins - he had some huge homers and good games. But I guess this really shows he was only playing for himself afterall..... Come on, after the shots he was hitting in the 03 playoffs, you didn't honestly think he was going to decline as much as he did in 04. Actually, I still held out hope that he could improve on those numbers. I wonder how much that beaning had to do with his decline? I always felt like he moved away from the plate from that point forward and could no longer drive that outside pitch. In fact, opposing pitchers exploited the fact he coudn't reach the outside pitch. He never made the adjustment and his offense has been in decline ever since. Maybe that isn't it at all. I brought up this topic once before, and one of our members went back and watched video from pre-decline and said it didn't appear as though he did move back, and that he always stood that far back. Maybe the combination of a slowing bat speed and pitchers finding that out pitch by throwing outside required an adjustment, one Sammy refused to make. Maybe it was steroids. Has there ever in the history of baseball been a player that went back to back to back 60+ seasons, then literally fall of the face of the earth the next 2+ years? I'd use steroids if they could launch me into space. Pretty sure you're wrong about that, though Wrong about what? If you are too naive to think there is a possibility that Sammy used steroids to put up the numbers he did, then possibly you are the one that is wrong.

I agree and to be honest, ignorance is bliss in this situation. The memories of Sosa and his 60+ seasons are great as a Cubs fan; I don't want to taint them with thoughts of steroids. Big Mac is another great example, although I don't recall him hanging around with rumors of NRI to Spring Training or the possibility of playing in Japan. Sammy...you need to hang it up bro!

Didn't he already pass that point in his career in his last season here in Chicago ? He should have stopped right after we lost against the Marlins - he had some huge homers and good games. But I guess this really shows he was only playing for himself afterall..... Come on, after the shots he was hitting in the 03 playoffs, you didn't honestly think he was going to decline as much as he did in 04. Actually, I still held out hope that he could improve on those numbers. I wonder how much that beaning had to do with his decline? I always felt like he moved away from the plate from that point forward and could no longer drive that outside pitch. In fact, opposing pitchers exploited the fact he coudn't reach the outside pitch. He never made the adjustment and his offense has been in decline ever since. Maybe that isn't it at all. I brought up this topic once before, and one of our members went back and watched video from pre-decline and said it didn't appear as though he did move back, and that he always stood that far back. Maybe the combination of a slowing bat speed and pitchers finding that out pitch by throwing outside required an adjustment, one Sammy refused to make. Maybe it was steroids. Has there ever in the history of baseball been a player that went back to back to back 60+ seasons, then literally fall of the face of the earth the next 2+ years?

Is this true, honestly...where have you read this?

Maybe this will help Prior turn into the 2nd half of 2003. He was nearly impossible to beat down that stretch. Personally, I like to hear when a player is hacked off... Here's to a huge year from Peeved Prior!

She's a real beauty! http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060109/060109_geeley_hmed.hmedium.jpg

ah, so you're the type of fan that believes charles martin to be the greatest packer of all time? Absolutely not, in fact I was 6 years old when that play happend and living in Phoenix ... some packer fan told me that at lambeau, and he wasn't even trying to be a jerk or anything. i said, "dude, you're sick." and walked away. I know that some Packer fans are cool and actually neat people to be around. However, I have not met one yet :)

It is a odd surface, I have taken Batting Practice on it and and threw from the hill and I hated the backdrop. The infield was very nice, heck even my players didn't boot or make a bad play.

ah, so you're the type of fan that believes charles martin to be the greatest packer of all time? Absolutely not, in fact I was 6 years old when that play happend and living in Phoenix ...

Ah...for those in argument that cold weather plays a role... Let me introduce to you the Packers vs. Atlanta - Playoff game, Packers almost never lost a playoff game at home. Favre was something like 34-1 in games under the freezing mark. Atlanta was coming up from a dome, Vick liked to run and no way was he going to be able to run in those conditions. We all know the outcome and the beginning of the Packers fall.... Carolina could care less about the weather...my pick Panthers 24 Bears 10

Be prepared to pay through the roof if this is true. Something like Hill, Guzman, Walker might get it done. He is hot property right now and I don't want to get in a bidding war for him. However, the thought of Nefi on the bench does throw a touch of sun on this cloudy winter!

Ok, for all you "bothered" by the trade and saying this whole situation is a mess... Think about it this way. How would you feel about trading for Corey type player, someone coming off his worst year ever, spending time in AAA and admitting he got in a rut and never got out. Has already had major knee surgery and showed no patience at the plate. Someone who struck out at an alarming rate and rarely walks. What would you give for this player? Oh, by the way...who cares what he would do in ST or the early part of the year. Once a player hits bottom (value) it's very tough to convince other GM's they should open the cubboards and let you have the pick of quality talent.

It is popular belief that transactions are "gambles" ... yet we give no credit to Jim Hendry for taking a player who downright stunk last year. Who was demoted to AAA and never has found his swing since the knee injury. Patterson’s value is truly at the lowest point possible, or is it? Say he comes out in ST and struggles to find his swing. Looks lost and begins the year at AAA or worse, buried as a bench player only played to eat innings or pinch run. Then what "leverage" does Hendry have...??? Corey has just proven again to the whole baseball world that his stock indeed sunk further, possibly forcing Hendry to designate him for assignment. In my opinion, you "gamble" get a couple of prospects and have the potential of creating something out of nothing.

Well...

Leverage, what leverage? As Bruce Miles stated on this forum just a few days ago Corey was not a hot name at all throughout the baseball world. Well, you've made the point for me. He had no leverage. At all. Thus, it makes more sense to gamble into creating some leverage through 1) better play at the ML level; 2) better play at AAA; or 3) need created though injury in ST or the first part of the season. Negotiating is all about leverage. Trading players without any is just stupid when you know a player has talent (e.g. Corey). If it were some clown like Macias, when you are unlikely to get anything more than you've seen over his stay with the Cubs, then the likelihood of gaining leverage is low if not non-existent. But, that isn't the case with Corey. It is bad negotiating, pure and simple. I certainly understand the leverage principle you describe and agree. However, how do you gain the edge you need in order to pull off a solid trade with Corey? Send him to Winterball? - he wouldn't go Showcase him in ST - possiblity Start him in LF over Murton - possible, but has other issues associated Point is, Corey made his own bed with Chicago. It's similar to selling damaged goods to someone. The buyer knows the product has potential, but also realizes it carries a "as is" tag. Unfortunetly, Corey played on a stage, everyone in Baseball knew he struggled horribly the last month of 04 and most if not all of 05. He didn't play for Tampa Bay or some other low market team. He played for the Cubs and all of America knew he lost his swing. Damaged goods don't bring much in return.

Leverage, what leverage? As Bruce Miles stated on this forum just a few days ago Corey was not a hot name at all throughout the baseball world. I am seeing more and more us Cub fans value players much more than they are worth. How was JH supposed to get quality talent in return when he was giving up someone who everyone knew had a horrible year and frankly hasn't done much since his knee injury. The baseball world, heck even the casual Cubs fan knew Corey needed to go. He has talent, no doubt...but how many 23, 24, 25 year old ballplayers have a world of talent yet can't seem to put it together for love or money? Much more than the players who stand out and become legitimate players throughout MLB. Think about it, JH traded Sosa for a decent player in JHJ. Sosa might end up shinning shoes again this spring as no team has interest in him. He traded Hawkins for a potential 4/5 starter in Williams. Other than the Farnsy trade and possibly the Juan Cruz trade, JH has done well IMO.

If Walker is on this roster and playing BEHIND Neifi Perez, I'm quitting this team until Hendry and Baker are long gone. I mean that. Posts like this always amaze me. I mean seriously, if you want to stop being a Cubs fan and leave until management starts doing things the way you want them, by all means, go ahead. Furthermore, who cares if you leave. Honestly, are the rest of us Cubs fans supposed to try to stop you? Do we need to call the Cubs organization and tell them they are losing a fan and they better call and try to keep the customer happy? While we don't have an AS at every position and Hendry and Baker are far from perfect, be a Cubs fan through thick and thin, or do as you say and leave.