jyoung55

I mean really... why would you not? The first year they did this I was able to sit, no exaggeration, 10 feet from the Cubs on deck area. Had I fancied jail time, I could have touched Nomar or DLee. So yea, they are worth it.

No word here either... I'd imagine they have sent the emails by now. :(

I'd be interested in a H2H daily changes league.

5/4 Pittsburgh

I can live with that. I just wondered what would the Cubs reasoning for choosing not to sign him. Inquiring minds would like to know. Aside from the "character" issues, which the Cubs consider, there is the little matter of a budget. Despite what the Cubs have spent, Bonds would bust the budget. And let me say it again, the Cubs are not interested, so the whole thing is moot. And as somebody else pointed out, what do you do with Murton, Floyd, Soriano, Jones, Pie? Yeah, I wouldn't want to pay $15+ Million to a 40+ year old LF, especially for a one year. I'm glad that the Cubs weren't even interested in him, so you're correct. It is a moot point. Murton - LF Floyd/Jones Platoon on RF Soriano in CF Pie in AAA That's how I see it. Why would you platoon two lefties?

So a .730 OPS = 8.3 million??? If we trade Jacque for nothing I am going to be infuriated.

Those really are some good promotions for a team that doesn't need promotions to sell tickets.

I think that analysis is dead on Vance. Lets just hope the ABs stay as promised for Matty.

i judge hendry by wins. and in that regard, he's bad. and if you judge him by win per dollar, he's the worst. Fair enough.

Epstein has been pretty good. Got them a WS ring, and he signed all the available FA's this year that I wanted the Cubs to sign. Hendry is where he deserves. Those bottom tier GMs are pretty bad. I don't know about all that now. Hendry may be bad, but is he worse that Jim Bowden or J.P. Ricciardi? I'd put him somewhere between 15-17 personally. Hendry is bad, very bad. Any monkey can sign players through FA if they have the available funds to do so, and Soriano didn't come cheap either. Whether you think its a fluke or not, I dont know how you judge Hendry without at least mentioning Lee, Barrett and, here's the big one, RAMIREZ.

Wasnt Prior not yet throwing by the time Spring Training started last year? IIRC, the concern started when time started going by after P&C reported and Prior had yet to take the mound. If so, this appears to be great news and I am guilty of getting excited.

The names are for foos who don't follow the team. :x Well last year we really need it with the whole new starting pitcher every other day thing.

So when do pitchers and catchers report? And I know some may think this is too early to be thinking about this but I hate the bears and am starting to get pumped for some meaningful baseball, regardless of how long it lasts.

Also on the says Blanco plays you have a 6-7-8 of Pie, Blanco, Izturis. Thats scary bad. Thanks... now I am going to have nightmares tonight.

What do people think the chances of Rusch being DFA'd?

This whole thing started when I noted that Lilly might be getting pulled for pinch hitters early, if he keeps giving up runs at the same rate, (wait here while I get the quote) "since their regular lineup, as currently constructed, isn't going to be bashing people on a regular basis". You took umbrage with the notion that this offense won't be bashing people on a regular basis. That pretty much means you said the offense would be great. If you bash people on a regular basis, you're a great lineup. That's what great lineups do. I don't think they'd be great. You're wrong. You have a future in politics.... oh wait... nevermind... the reign of sensationalization, half-truths, and contorting the facts will officially be completely over in two years. :wink:

Score some runs is nothing but an empty phrase. The Cubs have had the worst offense in the NL for a long time now, adding Soriano isn't going to make it the best. They've got a long way to go, and right now are probably nothing but above average. That is a gross over sensationalization. Middle of the pack offense when moderately healthy the 3 years prior to 2006 would be an accurate statement. Combine additions with a new philosophy and one would hope that we would go to above middle of the pack in runs scored. So again... why does everyone concede that that is a "good point?" gross over sensationalization? okay megahyperbolicnonsensicalgibberish. You think this offense is going to be great? I sure as heck don't. They are still quite weak in the most important stat needed for scoring runs, and that's OBP. This team is once again going to be an impatient non-walking hack machine. They shouldn't be as bad as before, but they were so bad at that before that they have a very long way to go to get to mediocre. Their physical talent will help them remain above average. But they need more help if they want to be great. I think you should stop being an argumentative hack. (And if you can call what I said gibberish, I can call you a hack) And if "worst offense in the NL for a long time now" isn't "megahyperbolicnonsensicalgibberish," then I don't know what is. You accussed XZero of not reading what you wrote... but you did the same thing. Where did I say the offense would be great? I said above middle of the pack in runs scored... which is what started this... I said they would score some runs. And I think XZero has done a fine job making my other points so I'll leave it at that.

Score some runs is nothing but an empty phrase. The Cubs have had the worst offense in the NL for a long time now, adding Soriano isn't going to make it the best. They've got a long way to go, and right now are probably nothing but above average. That is a gross over sensationalization. Middle of the pack offense when moderately healthy the 3 years prior to 2006 would be an accurate statement. Combine additions with a new philosophy and one would hope that we would go to above middle of the pack in runs scored. So again... why does everyone concede that that is a "good point?"

Take the number of innings pitched and divide by the number of starts. Thanks for his career its around 5.8 per start. Hmmm...That should spike up a bit for the NL. Then again, AL pitchers don't get pulled for pinch hitters. If he's giving up as many runs as he normally does, the Cubs might want to go to pinch hitters early, since their regular lineup, as currently constructed, isn't going to be bashing people on a regular basis. Good point. I dont know why everyone conceeds that this is a "good point." Any lineup with Soriano, Lee, Aramis and Barrett is going to score some runs. I'd rather have those top three than have my 2d and 3d best hitters be Rolen and Edmonds. Anyways, back on topic, let's hope Lilly's numbers receive a bump in the positive direction after moving to the NL. At least we filled one of the many wholes in the rotation.

That would be a great lineup to think about... but I just don't think I could bring myself to root for Barry... I would just always be hoping that he got hurt. Not only because I don't want him to break the record but being in front of my favorite red-head in the world (yea its a short list) wouldn't help matters.

Bobby Dernier?

for Soriano's contract he should clean out urinals and not complain if asked to and IMO it's a complete waste to have him leading off. Well you aren't in charge. This isn't MLB: The Show 06. It is how it is and it should be thought of arround those terms.

Now I know everyone has their own thoughts on how the lineup should be ordered given potential moves... but it is a complete waste of time to have a lineup that doesn't have Soriano's name in big black sharpie marker in the lead off position. If you pay a guy 136 mill and promise him he's going to be your lead off guy... there's a pretty good shot that that's the case. That being said... I think Lofton would be a decent 8 hole hitter. Too bad we already have that in Izturis. A lineup with both of those guys wouldn't be all that great.

2:1 odds he has a career year.

another great move for the cubs this offseason. one less cub killer in the division.