CUBZ99

no please no if this turns into frigging lolcats i'm locking it BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The walrus pics were great, but I think my internet comedic standards have changed since the dude on that other message board posted pictures of his "girl"friend posing with his car and dog. Those made me simultaneously laugh an cry. You got something that can top that? Edit: D'oh! Modzilla's mad. NM. Link to the other board?

I agree with you. As I posted before, Wood's agent probably talked to Hendry about a 3/30 contract and then Hendry decided to part ways with Wood. If Wood would have told his agent that he would accept a 1-year deal to stay with the Cubs, Wood would be a Cub right now. The agent went into negotiations with Hendry based on the expected contract Wood could get on the open market and it was more than Hendry wanted to spend. Why would Wood lie about having dinner with his agent and Hendry? Then further lie about Hendry being an honest person by telling him ahead of the FA filing deadline?

I still don't understand why you're under the impression that the Padres would want Gregg. He probably has negative value to them Your probably right, but Im just baffled about the Gregg trade otherwise. Greggs not particularly bad, and Im not saying that Cedas is the next K Rod, but he was one of our top trade chips, and we traded him for a guy who we really had little to no use for, with 1 year under team control. It could be that for once Hendry traded a player while his value was the highest, and got a decent return for someone he didn't see fitting into the Cubs plans in the future. He may have traded him while his value was highest, but he didn't get true value for him. He basically gave him away for a mediocre reliever who will make millions next year. It doesn't matter if he doesn't fit into the Cubs plans, he still has value that can be used. I can't stand when people use that argument. True value is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, Hendry values Ceda a lot less than we do. Until Ceda comes to the major leagues and puts up numbers better than Gregg, I will give Hendry the benefit of the doubt. Plus, the Cubs got Ceda for basically nothing. One of the reasons I like this move is that Hendry is being proactive early in the off season. With Gregg the Cubs have at least one solid bullpen arm guaranteed. If Gregg were in the Cubs pen last year he would have had the third best WHIP behind Wood and Marmol. If he has a similar season in 2009, he is an upgrade over every other pitcher in the pen. Hendry still has time to go out and get some other arms, but he is not held hostage in free agency. So because he got Ceda for nothing it's okay to give him away? I really don't think you should be giving Hendry the benefit of the doubt, especially when trading young pitchers to the Marlins. I also think you think Gregg is better than he really is. He's an average pitcher with an above average salary. Plus saying that he had a better WHIP than anybody on our team last year not named Wood or Marmol isn't really saying much. And you think Gregg is worse than he really is. A 1.27 WHIP is not average. Ceda had around a 1.30 in A+ ball. That is against low level major league hitters. Why is it that you apply a double standard when you evaluate talent. By your logic if a 1.27 WHIP pitcher in the majors is an average reliever than....a 1.30 A+ ball pitcher is WAY below average, because he is facing much worse talent. People are getting carried away with Ceda's ability to throw a 95 mph fastball.

I still don't understand why you're under the impression that the Padres would want Gregg. He probably has negative value to them Your probably right, but Im just baffled about the Gregg trade otherwise. Greggs not particularly bad, and Im not saying that Cedas is the next K Rod, but he was one of our top trade chips, and we traded him for a guy who we really had little to no use for, with 1 year under team control. It could be that for once Hendry traded a player while his value was the highest, and got a decent return for someone he didn't see fitting into the Cubs plans in the future. He may have traded him while his value was highest, but he didn't get true value for him. He basically gave him away for a mediocre reliever who will make millions next year. It doesn't matter if he doesn't fit into the Cubs plans, he still has value that can be used. I can't stand when people use that argument. True value is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, Hendry values Ceda a lot less than we do. Until Ceda comes to the major leagues and puts up numbers better than Gregg, I will give Hendry the benefit of the doubt. Plus, the Cubs got Ceda for basically nothing. One of the reasons I like this move is that Hendry is being proactive early in the off season. With Gregg the Cubs have at least one solid bullpen arm guaranteed. If Gregg were in the Cubs pen last year he would have had the third best WHIP behind Wood and Marmol. If he has a similar season in 2009, he is an upgrade over every other pitcher in the pen. Hendry still has time to go out and get some other arms, but he is not held hostage in free agency.

Good point. If Wood was serious about willing to stay for one year, he would accept arbitration and be happy with a contract determined by an objective third party in arbitration.

I still don't understand why you're under the impression that the Padres would want Gregg. He probably has negative value to them Your probably right, but Im just baffled about the Gregg trade otherwise. Greggs not particularly bad, and Im not saying that Cedas is the next K Rod, but he was one of our top trade chips, and we traded him for a guy who we really had little to no use for, with 1 year under team control. It could be that for once Hendry traded a player while his value was the highest, and got a decent return for someone he didn't see fitting into the Cubs plans in the future.

If we got fuentes then why would we need Gregg...you talkin loco. Why do we need to replace Howry? He was no good last year and we were fine. So because we made the playoffs, we shouldn't replace a crappy reliever? Huh? Because we have adequate other internal options? Who are these internal options that you speak of? Last year's pen was excellent because of the last two guys (Wood, Marmol). Howry -- Pitiful Eyre -- Worse than Howry Shark -- Luck of the Irish, but he could be a solid reliever Cotts -- Not bad for a 5th-6th innning guy Hart -- Not much Weurtz - can be lights out or terrible I really don't see any adequate internal options.

And yet, we give Soriano 8 years? Soriano didn't have Wood's injury history. Any team that gives Wood a 3+ yr deal for over $10MM a year is insane. Wood will always be one of my favorite Cubs, but Hendry is making the right call on this decision.

Now it will be interesting to see how the Cubs fill out the rest of the bullpen. Gregg would not be a bad replacement for Howry in the pen. If the Cubs were able to get Fuentes or another good setup person, I like this move alot more.

IF that is the case I will poke out Jim Hendry's eyes and ... Seriously he has to offer arbitration. Has to. Hendry is not an idiot. There is absolutely no risk to offering it this year. I'm sure if Wood would have signed a 1 year/10MM+ contract, the deal would have already been signed. I'm sure that he is just acknowledging the fact that Woody isn't going to accept arbitration.

95% of relievers or pitchers or whomever do not regularly sit in the 94-97 range and often reach 100 and absolutely dominate hitters with a knockout fastball/power slider combo. Starting this year helped him turn a corner as evidenced by his second half of the season in the pen in AA with a respectable 3 BB/9. Its not an "if" Ceda can harness his control, its "if" Ceda can maintain his control or somewhere around it he'll be a dominant closer. "If" he doesn't, he'll be a set up guy. If you are really concerned about his control, then man, I hate to show you Kevin Gregg's (or even Carlos Marmol's) BB rates. And thats my whole point. If you don't like Ceda, then you shouldn't like Gregg. Why not? Gregg is putting up good numbers at the major league level now. And lets not exaggerate regarding Ceda. There were several scouting reports last year that stated Ceda wasn't sitting in the 94-97 range for a long portion of the season. And there is a big difference between dominating minor league hitting and dominating major league hitting.

Decent move by Hendry. This always seems to be his MO, by taking an unproven and getting something of value. Looking at Gregg's numbers over the last 2 years it is hard to understand the criticism. The only difference in Gregg and Ceda's numbers is that Gregg is producing at the major league level. Sure Ceda may figure it out someday (even next year) and make a decent reliever, but if I had to pick between which one I would want to go into Spring Training with in 2009, I would pick Gregg no doubt.

What is the latest from Bruce Levine?

I'm skeptical about the rumor, but it does make sense. This would allow the Padres to fill three needs with one trade. I know Theriot takes a beating here on NSBB because he's not the most sexy athlete, but his numbers last year were impressive for a SS. Where did all the Theriot talks start from? I don't think I ever saw it Some source at Desipio is claiming that the deal is almost final and Theriot is part of the deal.

ive got a buddy in real estate up there and he said peavy was house hunting yesterday We are only a hairdresser away from verification.

I'm skeptical about the rumor, but it does make sense. This would allow the Padres to fill three needs with one trade. I know Theriot takes a beating here on NSBB because he's not the most sexy athlete, but his numbers last year were impressive for a SS.

I thought I just saw Peavy at O'Hare.

Who is your friend? BigBird? No offense, but............... Peace21 is confirming BigBird's report.

Darrin Jackson??? That would be hilarious. :-))

Traitor.

Howry, at least he got us off to the start we needed in the playoffs with the HR. Obviously the boot on the ground ball was equally big, but come on. Sorry, I don't give him a pass for one good at bat all series. The time was for him to put up or shut up. The rest of the series he was terrible. He had opportunity after opportunity to come through and he Howry the bed. I don't want to hear anymore talk from the Cubs, just get it done. DeRosa drove in 4 runs in 12 AB's this series. The rest of the team drove in 2 runs in 104 AB's. And tonight when he had an easy chance to drive in a run, he blew it. Why are you defending a guy that played like [expletive] this series? The only reason I single him out, is because he is the one that is always running his mouth on his blog. Stop blogging and start producing. Granted it is not his fault entirely, but next year he should do a little less talking and a little more producing.

Howry, at least he got us off to the start we needed in the playoffs with the HR. Obviously the boot on the ground ball was equally big, but come on. Sorry, I don't give him a pass for one good at bat all series. The time was for him to put up or shut up. The rest of the series he was terrible. He had opportunity after opportunity to come through and he [expletive] the bed. I don't want to hear anymore talk from the Cubs, just get it done.

I can't wait to read DeRosa's blog to see how sad he is the Cubs didn't do well again this year. Next year, if he is with the Cubs, he needs to not talk so much and worry about playing. There comes a point when we don't care to hear excuses. The last two games he was terrible. Tonight there is no excuse for not bringing in the runner on third with one out, and then watching pitch after pitch go straight across the plate, and then swinging at the ball in the dirt.

I can't wait to read DeRosa's blog to see how sad he is the Cubs didn't do well again this year. Next year, if he is with the Cubs, he needs to not talk so much and worry about playing. There comes a point when we don't care to hear excuses. The last two games he was terrible. Tonight there is no excuse for not bringing in the runner on third with one out, and then watching pitch after pitch go straight across the plate, and then swinging at the ball in the dirt.

Liar. They'll never win it. I've wasted 30 years. this loss is much more bitter than all the rest. IMO 2003 was the worst because they were one game away from going to the WS. At least the last two years they showed their true colors early and lost the first 3 to spare us the drama.