vance_the_cubs_fan

How about this ---> http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/images/smilies/troll.gif

Maybe Tim should allow new emoticons for $1 per choice.

Maybe if I paid Tim $5, he'd add the YMCA guys for me.

That's fine. It's just that I, as a fan, don't define myself by who I hate. I love the Cubs, and I don't like whichever team they are playing at the time. When we play the Sox, I want the Cubs to win every game. Likewise, I'm not a "Packer Hating" Bears fan or a "Pistons hating" Bulls fan. Well, I have the teams I like. Cubs are obviously way atop that list. Then, I have the teams I absolutely hate. The White Sox and Cardinals are atop that list. There are then a number of teams that fall within the middle. The rankings of those depend on many factors, often which will benefit the Cubs...but if they were to make it to the postseason, might be affected by whether I like certain players or not. One day, just for the hell of it, I'll post a thread of all 30 teams and where they rank in my affinity level.

The Astros may finally make a World Series appearance. I may try to see if I can scratch up a ticket if they do.

Could we get Crisp for CF?

Say hi to Doug! Have fun! I'll bop him with my thundersticks. :o I think you should print out 1000 copies of your avatar to be passed out at the game.

That's because they share many of the same personality traits.

Nomar's home jersey is already gone...we gave it to a local company (IPMR they brought in Sandberg last season and their 2006 guest is even more popular) they will auction it off at some point for their charity... we will have the #9 Batting Practice jersey Nomar wore in mid-to-late November... So do we get the inside advance scoop on who this 2006 guest will be?

Unless Atlanta shuffles payroll, there's no way that happens, unless Brian plays for 5-6 million a year which will not happen.

While it may be easy to separate the Sox fans from the Sox, their manager acts just like their fans do. So even if I separated my feelings about the fans from the team, I'd still hate the team because their manager is a punk.

If Manny is traded, I think he'll go to the Mets. My guess is Epstein will try to force a quick decision from Damon. If Damon stays put, there's not as much need for a CF as there is if Damon leaves. If Epstein decides that Damon is not a part of the plan, he may try to make a quick deal with the Mets for Mike Cameron. Cameron fills the void in CF and then he can deal Manny and sign Giles, or deal Manny and acquire another big outfielder in a trade. If I'm Epstein, I'd keep Damon, deal Manny for as much young talent as I can, and then send tons of that talent to the Reds for Adam Dunn.

I figure the floor for any deal is 3/30. Any offer he gets will be at least that much. Based on what teams did last offseason, I'm guessing someone will offer 3/36-3/38. I'd easily go that high in getting him. I'm also guessing someone will come in with a guaranteed 4/42 deal which is less in dollar per years than 3/36, but more guaranteed money. Would I do 4/42? Yes. 4/44? Yes. And would someone else do 4/44? Probably. 4/48 likely lands him, and I'd be willing to go 4/48 with a fifth year option of 13 million with a 2 million buy-out making the deal a guaranteed 4/50 or 5/61. I don't think too many, if any teams, could compete with that offer.

I'm sorry, but if you think you're going to get the best offensive free agent on the market for 4 million dollars per year. You sir, are insane. I'm pretty sure he meant 3/36. Somehow I just don't think it's right to give Giles an equivalent or better deal than Aram. Can't explain why, though. You can't look at it that way when dealing with free agents. If we won't pay Giles more than Ramirez, then we won't have him. So it's either pay him more than Ramirez or have another season of Jeromy Burnitz or someone like him.

Oh, heck yes. I'm trying to arrange a sponsor for a prize, though. I'm looking to get an apparel company to give away a $100 gift certificate as a prize in return for the exposure they'll get for sponsoring the contest. That sounds like a sweet deal. See if they'll give away a Cubs Jersey with Giles number on the back! :lol:

Are we going to do this again this year?

I don't see the Cubs landing both Furcal and Giles, especially in a weak FA market. I'd love it if it happened though. And frankly, that's what scares me. I figure we could get one target, but not both, and I think that Jim has targeted Furcal.

I think Jose Guillen might be the best option in a trade if we can't get Giles. He's crazy, but I'd rather have crazy and good, than be completely sane and suck. Now if we could get Bradley and Guillen...that's two crazy and good outfielders. Could be for fun times....let's do it.

Looks good to me. I hate you. I can add those to my collection along with this--->http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/meandsammy_small.jpg :D

:pig: I still think the YMCA guys would have been a good choice. :bum:

Can I get Pete Rose, Dave Conception, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and George Foster?

It's more amazing that 99% make mention of Neifi Perez and some random dig at Dusty. Anyway, on topic: I would welcome Furcal in a heartbeat, with Cedeno sliding over to 2B. I'm willing to go through growing pains with Cedeno at 2B. I would also welcome a trade for Giles that involves excess young pitching (not Ramirez) outgoing, and then move Walker to Cleveland for a promising young hitter, even if not MLB ready, or a middle reliever. Then you run with Cedeno at SS. Either way, I feel pretty strongly that we will see one of the Atlanta DP guys pairing up with Cedeno in Chicago next year. When necessary, always use hyperbole is what I say.

S.D. is in the driver's seat, in my opinion, but I'm not sure how much money they will or will have to spend. Giles has been critical of PETCO and while he may want to stay home, he may want out of that park as well. Anaheim could go after him, but will he be their main target. They already have Finley, Vlad, and Anderson for the OF and numerous young candidates for DH. They will be losing Salmon money, so they could afford Giles, but he may or may not be their primary target. Boston won't do anything until they move Manny. That could happen, or it could not. Right now it's just a lot of speculation. Even if Boston has its eye on Giles, if there's a delay in dealing Manny, it could hinder any efforts to sign Giles. LA is likely the one I'd fear the most, but they signed two big contracts in Kent and Drew last season. Also, is McCourt cutting payroll? That could play a huge factor in what happens. St. Louis will no doubtly place an offer. I think if we wanted, we could siginificantly outbid anything the Cardinals offer. I think if it's between the Cubs and Cardinals, he'll go with the highest offer. Unless he'll play for 6-8 million, he's not going to Houston. I've detailed the Astros finances in another thread, so I won't do it again, but I don't see the Astros adding any big name signings this offseason. The cash isn't there. The main hinderance I see in the Cubs getting Giles is that I don't think he's Hendry's main target. Because of that, I figure we'll be in the discussions, but may not make the final push needed to land him. If th Cubs fail to land Giles, I think it will have more to do with the fact that Hendry pursued other needs moreso than because of other teams winning more.

Ok, make me these players: Albert Pujols Lance Berkman Roger Clemens Pedro Martinez Chone Figgins Rickey Henderson Mike Piazza Harold Reynolds Mark Teixeira Carlos Lee Wandy Rodriquez Austin Kearns Felix Hernandez Carl Crawford Gary Sheffield Edgar Renteria Sammy Sosa Jim Thome Roy Oswalt Danny Ardoin Mike Gallo

If moving form CA is not an issue for Giles, and the Cubs offer the most money, I doubt that he thinks he can't win in Chicago. While the Cubs failed miserably, I think a FA will look at the starting pitching and the core of Lee and Ramirez and will believe that they can make the difference. The key will be the Cubs putting out the most money.