vance_the_cubs_fan

Solid bat off the bench. If Prior, Guzman, and Miller all come to spring training healthy and pitch lights out. (Big IF). Will the Cubs be willing to sit Marquis and his $7MM or Lilly and his $11MM contract in the bullpen? I know Lou has been saying all along the best players will play, but how do you justify wasting $7MM and/or Lilly's $11M in the bullpen?? I asked Hendry a variation of this question, and he tiptoed around it a bit. He said Miller could be put in the pen and said the best 11-12 pitchers would be on the team and that performance not salary would be the determining factor.

Thanks. Furthermore, in private I asked McDonough about mending bridges with Sosa and he said he said that would be something that should happen. He said Sosa has made some indirect overtures toward that goal, but that he hadn't spoken to Sosa directly. He did acknowledge that the divorce from the Cubs with Sosa was a messy, but stated that "Sosa was one of the most powerful forces in baseball (not just the Cubs) over the past ten years" and stated it would be unfortunate if the Cubs didn't mend that bridge. When I stated that I'd love to see a flag with #21 on the fould poles along with those for Banks, Williams, Sandberg and Santo he said that someday in the future that should happen. In my talks with McDonough, I was really impressed with him. I understand he's a marketing guy, so maybe he just knows how to spin things, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

If we traded for Rollins, he wouldn't hit lead-off. Piniella says that Soriano is the best lead-off hitter in baseball.

That's how Oneiri said it. :)

Wow...that should rank us as one of the highest increases in ticket prices. AFAIK, it's +$5 on the premium seating, +$2 on everything else. J.R. that could be right. I entered as he was giving that answer and my notes are a little shaky there. I am certain you are right on the premium charge. It could be only a $2 increase on the other.

Wilken spoke highly of Rundell. He's a "skilled athlete" that is a "true rightfielder" with good projection. He also raved about Lansford's defense. Called him "cat like" around the bag. The biggest note I have from the session is that Flieta says Angel Guzman's curve is back. He says he thinks Angel may go to camp and make it tough on Lou to send him down. Wilken says he has read Moneyball. Also says that he believes players can learn patience. Luke Hagerty has apparently had another surgery, this time on his knee. When asked about international scouting, Fleita mentions he goes to Latin America nearly every other month and holds tryouts. Mentioned the signing of Suarez and said the Zambrano family helped to influence that signing. When asked about Harvey, Flieta says he has a "tool you cannot teach" when mentioning Harvey's power. He still seemed to believe there was hope for Ryan and mentioned his age.

Murton's thinking "I have cute chick in my lap"...Marshall is thinking "I 'm about to be kicked in the crotch."

Ok, I'm going to do a better write up on this tomorrow...and there's a lot I heard but didn't take notes. And even when I did take notes, it was sporadic at best as all I had was the hotel note pad. Anyway, I went to the following sessions: Meet Cubs Management (Hendry, Bush, Piniella), Evolution of Sports Medicine (Dr. Adams along with Davis, Barrett, Pafko, and Hundley), Vine Line Live (Zambrano, Cardwell, Jenkins, and Trout) A New Beginning (Hendry, and John McDonough) It's a No Hitter (Cardwell, Pappas, and Hooten with Hundley) and Down on the Farm. I also heard about 15 mins of Meet Cubs Business Management. A few highights, and I'm sure some of this has been covered in other threads as it was reported by the media. Apparently, many of the Cubs are in better shape. Dempster has according to Hendry lost 30 lbs. Wood has lost weight and Eyre has dropped 15 lbs. We'll see if this team is better conditioned this year. Hendry mentioned OBP a number of times even pimping the A's in his discussion of hiring Perry. Unfortunately, he also made a few "head scratchers" as well. When asked about the contracts that escalated so much in 2009, Hendry insisted that we were not mortgaging the future for a "win now" idea and that he felt that the contracts escalating like that was just the way teams usually structure those. He didn't seem concerned at all. When questioned about corporate groups using the field before games, Hendry insisted the field would be available anytime Lou or the coaches wanted to get work in. As has been stated numerous times, Hendry made it clear the Cubs had targeted Soriano from the get-go. Lou called Soriano the best lead-off hitter in baseball, and Bush compared him to Ricky Henderson. Hendry stated no one sets out to ignore OBP. He said, "There are still great players that are not big on-base guys." Many times Hendry paid complimentary comments to Murton. Lou said we couldn't blame Rothschild for the injuries. Said you can blame the manager if he sends the pitcher out for 140, 100 pitches every time out. Hendry downplayed the idea of a Jones trade. Hendry on Pie, "Those kind of players let you know when they're ready." Lou said Pie will get lots of ABs in the spring. Hendry's fun stat of the weekend: "Marquis has more wins that Zito over the last three years." Several times Hendry said Pie's path would not be blocked. When asked about all the "what ifs" this team has, Hendry commented he didn't see them as "what ifs" but that he saw the team having "tremendous depth." Hendry believes we have the best bullpen in the National League. Piniella said a good offensive team needs to have a "340 OBP or above." While season ticket prices are frozen, the cost of single game tickets will rise by $5 per ticket.

Thanks for the help KC Gary, She looks like she's really enjoying that pic! And tell your brother, thanks for the help in getting my Marshall jersey signed!

Did you check out the Down on the Farm segment? Down on the Farm is tomorrow morning. I may or may not be able to make that one due to having to get to the airport. I'm definitely going to try to attend.

Hey guys...just checking in. I took quite a few notes from the Meet the Management session. I probably won't have time to post those until Monday afternoon sometime...maybe tomorrow night if I'm not too tired from the flight. I also went to part of the sports medicine session, the Vine Line session with Jenkins, Trout and Zambrano and the session with Hendry and McDonough. I'll try to post some stuff later. I'm exhausted.

With my first pick, I begrudgingly take Pujols.

Link It could be worse, everyone. Bowden could be our GM.

My guess is if Prior were a FA, he'd receive a 2/12 deal with incentives that could push it to 2/18.

If given the choice between Floyd and Bonds, give me the freak.

According the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants are discussing walking away from the agreement with Bonds. Link.

In fact, considering the Cubs are tossing about 7 million per year to Marquis, I don't understand why they won't go ahead and sign Prior to what he's asked.

With Bonds, it's more to do with the contract language. From what I've read, none of the big name Giants' aquisitions have actually signed because of it. With Drew, the Red Sox have some serious concerns over the shoulder and want to insert language to protect them in case it becomes a problem. Boras has resisted the inclusion of that language.

Good luck taking that argument to a courtroom. The judge would laugh you out the door. Put me in the camp that says even considering how the arb system is set up, making 9 mostly crappy starts and spending the better part of the year on the DL does not warrant a raise. But the most recent season is not the only thing considered in the arbitration process. He had two good seasons before 2006 (in which he made 21 and 27 starts) *ding* *ding* we have a winner! *ding* *ding*

Prior asking for a raise is all part of the process. Very rarely, if ever, does an arby eligible player not ask for a raise. I'm also certain, in the current market Prior could get what he's asking for and more in a FA deal. Considering he's heading to his hearing with a career ERA of 3.51 and a 42-29 record, he's likely to win this hearing. The Cubs will trumpet his most recent season while Prior will point to his career numbers. When looking at what other pitchers on the market have received, it's quite evident that Prior could get what he's asking for. Baseball is a fickle mistress. The players know they have to make what they can while they can. It's the system that's in place and I don't fault Prior for trying to make the most he can within that system.

Apparently Rudy Jaramillo thinks he can get him to make a few adjustments and become a pretty good hitter again.

Please come back for one last hurrah, Sammy.

Count me in.

Of all the teams Sammy could join, the Rangers would please me most. I get to see a few Rangers games each year, and I'd love one more opportunity to see Sosa play. He can still hammer lefties, or at least he did well against them in 2005. I think he's got enough in the tank to be the RH part of a platoon at DH/OF for the Rangers. That park is an excellent hitters environment as well. I hope that this works out.

He'd have no trouble reaching 600 HR's in that ballpark.