vance_the_cubs_fan

That's a good point. If Grace named names he would be getting killled for being a sellout. either way he can't win. Maybe it would be better if he pretended he couldn't speak English like Sammy? Fact is Grace was a good teammate. He always showed up to training camp on time, and was good in the clubhouse. He never cheated. And I don't remember anyone smashing his boombox. It is amazing how people overlook Sammy's obvious transgressions, but flip out at Grace because he speaks his mind. I just don't get it. Maybe he should just offer a "no comment" when he doesn't have first hand knowlede. My problem is that Grace is using his status as a former teammate to lend credibility to accusations against Sosa. By using the back-door to make guess on Sammy, people give it more credence because they assume a former teammate would know. But it's clear that Grace knew nothing of the sort when dealing with Sosa. He's guessing like the rest of us. On the other hand, if Grace was offered steroids and saw others use them as he claimed, that is note worthy. So, you excuse him for not selling out those, yet he still is throwing mud at a teammate he just didn't like. There's nothing noble in that. In fact, it's pretty gutless. Before Grace speculates, why not be a man and tell us the truth about what you do know. Furthermore, Grace (and I always liked Grace) can run his mouth and he's colorful, but yet people say Walker has a bad attitude for doing the same thing?

If all goes well here, I plan on watching the A's vs Cubs on WGN and listening to the Royals/Cubs. I'll try to keep up as best as possible. However, once the LSU game starts, there are no guarantees. :)

Today the Cubs play a split squad double header. The first group of Cubs will take on the Rich Harden and the A's at HoHoKam. The second group of Cubs will travel back to Surprise to take on Runelvys Hernandez and the Royals. The game vs the A's will be on WGN radio and WGN TV. The game vs the Royals will be available on MLB audio. It appears both games are on MLB TV as well. Let's see if we can't keep up with both in the game thread! :)

So, bascially you give the best case scenario for every question. Let me do that for the Cubs: 1. What will get out of Juan Pierre? Pierre will have a superb season. He'll be able to use the high grass to create more bunt hits, he'll thrive with Ramirez and Lee hitting behind him and prove that last year was a fluke decline. He'll post a 370+ OBP from the lead-off spot. 2. Is Dempster for real? Dempster came into his own as a closer last year and has finally found his niche. Hitters' agressiveness late in games will continue to help him get players to swing and miss at his sliders out of the zone. There's no reason he doesn't get 40+ saves this year. 3. What can we expect out of Jacque Jones? Dusty Baker has a reputation for getting the most out of his vets and Jones will be no exception. Jones will no longer have the pressure of being one of the features of the offense. His work with Tony Gwynn likely will help him reproduce his 2003 year where he hit over 300 with a 350 OBP. 4. What about the rotation? Zambrano looks poised to take the next step to elite pitcher. He's in the best shape of his career. Maddux will be Maddux and post an ERA around 3.95 and win 15 games. Last season was an aberration. Rusch will be serviceable as a swing man. Williams is past his personal demons and will pitch like he did in 2003. He'll be solid as a fifth guy until Miller returns. Wood and Miller are throwing well and should be big time contributors by May. I see both returning to 2003 form and anchoring the rotation behind Zambrano and in front of Maddux. Prior, while suffering a slight setback, will return in May and show the promise he did in 2002-2003. All in all, the Cubs rotation will be among the best in baseball by the All-Star break. 5. Will Lee regress? It's clear that Lee closed a major hole in his swing last season which resulted in his best year ever. He'll put up at least two more years like that before any decline happens. 6. What about the pen? With Howry and Eyre added to Wuertz, Ohman, and Williams, the Cubs could have the best pen in the league. When all that happens, the Cubs will be tough to beat! (Optimism is fun isn't it?)

That's a good move for the Red Sox, but they are crowded at the corners with Snow, Youklis, Lowell, and now Choi.

Maybe we can trade Walker for Patterson then.

I'll add credibility to Grace's statements when he names the players who offered him steroids. Why cast a shadow over Sammy, when you know there are other cheaters like the ones who offered you the juice, Mark. Let's start with those guys first. That would be informative. After you tell us what you know, then you can offer some insightful speculation.

Cubs Press Notes.

I've always thought the Rangers had an excellent broadcast crew.

Leftfield isn't easy for Soriano.

It appears that John Van Benschoten has hit a set-back. Link.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060324/capt.gadm13703240341.ncaa_lsu_duke_basketball_gadm137.jpg :lmao: Geaux Tigers! http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060324/capt.gadm13203240306.ncaa_lsu_duke_basketball_gadm132.jpg

I'll probably read it, but it will be a few months before I get around to it.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060324/capt.gadm10303240045.ncaa_lsu_duke_basketball_gadm103.jpg Geaux Tigers!

Not too much of a homer pick, eh Vance? Sure beats picking Duke, doesn't it? :)

My pick of LSU in the championship is still alive!

Thomas with another block...he has tremendous leaping ability.

But he does have tremendous leaping ability.

LSU by 1, 2:25 left

This LSU-Duke game is a nail-biter.

And a couple of convictions.

With 1:40 left in the first, LSU up by 6! Geaux Tigers!

Good outing by [expletive] today.

He's not fat, just big boned. http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060320/capt.fljf11003200042.braves_cardinals_spring_baseball_fljf110.jpg Those are some really big bones...

The authors of the book Game of Shadows are doing an online chat at http://www.espn.com at 1:45 CST. You can sumbit questions here.