Bull

Is that something like taking one for the team ? What did Mark Grace call it again? Slumpbusting?

I hear they make you do that in hell... over and over for eternity Nope...just once, but its infinitely long. And he's always thisclose to being traded.

so it has Is Doug Dascenzo coaching?

Live boxscore has Kroeger pitching. Anyone in Chicago care to confirm/correct.

so what is it? The 8 balks?

what is? the trade or page 300?

Because he has no position with the Cubs.

wuertz?? back-up SS?

Moss?

Does he realize he lives in Chicago? Also, the Cubs are going to have only 79 home games that season because of the 2 @ US Cellular. The who concept sucks. Lets hope it never happens. Where do you get the idea that the Cubs are only getting 79 home games because of the 2 @ US Cellular Field? All teams have 81 home games or is there something I am missing here?? I wasn' thinking clearly, we'd actually get 3 less home games because we play 6 games vs. the White Sox each year, and they'd all me at US Cellular. While we'd play as the home team, it would be like losing 3 home games, IMO. How are those 3 games as the home team at the Cell any different than the other 78? It's not like it's in a different city or something where you're more likely to see more fans of the other team. WHile I'm not going to go as far as to agree with him, I think his point is pretty clear. (in spite of the "gibberish") The White sox would be in their home park for these three games were the Cubs are the "Home team". They will be as comfortable or moreso than the Cubs in the cell. Although putting them in the visitors clubhouse at their own park would be kinda cool...especially if the Cubs could sweep them. "Get out my house!"

Put him behind the dish with that arm...he can't be worse at the plate that Hank.

nonews is badnews

so its basically cintron, blanco, k. Hill, McGehee, Hoffpauir, and Kroeger plus most of the 40 man?

He's exactly like Die Hard and should follow his example and take his game to Japan where he'd make more money and fare a lot better. I don't think its a valid comparison. While never really highly rated, Hoff had been on the prospect radar for some time. I don't think McClain ever was. McClain bounced from system to system by age 28. Hoffpauir has put up more consistent minor league numbers than Hoff. I still think Hoff has a chance to be a serviceable major league backup especially if he can play multiple positions as asserted above.

Someone please describe the catch. What player made it? spring for gameday audio

This game is on me guys. Should've never posted this after the 1st. Never, ever, EVER acknowledge a jinx. It increases its effectiveness exponentially.

Clubhouse cancer...eh...uh...sumthin'

Petrick is on the 40 man roster, so for him to be sent back to the minor leagues he has to use up one of his options. The rest are non-roster invitees, so they can just get assigned back to the minor league camp. OK, but why does he have to actually go to Iowa right now? Why can't he use an option and just go to minor league camp in sunny, warm AZ??? he doesn't go to Iowa, he stays in AZ at the MiL camp did we change trp AAA affiliates? I thought it was Pittsburg? That joke was SWEET in 2003. LOL Prior throws towels! Krispy Kreme Hendry! yea... harsh.

it's an "unearned" trip to first base It's as much earned as a hit by pitch. You've obviously never been hit by a pitch.

Beauty

I think Prince wanted a bigger raise, something like what Howard got last year. Yeah but it is an automated system and the Brewers are competitive with league average. Howard got a little extra from being rookie of the year and from winning an MVP. I mean if the team actually breaks its own system for him then they are just going to piss off every other young player on the team who they don't break the system for. I fully understand the Brewers system, but apparently Prince saw what Howard got under similar circumstances and wanted a little of that for himself. He felt he was deserving of being paid above what the "system" said. The Brewers had every right to do what they did, but that doesn't mean that it could cost them in the long run. Sometimes giving a player more than what is normal might help foster goodwill when the player hits the open market. Sometimes it doesn't. But I'm guessing when Fielder's arby years are up, he's going to the highest bidder and there won't be a hometown discount for the Brewers. With Boras as his agent, that might have ended up being the case anyhow. Now I'm certain it will be. nothing changes here. He would have been gone at the first opportunity anyway. The only thing that would change that is if the Brewers manage to get a WS win and a free spending owner by then. Neither will happen.

Just out of curiosity, why do you say that? my guess is that they aren't doing well enough financially to throw that kind of cash around Gotta spend money to make money.

http://www.gritsfest.com/system/Instant_Grits%20Blue%20Logo%20copy.jpg

Then Soriano won't "feel" like he's hitting 1st. It'll throw off his mojo. It'll also drop his OPS. Ok, now I'm just being bad.

It's a pretty useful feature. Thank to Tim, et al for enabling this... I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this board over the past few days having employed this wonderful function. I've never "ignored" anyone before, but it did shrink the pagination of this thread by about 105 pages.