Bull

I suspect I'll be lit up for this chemistry comment, but I get the impression that Barney is really good for Castro and will be over the next two/three years. While he is hardly an offensive force, and still tradeable, I like these two staying together up the middle. I probably stand alone in the trade anybody not named Barney or Castro camp.

even if your sarcasm detector is completely broken, it's safe to assume that an NSBB moderator is not going to be a meatball who thinks that aramis is lazy and zambrano is one of those fiery latins. That's sarcasm, right? I know Tim is about as Pro-Cub as I am but I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't hold that kind of standard to be a moderator. "I'm sorry, you think Ramirez is lazy? You're fired." Regardless, I would have had to have opened Laura's profile to even know that she is a moderator. I don't even open my own profile. Hey, maybe I'm a mod! If you have a problem with my "lack of a sarcasm detector" PM me. Or create a new thread "Why Does Scotti Suck So Much?" Hint, mods have green names. Which is why they are always so sarcastic.

Why does this ridiculous notion keep getting repeated? Did you mistake that as his him saying that Hendry's replacement would be likely to get a PERMANENT promotion to GM? Because what he actually said isn't "ridiculous" at all and is what usually happens when a manager is fired midseason. I took that as him saying the only option for replacing Hendry right now is with an internal interim GM. It's technically not the only option, but it's by far the most likely one. What is to stop Crane Kenney from handling things until the new guy is hired? Isn't that what happened last time? After Lynch was fired, MacPhail (team president) served as gm until Hendry was hired.

The Cubs have had two main problems: they haven't gotten enough from their farm system, and they've been afraid to spend the big bucks on impact players because they need to fill too many holes since they don't get enough from their farm system. The contracts they've given out haven't really been that bad overall (with 2-3 major exceptions), but the problem has always been that they've had to give out too many of them to the good to great but not elite type of players. Which points the finger at Hendry and the lack of player development. Probably scouting was even worse. The Cubs in the first half of the last decade had terrible draft after terrible draft. That meant very few players were available from the system in the second half of the decade. The Cubs are just starting to see some results from the better drafting/scouting over the second half of the decade, but it will still be several years until the results from the Ricketts increasing spending on the draft/internationally shows up. And yes, the horrible treatment the minor leagues was getting was Hendry's fault. I think it's been corrected at this point, but that was a huge mistake that set the Cubs way back. Would you mind to give us a little primer (not being sarcastic) on how bad drafts are anyone's fault and how the minors were mistreated. I was under the impression the baseball drafts were largely a crapshoot and that player development is how you emphasize the minors (though that is a bit of a crapshoot too).

Coleman vs. Zimmerman Go Cubs.

FWIW Zambrano spoke to Rosenthal during today's game and made it clear that he prefers to stay with the Cubs.

I really think that the only reasoning is that the other options have sucked. Wood, Marshall, Marmol has a great big back end. Sharks been pretty good. Grabow hasnt been awful at times and Russell is an OK spare. Everyone else weve tried has been bad or awful. Gooz might be back in the next month, at which point, we'll see what happens, although Id prefer keep Carpenter after that and try to trade Grabow. We only need 2 lefties in the pen. fixed. Anyone else notice his increased plumpiness?

any word on when Byrd is expected back?

I think they are all confidence men.

its this. this has happened to me too often here. This is why I feel I have to be painstakingly clear and put more time/effort than I want into posting. And so I lurk, appreciating the great content and humor that is available here and dismissing the petty arguments since I'm no longer in them. Keep it up boys, you have a fan.

I think one of the issues here is also one of its strengths. I came here in 2003 from the Cubs.com forums following the wisdom of cubsin2003, sanclemfan, and mlpeel. The insight and reasoned discussion are and always have been great here. The standards are high. There is so much quality, I don't have time to read it all. I rarely have time to post. And there lies the rub. I can't make "just a quick post" here. I feel like I have to contribute if I open my gab. Unless I'm overly clear what I "don't mean" there are some world class conclusion jumpers here who will argue every minutia and try to make me feel less than. That's pretty hard as I'm fairly arrogant. But I think we underestimate the amount of folks like me here. Intelligent Cubs fans who want more than what the clueless media has to offer, but don't have/take the time to post. Lurkers who live for the few moments of their day they can carve out between ringing phones, deadlines, and screaming kids, to sit down at their laptops in a coffee shop and watch the discussion, hilarity a drama on NSBB.

notsureifserious.jpg book it. It has to end sometime, right? right?

Davis (0-4) 5.95 Volquez (3-2) 6.35 But more importantly MrWood (2-1) The cubs win tonight.

Sorry I was so slow to start the thread, but I am here. The losing streak stops today! WSR: IF they win, feel free to start tomorrow's thread. Wouldn't want to jinx our potential first winning streak of the season.

Was he hit by a batted ball several weeks ago and I missed it? Where did this bone bruise come from?

yes...actually more http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/small/1012/knowledge-tim-the-enchanter-monty-python-demotivational-posters-1292343711.jpg

come on, Tim. Let us be. We're trying to be pessimistic and panicky here, and you're ruining it with realism. That said, reality rarely applies when you're talking cubs. BTW, have I ever mentioned that every time I see your screen name, I picture you with horns on your head, sporting a scottish accent, and throwing fireballs every which way? Well I do.

OTC

there goes my streak.

http://redlegrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bilde.jpg Volquez 2-1, 5.67 ERA vs. http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Matt+Garza+Chicago+Cubs+Photo+Day+3Cj6CrRPglel.jpg Garza 1-3, 3.96 ERA win again. that would be nice.

http://cbschicago.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/zambrano-and-wood.jpg?w=420 Z 3-1, 4.91 ERA vs. http://25.media.tumblr.com/8LOqhEZrKnypu6eri2fCfZ25o1_500.jpg Ted Lilly 2-2, 4.45 ERA keep winning. please.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-06/54302116.jpg Ryan Dempster 1-3, 9.58 ERA vs. http://www.sportsoverdose.com/thumbs/chad-billingsley-58-mlb.jpg Chad Billingsley 2-1, 4.46 ERA stop losing. please.

a 500 OBP a >.950 OPS. with only 1 XBH. crazy.

Rain until 4pm, then fairly clear.