Keener98

I wonder what our team would have been like had they signed Carlos Lee instead of Soriano. I know it would have made for a fearsome 3-4-5, but say you put Lee in our lineup, and insert Theriot at leadoff all year how much difference would it have made? I think the likelihood of Izturis staying on the Cubs all year increases if you didn't have Soriano leading off. In years past Id agree, but I dont think Lou would have stuck with him. I think if we had signed Lee instead of Soriano, Kenny lofton would have probably been our CF the 2nd half of the year.

I wonder what our team would have been like had they signed Carlos Lee instead of Soriano. I know it would have made for a fearsome 3-4-5, but say you put Lee in our lineup, and insert Theriot at leadoff all year how much difference would it have made?

dumb. I don't understand comments like this. It's not like the organization doesn't want him to be a second baseman or is only moving him because he's blocked by someone. They understand his value is higher at 2B than in LF. It's pretty clear that there isn't much hope of him being an adequate 2B. Just because we wish we could have his bat in the middle infield, doesn't mean the scouts and coaches are wrong. Also this wasn't just directed at you. Agreed. If he can't do it, he can't do it. I'd leave it up to the Cubs' coaches and player development folks to make that determination, and you can be sure it will be with great reluctance. Dumb would be stubbornly trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, and delaying the inevitable (if it has indeed reached that point, which apparently it has). They would be the last guys I would trust really.

And would St. Louis find a way to cough up money for ARod? Not a chance in hell

There is noway in hell Larussa could handle the media in NY. He has troubles handling it in Stl and they have 1 newspaper. Id say the chance of Larussa going to NY is about slim and none. Girardi or Mattingly will be the next NY manager in my opinion.

?????? Im guessing its because of your 3 posts saying the same thing lol

What about Mattingly? I think its Girardis job as well. but hasnt Mattinglys name been out there too?

I usualy am with most of LLF's posts.

What do you mean? Anywhere near as good as he thinks he is? What makes you say that? Yea that was my question as well. Ive heard nothing but great things regarding Soto. Blanco, and even Kendall have praised him for asking questions and wanting to learn. If he was some cocky rookie like Cubz99 is trying to make him out to be, I doubt hed be asking those 2 guys questions. I was kind of hoping that some one else had met him and had a different opinion of him than I do. I've seen him a few times when he was at Iowa, this year and last year. Last year he was one of the biggest jerks that I have ever met at a minor league game. By jerk I don't mean to me or anything, just had seats right next to the dugout, and he was rude to the kids at the park and the fans in general. He came off that he was very high on himself. It wasn't like he was having a terrific year or anything like that either. This year I met him with my kids and had the same impression. I may be a little old fashioned and like rooting/pulling for good guys or at least players that treat the fans right. In the past the I Cubs have had some prospects that have been terrific in that regard. Pie, Murton, Hill, Gallagher, Theriot, EPatt, Cedeno, Fontenot, all were great. It is possible that evertime I saw the I Cubs he was having a bad day. Personally I could care less if he or anybody on the team is a jerk if they are putting up great numbers and winning baseball games. The 2004 team was comprised of what alot of people said were a bunch of jerks, and that team has won more games than any Cub team in recent history. That is your prerogative. If you like rooting for people that treat kids and fans like crap, all the power to you. Some other people have a win at all cost approach, cheat, steal, be a jerk, etc. I just don't fall into that camp. I think it is a sad day, when the only concern in life is winning at all costs. One of my favorite aspects of professional baseball, is that the game is very fan friendly. Once again, I have yet to hear from anyone else that has met the guy. He may be a wonderful person, and just had several bad days. It's not life. It's baseball. The only concern of baseball players, while they are playing, should be to win. I think Keener and yourself are trying to make this something bigger than it really is. I never meant to imply that baseball is everything in "life". I had the opportunity to meet Soto several times over the last couple of years and thought he was disrespectful and rude towards fans. Its as simple as that. I think you are the one who is trying to make something bigger than it really is.

Lol, thank goodness somebody caught on. I was starting to wonder what else I needed to do to tip it off. Thanks, Davhern! It sure as hell flew right over me lol

GEOVANY SOTO is offended. Soto did some good things, and he is clearly our catcher next year, but he batted .167 for the series with one hit. I know that hit was a home run, and he did look like our tallest midget, but let's not make his series out to be better than it was.... Arent we past the days using batting average as the know all be all stat? His OBP for the series was near .400, so lets not make batting average more meaningful than it really is... Ok, pal...how about these stats. He only had 2 RBI! I'm sure his CERA sucked, too! How many games did we win when he started? Zero! He obviously doesn't know how to win. He batted 7th, if he were any good at all don't you think Lou would have moved him up? This craze for Soto is out of control. Brad Ausmus will be a free agent this year. Hector Villenuava is an option too. I really have no idea what the point of this was Soto craze? Yea its out of control that fans like a guy who has out produced every one of the guys at his position this year. Its out of control that us fans want to see the guy who gives us the best chance at some consistent production from a spot in the lineup that was absolutely atrocious all year. I guess that is out of control.

I'm not rooting for or against either sully. I think that this game is a perfect opportunity for Iowa to win, if they aren't already mailing in the season. It could just as easily be a 37-10 Illinois win. I didn't see the Wisconsin guys complain before when I wrote that Illinois could beat their team. You still arent answering how Sully was being over confident in his post. He laid it out how Iowa would have to play to beat the Illini this week, and then you come in saying "thats the over confidence you are counting on". Please show where the over confidence was, because your statement really made no sense.

GEOVANY SOTO is offended. Soto did some good things, and he is clearly our catcher next year, but he batted .167 for the series with one hit. I know that hit was a home run, and he did look like our tallest midget, but let's not make his series out to be better than it was.... Arent we past the days using batting average as the know all be all stat? His OBP for the series was near .400, so lets not make batting average more meaningful than it really is...

The cubs have never won the NLCS....(when they last went to th world series I don't believe there WAS an NLCS) I think that was kinda his point

Yea Wisconsin over Illinois in the poll is a joke, but it doesnt surprise me coming from these coaches.

wow talk about a guy whos buying into the Illini, read this article. Im a big Illini fan, but this guy needs to watch the Illini play before making comments like this. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21166552/

I dont think they can get the Illini doubting themselves after the last 2 weeks. The key for Iowa,and any team facing the Illini, is can they stop the run? If they can stop the run, then they force Juice into throwing which isnt pretty. But stopping the Illini's run game is alot easier said than done. Mendenhall is a stud, Juice is a stud when running, and their offensive line is terrific. I expect the 1st half to be close, and then the Illini to come out in the 2nd half and put it to the Hawkeyes. But making them sore and thinking about getting hit might do the trick. Doubt themselves wasn't the word I was looking for, apprehensive or tentative. wisconsin came into yesterday's game knowing exactly what the illini would try to do, and they could do nothing about it. the illini don't rely on tricks or trick plays, they don't rely on long passes that hit infrequently, they don't even rely on a great defense. they rely on shoving the ball down the throat of the defense, and, in wiconsin's case, attacking it's strength. the illini have probably been made to feel sore enough, but what they thrive on is eating the opposing d-line's dinner. iowa's going to have to play strong at the point of attack throughout the game. and generally, team's start to wear down in the final quarter or two against a road-grading offensive line. This over confidence is what I'm counting on. What over confidence? He told you exactly what U of I has been doing all year. He didnt offer a prediction, or say they were going to destroy Iowa.

Worth very little until all the games are "connected", meaning that every team can be linked to every other team through games. Until then the predictive values are partially based on last year's information. Of course, considering that, I'm surprised Illinois is as high as it is. That rating looks like a basketball poll with Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Cincinnati, etc. Except Illinois wont sniff the basketball poll this year or anytime soon if Weber doesnt change something.

What do you mean? Anywhere near as good as he thinks he is? What makes you say that? Yea that was my question as well. Ive heard nothing but great things regarding Soto. Blanco, and even Kendall have praised him for asking questions and wanting to learn. If he was some cocky rookie like Cubz99 is trying to make him out to be, I doubt hed be asking those 2 guys questions. I was kind of hoping that some one else had met him and had a different opinion of him than I do. I've seen him a few times when he was at Iowa, this year and last year. Last year he was one of the biggest jerks that I have ever met at a minor league game. By jerk I don't mean to me or anything, just had seats right next to the dugout, and he was rude to the kids at the park and the fans in general. He came off that he was very high on himself. It wasn't like he was having a terrific year or anything like that either. This year I met him with my kids and had the same impression. I may be a little old fashioned and like rooting/pulling for good guys or at least players that treat the fans right. In the past the I Cubs have had some prospects that have been terrific in that regard. Pie, Murton, Hill, Gallagher, Theriot, EPatt, Cedeno, Fontenot, all were great. It is possible that evertime I saw the I Cubs he was having a bad day. Personally I could care less if he or anybody on the team is a jerk if they are putting up great numbers and winning baseball games. The 2004 team was comprised of what alot of people said were a bunch of jerks, and that team has won more games than any Cub team in recent history.

Hopefully Arods last game in Yankee pinstripes.

Its obvious Lee, Aram, and Soriano dont care cause they sucked all series....Seriously all this caring crap is ridiculous. If you(not you dalgreen) think the players on this team didnt care and thats why they lost, then you are a jackass plain and simple.

I dont think they can get the Illini doubting themselves after the last 2 weeks. The key for Iowa,and any team facing the Illini, is can they stop the run? If they can stop the run, then they force Juice into throwing which isnt pretty. But stopping the Illini's run game is alot easier said than done. Mendenhall is a stud, Juice is a stud when running, and their offensive line is terrific. I expect the 1st half to be close, and then the Illini to come out in the 2nd half and put it to the Hawkeyes. But making them sore and thinking about getting hit might do the trick. Doubt themselves wasn't the word I was looking for, apprehensive or tentative. Not sure if you were watching yesterdays Illinois game, but the Illini are some of the biggest hitters in the conference.

Why? Hes cheap and under our control,and just had surgery to fix the problem he was having. It would be idiotic to get rid of him.

What do you mean? Anywhere near as good as he thinks he is? What makes you say that? Yea that was my question as well. Ive heard nothing but great things regarding Soto. Blanco, and even Kendall have praised him for asking questions and wanting to learn. If he was some cocky rookie like Cubz99 is trying to make him out to be, I doubt hed be asking those 2 guys questions.

Yes it is anything to keep helping out the Illini SOS