CuseCubFan69

Interesting. Where's JC when you need him?

i think that's likely. there is going to be a whole lot of rage around here if Hendry comes up a few million dollars short on Fukudome because he feels the need to over-pay the likes of Infante and K. Matsui (if that happens). I understand the pessimism but don't forget that Hendry can always trade Infante.

It's in his ESPN stats. Here are the numbers: 2004: 3.97 2005: 3.69 2006 (with Mets): 3.96 2006 (with Col): 4.04 2007: 4.02 Those numbers are surprising to me. That's well above average in P/PA, and yet he has an average to below average walk rate. What are his "fouled off pitches per plate appearance" numbers? I haven't watched a ton of Matsui ABs in my life, but maybe he swings at damn near everything, but just fouls most of it off. ....and finally grounds weakly to 2nd. I hope this isn't true. I'm curious about his swing and miss ratio. That looks like he doesn't do it that often given the small amount of walks and P/PA.

I think you're wrong about that. Unless you're counting UNC Greensboro as a true roadie, or their recruiting visit game in Chicago against Valpo, I'm not. They do tend to play a roadie late in the year against either an awful Temple or St. John's team, and to their credit they will break their 6 year streak this season by playing at Temple before conference play begins. Those are recruiting trips for them.

I wonder what player would get more prospects/value, Cabrera or Santana?

If all the Yanks trade is Cabrera and Hughes they made a steal of a deal. Then, they'll sign Fukedome.

Thank God the Backyard Brawl isn't in Pittsburgh this year. That NFL game was a slop fest.

Come on now, we beat them and they cried and quit, you can do the same. I read that the BE is going to have the same type of thing with the SEC.

So this now means he will be signed or let go. Those of you that want Prior back, hope that one of the Chicago writers says he will be let go. Could very easily be a little negotiating in the media, reminding Prior's camp the Cubs still have the right to trade him, anywhere. Ah, like the good old days when a club sent you when and where they wanted to! I'm really curious on what types of offers the Cubs would get for him. You have to believe some GM's would see a lot of potential there and give up some value.

So this now means he will be signed or let go. Those of you that want Prior back, hope that one of the Chicago writers says he will be let go.

I heard he lead his 4th grade team in scoring last year. 2010 isn't that far off, he's a sophomore right now. Illinois got Jereme Richmond to committ barely into his freshman year. I was just kidding around. The thought of 2010 being right around the corner is a little shocking in a way.

I heard he lead his 4th grade team in scoring last year.

a good player is never pot committed. however, the cubs appear to be chasing a flush here on the river. Except for Rickie Williams.

The conference Presidents are the ones that make these deals as far as I know. No BE teams...chicken!

This is going to be a tough decision for Hendry and it'll make him look like a fool if he lets him go and he does pitch well. These are the hard decisions a GM has to make and imo this decision may be the "thing" many Cub fans will remember Hendry doing.

I'm waiting for Rogers or one of the other writers to say he's not going to sign with the Cubs...then we'll know he'll be a Cub.

It's a business move for me. He has had problems staying healthy along with imo, a steroid user. I just don't see him being better than an average pitcher from here on, if that. Hey, I may be wrong but that's my opinion. He's had problems staying healthy because he has been pitching hurt for the last couple years. The problem has finally been addressed with surgery. You have absolutley no basis for singling out Prior as a steroid user. This follows the pattern I mentioned before. I can't judge what is in your mind, but to me it seems that you are fed up with seeing him unable to pitch and because of it are coming to baseless conclusions (for example, he's on steroids). I'm sure he has tons of anecdotal evidence to nail Prior as a steroid user. Lost velocity, for one (not like that could be attributed to his injury). Or maybe the ever popular, "His calves shrunk," argument. Not to mention his involvement with Tom House. I'm not even being sarcastic. Of course, there's tons of players you can say stuff like this about. It's a witch hunt and it's getting a bit ridiculous. Hey again, you have your opinion, I have mine.

It's a business move for me. He has had problems staying healthy along with imo, a steroid user. I just don't see him being better than an average pitcher from here on, if that. Hey, I may be wrong but that's my opinion.

Great idea. Selling as low as possible is always smart. Almost as smart as spending 14 for a guy on the DL. Who, aside from a poster here, said anything about $14M? There's not a chance in hell he gets that much. Maybe not but to keep putting money into a sinking ship is foolish. If he accepts a high incentive deal fine but any guarantee high money would be a very poor move to make.

CR, someone on another board posted this, does this sound right? The only free agents who rank higher than Kendall's Elias Sports Bureau score (because he's in the catcher category), are Luis Gonzalez, Aaron Rowand, Luis Vizcaino, Paul Lo Duca, Milton Bradley, and Michael Barrett. Pettitte and Bonds are unlikely to generate compensation picks. Right now the Kendall pick is at #35. That means, 6 players who rate higher than Kendall, even if all six switch teams, it's being said that the lowest this pick could be is #41 (six dropped). But say, if Barrett, Gonzalez, and Bradley aren't offered arbitration and Vizcaino stays put and only Lo Duca and Rowand are offered and switch, the pick would only drop two spots. Like Andruw Jones is rated 66.something by Elias and Kendall 68, so Andruw's compensation pick falls below Kendall's. In short what it seems to be saying is that the pick is guaranteed to be no higher than 35 and no lower than 41. Correct? Okay am I the only one who thinks getting the 41st pick in the draft from Jason Kendall is pretty neat? I mean a lot of really, really good talents have been drafted around that pick number. Just a few years ago Clay Buchholz was drafted with the 42nd pick. Scrolling through the rankings, surprisingly that looks true. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2007-10-31-elias-rankings-complete_N.htm http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2007-10-31-elias-rankings-complete_N.htm I guess the cloud in the silver lining is that Barrett was a Type A and would have netted us a higher supp and another pick. But, someone would have had to sign him before the arby deadline and we're not sure the Cubs would even have offered arby either.

Rains played on some really good Expo teams that also included Dawson but I agree with what you're saying though. I thought he was a heck of a player. Didn't he start at second base before shifting to the OF?

Great idea. Selling as low as possible is always smart. Almost as smart as spending 14 for a guy on the DL.

He has officially signed so the Cubs get the pick? Yep! :D Yabba Dabba Doo! This off season has been solid so far.

Trade the guy now before they lose even more money. If he comes back in 2 years and does well for someone else fine but why pay this guy a lot of money to be on the DL. I don't care if he "haunts" the Cubs by having a 1.4 WHIP for some other team.

He has officially signed so the Cubs get the pick?