CuseCubFan69

I would by far rather keep Jones if that means Finley is the replacement. Unless...Hendry can get some excellent value for Jones.

Welcome back, JC. Whether it was a hiatus or sabbatical, I'm done with it. Its good to be home. Too bad, suckers. I called it wonderful. So what's the theme this year? In Louey we pooey?

I've always found it funny that the two guys that symbolized the Yankees movement away from the homemade dynasty, Mussina and Giambi, have avoided bad press nearly as well as Jeter. The media and fans have targeted ARod, Knoblauch, Soriano, Brown, Vazquez, Johnson, Pavano and Wright, in the post 2000 era. But the two biggest money free agents they've signed have been relatively immune. I wonder if it has anything to do with how accessible they are to the press.

He has always seemed to be able to skim by the criticism from the press and fans and I don't know why. Maybe people think he's smart...didn't he go to Stanford?....so they don't want to challenge him.

What is this in reference to? That fact that I've met, hung out with and spent time with David Price and still talk to him every once in a while. He's a very humble human being. He doesn't even like the spotlight. Do you think he would hire Boras as an agent?

It wasn't his stuff that was a problem when he came up to the majors though-it was his control. If he gets better control, he could be effective even at 89-90 with all the movement on his pitches. I've never really been that big of a Miller fan. I see him as a slightly better version of Marquis but can't pitch because he hasn't been healthy. That's a poor comparison. I'm a poor man. That's a poor man's retort. Aye, indeed it is. When a poor man makes a retort it often is a poor mans retort. Go to the head of the class.

Artificially colored snow. Awesome! My school has to get some of that!

It wasn't his stuff that was a problem when he came up to the majors though-it was his control. If he gets better control, he could be effective even at 89-90 with all the movement on his pitches. I've never really been that big of a Miller fan. I see him as a slightly better version of Marquis but can't pitch because he hasn't been healthy. That's a poor comparison. I'm a poor man.

What the heck is that green stuff they are standing/jogging on?

I'm in total agreement there. Murton has plate discipline and good gap power. DeRosa is going to be handy, but we just have to wait and see if last year was a fluke, and I think Murton learned a few things last season. I'm hoping Theriot can make a statement, because I like to think he would be a better option for the Cubs in the leadoff spot. 2B Theriot LF Murton 1B Lee 3B Ramirez CF Soriano RF Jones/Floyd CA Barrett SS Izturis I just see that lineup producing more runs. I don't see DeRosa sitting the bench unless he's injured.

The last time I was there we had to travel by donkey. All right I've never been there but I feel so left out as I'd love to go some time.

It wasn't his stuff that was a problem when he came up to the majors though-it was his control. If he gets better control, he could be effective even at 89-90 with all the movement on his pitches. I've never really been that big of a Miller fan. I see him as a slightly better version of Marquis but can't pitch because he hasn't been healthy.

Maybe you should try throwing with the right hand then?

Honestly, some people are emotional about things like this and some are not. I'm not particularly worried because it's normal for a guy that's coming off an injury to take longer than the guys that have been healthy. I really don't think it's just a NSBB or Cubs.com thing but an individual one. The writer of the Sun Times article thought that it was important enough to include it into his article. Maybe it was a statement in passing, or maybe the writer found it significant somehow. Considering Mark Prior's health issues, any reports regarding his progress are relevant, not just the positive ones. It's something the writer noticed and Prior is a huge magnet for things like that right now. I don't expect him to make the 25 on Opening Day but he'll continue to show improvement as the season progresses. I'm not counting on the man and if he can pitch....and pitch well it'll be a bonus.

Me too with injuries playing a big part in the sucess or failure. I don't believe in putting a floor on the Cubs season. They could find a way to lose 163 games. They have a playoff game for last? I think 75 is a solid floor and if it gets worse then that then I suggest to drink heavily.

Me too with injuries playing a big part in the sucess or failure.

I always thought Foulke was an effective pitcher and it seems those curveballs have a way of catching up to you.

The more Theriot learns the better. If he can play CF and LF and 2B/SS/3B he'll be a 5 tool player! IMO He just seems like a player Lou would like too....I hope.

Different guys will obviously react differently. Jones is the closest thing the Cubs have to an old dog, and I don't see him learning new tricks. Lee doesn't really need any reform. Ramirez might receive a slight boost, but I don't see him being receptive to any major changes. And really, he doesn't need them. Soriano probably won't be any different than he's always been. But Murton could flourish under a guy like this. And this could be the best option for major league hitting coach you could get for a guy like Pie, if/when he ever gets the call. I think Perry will validate Murtons theory and technique in hitting and I agree this may give him a boost. Pie would definately be helped and with Perry being a lefty it may even help more. Hopefully guys like Jones and Soriano will pick up something and I agree, I don't expect them to change either. I'm curious on how this would effect Barrett. I think he's made a lot of good strides in hitting and I'm not sure he'll change much if at all. IMO it really depends on how good of a communicater/salesman Perry is. I think Jones could benefit more than anyone but I agree he likely won't change. At least no one will be trying to teach the opposite approach. That alone is a big benefit. what might really make a difference is getting some guys in the minors that teach some patience. You know even at my level, which is JV, it's incredibly hard to get kids to adapt to a new approach, especially if they have had success in the past and we know these guys have all had success at the previous levels to be able to get where they are. The Varsity coach and myself were talking about this just the other day, trying to reach kids at a younger age because they learn so many bad habits and continue them until they get to us. From what I've heard Joshua does a very nice job with the yonger guys and if he does his thing and Perry does his, maybe something really good can come out of this but I'm not looking to see any drastic difference for 2007.

Different guys will obviously react differently. Jones is the closest thing the Cubs have to an old dog, and I don't see him learning new tricks. Lee doesn't really need any reform. Ramirez might receive a slight boost, but I don't see him being receptive to any major changes. And really, he doesn't need them. Soriano probably won't be any different than he's always been. But Murton could flourish under a guy like this. And this could be the best option for major league hitting coach you could get for a guy like Pie, if/when he ever gets the call. I think Perry will validate Murtons theory and technique in hitting and I agree this may give him a boost. Pie would definately be helped and with Perry being a lefty it may even help more. Hopefully guys like Jones and Soriano will pick up something and I agree, I don't expect them to change either. I'm curious on how this would effect Barrett. I think he's made a lot of good strides in hitting and I'm not sure he'll change much if at all. IMO it really depends on how good of a communicater/salesman Perry is.

Honestly, some people are emotional about things like this and some are not. I'm not particularly worried because it's normal for a guy that's coming off an injury to take longer than the guys that have been healthy. I really don't think it's just a NSBB or Cubs.com thing but an individual one.

The players are going to have to be receptive to what Perry says too and I'm not so sure all of them will be. It's very very hard to teach an old dog a new trick at the MLB level.

What is this in reference to? I think this post was suppose to be in the Hardaway thread.

Marsha in a Hot Tub? I wonder if that's what Kerry's wife got him for Valentines Day.

I don't think this will be an issue with Piniella as long as he is alive. I'm sure you're right but after the Cubhouse Country Club they had last year I want to see things done differently. I think it was a good sign to see a lot of the players coming in with less weight.