CuseCubFan69

Izturis came up through the Toronto organization so they know all about him unfortuately. I think they just started using Aaron Hill back at SS at the end of the year and if he works out there they will have no interest in a SS other than for a backup SS. I think Pie could have a Wells like career without as much power so I'd like to keep him.

Ster.......cough cough.....oids. Yeah, I'm bitter about the non testing for HGH and accuse all players that have suddenly fallen off of being users.

Figgins is also Pierre with about twice as many walks, and a few more runs scored. And a bit more power. I'd take Figgins over Pierre any day. He's a better player, with more versatility. Only problem is we need more run production from our outfield. He's not worth the player cost. We don't have much in the way of tradeable assets to work with; I'd rather save what we have for a better player. This is what worries me. Hendry trading assets away for mediocre players and leaving himself with nothing left for an impact player. Get those impact players first and then piddle around for players like Figgins. you're right. i guess mediocre cast offs like podsednik & eckstein weren't a big part of their respective teams success. When the Cubs have a Pujols, Edmonds and Rolen to surround the Ecksteins that would be fine but they don't. You take the mediocre players and I'll take the impact guys and we'll see who does better. i guess lee, aram (hopefully) & barrett dont count for anything then. If Ramirez is re-signed that would count and be a decent base but the Cubs have too many holes and need another impact bat along with an impact pitcher then you can talk about a Figgins.

Figgins is also Pierre with about twice as many walks, and a few more runs scored. And a bit more power. I'd take Figgins over Pierre any day. He's a better player, with more versatility. Only problem is we need more run production from our outfield. He's not worth the player cost. We don't have much in the way of tradeable assets to work with; I'd rather save what we have for a better player. This is what worries me. Hendry trading assets away for mediocre players and leaving himself with nothing left for an impact player. Get those impact players first and then piddle around for players like Figgins. you're right. i guess mediocre cast offs like podsednik & eckstein weren't a big part of their respective teams success. When the Cubs have a Pujols, Edmonds and Rolen to surround the Ecksteins that would be fine but they don't. You take the mediocre players and I'll take the impact guys and we'll see who does better.

Figgins is also Pierre with about twice as many walks, and a few more runs scored. And a bit more power. I'd take Figgins over Pierre any day. He's a better player, with more versatility. Only problem is we need more run production from our outfield. He's not worth the player cost. We don't have much in the way of tradeable assets to work with; I'd rather save what we have for a better player. This is what worries me. Hendry trading assets away for mediocre players and leaving himself with nothing left for an impact player. Get those impact players first and then piddle around for players like Figgins.

IMO Toronto is going to want pitching and it'll be Hill plus an everyday player prospect or Guzman and Marshall and an everyday prospect at the very least.

I see no reason why Louisville should be 3 when they just beat the number 3 team. Why is Michigan ahead of them? I'm sure the good old boys will have either Texas or Florida ahead of them too.

I wonder if Steve Carlton is interested in a comeback...wow that's a lot of bread.

I saw Syracuse play their first scrimmage last night. Boeheim has to do something with the seniors because they just have not gotten better except for Roberts. Harris is a very good player but needs to improve his jumper. We should have a competitve team but I saw a lot things I didn't like and until that changes I expect to win some tough games and lose some easy ones.

I guess the question would be what qualified for a genuine interest in signing him. Would offering Matsuzuka a 6/30 deal qualify as genuine? I don't know and I don't know if the commisioner would agree or not. Definitely, Daisuke has no room to complain about a 6/30 deal. That wouldn't be a bad deal for a team. Submit a 50 million posting fee and then offer Daisuke 6/30. At worst, you have him for a cost of 80 million which is like 13 million a season. That's cheaper than offering a 30 million posting fee and then paying him 10 million a season. He may turn it down, but then he's kept from signing elsewhere. The only damage may be that he won't negotiate with that team when he returns as a FA next season. Could the O's do a sign and trade?

and a better arm and not stuck in center field and about 3 mil cheaper. And he may cost the Cubs some quality young players just like Pierre. I just don't see Hendry doing this with Pie being a year away from ready.

He should have turned to the dark sid like his buddy Raffy.

Maybe this is the destination for Mr. Prior....the Mets.

I'd love to see it happen. Yep, and then watch GT go in to Athens 9-2, ranked around #10, and lose. That's ok though, it'll be good practice for the ACC Championship Game and hopefully a BCS berth... You have one funky conference this year MOJ.

i think they can always offer arbitration. it's just that he can't make less than 80% of what he made last year - and that's way more than the cubs should be willing to pay. i want to see him back, but at ~$11m, no thanks. That's what I thought, thanks.

Could the Cubs offer Wood arb or does he get too much of a paycut to be eligable?

Congrats to the Cards and their fans.

The fiirst question: "How are you going to fill the huge hole after trading Neifi? He saved us that one time...member?"

I take it you haven't looked at Wisconsins schedule? Wisconsin's schedule is not very impressive, but with a very young team they have been playing well. Other than their loss to Michigan (whom they played even for the first half) They have beaten every other team they have played in the big 10 by at least 14 points, with the exception of the 10 point game against Illinois this past weekend in which they came back from a 14 point deficit in the second half. The funny thing is even if they run the table the rest of the way to finish 11-1, they won't even get a BCS bowl. I think Wisconsin has the better defense than Penn St. Badgers are only giving up an ave of like 250 yds. a game in total offense. and are in the top 5 nationally against the pass. You guys have to put some umph into that schedule of yours. You do have a good young team and I think this game is going to be a field postion type battle with Penn State.

The fact the contract had an opt out clause is motivation enough to lynch Hendry. How exactly does Hendry plan on improving this team if Aramis is not a part of the team? Seriously, if Aramis walks, what free agent will want to join the ranks of a last place team that just lost their top position player? Where is Aramis' desire to remain on a team that is moving backwards as an organization? Maybe some of us are starting to sound like a tabloid, but what has this organization done lately to make us feel all giddy inside? Does Zambrano have a long term contract? You get a couple of gamers and innings eaters, a speed guy and a guy that fits in in the clubhouse. That's the Chicago way.

Izturis and Restovich are coming your way then!

I've been saying to get Soriano for CF for months now, but at 18 million? I'd have to think hard about doing that. It's an extra 3 million more than what I'd like to sign him for, but is it really worth letting him walk and getting a worse CF and other bench players for that 18M? The Cubs need to add another bat. Period. If an extra 3-4 million is going to stop them from signing the best bat on the market, then they're nowhere near as serious about winning at all as they have been saying. The big issue is that it's a dry market. There's really not much there. On top of that, many teams have money to spend. The bad contracts signed in 2000 are now off the books of most teams. Many teams have 30-40 million to spend. With few targets, the bidding will rise because most teams know they won't get but one of these guys anyway. I like the fact that the Cubs seem willing to spend. I fear that it still won't be enough. Or they'll waste too much of it on the mediocre types and notice that most of the money has already been spent and Plan B From Outer Space once again takes over. Hendry has to keep Ramirez and nail 2 impact guys right away. I'm not sure that's possible. A lot of the impact guys will wait it out. Allowing more GM's to grow nervous. While it makes since for teams to want to sign the big names early, it doesn't always make sense for the big names to sign early. I disagree Vance, I think they'll be the first offered the mega bucks and the money will dwindle down from there.

I've been saying to get Soriano for CF for months now, but at 18 million? I'd have to think hard about doing that. It's an extra 3 million more than what I'd like to sign him for, but is it really worth letting him walk and getting a worse CF and other bench players for that 18M? The Cubs need to add another bat. Period. If an extra 3-4 million is going to stop them from signing the best bat on the market, then they're nowhere near as serious about winning at all as they have been saying. The big issue is that it's a dry market. There's really not much there. On top of that, many teams have money to spend. The bad contracts signed in 2000 are now off the books of most teams. Many teams have 30-40 million to spend. With few targets, the bidding will rise because most teams know they won't get but one of these guys anyway. I like the fact that the Cubs seem willing to spend. I fear that it still won't be enough. Or they'll waste too much of it on the mediocre types and notice that most of the money has already been spent and Plan B From Outer Space once again takes over. Hendry has to keep Ramirez and nail 2 impact guys right away.

He's easily worth that, BTW. It's looks like his off season workout worked out very well for him. Chaa-Ching!

So Derrek Lee is Clemenza? I hope so! He ended up on the winning team.