CuseCubFan69

That's what's going to happen IMO. Who was Lou's hitting coach in Seattle?

Lidle was the first winning pitcher at the new Syracuse Sky Chiefs new stadium.

I have a wonderful solution. Trade for ARod now and make him player manager. This would save the Cubs the 3-7 it would cost for a manager and they could use the extra cash on Schmidt or the Gyro Dude.

I can't wait for the college basketball season to start. Syracuse has a top class coming in with Paul Harris and next years is even better.

I remember when Thurman Munson died in private plane crash, many of my friends were crushed.

Had this not happened, they wouldn't have felt bad at all of course. They are only saying "the right thing" right now. Odds are they'll be right back into the A-Rod bashing, etc. in a few minutes Someone on WSCR just asked how long until ARod would be blamed, ie "If ARod had played like a $25m player, they'd still be in the playoffs, and Lidle would be alive". Sadly, I can see some moron saying that. Yeah, that's something ARod would love to hear, I can't imagine what it feels like to have people proclaim this type of crap about you. This is sad as it is with any death in an accident. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

I think it's a great idea. Right after the game the Sox fans can go rob a 7/11 as a family night theme.

Leyland tells the pitcher not to worry about the runners. I thought that MLB pitchers never worry about runners, or so I've been told here, that speed or the threat of a stolen base never enters the pitchers mind and he can always concentrate on the hitters.

I wonder what the chances are of Hendry trying to copy the World Series winner is? Maybe 100%? This would simply prove he has no plan if it's true and has no idea on how to run a team.

Olney just said on Mike and Mike that the Yanks might trade ARod for a Peevy or Santana from the Angels. Cashman isn't listening to trades but might be talked into it if a team sends an impact young pitcher.

I thought you said "Sounds like pessimism has been granted!" What if Towers wants Hill or another pitcher like that for Boche? If Hendry considers that he needs to be relieved of his duties immediately. Well....look what Leyland did for the Tigers. He made them win. Did your head explode after you read that? :D

This is what I want to hear from Lou if he manages the Cubs. :x I want a manager that can build and compete and isn't scared to do both.

I thought you said "Sounds like pessimism has been granted!" What if Towers wants Hill or another pitcher like that for Boche?

That is an odd desire to have for a guy. Especially since it's not a very risky play, for health and baseball reasons. The Cubs already play aggressive ball and it kills them. I'd rather they be less aggressive on the bases, where they simply run into too many outs. There's dumb aggressive and smart aggresive....I'm of the smart variety. Yeah, it's nice to talk about it, but it's much harder to impliment, especially with slow guys. This nit-picking (Aramis doesn't leg out enough triples?) is baffling, and leads nowhere. I don't think much of tangotiger's poll of fans about defense, but somebody in there wrote something that made a lot of sense, about the need to stop focusing on every last negative, and appreciating the good. Aramis is a great 3rd baseman. You will have to work really hard to get a better one, and even harder to get that player as well as signficantly improve the team from what it already is. I understand the romantic notion of every player taking the extra base whenever possible. But it's absurd to expect it, or criticize a player on your team for not doing it, when all you are going to get from a potential replacement is more of the same. It's like complaining about guys who strikeout too much even though they produce. Sure, the ideal player never strikes out, but ideal is unrealistic. That's my job goony, to have players reach their absolute potential. I'm not really complaining about Ramirez in the bad sense but I just want to take advantage of every mistake the other team makes, or as often as I can. So yes....I expect it. Will it happen every time? No. I think Ramirez is a wonderful player and the best at third since Madlock...maybe better.

I agree it's nitpicking 100%. I know he's not a speed player but some of the best baserunners I have ever seen haven't been speed players.

That is an odd desire to have for a guy. Especially since it's not a very risky play, for health and baseball reasons. The Cubs already play aggressive ball and it kills them. I'd rather they be less aggressive on the bases, where they simply run into too many outs. There's dumb aggressive and smart aggresive....I'm of the smart variety.

'Cuse, Aramis stayed in shape this season. He had zero leg issues as far as we know. He improved defensively, and had two or three lapses of concentration where he loafed it out of the box. If it weren't for his reputation and for the team's struggles, I'd bet 90% of fans and media would never have noticed those two or three lapses. He's not the lazy, indifferent guy that he's been made out to be over the last 6 months. He's the Cubs' best run producer. He's the best potential FA player in this offseason by far. The Cubs need him to be on the team for 2007, and if that means he'll loaf 1 PA out of 200, then I'll trade that for his production without hesitation. I understand your points, and while ideally you'd like to match Ramirez's raw talent with, say, Theriot's hustle, sports doesn't work like that. You make tradeoffs. The tradeoff with Ramirez is one worth making. I agree that Ramirez kept in shape and see what happened, he played the whole season. Will he continue this after he signs his next deal, I hope so if he's still a Cub. Yes, he is a productive player but my point is when he pulls a ball to the left corner and jogs to second and the left fielder is bobbling the ball I'd like to see him make it to third. This isn't just a rap on Ramirez but a lot of players that coast into second. In your eyes it seems to me you're happy with that because he might get hurt and in mine I'd like to see him standing at third. You may see that as a trade off but I see it as a player that doesn't hustle and take his game to the next level.

Isn't Estes available? Jim, save some money and get out the coupons and get Shawn for the #2 starter so things can remain the same. Change scares me.

What is production?

While that may be true at the professional level, as a coach it kills me to read a statement like that. That's funny, because I know quite a few football coaches who always talk about wanting the talented kid as opposed to the hustling grinder type. It's obligatory to praise the hustling grinder, but I think a lot of coaches would love the opportunity to coach a phenomenal talent, even if he has some hustle issues. "Hustling grinder type" of limited talent, otherwise known as the 'Rudy'. Everyone loves a Rudy, but everyone also knows you only dress him for one game. But I still wish Aramis had a little more Rudy in him. baseball, at every level, is about talent. hustling no help hit curve ball. I think it's funny when it's either or. Let me ask this. Do you want Beltran or Manny? I'll take Beltran. Why, because he has talent and he hustles and knows the game. If Manny did the same things Beltran did I'd take him but he doesn't. I don't see why people always compare Manny to Neifi types when it comes to hustle vs talent. I'll say this, I'll give you ARam as he is now and I'll take the one that stays in shape and hustles. I think staying in shape and doing the things you have to do to prolong your career is the direction all players should go. Goony's right about talent, no doubt about it I want the best talent out there. But, when you're in a game and the kid that hits 250 beats out a grounder because the SS bobbles it with 2 outs and then your stud pops one out to win by one, you appreciate that hustle and he helped the team win because of it. No doubt, the kid that hits it out won the game with his homer, it would not have happened with out hustle. Almost all teams are not the Yankees and have 9 guys that hit 300 and can pop it out so you have to do that extra something sometimes to win a game. Sometimes the emotional, yes baseball with emotion, uplift of a diving catch can get a team out of it's mental phase that happens during baseball. That mental lift gives or brings a different focus for the team and also for the other team. I've had teams that hit line drives at people and the mental strain of that can be very draining at times. When you have a guy in CF dive and take away a sure double that team that has been hitting line drives and getting no rewards just sank a little farther. It's a tough mental game and that curve ball you sent out earlier with a line drive that was caught weighs a little more on your mind than it would if it fell. So if it's a either or question I'll take the hustling team over the one that doesn't if they both have the same or even a little worse talent for the hustlers.

That game is at Auburn. I look forward to seeing Auburn winning and going right back to #2. The SEC is just that darn good. If Florida loses (please, I'm begging), and an SEC team moves to #2 it better as heck be Tennessee. We are far more proven than any other SEC team. Which seems strange to say after last season, feels good to say it though. :) If Florida were to lose to Auburn, I don't see how Tennessee would be far more proven than Auburn. I guess Tennessee's loss is a "better" loss than Auburn's, but on the other hand Auburn would have beaten the team UT lost to. I'm not saying Auburn would deserve to be ranked ahead of UT, but I don't think anyone could be too upset with either being in front of the other. This is why it's foolish to even have teams outside of the SEC ranked so high. The SEC teams play such a tough out of conference schedule and then beat up on each other I just don't see any other way to say it but to just hand them the title. WV plays at Miss St and wins 42-14 and is called for 13 penalties by the SEC refs and they drop in the polls...yeah, good ole boys just sticking together. I am a proponent that if you play a tough conference schedule, it's ok to play nobody non-conference. If you play nobody in conference, you should play some teams in conference. Tennessee plays some decent to bad non-conference each year and typically one good to very good team. For example, this year we play Cal and then Air Force (one of the better mid majors), Memphis (usually decent), and Marshall (bad). We've also played Miami and ND, and upcoming we have Oregon, UCLA, Oklahoma, etc. Other SEC teams that have or will play tough non conference foes, Florida (Fl St), LSU (AZ St, Va Tech), Bama (Fl St, ND, OK, Nebraska). There's a reason the SEC is respected, we've earned it over the years. I don't have too much of a problem with the Big East, they've got a great future. But when the best teams in your conference leave, you've got to go out and earn respect. You won't by beating up on teams that have not been historically good, UConn, Rutgers, Cincinnati. I respect Louisville for going out and taking on Miami, but West Virginia hasn't gone out and gotten anybody. When they had the chance, they got the weakest SEC team, Miss St. I don't deny that UT plays the toughest out of conference in the SEC but LSU plays or played La-Lafayette, Tulane, Fresno St, and Arizona. WV has played a tougher schedule than most think but it is weak and they have everyone back from last years team that beat the SEC Champ in the Sugar Bowl, since you added history to the debate. Let me add that BE is tougher than any conference top to bottom. Last place Syracuse goes to OT with Iowa and beats Illinois in Illinios, UConn beats Indiana, and Louisville, who I think is the best team in the country, played at Kansas St and beat them there.

That game is at Auburn. I look forward to seeing Auburn winning and going right back to #2. The SEC is just that darn good. Vandy for top 25! Probably the top 25 grades in the SEC.

That game is at Auburn. I look forward to seeing Auburn winning and going right back to #2. The SEC is just that darn good. If Florida loses (please, I'm begging), and an SEC team moves to #2 it better as heck be Tennessee. We are far more proven than any other SEC team. Which seems strange to say after last season, feels good to say it though. :) If Florida were to lose to Auburn, I don't see how Tennessee would be far more proven than Auburn. I guess Tennessee's loss is a "better" loss than Auburn's, but on the other hand Auburn would have beaten the team UT lost to. I'm not saying Auburn would deserve to be ranked ahead of UT, but I don't think anyone could be too upset with either being in front of the other. This is why it's foolish to even have teams outside of the SEC ranked so high. The SEC teams play such a tough out of conference schedule and then beat up on each other I just don't see any other way to say it but to just hand them the title. WV plays at Miss St and wins 42-14 and is called for 13 penalties by the SEC refs and they drop in the polls...yeah, good ole boys just sticking together. Last week West Virginia had 1395 points in the AP poll. Florida was behind them with 1393, Michigan behind them with 1342. That's a pretty slim margin. This week, WVU has 1416, Michigan 1429, and Florida 1516. Is it worth crying conspiracy for dropping a spot when the team that jumped you is only ahead 13 points? Especially after they beat a better team(Michigan State is the better of the MSUs, and a UM rival no less) more convincingly the previous week, and have a better schedule thus far? Then they should be consistant then. If Auburn played Dolly Madision they would have stayed at the spot they were. Another thing......WV received 2 first place votes , the only votes that Ohio State didn't get, and yet is in 5th while Florida is 2, that tells me that too many have WV a few spots lower than 5 and they have done nothing to show they don't belong where they were. LSU beats MSU 48-17 at home and moved up. Also, since the leapfrog, WV has to have Florida and Michigan to lose to be able to play in the BCS Championship if they both go undefeated because of the illusion that the SEC is so tough. I understand your point but IMO it always happens to a team that isn't in the good ole boy club like Michigan and Florida.

I don't see how his slugging is trending downward. Obviously he had a horrendous two month span that caused his lower numbers this year, but the difference between '04 and '05 is made up in the difference in AVG, as evidenced by his IsoP(.303 in '04, .293 in '05) in those years. Is it possible he was or is injured? Dunn for Prior?

That game is at Auburn. I look forward to seeing Auburn winning and going right back to #2. The SEC is just that darn good. If Florida loses (please, I'm begging), and an SEC team moves to #2 it better as heck be Tennessee. We are far more proven than any other SEC team. Which seems strange to say after last season, feels good to say it though. :) If Florida were to lose to Auburn, I don't see how Tennessee would be far more proven than Auburn. I guess Tennessee's loss is a "better" loss than Auburn's, but on the other hand Auburn would have beaten the team UT lost to. I'm not saying Auburn would deserve to be ranked ahead of UT, but I don't think anyone could be too upset with either being in front of the other. This is why it's foolish to even have teams outside of the SEC ranked so high. The SEC teams play such a tough out of conference schedule and then beat up on each other I just don't see any other way to say it but to just hand them the title. WV plays at Miss St and wins 42-14 and is called for 13 penalties by the SEC refs and they drop in the polls...yeah, good ole boys just sticking together.