CuseCubFan69

Agreed. Tinkering with a lineup is a necessity to give players the occasional day off. You also have to deal with injuries as well as slumps and hot streaks. Like you said, it's not a bad thing if done correctly. I don't agree that tinkering is good. I think adjusting is. Tinkering suggests you're just randomly testing guys in different spots. I don't like the idea of trying a kid in the 8 hole, then leadoff, then 6th, etc. It's one thing if you are flip flopping your 3 and 4 hitter for some valid reason. And it's great to platoon guys with obvious L/R splits. But just throwing out different combinations isn't likely to create a positive atmosphere. I suppose if you say tinker or adjusting that just may be semantics. I'm not talking a bout flipping Lee from 3 to 4 every so often but "adjusting" the lineup on days off and injuries.

Why not compare the Romans vs todays USA to see who would a war between the 2? You're also dealing with what if's and I'm talking about players playing against the competition of their day. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree because we see things 2 different ways on how to compare players from different era's.

Oh, don't get me wrong, Ronny's performance against left-handed hitters has been pure crap so far. However, Neifi Perez is not an acceptable solution to that problem. IMO the reason being Perez is old we know what he can do and Cedeno has to be given the chance to see if he can handle lefties.

You're comparing a 6'8" that can move to guys that are shorter but what your missing is that Mikan didn't dominate the game like Brown did. Yes, Mikan was a cordinated big guy but Brown owned defenses like no other. Chamberlain made the NBA change the key rule not Mikan. Mikan was an inovator but don't confuse that with being the best ever and IMO that's what you are doing. Mikan dominated every bit as much as Brown. they had to change all the rules because of Mikan, or he would've dominated even more. you're still missing the point. I never said Brown wasn't the great. I repeatedly said he was great and would have been in any era. the point is he played with that body in that era. had he played with that body in a later era, he would not have had the mind boggling stats he did. That can be said about a lot of players. Campbell or Bo Jackson could have that said about them. I understand what you're saying and maybe I'm not expressing what I'm thinking well enough. Yes, both Mikan and Brown had superior bodies to their opponents. I don't understand why you would punish them for it though? If some RB could run a 3.6 40 in the NFL and rush for 2500 yards per year I wouldn't say that just because he can do that he should not be considered one of the best. I think that's what you are saying and IMO it's wrong for you to claim that against them. Just because he can do things others can't isn't his fault and shouldn't be counted against him. what I am saying is Mikan dominated because of talent, AND because he was 6'10" when everone else in the game was 6'4" and shorter. Brown dominated because of talent, AND because he was bigger than all the linemen and linebackers he faced. today Brown would be a nice big running back, not one of the biggest players in the game, and the fastest/strongest to boot. put his body and his skills in today's game, and he's damn good, but not average 5+ ypc over the course of his career good. But you're holding the fact that they both had bigger and better bodies against them and I don't see how that's fair? I could see it if blacks or another race wasn't allowed to play but in Browns case that isn't it. What if there is a 6'8" 320 pound RB that could run a 3.8 40....is that his fault that others can't? Should that be held against him in the future when there may be scores of RB's that are that size and can run that fast? I look at how a player dominated their particular era and Brown was a man among boys and I think he should get credit for that and not compared to how he would do now. Besides, Jim is in his 60's and even averaging 4 a carry would be pretty good for a guy that age.

Thanks for coming on the site Chris! What types of hitting strategies do the Cub coaches go over with you during the season...for example what plan do you have when you walk up to the batters box? How much time do you get to work on hitting per day? What types of work/drills do you do when you are practicing? Do the coaches go over fundamentals a lot or do you guys just go do your thing and take care of your own business?

Hey Sean! What mental tips have the coaches given you about pitching in the minors? Do you understand your own mechanics well enough to notice if you are dropping arm slot or shifting your weight too early to be able to correct yourself or are the coaches the ones that catch those types of breakdowns? What do you do to keep yourself in shape during the season and in the off season? If a train is leaving for Chicago from Tennessee at 80 MPH in 2007 do you want to be on it?

Thanks for coming on Jake! Have the Cubs timed you throwing to second and if they did what do they have you at? What would you tell a young High school kid to work on to get to the next level as a catcher? What defensive drills do you do?

Moonflower (Santana) is a great CD. Listen to some of the licks on that before you vote.

And given a weak FA class, I doubt it will help the Cubs improve dramatically. Looks like we'll probably have to hope the Cubs are one of the worst 15 teams so their pick is protected again (of course this isn't even an issue right now). If the Cubs are one of the 3 worst does that effect the second round in any way or is it just the first round?

Do you mean that we should negotiate frm a strong position? Gosh darn-it that's a good idea! Sure would be nice for a change wouldn't it? Let Greg go pitch for his brother and get a chance for the brass ring. Cub fans can drive to Mil-town and seehim pitch if they want to see him bad enough. I've always enjoyed watching him pitch but if a good move can be made where both parties are happy...I'm all for it.

You're comparing a 6'8" that can move to guys that are shorter but what your missing is that Mikan didn't dominate the game like Brown did. Yes, Mikan was a cordinated big guy but Brown owned defenses like no other. Chamberlain made the NBA change the key rule not Mikan. Mikan was an inovator but don't confuse that with being the best ever and IMO that's what you are doing. Mikan dominated every bit as much as Brown. they had to change all the rules because of Mikan, or he would've dominated even more. you're still missing the point. I never said Brown wasn't the great. I repeatedly said he was great and would have been in any era. the point is he played with that body in that era. had he played with that body in a later era, he would not have had the mind boggling stats he did. That can be said about a lot of players. Campbell or Bo Jackson could have that said about them. I understand what you're saying and maybe I'm not expressing what I'm thinking well enough. Yes, both Mikan and Brown had superior bodies to their opponents. I don't understand why you would punish them for it though? If some RB could run a 3.6 40 in the NFL and rush for 2500 yards per year I wouldn't say that just because he can do that he should not be considered one of the best. I think that's what you are saying and IMO it's wrong for you to claim that against them. Just because he can do things others can't isn't his fault and shouldn't be counted against him.

You're comparing a 6'8" that can move to guys that are shorter but what your missing is that Mikan didn't dominate the game like Brown did. Yes, Mikan was a cordinated big guy but Brown owned defenses like no other. Chamberlain made the NBA change the key rule not Mikan. Mikan was an inovator but don't confuse that with being the best ever and IMO that's what you are doing.

I agree. Many teams are in the hunt for the playoffs and somebody has to need a good hitting second baseman and will pay a decent price for him but giving him away is foolish.

The thing is to me if you can improve your team anyone is tradeable. Fans would have went nuts if the Cubs traded Sosa and others in 99 but IMO it would have been a great move if they got an Abreu and Rolen for him or some other younger impact players. I think Z is a wonderful pitcher but if you can improve 2 or 3 postions by making a deal I say do it.

I thought the Brewers were loaded wiith good young talent? I think it's time to take it off their hands.

Why would he rather bench the guy that hit 3rd while Lee was out and put Perez in the 2 hole? It's funny how Walker doesn't get the chance to work out of his batting slump while one of Dustys country club members do.

By far the most entertaining to watch. I would have loved to have seen him on the Cowboys and Smith on the Lions and seen how that would have played out.

to me that's like saying Mikan miles and miles Russell Kareem Shaq = Chamberlain This isn't baskettball. When Miken played, baskettball barely resembles the game that is played today. In football it's not so much the case. No one is hailing Broco Nagursky or "Crazy legs" Hursh. basketball doesn't resemble the game played today in large part because of Mikan. the up tempo game was invented (and many rules changed) to combat his presence in the lane. I understand your point, but my point is this, both of these athletes owed much of their success to their physical freakishness relative to the other players in the game at the time, as they did to pure talent. that's simply an incontrovertable fact. their accomplishments cannot be viewed in a vacuum. you simply must play the 'what if' game that Vance so vehemently opposes, if you want to have a meaningful discussion of how good these players were. Brown was dominate at RB and many consider him the greatest while very few ever consider Mikan as the greatest player in NBA history. Mikan changed the game but Brown simply was the guy all teams keyed on to stop the Browns. Brown had records Rushing and TD's that were only erased because players played 2 to 4 games more a year. He could have been the MVP in every year he played. Mikan was great but not one of the elite of the NBA and I can't think of any records he had broken. Ask a NBA GM if he would take Mikan, Russell or Chamberlain and I'd be surprised if Mikan would get picked 5 out of 100 times. You put Brown against the top RB's of all time and he would get at least 25 votes by NFL GM's.

I have no problem with tinkering with a lineup as long as you are doing it correctly. Perez batting second is just wrong on way too many levels.

Since when did 150 innings become enough to blow out a pitcher's arm? Watching pitch counts is one thing, but this is a little absurd. It's too bad the Cubs can't just give an MRI to each pitcher after each game and see how the tissue and tendons are doing. Heck, maybe even going to a 6 man rotation if a pitchers arm feels a little tired might be the thing to do. They have 12 pitchers on the roster...use them.

You are absolutely 100% right. These "He's a great manager" thing gets spread around like herpes and everyone spouts it out without looking and knowing what they are talking about. Dusty is a salesman and these guys have bought his goods.

When he's playing well is the time to trade a guy who isn't going to help you in the future. Yep...sell high Jim Hendry and take advantage of this spike.

You left out the fourth, and most important group, and that's the team. They have to accept responsibility for their own performance and demand effort from their teammates. This isn't meant to defend Dusty, but a new manager won't have success if the team doesn't change. And Dusty doesn't stand a chance at changing the team. Actually I think if anything it'll get worse if Baker stays around. I think you'll see more and more of this type of play with this team as the season goes on. This country club atmosphere has got to change. You don't have to be a scream in their face guy but let them know who's in charge and hold them accountable for their mistakes.

I think keeping his pitch count to 80 or less should be good enough but I'm sure Baker will get him up to 110 and when he's hurt blame injuries once again. I want Hill, Guzman and Marshall up and starting and Marmol to close. Release Rusch and trade Maddux to the Brewers. Put Johnny Fontain at second and Murton in left. Trade Walker, Perez, Pierre, Dempster and Williamson. Anyone else if it helps the team. Of course all is moot until Baker is gone.

You guys laugh now but someday Dusty will called a genius in 50 years and then who will laughing then....huh?