CuseCubFan69

No problem. If you guys want to come up to Syracuse for a game let me know because I also am a HS coach.

I don't remember you posting before and I see that you have just 2 posts so it made me quite suspicious. I want to protect the posters on this site from giving away any info like a CC to someone they don't know and I wanted them to be aware of this. My nephew is going to Ithaca for music and he's from Lansing. I think he was referring to his Cubs flag in class causing a backlash. Ya...I knew that Seth. I just wanted him to know why I didn't want posters to give out their CC numbers. If they are comfortable with doing that with you that's different and up to them but I just wanted them to realize that he was a new poster and we've had "brokers" on here before.

I don't remember you posting before and I see that you have just 2 posts so it made me quite suspicious. I want to protect the posters on this site from giving away any info like a CC to someone they don't know and I wanted them to be aware of this. My nephew is going to Ithaca for music and he's from Lansing.

Where in Ithaca?

I don't think a poster is going to give their credit card number to a poster who has been on here for just 2 posts.

Please don't. I'm approaching my character limit in my sig. I noticed that you don't have a "Perez will not start" on your sig. :wink: If Baker proves me wrong I'll be thrilled. The second Murton struggles he'll be learning from the bench like a good young player should.

I know what you mean, I hate playing UConn and Villanova twice and not even playing Marquette.

You're on my friend! If I win you have to use a Syracuse sig and if you win I'll use an Illinois one...sound fair?

Is his real name Jimmy?

We have DWI Wednesday's here.

I can't imagine how many blown steals Pierre will have when Neifi fouls off a pitch in the dirt after Pierre is almost standing on second. There is still no doubt in my mind Perez will be the starting SS. Are we all talking about the same Juan Pierre? Or are some of you assuming he's going to all of a sudden start stealing at an 80% success rate? I won't mention that he needs to also improve his OBP for any of this concern regarding the #2 position to be relevant. I loathe the idea of Perez starting at second, but if neither Walker nor Hairston clearly beats him out statistically then that's more of a slam on Walker and Hairston. I'm not a big fan of Baker to say the least. But I'll give him a little more of a chance since he'll have no excuses this year. After all, he finally has more speed, a leadoff man, a good bullpen and better defense up the middle.... something he's been crying about since the end of 2003. Now he has no excuses to fall back on. I don't remember writing about him having a 80% steal rate but I'll read my post again to see if I did........nope, I didn't. My point is that Perez will take away steals from him because he swings at every pitch. And again I will say that Perez will be starting at SS and play in at least 140 games. Sorry, Cuse. I used your quote but wasn't necessarily addressing my post to you. I was addressing those who think that whoever hits second will have a negative effect on Pierre's stolen base accuracy. He's going to have to improve an awful lot because he wasn't an efficient basestealer even without Neifi hitting behind him, plus Pierre has to get on base to even have a chance at stealing -- something else he wasn't that good at. Barring an injury to Cedeno, I'll make a cyber bet with you that Perez won't be starting at SS. Wish I felt as confident that he won't be starting at second, though. How about this bet Dale...how about an under/over with Perez? I say 140 games or more....you want to take the under? I'll even make this bet with a healthy Cedeno, Walker and Hairston. I think that Perez would still take some steals from Pierre. Pierre might even add to Perez and his total amount of DP's that he hits into if that could be possible, that is if Neifi bats second. I agree that Pierre has to get on base in the first place to steal but he has gotten on base better than Patterson or Perez did when they lead off so he is better in that regard. Of course this goes along the thoughts of Murton being the most productive OF....we're always marking on a curve we Cub fans are.

I take it your dad coached the baseball team? :D I see a lot of good athletes go to soccer and Lacross around here because there's a lot more action. I lost a one of my best players last year to Lacross because he wanted to play something to stay in Hockey shape which Lacross does more than baseball. Kids around here get Lacross scholorships big time and any good player can go to a Syracuse, Duke, Virginia or Notre Dame on a full ride. Also, there is a severe push by parents and coaches to make kids play one sport. They think they can get that scholorship and save the parents some big bucks by doing so which 98% of the time doesn't happen....other than Lacross that is. I wrote on here many years ago that LaCross was going to take away many players from baseball and once it gets more national it'll take away a lot of good athletes from baseball. It will hurt it more than soccer IMO because it's played in the spring like baseball and the kids have to decide in 7th or 8th grade on which sport they want to play. I think it will pass soccer in 15 years in popularity because of the exciting nature of the sport. You can body check, score a lot more points and has the potential to get a very big TV base. There are so many "voluntary" practices in some sports and when the kids miss them because they are playing another sport they get shot down the playing time ladder and on that coaches poop list. There are just less and less of the 3 sport athletes out there because of it. Also, since baseball is the last sport in the high school season kids tend to tire of sports and want/need a break and baseball is the one that suffers. A lot of the times the kids regret not playing baseball but they just don't want to go into a third season so close to the one that just finished. Another thing are grades. By the the time spring rolls around some kids are buried in bad grades. Football doesn't even have to worry about any marking periods while baseball has many to deal with.

I'd love to be able to argue this point, but with Baker as manager, I can't. Look at Jason Dubois' game log last year. When he was crushing the ball, he sat. When Dusty finally figured out Hollandsworth was not the answer, Dubois had cooled off dramatically. Might have been all that extra bench time. We'll never know. Murton sat. Cedeno got sent down in favor of Enrique Wilson. First sign of struggle, and I wouldn't doubt that Grissom and Perez are playing everyday. And I have even less faith that Dusty learned his lesson batting Neifi at the top of the order. I'd bet he wouldn't know how many times Neifi hit into a double play last year. I'd bet he wouldn't know how poor his OBP was hitting at the top of the order. I hope I'm wrong. Me too BbB....me too. Unless somebody gets hurt I think Perez will get his time in. Why, because he has a good glove and has a decent batting average and IMO Baker has a comfort level with him. I thought Mabry would get the AB's in left but what really worries me is a platoon of Mabry and Grissom in left and Murton on the bench.

This kind of comparision is way too difficult IMO. Ali or Tyson....Brown or Payton...Chamberlin or Shaq it's just too hard to compare those types of players and ERA's. Great for debates though and my list of hitters is: Ruth Bonds Cobb T.Williams Aaron

I agree with DJAXX....go to as many as you can. I went on a whim, which can be a very difficult thing to ride, a few seasons ago and got to watch Dempster take a nono into the 6th inning here. I made a point to see BJ Upton and was more impressed with Cantu when the Rays kids were here so any game could have it's little gems.

Personally I think it's rather ridiculous to go around insulting other fans for stating their opinion on the OF situation. The fact remains the Cubs OF is pretty poor. It wouldn't take much to be the best of the bunch. Murton could have a disappointing season and still accomplish the feat. I wonder if Baker would stay with Murton if he has a 260/360 type of line and shows very little power.

Dusty can say whatever he wants during the off season but what I'm going to judge him on is what he actually does during the regular season. I'm behind him 100% until he goes back to doing what he always has and breaking years of habits like the ones he has is going to be very difficult IMO. I also think if this is his "money" year and he wants to win to get the big bucks I'd be very surprised to see Cedeno and Murton out there very much. I hope I'm wrong.....I really do.

I think the Cubs will do very well if: -The whole team stays healthy and Wood comes back in May ready to go -Jones and Pierre have career years or close and play steller D -Dusty plays the right people -The Pen and starting 8 have their normal years -Dempster pitches like last year -Young guys Murton and Cedeno hold their own and hit like their minor averages -If Wood doesn't come back Rusch has a career year or Hill/Guzman step up -Hendry trades for a Tejada/Abreu/Floyd and improves the 5 slot if Jones isn't up to it Cedeno is fine at the SS postion but Tejada would beef up the 5 spot big time which is a huge weakness IMO. Abreu would be a nice problem to have to figure out the Lee/Abreu/ARam order

2003 was a long time ago. I think Mr. Hendry has to prove this team is moving in the right direction and then give him his extension.

I can't imagine how many blown steals Pierre will have when Neifi fouls off a pitch in the dirt after Pierre is almost standing on second. There is still no doubt in my mind Perez will be the starting SS. Are we all talking about the same Juan Pierre? Or are some of you assuming he's going to all of a sudden start stealing at an 80% success rate? I won't mention that he needs to also improve his OBP for any of this concern regarding the #2 position to be relevant. I loathe the idea of Perez starting at second, but if neither Walker nor Hairston clearly beats him out statistically then that's more of a slam on Walker and Hairston. I'm not a big fan of Baker to say the least. But I'll give him a little more of a chance since he'll have no excuses this year. After all, he finally has more speed, a leadoff man, a good bullpen and better defense up the middle.... something he's been crying about since the end of 2003. Now he has no excuses to fall back on. I don't remember writing about him having a 80% steal rate but I'll read my post again to see if I did........nope, I didn't. My point is that Perez will take away steals from him because he swings at every pitch. And again I will say that Perez will be starting at SS and play in at least 140 games.

Maybe they'll have some bubbly around for you to celebrate and you can come home just in time for Opening Day. Good luck and stay safe.

I can't imagine how many blown steals Pierre will have when Neifi fouls off a pitch in the dirt after Pierre is almost standing on second. There is still no doubt in my mind Perez will be the starting SS.

Do the Cubs have anyone in the minors that could take the mantle from Lee? What happens if Dope regains his slap?

Yes indeed he is. I wish he were a little tougher mentally but he's the best out there IMO. the knock on him for being a bad postseason player is completely unfounded if you look at the stats (if that is what you are referring to) No it wasn't. I was referring to him compromising too often and trying to please people.

Yes indeed he is. I wish he were a little tougher mentally but he's the best out there IMO.