CuseCubFan69

Bradley would be a good choice if the Cubs had a clue. That automatically disqualifies him as a Cub. Just look for the best "Free Swinger Available" and then you will have your CF.

Now that Perez is signed I fully expect Wilson to be the next target. The anti-Cub team is now on its way.

No one should be surprised at this. The Cubs think that they had a good team last year and injuries and defense are the areas that they need to fix. They say no to Nomar and yes to Perez. Hendry is doing what he said he was going to do and we all know what Baker is going to do. What's the saying if you keep doing the wrong thing and keep expecting good results? What happens if Furcal doesn't sign? I do believe that Perez is a recruiting tool to get Furcal and part of the reson he was signed but what happens if the Mets or some other team gives him an outragous amount of money? IMO for this team to even win 85 games you have to hope that the Cubs sign Furcal and they find 2 outstanding bats for the OF.

Plenty of options there. I think it is important to nail down Furcal first, if that is Hendry's intent, so the leadoff hitter thing is resolved. That means the CF option no longer must be a leadoff man, opening up additional possibilities. There are the obvious choices: sign Kenny Lofton, trade for Milton Bradley, trade for Mike Cameron, trade for Juan Pierre. But my favorite choice would be a trade with Cleveland. How about: Walker + Rich Hill + Ricky Nolasco for Grady Sizemore and Rafael Betancourt? Or if that is a bit too rich for Cleveland, substitute Coco Crisp for Sizemore. Walker is expendable, Hill doesn't fit in the Cubs' rotation plans if they are going to sign a free agent like Burnett or Millwood, and Nolasco is a promising prospect, but still, a prospect. Cleveland solves their need for a 1B/2B option that can hit, they get a young starter to plug into their rotation (or use in the bullpen) in Hill, and they get the free option on Nolasco, who would likely pitch AAA for them in '06. Murton, Sizemore and Abreu in the OF, with Furcal and Cedeno up the middle, I really like that.... 8) Do the Indians have that much depth in the OF that they would consider trading Sizemore?

If he could also play first that would be wonderful and best of all it gets rid of the gremlin.

This goes on to suggest the Dodgers wouldn't want much in return for Bradley, especially if they might non-tender him. The Cubs should be all over him. I like Bradley, and think Dusty can handle him. But we have to think like the Cubs: given a choice, you figure the Cubs would rather sign Kenny Lofton as a free agent than trade players/prospects for Milton Bradley. Playing it safe will only mean we'll have to count on career years to win a title. Hendry needs to think bigger than Kenny Lofton. I would like to see Hendry do this but I still think that the chemistry thing is still big with him. We are going to see what Mr. Hendry is made of this off season.

Can TO & Ron Artest play OF? Sign them too, Jim! Baker's one remaining "strength" is supposedly the ability to keep a clubhouse together and keep guys like Bradley under control. If the player cost is Mitre or something like that, it's worth taking the chance. I'm starting to think that Bakers "strength" is due to over playing veterans thus keeping the harmony.

I dispised Bobby Murcer (NY thing) more than any player and the Cubs traded my favorite player (Madlock) for him. That was my all-time Cub transaction low point I'm assuming you know the reason why the Cubs traded Madlock for Murcer. If you don't know the reason, your all-time Cub transaction low point is about to get a little lower... Yeah I know. It just adds to the pain. :x

This goes on to suggest the Dodgers wouldn't want much in return for Bradley, especially if they might non-tender him. The Cubs should be all over him. He'd break up the good chemistry that they have...I'd pass.

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings. Maybe the Cubs can aquire Hugh Douglas?

I dispised Bobby Murcer (NY thing) more than any player and the Cubs traded my favorite player (Madlock) for him. That was my all-time Cub transaction low point

Somebody tell me why Texas Tech is ranked so high? Florida International Sam Houston St Indiana St. Talk about a team that gets rewarded for a crappy schedule.

I think Pintos main problems are in his head. He has to be tough and challenge hitters at the upper levels IMO and not try to be too cute around the corners.

Removing the auto bid is fine if that team has lost 3 or more games but who's to say any of those 1 loss teams are better than West Virginia? That's why you play the games IMO and get it out of the computers, writers and good old boy network. What are your suggestions if a 3 loss team beats a Miami, Texas or Alabama with the auto bid?

I heard that Rutgers is on the list and I also heard that WV may be. I think the SEC is a tough conference but when they all play cruddy teams and go 3-0 and then play each other how are we to know how good they really are?

What do you do for CF then Don?

You think the Cubs can make those two deals and not have Walker be part of them?

I pity Raush then in that case!

here's what Baseball Prospectus has to say: He already has a tremendously powerful stroke, pretty decent plate discipline, and an uncanny ability to adjust the head of his bat in mid-swing. He reminds me of Troy Glaus offensively. Defensively, he reminds me of Ben Grieve or Greg Luzinski. (Jamey Newberg, BP) --------- He was considered the best prospect in the organization in 2001 (by BP) and then a wrist injury (and subsequent surgery) caused him to delay his MLB debut. Thank you M&PM! So he's a bull in a chinashop in the OF. Would you be happy if the Cubs have a starting OF of Murton, Wilson and Mench? With ARam, Furcal, Perez, Lee and Barrett in the infield? This is Hendrys dream team IMO.

You get 30 lashes by toothpick for saying such a thing!!! I think having Mench would almost guarantee Macias staying around unless Giles or another quality OF is signed or traded for. Also, until the Cubs sign or trade for a backup 3rd baseman Macias may stay. I understand that Cedeno or Perez may be able to play 3rd but who knows how Hendry feels about this.

I'll ask again, how is this guys defense? If he is above average that would be great but if he is a butcher like Huff I would have to say no....let's have the Cubs go after Glenn Allen Hill if that's the case.

OSU is a four loss team. That UNC win was impressive, but not impressive enough to warrant them being a good team. Besides those teams they beat Cinncy, Pitt, FAU, Kentucky. With their schedule there is no reason for them to be a two loss team. WVU is the only loss that I think can be justified, but if you look at WVU's schedule it is a joke. Syracuse, Woodford, Maryland, UCONN, E Carolina, Rutgers. They got killed by VT, the only good team they have played. They are fifth in what is arguably the worst BCS conference. I just have a hard time believing they deserve more respect than they have. Why bring ND into this. They are not the only two loss team in the top 10. I personally think Louisville would lose to any team ranked ahead of them except maybe TCU. I brought ND into it as they are the highest ranked 2 loss team. Also, who has Alabama beat? Auburn? LSU? Other than the ever so tough teams in their own conference. At least Louisville and WV have played tough teams out of conference unlike the SEC teams that get so much repect and yet don't do well in the bowls year after year and Maryland, NC and VTech are tougher than any team an SEC has played out of conference to date. Auburn lost to GTech in the one matchup with a major conference. Tennesse always plays a tough out of conference and that is the team I respect out of that conference. I usually say that about the Big 12 but they did a decent job this year at least playing one good team. By the way, ND has promised to play 3 Big East teams a year from here on so we'll see how well they do! :D

This is a tough one and it would really depend on how the season falls from here. Miami plays Florida St and again and the SEC title game has to be played. If Penn St wins out they deserve a chance too IMO. What might be interesting is if USC losses a game I and Alabama and Texas reamin undefeated I'm curious if some will want a USC vs Texas game. I'm sure the TV execs don't want a "boring" Alabama in the title game.

For this guy...really? I don't see trading a decent 3-5 guy like Williams for a possible 4th OF guy. 4th OF? I think you're selling him short. His .797 ops from last year places him 12th amongst rf's in 2005. Yes, nothing great, but he's shown that he can go over .850 which would place him 6th in 2005. He'll only be 28, so he can improve. .. Not a bad gamble for Williams, who may end up in the pen anyway. Mench is far from option #1 tho. Isn't Texas a hitters park? Could that skew the numbers?

What is VORP and what is better the lower number or higher number?