CuseCubFan69

I hope you're right but this might be Dempsters big chance to make a lot of cash and I wouldn't blame him if he went for it.

The O's seem to be floundering so I was wondering what the Cubs and O's could do to improve both teams. Ryan and Tejeda are the obvious ones, is there anything else that they have?

I guess I have two comments. First, whatever he is doing it isn't working. More importantly, it hasn't worked for three years with respect to getting pitchers to adhere to fundamentals. In that time period, the staff has changed (rather dramatically). So, responsibility must fall on management. Second, my guess is that Baker isn't fining anybody. That doesn't seem to be his nature, likely prefering that the Kangeroo Court hands out such fines. In addition, that clubhouse is a sieve. I never said what he was doing has worked. I have read a lot of speculation on what Baker does but it's my guess that no one knows what goes on behind the scenes. Why do you feel the clubhouse is a sieve?

I'm curious on how people know that Baker hasn't punished a Cub player for not covering first? Yeah, whatever he's doing isn't working to get them over there but who here knows that Baker hasn't bothered to discipline them? I give Baker credit for not making this stuff public and I think that's why his players like him...not because he doesn't do anything.

Nope -- he'll be eligible to become a Free Agent after this season. So the Cubbies may be looking for another closer in 2006...interesting, thanks.

I agree with you wholeheartedly - I would leave it up to his "peers" and fellow ballplayers to decide if he's worthy. And who is to say they won't be a bunch of ex-steroid users?

That deal really worked out for Texas too. :wink: I never liked Clark and IMO he has always been an arrogant goof.

Is Dempster signed for next year?

I think the key to long term success is to blend in the youth with the vets.

Not sure it makes any difference, but Rose never bet against his team. That we know of.

Maybe he figures the 10 percent or so he would have to pay an agent he could just hand over to the IRS. :wishes:

Really? I'd trade any Cub if it made the team better. I'm sure KC could put together a nice package for Pie. THE only player on the Royals, or in their system I would even considered for Felix Pie is Zack Greinke. And even then, I still wouldn't do it. Pie is going to be a "special" player, and you don't trade special players. You know this how? Special like Patterson? Or Hill? Choi? Harris? Not doubting Pie has the skill set to do well, but I'm not buying any prospect as being "the next big thing" until they actually prove it. There is a DIFFERENT feeling when I watch Pie play. When I saw HS Choi play, I thought he would be an above-average 1st baseman with good baseball skills. I was thinking a more talented Travis Lee. Hill never impressed me. Hill, like baseball beckett said, reminded them of a future utility guy. A more hyped Jose Macias, as you will. Corey Patterson has befuddled me. I like Corey, but his stubbornish, his belief that he is a "POWER" hitter, when he isn't built (his body language doesn't say that) for power, but for more average/power. He want reinvent himself. With Pie, there is the "IT" factor. He wants to to get better. This is a story going around about Pie taking away several doubles that most CFers don't get to, but missed the last catch, and pissed about it. That tells me there is a competitve streak, not seen in alot of players the Cubs have. He wants to catch everything, he wants to win. He will do what it takes to win. Now maybe I am overhyping Pie, but of all the prospects the Cubs have had, he is the ONE, I feel will make it. I can't explain why I feel it, but you know. The Expos knew with Vlad. Seattle knew it with ARod. The Marlins knew it like Cabrera. I am not saying Pie will enter their levels of superstardom, but I do believe he has the talent/ability to reach it. Is it the same feeling you get when Bugs Bunny wears a dress? :albino:

How many times can a player be tested during a season? If he can tested just once I can see them juicing right after the test.

If I had a nickel everytime somebody said that I'd be....

He said he didn't know what it was. When he argued his case he could not name the item he took that had steroids in it or remember anything that it could be. He didn't know what it was? Doesn't MLB tell you what substance you tested positive for? That sounds a bit out there to me. It's in the "I got caught taking steroids 101" book that the players recieve. It worked for Sheffield.

Dawson had a lot of problems with his knees and that really kept his numbers down IMO. Granted, being healthy is something that you need to do to put up good HOF numbers and that will hurt the Hawk in the voting. Tony Olivia suffers from the same fate.

I'm just kind of torn on this one and I suppose having to pick one isn't something I have to do but I just thought it was interesting to see that my two favorites wore/ware the same number. Both guys have super K/BB ratios.

He said he didn't know what it was. When he argued his case he could not name the item he took that had steroids in it or remember anything that it could be.

Really? I'd trade any Cub if it made the team better. I'm sure KC could put together a nice package for Pie. THE only player on the Royals, or in their system I would even considered for Felix Pie is Zack Greinke. And even then, I still wouldn't do it. Pie is going to be a "special" player, and you don't trade special players. Not even for a package of KC players which would include Greinke?

Unfortunately Patterson's stats at Iowa look like his recent Cub stats. He's hitting .217, OBP below .300, a few HRs, and Ks in over 20% of his ABs; against AAA pitching. I look at it as a learning curve Lefty. If it's true that CPatt will be called up this IMO will be a nice confidence builder for him and we'll see how he hits from here on.

Really? I'd trade any Cub if it made the team better. I'm sure KC could put together a nice package for Pie.

Again, doesn't the MLB Ass. post the drugs and items that have steroids in them to protect their membership?

We have a thread already about this kente in Baeball Discussions. Thanks

I don't know how well...hitters will be able to tee off on him. *Just shakes head at obviously bad humor* I do want to punch Bowa in the face everytime he says "Woods". I have more where that came from! I listened to Bowa today on ESPN radio and he was commenting on how Rose should be in because steroids are worse. To go with the original post the next week to 10 days should be a very time to be a Cub fan. Hendry has some interesting decisions ahead of him and how Baker puts the pieces together should be one hot NSBB topic.

Another big name gets nabbed.