CuseCubFan69

Dal....these games like yesterday are winnable games and if the Cubs win those it makes the playoffs that much more attainable and they wouldn't have to worry about choking if they take these types of games. Hendry has waited for the pitchers to come back and since Prior is going on Sunday and Wood on Wednesday we'll see if that gamble payed off. You're right that the Cubs have a lot of recources and that is a luxury, especially when they are competing with the Yanks for a player.

We might see that lineup once the Cubs are officially out of the playoffs. Does anyone know what Harry did to Dusty or the team to deserve this benching?

I agree. Corey is not producing the offense to be a corner outfielder, and the Cubs would be wasting his speed by putting him in LF. He would be more valuable playing CF somewhere else. The problem is potential. Corey is brimming with it, and Hendry has to fear that he will bust out (like Andruw Jones is doing right now) somewhere else. Really tough to trade away someone with Corey's tools, but the decision has to be whether the Cubs can win it all this year with a player (Kotsay) that will be upgrade this year, but possibly not in the future. Tough call. This is why Hendry has the GM job, to make tough calls like this. Is it possible that a switch to leadoff and left could jumpstart Patterson? Kotsay is better than Dubois/Holla IMO and the OF defense would be very solid. I don't know how comfortable CPatt would be going into that left corner either so it's also very possible CPatt could struggle even more. Don't you think moving to Left would be an easier position for Corey? Could you imagine our team outfield speed defense with Patterson/Kotsay/Burnitz? It gets me excited thinking about it. I can't imagine a move to an easier defensive position would affect Corey's offense negatively, in fact, intuitively, you'd think he'd be able to worry less about defense and more about getting his stroke down. I think getting Kotsay would ONLY be a positive thing for this team, imagine the RBI possibilities with this lineup: Kotsay .370 OBP Walker .370 OBP Lee Ramirez Burnitz Barrett Patterson Cedeno Pitcher. :shock: This is a no-brainer, as long as we don't have to mortgage the farm. We are STOCKED with major league ready starting pitching: Wood/Prior/Z/Maddog/Rusch/Wellmeyer/Mitre/Williams/Hill I initially thought that the move might help CPatt and it may but I don't know what his makup is and if this would have a negative effect on him or not. Also, he is used to being able to run full bore left or right and you can't do that going to your right when your playing left. That brick wall hurts. I don't know what Beane is asking but I'm sure it's high and depending on how many teams are in the hunt for Kotsay he may be quite expensive prospect wise. I also don't know how ready Cedeno would be to make the move and obviously having Baker around if he would even play. If he is ready I'd love to see him up and Grieve up and release Macias and Wilson. But, it also make Dubois even that much more valuable as the Cubs need some right handed pop off the bench unless Hendry gets a solid right handed guy too.

I agree. Corey is not producing the offense to be a corner outfielder, and the Cubs would be wasting his speed by putting him in LF. He would be more valuable playing CF somewhere else. The problem is potential. Corey is brimming with it, and Hendry has to fear that he will bust out (like Andruw Jones is doing right now) somewhere else. Really tough to trade away someone with Corey's tools, but the decision has to be whether the Cubs can win it all this year with a player (Kotsay) that will be upgrade this year, but possibly not in the future. Tough call. This is why Hendry has the GM job, to make tough calls like this. Is it possible that a switch to leadoff and left could jumpstart Patterson? Kotsay is better than Dubois/Holla IMO and the OF defense would be very solid. I don't know how comfortable CPatt would be going into that left corner either so it's also very possible CPatt could struggle even more.

Yes, as if changing a bad baseball player into a good baseball player were only as easy as solidifying a lineup spot. I thought the jury was still out on Corey. They just finished the Jackson case so from what I've heard CPatt is next on the agenda. JC is going to be CPatt's lawyer and he's been recruiting fans to stand outside the courthouse to faint and chant when CPatt comes out.

I blame Hendry for giving these types of players to Baker. Baker is known for playing all his 25 and if Hendry can't get better quality than Macias and Wilson he deserves what he gets. It's time to get some players that can play. I really don't think Nomar will be healthy this year. He will play but he will not be healthy. Add to this when Nomar isn't feeling well it will make the Cubs bench that much thinner. I say this because it's obvious that Hendry is waiting for Nomar...at least IMO.

Syracuse New York. :D

What's the deal with the Cubs and pitchers named Guzman?

What is the official day the Cubs lose Sisco?

I think it's ironic that 25/26 year old CPatt is tired and gets some rest but 85 year old Burnitz hasn't had a day off yet.

Notes on the numbers you're using as your starting points: 1. As noted byothers above, Hendry has stated pretty explicitly that Sosa's $4.5 is handled this year and will not be docked against next year. 2. Rusch can opt out of his contract after this season. Given how well he's been pitching, I don't think there's much likelihood that he'll be on the books for $2. I'd expect a large raise for him, either with us or elsewhere via free agency. Prediction: Cubs resign. 3. Walker's opt-out has almost zero chance to vest, given the AB's he's already lost to injury. The Cubs would have no cost to waive him, but he'd cost only $2.5 to bring back. Prediction: Cubs bring him back. 4. There are indications that Hendry works his budget on a cash-flow basis, which can sometimes differ from mlb numbers which pro-rate signing bonuses. While Prior may list as 3.55 using proration, he may be only 2.75 on Hendry's 2006 ledger? 5. Last winter, Hendry talked as if Sosa's buyout would count against 2005, not 2006, even had he not been traded. That may have been a special case. But if that's Hendry's general policy, then a Burnitz buyout might count against 2005, not 2006. Sometimes when it gets down to cases and to the last player or two of the winter, a few millions hear or there can make the difference. So these detail things could end up being important eventually. For now, though, the bottom line seems qualitatively similar: Hendry's going to have a lot of money to work with this summer, and not really that many holes to fill. What makes it even better is that as it looks now, he may have perfectly reasonable economy/performance fallbacks at each of the holes. *2b: Walker/hairston, not a problem to go with them and focus money elsewhere. *SS: With Cedeno looking so good, the notion of going thrifty with Neifi/Cedeno and spending elsewhere isn't the worst idea. *OF: The idea of going thrifty with Pie/Dubois/Murton in one of the outfield spots and spending elsewhere isn't the worst idea. *Rotation: The idea of going with Rusch as a mid-price but not Burnett-type price and spending big elsewhere isn't unreasonable. *Closer: Time will tell, but at present it looks plausible to go with Dempster as a mid-price guy rather than spending for a big-ticket Wagner type. *OF #2: I don't imagine they'll pick up Burnitz's option at $7 (although it's not altogether impossible). But if they have other exciting ways to spend big money, the possibility of coming back with Burnitz at a mid-price ($4-5?) isn't terrible either. Point: Hendry's got a lot to work with. But if he wants to focus in on one or two really big-ticket guys, he seems well-positioned to fill the other places with reasonable value/dollar support players. Darn..Rusch's contract is a mutual one? I don't remember that.

It seems that Maddux is not thinking ahead to whether he would accept a trade if the Cubs become sellers. He doesn't say he would, but he also doesn't rule it out. Dude? It must be the Dusty effect. The two worst days for me as a Cub fan were losing Madlock and Maddux. It's nice to see that Greg loves being in Chicago and that he and Hendry have respect for one another. I'm curious to see how this thing plays out.

I can't see a team taking him in the stretch run with him likely to have his option vest next year unless the Cubs throw in about $4M toward that option. I think how much money depends on what players the Cubs would recieve. I would like to see Hendry grow a pair and move some of these vets. If it is clear that Cubs are out of the race, I would not be opposed to moving Maddux. I also think it can be done in a way that shows dignity and class. First Hendry would need to approach Maddux and float the idea by him. Maddux only has one ring, and likely would want another. I wouldn't be surprised if he would have interest in going somewhere that would improve his chances this year. I agree that Maddux has earned that respect and that's why I mentioned Atlanta as one of the places.

I can't see a team taking him in the stretch run with him likely to have his option vest next year unless the Cubs throw in about $4M toward that option. I think how much money depends on what players the Cubs would recieve. I would like to see Hendry grow a pair and move some of these vets.

I would like the Cubs to trade Maddux to Atlanta or another team that is in the playoff hunt.

Well that's just great Tim, how am I supposed to know if he saw my hey message or not? :x :x :x Don't worry...you'll make new friends, I'm sure we'll have more posters like this.

Clint Hurdle I believe.

I'd love to see the kid do well and be effective through 4 or 5. I see a 4 inning 3 run outing for Leicester on Monday.

He is struggling ocf. He has to step up and show he can play or when Walker comes back he's going to be behind the great Jose Macias in the pecking order.

Yeah, since he loved playing in the Cub organization so much. :wink:

Next year Vance. KC will be able to get another Cub via Rule 5 Draft next year for the pen.

Why is it that the Cubs can't call up a guy and have him pitch like Sisco? Yeah....I know it's very early in the season but to have a guy come up for 3 weeks and throw like that would be nice.

I don't know, but I've heard Dusty bashed for abusing various starters, setup men and closers during his career, which is really hard to do. The only thing I can conclude from this is that Dusty's teams simply play more innings than every other team in baseball. Dusty is a firm believer in winning and playing in one run games. He manages that way and stresses to his players the value of doing just that. This will go with your more innings statement.

Sometimes it's like Wood just doesn't think.

Sisco is throwing well right now but what's to say he won't get fat and lazy again? Once his "revenge" thing is over I expect him to go back to the same bad habits he was in before.