CuseCubFan69

Hasn't this been the knock on Cubs fandom over the past years, that their only support the team because they play in Wrigley. I love Wrigley as much as anyone, but I would definetly be at a bunch of games if they were playing in the cell. I would miss Wrigley for a summer for sure, but it would be a cool experience going to home games at the cell and frankly, would become a large part of Cubs history. I don't live anywhere near there and if I commit to going to Chicago, I want to see Wrigley as well. I'd rather watch the Cubs at Shea/Wash or Philly and save the money. So out of curiosity, if the Cubs decided to build a new ballpark in Schaumburg and tear down Wrigley, would you never come to Chicago to support the Cubs again? This is where I said (bolded part above) if the Cubs move to another stadium for good than I would go to Chicago and see the Cubs. I've only been to Chicago once, (That airport thing, did we determine if that counts as a visit?) anyways....I've been there once to see the Cubs and if I am going to go see them it's not going to be the one year they play at the Cell or wherever else.

They got a phone call from an unidentified man begging them not to sign him. They aren't sure who it was, but they are saying he said "dude" a lot and compared Neifi to a striped bass. Yep...with an offer he could not refuse.

Ah, I get it....100 years of banging our heads against a brick wall!

Hasn't this been the knock on Cubs fandom over the past years, that their only support the team because they play in Wrigley. I love Wrigley as much as anyone, but I would definetly be at a bunch of games if they were playing in the cell. I would miss Wrigley for a summer for sure, but it would be a cool experience going to home games at the cell and frankly, would become a large part of Cubs history. I don't live anywhere near there and if I commit to going to Chicago, I want to see Wrigley as well. I'd rather watch the Cubs at Shea/Wash or Philly and save the money.

I can only comment on the numbers and the limited at-bats he had in both 2006 and 2007, so I'm not completely qualified to judge. From my limited viewpoint though, it's a combination of figuring it out and having a lucky year. 2007 still was likely a career year for him. He will likely regress from a normal minor league translation from his numbers last year. At the same time, I remember thinking about how absolutely lost he was at the plate in 2006 when he came up. He only hit 1 or 2 balls hard the entire time he was up. 3 or 4 of his 5 hits that year were dribblers. It wasn't that he just wasn't getting breaks. It was obvious he was completely overmatched (the best comparison to Soto 2006 would be Koyie Hill 2007, and Soto was probably a little worse). When he came up in September of last year, it was a completely different hitter. He waited back on the ball and drove it well with a much quicker bat. That bat speed was probably due to all the weight he lost in the offseason last year. If he can keep the weight down, he should be a guy who will walk a pretty good amount and have pretty good power for a catcher, and that will make him pretty good offensively for his position. Thanks for your answer CCP. He had a wonderful year last year and imo he'll struggle a lot more this year. I hope you're right and he has figured it out plus I'm sure a little luck played a part as well. I don't think he's going to sneak up on the pitchers this year either and they will be looking for weaknesses more than they did last year. Add to that, the possible struggles of Theriot and Pie and you have 4 possible holes in the lineup. Didn't Soto always have a decent Isod? Yes, Soto has always had an excellent ISOD, usually between .80 and .100. That's going to be the biggest reason why he won't fall too far is that he knows how to take a walk, so even if he struggles with the power aspect he has his patience to fall back on. I wouldn't worry too much about Soto being a hole. An average catcher put up a .711 OPS last season. Soto should be able to put up that with his walks even if he only hits 5-10 HR's next year. I think the only two positions that the Cubs have to worry about having a below average offensive player in are SS and CF. I hope he does have another nice year and if somehow the SS and/or CF positions are near average or above the Cubs might be in for a productive season.

I wouldn't go to a Cub game in Chicago if it isn't at Wrigley. Part of driving all the way out there is the ambiance of Wrigley and if I'm going to commit going, I want to see the game there. Now, if the Cubs move to another stadium for good that's different.

I think they did this so he would retire a Rockie and wear their hat in the Hall of Fame.

Mark Grace lite. Well except for the fielding thing. and the weight.

I can only comment on the numbers and the limited at-bats he had in both 2006 and 2007, so I'm not completely qualified to judge. From my limited viewpoint though, it's a combination of figuring it out and having a lucky year. 2007 still was likely a career year for him. He will likely regress from a normal minor league translation from his numbers last year. At the same time, I remember thinking about how absolutely lost he was at the plate in 2006 when he came up. He only hit 1 or 2 balls hard the entire time he was up. 3 or 4 of his 5 hits that year were dribblers. It wasn't that he just wasn't getting breaks. It was obvious he was completely overmatched (the best comparison to Soto 2006 would be Koyie Hill 2007, and Soto was probably a little worse). When he came up in September of last year, it was a completely different hitter. He waited back on the ball and drove it well with a much quicker bat. That bat speed was probably due to all the weight he lost in the offseason last year. If he can keep the weight down, he should be a guy who will walk a pretty good amount and have pretty good power for a catcher, and that will make him pretty good offensively for his position. Thanks for your answer CCP. He had a wonderful year last year and imo he'll struggle a lot more this year. I hope you're right and he has figured it out plus I'm sure a little luck played a part as well. I don't think he's going to sneak up on the pitchers this year either and they will be looking for weaknesses more than they did last year. Add to that, the possible struggles of Theriot and Pie and you have 4 possible holes in the lineup. Didn't Soto always have a decent Isod?

Really? I thought Guillen had a little pop in his bat.

Do you guys think that Soto has figured it out, had a lucky year or has had artificial help? I'm thrilled that he is doing so well but I suppose I'm curious as to why now. I'd just hate to see him end up a 250/310 guy this year with the 2 big holes in CF and SS.

There is so much I would love to say on this topic but unfortunatley I can't!!! ](*,) Well I'm sure the kid will be alright! If you produce, good things will happen if it's with the Cubs or anyone else. Maybe he means that he already knows that it's pretty likely that Sean will be starting in Baltimore. :shock: Then again, they wouldn't have had him take pictures on team photo day if they had him on his way out. Maybe Marquis and Pie are gone. Yea, that's it. Yeah I thought that too but I chose to ignore it! I wonder if Vegas has the odds on A...if this trade will happen and B...who will it involve.

The cubs have ARam, Soto and Ward as really slow guys but I agree that the rest should be able to score on a double in most cases. And...holy heck, I'd swear that I saw somebody mention a Sori double! :oops:

i will simply say that i think you're overvaluing steals. Roberts getting a walk plus a steal = Soriano getting a double, only there is more risk in stealing the base. you also can't look at steals completely objectively between the two because it's possible that the O's manager called for them more than Lou. perhaps if Soriano was leading off for the O's he'd have 50 steals last year. you just can't make that comparison I'd think that with Roberts speed he would score from first on a Sori double in most cases. That is likely true. Seems completely random/irrelevant, though... :-k Well, the mention of speed and Sori hitting a double was mentioned, was it not? Why steal unless a situation presented itself? When posters mention Roberts and steals it's not always the steal but the speed to take an extra base when others can not.

I don't think Reagan is on the scale of an all time great with the franchise, maybe so though. Eck doesn't qualify for the pre-reqs I set out, which were 150 appearances with the Cubs. Ah, I see. Yeah...Reagan pitched before the closer thing took effect. I can't believe the run of Cub reliever/closers. I used to love Bill Caudill (sp) when he pitched for the A's, another Cub farmhand closer.

i will simply say that i think you're overvaluing steals. Roberts getting a walk plus a steal = Soriano getting a double, only there is more risk in stealing the base. you also can't look at steals completely objectively between the two because it's possible that the O's manager called for them more than Lou. perhaps if Soriano was leading off for the O's he'd have 50 steals last year. you just can't make that comparison I'd think that with Roberts speed he would score from first on a Sori double in most cases.

I think they go thru and pick the most ignorant questions for laughs, because I swear every week there is some kind of stupid ass question like this. Or it could be somebodies nephew or a friend that they thought would be cool to have one of their questions on the site.

Now that was a game I actually had a chance to see!

No Phil Reagan or Eck?

wouldn't the exact opposite make more sense? tell everyone that the 5 best starters make the rotation regardless of age. if lou's really doing what you're saying he is, he's trying to motivate the young guys while telling the old guys to take the rest of spring training off. I could see that but with the 2 vets being guaranteed a salary and the young guys not, along with them having options, I don't think he'd be fooling any one by saying that Leiber and Marquis may be cut. I don't think Hendry would swallow the Marquis salary.

To get us to comment on it?

There is so much I would love to say on this topic but unfortunatley I can't!!! ](*,) Well I'm sure the kid will be alright! If you produce, good things will happen if it's with the Cubs or anyone else.

First of all, I hope he's ok which is the important thing. Yeah, this may hurt Hendry in his supposed trade talks with the O's or any other team he may be talking too. I really wish Patterson would step up and take this spot.

No I'm not, you are!!! I'm glad the Sammy bashing has finally come to an end. :clapping: Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Let's move on to bashing Candy Mountain Charlie.

You and me both brother....that crushed me when I was a kid. Add to that I hated Murcer with a passion during his days as a Yank. Have you ever noticed how many bad Cub trades involve trading younger black players for over-rated white players? Madlock did a Wrigley no-no. He was uppity. I dont mean this to sound racist. The Wrigleys really struggled with Black players who didnt fit into the Banks type persona. I don't know about the race thing but maybe they just didn't want anyone that was uppity or outspoken.