CuseCubFan69

I'd love to be able to watch the position battle from the dugout with Lou and hear what he has to say during the process. I wonder if Lou or any of the other coaches document/grade what's going on during the spring. I think it's a good way of having a tryout because you don't remember everything and the whole tryout is graded and not just the "key moments".

That would be fun to watch! I wonder if he could throw harder to first than Shawon? He's working on a knuckler so Lee can win the gold glove again this year. It should be a rule that all infielders have to throw knuckle balls to first.

So you're saying to trade those 3 guys for a slightly better than average 2nd baseman? :grin: With the way they are being treated and "showcased" to the rest of baseball, we might be lucky to get Macias. All Lou had to say was Gallagher has a shot at the 5th starter slot, Cedeno will be battling in the spring to beat out our starter at SS, and Murton is a great option to sub in LF and RF and to provide some punch off the bench. Instead we get Gallagher has no shot to start, Theriot is the starter and there's no competition at SS, and Murton is behind Fuld (and DeRosa if the O's trade happens) in the OF. It would be great to buy a used car from Lou, he would tell you everything that's wrong with it and lower the price significantly. It's a long, long season and so many things can happen during it, especially regarding starting pitching. Imo, if the Cubs are 7 to 8 deep starting pitching wise they will be fine but that being said, I'm not thrilled with Leiber or Marquis but since they are vets they are getting the first shot to fail and the others still have options to be sent down, unlike the 2 vets.

Here's the problem: if you have an opinion that doesn't have a ton of support and is based mostly on your own biases (we all have them-I know I do), simply state your opinion and move on. Continually beating that opinion into everyone without even attempting to engage in a discussion about it is rather pointless, and no one should be surprised when people begin to react strongly to it. Its one thing to have an opinion, but its a completely different matter to restate that opinion over and over without addressing any of the counterarguments. Threre have been NUMEROUS counterarguments made, from the fact that Roberts and DeRosa have almost identical numbers over the last two years to the fact that there are other holes in the lineup for which the prospects available might be used in a trade to upgrade. These counterarguments may or may not have merit, but to simply disregard any and all other arguments and essentially repost the same argument over and over again is utterly ridiculous. I think its fairly clear why people are getting annoying with him, and it has little to do with the merits of his argument. I do understand that it can be frustrating. If you feel you have made your point and the poster you made it to has the same response as they did before, maybe it's just time to move on instead of going crazy trying to make your point. I do agree with omphaelos and to please let the games begin soon! I think a lot of us are getting cabin fever.

you don't mind him? He's good, "minding him" shouldn't even be an option. I like pretty much everything they've done so far this offseason. Clark and Olsen are both good receivers. I'm fine with Grossman, Orton and a draft pick (2nd, or preferrably, 3rd round or later) taking QB duties. I don't like the talk of possibly 4 QBs, unless the 3rd and 4th are both non Griese. Nothing against Brian, but if you are bringing back Orton and Rex, there's no value in Griese this year. I wish they'd get rid of Archuleta, although I'm still a little unsure about how his contract affects the cap. Do the Bears see some QB that is going to be available in 2009 and are just waiting or do they actually think the same 3 QB's is a good idea?

I have no problem with something being someones opinion. Sometimes if it is just your opinion you don't have the numbers or areas where you can pull information out of and you run out of ways to say the same thing. Imo, sometimes this board gets a little too analytical about things. I love the numbers and many of the things/stats that can be brought up regarding baseball but there are other aspects of the game as well. I do understand why you would be frustrated with someone saying the same thing over and over again though and some of us, myself included, don't really express themselves that well or in ways we want too when it comes to writing on a message board.

Hey wrigley...who are you responding too?

So Tony hates Barry? He won a lot of games with the roid boys so I'm sure he's going to turn the other cheek...so to speak.

That would be fun to watch! I wonder if he could throw harder to first than Shawon?

You've made some decent points and don't let some posters get you down when it comes to posting. I like to see a different opinion and it's always good to have it here on the board. I don't think anyone minds a differing opinion. The problem is he refuses to answer people when they either ask him a question or provide information that goes against his opinion. Hell, I've asked three times now where he found the rankings he refers to when he says that Roberts is the "xth ranked second baseman in all of baseball." Three times. It's an honest question (especially when that ranking changes from thread to thread), and I've yet to receive a response. I'm not asking for the meaning of life or detailed instructions on how to split an atom. I just want to know where he found his rankings. Someone else provided me a link to rankings they found, so it's obviously not that hard. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'd love to think he's not referring to fantasy rankings or simply pulling the numbers out of his rear end. [/rant] If he is pulling these numbers out of his rear, do you really want to see them? Maybe the ranking is his own, I don't know. Yes, it would be nice if he responded where he found this info but speaking for myself sometimes I don't remember where I read or heard it and wouldn't be able to tell you where I learned or saw this.

Maybe its just Iowans :-" Where was Edward K from?

I'd rather have Pie 7th and Theriot 8th.

So you're saying to trade those 3 guys for a slightly better than average 2nd baseman? :grin:

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.

I thought that was 3 days before the playoffs? :stickman:

Sorry, there's no motivation in telling someone that they have no shot. Tell them it's a long shot...fine...but telling them they have no chance is more likely to just depress them, or make them feel resigned to the minors. You have to mentally tough as a pitcher and maybe this is one of Lou's ways of testing Sean. If he shrivels away than maybe it's better to know now and personally I'd like to see Sean step up and take this challenge.

I agree and when things unfold I have confidence that Lou will make the move that is going to be best for the team.

Lou told them if they reported to camp out of shape he'd kick them into the well like he did with Prior. The country cub atmosphere has left the house. Lou's not perfect but I like him a heck of a lot better than any Cub manager in recent history.

Steve Phillips just said that a team that may, though he doubts any team will, take a flier on Clemens might be the one and only Cards.

As bad as Mizzou is, it's hard to beat any team who makes 40 3 pointers in one game. 59 points in the 2nd half for Mizzou did it. They shot 70% in the 2nd half and 60% for 3's. Once they started making half court hook shots you knew it was their day. Now that I think about it, do players even take hook shots anymore?

You've made some decent points and don't let some posters get you down when it comes to posting. I like to see a different opinion and it's always good to have it here on the board.

I'm sure if Lieber and/or Marquis are getting lit up in the first quarter the Cubs will make a change, especially regarding Lieber.

Seriously, why do you keep saying Soriano's health is in question? Where do you find these things? I thought I read Lou commenting on Soriano not quite being over his leg injury.

Is UAB in because of winning a conference? With a SOS of 127, RPI of 49 and a 19-8 record, I don't get why they are in otherwise.

I have no problem with what Theriot said. I like that he works hard and knows his ability level and it would be nice if all the players on this team worked as hard as they can to be better ball players. I really think this is what is shooting Cedeno in the foot, his work ethic. If you give a lot of managers/coaches two guys and one works his butt off and the other who is marginally better that is lazy, 9 out of 10 will take the guy that works harder, just like any business would. Now, if the Cubs actually think that a player is is average or a little below it but works hard is a better choice than a player who is really good, then they have some problems when it comes to evaluating talent. I really think there is a plus/minus in this type of evaluating just like offense and defense but not as important as O/D.