Mizzou

I read the other day that all but either four or five Cubs reported to Spring Training early. Earlier, I noticed that three of those four or five reported today. So is Aramis the only Cub that didn't show up early? That certainly isn't going to impress anyone.

Why vote when you can just look at Rate2 or FRAR or some other stat that doesn't require you to watch a game to see who the best fielder apparently is!

Great news! I was really hoping that it wouldn't actually go to arbitration.

Isn't his arbitration hearing scheduled for tomorrow? Any new news out of Arizona?

Is it too late to get in on this?

Is it really "stupid" when Floyd is two years removed from a near MVP-like season? Well, I guess they could still trot out Soriano, Murton, and Floyd until Floyd breaks a fingernail. I don't know if you're being serious, but yeah it's incredibly stupid. Floyd was 26th in MVP voting in 2005. Grudz was 27th in 2003... see my point? Saying that he had a "near MVP like season" two years ago means next to nothing for a guy that can't stay healthy. Next to nothing? If he still has the ability to hit 34 HR with a .360 OBP over 550 at bats, I see no reason not to get him an ample amount of at bats.The dude is 34 years old and couldn't stay healthy last year. Yeah, it'd be awesome if he would reproduce the numbers that he put up two years ago, but it's pretty unlikely to happen. And it's pretty stupid to start him over Murton, who is only going to get better.

Is it really "stupid" when Floyd is two years removed from a near MVP-like season? Well, I guess they could still trot out Soriano, Murton, and Floyd until Floyd breaks a fingernail. I don't know if you're being serious, but yeah it's incredibly stupid. Floyd was 26th in MVP voting in 2005. Grudz was 27th in 2003... see my point? Saying that he had a "near MVP like season" two years ago means next to nothing for a guy that can't stay healthy.

I actually like the idea of Jones hitting second. I hate the fact that Floyd is even being talked about as a starter. The fact that Murton isn't penciled in for the everyday job is just silly stupid.

I'm definitely getting MLB.tv this year. A quick question though... Is the difference between the 400K for regular and 700K for premium that much? I really have no idea. Also, what the heck is Mosaic?

Great news! And it's awesome to hear that he's there early. I have a lot of respect for the people who show up early.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/Navinda/kerry.jpg Oh my God.

Sorry to do this to you, but.... :roll: You're talking to me like I was just born yesterday. I've been watching baseball regularly since 1971. This was before free agency became what it is. I didn't like free agency then, and I still don't like it now. But, I really don't need you talking down to me. You have a difference of opinion? Fine. I'm cool with that. Disagree if you want. But please refrain from the "holier than thou" routine. It adds nothing to the debate. And actually, if you stayed away from the Aramis thread because of the same reactions you're seeing here, why are you even bothering with this thread? Sorry, I wasn't trying to be an ass. I can be cranky in the mornings. My apologies. Anyways, my point was basically just that at the end of the day, what's being said (or not being said) in the media doesn't mean a whole lot. I don't freak out based on public comments during a negotiation.

We Cub fans have been tortured enough over the years. We really don't need midnight deadline deals added to the mix. If there is hope to get him signed, just get it done. Let's hear in the paper tomorrow that a long term deal is being hammered out instead of ultimatums threatening to leave at season's end if a contract isn't done before the season starts. Hate to break it to you, but there are deadlines and behind closed doors negotiations in the business world. You getting upset because Hendry doesn't publicly lay out his plan is almost laughable.

Why? Seriously?

What exactly is the hold up, then? Hammering out the details? People straight flipped out when midnight passed and Aramis wasn't signed. I didn't even bother coming here to see what people were saying, just because I didn't feel any desire to read the ridiculous drivel that was likely spewed. Just because Hendry doesn't announce an extension the day after Zambrano demands one doesn't mean that he's not close to signing him.

This really, really pisses me off.

5/13 at Philly

His reported potential long-term deal is worthy of suicide. You don't want him signed long-term; we get it.

So if the Cubs don't sign him to an extension before this season, Zambrano won't even consider signing one after the season? That's stupid.

Ced Landrum was the ultimate pinch runner. 27/32 in SB's in 56 games.

I'm assuming that was in response to my post? I don't know which two years you're talking about, but I guess you can say that he's come close, depending on what you mean by "close". But he certainly hasn't had a season as good as Sammy did that year.

Time will heal. Sammy brought a lot of things on himself with his petulant and selfish behavior. Albert Pujols is petulant and selfish in many ways too, but I can't see STL ever allowing #5 to be issued again once he leaves the team, even if he leaves a meaningless game on the last day of the year early. Pujols is a much better player than Sammy. Even at Sammy's peak he didn't approach Pujols' completeness as a hitter. What do you mean that he didn't approach Pujols' completeness? And for the record, Pujols hasn't come close to matching Sammy's '01 numbers.

Maybe, but if he does well he won't need to be gone-he's certainly proven before that he can do well, just as he's proven he can do horribly. Instead of automatically trying to get rid of him, why not hope he can pitch well first? There you go. Well written. That's how I feel. I want Jason to do well like he has done a few times in the past. Would you honestly be unhappy if this guy put up an ERA in the low 4's and went out there every 5th day? That's what I'm rooting for. And I don't care what # he is wearing. He's a Cub now, and I want the BEST of jason marquis, not the worst. And a good way to do that is to try to show your support to him as a cubs fan. By cheering for him when he does well. Not worrying about a # he is wearing. No one is saying they're not going to support him. What I am saying is that it's pretty crappy of him to select that number. Baseball is all about the past and the greats that have played before the current players. Marquis is showing a complete disregard for that. And again, he really could have made a positive impact in some fans minds (mine included) had he declined to take number 21. I wish him the best and obviously hope he does well for the Cubs. But I'm not happy that he's a Chicago Cub. And besides, he wore number 38 in Atlanta, so it's not like he's worn number 21 his whole life or anything like that.

I know this isn't a big deal to many people, but it is to me. Bruce Miles confirmed that Jason Marquis will, in fact, wear number 21 this season. It really pisses me off that Marquis, a former Cardinal no less, has the audacity to walk into Chicago and request to wear the same number that Sammy Sosa wore during his time here. It's a pretty stupid decision by him too. He was basically worthless last year as a baseball player, so Cubs fans aren't too happy with his signing at all. And now he accentuates it by wearing the same number that a future hall of famer wore here? Way to make Cubs fans like you even less, Jason! Moron.

Am I making this up, or did Hill have some serious attitude problems when he first came up?