YearofDaCubs

I hope Skiles makes it official and start Tyrus over PJ Brown. Also, when I went to a game a couple of weeks back when Tyrus came into the game people were cheering. He's a crowd fav already. He's my 2nd fav player after Gordon.

The Pistons are a bunch of whiners.

Sucks watching Cherry pitch so good and see the likes of Cotts on this team. It's not a huge issue but I think Cherry deserved the spot over Cotts.

Lose lose situation if you ask me..

Prior is pissed boo hoo. He didn't earn a spot in the rotation this spring. Who the hell is Prior to be pissed at anyone? Seriously? I have to agree. He hasn't been healthy in a couple years now, he's throwing in the upper 80's, and he hasn't been all that spectacular this spring. He hasn't really shown anything that says he should have a spot on the team. I don't see the Cubs saying something like "yeah we have to pay his check even though he's injured and hasn't pitched in months because we're his employer and we're required to." The Cubs have been more then patient and defended him on all accounts. Get over yourself Mark and quite simply Pitch better.... I'm sure the Cubs werenet happy when he requested an arbitration raise either..

Prior is pissed boo hoo. He didn't earn a spot in the rotation this spring.

Cedeno looking really good..nice AB there.

Let's see how it works out with Miller when the season starts. If it doesn't Guz will move to the spot and Cherry could be promoted to the pen.

It doesn't at all. Briggs totally went about this the wrong way, so we should return in kind. Who cares? I want to what is best for the Bears and having a vendetta with Briggs doesn't seem like that would be the best way. The point was, the Skins did this and wound up rewarded with 2 1st rounders. If we wait, it *could* result in a better deal than swapping 1st round picks, which is what some have suggested isn't good enough. True-in fairness though, that is the only time in the history of the league that it is ever happened, and it set back the franchise that did it a couple years (in fact its labeled as the worst move in the short Panthers history)-I doubt anyone is going to be trying that anytime soon, although if anybody would be silly enough to try something like that, Washington would. I was hearing though when it Peyton was franchised for a couple weeks 3-4 years back that it was unlikely that anybody would even sign him and give up 2 first rounders. I do think that if people want the extra pick rather than the top pick, that the Bears probably could get a pick in the 20's or maybe a little later for Briggs. That's not worth quite as much as moving up to 6, but it does pick up an extra pick that may fill a need. Hopefully Angelo can exchange the 1st picks and steal their 2nd rounder. Probably a lot to ask for but hey if they get that you can't complain.

Great! Finally a lineup that makes sense. Now the only thing left is to get rid of Izturis for Riot and we're good :lol:

Briggs is free to negotiate and sign elsewhere. The compensation, according to league rules, is 2 1st rounders. If they're "waiting for Bears approval" then I assume they don't want to give up the 2 1st rounders. Wow, even if we can get a first rounder and keep ours that would be well worth it.

It doesn't at all. Briggs totally went about this the wrong way, so we should return in kind.

I believe Morrissey was also on Chicago Tribune live last night. He's taking a real hard stand on Briggs. Someone else (I can't remember who) suggested we take the same stance the Redskins did with Gilbert. They franchised him once, he sat out, then they franchised him *again* and threatened to do it a 3rd time. Finally someone gave them the 2 1st rounders for him (was it Carolina??). There might be something to be said for holding out on a trade for this year, and just letting Briggs sit. I'm not saying that's what I would definitely do. But the Bears might want to consider it. Possible advantages: 1) Briggs eventually comes around (perhaps after playing his 6 games and realizing it hurts him more than it helps because all it did was get him franchised again). I believe Gilbert sat out the entire season, if we want to compare the two situations (not saying we *should* -- just throwing stuff out there). 2) A franchise-player trade appears, in which case we get 2 1st rounders straight up instead of swapping 1 for 1. Looks like Rosenhaus is willing and able to "assist" the Bears in seeking trades 8-) All the Bears need to is wait for him to work his "magic." 3) Sends a message to the rest of the team that players can't bully the Bears. I hope we franchise him 3 times in a row. I lost all respect for him. Him and his weasel of an agent can kiss it.

I'd love to see Cedeno or Theriot take over the SS duties. I don't like Izturis.

There's no way to know if Murton's performance was a coincidence or if Lou's talk helped his hitting, but it is nice to see that Lou is hands on with the players. Agreed. Finally, a manager we have some faith in.

I heard that on ESPN 1000 but it wasn't Guzman, it was Wuertz they were talking about. Oh well... So did ESPN 1000 say that Wuertz beat out Cherry and that Cherry is definitely not making the team? Novoa was already optioned to AAA. Wood is on the DL. Assuming all three lefties make the team, Wuertz would be the third righty and the final piece of an 11-man staff. But Lou is still considering whether to go with 12, so by my calculations, Cherry is still in play and its down to him or Guzman or neither. That's if the report that Wuertz has made the team is accurate... This was a while ago but they did mention that Cherry would not make the team. This is before Wood got injured though. I personally rather see Cherry make the team over Guzman, and have Guz start in AAA but that's just me.

Congratulations!

What makes Walker more valuable than Ward? Ward had the better year last year by far. Before that, Walker had the better years-but if Ward regresses back to his usual year and Walker keeps declining, then Ward will likely be slightly better. Both can play 3 positions-Walker the 3 in the infield, Ward the two in the OF and 1B. What is there to justify eating a million by dropping Ward and signing Walker? Please read what I wrote. I said, pretty clearly, that it was worth considering. I did not say that Walker was better than Ward. You should always look to improve your team, and if Walker is an upgrade, then it might be worth it. I remember Walker being really bad as a pinch hitter for us though. I don't see the value in him right now for us.

I do understand where you are coming from and you're right Wood is not making crazy money relative to what he was making in previous years. We'll see if the guy will be able to pitch again.

I've taken the liberty of highlighting the parts of your argument that don't have any argumentative weight. His salary as compared to yours and mine, options for other players, and your frustration at the failure of his body to hold up doesn't have anything to do with the issue at hand. Yes, it sucks Wood is hurt. However, this isn't 2004. He was slated to be a late inning reliever. Losing him for a couple weeks isn't going to hurt the team, and the fact he's making-what, $1.5m?-isn't going to hinder the team. We paid Wade Miller just about as much to do nothing last year. Resigning Kerry was a gamble, and I wouldn't be so quick as to label it a failure because he's had 2 arm-related setbacks before April. And for the record, even if he doesn't throw another pitch this season, it was a gamble worth taking with the small amount of money he's getting. (A couple weeks? I think we all know better.) It was a gamble worth taking if it was going to pay off. There's no reason to give this guy a roster spot if he cannot get through spring training, especially given his history. And doesn't that $1.5 million make him easier to release? Why release him though? The money is a sunk cost. If he is on the DL, how is that worse than being off the team? I agree with all of you when you say that it was a risk worth taking in resigning him. That being said, there's a good chance the guy can never play baseball anymore. He could be done. What he was, he will never be again. It's time to move on without him. Forget about the emotional crap for a second, what has wood done since 2004? 2004, yes 3 years ago. Who cares what role he was given this year considering he can't even pitch in whatever role he was assigned to.

and he'll be making more money this year if he's cut than most of us would make in a lifetime. he's starting the year off on the DL, so no yo-yoing will occur with young pitchers. just admit your emotions are what is causing you to want him to be cut. That has something to do with it. I'm an emotional fan. But that doesn't change the fact that this guy has always been on the DL since 2004 and cannot be relied upon even as a reliever.

What does Wood really give you when he comes back anyway? He's been injured the past couple of year with significant injuries. If it's not the shoulder, it's the tricep, not the tricep, no problem it's the elbow. The guy is as injury prone as it gets. I'd rather have somebody reliable out there instead of yo yoing other players to come up and down when Wood has an injury flame up. Wood is a shell of his former self and the Cubs would be better if they moved on without him. Enough is enough with this guy. He's made more money being on the DL than us would make in a life time.

Say no to Walker..

Dessens isn't good and I think Clark can be used as a trading chip. I like this move by the Dodgers as long as they use him as a chip.

Good think Perez didn't make the team. Last time we had a Perez on this team, it didn't work out so well.