YearofDaCubs

Another reason why I'm glad he's not here.

I can't believe some of you are putting Murton and Cedeno locks at .350 OBP. The simple fact is we don't knwo what they will give us and if they do struggle in comes Mabry and Perez. I like both rookies but let's not make them into all-stars just yet.

HE NEEDED SURGERY. How can any outings, nevermind however many there actually were, be trivial? That outing set the surgery back what a few days?? The doctor's said he wouldn't hurt the arm any further. Apparently, all those years of Medical School paid off. He pitched in relief for all of August. I'd like that month back now that the prognosis of "he'll definitely be ready by opening day" has changed to "he definitely won't be ready by opening day". Well, that's a different point now. My "trivial comment" was in regard to the appearance on 9/29 after Lawton had been dealt. Yes, nealry a whole month isn't trivial, and I'd like those 24 days back too, but I didn't want to concede w/ 53 games to go. Wood had some awesome appearances out of the pen. Wow. If I didn't know any better I would think you work for the Cubs orgnization. Leaving Wood to pitch out of the bullpen was a huge screw up if it meant he would not be ready by opening day. 1 month in sports is an enormous amount of time. That month could have been used to start rehab one month earlier. It was a huge screw up.

What killed the offense was a lack of OBP almost everywhere, which was due to a lack of walks. It was not solely because of the 1 and 2 spots, no matter what Hendry tries to sell you this offseason. They sucked in the 4 or 5 spot (whichever one Burnitz was hitting from), and were an awful bottom of the order team as well. And they had absolutely no bench. They were a team full of 6 and 7 hitters. which is why we shouldn't get bogged down in this "filling important holes in the lineup" rhetoric. there are no holes in the lineup, we'll be batting 8 position players ahead of 1 pitcher come april. the problem is with overall organizational hitting philosophy. hendry's too busy hoping we'll all be dazzled by a big name like pierre and the proverbial hole he fills at leadoff to worry about hitting philosophy. this lineup needs a healthy dose of OBP, not at a single position, but at all positions. I have to agree. OBP should have been key this offseason. If Hendry pulls off some nice trades to improve the team I will gladly commend him for his job but we all are starting to realize this is not going to happen and JJones looks to be the future at RF. If we don't make the playoffs I would like to see Hendry and Baker fired on the spot. No more excuses.

DIDO, when healthy he's a very good pitcher. I'd take that chance in a heartbeat. I don't know about that. He was healthy last year and was ineffective. The tear he had on his shoulder did damage and has lost significant velocity. I don't know that he was healthy last year. I believe he also had a frayed labrum (Kerry Wood) or something very similar that he tried to play through. His frayed labrum injury happened when he was with the Astros. He decided to rest it instead of opt for surgery. During the offseason the Sox signed him and he eventually made the return to the rotation. He was terrible. His velocity was way down. That's all I need to know. I don't see him as an option for us anyways considering how many pitchers we already have on the roster.

How many games did Aramis and Nomar actually play together? By the time Nomar was healthy enough to play, Aramis had gone down for the season. So as long as Aramis stays healthy then we haven't lost anything from last season as far as infield production goes. If anything Cedeno > Nefi!. Also Murton > Todd H. + Dubois + Lawton. 2005 went wrong for alot of reasons and so far 2 of the outfield positions and the bullpen have been greatly improved. I'm pleased so far with what Hendry has done so far, but he still has a bit more work to do. I believe there will be a better and more experienced team on the field at the start of 2006 than there was in 2005. When did Murton become a proven commodity? I really like Murton but let's not jump the gun on him and expect him to tear it up like he did last year. Who cares how many games Nomar and ARam played together. Injuries are part of the game. Who is to say DLee or ARam won't go down next year? I'm skeptical that DLee will have another year like he did. Is Walker going to be on this team or is Perez going to be started at 2B? We don;t know that. JJones and Burnitz are a wash. Sorry, but when you have a 100mil payroll you need to make things happen. I don't want to be an average team. I want to be a team good enough to go to the world series and that team we are not. If you want to be optimistic about the situation that's fine. You probably thought last years offense was good enough also.

DIDO, when healthy he's a very good pitcher. I'd take that chance in a heartbeat. I don't know about that. He was healthy last year and was ineffective. The tear he had on his shoulder did damage and has lost significant velocity.

In the division? No in the entire MLB.

No thanks. He lost his velocity and wasn't effective.

So let's see now. All we did on offense is get rid of Nomar and add a leadoff hitter? How exactly are we an improved offense? Hendry is a joke.

For that alone Hendry, Baker, and Rothschild should be fired. Agreed. Bunch of fools. They have no clue.

All those writers don't know jack. Although interesting to see where they place us on the rankings these guy don't have a clue. Some thought we would be the worst team in the NFL before the season started. I wanted Rex and if the conditions were good I think we would have seen Rex during the Steelers game. He's the starter now. They gave Orton every available chance and he couldn't do it.

I'm more worried about hoping Pierre lives up to the contract Hendry is going to give him than what those guys do in Florida. By the time Florida is back to contention, this Cubs team will be on to a completely different window of opportunity, and I'm just concerned with the current window now. With Pie in the wings, you think Hendry is going to give Pierre a new contract? Chances are Hendry will give Pierre at least 2 years. I dont see him as a rental of any sorts. Especially for what we gave up for him.

I love the fact this coaching staff made the change. It's anti-Dusty and I love it. If you don't perform you get benched. I think the change would have happened last week if it wasn't for the weather.

Seriously he looks like a taliban.

ESPN gives lovefests to everyone..makes me glad that 2/3's of these announcers are nearly done calling NFL games. I agree with what you are saying, but Urlacher seems to take a lot of crap when its undeserved. It was nice seeing him get the props he deserved on a National game. Urlacher is the best linebacker in the game right now. No question.

What a game. We look like a much better team with Grossman in there. And oh boy what a defense.

I gotta agree.

WOW, JUST WOW. I am one happy man tonight.

Ferocious shots! I love it.

MOose and his drops.

WOW!

Good point. Not many.

TD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:P