YearofDaCubs

A's are getting prepared for a playoff push while the Cubs are preparing for 5th place in the division.

Oh yes a worse trade than the one which was announced...

He is locked up in his hotel room ordering pizza and renting movies.

This is just crazy. This offseason has the makings of a worse disaster than last year.

People on the A's forums are pretty certain it has happened.

We should have gone after Bradley...

When it's all said and done we might be wondering why Neifi is starting and Burnitz is back in RF.

I suppose they can catch the ball and throw runners out at home plate.

I wouldn't be surprised. The good GMs like Beane are making the necessary moves to improve their team.

So do we lead all teams in players available through Rule 5?

So what exactly is Hendry doing during the GM meetings? Is he ordering pizza and renting movies in his hotel room?

Are you serious? Hendry is a damn fool!!! On top of the fact that we didnt offer any prospects Hendry is offering Walker to free up 2B for Neifi!!! YOu have go to be kidding me!! This organization is pathetic!

This is a move Hendry should have made. Time is ticking Hendry and the players available are diminishing.

:lol:

That's crap. Then you pull 'tough' trades. Did you guys think the White Sox had any chance last year to win the WS? Think back to hot stove season...Anyone? Anyone? You make the best moves to improve your team in the best ways possible. Nobody just closes shop and gives up. Hendry wouldn't even consider it. That's a joke. Of course he won't consider it and I'm not saying I'm for it either but when the Cubs are the team which has a need and wants to initiate trade talks what do you think is going to happen? You think the teams will give you whomever you want? Heck no!! It's not exactly easy trading for IF, 2 OF positions and possibly another starter.

Hendry needs to pull tough trades to get us into the playoffs as far as I'm concerned. Chances are it might be 2007 no matter what approach the Cubs take.

Bench players must really love Hendry.

Blalock better than Aramis? I don't think so.

I suppose I would be ok with Bradley in CF and Kearns in RF.

I think Burnett going to the Jays is a good move for the Cubs.

I would rather have Burnett go to the Jays than go to the Cards. I hope this is true.

Word is that Kerry Collins will be benched by Oakland starting next week and will not be resigned. I really don't like Kerry Collins as a QB but considering our options it wouldn't be a bad idea for the Bears to sign him next year. At least we would have a very average QB which is better than what we have now but with our defense it might be good enough to get us to the top.

I am so annoyed by this part of the story. Their infatuation with a stereotypical leadoff man is going to bite them in the butt. You can't build a team like this. You have to find players for each position in the field, then let them hit wherever is best. Find a team with quality from 1-8 and you'll be much better than a team that goes hard after leadoff and settles for mediocrity from 2, 5 and 6. Try to assemble the best catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, leftfield, center field and rightfield you can find, then put them in the best order. Don't limit yourself to a spot you've already admitted is close to barren in terms of availability. Hendry and Baker have spoken at length about the complete lack of the "true leadoff hitter" in today's game. That lack of supply drives up price when met with high demand. The Cubs irrationally high demand is making it harder for them to find a guy. Go out and get the best hitters you can find at CF and RF, and don't worry about the order, you'll score more runs and win more games. Goony I think you are right on. It is possible that the best leadoff available may play a position where there are better players available. The perfect example Pierre and Bradley. Bradley is the better player but Pierre can bat leadoff. If the Cubs took your approach they could go out and get Bradley and Wilkerson and call it an offseason. Wilkerson Walker Lee Bradley Ramirez Murton Barrett Cedeno I would be very happy with that lineup. I'd be happy with that lineup too...which makes me wonder why so many people think Hendry has already blown the offseason, while the winter meetings are just starting, and there are still very good options on the table. I just don't get it. We can all speculate on who Hendry will acquire or not but at the same time as you can see from what the Marlins are asking it gets expensive trying to trade with other teams. Some here dont have any faith in Hendry being able to pull off some of these trades. I sure don't.

I am so annoyed by this part of the story. Their infatuation with a stereotypical leadoff man is going to bite them in the butt. You can't build a team like this. You have to find players for each position in the field, then let them hit wherever is best. Find a team with quality from 1-8 and you'll be much better than a team that goes hard after leadoff and settles for mediocrity from 2, 5 and 6. Try to assemble the best catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, leftfield, center field and rightfield you can find, then put them in the best order. Don't limit yourself to a spot you've already admitted is close to barren in terms of availability. Hendry and Baker have spoken at length about the complete lack of the "true leadoff hitter" in today's game. That lack of supply drives up price when met with high demand. The Cubs irrationally high demand is making it harder for them to find a guy. Go out and get the best hitters you can find at CF and RF, and don't worry about the order, you'll score more runs and win more games. Goony I think you are right on. It is possible that the best leadoff available may play a position where there are better players available. The perfect example Pierre and Bradley. Bradley is the better player but Pierre can bat leadoff. If the Cubs took your approach they could go out and get Bradley and Wilkerson and call it an offseason. Wilkerson Walker Lee Bradley Ramirez Murton Barrett Cedeno I would be very happy with that lineup.

It's possible, but still not a good enough explanation for me. My personal view of the situation is that Hendry didn't prioritize Giles at all. He did not value Giles skillset or realize just how big a hole RF is right now. Hendry has a thing for guys like Encarnacion, Wilson, Jones and Burnitz, so he was more than happy to wait on RF, and pretty much ignored Giles and his .400+ OBP. Considering he was offering 5/50 and maybe more, for Furcal, 3/30 for Giles was more than fair to the Cubs, but I don't think he even tried to negotiate there. Fair enough, I would have liked Giles too. It just seems with the way things went on with Giles, that he really wanted to stay in SD. Now I want Lugo, Wilkerson, Huff, and/or Bradley. I think Hendry can still have a very effective off-season if he can't several of those. Lugo 2/3 of Huff/Bradley/Wilkerson. IF we can get those players you mentioned it would be a successful offseason. We'll see what Hendry can do but getting those players isn't cheap and will probably cost us our best prospects.