YearofDaCubs

He needs to figure out his leg issues first.

Nobody will sign Damon to a 7 year deal. Actually, he will be lucky to get a 4 year.

I would feel real good if we can get Giles and Furcal. One thing about Furcal, have you guys seen his numbers away from Turner? Not good at all.

What did he say?

And you called them great, which they were not, because Hendry hasn't come close to putting together a great team and doesn't yet seem to know how to. They were great enough to win it all IMO. You just can't overcome all those injuries (Sosa, Aram, Wood, Prior, Holla, Walker, Borowski, Remlinger, KGon. That team was good enough to win it all. And almost everyone on this board believed that. I don't remember a consensus opinion of greatness about that 2004 team. There is a difference between having the ability to win it all if things go your way, and just being a great team who is among the most favored to win it all. That team dragged their heals all season, when they were hurt or healthy, it didn't matter. And they collapsed when healthy, then the GM did nothing to improve the team in the following offseason besides hope for health and chemistry. The team from 2004 to 2005 regressed badly. What a slap in the face to all Cubs fans 2005 was.

I haven't heard of him being in on Giles, I haven't heard him express any sort of interest whatsoever. He could have gone balls out for improvements with all the money he had available, instead he wasted it on mediocrity and garbage like Rusch and Perez. The entire MacPhail era has been about cutting corners. Andy has always been about trying to contend within the division. Never have they talked about trying to be the best of the best, or going all out for a World Series. They're goal is to be in the NL Central race all year, and if they make the playoffs, just hope it works out. The OBP problem has been an enormous problem for years, and the Cubs ignored it year after year. The OBP problem is in fact strictly a BB problem. This team doesn't draw enough walks. The average has been there, the walks have not, and that's why the runs have also been lacking. I don't think you could be any more wrong. I think in '03 and '04 Hendry made every effort to try and win the whole thing. Don't forget that Hendry put together a great team for '04. Traded for Lee, signed Maddux, that team should've contended. For whatever reason it didn't. Last year he could've done better. He did though resign Nomar. How could he have known CPat would tank like that, or that Nomar would miss most of the season. I also honestly think he thought Dubois would get more playing time than he did. Yes, last year he assumed Kerry would be healthy. Well, why wouldn't he? At that point Wood had 2 dominating seasons before missing time in '04. Basically what I'm trying to say is that I've seen no evidence of this team cutting corners. I seriously doubt Hendry is satisfied with just contending in the central. I think the moves he's made throughout his tenure point to him trying to win the whole thing. I'm sure Hendry does want to win the whole thing. However, he has either a very poor way of evaluating talent or he has let Dusty do his thinking for him. The Cubs penciled in Patterson to lead off in 2005. A career OBP below .300 is probably not a good idea at lead off. When he failed, Neifi Perez got the nod. He's even worse. Jose Macias seemed to be next in line. He's even worse. This organization has valued aggressiveness at the plate for the entire time they've been here. The walks have dropped and so has their run production. If either Hendry or Baker had a clue last year, they would have seen that Todd Walker was their best lead off candidate and Murton was the best #2 option. Neither got the opportunity. Cubs management did not maximize the potential of the starting line up at any time last year. If it's because Hendry didn't want to interfere with Baker's decisions or if he agrees with Baker's philosophies, either way this organization is flawed in their thinking. Considering Baker's aggressive approach, won't Furcal and Pierre love the fact that they will have the ability to now become free swingers just like all the other Cubs who have been assembled here in the past by this management? What will happen to Furcal and Pierre's OBP's when that happens? Have we thought of that? Just because we now have speedy lead off hitters like Baker wants doesn't mean that Baker will all of a sudden fall in love with the walk over an aggressive swing at everything approach. Walker was selective at the plate and Baker had him hitting 6th just about as often as 2nd. Walker never did lead off this year, and I can distinctly remember 2 other organizations who DID use him as a lead off hitter. The Cubs sent the wrong message this offseason in not firing Baker. They sent the wrong message when they decided that Neifi Perez and his sub .300 OBP was worth retaining at nearly double the price AND double the years. The Cubs were in the Beltran sweepstakes last year. They said early that they were interested and you constantly heard reports that they'd love to have him. I hear nothing about the Cubs and Giles this offseason. I hear all kinds of Furcal and Pierre rumors. They aren't playing their cards too closely to the vest on these guys. Where is the Giles interest? If the Cubs want to win next year, they can't be marginally better. They need to be MUCH better. They have the resources to do it. I do not want to hear at the end of this offseason that the guys they wanted weren't available or they were too expensive or any other excuse. They had 40m to spend this offseason, umpteen Rule 5 guys who can be unloaded along with talent at the major league level available in trade, and guys available in free agency who can help this team. There will not be any excuses that will satisfy me if they end up with a less than stellar offseason. Hendry doesn't make out the line-up card. And contrary to popular belief, Baker hasn't done enough to get fired. And as far as your theory about Pierre and Furcal's OBP's dropping because of Baker... Can you explain Lee, Ramirez, Murton, Walker, and Barrett? Because their OBP's either stayed at their career norms or got better last year. They must have just been tuning Baker out when he told them to just hack away. Maybe you don't agree with most here but I can give you several reasons why Baker has done enough to get fired and any other organization would have fired him by now, no question. Even in 2004 with a nice looking lineup on paper we had holes on the team, and what was troubling about that more than anything Hendry didn't make the right trade to get us into the post-season and that is trade for a closer. Hawkins and the lack of offense killed us at the very end.

If AGon and Perez are our IF for 2006 its going to be a very long season. One I will not watch.

Bradley.

This is not good new for teams wanting to sign Giles.

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive. I love how you don't even consider Furcal a difference maker. I'm sure there are some people in Atlanta that might disagree with you. On this Cubs team, Furcal alone won't be a difference maker. I think that is what Goony has been trying to say. If the Cubs sign Furcal but miss out on a Giles-like upgrade in RF, the Cubs won't have any better of a shot at making the playoffs than they did this season. That's absurd. Furcal is much much MUCH better than Neifi, who was the primary shortstop next year. You're essentially saying that if we don't sign Giles, or someone of similar production for RF, then we wont have a chance to make the playoffs? That's nowhere near the truth. EDIT: I see this has already been covered. The Cubs can win w/ someone like Craig Monroe in RF, if Prior and Wood stay healthy for a change. Furcal and Pierre would make a big difference at the top of the order. It beats the heck outta Patterson & Neifi... I personally think even with Prior and Wood healthy if we do no tupgrade our offense we are done for. How many time could we not score enough runs even when our pitchers had a gem of a game? No thank you..I'm not relying on injury prone pitchers this year. We need an upgrade on offense no question.

I have to disagree. By putting Furcal and Pierre into the 1-2 spots in the lineup, you've solidified the top and allow Cedeno and Murton to hit at the bottom of the lineup where there is less pressure. In my opinion, a large part of Corey's huge decline this year stems from the fact that Baker tried to make him into a leadoff hitter, which he never was and never will be. Don't you think if we had a legitimate leadoff hitter last year, Patterson would have been more successful hitting 6th or 7th? They had a legit leadoff hitter last year, but Dusty refused to hit him leadoff. Hey, if you go Furcal, Pierre, Lee, Giles, Ramirez, that's great. But RF was a black hole last year (ranked 15th in the NL in OPS) and the 4th/5th spot cannot go to another Burnitz like hitter. I do agree with you that we need a difference maker out in RF.

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive. I'm for that idea too, who do you have in mind?

And since they paid Maddux $9m they should pay Zambrano $18m? Salaries matter. There is a budget. The more they spend for lesser talent, the less they'll have for greater talent. Well, that concept was thrown out the window when we signed Perez and Rusch to the ridiculous contracts.

I guess the money is all relative. Renteria makes 10mil per year and we used to pay AGone 6mil per year. I think 8mil would be nice and I'm hoping we don't give him 10mil but whatever, if we give Perez 6mil for 2 years why not give Furcal 9mil.

If he even makes it come opening day.

It's about time they are approaching it with the right attitude. Too bad they didn't realize that last year.

Wow, that's pretty strict. I like it.

For what it's worth I would rather have Furcal over Renteria but 10mil per scares me.

I'm with you on this one. Damn, I hate the drama! Too abd we can't fast forward time :lol:

After the TO debacle it has to be Rosenhaus.

Levine on right now and Cubs and Marlins haven't talked in 3 days. Marlins are unsure on what direction they want to go with because of the lack of funds and possible selling of the team. Levine denying the trade was almost done.

I personally do not see how Pierre would affect Pie. First off Pie is still very young and currently is not ready to come to the majors. If anything, getting a new CF would be a good thing because we won't have to rush Pie like we did Corey, although in the minors or not you still have to make adjustments so I question bringing players early could ruin them. I digress. If Pie can also improve upon his power numbers I'm thinking at the very least he could end up in the corner spot if necessary.

I dont mind having Pierre or Furcal but I IMO I dont want to see both here. If they both come here chances are Cedeno will be at 2nd and we will be lacking power. I think having 1 of the 2 would be good enough.

Isn't Pie 19 or 20? Besides I'm at a point that I don't care about the prospects anymore I just want to win a damn WS no matter what cost.

I like MacDougal personally. He can be a good pitcher for the 7th or 8th inning for us. I woudl hate to see Walker go but at this point it looks like he is gone regardless so I woudl do this trade.