Hello to my fellow Cubs fans.  It has been awhile since i've made a post here on BCB, so I apologize if this matter/situation has already been discussed.  So, what about Felipe Lopez?  I haven't heard too much about him since he fired Scott Boras.  Yes I know the Cubs are mainly looking at finding another right handed reliever, but I don't tihnk that Theriot and Fukudome are leadoff hitters.  Lopez had a .383 on base percentage ( I believe mainly if not all in the leadoff role last year).  Hes also a switch hitter and is descent with the glove.  I think Hendry shoudl at least inquire about Lopez and see what he could do.  It would be a surprise move that can benefit the team in a great way.  This would leave Fontenot as either a role player or a trade piece, and Baker to still assume utility roles.

Me and my buddy from high school are going to Wednesday's 1:20 game against the Rockies.  We're gonna try to get there so we can sit front row in the bleachers right behind Soriano.  I hope Milton only needs a day or two off so hes back in the lineup and hopefully Fukudome's hot bat continues to light up teams in Chicago.  I'm excited to see Harden pitch his second game of the year, i'm looking forward to seeing him strikeout at least 10.  Anyone else going to be there?

Not too sure if this has been discussed at all so i'm gonna put it out there...

If Kosuke Fukudome doesn't show improvement next year in the spring, or beginning of the season, I think Hoffpauir should be slated as the starter in right field.

He showed this year he can play some outfield, while he may not be the best defensive option out there, he can provide some more pop in the lineup with a left handed at bat.

I know minor league stats don't mean much (look at Felix Pie) but hes shown potential at both levels ( remember I believe it was a 4 for 5 or 5 for 5 game against the mets in which he had i believe 2 home runs and a double or two)?

Also bring edmonds back, but give pie one more chance in centerfield, move soriano to the 3rd spot, lee in the 5th or even 6th spot.

I know its wayyyyyy to early but...

Pie

Theriot

Soriano

Ramirez

Lee/Soto

Soto/Lee

DeRosa

Hoffpauir

My friend and I, who I should add is a big Twins fan, were talking today about the situations of both the Cubs and the Twins.  He said to me that the Twins are looking to get rid of Joe Nathan in an effort to resign Johan Santana and make Pat Neshek their closer.  He said to me that he read or heard soemthing that listed the Cubs as possible suitors for Nathan.  And it would make sense.  The Cubs should be buyers, trying to solidify their bullpen.  Forget the garbage about Wood coming back being better than any trade because we all know that we cannot rely on him.  Nathan is a very quality pitcher that will be at the back end of the pen.  Just a normal conversation wondering waht all your thoughts were.. gotta head out to work..have at it

Just think about the ways the Cubs can improve if Cuban bought the Cubs.  He will have Zambrano resigned.  We will still have Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez.  He will supply us with the resources we need to make sure we do have a championship team.

My friend and I were just talking about it while we were watching the game today and we might have taken it a little out of hand but with alex rodriguez expected to opt out of his contract, he could be a cub.  I'm not saying this is too realistic but it COULD happen with Mark Cuban as the owner of the Cubs. I could just picture next year's line up

LF Soriano
CF Pie
1B Lee
SS Rodriguez
3B Ramirez

fill in the rest with Derosa, Theriot, Fontenot, Eric Patterson, Soto, Pagan, Murton, maybe even Tyler Colvin will be ready to man right field

Marmol I believe should be the closer and the pitching staff will be strong once again with a couple moves here or there..mainly to the bullpen

The "Cuban Cubs" would very much be a World Series winning franchise for years to come

Hey guys I was wondering if any of you could help me out.  Before the game in which Sammy hit his 600th homer off of Jason Marquis, they played a tribute video of Sosa.  This video featured the song by R. Kelly, "The World's Greatest".  Len mentioned before the video played that it was just simply a video of Sammy as a Chicago Cub.  I was wondering if any of you out there know where I would be able to view it on the internet, or any other type of tribute video to Sammy Sosa.

I think earlier in the year actually before we let Patterson go to the Orioles..that I made a pretty bold prediction on what Corey Patterson would do this year.  which was this

ok now that hes gonna be leaving
patterson will hit .286 with 26 HR and 89 RBI with an OBP of .342

ok im not saying hes going to hit 26 HR along with 89 rbi's this year..but he is doing a hell of a lot better than he was with the cubs..his statline as of now looks like this

.306 5 HR 18 RBI 23 R 15 SB .358 OBP

it is..my opinion..that this is just the cubs luck..now patterson is no lou brock..but we sure cyould use that kind of production right now

Everyone knows how Kerry Wood has been injury prone pretty much his whole career..and many of us here at BCB dont think hes worth it.

Greg Maddux is getting older..and this is I believe his 3rd year with the cubs since rejoining with the club..which is also an option year if im not mistaken.

Both of these guys have a pretty hefty salary for 2006.  With Wood's at about $9.5M and Maddux at around $9M.  

I was just thinking about this, what is the chance..the Cubs DO NOT resign either of these guys, and take a chance at Barry Zito...considering he is not resigned or traded and signed by the end of the year?..Just wondering what everyone elses thoughts were on this.

He won the minor league player of the year in the first year of his career.  At Peoria he hit .333 and 50 extra base hits with 71 rbi's in 110 games.  He also stole 40 bases.  

Al, do you know where Patterson will start playing next year?..at AA or AAA?.. and how soon before you think he gets a call up to the majors..i know we dont want him to be rushed and turn out like his brother..but eric shows more promise..maybe he can get a little taste when the september call ups roll around..depending on the cubs' playoff contention.

Our favorite site has posted a new article stating the cubs are still very much alive in acquiring zito, and that the Tejada trade is not dead.  Seems that the A's like the Cubs farm system and are looking not to get matt murton, but a couple of y9oug pitchers.  Take a  look for yourself.  

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

I was looking around on ESPN.com of course on the MLB section, and there was an insider story that said Nats want pitching for Soriano.  Are they trying to get rid of him now?..they just got him.  I'm not subscribed to the insider so I dont get to read any info on it..but maybe someone out there does and can help us all out.  This could be just another rumor for us to get our hopes up...but i doubt it

Everyone out there seems to think we need a shortstop, and that Ronny Cedeno cant handle the job being a rookie, I agree and disagree.  He kind of proved himself with the 80 at bats that he had but, if I had the choice, would move him to 2nd base because he doesnt seem to have a very strong arm for the long hole throws at Short stop.

One guy nobody here has really mentioned, that turned down arbitration, is Rich Aurilia.  Rich is not a guy who strikes out a lot, he has some pop in his bat, has above average defense, can play all infield positions, can hit in the number 2-7 spots.  

There are two reasons I oppose to the idea of Aurilia.  He is aging and is currently 34, so is way past his prime, but he can still put up decent numbers.  The second reason, is because he hasn't been too healthy, but with his age that could work out for the Cubs, give Rich a day of here or there and let Cedeno play short, and whoever else we have at 2B.  

There have been no reports or anything that the Cubs are interested, this is just pure speculation and just another idea we can ponder on and especially for everyone else but me..to get over the Jacque Jones signing..

Going into the 2005 season, the white sox had a #1/2 starter in Buehrle, #2/3 starter in Garcia, #3 starter in Contreras, and 2 #5 starters in Garland and Hernandez, and they had a solid bullpen...

its not like we cant generate enough power in our lineup from the likes of Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, followed by Walker who could easily hit 10-13 HR before the all star break, Murton who hit 7 in i believe 51 games last year..so maybe about 20-25 from him..we dont need to be a POWER hitting team, we just need to get the clutch from the whole lineup..thats how the white sox did it..they didnt have a hitter hit over .300..and 2 HR threats..like the cubs do..with a solid leadoff..(podsednik, pierre), clutch 2nd hitter(iguchi, walker/murton) and speed at the bottom(Uribe, patterson) uribe only hit 252..and i think patterson can do much better then that next season

Our bullpen is solid thanks to the additions of Eyre and Howry.  Some people tend to forget players improve just because Corey Patterson hasnt yet.  So people get down on Wuertz and Novoa becuase they had a bad year, and novoa being his rookie year..look at someone like Tom Gordon...and his first couple seasons, yes he was a starter but it just took him some time because he IMPROVED

and sort of like the white sox..but ours seems better..the rotation

we have TWO #1 starters in Zambrano and Prior..we have a potential #1 starter..but has dropped in value to #2/3 in Kerry Wood IF HEALTHY..#4 starter in Maddux and 2 #5 starters in Rusch and Williams..who I might add is only just turned 24 years old, and was rushed into a starting role at the age of 22 but did have a solid rookie season..

I dont see why everyone gets so down on our current team, yes we could still use improvements..but who couldnt..all im sayin is i think we can win a world series with the team we have now

I was just watchin Fox news, and they reported on the Javier Vasquez trade, stating that this potentially gives the White Sox 6 starting pitchers with McCarthy.  I dont remember the guys name, but he said another trade could be in the mix, to get Miguel Tejada, but you never know with Kenny Williams.  I'm sure this is all speculation but this is what I heard on the news.  I dont see this happening, for one they have Uribe, who is a legitament SS, but Tejada is a big upgrade and they do have the players to do it..Buehrle, Contreras..McCarthy even?..

Tejada said to a CSN reporter,"I never said I wanted to be traded," "I said I want to see a better team. I don't want to keep losing like we have the past two years."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051211&content_id=1280589&vkey=hotstove 2005&fext=.jsp

looks like we can just keep hoping

This is what I think the Cubs should do:

3 way team trade with the Orioles and A's:

Cubs get:
Tejada
Zito

Orioles get:
Cedeno
prospects from Oakland
Patterson

A's get:
Wood
Pie
prospects from Baltimore

If only the world was perfect..this is how I would work it out..

And then...trade Ryan Harvey, Rich Hill, Hairston, and a PTBNL for Bobby Abreu or possibly Manny?

Rumors are spreading that the Cubs are talking to the Reds about Austin Kearns.  It is believed to include Sergio Mitre or Jerome Williams for Austin Kearns.  I dont know about Kearns, hes been injured.  He struck out 107 times in 387 at bats last year in 112 games.  Almost once a game. While he hit 18 HR with RBI's with a .240 avg. .333 OBP and .452 slg.  Maybe its just the fact that I dont like the guy but I myself would rather see Patterson in right that Kearns, but thats just me and I know nobody here would agree with me on that.

I seen a rumor that the Cubs are eyeing Milton Bradley.  I dont think this is a good idea, considering Bradley's attitude problems.  Yes, he is a good offensive player and can produce more than Juan Pierre, except in the stolen base department, but the cubs clubhouse would be affected too much by his attitude.  This rumor did say this was a backup plan just in case Florida pulls out of the deal at the last second, or if Texas comes in to make a grab at Pierre. And it stated that Bradley could be acquired for next to nothing.  What do all of you guys think?

Look at this link ,....http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2005/11/juan_pierre_to__2.html

according to this..Pierre was sent to the Cubs for Reynel Pinto and 2 other unknown prospects.

And if Hendry is still pursuing Furcal, just imagine the Cubs lineup in '06 with a strong bullpenn with the additions of Eyre and Howry:

CF Pierrce
SS Furcal
1b Lee
3b Ramirez

then u have the next 4 who could mix up in any combination with Murton, Walker(if still a Cub), Cedeno, Barrett, Pie, Hairston and Perez.

I'm really looking forward to the start of 06