I'm posting this strictly for discussion, and I'm hoping someone will help with the research on this.  It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately with the economy as bad as it is right now.  I was hoping we could look at baseball salaries and how much they have increased over the past 15 years and what the projections are for the next 5-10 years.

Before I get started, let me say this is not an attempt to say that anyone deserves more or less money, though I may use some hypothetical examples. 

There is a lot of talk about Soriano's contract being worth way too much and way too long.  My question is, how much will it actually be worth towards the end of it?  The AL could be paying 16M for a DH by then, and then we have a great trade!  Or, we could be stuck with a guy who can't run and strikes out a lot (Sammy Sosa?). 

I remember a few years ago when we failed to sign Carlos Beltran, and the newspapers were outraged that he left 15M on the table.  That seems like the starting block for most "stars" now. 

So, does anyone want to figure out any of the salary stats and how much inflation has gone on in baseball?  When you watch the games, you hear a lot about how the smaller market teams "only spent this much" as opposed to the bigger market teams such as NY and Chicago.  I'm guessing that 150M will be common for most of the teams in the very near future.

Again, this was in no way to say we need to spend more or that's how you win.  I think it's a mixture of everything, I'm just hoping someone will help with the research.  Thanks!

I remember when Shaquille O'Neil stole the ball from Scottie Pippen to seal the Bulls fate in the playoffs of 1995.  The Bulls hadn't won a championship in (gasp) 2 years, and this was the year we were going to do it again!  Michael came back midway through, and they were playing tough again....but O'Neil and Penny Hardaway put those thoughts to rest.

Then 1996 came and it was nothing like the sports world had seen before.  In a little over 6 months, the Bulls won 72 out of 82 games.  Unbelievable.  This wasn't a team that you sat on the edge of your seat for.  No, you sat back and just enjoyed the ride.  Then came the playoffs where they stuck it to everyone.  Then they held up the trophy after game 6 of the NBA Finals.  I still get excited about that one.

I think that's how the Cubs need to approach next season.  Instead of the whole "it's a marathon not a race" philosophy, they need to come out and play every game like it's game 7 of the World Series (or in our case, game one of the NLDS).

The talent is in place, they are just missing the killer attitude.  This years team won 97 games, but I'm sure we all can agree that we never trusted the lead in every game.  Many times there were threads about how "I knew they were going to win" after they were down.  Next year, put them out in the beginning.

It starts now....

My girlfriend and I met right after the crapfest called the 2006 baseball season.  She moved to Champaign to get a job, and we met at our place of work.  A few days later, the Cubs hired Lou Pinella.  We started dating soon after that, and I talked a little about the deals the Cubs were making and my optimism.

We became exclusive the day after the Big Z/Barrett fight.

We moved in with each other the day the Cubs overtook the Brewers for first place (still in 07 folks).

I told her that night I was going to propose if the Cubs won the World Series.  I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of thankful I didn't have to buy a ring.

Well, the Cubs were dominant this year, and our relationship has come a long way as well.  I'm finally ready to take that final plunge.

I've always considered her my good luck charm, and I hope this purchase is a good omen for me and the Cubs.

P.S.  I'm waiting to propose until after we win the WS, but if we lose, I'm still doing it...though I might wait a few weeks until I'm in a better mood.

Well, my girlfriend and I will be celebrating the 1 year anniversary of our first date tomorrow.  The Cubs were 27-32, but they were about to break out.  We moved fast, and I moved in to her place unofficially on August 1st, the day we took over first place.

She's never known the Cubs as losers.  She's always surprised when I get upset when they go downhill, though since she's been studying them, she's getting a grasp of our reality.

Well, she left a few days ago to go to Ireland....as a matter of fact, she left the day our 9 game winning streak was snapped.  They've gone 1-3 since she left.  I'm blaming her, and the stupid choir that she's singing with!

She's not due back until next Sunday, and I'm hoping I can get some people to sign a petition that says she's not allowed to go on vacation during Cubs games anymore.  Here's that petition. 

P.S.  If we win the World Series this fall, I'm propsing....and she'll say no, and tell me to wait until next year!

EDIT:  I want to add that this is a joke.  I did this because I miss her, and I thought it would be a funny way to show it.  In no way do I seriously believe that her living with me have anything to do with the Cubs winning....unless we win the WS.

With the team sucking lately, including some atrocious individual performances, we all knew the trade talk would begin sooner than later.  I thougth I'd throw some things out there before it go out of hand and Paul Sullivan started looking at this site for his latest rumors (just kidding).

First of all, there will be no significant trades made this early in the season.  Why?  No one is out of it yet.  Take a look at the standings right now, the only team more than 9 game sout of their respected division is San Diego, and they're not talking trades with anyone yet.  We were 9 games back in June last year, and we won the division.  What would we be saying if we had traded our superstars in May?  It just doesn't happen.  If there is a trade, it's generally a bench warmer for a prospect. 

Next, when the deadline does approach, you have to realize we won't be unloading any contracts.  Teams that are out of it unload contracts.  I doubt that we are able to unload a contract on someone unless they are still in contention this year (ie. giving Marquis to a team that needs a number 5)  A team that is going to have anything that can help us isn't going to want the added 9 mil in salary and 10 losses that come with it.  They are going to want prospects that can help them in 2 or 3 seasons.  (Think Pittsburgh picking up Matt Morris)

The next thing you will have to realize is Hendry learned from the Juan Pierre trade.  So, he isn't going to trade Cedeno, Pie, Hill, Gallagher, Marshall, Patterson, Veal, and Murton to someone like Baltimore for a player that might not be here that long.  You also have to remember we need guys on the bench to help us and in reserves in case someon goes down with an injury.  (Think Juan Pierre)

Finally, remember that there could be a few trades made in July that open up moves for us.  So don't get to anxious because Hendry hasn't made a move by July 15th, and everyone else has.

I know we aren't playing that well right now, but we started the year off great, and as Lou said last year and this year, we're a team that gets hot when the wather gets hot.  So I'm looking for a red hot summer! 

And, my last trade tidbit is.......we will not be trading Soriano for at least 5 more seasons, and when we do, it will be to an AL team that needs a DH and can give us a middle reliever.

Feel free to add any other prerequisites for trades, but please do not throw out trade scenarios!