Jim,

you sound so much like me. I mean, I could write a book about how to run the Cubs---sort of a "Moneyball" type of book, which curiously most of baseball shunned---hmmmmmm, curious, given the fact the A's are always in contention year after year. Billy Beane goes off of statistics--OBP, ERA, walks, etc.

Now, I hear that Piniella loves to play off hunches...now who else does that remind you of? Yep, in Dusty we Trusty, right? Only his hunches turned out to be perpetual hunches---you know, like finding a way to get Neifi Perez in the lineup everyday, or Novoa in the game in crucial situations time after time, or finding a way to keep an ineffective Rusch on the team in any given capacity. I sure hope Piniella's idea of hunches is making decisions that have a high likelihood of success. His Mariners won 116 wins to tie the Cubs record set in '06, and I don't think there's any reason to think the Cubs couldn't dominate the way his team did back then. The Cubs have way more talent than the '01 Mariners. The Mariners didn't have a single starter that had an OBP under .300, and they also had 3 starters with over 200 innings. OBP and starters pitching deep into games has been a problem the last few years for the Cubs, and something they must address right now. Murton, Lee, Barrett, and Theriot are the only guys you can count on to persistently reach base, and Zambrano is the only starter that you can depend on to even come close to 200 innings.

Cubs would never sign him. He is tainted, whether or not he did use.

I am going to be really pissed if they don't sign Aramis. He is 27 and wants a six year deal for probaly $90 Mill. Thats $15 a year. Not much of a raise, in baseball terms, for a All-star. Just give it to him. If he wants more than that tell him to f*#k off. I can't believe what a greedy ass this guy is. Maybe he is a problem in the clubhouse because he is a prima donna, who knows.

Just venting.... the cubs make it really hard to be a cubs fan sometimes.

I have to agree with you on that one Jim. We gave up Pinto and Nolasco for Pierre AND might lose ARAM for nothing, when we could've received top notch prospects for him at the deadline---granted that would've been a PR nightmare given the fact he's been our only legit 3b since Santo, but imagine losing him to free agency.

My guess is that the Cubs had to include the "out" clause in the contract to even get it done in the first place, and they probably figured he'd never want to leave. Are we that dumb? Who in their right mind asks for an "out" clause if they're planning to stay? Given that knowledge, Hendry should be fired for not trading him at the deadline, and not finding someone to take over for Lee when he got hurt. How long did it take to get Nevin? Exactly, good GM's, Cashman, Jocketty---if someone big goes down, they do everything in their power to get someone in to replace them, then they when the injured player returns, they attempt a platoon situation, or they trade him away for prospects, and usually get a good return on their investment.

I mean, c'mon, the other year, there was Larry Walker floating around and the Cards picked him up for practically nothing while Hendry sat around picking his nose, and look what Walker did for the Cards that year----he was amazing----and the Cubs needed him---he with a career .400 OBP. The Cubs could've won it in 2004 if they had the smarts to make shrewd moves like that, but they didn't. Now we watch this year as a very capable starting pitcher--Jeff Weaver gets released by the Angels, and the Cubs do nothing when they really needed someone in that rotation. If Rothschild is as good as the Cubs claim he is, then why can't he resurrect a guy's career like Dave Duncan has for Weaver?

Sound like I'm pissed off? Yeah, I am. I'm so mad at the Cubs right now, it's like if they don't win next year, I'm through with them until the Tribune sells, Mark Cuban buys, and blows up the entire management structure of the Cubs---and definitely fires Hendry. Hendry belongs in scouting---in player development, where he did a phenomenal job for the Cubs---but definitely not as GM. After he left the player development role, the Cubs minor league system went down the tubes.

I think if the Cubs sign one of the highly touted Japanese pitchers, and sign Zito, Schmidt, Armas, Eaton, Weaver, or Lilly, and definitely drop Novoa out of the bullpen---they'll already be on their way...but if they lose ARAM, and don't pick up 2 or more big bats to replace it ie.-Carlos Lee, AROD, or Soriano, you can kiss the season goodbye.

I know this idea might be universally reviled, but I just read this morning about a certain Mr. Bonds that is going to file for free agency.

Just something to think about. Despite the fact that he is well on the decline --- Can anyone doubt his ability to impact a teams offense -- with his walks and whatever power he has left. Yes, he is now a major defensive liability, but I think it might be worth considering if he has even a minor rebound from last years numbers...

a 35HR 100 RBI 100BB, ~.450 OBP type season would be hard to get from any other free agent. If he bats cleanup behind D.Lee, people would have to pitch to Lee.

Larry:

Nicely put. I haven't heard Teixeira's name surface. If the Cubs could get him without giving up too much that would soften the blow. I would prefer them to Re-sign Ramirez. I am beginning to think that Pierre and Ramirez are both going to leave creating even more holes to fill.

An article out of the Chicago Daily Herald today says that the Cubs aren't even close to a deal with Ramirez, who wants at least 6 years and more money than is used to run most small countries. We all know that the Cubs have the money to get this thing done, but does anyone else see this as a ploy from him to sign with the Dodgers or the Angels with a clear conscious? I know that he says he wants to stay, but if that were true, than he should agree to negotiate for a new deal without the threat of exercising his option.

The Cubs have said that they have several other plans in mind if they don't re-sign him. What in the world are they? Moore isn't ready to be an everyday player, although he may be a good one. Rumors have been floated about bringing in Blalock, but he is going to cost us some starting pitching, and right now we don't have it. (Personally if we are going to go after someone of the Rangers roster, I would rather it be Michael Young, he is a better hitter, or Mark Teixeira, who could return to his natural position of 3rd.)

Considering the Cubs need power hitters, letting Ramirez walk away, especially for nothing, would be a horrible start to the off-season, for a team that is trying to get the world to believe that they are legitimate contenders.

A few thoughts....

* Last year was much, much bitter than this year.

No parades downtown were I work, no non-stop sox coverage. By Monday, we won't hear about the Cardinals until Spring Training.

* Can't say the Tigers ran out of steam. They took out the Yankees in 4, then they swept Oakland. Then they had a week off to heal up Casey and Zumaya.

* Why could't pudge have sucked like that in 2003?