Jeff- right on about ARAM let him go byebye.. Bring back Nomar to play 3rd. He's using US right now trying to pick up a few more dollars for his bank account. Free up his contract so we can target our main focus on Soriano & some pitching.

Any news out there who else we're targeting to lead off & play center other then Matthews,Pierre, & Roberts?? That's if we can't sign Soriano.

Aaron, seen it, Steve two sides to every story. Go Cubs.

Preach on Steve...Jeff shouldn't have said that. Everyone's with you on this anyway....Oh, and for reference Jeff, why don't you watch "Wait 'til Next Year: The Saga of the Chicago Cubs" on HBO...that'll put these shannanigans to rest. I think nearly 100 years is long enough, and you'd be a zombie and not a true fan if you were content with the way things are/were. So preach on Steve, I'm right there with you.

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff (in AZ) apparently you took what I typed WAY too seriously. Simply put, its the off-season, now is the time to come up with theories, dream trades, free agent signings, take your jabs at management/ownership and so on. If you had been a regular visitor of the site for the last year you would have noticed that there were plenty of shots at Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker and the players and everyone else in the Cubs organization. When things go wrong, the blame always works itself up to the top. After a 96 loss season and watching my two most hated teams win it all in back-to-back seasons, I think I have the right to be upset.

That being said don't be a fool by believing that the exec's at the Trib don’t have a say as to who’s a part of this team. Let’s not “ignore the man behind the curtain” here. Do you remember the Sammy Sosa era? Then, being an expert in the business of baseball, you would have realized that the main reason we had so many bad teams during that stretch was because the Tribune, not the GM, decided that as long as Sosa was in right field they didn't have to spend too much money on the rest of the team. They would find a few decent role players and mix in a few has been's and a couple never will be's. They’d do just enough to give us hope. I will give them credit for opening up their wallet the last 4-5 years though and ending the Sammy Sosa-economics. At least recently they have spent some money and tried to field a contender.

The fact of the matter is that I'm well aware of how the business of baseball works. The line up I posted was a dream off-season and what I would like to see if everything went my way.

Let's face the facts though, we are just over a month past a disastrous season, and until any moves have been made there's nothing to be optimistic about YET. You call yourself realistic, but how realistic is it to be optimistic when the only thing that's happened is two of your best players have filed for free agency? Come January or February I'll have a large pitcher of the Cubbie Kool-Aid by my side and be ready for a Chicago Cubs World Series championship, as I am every year. Now it's November and yes I'm still bitter as can be after watching every single game of this miserable season. I am a Cubbie-Blue blooded American who lives and dies with every pitch of every season and I wouldn't be much of a fan if I was happy with the outcome of last season. The only thing I ask is that you know what you're talking about before you make accusations about me not being a fan.

And one more thing..... let ARAM go, 15-20 million a year is too much for a guy who does not run out ground balls, did nothing while Lee was out, and finally learned to play defense in a contract year. I think Hendry is playing this right, ARAM is Sosa with a little less pop. I'd talk Nomar any day at 3rd. The money needs and will be spent on pitching, which is what wins ball games.

I bleed cubbie blue like the rest of you. I was born and raised a red line away from Wrigley, and I agree that things have not been right for a long time. Just blame the right people. The Cubs had a 105 million dollar payroll last year, not to shabby. It's Hendry and Baker that were the problem, not the Tribsters, and part of the equation has been fixed (insert Pinella here) 105 million dollars is more than enough to bring a world series, just ask the Marlins. My point to the earlier post was that if something bothers you that much, and makes you that bitter, than maybe you need to find something else, because ultimately it is a GAME, and one I have enjoyed since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I'm a Cub fan like all of you, I screamed at Gonzalez not Bartman, I thought Jerome Walton was the next coming of Christ, and I hate Steve Garvey and that damn black cat. So no, I'm not a "zombie", I'm a fan, and as far as people bitching about the management on this site, what are you doing that the rest of us who choose to be optimistic aren't doing? I see problems and holes in the lineup just like all of you, but lets trust Hendry and Pinella to fix the problem, and if your pissed at the Tribune or you hate Jim Hendry, than don't stick around, no one is making you. AS far as hating the management and not the team, impossible, the team is made up of both, the money comes from the owner (115 million dollars in 2007), the players are signed by the GM, they are inserted into the line-up by the manager, and the players are responsible for performing. You can't just like the bean and not the whole burrito. Give the Cubs a chance this year before you start complaining, and as far as half of the arm chair GM's on this site, you are unrealistic and do not understand the businees aspect of baseball. What help does it do to put together a rotation that includes Zito and Schmidt, and an outfield of Carlos Lee, Juan Pierre, and Alfonso Soriano, all that does is give yourself false expectations, and anything the Cubs do will not be enough. I'm not stupid, I'm realistic and know enough about the game that signing every free agent on the market isn't going to win you a series. So go on continue to bash the Tribsters, if they spent 150 million, you'd want 200 million, but its not the money that wins games, its the players.

hey, count me in too....but does it worry anyone that the Trib just received a bid to buy them out from some billionaires in California? What happens if that goes through----then we're in a state of flux, and they'll probably freeze all spending like they normally do in these transactions....hey, maybe this is a ploy by the Angels to freeze our assets so we can't resign ARAM? ha ha...of course, being a Cub fan, I'm a conspiracy/curse/theory person

hey, count me in too....but does it worry anyone that the Trib just received a bid to buy them out from some billionaires in California? What happens if that goes through----then we're in a state of flux, and they'll probably freeze all spending like they normally do in these transactions....hey, maybe this is a ploy by the Angels to freeze our assets so we can't resign ARAM? ha ha...of course, being a Cub fan, I'm a conspiracy/curse/theory person

Aaron,

Thanks for the praises and trust me when I say this that the pitching rotation I typed up is nowhere near what we need or who I want. I just wrote on who have in-house as of right now before FA & trading.

If I was JH, keep Zambrano as our ACE of course. Bring in Schmidt # 2, Hill # 3, maybe Adam Eaton/Ted Lilly?? i dunno # 4 or if healthy( I've got my fingers & toes crossed when I typed this) Prior, and either Marmol/Mashall/Miller # 5. I'm sorry but Zito NOOO too much money. Weaver-got lucky and Suppan NOOO as well.

I've heard Giles is going to S.D as well and I'm fine with that I just didnt know another 2B FA out there and THE-RIOT will be an outstanding ballplayer if given the chance. I just have that gut feeling ole LOU won't give him a chance just yet.

Carlos Lee, where do I start? I love his #'s and his bat but I'm pretty sure he'll stay in the Texas state, proly with the Rangers. Put him at DH and let him hack away.

Sheffield & Floyd: Who knows about them 2, I'd rather take Floyd but it might me a JJ all over again who knows? Rumors I've heard that Sheff would prefer to play in Detroit and re-unite with Leyland.

I just can't personally wait until next week. My boss better understand that work comes 2nd. If the TRIB needs to borrow some funds to pick up Soriano, give me a call I can put at least $10.00 for the cause!!!!

Jeff,

you must be dillusional to think the Cubs could get Manny. I know it'd only take a Marshall, Guzman, or Marmol, and a position prospect, or Izturis (I really hope he's traded), but I don't see him wanting to come here, and he's really difficult to please it seems. As for your rotation...Putting Prior at #2 is a joke. He can't even be counted on for #5. Anything we get out of him is a plus, but I just don't see him starting the year in the rotation---maybe yet another beginning of the year DL stint. However, I do think your rotation is pretty realistic. As for the Giles thing. You must be kidding yourself there as well. The Padres have his brother, and they just traded away Josh Barfield---a rookie with great talent that he showcased this year. My guess, is it was only a ploy to open a spot for Giles at second, and get an insurance policy in that 2b prospect they received in return.

I love your lineup though...But I think inserting Floyd in for Manny, and leaving Sheffield in right would be more realistic. I totally agree with your assessment of Soriano too. I'd really like to have Carlos Lee, and I'm hoping the Cubs can snag him from a Texas team, but who knows. Check out his career stats, and they're superior to Soriano's and Lee even steals about 18 bases a year, so you're not losing much there, plus his OBP is way better, and that's what the Cubs need the most this year---well, they've always needed it, right?

I'm just praying the Cubs have a shot at any of the three Japanese players: Matsuzaka, Igawa, Iwamura, because I think they'll be great additions to the team. What if we could pull a coup and get all three of them...insert the third baseman Iwamura at second, or see if he can handle third, and you instantly have a very credible team. I think Matsuzaka is the real deal. Think Mark Prior before injuries, but with far better stuff.

I've been reading reports from different internet sites talking about the Red Sox wanting to unload Manny for not much. Now I know he's not the greatest defender and he doesn't hustle just like a certain 3B we have, but why isn't there talks about the Cubs trading for him. Especially if we keep ARAM, Manny would fit quite nicely behind Dlee and infront of ARAM.

1) Matthews Jr.

2) Theriot/Marcus Giles

3) Lee

4) Manny

5) A-ram

6) Sheffield or Floyd

7) Barrett

8) SS whoever it is

I know everyone wants the CUBS to pick up Soriano, and so do I but I have a feeling that the Mets or Phillies will snatch him away first.

Pitching is another story of its own.

1) Zambrano

2) Prior

3) Hill

4) Miller

5) Marshall

I'm truly hoping that is not our starting 5 at the beginning of the year. We need pitching and we need to add at least 2 proven starters.

Aaron, I totally agree with you on Pagan. I think he will be a great player. He reminds me of Beltran. Good fielder, has good speed an dhe can hit wioth power. He could be an everyday outfielder.

Steve...wholeheartedly agree with you man, and I've been a Cubs fan since the day I was born, and the first thing I recognized was the letter "C" on the cap, and it's been with me ever since.

Jeff, are you nuts? Steve's a Cubs fan alright...give the guy a break. I have two words for you "100 years"...alright, it's embarrassing...really embarrassing to watch our two biggest rivals---Sox and Cards win the last 2 years, and both the Red Sox and White Sox--win after really long championship droughts, while we sit around and do nothing.

Every Cubs fan has a right to be pissed. We want to see a winner. The ones like you, Jeff, are like zombies, sitting around, watching every game, and paying the ever increasing ticket prices without blinking. Look, Steve and I care---along with a lot of other pissed off Cubs fans. And by the way, you can love a team, but hate the management, and that's the picture that bI'm getting from a lot of Cubs fans....believe me, I used to live in Wrigleyville.

Here's what I think should and probably will happen:

c-Barrett

1b-D Lee

2b-Theriot/Iwamura

ss-Izturis (unfortunately, his offense reminds me of Neifi)

3b-Ramirez

lf-Cliff Floyd

cf-Matthews Jr.

rf-Soriano

bench-Blanco, Murton, Alex Cora, Pagan, Scott Moore

SP:

Zambrano

Hill

Armas Jr.

Eaton

Igawa/Miller/Prior (though I hope Matsuzaka)

RP:

Marmol

Wuertz

Gagne

Wood

Howry

Eyre

Dotel

I really think we should trade Dempster during Spring Training, and if we start the year with Novoa, Hendry failed...It'd be nice to have C Lee, but I feel like he's already made up his mind to be on a Texas team near his ranch. As for Pierre---I'd love to have him, but it's clear he doesn't want to come back. I hope we unload Izturis, but I don't see that happening, so we're stuck with another shortstop with an OBP problem, just like Cedeno and Perez, and Alex Gonzalez before them. Man, Nomar would've looked great there wouldn't he, had he not been hurt....I'd love to have him on the bench too, but I don't see Nomar signing anywhere to play the bench. You'd love a guy like Luis Gonzalez on your bench, but I don't see that happening either, and the Cubs have always liked Cliff Floyd. If they lose out on ARAM, you go after Iwamura for third, and insert Theriot at second. I think a guy to really watch is Pagan. He had injury problems last year, but I love his hustle, and he also has some power, and bats both.

When you have been a fan as long as some of us, the faithful turns into bitterness. I hear what Steve is saying. We as fans deserve more than the BS that we are fed every season. If Steve was happy with this organization then something is wrong. Preach on Steve, I am right there with you. I myself have been burned way too many times by the cubs to be optomistic about this offseason.

Steve, if you feel this way, why would you follow this team. Doesn't that lump you with the group you spoke of in your message. Who's worse the people who buy into the hype, or you who states that your getting ripped off, yet calls yourself a fan of a team that you appear to hate? Actually I do believe the Cubs will sign one of the free agents you mentioned in your message, but the second tier free agents will have the most impact. Give this team a chance, remember this is "a site for the Cubs faithful", not the Cubs bitter.

The rumor mill and various media sources have been driving me up the wall lately. Since none of us have any clue as to what will actually transpire in the coming weeks and months, I thought I'd throw out my dream team for next season. The only criterion is that every player must already be on the Cubs or at least rumored to come here.

C - M. Barrett

1B - D. Lee

2B - R. Theriot

3B - A. Ramirez

SS - C. Izturis

LF - C. Lee

CF - J. Pierre

RF - A. Soriano

Bench - H. Blanco, R. Cedeno, N. Garciapara, A. Pagon, M. Murton

SP:

C. Zambrano

B. Zito

J. Schmidt

R. Hill

M. Prior (if healthy)

RP:

S. Marshall

M. Wuertz

W. Miller

K. Wood

S. Eyre

B. Howry

R. Dempster

A man can dream, can't he? The sad thing is that even if we only made a few of these deals we would be contenders, but as we all know it ain't gonna happen. The Tribsters will make one big deal, just to appease the "fans". I put fans in quotes there because the real fans, the faithful, know that it’s a smoke screen. The "fans" (i.e. yuppies, tourists, fair weather, jackass's with too much money...) will buy right into their routine. They will flood the gates to see the newly acquired (insert name here) hit some homers onto waveland or sheffield. Then the Trib will be happy, a packed house with a sub-.500 record. As long as there are butts in the seats the Trib's happy.