No problem. I didn't take offense. Here's a somewhat interesting and useless tid bit for the cubs hopefuls. I know every coach thinks highly of his or her players, but Reinhard's coach at UW-Whitewater, who also coached Bob Wickman (at UW-Whitewater) thought Reinhard in college looked like a better pitcher. Who knows. If Reinhard does half of what Wickman has done at the MLB level for the cubs you won't be wanting Ryu back!

Brad, I'd feel the same way if it were my buddy that plays for the Devil Rays, or my other friend that plays for the Rangers farm club, or Mets system as well...I'm sorry if I or anyone else offended you about that. Everyone has connections, and I'm sure your buddy will do just fine---personally, I was just going off stats and was pointing out a difference in stats because I thought Ryu had better.

Give the young guys in this Ryu trade some credit and time. I played with Reinhard and he's got some upside. If he improves I hope the cubs trade him because no one has faith in the organization and the decisions made.

I'm all for the group beer next time I get to Chicago. Unfortunately, I have to live in Cincinnati, although the current weather seems more typical of the windy city this time of year. Of course I can only agree to the beer if there is also exstensive White Sox bashing to go along with it in addition to the Cardinal beat down. Oh, and if someone can prove they can't stand AJ P more than me I buy the first round.

Count me in on that. One of my closest friends is Lou Brock's son and we always make a bet every year on who wins the season series. So this year he has to go to a game of my choice with a Pink cubs hat and a "Cardinals take it in the Pujols" T-shirt I bought after a game. So maybe we can make it that game. He would hate that LOL.

Hey, count me in for that beer too, then how bout some Cardinal fan bashing afterwards??

Aaron and Ryan R...you guys are both passionate and this site is for friendly arguments so keep it going.

As for "Ryan" dude relax if you disagree with Aaron you use your space to debate in a respectable manner. This is what makes this site special. You still have time to fix this and you also seem to know your Cubs.

Ryan R and Aaron can I go have the beer with you also? LOL!

Hey Neil I propose that the CCO marks a day @ Wrigley [preferably when playing the Cards] where we all meet and the CCO pays for the beer! lol

It would be really cool to meet.

Go CUBS

actually "stay classy" on here is what we say to people who attack others. I believe it was Neil who coined that on here in true Ron Burgundy style---yeah, that's the correct spelling too btw

"Aaron", this is the last thing Im going to say:

In response to me "copying and pasting:"

1. I wanted to make sure you saw that

2. Its efficient, unlike your articles

and,

"way to stay classy..."

who are you, Ron Burgendy?

jerljr, you are absolutly right.

Its rare Jim, I think if someone came on here constantly bashing people they would block them. But, there's no need to block.

People that get off on that wouldn't come to often to this website becuase they wont get the same reaction back and would get bored.

The people that post on this website are educated enough to know that a posting with reasonable examples and a little thought that contradicts someone elses opinion will earn more respect then comments that just bash somebody.

Jim dont worry. The integrity of this website is safe.

Oh...btw "Ryan"----I indeed have hung out with Murton, and Patterson, and yes, they are great, Eric is more outgoing than Corey, as I've mentioned before. They attended Georgia Tech with a good friend of mine and that's where I met them...

and you freakin' posted the same damn thing on two topics...copy and pasting...that's ridiculous....why don't you do that on every single post? That'd make more sense, wouldn't it---seems you want to get your point across so badly about me.....I'm PASSIONATE....You're an ASS!!!!!

My apologies Ryan R. It took a similar tone, so I didn't know if it was you or someone else, and I apologize....As for "Ryan"...GROW UP!

Ryan R., I'd take you up on a beer, and I think we'd get along just fine...actually, my ranting about Hendry is a lot, just because I think he did a phenomenal job in player development, but somehow, either hasn't hired the right people to do the job in player development, and sometimes making ill-advised trades (meaning, not get enough for what you give up, or not trading when he could've gotten more for them) As for him being the right person for the job...I really don't think so. For allowing the situation with Dusty and the players running Stone out of town, to his handling of the Sosa fiasco, and Patterson situation, I think it's gotten progressively worse. Also contract situations with ARAM and Z that could've been resolved earlier, he waited to long, but was willing to sign a health liability in Wood a few years back immediately. It just doesn't make sense.

HOWEVER...true, he's traded for ARAM, Lee, signed Maddux again, Soriano, Lofton, etc. I've always given him credit for that. I do, however, think both the ARAM and Lee trades were vastly overrated, considering they were merely salary dumps by the Pirates and Marlins for prospects. Getting Grudz and Karros for Hundley was a stroke of genius. I still shake my head at the Dodgers for that one, but then he pulled the same move with Patterson, and Orioles fans are probably pretty happy with that move. Then, he got Scott Moore, an outstanding prospect for an inconsistent Farnsworth, and obtained Chris Robinson, an outstanding catching prospect for----of all people----Neifi!! I can't believe we got someone that was still breathing for him---another stroke of genius. So yeah, it's been hit on the nose, he has made some oustanding decisions, but very critical ones he's blown, and that was my point. If you look at my other posts, you'll see I indeed have given him credit...so let that be enough of this...GO CUBS!!

I'd just like to confirm that I'm neither a Hendry basher or Hendry lover... he's a mixed bag of good and bad.... as are almost all G.M.'s. You can find fault in any move as soon as that player strikes out w/ a runner on 3rd & less than 2 outs... I.E. - the Cubby Way... Hendry did pull a good minor league talent when he got Murton, also rec'd top minor leaguer in Scot Moore from Detroit. There are 2 example of other orgs top prospects coming to the Cubs because of Jim Hendry's trades. The Aram deal sent Bobby Hill, good deal, never panned out. +1 for Hendry. The Dontrelle PTBNL was not good -1 for Hendry. Overall, I think he's done an adequate job and I do believe the overall talent level on both the big league club and the minors is improved since he took over. We actually have 5 non pitching prospects worth excitement! 3 years ago we had exactly 0! Go Jim Go, I'm wishing for health in the roster this season, that's all we need to push deep into the playoffs.... and a miracle from Marquis.

Spiral out,

The Daver

Hey Neil anyway to keep these PSD forum guys out of here. Guys like the Ryan, not Ryan R, do not belong here. If you do go to PSD forum do do I , I just can't stand it when someone attacks someone else foe their opinion. Even if that opinion is wrong there is no room for that here. I really like this site and love to read ALL of the posts. Its a great break from work. If you don;t like someone's opinion then have a educated rebuttel.

Ryan, why be a asshole. No reason to act like that.

Aaron,



First, I wasn't saying that your opinion about Jim Hendry and the Cubs wasn't a valid opinion. I welcome all opinions, I just think that yours happens to be wrong. All I see you writing about is all the bad things that Jim Hendry does. While at the same time it seems that you forget that this is also the guy that brought us Lee, Aram, Barrett, Murton (who Epstein tried to get back), Maddux etc, and then re-signed all of them to keep them in Chicago. Plus he went out and got the best available free-agent position player on the market. You can argue about the money, but I don't think you can argue about the guys talent and potential. I really don't think that trading Ryu is a further realization that the guy is inept. Now, if Ryu goes out and starts for the D-rays and wins 10 games with a 3.0 ERA then, hey, you have a valid point about the guy.

Second, the second posting by "Ryan" was not me. Thats why I put an "R" after my first name.

Third, I only speak for myself. I wasn't trying to speak for everybody. We obviosly have some different views about Jim Hendry. Writing in a blog is not the best way to realize what somebody's intent was. I think if we were in a bar, (I'm 30 by the way,) tossing back a couple of cold ones we would get along fine.

In conclusion, keep on writing. Chances are 100% that I'm not going to agree with you all of the time, and in fact I'll try and prove you wrong some of the time. But Hey you'll do the same for me. That's what a blog is for. And think of it this way, after years of futility, after generations living and dying in Cubs futility, we now actually have something to argue about.

Hey,

Why are why ranting about what we traded in? Now, let's just compare pitcher-to-pitcher first. How bad is Greg Reinhard? His stats tell me, in 2006 at Southwest Michigan:

26 out of 27 games started, 142 innings pitcher, K/BB ratio of 134/54, WHIP 1.38 -- and these are all done in a pretty competitive Midwest League (1A).

If Reinhard's consistent for the next 2-3 years working up the Minors, then is this too bad a trade?

I'm mixed on this move I guess mostly because I have a soft spot for Ryu for some reason. (Last year at this time I picked Ryu for the darkhorse of the year...oops). However, he clearly didn't achieve much last year and the Cubs had to make some sort of move. Who knows how this turns out, you never know when a pitcher has truly hit a wall or is about to turn a corner.

As far as Hendry, he's done a decent job at times and other times I scratch my head a bit. At the end of the day, he's in a much better position to make educated decisions than I am.

Aaron, I'll admit I often don't read through all your posts word for word because they are very long. But hey, if you need to rant and wax poetic about the Cubs, what better place to do that than in a friendly (most times) Cubbie environment?

Take care everyone, the real fireworks are about to start for the season, starting with the resigning of Z and ending with ending of a curse.

like I said...way to stay classy...how old are you now Ryan?

This is in response to Aaron on his comment on, “The Most Expensive Letter in the Alphabet”

Aaron,

dude, whats with the posts?

"Murton (and DeRosa) is a good character guy", what, do you go out and have drinks with the guy?

We all know everything you said about the Cubs man, but thanks for the info on Dempster, I really thought he was a nail down closer.

And Prior, didn’t he pitch like 35 or 40 starts last year?? Man, I, like every other Cubs fan, would not have known he was injured without you, man, thanks!!

Dude, just put up your own website, I’m not even going to waste my time reading your stuff anymore, ill just assume you state the obvious.

But anyway,

Neil, thanks for making those comments about Wilkin scouting those guys we picked up in the trade for Ryu, it helps justify. And Aaron, you can’t just bash someone like Hendry, he’s done a pretty good job overall. Remember the trade that brought us Ramirez?? You never know whats gonna happen buddy…

First off let me say all opinions and posts are welcome here, not matter how long or how short. Everyone here is passionate (thanks Chad) about the Cubs or we would not be talking about them in December, for example. This site exists because of everyone that contributes, just not myself, Brian, Shaun, Jason and Thomas. I respect everyone's opinion, although I might not personally agree with all of them.

With that being said, Aaron I think I know where you are coming from and while Ryu was traded for next to nothing, these were players Tim Wilken drafted and maybe he knows things about them that the Devil Rays organization does not. And with Mateo, Marshall, Guzman and Marmol performing better last season, Ryu was the lesser of those talents. He might end up being a decent 5th or long guy down the road but he does not have the promise those other players do. I mentioned Ryu has a nice upside and I believe that but I do not feel he has as much upside as the other pitchers I mentioned.

Like you, I have seen Ryu in spring training, watched him throw in the pen and at the Triple-A level. I think the Cubs were stuck and felt they had to get something for him instead of just designating him for assignment. They had to clear the room with camp opening up on Wednesday.

I would rather see them lose Ryu then any of the pitchers I have already talked about, much less the Veals and Gallaghers of the world.

Aaron,

I love your posts. I don't always agree with your opinions, but they are thought provoking and full of PASSION for our Cubs. Keep up the good work.

Go Cubs!!!

Ryan:

I agree about Ryu, the guy was brutal.I remember the game against Atlanta when he gave up a bunch of Homeruns. In my opinon, only Les Walrond was worse.

Maybe Hendry tried to sweeten the deal and hoped to get Carl Crawford?

Aaron:

I've always enjoyed your posts. You are deep.

thanks Ryan...appreciate it....way to stay classy. I was just giving my opinion. Other people have opinions and stick to them...if you don't want me to say anything, then fine, I won't. Just wanted to see if anyone else felt that way, but I take it you speak for everyone, so I'll just leave it at that

Aaron,

Chill out about Jim Hendry. Its getting old. I'm not saying that he hasn't done every thing right. But the guy has brought us Lee, Aram, Barrett, Murton, Soriano, Maddux. You can't argue with those guys talent. It not perfect but overall the guy has done a good job. I think that being a General Manager is the only job where you have to be perfect, ie win the world series, for the majority of people to say you did a good job. Oh, and in my opinion, Ryu was the worst of the rookies that we threw out there last year easy.

just like the Cubs to get below average talent for top minor league prospects. yes, Ryu is considered a top prospect, and he did impress in ST last year. I was there, and heard a lot of talk about him, and he certainly was successful in the minors, but to trade him for below average talent does not make sense at all, unless scouts see something that numbers don't tell. But after seeing trades that netted us Mike Fontenot, Nate Spears, David Crouthers, Carlos Perez, and PTBNL for Leicester I just don't understand it. It's like Hendry can't be creative at all in landing big time players. The point is, you don't trade your top prospects for castoffs from other organizations to free up spots, rather you use your prospects in conjunction with proven major league talent ie.-Izzy, Jones, etc., but you don't trade them for a guy that hits .250, and a pitcher that goes 6-10 with a 4.50 ERA in low A ball. That's ridiculous! I'm tired of a GM that cannot be creative. That's how Williams won a championship for the Sox....ditto Epstein. It's why Beane keeps the A's in the running year after year, and how the Braves always seem to reload with young talent....hmmmmmmmm, could it be because they combine their top prospects with decent MLB players in trades to get other top prospects, or fill other needs on their MLB roster?

Yeah, you all will probably say, "geeze, it's only Ryu, the guy had a 7 plus ERA." Well, actually Zambrano did too, could you imagine if we traded him for Hillenbrand or some castoffs because of it? I hope I'm not the only one that has noticed this. But we can't keep dumping off prospects like this. It's not fair to the fans, and it's not fair to the organization as a whole. You don't reload your system with mediocre talent, but you trade to make it better and use the draft. The Cubs management hasn't done either well.

You must define where your talent surplus is. For us, that's pitching. Where is our need? OF and IF help, and a good catching prospect. In other words, you do NOT trade a top pitching prospect for a lower level pitching prospect that has mediocre stats, or an OF prospect that barely hits his weight. Rather you combine Ryu with another prospect or a Cedeno, and try to get a higher level OF or IF prospect. That's what other teams do. Why have we missed out on this. For crying out loud, Jimbo is making me insane!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the rant, but please, does anyone else agree a little with me?