Aaron,

Trade ARAM. What are you talking about? Your talking about this 2 seasons before he even has a chance to opt out. This after the guy turned down more money from the Angels to play here despite last years abomination. Sounds like the guy wants to be here. I'm thinking your in the minority here. Yeah it would be great to have another ace pitcher, but I seem to remember you not liking the signing of Marquis because of all of the great arms in our farm system. Well in 2 years those guys will be ready for the bigs so why would you need to trade ARAM? I'm definitelly all for Arod, although I'm not sure even the Cubs at this point can absorb his salary. Guess we'll see come the deadline.

Prior on the juice? I can't really argue here. No way to tell that without the guy getting caught, so we'll never know. I'm not sure steroids are going to add almost 10 MPH to your fastball, and I definitelly think that they can't help with location. I'm really pulling for Prior because he's a Cub from the begining. Call it fan goggles or whatever I would just like to see the guy come back and pitch great for us. If Miller tears it up and Prior tears it up in rehab and the minors what the heck the Cubs are going to do is anybody's guess. It would be a nice problem to have, but not to be cliche', theese things do have a way of working themselves out.

Bonds. Aaron I'm in complete agreement with you. Somebody needs to knock the guy flat on his ass. They can talk on ESPN about respect for the great players of the game, but in my opinion the guy, while having tremendous talent has definitelly tarnished the game. IF I was a manager and was playing the Giants, I'd send a bullpen guy out there late in the game to just flat out throw a fastball right at the guys sneezer. It will probably miss but sends a message. Backing Bonds off the plate will make it hard for him to get plate coverage because he only uses a 32 inch bat.

One more thing. I have to admit I was DEAD wrong about Josh Hamilton, and Aaron was right. The guy has flat out destroyed Spring Training pitching. Yeah its not the season yet, but consider the guy hasn't played in a basball game in 3 years. WOW. Cubs could have definitelly used him. You win some you lose some I guess.

Can anyone say Rothchild and (what's his name) the trainer? I have a feeling we have not heard the last of these guys and a few other arms!!!!

Bart,

I'm not happy with Izzy, and I think Cedeno's really raw, and hasn't really impressed me. I hope I eat my words with both of them, but I still hold true to my original opinion that the Cubs need more talent in the middle infield, especially at SS. I also think something's up with Izzy's arm, and neither him or Cedeno have impressed in the field in ST either, though Cedeno did have a crazy Ozzie-esque play, but the miscues for both have piled up. I think a trade for AROD, inserting him at SS would be huge, and would allow flexibility to trade ARAM before he has a chance to opt out a second time with his contract in a free years---and obtain a quality ace pitcher for him. Anyway, that's just my opinion.

what do you think about izturis at short, and how about cedeno' making the club?

Nick,

Couldn't agree with you more---that's Clemens-ish, which I'd mentioned Prior compared to him, and Wood to Nolan Ryan----It's that bull-dog mentality he had, and Wood had, that was so intimidating to hitters, and they'd all say they hated facing those 2 guys. Thing about Prior is, we'll probably never know if he was juiced, but it seems like he was, and now once that intimidating velocity is gone, he's just another pitcher.

On a side note, I wish more pitchers would nail Bonds, and his "Sherman Tank" he has on his right arm when he bats---maybe bean him in the head a few times, or elsewhere, and see if he stands that close to the plate. Seriously, where has the fear gone to these guys now? Sheffield, Bonds, AROD, and the list goes on---all these guys can extend over the plate without any fear. Prior beaning Bonds, then telling him to bring it---I loved that, and wish more pitchers would have the balls to do that, and reclaim the inside corner. I wish Selig and the powers that be didn't penalize guys for beaning guys, or give umps significant power to warn benches when they pitch high and tight. Anyway, that's just the humble opinion of a former pitcher.

Aaron, good points about the high pitch counts.

Lets just hope that Prior starts to find the velocity back and we get him back to his old form. Remember in '03 when he was facing Barry Bonds and drilled him, and Bonds staired him down and Prior motioned form him to bring it, that's the Prior I want to see back on the mound at Wrigley this year.

Mark, I feel your frustrations, but the line about 2003 was not fair at all...Prior and Wood were two huge reasons we made it to the playoffs anyway, and the Marlins simply outplayed and outcoached Dusty and the Cubs. Dusty was very inept as a manager, and often looked beat before the game was over---it carried off to the players too. If you recall that game Wood pitched in too, he hit a home run. He was giving his best, but we were simply outcoached and outplayed. We also had Sosa---a "me first" guy that just ruins team chemistry. I bet we would've won without him.

Anyway, it's pretty clear Wood and Prior might not ever pitch another inning for us, and that is very sad. In Wood's case, you can blame his high school coach for abusing his arm for his own gain, and Riggleman, Baylor, and Baker following the same course. It's also unfortunate that we didn't have pitching coaches like Duncan or Mazzone to monitor them better. Can you guys remember Baylor and Baker commenting on pitch counts like 140 pitches weren't that big of a deal...then, when these guys came back from injuries, they'd be monitored by pitch counts---because it seemed they were injured with high pitch counts---then Dusty would let them go forever. That's probably why the Cubs were reluctant to sign Z long-term---because he was abused by Baker.

Did you all see the article about Z testing the FA market, and saying he'd sign with the Mets, but not the Yankees because he wants to hit....wow, if we can't sign him---he stays in the NL----that'd be terrible. It'd be like Maddux all over again.

Its not heart. These guys love the game and even if they did not, they would recognize the financial implications of not pitching. They have injuries, not just a little stiffness. Exactly what went wrong is debatable, but its not heart.

And we are turning the page, just not burning the bridge. They knew from day one this year they had to earn a spot. They didn't and now they'll continue working just like every other player trying to make the club.

Gramps and Jim, you're too nice. I am just sick and tired. I played ball in my day, I didn't loose 30 lbs because I didn't have to. I through, stiffness or not, and pretty damn hard. I still can bring it, without dietitons, equipment, $. I am not comparing myself to these guys, but I think it's just HEART! You may disagree along with other faithful Cub Fans, BUT we have to turn the page on these two and look forward. Go CUBS!

Whats nice is the young guns we have waiting in the wings. Guzman has looked great and may very well be turning the corner ala Hill. Marshall was good at times last year before his injury and he hopefully will continue to develop as well. Marmol and Mateo will gain more experience this year, and we all can look forward to Veal, Samarj., Cherry, and Gallagher as well in the future.

As Gramps said, thanks to Prior and Woody for what you've done, good luck trying to come back and help us out. However, it looks like the team is going to be just fine until that day may come.

Jim, I think Pinella just wants to get Prior more innings. Lets hope anyway.

Amen Gramps. I myself had to stop playing because of an injury and it sucks knowing you can't do what came so easily before. Look at what Woody did to prepare for this season. The guy lost 30 LBS and rehabbed for seven months. Prior, I am confused about.

Hey Mark, I see no need to call these 2 guys bums. I do not think they are very happy with their situations. Think of how terrible it must be for them knowing they can not pitch to the capabilities they used to have. It is too easy to condemn these guys. I prefer to have a little heart and say thanks for what you have done and hope that you can do it again sometime in the future. And I think this is what the Cubs organization is now doing. They made moves to address this issue.

Prior and Wood on the DL? And in other news, today is Tuesday.

Mark, I feel your frustration, but unlike the last few years this year we were not depending on them. Anything we get out them will be a bonus. I feel comfortable heading into the season with the starting five we have now. If someone would falter (either health or not performing) we have Guzman waiting in the wings.

I do have to disagree why we lost in '03. Without those two we wouldn't even have been there. I think the team just mentally broke down after the incedent. Baker should have went to visit his pitcher and calm him and the rest of the team down, and get them refocused; plus Gonzalez missing a routine play didn't help matters either.

Prior and Wood....HUH! What did I say ealier in the year? And you guys just don't listen. Optimism is good to have BUT reality is REAL. Hell, it's been 100 years since we've won a World Series, hell 62 years since an appearance. We keep waiting on these bums to produce and they have done NOTHING except get hurt and waste our time. Hell, they were a huge cause why we lost it in 2003. Game 6, Prior lost and game 7 Wood lost. Take what you want out of this, I don't care. It's embarassing! I have spoken and I am done! Go Cubs!