Great punch list Jim :-)

The one thing I'd disagree with you on is the outfield basket... but not because I'm all that attached to it.

It's because of the guys in the front row of the bleachers that have a few too many and then a home run ball starts sailing their way. Without the basket there would be (a) a slew of fan interference calls and (b) at least three idiots a season that would end up carted off by an ambulance after landing hard on the warning track after reaching out too far.

Not that drunks falling and landing in a heap wouldn't have some comedic value... but it WOULD delay the game and nobody wants that. Plus there's always a chance they land on someone and while I don't care so much if they get hurt, if Soriano got hurt I'd be ticked :-)

Completely agree with you on the ball girls... it was always fun to watch them miss the easy grounders.

One other thing - while you're changing the look of the uniforms (love the sleeveless idea), could you change that cursive "Cubs" written across the chest. I remember the first game they wore those and my friend from New York watching on WGN called me and said "that's a sharp new look for team Cuba". Please rectify that for me.

Tinley Park Jim,

Renovation....good..I have sat behind the pole but unlike you I did after a 7 hour drive from Des Moines, Iowa...3 of those on the Dan Ryan, or whatever you guys call it, alone! Plus with our fan base 41 grrr is not logical.

I totally agree with your night game idea. I firmly believe that is the reason for our drought....not the black bartman goat thing.

How can you get rid of the basket?!!? Do you not remember Gary Scott's grand slam? Harry doesn't!

Don't you dare mess with the uni's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I completely agree with the 7th inning stretch. It has gotten tired and why not let the Immortal be Immortalized!
-----p.s. Harry always sings the 7th inning stretch down here at Principal Park @ Sec Taylor Stadium!

Revenues? Money? East Coast Bias? I just wanna watch baseball!

I like Hendry....Aramis for Bobby Hill anyone?

Read My Lips; No New Taxes!

The ball girl rocked!

OK now let's go get Roberts and win this damn thing!

Jim, can I help with the girl auditions? I'll carry the info. slips and picture book for you.

*Johan Santana would be my #1 priority.

**No way we play a single game in Bridgeport...As your assistant I'll hook you up with the Marlins grounds crew so they can teach us how to fit a ballpark in a football stadium and erect a pitching mound. I never seem to quite understand how its done. Soldier Field anyone?

***I'd rip off Harry Caray's bronze statue and put it inside Jeff Gordon's race car for a full season or until he learns the lyrics of the song.

****I hate that basket too!

*****Steve Stone is Back as of today.

Aside from changing the uniform's I completely agree with Jim. Let's compromise, the new alternate uniform could be the sleeveless style.

First things first, if I owned the Cubs I would also make a slight renovation to Wrigley. I would combine a few of the Mezzanine suites into my new luxury condo. Then every morning I could wake up and open my curtains to the glory of Wrigley Field. How could you ever have a bad day after that?

I'd keep the basket. Not that I like it very much, but it does serve its purpose.

Next, the food at Wrigley is getting a major upgrade. This is Chicago and we have the best food in the world. It's about time some of it found its way into Wrigley.

Obstructed view seating is reserved only for fans of the visiting teams.

Larger women that wear tight/skimpy clothing will be forced to purchase a regular sized shirt or be removed from the premises. Let's face it people, bikini tops are a privilege not a right.

Finally, a multi-level parking garage will finally be built near the stadium. Hooray, I don't have to spend all day searching for a spot that isn't permit parking.

Jim,

Unlike you, if I were the owner of the Chicago Cubs, I would need to do three things:

1. Fire Jim Hendry and Gary Hughes.

2. Hire Paul DePodesta, as the new Cubbie GM, then hire McCracken and other well-rounded SABRmetricians, who know not only "the people's business" but also the elements of baseball by its core, as Paul's assistant GM

3. Establish a global marketing image as a competitor after those big-spending AL teams like the Yanks and the Red Sox

*3. If there's one team that can represent NL and the good baseball nature against "the Evil Empire," it must be the Cubs.

Hey all,
Orioleshangout.com is reporting that the deal for Robts is done.... Gallagher, Marshall, & Cedeno. They didn't have any details really, but promised they'd be publishing them.

I saw that too, sounds good! So who's our 5th starter now that Marshall is gone, Dumpster? What's Milt Pappas doing nowadays?

Lieber?...Not sure if I want him but it wouldn't surprise me.

I will believe the Roberts deal when it's confirmed and posted on the Cubs website. To much speculation on this potential deal for a long time now to get excited.

I like the deal. I suspect that a deal like that will get ripped from both Cub fans and O's fans ... which means it's probably a fair deal. Bedard will likely be next ... perhaps to Seattle for Jones, Clement and another prospect ... too bad we don't have guys like that in our system to bring Bedard to the northside.

If this trade happens and the price isn't too high, how about picking up Kyle Louse as our fifth starter for some insurance if Marquis and Dempster fail, or Aaron's idea of picking up Colon.

Rob is right but it sure feels real. I just read Roger's article in the Chicago Tribune about Roberts and that Marshall, Gallahger, and Cedeno are too much to give up. Then the comments afterward were all totally negative.

Maybe i'm crazy but I would embrace the move. Cedeno may have potential but so far he's only shined down here in Des Moines. Since when did Marshall become Kofax? All anyone did last year was bitch about him...especially when he followed Hill in the rotation. Gallagher is unproven and you have to give something up to get something good.

It's not like we pulled a Houston Astros dumb-ass panic move.

Give me that obp, the .300+ avg., and the 50+ stolen bases at the top of the order...how many runs is he gonna score with F-Dome, Fonzi, Aram, and DLee hitting behind him....you can have those 3!

Roberts
Fukudome
D-Lee
A-Ram
Fonzie
GeoSoto
Theriot or DeRosa
Pie
Big Z-Lilly-Hill-Marquis-Dumpster-TBA

Now that stupid Oriole's website posted an Oriole official contacted them and denied the trade and said it was completely inaccurate!

Man i'm sick of this!

I was reading a couple Orioles websites and they too were crying about giving up their man-crush but also about what is being speculated as the return in the trade. After hearing their arguements I am quite happy with gain/loss of this deal if it happens. This post was inparticular was interesting to me (coming from an O's fan I assume):

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57293&page=7

Here is a pretty good way to think about Cedeno.

Lou Piniella is a pretty good evaluator of talent. His resume includes a World Series with the Reds, a 116 win season with the Mariners, and last year he took a team that won 66 games in 2006 and won 85 games and a division title. I would put Lou in the same class as Leyland which is pretty close to Earl Weaver in Baltimore terms, at least at this stage of Lou's career.

Lou had Cedeno last year and instead of using him he spent him to AAA and put Ryam Theriot as SS. Theriot is not a high ceiling guy. He is considered a utility player by many. If Lou not only does not think Cedeno is as good as Theriot at SS but also believed that Cedeno, who spent all of 2006 with the Cubs, does not even belong on the team. Well, that says a whole lot.

Second point of reference, in 2006 Cedeno started the year as the starting SS for the Cubs under Dusty Baker. However, Baker replaced him with Cesar Izturis. This the same Izturis that played for the Pirates last year and was not given a contract this winter. He was not traded. He apparently had not trade value. That shows you what Baker thought of Cedeno. Baker is an established manager league manager, who has four 90 wins seasons under his belt as well as a NL Pennant with the Giants.

Now the O's get Cedeno. They think there talent evaluation is better then Piniella and Baker. Enough said.

Reading some of the comments on the Rogers article makes me realize there are an awful lot of fans out there with really strong opinions that have absolutely no clue. But they're sure they're right anyway.

In baseball it's always the grass is always greener... but in reverse. Our prospects are always all-stars... other prospects are always "why'd we give up a star for THAT guy?"

Either way it's obvious that a deal is imminent - but I've seen reports in the rumor mill from bouncing around today that the deal also includes Veal and Patterson for Bedard... or that it's the first three for Bedard... or that it's Veal instead of Marshall... or... or... or...

Lets just wait to see what the deal actually IS before we start bellyaching about how much we gave up :-)

I think today may finally be the day though - sounds like Hendry is finally pushing McPhail to pull the trigger instead of keeping us waiting on the Bedard thing. Fairly sure he'd love to announce the deal at the convention :-)

Agustin:

I have bigger plans for you. You will be named Director of Latin Affairs. I plan to build a Wrigley
Field replica on your Island. With your work backround, you will be key. I also plan on targeting the Island for the Ball Girl position. (You probably knew that already) Which you will be involved with also.

Hey Gary J,

None of us are claiming to be Peter Gammons we're just discussing our opinions, thoughts, and ideas. I think your out of line to call anyone clueless. :-)

I don't have a problem with trading Cedeno and Marshall but throwing in Gallagher is too much. He has the potential to a #3 starter (obviously not this year).

Jim lolx1000000!

BTW...If I were the owner of the Cubs Carrie Muskat and her flying broom would not be allowed inside the premises. As expected, she would begin a new curse for a 100 more years. Terrible? yes, but atleast she wont be able to torture me with her poetry.

Roberts
Fukudome
Lee
Soriano
ARam
Soto
Pie
Theriot

Zambrano
Lilly
Hill
????
????

Marquis
Dempster
Kevin Hart
Ryan O'Malley
Les Walrond
Maybe Donnie Veal

This is who we have to fight out for the rest of the spots??????

Our rotation looks weaker than it has in years. Roberts would be great but i hope we get something better than Jon Lieber to fill in the rotation's giant holes. I would rather have Sean Marshall than alot of the other suggestions.

Jim from TP - I like the idea of more night games.
And also agree with playing a recording of Harry Caray. The guest conductor was a neat idea at first, but now it is just getting out of control. How can you have someone sing the stretch when they don't even know the words.

Agustin Agreed; MusKrat must go.

Another thing I would change, I would televise More games on WGN for all of the people out of state.

Gary J,

Well said as usual. I'm totally with you on the "reverse grass is always greener" theory.

The Cubs will never get a full home sched at night. Thus, a new stadium would be priority number 1. Put me down as one who believes this is the reason for the 100 year drought than any wacky goat. All night games immediately.
C21

OK... Hell, I'll gladly throw in Patterson & Veal if the Orioles kick in Bedard. Veal, Patterson, Gallagher, Marshall & Cedeno for Bedard & Roberts? Does anyone here think that's a bad idea? Z is locked up 5 yrs (4 spots left) Lilly has 3 more years (3 spots left) Hill will get a LT contract if he improves again this season (2 spots left) The Cubs can't keep Marquis, Veal, Gallagher, Marshall, Samardjiza, Hart, Mateo, Guzman, Pawalek, O'Malley, Halloman to all battle for 2 open slots the next 3 years. That's silly & a waste of organizational development. We drafted a TON of pitchers to develop them and trade them for the bats we needed to gain the consistency that lands the Cubs in the playoffs each year for a long time. This was the org approach until the Colvin year. Get Bedard give him his big contract.. then we only need 1 damned pitcher to develop for the next 3 seasons to soldify the rotation. Even getting rid of 3 of our top Minor League SP's, we can still get 1-3 to pan out for depth... But we need Bedard MUCH, MUCH more than we NEED Roberts.

Nick...I remember the days as a kid when my mom made me go shopping with her and the game would be allways on in either Sears or K-mart. Yes I spent a lot of time on K-mart....I still love their plastic Pizza, I-Cee and donuts.

Comon' Neil say it...From the wire.......

Dave in STL,

Your proposal would be great for the Cubs and I'd bet JH has made that offer, but it's not enough for Bedard. I don't think you'd get Bedard alone for the 5 guys you propose. Since we don't have any stud prospects, you'd have to part with Hill and Pie to get Bedard.

Hey Dave...a man can dream right? I'm with you in everything your post says. A friend of mine said he would even add Pie and that he'd have no problem bringing Corey back.

If we get both Roberts and Bedard...I will gladly have Corey Patterson or Fuld in Center.

All of today reflects society gone mad. If I had the $900 million or so it might take to own the Cubs, I hope the question that would arise is, "I've got $900 million--do I want to spend it on the Cubs?" Failing to answer that sanely, my reign would feature: I would dim the lights in the top half of every inning of night games, and the nine bat girls would be topless. And I'd be playing first base, Faithful.

Of course you are asking how I would do? The answer is the same as the one Ted Williams gave some years ago: "If I played today, I'd hit about .310 and drive in 90 runs." "Of course, he said, I am 70 years old."

Maybe, just maybe, sanity and JH's return to important work happens before this week is over. At least by the middle of next. Otherwise, we'll all be on prozac. JimK

Last year in the Venezuela Winter league playoffs, Ronnie Cedeno got in a fight after being intentionally hit by a pitcher. Today the same pitcher hit him again in the hands while aiming close to the head. I'll let you know if his team retaliates.

Agustin:

Any other Cubs playing in that game?

I have a bad......very bad feeling about this Roberts thing....some sites say it's Gallagher, Marshall, Cedeno, while others say Gallagher and Murton, and even worse, some say Gallagher, Marshall, Pie, or Colvin....

As I've said before, and I'll say it again---if you're not getting a TRUE difference maker like Chone Figgins, Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Adam Dunn, etc., you have NO business giving away that much talent, period!!!!

If Hendry gives away that much, then he NEEDS to be fired, because he's already done enough damage to our farm system with two very bad trades for Trachsel and Pierre, of which NEITHER was a difference maker. Moore and Cherry could've been used to actually get a difference maker in another package. Think about the Pierre trade and the very poor foresight of Hendry to not lock up Pierre before trading away 4 minor leaguers, and 3 of those being top pitching prospects....again, how good would have Nolasco, Pinto, and possibly Mitre looked in trades for a Miguel Cabrera type of player? hmmmmmmmmmmmm

But again, we have to SETTLE, and that's the whole problem. It's a MAJOR problem that Cubs management has always had where they want an upper echelon player, but aren't willing to pony up the players for him, then settle for a couple lesser players via trade, and the funny thing is---the guys they give up in the 2 or 3 other trades would've satisfied the teams for the upper echelon player. It just totally baffles me.

Hell, even with his drug problem, I would've ponied up Gallagher and Murton for Hamilton. How is that different than Roberts? Please tell me!?!?!? We have no idea what'll happen when Roberts is without PED's. But Hamilton is ALL natural, and can make an unbelievable difference, even possibly being our everyday CF, thereby freeing up Pie to be traded for a dominating starting pitcher.....That's the whole chess game part of being a GM, and Hendry ABSOLUTELY SUCKS AT IT!!!!!!!!

Sorry Jim, no more Cubs. Miguel Cabrera is the 3rd baseman though. There are some good players all over but the cool part is the "Serie del Caribe" that brings one team only representing the country and it is allways filled with MLB players. It starts in 2 weeks.

Agustin, my parents would tell me in the morning if the Cubs were on T.V. that day and if they were I used to sprint home from school just in time to catch the game in the fourth or fifth inning. Then would stand up and sing right along with Harry.