Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Diamondbacks - 07/22/08

And the former Cub who MIGHT be coming home is:

Scott Downs, the 32 year old lefty reliever who has enjoyed great success with the Jays the last 2 or 3 years. In '07 in the AL he tied for most appearances with 81, was 4th in holds and 7th in ERA at 2.17. This year his ERA is 1.65 with 34 H allowed in 44 IP, 18 BB and 39 SO. He has 5 Sv's in 7 SvO's.

I am "breaking" this rumor (as Brian is learning to say in journalism school) with three credible facts, and a couple of good assumptions. Cub scouts were in Tampa Bay for the recent Jay's series with 20 + other scouts (a fact). It was assumed that all were there to see Burnett pitch last Friday. But we already had Harden. The Rays aren't likely to trade an important piece as they quest for the post season.

Why were the Cubs' scouts there? Aha!! To see a lefty reliever and an infield/bench right handed bat. The Jays have the boy born in Louisville, KY to the Downs family: Millie and Churchill. They also have the younger and effective pen lefties Tallet and Carlson. They want to get younger, and need position players (facts).

I think this makes sense for both sides: Downs and the 32 year old veteran infielder/outfielder Marco Scutaro B.A. .265 and OBP .352 for Cedeno, cathing prospect Wellington Castillo and pitching prospect Russell. No one else has tipped this rumor yet, so keep it to yourselves. JH should be able to make it public in the next week.

Let's get the win tonight Cubs!!! we need to shake our funk NOW!!!

Tonight's lineup:

Theriot - SS
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
DeRosa - LF
Soto - C
Fontenot - 2B
Marquis - P

And don't worry Jim, your secret is safe with us....and very insteresting.

JimK,

Welington Castillo is one of the very best defensive catchers in minor league baseball. He hit for power last year and is doing the same this year at a very young age. He's one of the better catching prospects around. I just don't see how you can trade someone like that for a LOOGY. They can have Cedeno and some other minor league filler, but that's all I'd give up.

Are you saying this is what you've heard or just speculating? I'm going to be terribly disappointed if this happens.

Padres were asking Maddux today to reconsider his prefrence to only be traded to the West Coast. Anyone hear of any possibility him coming back to the North Side?

SOS with the line-up? What's the definition of insanity? Doing the exact same thing over and over, expecting a different result each time. Ozzie did a big line-up shake-up when the Sux were in a funk, and it worked well.

JimK,

like the thinking about improving the team, but again, it's not really pitching that we need, and Scutaro is not exactly an offensive talent. Downs is alright, but Marshall can be just as good IMO.

Unfortunately, we can't really get rid of the weak links in our pen (Eyre and Howry....and Wuertz is already in the minors and has lost his value), so unless we can get rid of one of them, I don't really see an addition to the pen unfortunately and here's why:
Wood-doing a pretty fine job as closer, all things considered

Marmol-not going anywhere, and one of our best talents

Cotts-while we're not sold on him, has been doing better of late

Lieber-our swing man, and has given us some pretty decent mop up innings, and save for the awful start he had in the rotation in Cincinatti, has given us some pretty fine innings

Gaudin-great pick-up by Hendry, and not going anywhere

Eyre-when he comes back, Marshall goes down, and his salary can't be moved, and no way they DFA him

Howry-terrible, and nobody wants him, no way they eat his salary and DFA him

............see, so unless they get rid of Eyre and Howry, or Lieber isn't healthy for awhile (meaning Hart is traded or sent back down), then how can they add anyone else?

Additionally, for bench help, you essentially replace a young, slick fielding hitter (Cedeno) with decent pop in his bat for another veteran player. What we need is YOUTH...not, OLD....old is not working for us. The main guys that are producing during this tough stretch are the very streaky Fontenot and solid Theriot----both young guys. Additionally, Hoffpauir (why he is not subbing for Lee is beyond me) is producing at over a .400 clip, and Soto has done very well too----all young guys. Lee and ARAM did well early on, but they're tapering off now, and they're older and the grind is getting to them.

IMO, we need to figure out a way to at the very least, give DuBois a chance to prove himself, as the first go-around with the Cubs, he was not afforded such a real chance, and he's tearing it up at Iowa.

I agree with you Gary. Pinella needs to change it up some more than just cancelling batting practice.
Fukudome does not seem that comfortable in the 2 hole and I think he needs to be moved back to 5 or even put at 6.

To the trade critics, aka those who don't want to win this year. (LOL) To make room, Eyre and/or Lieber are DL'd until the September call up. Or Hart is sent down. In the crush of a pennant race, better players than Eyre have been DFA'd. Ronnie (Mr. Pop) Cedeno is 10 for his last 51 with no extra-base hits and 1 RBI. Castillo may well be a junior edition of Pudge and I like Castillo, but you have to give up a lot for (maybe) one of the best 6 lefty relievers in the AL the past two years who (along with Scutaro) is signed through 2009 for less than $2 mil. Scutaro is only an occasional power guy, but he gets a lot of walks and is a high OBP, veteran presence. JH likely sees these guys as very productive for 2 or 3 years--and cheap. I think we want to be as good as we can be for 2 or 3 years.

gotta love Lee..."weak grounder to third base...and he's thrown out." gotta love that guy....what a waste of a first baseman

Gotta make Petit work...3 outs on 10 pitches.

Just no patience in the offense right now!

Needless to say -- this is about as close to a must-win game at this point in the season as it gets...

..............and, first inning, it's already over....sorry to be so negative guys, but 10 pitches, and 3 outs, and outside of the 9run performance...as Lou said, we've only scored 2 runs in 3 of the last 4 games. Plus, Petit has dominated us in the past, so good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.....it's just too bad my parents are delayed in coming out to see us, or I wouldn't be watching right now

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I am glad to see that after last night's embarrassment, they really changed their approach at the plate. Now they are down a run, and recent history suggests that's all the D'Backs will need. Does anybody ever feel like they wish they could run onto the field and take a pickax to some players head? No? So I had a bad day at work.

all you have to do to see what i'm saying about it being over already tonight, is the looks on the players faces...they just panned around the infield, and ARAM looked dis-interested, Lee was the same, Marquis is walking around the mound seemingly worried about the one run scored against him being the damning run that ends up in a loss, just like last night in the 1-hit effort of Harden, and when the panned to Edmonds in CF, he had the look of defeat as well. The only guys I saw that had interest in the game were Theriot and Fontentot----precisely the same two guys that HAVE been getting it done for us

PATHETIC is the word

Neil, send Gene a bill for ad space.

Jim K:

Uh, I think there are better options out there than Scott Downs. I wouldn't exactly throw a party if we acquired him. Nice research job though.

guys...anyone with DirecTV should be watching the free preview of the mlb package, because Grace is doing the announcing, and it's been great listening to his insight....only thing he's wrong on is him and his partner give our offense too much credit, saying stuff like we're dangerous, and "better watch out now with Soto, or ARAM, etc." Fact is, it doesn't matter, our lineup sucks ass, and if Theriot or Fontenot happen to get on, they'll be stranded easily, you can bet on it

Cool Gary! It adds another dimension to watching the games and competing at the same time.

Atleast this inning they showed some patience.

sorry again for the negativity...just venting....but with a loss tonight, we're just ONE game up on either Milwaukee and St. Louis.....so, I will go to bed tonight, and we will be one game ahead......not exactly sweet dreams of playoff glory gentlemen, and if you think it'll be better the next series...it was also said on here the Giants and D'Backs series should be easy for us.....it sucks, and with the Brewers coming up, guys, if our offense doesn't wake up, we very well could find ourselves FIVE games back....picture that scenario...doesn't look pretty

can someone help me understand why the Cubs are absolutely horrible when playing in AZ? rarely can we ever win a game against the Dbacks on their home turf. In the 5 games I've been to here in AZ (including last night) the Cubs have always lost. Incomprehensible.

Aaron, we haven't lost yet.

One shakeup lineup after Sori returns: Sori, Riot, Lee, Rameriz, Edmonds, Soto, Dome and DeRosa. With this lineup, Dome and DeRosa have a chance to be on for Soriano. If Lee and/or Dome stay "sick", I would play Hoffpauir at first or right 3 or 4 games a week in the 3 or 7 holes and let L and D re-gain their health. In our pre-season performance guesses, I posted that Dome would be a .285 and 12 guy. His defense is excellent, but his offense works as well in the 7 hole as elsewhere.

This game won't be won with 2 or 3 runs. Didn't Marquis hit a few bats early in his last effective outing? We will score 3 or 4 tonight. Even in the blind hogs funk we're in, the blind hogs find a few acorns.

Nice Job Theriot!!

JimK,

I actually remember you saying that about him hitting .285

get ready for GIDP Lee....guaranteed gentlemen

honestly, Lee used to hit pitches like that very hard...now it's GIDP or routine pop/fly out....we can't keep throwing him out there, especially when we have a very DESERVING Hoffpauir on our roster right now....Lee needs to be benched, and it should start now

I agree with you Jim. Fuku obviously does not seem that comfortable in 2 hole. He might be putting too much pressure on himself.
Atleast Lee did not hit into a DP

Why wont these balls get all the way out!!!!!!!!

Its like Arizona installed a away tea, homerun force field...

LOL, how pathetic is that....ARAM thought he has it, chucks his bat like he's done something, then realizes it's a warning track fly....LOL, man, another Cubbie occurence...I even thought it had a chance

I think ARam is going to break out of the slump tonight, just missed it that time.

Soriano is 1-1, an infield single with the I-Cubs tonight. Piniella said in his pre game show that if everything goes well, Soriano will be in the lineup on Wednesday night.

Looks like Brewers are going to win.

The Disturbing thing about Fukudome is that his high OBP might be fool's gold. He has 26 extra base hits. Fontenot, in limited playing time has 22.

In contrast, despite his GIDP-tendencies, D. Lee has 45 extra base hits and A-Ram 40...

Fukudome's .377 OBP is excellent, but his actual hitting this year has been rather underwhelming to say the least.

as much as everyone loves to point out Fuk's downturn, they seem to lose focus of Lee and ARAM....can anyone find out there recent stats like the last month? I'll bet they're about equal....if you're looking for a reason for our struggles, it's certainly not Fukudome alone

Mighty Mike strikes again!!!

Fontenot decides he'll be the bigger man on this team!!!!

again....only Fontenot and Theriot seem alive at all....as was posted on here before, even the 9-0 game in Houston was largely because of Theriot and Fontenot.

Additionally....side note. I don't know what's going on with the AAA game really, so I could be wrong about it, but Pie just hit a double, and then was pinch run for by Kroeger. Either it's an injury, or he might've been pulled for a trade?.....just saying.....

Mom's b-day is in Nov and i'd like u to say happy b-day to her 'cause by then the games are over. She's in Florida and is watching the game rite now. Thanks so much.

Lee batting .348AVG/.403OBP/.485 SLG with 8 RBI this month.

ARam .173 .258 .423 with 3 HR and 11 RBI

Fuku .179 .220 .286 1 HR 2 RBI

DeRo and Fontenot just proved that Lou's no runs laxatives are working. If Marquis has one of them there shutdown innings, the Cubs will put up a 3 or 4 spot next inning. We need a little mo to go with Lou's green apple cider.

LOL.....could've called that one....it happens to often where we hit a batter, teams execute a sacrifice or ground out to move the runner/or they get a steal....it's like stealing candy from a baby it's so bad....and so predictable

Anyone find out what happened with Pie?

i dont like this....the brewers come back in the first 2 games and they got cc and sheets pitching the next two....we rly need to turn things around fast cuz they will sweep our ass out of town in milwaukee if we dont start scoring 4+ runs a game consistently

it was said on here, when you're right, you're right, and you can proclaim it to all.....

I guess my turn to say I was right about my concerns, and now we're losing the division

i dont like this....the brewers come back in the first 2 games and they got cc and sheets pitching the next two....we rly need to turn things around fast cuz they will sweep our ass out of town in milwaukee if we dont start scoring 4+ runs a game consistently

i dont like this....the brewers come back in the first 2 games and they got cc and sheets pitching the next two....we rly need to turn things around fast cuz they will sweep our ass out of town in milwaukee if we dont start scoring 4+ runs a game consistently

No fucking way Derrek...

Maybe it would be good for Pinella to rest D Lee for a few games... Might as well play Hoffpaur if he is on the team anyways.

Their half inning and ours in our funk were enough to p.o. the good humor man. It's not over yet, but there is a fat lady in the house shuffling through some sheet music.

Is it too much to ask for the Brewers and Cardinals to get in a huge fight and then they all get suspended for 8-10 days? I dont think that is much to ask.

Well the Brewers won the first two, now the Cards need to win the next two, and of course we need to start winning.

Come on Soto!! Your due.

Edmonds had good bat speed.

i would like to see Aramis and Soto and Lee to go down to the clubhouse, seperately...and take their frustration out, safely of course. et whatever it is out of their system..and start over..just like Brenly said

Maybe Pinella needs to go dragon kick one of the refs... if anything it will set an example for the Cubs players.

I think everyone needs to relax a little when it comes to being so down on these guys. Unfortunately we have about 5 guys going bad right now all at the same time. All of them are way to good of hitters to stay slumping for much longer. Ramirez, Lee, Soto, Fukudome will all be fine and when Soriano gets back hopefully that will be the spark they need. We're gonna be fine. Remember it's a marathon not a sprint.

towards the All-Star Break, and the Cubs were in a funk, we heard, "oh, with the break, it give 'em a rest, and they'll be just fine."....well, it's after the break, and we've sucked.....What's the next excuse? We haven't had Soriano? Okay, we haven't had him for a month---boo frickin' hoo.....Zambrano was on the DL? Well, only missed a couple starts, and in that time, we still couldn't hit, so it wouldn't have mattered?

what next? hmmmmmmmmmm....Blanco is injured? Yes, that's it...that's why we've sucked ass.....because Blanco injured his back because of a violent sneeze a la Sammy Sosa. I'm so sick of this crap....why the hell is Lee still in the damn game? replace the loser already. Replace all of them, except Theriot, Fontenot, and DeRosa, who seem to be the only ones that know how to get on base today. Put Zambrano into the game as well, as he has contributed a run---the only run in his start in fact

that's what I'd do if I was Piniella...I'd be so pissed....that's all she wrote if I was manager

Although I agree with Jody, these Cubs are crossing my line.

Something needs to go down.

And what a coincidence. Look at one of the umps for this series.

Jody... I am not saying to put them in front of a firing squad... but why not mix stuff up some? What is wrong with putting Hoffpaur in?

what changed since the cubs were unstoppable earlier in the season? I shaved my facial hair thats what...i damn well knew that wouldnt be a good move right after i took off the left side of my goatee..i was like "gee, they are playing so good right now..i probably shouldnt have done that"

Aaron, et al. The big Hoff looked GREAT in that AB. So much for that.

it might be a marathon, not a sprint, but when the season's winding down, we have two teams sprinting behind us, and winning close games, and just flat out, getting it done.....

after all, if you were in a close race, would you want a marathon runner, or a Karl Lewis-type sprinter? Obviously, it's Lewis....My money is unfortunately not on the Cubs, as I've seen this coming for the last couple months...they still have an outside chance at the wild card, but that's even debatable.

How can you possibly think they can pull it off right now? I understand everyone's a fan, and they want them to do well, but this isn't good...it isn't good at all, and we're slipping fast like '04 and '69. and the thing that bothers me, is the way we're getting beat. It's almost like a couple years ago when the staff was lights out at the beginning of the year, and the offense had the snooze button on, and all the pitchers were trying too hard not to make mistakes, and they paid for it.....well, the same thing is going to happen this year, and it's a very bad situation....I've been saying it, and all I've gotten was, "you're just negative....they're in first...or....they have the best record....or blah blah blah"...guess what? Now we don't have the best record, we're falling fast, we're in danger of losing first, and everyone in the world sees it...even the announcers on every station---ours included.

another clutch situation for lee....and he doesnt come through what does he need to do for lou to take him out of the 3 spot

well, at least my Rockies won....good night all

Aaron. i think youre being way to extreme... everyone goes thru slumps...all our guys are going thru it at once tho.. thats the biggest problem.

You know what always makes me feel better? Lets make fun of the Astros. So what you guys think of the trade they made today?

Aram picks up Soto in the field. A little thing but important now. I'm predicting that we break out with the bats very soon, and that we get no worse than a split in Milwaukee. Aaron, I feel your pain (but not as deeply). But you know that, while Lee, Aram and Soriano may get a day or two off when they are slumping, they will play. I wouldn't mind seeing an all "little people" lineup for a game or two--but the book says the big contract guys get to play out of their slumps even if it takes most of the season. Johnson hitting 3rd and Fontenot 4th would have been an improvement the last week or two.

Question. What do we do if Soriano doesn't want to come back?

Aaron, teams go through seasons. Yes, the Cubs are not playing well right now AT ALL. And yes, the Brewers are playing exceptional ball right now. Sure, this messy streak is lasting longer than any of us would like, but I won't be worried even if the Cubs fall 3 or 4 games behind another team in the central. This is a good team with many guys who aren't playing well right now, but I chalk that up to the seasons of baseball. Things will average out. The brewers are NOT as good as they are playing right now, and the Cubs are much better than they are playing right now (they still have a +100 run differential). These things have a way of working themselves out.

As for "the announcers on every station" being down on the Cubs, you must not be watching the same telecast that I am -grace and whats-his-face have been fawning on the Cubs all night.

This is an appalling offensive display....

Absurd... and inexcusable...... any half decent pitcher shuts us down COMPLETELY, especially on the road....

This really hurts to watch

This is like watching your best friend's life fall apart..

**Sigh**

Hopefully now we have hit rock bottom.

Atleast if it was my friend, I could help... All I can do here is watch

Sorry I hit post too soon, I meant to say
Hopefully we have now hit rock bottom and can go up from here starting tomorrow with a lead off HR by Soriano. Or a come back win tonight would work to.

It's 5-2 Dbacks, and the Annie record is now playing: "The sun will come up....tomorrow...."

Im still here. Not giving up.

So, Im rooting for that comeback.

I feel like we're obligated to give each other therapy.

JimK,

By saying I don't like the idea for Downs (giving up that much) doesn't mean i don't want to win now. I just think there are better ways to do it. A LOOGY who will throw maybe 15-20 innings over the rest of the season is just not a valuable enough addition to warrant trading away much talent.

This is tough to watch but maybe we can do some damage in the 8th and 9th. Faith, ain't that the equivalent of a true Cub Fan? LET'S GO BLUE...NOW!

Yeah...me too Matty!

DARYLE WARD!!! Put him at first base and give DLee tomorrow off. He needs it

I still think we're going to be ok. We're in better shape then we were last season at this point. Still a lot of baseball to be played!

Finally someone broke the forcefield...

only difference tween Ward's AB and Aram's 2 is that Wards' went out. Between Lee and Aram hard-hit balls, we were inches close to 3 more HR tonight.

JimK, if soriano doesn't want to come back cause he's not feeling ready, I say that's fine. I'd rather see Hoffy get a few more AB's before we write him off as quickly as ZTH did after his first AB in 10 games.

BTW, does anybody else think Derrek Lee looks like a dazed and confused idiot after he makes an out? At least A-Ram threw his helmet into the ground and showed SOME emotion!

I'm still here to, maybe we have a little 9th inning magic left in the tank.

David I think this team will be fine too, they just all decided to slump at the same time. You can tell Ramirez is frustrated about it. I think he is due any time to break out in one of his month long streaks.
The starting pitching is there, now we just need to get the offense back on track.

I meant "month long HOT streaks" that is.

I agree, Ramirez will break out of his slump cause he at least plays with some emotion. maybe it's the latino personality. But Lee, he is a completely different story. he plays baseball like it's only a game.

elliott, regarding Hoffy, I had no intention of "writing him off." I just thought it was ironic that, after everyone is calling for DLee's head tonight, they put Hoff in and he strikes out... ugly. DLee is still batting .330 since June 22nd and still playing great defense. I'm not ready to bench him in favor of a kid just called up. It's Aram that needs the day off - he's hitting .190 since June 22.

I'm reminded of Casey Stengels question to his expansion team Mets as they lost 14 or 15 in a row in every conceivable way: Does anybody here know how to play this game? My "joke" about Soriano coming back was to say he might not want to come back to a team in funk like the Cubs are in.

Good call whoever noticed the Lee and Ramirez comparison. Ramirez does have alot more fire about him than Lee, it seems like anyway. Lee is the leader of this team, and leads by example. Lee wen he GIDP or flys out or whatever, he just puts his batting gloves in his helmet, and rests them on the ground. Ramirez seems to have some fury ie: slamming helmet

I would like to be a fly on the wall in the club house tonight.

watching this is like watching an old person slowly die

If I were Lou, I'd call for silence in the clubhouse. Then I'd write, "Damn It, Do What You Are Capable of Doing And We Win More Often Then Not!!!" Then, I'd say, "Men we have a 1 hour after game curfew tonight--with a room check. The way you're going, I don't want three or four of you getting run over in traffic. Now get dressed and get the hell out of here."

You don't replace Lee...he is proven. Could he be doing better? Sure.

I am sick of hearing how we need to bring up this guy or that guy from the farm. Based on what?

Kevin Hart blows, and last year people were loving him and saying how he should be in the rotation, etc... Same thing with Rich Hill: "oh, he's untouchable!"

whatever.

I don't miss Gallagher, because we got a PROVEN (yes, I used all caps) stud pitcher in return. While Harden may be an injury-risk, his mettle as a pitcher was never in question.

That is why I say trade the whole farm.
Trade every last one of them if you can get proven quality mlb players in return. Because...duh...that is what you hope the farm guys turn into, right?!

Because we are a big-budget franchise, we can afford these types of trades for Ramirez, Lee, Harden, Lofton,

What are the Cubs bad at? Drafting and developing players. They never saw Theriot coming, as Cedeno was their guy, so they got lucky there. They ruined Rich Hill, they are wasting Marshall in the bullpen now (either trade him or start him), they never saw Soto coming (he lost a bunch of weight, and Jake Fox was supposed to be the good catcher).

Don't give me Marmol, as they drafted him as a catcher, he was converted in the minors and had great stuff, and under Rothschild's tutelage, he has regressed this year. Larry's Towel Academy has ruined the promising careers of Guzman, Prior, and is likely to affect the Shark and other future "untouchables" as well.

Choi, Bobby Hill, Dubois, Pie, Fuld, Corey Patterson...c'mon.

The only true homegrown stars on this team, that anyone expected anything from, are Zambrano and Wood...and Wood isn't even in his intended role anymore, because he couldn't stay healthy under Rothschild.

All the best players on this team were acquired or signed as free agents: Harden, Lilly, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome.

Hell..even Edmonds being acquired is better than the supposed "phenom" Pie.

I am not down n the Cubs chances, but I am getting sick of hearing that we need to see all this great farm talent, that always winds up sucking.

By the way, Hoffpauir is just the flavor of the month, folks. The guy has no spot on this team this year, or next year, thanks to Lee, Soriano, and Fukudome.

Unless they plan on converting Fukudome to CF, then Hoffpauir and his mighty AAA stats need to get shipped out for a quality PROVEN bullpen arm, so I never have to see Kevin Hart, or any other farmhand, walk an entire lineup.

Youth does not win championships...talent wins championships.

Wow, D-Lee is batting .330 since June 22nd? I didn't know that. You know what's scary? That I watch every game and that I didn't know that. Either I'm falling asleep during his at-bats, or he's getting hits in useless situations. For example, if he hits a homerun in his final at-bat tonight, would anybody REALLY care? I wouldn't.

I with Jason tonight. Let's make fun of the Astros. I am SOOO glad we didn't go after Randy Wolf. He's a bum. Talk about trades that don't make any sense whatsoever. Unless they are planning on trading him to the Cardinals or something... that might suck, a little.

So J from Az, rewind to last year... do you start Soto at catcher or the proven veteran, Kendall?
I don't think Talent wins championships. I think discipline wins championships. Patient hitting, composure, solid defense... something the Cubs resembled in the not-so-distant past. Something the Angels have used as a recipe for success for many years, and something the BoSox have used to win 2 championships. Brenly brought up an interesting point tonight how a few years ago, the Cubs entire team drew something like 390 walks, and this year, they've exceeded that number? Did "proven" players on the Cubs all of a sudden develop plate discipline? Did they all get Lasix eye surgery during the off season? I don't think so. I truly hope this is not the case, but the law of averages will catch up to the Cubs eventually. This team is known as a bunch of hackers, and I have a bad feeling the strikeouts will begin to pile up as the base-on-balls dwindles. But i would love to be proven wrong...

I hate these late games. WGN radio dont play post game press confs.

If all you had to have was discipline, then the teams with high payrolls (which are high because they paid for talent) wouldn't be in the running for the division titles every year.

The Red Sox? The self-proclaimed idiots? Discipline and solid defense like Manny? Take Manny and Big Papi off the Red Sox the past few years, and they are not the same team, because those were there two most talented hitters.

Kendall was a mid-season trade to replace an underperforming Barrett. The position was hardly solidified, so if Soto played his way into the starting lineup, that is fine with me.

Too bad Pie couldn't do that, or Cedeno for the past few years, or DuBois, or Corey Patterson, or Choi, Rich Hill, Angel Guzman, Todd Wellemeyer, Juan Cruz.

In general, we either cause our farm talent to stink to the point that they are worthless in trades, and we have squashed their careers, or good coaches, like those in St. Louis, are able to somehow find ways to make guys productive that we gave up on.

Soriano was a good move.
So was Fuku, Lee, Lilly.
I will even say DeRosa was a good move (but Brian Roberts would have been better).

Harden was an awesome move.

I want more of those moves, and less of Kevin Hart and the Hoffy gang.

what a f#$#$#% nightmare... a shitty start to the week on all fronts... .can i get a friggin win to cheer me up... f#$#$ idiots... the whole organization