Winter thoughts, more scattered than usual. An hour ago, Tex to the Red Sox seemed likely. (I can't see him choosing the Nats--even for more money and an opt out.) Now the Yanks are in the mix. Hal may break the bank, thinking that he'd better not help the Red Sox by standing by after he signed CC and Burnett. Most of us have learned not to be surprised at anything when a lot of money is involved.

There's been an appearance of new-found smarts in San Diego. Re any new possibilities for Peavy, Tampering Towers and Alderson are saying, "The less we talk about that, the better."

I'm thinking that several of our prospects will rate a lot higher after the 2009 season. A lot of them are young and coming off of nagging health issues, late signings and the like. It is nice to see Hoffpauir ranked after being almost invisivle last year.

I especially like Ryan Flaherty, who reminds me of a left-handed DeRo. He got a late start after spending his college years at Vanderbilt--where he was a take-charge, step up leader. He was an all star at Boise (low A), and some will think "so what" for a 22 year old. My guess is that he finishes at AA and continues to hit around .300 with some power while playing SS, 2B and 3rd.

A New York report says the Mets would like to move Ryan Church and then sign Abreu. Despite the negatives some here see (and mention), he could put the Mets on top in the NL East. He could put us on top too--in the NLCS, especially if Manny leaves the Dodgers.

Here, it is cold and snowy. The snowy part reminds me of my wife at age 20, fifty years ago. She was as pure as a new-fallen snow. And then she drifted! Merry Christmas everybody!

IT HAPPENED, YANKS COME IN LATE AND GET TEIXEIRA. Ah, yes, another reason to not like the Yankees.

This just in.....the Yankess have re-signed Bobby Abreu to a 50 million deal, Derek Lowe to a 40 Million deal, traded several prospects for Jake Peavy and coaxed Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield out of retirement. Guess they are going for it all.

Can't wait to see their luxury tax!

Hope they turn out just like the 2008 Detroit Tigers did.....

& don't forget Bernie Williams is making a comeback...
Best Comment I saw on Foxsports.com:
BEER - $50.00
HOTDOG - $25.00
PEANUTS - $15.00

Along the line of Dickens...I heard the Bambino came back and said it was all a mistake... his Field of Dreams were ruined and he needed to go back to Boston to do it over again to make amends for all the arrogant Yankee
fans out there.
BTW I just read on MLB.com that Pittsburgh is in the market for a right handed outfielder because all three of theirs are left handed and they are short
a starting pitcher with experience...also.
Can't JH do something with that?
Merry Christmas All.

The Cubs should see if the Angels are interested in Derrek Lee.

Outside of McLouth, none of the Pirates OF's have stats that approach Dome's. He's in the same value class as Soto--so we won't be gettng him any time soon. Their best OF prospect, Andrew McCutchen (CF), is a right handed hitter who was pretty good at Indy last season.

We all know about the "short series" situations where upsets happen and/or heavy favorites don't execute, but it's disheartening for contenders when a team like the Yankees can just spend another $100 mil more a year than a big budget team like the Cubs (around $130 mil) because they want to. For teams like the Twins, Pirates, Royals, etc. (well under $100 mil) their excellent season is one when they win 85 games.

It would seem that most of the public are priced out of the market now, and that corporate advertising and promotional budgets will go South too. TV contracts are past their peak so-- that "golden goose" is likely to cut spending sharply fairly soon.

I'm hoping that baseball gets to a hard payroll cap under $100 mil within 3 or 4 years. I think it could happen. The day when a family of 4 can get 4 decent seats for $50 bucks may come again.

I just toured the "big bat seekers'" sites for inuendos and insights. The Angels don't want Manny. I don't think the Mets can handle his cost--so Manny likely ends up back with the Dodgers. The Angels now think Bradley is interestng. Abreu and Dunn are mentioned too. If the Angels want Bradley or Dunn, they can win the bidding. They are seriously in need of a lefty bat and have the advantage of the DH poition.

I think the Mets will compete for Abreu, and I hope we can find a budget way to compete also. With the democrats in power in D.C., I think the big donkey ends up with his fellow donkeys and former G.M., Bobby Bowdin, in D.C.

If we get none of the name bats, we may add Hinske or Teahen and give Lou the challenge of a mix and match situation with them, Hoffpauir and Dome. That could play out pretty well. It also might keep us competitive if Lee or Aram lose some time to injuries.

If we don't get Abreu or Bradley and the Dodgers add Manny and Randy J to go with Furcall, they and the Mets will have to be the favorites in the NL. As we know, sometimes favorites don't execute and sometimes baseball luck goes against the favorites--so I won't be giving up on next season anytime soon.

Don't forget...Manny said he would retire
if he didn't get some good offers!!!
Yes the price of the big boppers went up but all 3 of those guys represent a risk to the Cubs...Dunn - defense and KO's...
Bradley - demeanor in a small locker room under Pinella...Abreau (whom I like better over the other 2)...Cost/years of contract/declining skills.

We have a good team...not great...but good. If I were JH...I would wait it out a bit longer...If Baltimore can't sign
Roberts...I'd revisit that keeping DeRo
out of it to plug in as my right fielder.
Perhaps a combination of Marshall/Cedeno/
Colvin and a pitching prospect...Not Marshall or Guzman might get it done.
Secondly...I'd go back to the Angel's again to see what they want for Figgens.
In either case, if the price includes Pie, whom I really want to see turn it around with the Cubs...I make the deal.

Another tactic would be to sit tight until the new ownership comes in...they will want to make a big splash to endear themselves to the fans starting out of the gate...and I'm pretty sure that a huge move will occur between now and the July 31st trading deadline to make the new ownership look good...PATIENCE!!!

I agree that patience and early performance (to say nothing for some light on the economic horizon) could cause the new owner(s) to get us an important player before the trading deadline. But we need to get out of the gate too, and I think JH will at least give Lou someone like Hinske to platoon with DeRo in RF.

As the pride of South Whitley, IN (near Ft. Wayne), Janie Fricke, used to sing, "It Ain't Easy Being Easy." A Yankee analyst says that one or more of Nady, Swisher, Damon and the Japanese DH are now available.

Nady is a standout but he ain't easy because he is a 2110 free agent and Boras is his agent. He only makes about $4 mil, but his next deal will likely be in the $10 mil range. I know that he hits right-handed, but another solid right handed bat may be better than what's available from the left side. A guy excellent bat,Rios, is also available from the Blue Jays--since they are having to trim payroll and go with youth.

To me - only Bradley or Dunn on the FA market are upgrades for a left-handed middle of the order bat. Abreau would be OK for '09, but I just think he's going to want too much for too long at his age.

Other than those two, I think this team is still the class of the division right this moment. They can afford to go into the season with what they have, see how Dome and Hoff do out of the gate, and revisit making some trades once the snow has thawed.

By mid-season, I expect Peavy (if he's not traded sooner) and Roberts to be on the block and actively being shopped around - and there's always a surprise team or three that bottomed out that are looking to sell as well.

This Cub team is pretty much the same one that had the best record in the league last year remember... and to use one of Aaron's stats lines from the other day - also led the league in OBP. Plus they have Harden out of the gate as well.

The Cubs will be alright to start the season. If the goal is to make the playoffs, then the team is already well constructed. If the goal is to be a juggernaut IN the playoffs though....

....there's plenty of time to pull off trades to make that happen too.

Keep the faith Cub fans! :-)

Hey can anyone give me some info on this guy Ryan Flaherty?
I know he's young but from what I've seen looks very promising.

Also, I really thin the cubs are better this year than they were last year. I know we havnt made any additions but carlos marmol is a better closer than kery wood, hands down, there fore we will win more games. And we have rich harden to start off the year and get used to the NL which i predict will help him in the playoffs.

Jim...I really think JH will hold out for a left handed or switch hitter...even if he is not ideal and maybe just a fill in for awhile (like Edmunds was last year).
That being said, if I were to deal with the Yankees...(and I hate the thought of
helping them)...I would would go for Damon or bust. he would fill 2 needs in one...lead-off...forcing Sori to the 3/4/5 hole where he really belongs AND
Left-handed outfielder.
Damon would cost though and I don't know
if he has "No Trade" veto power.
The Yankees are weak up the middle...If I were Cashman dealing with the Cubs...
I would start with DeRO AND ...pick one...Theriot/Fontenot/Cedano...AND PIE
or possibly Fukodome along with a pitching prospect...either Pie or Fukodome to increase defensive capability
behind CC/AJ/Wang/Petitte et al.
So where does that leave us?
I think JH wants to move Marshall first
but that probably won't happen until after the 2nd tier fa pitchers start falling into place...Lowe/Sheets/Redding
etc.
I can also see Boras trying to interest the Cubs in Manny...Fuko/Marshall/DeRo
would all have to go...But Boras is smart
he would help JH facilitate clearing budget space to get Manny 3 years.
But Manny is as bad as Sammy was in the head...could we deal with that again?

thanks neil it looks like this guy could be pretty good one day

Damon could be inexpensive in terms of players--something like Hart and Castillo. The problem is that he has one year and $13 mil left on his contract. I don't think JH will take on Damon's $13 mil. Maybe Marquis would get us Damon, but even the Yankees are saying they may now drop interest in Pettitte because of his likely $10 mil salary.