I just saw that news, too!

This either means:

1. Hendry is pushed to his edge. The buyer's market is coming thinner.

2. We'll see Pat Burrell in Cubs uniform.

Fielding, you asked? I don't believe an age 37 Ibanez is going better next season (and in contrary...); Burrell at least has an arm (but smaller range). That's like putting Fukudome reversed*.

*He who batted like Ichiro but looks like a joke cannot compensate a corner position with range and arm, the Book says... hehe...

I could be wrong but I don't see us going after Burrell, he is right handed.

I'm glad the Phillies got him. Even with a bat...we still need someone with decent
defense if Soriano occupies the other side. It currently looks like Bradley...I'm not really sold on him...would prefer Abreau or someone better BUT...lets wait and see.
-SusyS

nick, you are right.

I just made myself a joke out with that thought...

That also leaves the front office with less choice. If Hendry only could get rid of Jason Marquis, free up one more roster spot, maybe some non-tender LHB will do...

I happened to observe Bradley a bit at the end of last season. I picked him up on waiver in a Fantasy team. He's so good while healthy. But I'll never pick him up again.

He missed so many games in September, and I fell from 1st place to third in two weeks.

It's hard to keep the guy healthy...

JH must feel the screws tightening ... things haven't worked out as he planned. Let's hope he doesn't make a move out of panic.

The Ibanez deal with the Phillies looks like he chose the opportunity for a good shot at a ring over his maximum contract opportunity. As mentioned yesterday, the "name" bats will move fast now, and JH needs to pull the trigger on our lefty bat as quickly as possible. I'm still hoping for Abreu.

I'm guessing that the poster is of the female persuasion, but could SuzyS be Ryne Sandberg's daughter or Geo Soto's sister? She is well informed on the game.

I had heard the Cubs were looking into a trade for an OF. I also heard that Ichiro was being shopped around. Hmmmm...He played for Pinella years ago when he came he. Ichiro could help Fukudome. That could be a good trade.

Ichiro is great. Aging, but he gets on base consistently.

Though, he's not helping Fukudome in the National League. Ichiro is a solid rightfielder. He's far more shaky in the middle, where we could have moved Fuk there. If not, they'll need to compete for rightfield. What's the point? Two expensive rightfielders who bat from the same side and function about the same???

That'll also waste Hoffpauir, who still has a chance if he can learn how to compensate his range...

Glad to hear that. Ibanez was my least favorite of the three.

C. Muskat is pleading poverty for the Cubs--saying they may have to move Marquis to sign Bradley. That sucks if it's true. MLBtraderumors says we are 1 of 4 teams considering Abreu. That's great if it's true.

Comcast Sports says that Lou was upset when DeRo's name came up in trade talks. I'm with Lou on that--unless we get a top tier guy in return. You wonder, with the JH and Lou disagreements, if they are playing good cop--bad cop with the press and the other teams.

A quick check of Caribbean Beisbol shows that Fox, Pie, Cedeno, Kroeger and Fuld are doing well. I'm not sure if Kroeger still is on the Iowa roster. There is another guy really picking it up, and that is Ascaino. He is 2-1, 3.32 with 15 H in 21 IP and 9 W,s vs. 20 SO's.

Hill, Berg and Dubois continue to suffer on the mound, and I'm not sure why Berg was added to the 40 man roster. I also don't see the reason for getting Patton in the Rule 5 draft. He gave up 22H's in 16 IP in the AFL and didn't do much in the regular season either.

The switch hitting catcher I've mentioned before, Javier Valentin (33) is playing 1B for Santurce in P.R. and his line is .345-5-20 with 12 W's and 14 SO's in 84 AB's. I say sign him.

Dubois' suffering is at the bat (above). I added his name after I wrote the sentence.