My old buddy Hubert got excited today, I bet, when we got the Cedeno news.

I miss that kid. ^^

what in the heck are they doing signing this scrub... He is worthless and we just signed joey gathright to be a defensive replacement...And someone explain to me why they wont give Micah Hoff. a chance to play a little bit all he has ever done is hit, and hit very well where ever we put him whether in aaa or the majors he has shown no signs of not being able to hit.

The whole Taguchi signing leaves me puzzled, unless they have no intention of ever letting him play...And while I'd like to see Fukudome return to the All-Star form he showed early last year, I fear ultimately he will be a bust, or live up to expectations elsewhere. As for Peavy, like Brian Roberts before him, I'm no longer too concerned with the possibility of getting either one, 'tho I'd prefer Roberts...San Diego wants too much in return for a guy who won only 10 games last year.

Here's my projected lineup for '09:

Theriot - SS

Miles/Fontenot - 2B

Lee - 1B

Bradley - RF

Ramirez - 3B

Soriano - LF

Johnson/Fukudome - CF

Soto - C

Starting 5: Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Lilly, and Samardzija.

Pen: Cotts, Gregg, Wuertz, Marshall, and Marmol. (And I wouldn't be surprised to see Mitch Adkins contribute this year, also.)

Talk about mystery meat for dinner in the dorm, who knows what JH is serving us in the signing of 39 year-old So Taguchi. It can't be just to make a soon-to-be 32 year-old veteran of world competition comfortable. It seems likely that the minor league comp would be about $500,000--which JH wouldn't want to squander--so there must be some other roster changes in the offing.

If there isn't some understanding that So leaves if he doesn't make the team, the possibilty may exist that Johnson and the now signed, Cedeno, move on in a deal. Could Tampering Towers be getting them along with Fontenot and Hart in a Peavy deal? Some team(s) is going to get a few of our Little People players before Spring Training.

CUBS CONVENTION NOTE:

FOR ANY FANS GOING TAKING ALOT OF PICTURES....IF YOU PUT YOUR PICTURES ON KODAK GALLERY TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE....I WILL CAPTURE ALL PICTURES POSTED AND MAKE A CUBS DVD OF THE PICTURES FOR ANYONE INTERESTED.

I CAN PROVIDE MY EMAIL SO YOU CAN SEND THE PHOTO SHARING FILE FROM KODAKGALLERY.COM TO ME.

I JUST MADE A DVR OF MY TRIP TO SEE MY DAUGHTER AND IT CAME OUT AWESOME SO IM READY TO MAKE MORE LOL

I think the Taguchi signing is for one reason and one reason only....to help relax Fukudome in spring training. The Cubs NEED Fukudome to bounce back. They are counting on him to platoon in CF and with that large contract can't afford to have him just fail. This, in my opinion, has nothing to do with the regular season. Taguchi will never see the opening day roster. This is for the sole purpose of having a veteran japanese player there to keep Fukudome from pressing in spring training. He's already going to arrive with a lot of pressure, so hopefully Taguchi will keep him relaxed.

Also, kudos to who ever called this Taguchi signing a few days ago...I remember seeing it, I just couldnt find it again so I could mention the person by name....

Whats the point of this? Please, someone explain. I hope you are right, thestrick9.

Also, the Cubs showed interest in Rich Aurelia today, needed more when Cedeno is shipped out.

thestrick9....Rich Aurilia has been in the rumor mill for a while. And you are right about him 'replacing' Cedeno.

When the rumor first surfaced it was believed that Aurilia would be signed and serve as a back-up to Lee and Ramirez when Cedeno was traded.

I have a theory, and I'm willing to admit I may be an idiot or I may be a genius here. We know the Taguchi signing is for Kosuke, but...I noticed that the Padres have picked up Jae Kuk Ryu. I know that he is Korean, not Japanese, but in doing some reading up on his last few years he had a big struggle with getting accustomed to the language, culture, and baseball in America when he first came over. he has adjusted very well now. He also was on Cubs teams for several years and thus they know him pretty well. My theory is that the Padres picked him up to send to us along with Peavy very shortly. Do we really need Taguchi unless one or two outfielders are definitely on their way out. So, today we sign Taguchi, the Padres pick up a pitcher that had a tough adjustment in our system coming from an Asian country, we avoid arbitration by signing Cedeno and making his contract a known factor, and now the Padres announce they no longer are mulling over the possibility of signing Omar Vizquel. I see that as a pretty big circumstantial coincidence. Call me a genius hopefully when the deal is announced.

This is funny. I swear I read on here the other day that someone said, they should sign taguchi. They said this when talking about trading Soriano to Texas for Young. I wonder if thats the next move. If so that would free up some cash for Jake. I dont see Texas doing that though. Well we are cubs fans we can dream cant we.

Neil:

Get some sleep, you have a long weekend ahead of you.

If Hendry is looking for a playmate for Fukudome there is a guy in Seattle named Ichiro.

lol!!JIM!... now So Taguchi would be sort of a playmate of the Month while Ichiro should be the centerfold playmate of the year!!