Ryno.... I mis-spoke re the Lee--3 hole reference I made. Sorry about that. I transposed your small sample reference of Bradley's poor performance to my small sample reference on Lee's decent performance. That is, "O.K. I guess we have to leave Lee where he is, because he's OK so far."

I would point out that Bradley's contract may not be as bad as you may be thinking. The first year is less than the 3 year $10 mil average (I'm recalling) and the (most expensive) third year is dropped if he doesn't play a lot of games in the first two.

I agree with you that Bradley needs to stay on the field. But his aggressive edge is part of the solution to our perceived lack of enough team emotion on the field. I will accept a couple of non-contact getting thrown out of games if he also is a big (positive) difference maker.

JimK, I didn't know that me comparing Bradley's performance to other OF options we could have signed or asking him to be smarter with his emotional outburts was "calling for his head." I just wanted to take a look at how he was faring so far compared to others to see what might have been. Do I think it was a bad contract for an often injured player? Yes I do and I don't back down from that.

And I never mentioned by thoughts on DLee, so I need to correct your erroneous assumptions on my thoughts about him. No way in heck would I leave DLee in the 3 hole. I think even 5 is a stretch since he's not really a protection type of guy at this point. I'd say 6 hole.

Eric, I don't think people are painting Bradley in a bad light because his injury history, reduced playing time, and statistics are exactly what they are. He has a history that doesn't promote him as an everyday in the field player (i.e., not really an NL player), but more of a DH/platoon guy to keep him healthier and in playing condition for longer stretches thoughout the season. His history is what it is. He can't deny that and neither can his supporters or critics.

The trainers and physicians are not miracle workers. If a player's body is consistently breaking down each year and only good for a certain amount of games, then maybe it's just his body and perhaps that means that a player like that isn't an everyday player and where applicable needs a platoon partner. He's not one of those guys that should be given a big contract. That's not foresight, that's just recognizing a consistent history with a player.

Bradley needed to protect his image and that's why he needed to blow up in his first home AB? Really? Are you seriously trying to sell that reason? First impressions are important..and he didn't make the best one. Regardless of the suspension I still would have thought it a bad move on his part to not know how to get his point across but still leave himself available for his team. All players should know better than getting that close to the ump especially if there is the possibility of questionable contact being made. Why put yourself that close to a possible suspension and potentially hurt your team with your lack of availability to use your skills and talents? He could have said his thoughts as he walked back to the dugout and still kept himself available to the team.

And, I would gladly eat crow served by Bradley.

I really wish you guys would get off Milton Bradley's ass, and by extension JH for signing him. I can tell some of you have done your homework very carefully in order to paint him in a bad light, but that's just the thing... you've made up your mind FIRST to not like him, THEN find bad things to report about him. Look at him objectively for a split second, will ya?

If you're worried that he's going to be plagued with injuries, and that they will limit his playing time, that's not MB's fault. He should play with as much intensity as he can, running the bases and patrolling RF. The trainers, nutritionists and physicians should be the ones helping him to be stronger and healthier. Isn't that what we're paying THEM for?

He only had 379 AB's last year, but what would his numbers look like if he got as much playing time as Ramirez (554 AB's)? I'm too lazy to spell it all out for you here, but I just did all the math, and his numbers are very Ramirez-like, even much better in some categories. Factor in his .327 BA and .446 OBP and .583 SLG, along with the fact that he was an all-star... all he needs is to be given a chance to be someone's everyday starter, and I think JH found a diamond in the rough.

And as for his tantrum the other day, if not for the fact that he BARELY brushed the ump, which I do not believe was his intent, I totally understood where he was coming from:

1.) It was his first at bat in front of his new fans.

2.) Bases loaded

3.) Playing our biggest rival

4.) Tie game

5.) The called 3rd strike WAS a horseshit call.

I believe he needed to make a scene in order to PROTECT his image in front of the fans and sports-writers, many of whom were already salivating for a chance to call him a bum. Had he just hung his head and walked back to the dugout, you guys would be calling him a non-clutch chump. First impressions are very important. If he had stayed another centimeter back, there would be no suspension or fine and you guys wouldn't have had anything bad to say about him.

Like Neil said, give the man a chance before you're calling for his head. My prediction is that he'll have a great year, will lead the team in some offensive categories, and will be serving you crow on a silver platter by the All-Star break.

Glad to be here Neil, thanks again for the opportunity!

Nate...thank you for a great job. And Welcome aboard!

Aaron, Aaron....Take a couple of aspirin and try to make the pain go away. Or grab some smelling salts and shake the stars you're seeing--if you fell and hit your head.

I think I just firgured out your conspiracy. You are not 10-games-and-done Ryno's dad, but you might be slow-news-day and-stir-up-controversy Neil's dad. You are trying to boost readership for your son's website. Why else would you stop the elevator short of the upper floors? LOL

The only answer that matters about JH's moves are, "Are we winning a lot more than we used to". Of course, he's not perfect, since he has to depend on foresight--and stuff does happen. (Can we all say, "In a short series.")

But how much has that Yankee Juggernaut you applaud won in recent years? You also seem to forget that Z got 5 years and $90 mil awhile back. Lee isn't holding him back; and, at a modest $13 mil, Lee left money on the table so he could be the butt of your criticism. (I guess you and Ryno have to leave him in the 3 hole based upon his performance the first 10--since you write Bradley off over the same sample of games.) I think it's time for Lee in the 5 or 6 hole and Lou will move him there when it's just a little more obvious.

It's a little hard to figure how JH's "precise moves that lead to mediocrity" got us to the playoffs the last two years--especially with all of the roster dogs you see wearing blue. I thought mediocre in MLB terms was defined as 75 to 85 wins.

By your definition, JH has made a couple more mediocre moves for this season. He may need another one or two for us to win the NLCS and get to the Series. I say, "Bring on mediocrity--like a solid lefty in the pen!!

We're still in the hunt. And why don't you enjoy the happy possibilities until the wheels fall off the bus. GIVE HOPE (BRADLEY and GREGG) A CHANCE. I know that it's possible the wheels will fall off--but mediocre looks at least encouraging right now. And it's not necessary for you to pimp for your son, Neil!

RynoTiger,

Are you my son I never met? LOL...I'm on the same thought process as you.

Bradley was a horrible signing, and I thought his defense was average at best to begin with, which totally negated all the negative talk about Dunn's defense. While I appreciate and acknowledge Ibanez's accomplishments thus far in the early going...he is older, and more prone to regressing as the season progresses. Adam Dunn, on the other hand, would've come cheaper---believe me...playing on a competitive team, he probably would've accepted less considering he wanted to play for the Cubs anyway.

Milton Bradley, while he brings fire and energy, has never had any consistency in the big leagues, which was my common complaint of Hendry with the big contracts to Lee, Soriano, and Dempster. He seems to highly reward mediocrity.

Think ARAM doesn't realize how much Hendry paid for Soriano's inconsistencies? Think Z didn't pay attention either when he rewarded Lee? In a few years, we'll have to pay a king's ransom to retain those two---our most consistent players, because of the idiotic contracts Hendry doled out for Lee, Soriano, and Dempster...not to mention the past signing of Marquis.

Rewarding mediocrity does not fall in line with the "swagger" that Piniella has so desperately sought since he signed on board. Piniella needs consistent players. You can count on consistency. We all love to pencil in guy's production before every season, isn't that right, Neil?

We love to say:

"ARAM is good for 30 hr, 110 RBI, Z is good for 15 wins and a sub 4 ERA...blah, blah, blah...."

but wait....that's actually ALL you really can pencil in for this Cubs team.

Soriano-we could get 18 hr and 70 RBI, or we could get 46 hr and 104 RBI (using his highs and lows)*there's no consistency there

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriaal01.shtml?redir

Lee-we could get 17 hr and 70 RBI, or we could get 46 hr and 107 RBI (his one and only year of more than 32 hr and 98 RBI)

Fontenot-who knows...too little to go off of

Fukudome-ditto

Theriot-ditto

Bradley-are you kidding me?!?!?

Soto-too little to go off of

Lilly and Marmol (though his data is also pretty short) might be the only other players you can think of that you might be able to count on for their career averages.

Dempster, Harden, and Marshall all have incomplete or injury filled histories. Gregg, Cotts, Patton, Vizcaino, Heilman, and Guzman are ALL over the board in terms of consistency.

I think you look across the board at all the major market teams, and you'll find more than a handful of consistent players.

Just think of the Yankees:

Jeter, Posada, Teixeira, Sabathia, Burnett, Rivera, Matsui, Damon, etc.

Red Sox:

Ortiz, Drew, Varitek, Papelbon, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lowell, Wakefield, etc.

Those teams don't sign guys with the peaks and valleys that we do. Some may wonder why we can never have a consistent winner on the North Side...well that's precisely why. When management (Hendry) wakes up, and realizes that it's okay to let the flavors of the month (aka Lee and Dempster) walk, in favor of re-signing Wood (who found his comfort zone in relief, and though oft-injured, was always consistent numbers-wise), and getting guys like Abreu, Dunn, Randy Johnson, etc. who have proven they can do it over extended periods of time, then we'll finally be a juggernaut.

There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have a consistent playoff-bound juggernaut of a team. Look at our fan base for crying out loud. We fill stadiums on the road, and we always sell out at home. We're a national draw, but at the same time....we're on the wrong side of so many jokes. Ever wonder why? It's lack of consistency. The only thing ever consistent about Cubs Nation...is the fans...and while that's exciting to know that so many of us root so hard for our team, it's a little disheartening to know that leadership at the top is beyond idiotic.

Andy MacPhail was part of the problem, and so is Hendry. You may laud him for bringing the likes of Soriano, Dempster, Bradley, etc. on board, but those are precisely the moves that land you in mediocrity and will catch up to you if you don't watch out.

We need more moves like he made that landed us ARAM and Lofton after he robbed the Pirates blind, and less of the moves that handcuffs the team---Lee signing, Marquis signing, Bradley signing, Gregg trade, etc.

Aaron, you had me until you said Zambrano was one of the Cubs most consistent players. Far from it and his performance since last July is most concerning.

The Cubs need an ace and until Zambrano grows up, they will not have one.

I talked about tomorrow's article tonight on the show with Brian, wait until you read Zambrano's stats since July 19, 2008.

My biggest issue with the contracts handed out is not the length or amount, it is all of the no-trade clauses. There is one reason that DeRosa and Marquis was traded, neither had a no-trade clause...

Give Bradley a little more time..and please get off the Adam Dunn wagon, his offense does not make up for his defense.

Hey guys, thanks for positive feedback. I agree with JimK and I think Fox is an AL player trapped in a NL organization. Fox just doesn't play any one position well enough and in the majors you can't just hide someone in the field, because one way or another he will get exposed. I think the best case scenario would be to trade Fox to the AL. Interesting match ups too on the trades JimK. And to Jim C. I am not Nate Spears, that would be cool,, but if I were him I don't know if I would have the time to do too much of this stuff. Thanks again for the positive comments! Go Cubs

Even a lesser genius than most of us, JH, knows that Indy's Jake Fox has important trade value. I've been saying he goes to the AL since last winter. It probably takes some settling in for the AL teams likely will decide to get younger and build for the future--as well as JH and Lou being sure of what they need--to get a deal done.

The Jays and Mariners are two likely trading teams--but they are off to good starts. The Angels are underperforming at the plate and could have a useful piece or two for us. If JH wants a lefty starter (moving Marshall to the pen) the on and off, plus lefty, Erik Bedard who has been very good early, is available. If JH wants a lefty reliever, I'd like to see Downs in our pen. If it's a right handed infield bat with some pop, maybe Sean Rodriquez of the Angels.

In the NL, the Giants could have interest in Fox for first base. They are not getting what they expected from Ishakawa and this is Aurelia's last year off the bench. Among their several young middle infielders and lefty pitchers we could do a multiple player deal.

In the AL, Cleveland has an interesting, re-habbing lefty--Jeremy Sowers. He has an 0.00 ERA against lefties and a 1.64 overall. He has walked 2 and struck out 12 in 11 IP. Maybe that means he's a savvy, veteran lefty with control.

Thanks for the farm update. Looks good.

Here's an imporatnt big farm update.

Bradley:

Games-8

At Bats-19

Runs-3

Hits-1

2B,3B-0

HR-1

RBI-1

Total Bases-4

BB-5

SO-4

OBP-.308

SLB-.211

AVG-.053

A different guy we could have signed, say Ibanez:

Games-11 (actually playing all innings)

At Bats-44

Runs-12

Hits-17

2B-4

3B-1

HR-5

RBI-10

BB-4

SO-6

SB-1

OBP-.438

SLG.864

AVG-.386

Just saying. It's an interesting comparison. Especially when Bradley has been sidelined a week now with the groin strain and been available to only pinch hit.

Here's a talk that I bet JH and Lou failed to have with Bradley before the season started:

Hey Milton, we know that in the NL you will have to play in the field which makes this game more demaning on your often injured body and that when playing in the NL you only played in over 100 games just once. So we do expect you to not be able to play in 150, 140, 130, heck probably even 120 games. We suspect you'll play in less games than that. So we don't want to compound you missing games by doing something silly like getting ejected from a game causing you to spend even more time off the field than on or do something even more silly such as getting suspended..well cause that would mean that's just even more games you'll miss. So if you could help us out and make sure you display your emotion in a more professional manner then that would be great. Thanks, Milton.

Yep, I bet they didn't have that talk to bring up those points.

So Milton, the next time you feel like displaying so much emotion over a call, please keep it professional so you can stay in the game, especially since so many people get on Zambrano for showing emotion.

And Milton, if you should get ejected or suspended for such emotional outburts, just remember this...you're taking away from your team's resources and decreasing their ability to win. Plus, you're just proving how ridiculous your contract was in the first place.

Fox only has offense but Gathright has defense and speed.

Nate S:

Nice info. I for one like to keep an eye on the future. By the way, are you Nate Spears?

I think you answered your own question.

Why can't we carry a guy who cannot play any defense (Fox)?

We already carry a guy who cannot play any offense (Gathright)!

If Fox's glove is that suspect than why keep him in our system? He's mashing the ball right now, so why not try to trade him to another team, even an American league team that may have future DH potential for him. I'm just thinking his glove most likely won't improve enough for the Cubs to use him so why not try to to trade him while it still looks like the guy can hit any ball thrown close to the plate?

He's not w/ the big club because his glove is suspect at best anywhere you play him. On the big team he's a PH only & unless you want to carry 11 pitchers, it's hard to carry a guy who just can't give you any defense whatsoever.

Sounds familiar...

I'd rather have the younger Fox than that other guy.

Y THE HECK ISNT FOX UP HERE!? THATS INSANE!!