I think you are calling for way too much "creative destruction" of the current roster, Aaron. It's a big if, but if the Z and Soriano trades I mentioned could be made, we would be a top competitor again in 2011. And we would be a team on the grow in 2010.

There is such a thing as organizational honor, which in itself becomes part of the fabric of winning organizations. There is no reason that DLee can't finish out next year with the Cubs. Nothing about his contributions (still) make him a serious impediment to winning. No reason to move Demp. I would like to move Bradley and Dome, but Dome could be an acceptable spare OF--if need be.

As you know, I've annointed Fox to be the second coming of Hank Sauer in LF. And Micah (fully) takes over for Lee in 2011. Sean Rodriquez has lost some favor with me because he has too many strikeouts. He does have (I think) 20 HR's so far this season.

I did read the SI piece on how life ends at 34. (Hell, I was hoping it was 84.) You will notice too that, as you get older, old gets older! Yes, skills do wane, but I note that a bunch of notable "late" performers were left out of the SI article--guys whose work at 35, 36 and 37 was quite in keeping with their earlier work. They included, Musial, Ruth, T. Gwynn, Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron and our own Mark Grace. There are multiple exceptions on the age rule--as the SI article points out.

Agonizing concern over JH or someone trading the farm for crap is too much concern. He did get 3 prospects and saved %5 mil in the DeRo deal. LOL

Aaron....My take on some of the guys you mention in terms of commitment: Gregg and Heilman are so-so big leaguers who are OK for a disappointing 2009. Patton cost zip and is judged to have a future in years to come. He has to stay. Marmol is going to pitch himself into the closer's role right where he is--come hell or high water--even as that has cost us a few games 2009.

Ascaino, Hart, Samardzija and Guzman too are judged to be developmental projects mainly looking at 2010 and beyond. That development can take place at AAA and the bigs, and their assignments point that out. Guys like Gaub, Cashner, Jackson and a few others are still a year or so away, as I know you know. We're blessed with some very good young arms, and one or two could be included in a trade.

I know my scenario suggests that we aren't pulling out all of the stops to win this year. I suspect that unannounced game plan emerged when we had so many performance issues early. The loss of Aram, I think, pushed management' outlook more to 2010.

but that's just my thing..."We're blessed with some very good young arms"...I fear that if we do use them in trades, it'll be like the one for Gregg, where we traded a fireballer named Ceda. Or, perhaps, it'll be for some 36 year old position player that's well past his prime, and we're trading Jay Jackson...I mean, that's the type of deal Hendry is known for around the league. It's like the Steve Trachsel trade, which was absolutely laughable trading somewhat useful prospects at the time (Scott Moore and Rocky Cherry) for him.

I agree that guys like Gaub, Jackson, and Cashner are a year or so away, but if management is tanking this season (which it appears they are), then they HAVE to trade our veterans NOW before they lose all of their value next year and during the offseason. Guys like Lilly, Dempster, Gregg, Heilman, Lee, Soriano, Fukudome, etc. must go in order to salvage 2010. Does that make sense?

If you look at the article I posted regarding Bill James research, I think it's absolutely ludicrous to think that at age 34, Lee and Soriano will bounce back, and have anything close to a decent season. Or, at age 33, "FUNKO"Dome will learn how to hit. Additionally, we know what happens to starting pitchers as they age, and Dempster and Lilly will be 34 as well.

So, that's why I say, blow this damn thing up NOW...rather than wait. Because teams simply aren't going to want to take on those contracts over the winter. They need players like Lilly, Lee, and Dempster now....perhaps even an AL team could use Soriano now in a DH role. Whatever the case may be, next season will be lost if we don't trade these guys now, and if, by chance we're able to unload them, it's quite possible that we might even make the playoffs this year.

Z, Harden, Wells, Marshall, Ascanio/Samardzija/Jackson/Heilman/Hart in the 5th starter's role.

Hoffpauir goes to 1B, Fox goes in LF, and with ARAM back, we don't lose much at all, not to mention Lilly and Dempster would garner a very decent return, and we could plug those guys in immediately on the roster.

Teams like the Angels and Phillies have such acute problems in their rotation, that they'd be glad to trade whatever we wanted.

Heck, Jim, you'd even be able to get your wish of Sean Rodriguez from the Angels, and I could get my wish of Michael Taylor from the Phillies. We might even be able to land Matt Cain for Lee and another prospect, and all of a sudden, you have your replacement for trading Lilly and/or Dempster. It's very logical to make these trades. it's just a matter of convincing 3 of the 4 players (Lee, Demp, and Soriano) to waive their no-trades. Judging by Soriano's comments, I doubt he'd have a problem doing so. Demp might not because of his daughter's condition...and who knows with Lee

Me three Jim...

I don't get this move at all. Even though the Shark did well for us last year, it was almost like Marmol and Gregg whenever he came into the game. You knew he was going to walk people, and put us in a very difficult position. More times than not, he got out of it (or Marmol would for him)...but not this year. I like how his fastball moves, but unlike Z at similar ages, Samardzija hasn't learned to harness that fastball like Z was able to do.

As for Suzy S.'s comment about other teams doing what the Cubs do (regarding putting starters in the pen)...while this might be true, the Cubs, like the White Sox, damage the psyche of a lot of their young pitchers by under-using them in the pen, then shuttling them back and forth between AAA and the big club when they give up a few runs. The Cubs, for some strange reason have shown a tremendous amount of commitment to Patton, Marmol, Heilman, and Gregg through their significant struggles, while they're quick to demote Cotts, Ascanio, Hart, and others if they struggle. I think Ascanio and Hart have some of the best pure stuff in our entire organization, but they're overlooked in favor of the crappy, overpaid Gregg and Heilman.

A pen with the likes of: Gaub, Ascanio, Hart, Guzman, and Marmol would be amazing...fill in the other spots with Samardzija and Marshall for all I care...maybe even Cashner (depending on how he does in AA), and we're set. Say we trade Marshall....and brought up Cashner and Gaub...we'd have 7 guys in our pen that threw mid-to-high 90's, excellent breaking pitches, and could strike out anybody at any time if they needed to do so.

That's the type of athletic, flame-throwing pen that strikes fear in other teams, just as the Dodgers pen does. My goodness, if you threw Cashner, Guzman, and Marmol at them at the end of the game, you could kiss the other team's chances goodbye. Cashner, in relief throws 97-99 mph, Guzman sits in the 95-97 mph range with an excellent slider, while we all know how nasty Marmol would be at the back end (especially if he can repeat last night's performance). The Shark also throws 97-99 mph in relief...so, technically, if you went from the 6th on, you'd have the Shark, Cashner, Guzman, Marmol...WOW!!! See what I mean though? I know I'm repeating myself, but if you added Ascanio, Hart, and Gaub to that mix, we might just have some nights where our pen K's like 9-10 guys, which we all know is so key late in games.

A parade for trade?

Yah I would of to, to me Hart has trouble in the MLB level. He shows me nothing.

Me too Jim.

I would have sent Hart down instead.

Is he going to start? No? Way to ruin him then, you jackasses. God I hate this team sometimes. I bet the Shark was wishing he chose the NFL around now.

for $10 million and a $2 million sign-on bonus, i highly doubt he's regretting his decision

Keep in mind that $12 million would be multiplied by 3 to get his NFL 1st round Receiver contract...at minimum.

Boseph, don't forget...Ascaino is really a starter too...all mlb teams do this to their young arms...unless they need a starter.