fathom

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:54 AM) And you are basing this on what? How do you know what kind of player this guy is gonna be. He is a total gamble. And for 13 mil a year, I'm glad we passed on him. Now if he tirns out to be another Ichiro, then I will have no problem saying I was wrong. But I would rather have Rowand at 5/70 than this guy. To be honest, it has little to do with my opinion on Fuku, and more to do about how I think Rowand is an average player.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:51 AM) Great ... then why don't you just say that, instead of all your cloak-and-dagger BS about how you'll tell the board why he'd sign with the Cubs after he signs? Who cares what you told another poster. Why don't you be more forthcoming instead of all your hide behind the curtain BS? (speaking for several board members who PM me when I stand up to your cloak and dagger crap). It's a message board. Cut the "I told you so" crap. No one's impressed. Please tell the board what the Mitchell report will say and how it will affect the White Sox. You have been tip toeing around it for months now. Come clean, tell us what your Baseball America brother has to say about it. To the board ... pardon my bluntness. To fathom, cut the cloak and dagger crap ... if you're going to post, spill and stop worrying about covering your ass. We're not allowed to speculate on players who did steroids. That was established a long time ago on here.

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:51 AM) I live in the south suburbs, and have nothing but friends who are Cub fans, so I know how it gets, trust me. The media loves the Cubs and always will. I just learn to deal with it. But this by no means makes them stronger in my eyes. This guy is totally unknown, and to take a 13 million dollar a year for 4 years gamble, isn't worth it. I'm glad we didn't get into a bidding war for this guy. Since money's not an issue for them really, isn't he an upgrade over J. Jones? Don't forget that this also means they're likely going to have more prospects to be able to land Roberts, as MacPhail seems intent on finally helping the Cubs in his MLB career.

KW failed last offseason, he failed last season, and he's doing awful so far this season. Can't we promote him to some higher position, and let someone else take over? Something that's killed us in our trade chances this offseason is how bad all the young arms we acquired last year have been.

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:44 AM) We do have a corner spot open. Left field. no one came out and said Quentin was gonna start, hell he might not even be ready for opening day. There is no way I would sign this guy for 13 Million a year for 4 years, the guy hasn't proved anything in this league. If KW would have done that the majority of people on here would have said he overpaid because he lost out on Hunter and Cabrera. KW was smart not to get this guy. Too much money for an unproven player. Rowand will get more than that, and Fuku will likely put up a VORP just as good, if not better.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:43 AM) They are trying to fix the bullpen. They really need to switch managers and they can be a sweet team. Getting rid of Estrada was a great first step. I wonder if they'll have their closer ready to go the first few weeks?

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:42 AM) This should make you happy, it'll give you something to complain about all baseball season. Please ... is everything "the Cubs are great, woe is us"? No, I'll also have the pathetic White Sox season to complain about. I know you're the optimist when it comes to the franchise....but I just see so many weaknesses from the top of the organization on down. I don't know why you're attacking me on this. If I was wrong on my Fuku information, then you could have roasted me.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:41 AM) I don't know if you live in the Chicago area, but its really a pain in the ass when the Cubs have a good team. Its freaking everywhere. Let's go Brewers!

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:39 AM) BS. How much can you possibly flip flop? You are the guy who said you'd be happy he'd sign with the Cubs, you're more happy now since this is what you predicted. Face it, you're happy when you're miserable. That the Cubs hired some Japanese guys ... is this the cloak-and-dagger "I can't tell" information you said you'd reveal? LOL. If so, why was this so "top secret"? Come out of the closet, fathom, we all know your brother works for Baseball America. In reality, money talked. Again. No, I also know the HR manager over there at Wrigley. I said I'd be happy if the Cubs overpaid for him, and cost them going after someone like Josh Hamilton. Trust me, I'm not happy about anything right now in regards to baseball. Ask GPratt...I told him this stuff last week. I said I was sure he was going to the Cubs, and it was 100 pct trustworthy information.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:38 AM) Somehow, I get the feeling we'll be happy missing out on every one of these CF contracts given out so far. Maybe not the Jones one, but all the other ones...eesh. I would have been happy if we signed him to a 4 year, 52 million dollar deal if there was a corner spot open.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:36 AM) Ha. Well so much for him desperate for a 3 year deal. $13M a season is a lot for an unproven OF in the MLB, but that's the current market. Right now it looks like Rowand for the Sox, unless they want to get back in the Crisp negotiations. I'll be shocked if we acquire Pierre fathom. All the signs are there: - We need a CF - We need a leadoff hitter - Dodgers don't want him - Ozzie loves him

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:34 AM) Who cares. Well, we're discussing a player that just signed with a team. It's no different than discussing the Angels lineup after they got Hunter, etc. Kudos to Balta though....he posted this before any of the Cubs sites did.

If the Cubs end up getting Roberts in a deal for Marshall, Gallagher, and Murton, they're going to have to be considered the clear favorites in the NL Central, and probably the NL.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:26 AM) KW though is caught between a rock and a hard place. He promised a dynamic offense. He said he's going for it. Then people had to pay their season ticket money on that premise. He needs to rebuild starting now, but if he does, he will lose a lot of credibility with what's left of the bandwagoners, and some others as well. Sadly, you know which route KW thinks would make the fans forgive him.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:24 AM) You're ok making that statement, even though I assume you haven't seen an inning of him on D? No, but that's what everyone was saying about him at the Winter Meetings. The comments from Hillman, who's seen him more than anyone in the majors, weren't exactly glowing about his ability in CF.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:24 AM) That's the way the market is going. The White Sox are eventually going to have to pay that kind of money or become Pittsburgh. They really need to back up the truck and get some young talent. Building through the draft is a great idea, but it will take a very long time. Instead of draft picks you have to pay millions to, trade for a couple who already have received their bonuses and have shown they can play. This organization is a disaster right now...that's all that needs to be said. KW needs to go.

4 years, 52 million dollar deal. Not terrible...Rowand will get more.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:21 AM) We dont need him frankly. Nothing is going to make us a contender short of a miracle. The cubs rack up yet another albatross of a contract. Well said! I feel bad for Buehrle right now...no way did he re-sign thinking that the team would be in such a bad position just a few months later.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:21 AM) Paying him big money and expecting him to be good makes a lot more sense than the White Sox GM saying the pitching will not be a problem the way the staff is currently configured. This move made a lot more sense for the Cubs than it did for the Sox. As long as the Cubs had to pay a substantial price for Fuku, I don't really mind.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:19 AM) Ha. When its 5/65, we dont exactly "lose" You know what I mean....it's just another person to cross off the list, and gets us one step closer to Pierre/Owens. I just pray that KW doesn't make any decisions in the next 24 hours.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:17 AM) As we talked about earlier, this one hurts, but the dragging out of all this process did sour me a bit. Either way, he seemed like the perfect fit for this team..... How so? He's a disaster in CF.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:15 AM) Some where Fathom is happy for some reason.... No, not happy at all. Cubs get better, and Sox lose out on another target. The reason that I knew he was signing with the Cubs is that the Cubs hired a handful of Japanese workers in the last few weeks to help with the transition. The Fuku/Cubs thing has been a lock for quite a while.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:14 AM) No link yet, just stated during the Bulls Radio broadcast, citing Bruce Levine I'm stunned! Hopefully they overpaid, and he's a bust.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 02:48 AM) I wonder if the media storm will rain down on the cubs for not making moves as the Brewers will be better simply by gaining experience while the cub will be older and the Reds have made some nice moves if they make this. The Cubs will like make a flurry of moves soon.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 06:04 PM) What could we give Cinci? Gio and Sweeney