Punch and Judy Garland

I think you only take a reliever if you htink it's a sure thing. Matt Anderson and Royce Ring are example sof relievers taken in the first-round who busted. The whole point of taking guys that only relieve is that they would have a low-attrition rate. But, if you can get a Wagner, Cordero, Street-you might want to. To not take one because Royce Ring stunk is dumb. That's like the Tigers not wanting another Weaver or the Bears nto wanting another Michigan receiver. In player development, you need to judge each guy on his own. If his stuff is that good, let's go get him.

Jermaine Dye jersey? You might as well wear a blackhawks jersey.

No offense, but I think this topic is insulting. It's McCarthysim in the cyber age.

I hate the idea of trying to get Cubs fans to switch. I menan you've met them right? Oh well, necessary evil I guess.

Hey Malone, do you have a bette way to kill time before spring training? If we can't have meaningless arguments, the winter seems too long. Also, you are still a little new here so you would have missed the dozens of offseason threads where a contingent of people wanted Jerry Hairston sent here in a trade.

Is Eric Hinske any better than Crediocre? He makes a lot more money as of now and has produuced marginally better. I think Eric will wind up in Cinci sooner or later.

I thought he was traded away in the Freddy Garcia deal.

Yeah I can't see calling Hideki underwhelming. There isn't a team in the league that wouldn't love his bat in their lineup.

I don't think you guys are taking this on the right way. Those are the odds, not because they think we stink, but because if betting interest really. THat's why the Bears and Packers always have too high of SB odds in the preseason-because their fans will put money on them no matter what. Instead of being mad at the book, you should be upset with fellow fans for not having faith to bet on the team. I, for one, wouldn't put much money on them just because there are 80 some odd years of history staring me in the face.

Why do you think that all of the sudden Frank isn't goign to hit? I mean, I guess it's possible but I don't see any evidence that would lead me to believe that. Franks is not really that old, and has plenty of good baseball left in him. After the Sox embarassing treatment of Carlton Fisk, I think the Sox will be better with Frank. I do wish that KW would get off his case a little bit this year. Frank has been portrayed as a much worse guy/athlete than he really is.

I think Frank can still hit at a high level. I think, as is, he is a better hitter than Paul. This is not just out of sentimentality either. As for defense, we have to play a DH every game. Ask Texas how much it sucks to not have a great hitting DH.

I htink teams like the Angels and Twins have shown a model that is just as effective as the obp model for playing offense. When I say it's the most overrated stat, it's not because it's not important. But everybody and their motehr became a Bill James-clone when the Lewis book came out and I think that obp stats aren't really doing what some claim them to do.

I would disagree with oyu on this. I'd much rather have the Hurt than Konerko. Frank is one of the bet hitters to ever play the game, still can hit at a high level, and deserves to finish his career where it started.

In fact I would go as far as to say that obp is one of the more overrated stats.

I would take Podz. OBP is overrated in a way with some leadoff men because a bad one can be negated by being a great stolen base threat. If you offered me a 320 obp with 75 steals or a 360 obp with 35 steals, I'll take the steals. Welcome to soxtalk.com!

The game will not have a cap in our lifetime. Baseball can't afford to go on strike/lockout, which is the only way for a cap to be implemented. I think saying the mlb is going to die in the next 15-20 years without a cap is just plain wrong. The game is at peak popularity and baseball will continue to thrive. ALso, the Carlos EBltran deal taught us there is a ca in place, it's about 200 mil.

they lose a bad clubhouse guy though. I think it had to be done. Will Sosa really not interfere with Miggy Tejada though? It's his team.

very funny

I believe in JD's ability but not his heart. If you can't make it in St. LOuis, you have character issues. Now that the carrot of free agency is no longer in front of him, He might not play 600 games durings his 5 year deal.

If healthy, it is a nice deal. I would take a healthy Maggs over comparable salaries like Garrett Anderson and JD Drew.

I was at a game when a line-drive hit him in the leg and he had to leave the game. Naturally, the half-price night/upper deck drunks wildly cheered as he writhed in pain. Not the finest moment for Chicagoans. Overall, he had a nice career.

For what it's worth, Hendry is an outstanding GM. I think I'd rank the top 5 gms in the league this way: 1. Larry Beinfest 2. Terry Ryan 3. Brian Sabean 4. John Schuerholz 5. Jim Hendry I'm still baffled about how good of a job he did getting Nomar last year. As for the Sox fan who was down in the dumps about the lightning rods being gone-I know what you mean., This is compunded by the exit of Chip who could turn Cal Ripken into a heel with just his announcing. However, I think Dusty, Prior, WOod, and Zambrano will fill those shows nicely.

I think the fact that this came from the World's Greatest Newspaper adds weight to it. ESPNews has picked it up in the bottom corner.

Jackie Jones isn't that great anyways. I bet if they play Hunter, Furd, Restovich, and the other Vanilla Midgets-they will be fine

Hendry has stated that he won't just pay the whole 16. Maybe if he gets Julio (who they could use) he will move a bit on that. THe more the Cubs get, the more of the tab they will have to pay.