Could it be true?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

And spend 150M this year? Never thought I'd see the day that the Cubs really opened up the checkbook to Yankee like money.

never happen, i cant believe what the dodgers paid for pierre. i think the dodgers are "buying" into the ex-cubs factor

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"Stay out of courtrooms-but if you must go in be Well Armed and Don't compromise. You are innocent, remember that. They are guilty" -- Dr. Gonzo

No shit. I want a bag of what those fuckers are smoking. Their stuff must make Northern Lights look like schwag.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Feeling good on the Lilly call and I think floyd will be here too

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

The Cubs are a stupid version of the Yankees. At least the Yankees spend the big money on marquee names.

Do you mean someone like Alfonso Soriano?

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My Maserati does 186.

No, I mean De Rosa and Lilly so far. You could probably throw Howry and Eyre in there as well.

There were maybe 3 marquee names - Zito, Schmidt, and Soriano. Also, Ramirez would have been highly sought after as well.

Did they overpay for Lilly? Yes and no. Yes based on talent alone but no based on the market. The Cubs have no farm system (a discussion unto itself). So the facts are they have to sign people if they want to be better next year. They don't have the luxury of sitting around waiting for bargains. They tried that last year and ended up "overpaying" for Juan Pierre.

I'll give you the DeRosa thing. I don't understand that.

Soriano is the big free agent signing and I'm glad they got him. It is a lot of time and money. I'm more worried about the length but, screw it, if they can win in the next 3 years.

I thought the Eyre and Howry signings were good and at a reasonable price. In fact I thought they should have traded them last year because they could have gotten some value due to the low price and length of their contracts. Now, I'm glad they didn't trade them.

I do wonder if they couldn't have worked something out for Freddy Garcia however. I don't think the Sox got as much for him as I thought they would.

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My Maserati does 186.

My point is not really about overpaying. My point is that you don't overpay for mediocre players. Better to pay the 15 million for Zito and have an incredible front of the rotation than 10 million for Lilly who may very well be a .500 pitcher with a +4 ERA.

I believe the Cubs will absolutely dread Soriano's presence in 5 years. However, you can live with that because he is a difference maker today.

Mike and Mike had a Yankee broadcaster on today. He made a great point. In a year or two all of these free spenders are going to be looking to dump contracts and the Yankees will be the most obvious location for those contracts. The Yankees have the benefit of watching whether these guys pan out and then can jump on a deal at a time when they need a player.

I did misunderstand your point. I guess you're saying that, in a way, they still are bargain shopping (paying a lesser pitcher like Lilly $10M instead up stepping up for Schmidt/Zito) and doing it badly. That is an interesting idea.

I guess I had figured they weren't going to step up and sign every marquee FA and the reason I was OK with Lilly is I think he is a 13-15 win guy.

If they only needed 1 starter I would rather they get Schmidt or Zito. But they need 2 and I figure Lilly and Meche is better than just one.

UPDATE - As I write this I see that Meche signed with KC.

So, now I do feel more like we should have signed a bigger fish. So, yes I'd rather have Zito than Lilly. Maybe we'll get Zito and Lilly.

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My Maserati does 186.

The one good thing about Lilly is that he is an AL guy coming over to the NL. You can expect a decrease in ERA and probably at least as many wins. I truely believe Garcia will win 20 next year for the Phils. I also believe it was time for him to go.

Of course not. You are a Cubs fan and subconsciously enjoy them being a lovable loser.

102-63 doesn't look like a .500 pitcher to me. Plus, he's been durable, so I'm not sure where your DL comment came from. I'd be happy if the Cubs landed him...but it won't happen.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

You just paid 40 million to a man whose entire career has been spent at .500.

The Yankees wanted Rameriz and Lilly. It was the Cubs and Yankees bidding on Lilly. Yankees GM couldn't put the deal together fast enough and he signed with the Cubs.

I am just glad they are trying to get better. Funny to see the same people complain the Cubs where cheap in the past complain that they are overspending this year.

Which is exactly the point. You still paid a ton of money for a guy who is assuredly going to be mediocre instead of paying more for a guy who is occasionally mediocre. I will take one Zito and plug an untested player in the other spot over a Lilly and a Meche.

Go for all the Meche, Lilly, Maddux you want. They will make you nothing more than an average team at their absolute best. Zito on the other hand can make you a true contender.

But this is the loser mentality Nas. You are already into a pitcher for an outrageous chunk of money. Why not get yourself somebody who could be great.

[quote="Juiced Funny to see the same people complain the Cubs where cheap in the past complain that they are overspending this year.[/quote]

No, the funny thing is that you would think I am a Cub fan. I am just here as a Cub agnostic Sox fan to give an unbiased view of their moves.

How do you figure Nas. I have no great interest in the Cubs either way, especially during the off season.

If the Cubs don't make the playoffs this year, Hendry will be fired anyway. Might as well go for broke.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Not true. I would prefer them to be just good enough that there eventual defeat brings the greatest amount of pain to their fans.

I do not think Zito would be a good fit for Wrigley. He is a flyball pitcher who has lost some zip on his fastball over the last few years. I would like to see his splits of home and road starts. Oakland is a big ballpark, with a lot of foul territory. I might be wrong, but I would think he has more success at home. I am to lazy to look up the stats, though.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

I don't know where all this love for Zito is coming from. T.Hudson was better then Zito and he has done nothing in ATL. Same goes for M.Mulder. OAK pitchers are way over rated. When J.Santana hits the free market and the Cubs pass him up then we can talk.

Gavin Floyd?

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Damn, nice call Nas.

Nas is right about Zito, he's WAY overpaid, and now out of the rotation for SF. Lilly will give the Cub's numbers as good or better, over the life of his contract. Plus, as NAS pointed out, the Cub's have 60 million to spend on other players. But lump Soriano into the overpaid pile. For a guy who was a 40-40 guy with Washington, he sure looks like a dog when he is going for a flyball these days. He may hit, but as an outfielder, he looks like a disaster. My God Carlos Lee is a better outfielder and would have probably been a better signing for the money. And no, I am NOT a Sox fan trying to start crap. I just don't like Soriano, or the contract they gave him.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I think there is a misperception when it comes to Soriano, and that has to with his "dogging" it. I think it has something to with the way he runs, his legs move in such a way that he appears to be jogging, even when sprinting. Personally I don't think he dogs it, I just think he is a bad fielder. I do find it interesting that Pie being such close friends with Soriano, can't pass on a few helpful fielding tips. He says he plans to take more outfield practice especially on the road.

Let's face it though, he was brought here for his bat. I would like to see the defense get better, but I am not counting on it. If he could be an average fielder, I would be pleased. Once he heats up at the plate, his fielding takes its place on the back burner.

Nas, are you keeping track of all of your opinions on this board Good show!

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