You have argued your point very well. When you put it that way, hey, you're right, there aren't as many fun tangents as there used to be. I concede.

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The caller that took forever made some valid points but kept upping the stupid by doing things like telling Bernsie to strap on his cleats and running in a giant circle in the end.

Fact is, they probably won't raise more than one home grown pitching prospect. They'll have to get the rest through trades or free agency, at least in order to be competitive next year or 2015. The question will be, could they with a couple of better risky free agent signings have been competitive in this awful division for the next two seasons, snuck into the playoffs and played russian roulette to go to the world series a couple more times? By the time they get good will the division be just as strong around them as they are?

And don't give me the Edwin Jackson is a good signing for later garbage. He's an inconsistent 4th starter on a great team, the only way they get value out of that deal is to flip him.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

You know why there's no lighthearted moments anymore? It's because all the people they could poke at are either gone or off limits. No Mike North. No George Hoffman. No Mike Murphy. No JESSIE ROGERS. No Julie Sweica or Dan Jiggetts or Tommy T-Dub Williams or Dan Zampillo, count burritoula. All they've got left to laugh at in-house is Les. Mac isn't a real target anymore BECAUSE of Jason. Meat is far too sensitive. Mully and Hanley are too vanilla to go after. This is a large reason they're just not as funny anymore. It's all reserved for the callers.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Yeah, he hit all the classics. He even said Bernstein's kid is better than other kids.


By 2015 I take it? Yeah, maybe. Dont discount guys who are on their way to being good starters contributing in the bullpen though




He won 3 playoff games for 2011 WS Champs

The vilification of the non ace starting pitcher continues.

He's a good #4

fair enough...so you pay your 4th starter that kind of money?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Not ideally, but its not crazy.

Would you feel ok with 8 million per year?

here's the thing: bad acquisitions, while they seem like they don't matter in the long run, they still matter. You go out and get Lilly-Bridge, when you could have had either Ryan Theriot or Scott Rolen. As bad as those two guys are, they'd be better than Brent. And you can't plug holes in your bullpen, so you ignore Francisco Rodriguez, Juan Cruz, Roy Oswalt AND heck, Brian Wilson? You can BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND STILL REBUILD. You can take crazy chances, what do you have to lose?! Ian Stewart trade was a bag of baseballs for a bigger bag of baseballs. But Colorado got the BIGGER BAG.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

yes. That is more in line in my mind.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

See I would prefer that money be spent in house. I mean if you're gonna spend, spend to win. If you're not than dont

spent in house how? It comes down to whether you trust the braintrust to spend the money properly or just give it back to the bottom line. And you don't think you could get Rolen or Theriot for cheap? All of those above players are still unsigned.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Yes, now and in the future. But Ricketts cant be trusted. Im talking best case scenario.


I think those guys are unsigned for a reason

I think we can all agree that if the Cubs just signed Scott Rolen and Ryan Theriot then they would be undefetead right now.

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Double post

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But you can afford to spend $11 million on Jackson when Samardzija is making $3M/year. However(comma) I agree it probably makes more sense to flip him for pitching prospects.



Bring back Mike Fontenot too and I absolutely agree.

I wasn't sure which one of your two posts to quote. Obviously neither guy would be acquired to do anything but PLAY BETTER than the current jokes playing part time in the infield. The Cubs are interested in still attracting fans this year and next, I assume?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Now we're fucking cooking with gas.

C: Alomar Jr.
1B: Youkilis
2B: Keppinger
SS: Theriot
3B: Rolen
OF: Soriano
OF: DeJesus
OF: Schierholtz/Hairtson

Plan the motherfucking parade!!!

If those guys were here you would be bitching about them and saying they suck too. Scott Rolen is not the answer unless the question is which former MLB player looked the most like he was taking a crap while he was at the plate.

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Phil, I gotta throw a flag on this one.

Its not just you but we have to stop this.

First of all, there are no two players that guarentee success (other than Mike and Mike)

Secondly, let's not dismiss every thought like that. I mean I agree those guys arent putting them over the top, but CoF didnt say that.

Do you think Scott Rolen and Ryan Theriot are doing anything for this club though? I mean honestly? The hand wringing over Kevin Youkilis and Jeff Keppenger is just mind boggling to me. If Edwin Jackson is bad money what would be paying Keppenger over the next 3 years?

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I'm being defended by RPB. I suddenly feel happy!

I talk about Rolen and/or Theriot and you bring up Youkilis and Keppenger? WHAT? Yes, I believe Ryan Theriot would be better than Brent Lillibridge. IS THAT A CRAZY BASEBALL THOUGHT?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Im not sure about those two guys.

I do think you could spend about 15-20 million on like 4 guys and the team would be about 10 wins better.

No, it's horseshit complaining. Because the 1st complaint is, "Why don't the Cubs go get legitimate players in free agency?" Then when they do in Jackson the complaint is that he's overpaid. Well, shit, that's what happens when you use free agency to stock a team.

That's true, but see my last reply to Phil for how I justify it partially

I didn't say spend a ton of money. I didn't say go get 'legitimate players'. I said Theriot or Rolen over Lillibridge, who can neither hit (.000) nor field his position. I hope you're not talking about me.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Don't you dare put me in a position to defend Brent Lillibridge...I don't think Theo has all of the answers I really don't and I think the Edwin Jackson signing could be a huge mistake I just think its early. I truly believe that the Cubs could have spent as much money as they could possibly handle this offseason and they still would have missed the playoffs and be back to having a bunch of shitty Hendry contracts on the roster.

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they didn't need to spend crazy. They just needed to spend CREATIVELY. Not to win the division, but be more competitive. You know, increase the gate? Get more income because Cubbie fans will hold on to any sliver of competitiveness, spend money, be at the park, etc.? It's not rocket science with this franchise. You didn't need to bury this team. You could take a bunch of injury/old guy risks. They have chosen to bury this team. It was the wrong move.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

and anyone who knocks going after unsigned potentially cheap free agents like Rolen and Theriot is automatically for Lillibridge.

How do you like that line of reasoning?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Anybody who wants Scott Rolen on the Cubs thinks Hitler had the right idea. So I like it just fine.

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Where are these 4 guys going to play though?
1B: no
2B: maybe, but I'd like to see if Barney thing is sustainable and he's probably better value than anything FA wise
SS: no
3B: yes, fine.
LF: no
CF: DeJesus is the exact type we're talking about
RF: yes
SP: Shark, Jackson, Garza
So 4-6 million was spent on "guys" like Feldman, Baker and Villanueva.

So the bitching is about 2 spots: 3B and maybe RF.

Yes, that's 25% of your everyday starters.

Add a professional 3b, RF, and one starting pitcher and the team is a lot better.