Again - I think the problem comes from the fact that we are looking at things from a different perspective. You (& Rick I guess) repeating the same damn fantasy opinion over and over again without using the actual results and standings is not "being taken to task" in my world.

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It is clear now, there are two big problems with this offense, and they are Soriano (no matter what position he is in the lineup) and Ramirez. And I've been a Ramirez backer for a long time. But these two guys feast on bad pitching all year long. Good pitchers know how to get them out. Thus they will never perform for you in the playoffs, no matter how many times you get there. It's not that they choke. It has nothing to do with pressure. It's just that they just aren't good enough against above-average pitchers.

Of course, the catch-22 is, they are both big reasons the Cubs have gotten to the playoffs at all the past two seasons.

The other obvious problem is, how do you go about replacing them? Soriano is unmovable, unless you eat a huge, huge portion of his contract. Which restricts your ability to sign a big name to replace him. Ramirez probably has trade value, but it will probably be very tough to find a quality replacement at third base (I still think he's underrated in the field).

What I don't understand is why Theriot is not allowed to hit leadoff. I know all the standard answers, "OMG he's not teh prototypical leadoff man!!1!!11". No kidding, but look around the league. The days of the 1985 Vince Coleman are over. One of our fine radio hosts pointed out "there's no way you can bat him leadoff with his weak on-base pct". Er, wasn't he at or above .400 all season? What do you want? Outside of the fact that he doesn't strike fear and terror into the heart of pitchers around the world and hasn't cracked the .500 OPB mark, why can't he hit #1?

I would also trade DeRosa, as much as I like him. You've got to sell high, and you gotta believe this was his peak season. You can probably get some value for him.

I would take Dunn in a heartbeat over lee.

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dp-lee for matt cain, thats my prediction.

I'm not sure you would have to...

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

Well, they need to do something and anyone who is getting excited about the raul ibanez rumors is a idiot, because that guy makes dunn look like a gold glover in the field.

But does he make Soriano look like a gold glover?

Ibanez is a solid player, and would provide some power from the left side for the Cub. He's been 20+ HRs and near 100 RBI almost every year on shitty Seattle teams

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what I meant was that you could go get Dunn and still keep Lee...move Fukudome to center (if he's even playing full time next year) and put Dunn in right. If you really want him, that is...

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

How about a trade with the Baltimore Orioles where the Cubs swap Derek Lee, Mark DeRosa and Sean Marshall for Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts. Then, the Cubs move Theriot over to second base (His arm is not really great) and put Markakis in Right field and sign Rafael Furcal to play short. First base would go to Micah Hoffpauir. They would greatly improve team speed and could have either Roberts or Furcal hit out of the leadoff position, with the other one batting second and Theriot batting 8th. For Baltimore, it gives them a big upgrade at 1st over Millar, a solid second baseman to replace Roberts and a much needed starting pitcher. I would rather give up Marquis in the deal, but Baltimore would want the lower salaried pitcher, with a possibly higher ceiling. The biggest question would be, what to do with Fukadome. But from what I saw the 2nd half of last year, this would be a deal I would love to see.

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Go Cubs!!!!

No way in the world Baltimore does that deal.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Why do meatball Cub fans (i.e., elmhurst steve) seem to have a hard on for trades with the Orioles?

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how about you not trade Lee or anyone else and just target Roberts and Furcal, making sure you get one of them? Aren't they both free agents?

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

From mlb.com:

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

ah. I do betcha McPhail will want an avalanche of prospects again...

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

Lee has a no trade clause, so if he is going to lift that clause, it will only be to a west coast team from what I have read. Roberts would be nice, but I am sooooooooo tired of hearing about it, I would take him over the injury prone furcal. They have some pieces to make a decent trade or two this year, the hot stove league should be busy.

I would def want Roberts over Furcal, but I am not getting my hopes up.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

elmhurst steve
RodeoVann = match

just joking, RV...

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

RV-I like the Peavy thought, but Dunn is a disaster in the outfield and Crisp has no power to speak of and a true puss-arm. He's too much like Lance Johnson/Juan Pierre in that reguard. If we had a DH in the NL, I would love to see Dunn play at the Shrine though. Sheffield ave. would see a lot more baseballs.

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Go Cubs!!!!