this lineup looks pretty good, but they still need a left-handed run-producer in the middle if you really want to address what ails this team. this order has 2-7 all righty, with no real lefty alternatives off the bench with the exception of fontenot at 2nd. derosa would still get his AB's, given his versatility in the field. i like the ram-lee flip-flop too, it is time for ram to bat third and lee to go down in the order.

Hoffpaur has all the signs of being a GREAT hitter, but I think we seem to forget how bad of an OF he is. He is terrible. Not even good enough to play.

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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.’”

What signs are those? The sign that he's 29 yrs old or the sign that he has 73 ML at bats?

Signs like having 25 homers and 100 RBI at AAA in UNDER 300 at bats!!! Thats less than half a season!!! That translates into 50 and 200, over a full season. If he just gets half that, it would be teriffic. Signs like hitting .342 in the majors as well, this season. Sure he's 28, but the only reason he didn't make it sooner, was he had injuries that derailed him. First Base or DH is probably where he will end up-somewhere. I just wish they could unload D. Lee and his 13.5 million dollar contract and hand 1st base to Hoffpauir now.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I agree with Steve on this. Damn that hurt to say.

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A 28 (he'll be 29 before opening day) year old tearing up AAA doesn't impress me. I'm no fan of Jim Hendry's but I would hope he's not stupid enough to try to win a World Series by replacing one of his teams best hitters with a AAAA flash in the pan.

ok, i can understand the rationale to deal lee, if the possibility arose to UPGRADE the position, or as part of a monster blockbuster deal that brought in major league talent, but i cant even believe that i am reading about making an effort to GET RID of lee to make room for micah hoffpauir.



micah hoffpauir has hit the hell out of the ball in the minors, granted, and even in his limited major league AB's have been pretty good average-wise, but there is NO WAY in HELL i deal derrek lee to make room for him, based on minor league numbers and 73 ML AB's where he hit 2 HRs (both in 1 game i believe) and fanned 24 times. and from what i have heard, there is NO WAY he can play outfield every day, and he isnt exactly a dynamic first baseman. and, if he is such a hot property, how come i have not heard in even one trade rumor his name mentioned as being a top-tier prospect that other teams would be interested in acquiring?

hey, i like what the guy has to offer, and i wished he could have had a better chance to contribute last year (in daryle wards position), but lets not get carried away.

If this kid was on the Sox and hit .342 in his 73 AB's and the way he hit the ball, they would be crying to move Konerko tomorrow.

And to be honest, if D Lee has not been the only one to show up in the playoffs the last 2 years, I would say they can move him 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 desire to deal Lee comes from Lee hitting into a major league leading number of double plays, and producing only 90 RBI, while batting third, on a team that led the National league in runs scored. Plus the fact that he makes 13.5 million to boot. Take that money and go sign Furcal and we have a legit leadoff hitter-which we need. Hoffpauir prodives the left handed stick they need. They move Theriot over to 2nd and DeRosa becomes either the right fielder, or a teriffic utility man. Lee is not a youngster anymore and with the trends he has shown the past 2 years it might be very wise to deal that big salary while they can. If they can. I like Derek Lee a lot. Don't get me wrong. He's a team player. He plays a great 1st base. He's no prima donna. But you can't approach these things from an emotional standpoint. If I could get a solid middle releif pitcher, I make the deal.

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Go Cubs!!!!

the only thing wrong with derrek lee is his place in the batting order. his #3 power is gone. the notion to trade derrek lee for a middle relief pitcher and hand 1st base to micah hoffpauir is absolutely, 100%, patently ridiculous, even if you get furcal (which seems unlikely anyway). you read this board and you would swear the guy hit .230 and had 50 RBI, and is ready for the scrap heap. he hit into a lot of DPs in the first half. in the 2nd half he cleared that up, but every DP he DID hit was blown up into a huge ordeal. the cubs dont need a new 1st baseman, unless mark texiera is all of a sudden interested in coming to the cubs, or some other proven quality left handed 1B comes available. they do need quality bullpen arms, and they need PROVEN everyday left-handed lumber for the middle of the lineup. a new leadoff man is not the top priority.

We will have to agree to disagree. I think a legitimate leadoff hitter is their #1 need. Whether that be Roberts or Furcal, they need one. Freeing up money, is probably the only way to do that. I doubt they will sign Furcal or trade for Roberts, unless they dump some salary elsewhere. Lee no longer runs as well as he used to. He hits with far less power, had WAY to few RBI and hits into FAR too many double plays. If he was making 4-5 million, it would not be so hard to take. But he got the huge contract based on the big year he had when he wound up 2nd in the MVP race. At 13.5 million, he's way overpaid.

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Go Cubs!!!!

no, i disagree to agree to disagree.

Hoffpauir is a bat off the bench and that's IT. He can replace Daryle Ward, not Derrek Lee. See, this is what happens when your organization produces one legit prospect every 25 years or so, you get overexcited about Jason Dubois, or Ronny Cedeno, and now Micah Hoffpauir.

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I say we trade both Lee and Hoffpauir while their values are high....and clear the way for Casey McGehee to play everyday.

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Brewers already snatched McGehee off waivers! They're gonna make us pay with our own! Jason Kendall Redux!

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Where is the panic button when you need it! Without McGehee I am going to have to rethink my stance on this upcoming Cubs sesason. He should have Prince Fielder riding the bench in no time!

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TRADE LEE! TRADE FUKUDOME! TRADE SORIANO! THIS TEAM IS TOTALLY FUCKED UP AND NEEDS TO START REBUILDING IMMEDIATELY! IT IS HOPELESS, THE TEAM IS CLEARLY TERRIBLE AND NEEDS TO BE BLOWN UP! HOFFPAUIER NEEDS TO BE PLAYING EVERYDAY - THEY SHOULD WAIVE LEE AND HAND THE JOB TO HIM! HE IS OBVIOUSLY THE LEFT-HANDED STICK THEY NEED! TRADE ALL OF THE YOUNG PLAYERS AND PROSPECTS FOR JAKE PEAVY, AFTER ALL, STARTING PITCHING WAS THE WEAKNESS OF THIS TEAM! SIGN KERRY WOOD, WITHOUT HIM THE TEAM IS SUNK! DEROSA SHOULD PLAY RIGHT FULL TIME! THERIOT SHOULD PLAY 2ND BASE! SO MANY PROBLEMS, SO MANY HOLES TO FILL, THIS TEAM IS DESTINED FOR FAILURE! IT IS A TOTALLY LOST CAUSE! HOPEFULLY FOR YOUR OWN SANITY ALL OF YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS WERE PERMANENTLY SMASHED IN OCTOBER, BECAUSE THE TEAM IS DOOMED FOR HEARTBREAK AND FAILURE IN 2009!

"NOTHING IS FINE IN 2009"

PANIC! PANIC! PANIC!


AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH! THE CUBS ARE FUCKED!

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IT IS OFFICIALLY TIME TO PANIC!
DO NOT REMAIN CALM!
DO NOT MOVE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION!

AHHHHHHHHH there it is!

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How the hell did you leave Brian Roberts out of that?

Sad fact is that PANIC is correct more often than not.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Actually, this team is in pretty good shape for next season. The moves that Jim Hendry has made so far have been very solid. Dempster has a very large upside, he is likely on the cusp of his most productive years, and he could be the 20-game winner the Cubs need. I really love the acquisition of Kevin Gregg. He is just the right man for the setup position leading into Carlos Marmol, and Marmol is clearly going to be a stud closer.

Lineup-wise, there isn't much that needs to be done. Leadoff is set with Soriano, he has been very productive in that position. it is hard to find a problem with Lee, Ramirez and Soto in the middle of the lineup, and it will be very wise of the Cubs to stick with Fukudome in right. His stellar defense more than makes up for his troubles at the plate. Reed Johnson and Pie in center are a perfect platoon, and with Theriot and Derosa up the middle, this team is very strong. Fontenot is a top-tier lefty hitter off the bench, and many MLB teams have been trying desperately to acquire him this off-season. I am glad they haven't dealt him.

The rotation is as strong as any team in MLB, with 3 bona-fide aces in Zambrano, Dempster and Harden. Lilly could actually be the number 1 starter for 50% of the league as well, so you dont want to overlook his contributions. Marquis is the best number 5 pitcher perhaps ever in baseball history.

All in all, this team seems primed to really make a lot of noise in the 2009 postseason. I can't wait! For all of you who seem to have a negative viewpoint towards this team, you need to take a deep breath, and

Relax. Relax. Relax.

Last season was just the start...they could EASILY get 98 or 99 wins this year. maybe 100.

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RELAX.
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
GO TO YOUR HAPPY PLACE.
ALL IS WELL.