I think the Cubs have given opportunities to some of their prospects. Soto came up at the end of 2007 and contributed right away. It took some time for Theriot to get playing time under Baker but he seemed to make a positive impression whenever an opportunity was given. Fontenot was a terror when first called up.

But a guy like Pie struggled in limited playing time. Should the Cubs given him more of a chance, did Pie get one good shot?. If Pie came up with Boston, do the Red Sox stay patient with him and give him 400 AB? I hate to keep referring to boston, but they are the model franchise. Ellsbury and Pedroia seemed to contribute right away.

I struggle with the question in that do the Cubs give their prospects a chance to succeed? the cubs are in a position where they can't spend time developing players up at the big leagues.

What the Fuck are you talking about. In just the past few years, they brought up Ryan Theriot, Geovany Soto, Micah Hoffpauir, Carlos Marmol, Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall, and Mike Fontenot. The farm system has been producing very well in recent years. Theriot and Soto were both vital componants of this past years 97 win team and Fontenot was a solid contributor that may start this season. All position players developed in the Cubs system. Try again.....

... except the night I dropped my pants and then loudly proclaimed I was the Whore of Babylon and demanded more wine, but that's another story.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

Okay, seriously. Steve, did you post this while you were drunk?

Hoffpauir is the reason they let Daryle Ward go.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

... except the night I dropped my pants and then loudly proclaimed I was the Whore of Babylon and demanded more wine, but that's another story.

I would love it, if the Cubs would have made a deal with the Orioles for Biran Roberts that would have included Lee, so as to free up the position for Hoffpauir.

... except the night I dropped my pants and then loudly proclaimed I was the Whore of Babylon and demanded more wine, but that's another story.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

Sox have had more success with probably one player from their farm system then the combination of players the Cubs have produced in the past 30 years. I think his name was Frank Thomas?

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

Ironically enough, the Cubs also had that same sort of success with a White Sox 5th OF/Farmhard that they acquired from Texas.

... except the night I dropped my pants and then loudly proclaimed I was the Whore of Babylon and demanded more wine, but that's another story.

... except the night I dropped my pants and then loudly proclaimed I was the Whore of Babylon and demanded more wine, but that's another story.

Sure, I do wish and think they can do both.

Hendry is a good GM who has been the unfortunate beneficiary of players that have never panned out to their potential in either the later portion of September or early portion of October. Not to bring up bad memories, but 03 was the year. He was the guy that turned Bobby Hill into Aramis Rameriz and Kenny Loften. In 2004, he was the one to turn Hee Soep Choi into Derrick Lee. in 07, he brought in Soriano as one of the top 5 highest paid contracts in baseball. He brought in Baker, a proven winner in San Fran. He brought in Pinella, a proven winner. Unfortunately, the players in the end of failed him.

BUT, he may no longer be the right man for the job if he cannot get the ownership to spend. If that is the case, you have to get a GM who can focus and improve whatever the problem is with talent evaluation and scouting of position players. Hendry has started to make improvements by placing the right people in positions to evaluate talent. Have you noticed one huge change over the past few years that doesnt get talked about much? Remember when Baker used to complain about how advanced scouting didnt prepare the players to face pitchers they havent seen before? I remember at least a few times where the Cubs got shut out by some random pitcher and that comment had been spewed. Now, it may be that Pinella just doesnt talk about that kind of stuff, but the Cubs rocked pitchers over the last year and a half. The key is that they beat up on a pitcher during an inning. Thats advanced scouting for you when you see an entire lineup bat around because they see something in either the pitchers delivery or their mode of operation out on the mound and every player is aware of it.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH


Hoffpauir is the new Daryle Ward: first bat off the bench, emergency starter at first or a corner outfield. NOT AN EVERYDAY PLAYER. Honestly, guys.

You're a fuckin idiot. Over the last few years the Sox (who had nothing to do with this discussion) have used their farm system to acquire major league talent like Robby Alomar, Freddy Garcia, Carl Everett, Jim Thome, Javy Vazquez, Matt Thornton, Nick Swisher and Carlos Quentin. They have a different philosophy towards minor league talent and trying to compare them to the cubs is apples and oranges but I wouldn't expect a dimwit like to to understand that.

... except the night I dropped my pants and then loudly proclaimed I was the Whore of Babylon and demanded more wine, but that's another story.