Everybody keeps saying the Cubs are stuck another 4 years with Soriano in LF. That has never been the case. I have explained this solution before. Cut him and put a capable low priced free agent OF (1-3 million) or minor league OF in LF. Do that for the next 4 years. You still have to pay him,regardless,so what the hell is the difference if he is on the team or not??? They need to get rid of this guy. He trots after flyballs. He can't run,he can't field & he strikes out waaayy too much. Things HAVE to be different under Mike Quade. Soriano is a memory,not even half the player he was.

(Last Cubs post until they Do something or it's spring-training time,I promise )

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Oh God...

So with a team that's strapped for cash, you are suggesting they cut/pay a player who is still moderately productive and then ADD to the payroll to replace him?

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Team Cutler.

Great idea. Ricketts should just burn $70 million.

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The Cubs should cut Zambrano. He's too angry. Let's still pay Z, but we should sign Cliff Lee instead to a 5yr/ 75 million dollar deal. That'd help.

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Team Cutler.

It sure is "simple"

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Having this guy on your team =One of the main reasons you have empty seats in August & September. How much is that costing him?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

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Team Cutler.

You don't cut him, you trade him and eat 80% of his contract.

Reading English and comprehending must be two different worlds for you. I said a low priced alternative.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

THEY SHOULD FIRE EVERYONE ON THE TEAM AND START OVER........THE CUBS ARE A BUNCH OF BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Do you honestly believe Soriano was even in the top 5 of the Cubs problems last year?

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Team Cutler.

Are you drunk Jimmy? His contract is guaranteed. If they cannot find a trade partner, they might as well keep him around and get some use out of all that money.

If they cut him, they will still have to pay him, and that is like flushing cash down the toilet. While that is something that I could have seen TribCo doing, Ricketts is running this team a little more economically, and this is the crap that they will still be digging out of until the big Trib contracts are done.

Welcome to the New World Order of Cubs Nation.

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Cue sjboyd standup impersonation:


End sjboyd standup impersonation.

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Do you honestly believe Soriano was even in the top 5 of the Cubs problems last year?




Ever see him catch a ball over his head?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

It's probably not costing him very much. I would be willing to bet that most of those empty seats were paid for by scalpers/brokers who ate most of those tickets near the end of the season.

Let's say we go with your theory of eating 100% of this deal (as ludicrous as it sounds). You then add a journeyman or minor-leaguer (which is additional payroll). Would Soriano's replacement be any better? I doubt that would be the case. I'll take 25 HR's 80 RBI's and 40 2B's over Sam Fuld or the second coming of Jeremy Burnitz. Soriano is probably the worst signing in club history, but you can't make a serious case for eating the rest of that deal with four years remaining. The Cubs are going to have to ride it out for at least another two seasons before any other team will think of taking on the rest of that contract.

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I've never seen him catch a ball in his hat either, but who cares?

Top 5? Soriano is not in there. What is:

Aram not hitting, Lee not hitting, Zambrano going nuts, a horrible horrible bullpen, Lou giving up.

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Frank,
Good points made there. Maybe Soriano should be handed a 1st Basemens glove.
He might be able to . That would be a question for Quade.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

It's just not fiscally responsible to make this move. The guy hit .258 with an .818 OPS last year. He is obviously overpaid, but that's still somewhat decent numbers.

Fire Hendry, which is something everyone here agrees upon.

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Team Cutler.

I don't want this guy at 1B. He'd be that much more of a liability there. We're stuck with him in LF until we can dump his contract (or a small percentage of it) or it expires. He was moderately productive last year on offense and he is a good teammate.

Hendry's days are numbered. He is tied to Quade now so if the team doesn't perform well, he is toast as Ricketts made it known that the Quade hire was Hendry's.

Jimmy's posts got me thinking about some moves the Cubs NEED to make. First, move Soriano back to second base. Hendry loves having at least six guys capable of playing second on the 25 man, why fight it. Next, move Ramirez to First Base. His defensive skills at third have gone down. This will eliminate any hidden deficiencies at third. Let's keep Third Base completely open. It will be the next generation of the shift. Let's see hitters figure this one out. Besides, this will be better for Castro's development having to cover more ground. Next, the Cubs should implement a middle-CF, similar to 16 inch softball. Move Dernier from First Base coach to this new position. He doesn't have wheels to be a full-time Center Fielder, but damn I bet that guy can still play. A First Base coach is not necessary.

I'll be expecting a check in the mail Quade. You're welcome.

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just for the record,Frank,Larry Biittner had a ball roll under his cap. Biittner who came to the Cubs along with SP Steve Renko for Andre Thornton to the Expos was a solid hitter and a feared pinch hitter. He hit a pinch hit HR against the Pirates on opening day (forgot year) in the 9th inning to win a game.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

And if they can convince the league to eliminate stealing, Soto becomes a much better defensive catcher.

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That is fucking awesome

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I got a response!!!!


Dear Mr. Drop In,

The Chicago Cubs would like to thank you for your suggestions. While Mr. Dernier has told us he's happy with his current position, your Starlin Castro development idea, full stop. Due to trends in the market, we are unable to offer any fiscal repayment. However, please provide your address. We will be sending you a Milton Bradley bobble head, and Cubs key chain!

Please pay attention to the included invoice with these items. It does have a short, but reasonable payment date. Thank you again for your valuable contributions, and we look forward to seeing you at every game this year.

Sincerely,

Tom Ricketts

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Drop In,
I think your full of Bison Weiner.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Not since the last game I went to. Oh wait, I see what you did there. You're a slick one Jimmy.

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This is like Exhibit Z of Jimmy's "Meatballedness"...

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George