Grissom & Tejada & Zito, Oh My!

by Al Yellon on Dec 31, 2005 10:19 AM CST in Chicago Cubs News

Don't get excited, I was just trying to write a catchy title for this post.

Got your attention, didn't I?

Let's go about these with the highest profile first.

Tejada spouted off again about the Orioles' lack of improvement this winter:

"I don't want to say anything bad that can hurt my teammates, but look at Toronto, they have strengthened themselves and we haven't done anything," said Tejada, who hit .305 last season with 26 homers and 98 RBIs.

I think Jim Hendry is getting tired of dealing with this; it's turned into a circus, and the Orioles' demands are getting unrealistic.

Which brings me to Barry Zito, who would perhaps help the 2006 Cubs more than Tejada would, much as I've advocated a Tejada deal here. Billy Beane is a shrewd negotiator and might ask for Matt Murton as part of a Zito deal.

Would you do that? That's a tough call, but I just might. Of course, you'd have to make sure to get Zito signed to an extension while making this deal, because it would be foolish to give up Murton for a rent-a-player.

Which brings me to Grissom, who is likely going to get a minor-league invite to spring training, not "be signed", as many of you breathlessly feared yesterday.

Grissom had a miserable 2005 and is 39 years old. But if the Cubs do not have to give up Felix Pie in a Zito deal, perhaps Grissom could be a one-year fix in LF. He does hit lefties well (.803 lifetime OPS vs. LHP; .703 lifetime OPS vs. RHP).

My sources say that Cub attention will focus on either Zito or Tejada, not both.

There! That ought to give our favorite site something to kick around today!

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Comments

so many names it makes my head hurt

i read on traderumors there might be something to a 4-way with boston, tampa, mets, and baltimore. as much as i wanted tejada, im tired of baltimore and dont want to deal with them (even though "i" dont have to). lets focus on zito. im curious as to why the a's would want murton though...dont they have a surplus of of'ers as it is??? even so, wasnt there a post in another diary that if the cubs landed zito with murton as part of the package, that we would sign preston wilson? i know he strikes out A LOT, but might not make for a bad outfield and give us some needed pop for not getting tejada. it still doesnt solve who our 4th of will be, as well as what will we do with our surplus of 2b players.

pierre
walker
lee
ramirez
wilson
jones
barrett
cedeno

z, prior, zito, maddux, wood

not too shabby

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 10:35 AM CST reply actions

Well, They Won't Sign JoBo

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051229&content_id=1287763&v key=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

Mr. Borowsi is a Marlin.

by BeerCub on Dec 31, 2005 10:42 AM CST reply actions

Argghhh

Borowski Borowski Borowski

If there was a King of the Typos contest, I might win it.

I also need to learn that link trick.

by BeerCub on Dec 31, 2005 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

email me privately...

... use the link on the right sidebar, and I'll send you a short tutorial on how to post links.

by Al Yellon on Dec 31, 2005 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

Beane...

...likes prospects. In the past he has seemed to think he may know a little more about a teams prospects than they do. Maybe a deal involving Guzman, Williams and Dopirak would be enough to land Zito.

Sacrificing Murton and plugging in a 39yr. old washed up ballplayer to aquire Zito would be foolish. Murton will be a perennial .300 hitter with power and should be a fixture in the cubs lineup for the next few years.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Dec 31, 2005 10:43 AM CST reply actions

Foolish?

If it means getting Zito? I'd do it. If Grissom doesn't pan out, they can always plug in somebody else.

by BeerCub on Dec 31, 2005 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

Yes. Foolish

"If Grissom doesn't pan out, they can always plug in somebody else". Who are they going to plug in if Grissom didn't work out? Mabry? Kelton? Teams have to have a balance of timely hitting and pitching. By trading Murton you make an already weak lineup even weaker.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Dec 31, 2005 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

The Cubs would definitely have to sign Zito long term to make it worth while. They could give him some of the money that they hopefully won't give Wood for the next couple of years. I will always take proven pitching over outfield prospects. I just worry that the Cubs don't have the firepower to score any runs.

by Elwood1060 on Dec 31, 2005 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

With Wilson

In LF, I'm fine with giving up Murton for Zito. I like murton, and think he might be our best prospect when we look back at this farm system, because he played pretty well in the majors, but Zito is a fabulous pitcher. But I'd much rather give up guys with Murton who haven't played or had success in the majors than give up Jerome Williams. When did he become so tradeable? Right now, he's our fifth starter, and I know we'll need Rusch anyways next year, and we always need more pitchers. Williams did dazzle for a while last year, and would be a cheap option for the next few years if we could give him some time and some innings. I'd give up Guzman before Williams.

by cubbybear on Dec 31, 2005 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

I'd go for Zito

I would love to get Zito. The Cubs need another starter not Tejada, and a good left handed starter would be great. This could get my hopes back up for the season. I would hate to see Murton go, at least he would be in the AL and Grissom might be good for one year. That would give Pie a little more time to get ready. I like the sounds of this.

Madog93. There is only one good season of the year -- BASEBALL SEASON!

by madog93 on Dec 31, 2005 10:52 AM CST reply actions

a little more

I would rather give up Guzman (while his arm is still attached) and get some value for him. Maybe he can go have great potential somewhere else. Keeping Murton really is in the Cubs best interests.

Madog93. There is only one good season of the year -- BASEBALL SEASON!

by madog93 on Dec 31, 2005 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

Don't get me wrong

I would love to get Zito. A package deal could be made that wouldn't have to include Murton. Please let's forget about Grissom.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Dec 31, 2005 10:54 AM CST reply actions

we DO need something

#1 As it stands right now I think we need either a strong bat or strong pitcher to reach 92 wins.
#2 We are running out of tradeable players.
#3 We can wait and pick up another bat in July. Walker, Lee, Rameriz will on average hit.300+ and Pierre, Cedeno, Barrett, will hit .280+ on average. Jones could be .250 up to .290.
#4 Zito will probably come cheaper to us than any Tejada deal and I feel we have enough bats to make it to July if our bullpen and starters are consistently holding teams down.
Now, if we can make the deal, sign Zito for more than 1 year and keep Murton we're set. If we have to give up Murton we either need an outfielder or try Greenberg, Pie or (I hate to say this) Patterson (and pray for the best). Right now, Patterson is worth a sack of batting practice balls for the Iowa Cubs. If he plays and hits .250, maybe he is worth more. (Man I hate thinking we play Patterson but without Murton we're stuck!)
We need Zito, this makes the most sense. We either need a pitcher or a hitter (and not counting Tejada and Manny, there are none). So make the deal for Zito and we attempt to dominate with pitching. In July, we get the added bat and hit the playoffs. There will be a lot of FA's that non contenders will be ready to dump for 2 months.

by mrcubsfan on Dec 31, 2005 3:48 PM CST up reply actions

At this point...

I would also go for Zito instead of Tejada but I still like Preston Wilson instead of the aging wonder. Al, you can't be serious about Grissom being a possible starting RF. If we give up Murton, which I think will be a mistake, we need better replacement. Murton is better than Grissom. I feel likew we have given up too many prospects already. Let's not start dumping rookies too.

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 31, 2005 11:04 AM CST reply actions

grissom wouldnt be signed to start

even if he is signed at all. wilsons agent said he wanted to play for the cubs. they would have to sign him to play right and move jones to left. pretty potent and sound defensive outfield. wilson has 30 hr pop, so no lack of power, just a lack or patience at the plate. and zito would solidify what could be a dominant roatation

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

Can Jones, Wilson, and most likely Murton

Play any other positions? Would a platoon with Murton, Wilson and Jones playing two OF positions be so bad? I like that lineup. If a lefty starts, I figure we could have four guys that could homer off him(Dlee, ARam, Wilson, Barrett) and teams would change their relief appearances for sure.

by cubbybear on Dec 31, 2005 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

also

That could help us figure out who is actually the best of those three, because right now I'm not sure.

by cubbybear on Dec 31, 2005 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

well we are stuck with jones regardless

and i dont advocate signing wilson just to have him, only if we have to trade murton in a deal to get zito. i believe he would be a solid enough aquisition for one year. then sign carlos lee after this season and have lee, pierre, jones. :)

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

Bad? Yes.

Would a platoon with Murton, Wilson and Jones playing two OF positions be so bad? Yes. Platoon situations should be avoided.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Dec 31, 2005 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

Then

What would maguyver do to get out of this. You have:
Whatever Hendry has at his disposal.

by cubbybear on Jan 3, 2006 3:40 AM CST up reply actions

Pitching

You can have all that pitching, but you still have to score runs to win, something the Cubs seemed to fall short of last year. We lost a lot 1 and 2 run games.

by DA4528 on Dec 31, 2005 11:13 AM CST reply actions

We lost 1 and 2 run games because

the bullpen (the worst in the NL) blew 19 out of 58 chances.

I have only one superstition. I touch all the bases when I hit a home run. - Babe Ruth

by Kurt on Dec 31, 2005 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

and isn't materially better

this year.

apologies to howry and eyre, but they look a lot like hawkins and remlinger. the problem with the cub pen is that it's gotten no deeper.

put aside the media/fan frenzy about hawkins -- he was a 3.32 era pitcher when the cubs traded him. he's not the reason the cubs sucked last year, a point proven when they continued to suck long after he'd left.

the problem is that pitchers like novoa, wuertz and wellemeyer continue to pitch important innings for this club. this is where the cubs lose games in the pen. and that will be no different in 2006 than 2005.

by gaius marius on Jan 2, 2006 9:37 AM CST up reply actions

I beg to differ...

... Remlinger was clearly done last year. When he was signed, he was fairly effective. And further, with his reverse split, he was not being used properly.

Neither was Hawkins, who was ill-suited to close, and that was well known from his failed tenure as a closer in Minnesota. Yet Baker kept trotting him out there, with disastrous results. That pretty well ruined any chance Hawkins would ever succeed as a Cub.

I believe the 2006 Cub bullpen will have Howry & Eyre in well-defined roles, and with Dempster as closer from day one (and no, gaius, you do not have to repeat your opinion on Dempster, I already know how you feel), the bullpen should be greatly improved over 2005.

by Al Yellon on Jan 2, 2006 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

the more i think about it, the more i like it

al, call hendry up and force him to deal for zito and sign wilson. playoffs in 06!!! hell yeah!

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 11:43 AM CST reply actions

If I thought he'd listen...

... I'd do that.

Preston Wilson isn't a great player, but I'd rather have him than Marquis Grissom.

As noted somewhere else, what are the Cubs trying to do? Corner the market on American-born black outfielders with French-sounding names?

Maybe they could bring back this guy. (Yes, I know he's not black.)

by Al Yellon on Dec 31, 2005 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

thats friggin hilarious!!!

i can imagine the people in the bleachers having a field day with that one

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

One of the great names,,,,,

....is it any wonder Peter Marshall is a stage name?

Maybe they could bring him back as a coach, and have him sit next to Dick Pole.

by BeerCub on Dec 31, 2005 11:59 AM CST up reply actions

gookie dawkins

just took a minor league invite with the pirates. that name rocks.

by tomas21 on Dec 31, 2005 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

people, you can't

have wilson and jones playing in the same outfield and win -- especially with cedeno and neifi playing regularly in the infield. they'll combine for 300 k and 25 bb, hitting .250. this from your corner outfielders, the offensive heart of most teams!

NO team with those two in those positions is going to win. you could add zito AND clemens and it wouldn't matter. you simply won't have the requisite offense.

by gaius marius on Jan 2, 2006 9:41 AM CST up reply actions

Would you take...

... Craig Wilson? He might be available.

by Al Yellon on Jan 2, 2006 10:01 AM CST up reply actions

Hendry told Prior something different

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-kiley31.html

I have only one superstition. I touch all the bases when I hit a home run. - Babe Ruth

by Kurt on Dec 31, 2005 11:50 AM CST reply actions

Not sure what you are saying here...

... all that article says is that the Cubs did not make the offer of Prior -- that the Orioles made that request, and there's nothing specific in that article about Hendry "assuring" Prior of anything in particular.

by Al Yellon on Dec 31, 2005 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

Please don't trade Murton

If we land Zito, we can afford to lose both Williams and Guzman. We can't afford to lose Murton because he's both young and (potentially) good. Other than Pie, we don't have any other outfield prospects in the pipe. We always say we're going to play the free agent market for outfielders "next year" so lets get a stopgap like Grissom or Burnitz or whatever. It doesn't work. Murton may (or may not) solidify the LF spot for the next 5 years. If he does, its one less position to worry about.

Besides, minor league invites for guys like Grissom are stupid. Lets say this 39 year old hits well in spring training. Dusty smiles knowingly and hands him the LF job. Are 40 spring training at-bats supposed to nullify the last 2000 regular season at-bats where he stunk? He'd win the job and go back to stinking. Another typical Cubs move. Stay away.

He may be a good 4th OF as insurance in case Murton doesn't pan out. But it's kind of a double-edged sword. If he doesn't do well in ST, Cubs won't keep him. If he DOES do well in ST, Dusty will be tempted to start him over the rookie. Just stay away and avoid the whole thing.

by MikeJ on Dec 31, 2005 11:51 AM CST reply actions

Zito

I'd be all for the Cubs getting Zito, but his last few years have not been the Cy Young campaign he had in 2002. His second half of 2005 was much better than the first half, and Zito is a front end of the rotation pitcher, for sure. However he has not been the dominant pitcher he was a few years ago and he has one year remaining on his contract. I'm not sure I'd give up the future for one year or Zito, especially when we saw that future do so well in Chicago last season. I would not give up Murton for one year of Zito.

If the Cubs had a stonger, more well rounded offense, I'd be more willing to give up Murton. However Murton displayed an ability to get on base last season in his short stint, something that the Cubs have been lacking. If Murton and Cedeno are not flukes, you've got two young and CHEAP players getting on base and doing so for the next several years for the Cubs. If this all is about building a World Series winner, I think it would be a big mistake to take two young guys who have shown the ability to produce in the majors and trade them away.

If the Cubs want Zito, I'd be happy to trade Williams, Dopirak and Guzman. Murton, who is a questionmark, is someone who I want to see stick around.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 31, 2005 12:26 PM CST reply actions

i

think i'd rather have zito and preston wilson, if that was the replacement for murton, than murton and rusch. i imagine it would be rusch's spot that zito would take.

by tomas21 on Dec 31, 2005 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

and

while barry zito hasn't been cy young caliber, he has ceratainly been very good, and, with prior, zambrano, maddux and wood/williams/rusch, would create the deepest, most potentially dominant rotation in the NL.

by tomas21 on Dec 31, 2005 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

i just took a look at oakland's roster

they have 5 major league outfielders as well as 2 more youngins' on the roster. althouth they are not great outfielders, i think swisher, payton, kotsay, kielty, and bradley are servicable for them, so maybe we can make a deal without surrendering murton. this will be interesting

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not sure...

I can ever have an opinion on trades because of my attachment to players.

But I like Zito. I think he is a good pitcher, and he's very durable. He would help Maddux out with the consitency/always there department.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 31, 2005 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

everyone can have and is entitled to an opinion

not everyone will like it, but so be it

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

by the way

instead of posting a new diary, ill get it out of the way here. HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL!!! hopefully you will not end up as intoxicated as you plan to be and not have a terrible hangover come tomorrow!!!

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 12:35 PM CST reply actions

The newest Cub...

is Matt Ciaramella. He's the player the Cubs have gotten in return for Jermaine Van Buren from the Red Sox. I'm posting it here, as its probably best included with other notes in one of Al's diaries...

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Dec 31, 2005 12:50 PM CST reply actions

Well, That's....

....underwhelming.

by BeerCub on Dec 31, 2005 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

that is so weak

what a terrible return imo.

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 31, 2005 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

hope he is as good as...

the last outfielder hendry got from boston.

by dc60123 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 31, 2005 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

seems

like we should've gotten something a little more. he's 23 and still in A ball. Not much power for a corner outfielder.

by tomas21 on Dec 31, 2005 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

his slow development...

is partially due to injuries, apparently. Hopefully, he'll get healthy and turn into another Matt Murton.

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Dec 31, 2005 1:45 PM CST up reply actions

Wow...

...I'm just so excited thinking about Preston Wilson and his 150 strikeouts that he'll add to our already k prone lineup

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Dec 31, 2005 3:19 PM CST reply actions

K prone?

I thought we had a K prone lineup this year, so I checked how many times the Cubs struck out, and I was surprised to find that we are at the bottom of the list.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 31, 2005 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

The up side of Zito...

Is that by going to the NL, his ERA would likely lower by about a run. Add on to the fact that a guy like him would absolutely mesmorize hitters until they all saw him a couple of times, and the first year with him would probably be great and the years afterwards (if his contract is extended) would be very good.

I think the A's would have a lot of interest in Murton, regardless of their current situation. They will definitely ask for a hitter and it's a given they'll need a pitcher. At least maybe we'll seriously talk with them.

"If it takes forever."

by JDay on Dec 31, 2005 4:46 PM CST reply actions

Manny-Tejada 4-team rumor on MLB Home Plate

I just heard a 4-team rumor while listening to the MLB Home Plate channel on XM Radio. They cited the New York Daily News as their source. According to this rumor:

The Red Sox get Tejada and Gathright.

The Orioles get Lugo, Clement, and Benson.

The Mets get Manny and Baez.

The Devil Rays get Jae So, Heilman, Kaz Matsui, and Marte.

by greggie44 on Dec 31, 2005 5:24 PM CST reply actions

This sounds...

... way too complicated for Tampa Bay to be involved in.

by Al Yellon on Dec 31, 2005 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

fun rumor, but

how many four-team trades do you ever remember working out? they're very, very rare.

by gaius marius on Jan 2, 2006 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

With so many outfielders...

Would the A's really want another?

Geetarnwhiskey wrote that the A's already have:

swisher, payton, kotsay, kielty, and bradley

maybe they'd give us Kotsay with Zito? Getting Murton to replace Kotsay would certainly lower their payroll, as Kotsay was just resigned to a fat contract. And they might get a couple young pitchers (Novoa/Wuertz and Hill/Guzman) to replace Zito, which is what I think they ultimately want.

by nickler on Jan 1, 2006 8:14 PM CST reply actions

as much as i like the sound of that

i would really find it hard to believe oakland would give us zito AND kotsay for some prospects and murton. i think it would leave them with a gaping hole for leadoff hitter. kotsay would be awesome in left field though

by geetarnwhiskey on Jan 1, 2006 8:58 PM CST up reply actions

forget zito

the more i think about this, the less i want the cubs to do this.

first off: 2006 is done. the cubs aren't going to have the horses, mmkay? call me negative, but this team is looking at starting jones in right, murton in left, cedeno at short and neifi at second -- things are bad enough that we're talking about preston freaking wilson like he's the solution to any problem a winning team could have. its bullpen is of merely average quality, as is its rotation. even if the cubs manage to patch one thing, the other weaknesses remain fatal. simply too many holes.

second: zito is a one-year rental. his agent is boras, who loves nothing better than taking a stud to market. after 2006, zito is going to test the water for a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $16mm per. this cub team -- quite probably facing the simultaneous free agencies of lee, aramis, pierre, maddux and wood, absolutely will not be able to resign zito -- written in stone, certain fact, end of discussion.

so getting zito for one year is the only possibility; he can't really help you win anything this year. so why bother? why give up your prospects, overvalued though they may be, to get six months of zito? for what?

trading for zito is a remote possibility at best -- i agree that he could be traded in the right deal, but a dozen other clubs could make a more attractive offer in ready (that is, triple-a) prospects than the cubs can -- but i think that, in the interests of dealing with the cubs 2006 and forward reality, we fans should scrap the idea. i really think at this point hendry should become a seller -- move maddux certainly, plan out who you're going to keep of pierre, aram and lee and move who you won't.

by gaius marius on Jan 2, 2006 10:00 AM CST reply actions

my mistake -- arn tellem

which is the same difference as boras.

by gaius marius on Jan 2, 2006 10:05 AM CST up reply actions

Preston Wilson

is on the Pirate's radar, lets hope they nab him to keep Hendry from doing anything stupid.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 2, 2006 4:31 PM CST up reply actions

Not mmkay...

2006 season hasn't started yet.

Have you ever believed in your life besides 03? Or did you not even believe then?

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Jan 2, 2006 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

missy

i know you are not yelling at me.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 3, 2006 1:14 AM CST up reply actions

I'm not...

and I'm not yelling at gaius either.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Jan 3, 2006 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

that's

what I figured, I just wanted to be sure.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 3, 2006 4:48 PM CST up reply actions

hope and blind faith

are two different things. i often harbor the former, but the latter i try to avoid when it comes to mundane things like baseball.

once i reached the age of reason and understood that sport is actually driven by money, and that only the obfuscation of clever marketing really makes anyone think otherwise, blind faith in a ballclub was forever after something i wanted no part of. i'd as soon start praying to ibm.

by gaius marius on Jan 3, 2006 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

I like having blind faith then, even though I don't. I see Wood acting weird on the mound and say oh no about fifty times. I see a guy on third with one out not get driven in and I go nuts. I see Corey and Hawkins, players I liked, fail. I like Dusty even though I sometimes think he's insane. If you are a real Cub fan, it is really hard to not see the problems this team has.

I go completely against what you say because I love this team. Why do I think there is a possibility to win? One reason will always be because I love them. This is what you say fans shouldn't do with all the sentimental crap, but I love the Cubs way more than I should, and I can't help it. I just love them, and even though I know they aren't winners, I can't think they suck. It doesn't sound right. I like to be supportive and cheer my favorite team on. Baseball is fun. I like to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

I hope I never reach the 'age of reason'.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Jan 3, 2006 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

to wish so

I hope I never reach the 'age of reason'.

is one of the priviledges of youth, and i hope you're never denied it. i once wished so.

time and responsibility will change you -- if you find it doesn't, it should have.

but there's no reason to hurry it. :)

by gaius marius on Jan 4, 2006 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

aye

time and responsibility will change you -- if you find it doesn't, it should have.

Spoken very wisely.

A few years ago the only thing my 3 friends and I ever knew was going out every night and having a good time.

Fast forward three years later I'm the Asst. Manager for one of the biggest Blockbuster stores on the south side, my other buddy runs his own EB Games on the north side, another works a 7-3 job for ADT in Downers Grove and another is the Asst. Manager for his department at Menards.

Growing up will really knock things into perspective for ya.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 4, 2006 1:45 PM CST up reply actions

All of this is true...

... at the same time, if you let it take away the hope of youth, then I think you've lost something in your life.

There is a way to balance youthful enthusiasm with reality. Everyone should seek that, I think. Whether you find it, is up to you.

by Al Yellon on Jan 4, 2006 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

one of the great difficulties

of life in the postmodern era is the culture of polar opposition, one of the widespread assumptions of which is that hope and reason can not be concomitant. it's difficult for most people, who tend to deal in absolutes, to see a world of probabilities and variabilities where hope always has a place -- not even, but especially in the most rational analysis.

it increasingly seems to me that growing up is primarily the process of learning how to be rationally pessimistic -- and growing wise of how to be meaningfully hopeful not in spite of it but because of it.

by gaius marius on Jan 4, 2006 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

uh

and growing wise of how to be meaningfully hopeful not in spite of it but because of it.

I understand, I think. Is this meant to say one is to be hopeful because hope still exsists?

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 4, 2006 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

I will always...

be young.

And believe it or not, I'm a mature teenager. I have always been ahead of my years, even as a little girl. My dad taught me lots of stuff, and he made me like school. When I was little, I used to work on my preschool workbook instead of going to play because I wanted to get smarter. I've always been very ambitious.

I'm a spoiled brat, and my parents love me and they have raised me, IMO, in a great way. I'm a good girl and pretty independent. My parents think I'm a rebel sometimes, and sometimes even I think I need to grow up and shut up, but that's life. I love life. And the Cubs.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Jan 4, 2006 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

Isn't it wonderful...

... to hear this sort of unabashed optimism? There are times I wish I were 16 again, like this, with boundless enthusiasm for a future that appears, in your case, to have much potential.

Enjoy. Carpe diem, as they say, but in this case, seize your life, take hold of whatever you can. You don't get a second chance.

by Al Yellon on Jan 4, 2006 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

That word scares me now...

Potential. Every time I see that I think of Corey. I really hope someday Corey and I can fulfill our potential.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Jan 4, 2006 6:06 PM CST up reply actions

If I were betting...

... I'd bet you fulfill yours WAY before Corey fulfills his.

by Al Yellon on Jan 4, 2006 7:18 PM CST up reply actions

sadly

... I'd bet you fulfill yours WAY before Corey fulfills his.

I'll raise a glass to that.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Jan 5, 2006 2:21 AM CST up reply actions

I think of growing up...

...as you pay the rent or mortgage or you get kicked out. Calling this the postmodern era makes us seem pretty full of ourselves. (this isn't a knock on you, just our self importance nowadays)

by greggie44 on Jan 5, 2006 11:14 PM CST up reply actions

and really, spark

they don't have the horses. we all know it, deep down, i think. al certainly does.

and what are their realistic options for improving the team at this stage? sign jeff weaver? trade for zito? would either one turn this club into a winner?

by gaius marius on Jan 3, 2006 9:38 AM CST up reply actions

I think Zito would...

... for as we have just seen, a team rode strong starting pitching and a solid bullpen to a World Championship.

The White Sox offense in 2005 was mediocre, but their pitching -- and a little bit of luck -- brought them a title.

Zito would elevate the Cub staff. Maybe not to that level, but with a healthy Prior, that'd give the Cubs three #1-quality starters.

by Al Yellon on Jan 3, 2006 10:08 AM CST up reply actions

agreed but

you're still faced with a lineup that will likely contain jones, murton, cedeno and neifi most days.

that's a downgrade even from last year where burnitz, holly/dubois, nomar/neifi and walker filled those spots. need we be reminded that last year's offense was 20th in the majors in scoring?

and the degree of elevation matters. putting zito in for rusch moves this staff from 8th in the NL to maybe 5th. the sox, it must be said, had 13th-ranked offense -- but the best pitching in the al. the cubs are in little danger of being the best, zito or not. and there's a bullpen with guys like novoa.

an offense ranked 20th somewhat downgraded; pitching upgraded but probably not to the top tier.

is that a winner? seems to me it takes more than hope to think so.

by gaius marius on Jan 3, 2006 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

Healthy Prior

Is there any reason to believe that Prior won't be healthy this season? I think the Achilles problem is over. His other injury last season was getting hit with a line drive. That was one of those "luck" things.

He was pitching fairly well at the end of the year. I think everyone, including Mark, would like to see him go deeper into games. I'm just wondering how much of that is control issues and how much of it is because of how his games are being called behind the plate.

by FrankSereno on Jan 3, 2006 6:50 PM CST up reply actions