Hi everybody,

I think this was discussed a few weeks ago, and it probably has been discussed a few other times over the years. Seems to me you can buy tickets at face value at the Wrigley box office on the day of the game -- maybe very early in the morning?

As you can probably guess, I'm wondering if there's any chance I can get to the White Sox series without paying a ridiculous markup. If it meant standing in line at 5 a.m., I'd be OK with that.

Any advice, input or insight would be much appreciated.

MLBTR, citing the Post-Dispatch, says Matt Clement has signed a major-league deal with St. Louis. Depending on the dollars, this could be a very shrewd signing for the hated Cardinals.

Clement was one of the few Cubs in recent years who left the team on good terms. I was kinda hoping the Cubs would give him an incentive-laden deal.

As it is, I really hope Clement doesn't put it back together for the Cardinals. I fear what La Russa and Duncan can do with veteran arms.

Am I worrying too much?

The San Diego paper is reporting that the Padres are among the clubs trying to trade for Prior. Here's the link.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071201/news_1s1padres.html

I have a feeling this is going to happen next week, and I think it might be the best thing for all parties. The Cubs will probably get a better return from San Diego than from any other club -- mainly because it's Prior's hometown and because Towers thinks he could get a discount, based on this report.

I like this, too, because Prior would be nowhere near the Brewers or Cardinals or anybody else in the Central. I know there are some Padre haters on this board, but I'm not among them, and I could passively root for Prior to make a comeback and get a fresh start.

The Clement thing is interesting, too. I had wondered if the Cubs might make a pitch to Clement, because I know he was highly thought of by Cubs management.

Last thought. Let's say Prior and Clement end up in San Diego. The Padres would have three-fifths of the 2004 Cubs rotation. Maybe they can sign Glendon Rusch, too.

Just posted about this on another thread, but I think it might deserve its own. Of the Cubs everyday players, is anybody even meeting career expectations this year?

The only ones I can think of are DeRosa, Theriot and maybe Ward. Fontenot and Blanco don't play enough to really enter the debate.

But Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, JJ, Kendall, Monroe and Floyd are all well behind what I expected of them and what they did last year (don't quote me on Kendall, though). And it's not just a home run thing. It's an RBI thing.

And we're still in first. Go figure.

The Trib is reporting that the flap over Ohman's shoulder "barking" could mean the lefty is traded after the season. My thought: Why not use him to acquire another bat now?

I know there's some debate as to whether Podsednik would be worth picking up -- I'm undecided, frankly. But the Trib speculated that the Sox would likely only give Pods up for a quality prospect. Ohman's certainly not great, but he is better than that.

And if not for Podsednik, why not deal Ohman for somebody else?

I guess I'm wondering what you all think about the merits and the likelihood that this could happen AND what Ohman might net us in return.

And, please, let's not let this evolve into a war over the relative value of Matt Murton.

With a deep group of position players and a bullpen that's the DFA of Scott Eyre away from being very, very good, I think it's becoming clear that the Cubs' biggest shortcoming is the rotation. Z's back and Lilly is solid, but I think Hendry needs to find another starter -- ideally, a gutsy No. 2, but most likely a durable No. 3. There's really no question in my mind that one of Marquis/Marshall/Hill will falter -- and it's looking like a game or two might be the difference in the central come fall.

I've assembled a short list in my head of veteran arms who might be good fits. I haven't done a ton or research -- don't know about no-trades -- but I think Matt Morris and Bronson Arroyo could be had. Maybe Javier Vazquez?

If those are dumb ideas, let me know. And if you have a better suggestion, throw them out.

Hey everybody. I'm wondering if any posters live in or around Columbus, Ohio. I have no friends here who are Cubs fans. Well, except for one convert, who occasionally asks me -- in all seriousness -- "who's this Bartman character?"

Anyway, there are Cubs fans in central Ohio, give me a shout. First beer's on me.