Have I mentioned that I really like Matt Murton?

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here's an article on Pierre from ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2366349

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I guess they don't have any uniforms or equipment small enough for Pierre.

...

Jerry Hairston quote:

quote:

---

"I said, 'Yeah, I'm Derrek Lee' " -- Cubs second baseman Jerry Hairston on what he told umpires after they asked him if he knew his name after he was beaned by a pitch in a recent game.

---

...speaking of Hairston, it's starting to look like he's having a better spring than Walker. I don't know if that puts him on the top of the depth chart but Walk's not helping himself out much, especially with his comments on the radio the other day.

[This message has been edited by bluestainedivy (edited 3/13/2006 12:48p).]

Old Style, why don't you just give me a chance?

20 days between today and opening day Cub fans.

I was thinking of getting the MLB Extra Innings package to get the Cubs games that aren't on WGN. Do any of you have this? Is it worth paying the $160?

SD Ag- I got it 2 years ago and absolutely loved it. I just don't have time to watch enough games to make it worth while this year though. If you have the time, $160 is well worth the price- everyday for 6 months you have 10+ baseball games on. It's nice not to have to check to see if the Cubs are going to be on or not. Then after the Cubs game is over you can switch it to the D-backs broadcast to listen to Grace. He is hilarious!

I miss the good ol' days when WGN had every Cubs game on so MLB Extra Innings wasn't necessary.

Good one, ivy. I'll give Hairston a chance when I am forced to. Knowing Dusty Baker, that should be no later than April 2nd.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060314cubsprior,1,403815.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

quote:

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Prior's headed to the doctor
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter

March 14, 2006, 5:47 PM CST

MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs right-hander Mark Prior left camp with shoulder soreness Tuesday morning and will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles Wednesday.

Prior was playing long toss before a scheduled bullpen session at Cubs camp Tuesday when he complained of discomfort in the posterior of his right shoulder.

General manager Jim Hendry said it was the first time this spring that Prior had complained of soreness. The injury came two days after his first simulated game of the spring.

"He's tired of it, too," manager Dusty Baker said. "You can tell he was a little distraught by the whole thing. He wants to pitch, and he wants to pitch with nothing wrong."

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee was also scheduled to be examined by Yocum after bruising his left shoulder while diving for a foul ball in the U.S.-Japan game Sunday in the World Baseball Classic. Hendry said Lee may pull out of the tournament for precautionary reasons if it's more than just a bruise.

---

Hell, I called that about 3 weeks ago. Figures.

This whole Wood and Prior injured all the time has to stop at some point. Hendry needs to go out and get a top of the line starter who can make a few starts in a row without being sidelined. Prior's averaging 24 starts a year, and Wood's averaged 26 a year (not including missing 1999). They need starters who pitch more than 75% of their scheduled starts. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating trading either, I just think Hendry needed to go get a #1 rather than 3 or 4 #5s.

#1's are not easy to come by. Plus, we still have Zambrano and he will be headed back to Cubs camp (along with Henry Blanco) in the next few days. Venezuela has been eliminated from the WBC. DLee and Michael Barrett could be joining them very soon, too.

What's the word on DLee's shoulder? He was looking really good at the plate during the WBC.

quote:

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So, not only are the Cubs looking to trade Walker's solid infield bat for an outfield defensive replacement who, if he stayed in Baltimore, would almost certainly lose his job as a starter to Corey Patterson, it's possible they may have to pay for the privilege.

---

http://cubtown.baseballtoaster.com/archives/331351.html

Although I too would be completely baffled, I had to chuckle and Derek's eloquent wording

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They'd better not do that trade.

The Trib was saying that Hendry had Walker traded twice during the offseason, only to have the deal fall through over money. Hopefully, this will make three times.

I stumbled upon some interesting Cubs trivia recently.

...William Wrigley purchased The Angels in the Pacific Coast League (not sure if they're the present day Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles California of the United States). He named their home stadium Wrigley Field in 1925 and it stayed that way until '66.

...In 1936 Ronald Reagan broadcasted Chicago Cubs games from Des Moines, Iowa I believe on WHO. His first step towards greatness.

I didn't know about this stuff so I figured I'd share these priceless nuggets of Cubs trivia with you guys.

If I'm not mistaken, the Dodgers held their spring trainging at the Wrigley Field in California waaaay back in the day (like when Zimmer was playing for them).

I'll try to verify that.

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I stand corrected, the Angels actually played there for one season.

It was also the field used in the TV show Homerun Derby from the 60's....at one point in my life I knew that but forgot it.

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Man, home run derby was one of the best shows ever. Nothing better than black and white baseball.

Posterior shoulder strain

Sigh of relief?

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060316&content_id=1352116&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

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No sigh of relief from me. They're taking it extra easy on Prior and he still hurts himself? If what was happening before this didn't raise flags this has to.

I'm getting to the point where I'd like to just hand him over to Dr. Andrews and say, "Give him a new rotator cuff and a new elbow."

I think we might be better off just getting it all out of the way now and getting him back in 18 months.

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1) Home Run Derby was awesome. I didn't know anyone else had ever seen that.

2) Looks like Prior will not be ready for Opening Day. This is getting real old. Something needs to change and quick.

nm

[This message has been edited by GigEmAmbo (edited 3/16/2006 6:21p).]

Does Aggies talking about the Cubs qualify as Aggie Baseball or are we getting a Baseball other board?

Works for me. When did they change that?

This morning, I believe.

Per ESPN....Prior will start the season on the DL. Rusch replaces him in the rotation.

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Am I bad fan if I look back at that possible trade earlier for Tejada and wonder how it would've worked out for us? Obviously I'd prefer to keep Prior, see him stay healthy and be dominant like he's capable of. I'd also like to see Ronnie Cedeno be dependable at short. Seems as though I have more hope now in Cedeno achieving that than Prior.

[This message has been edited by bluestainedivy (edited 3/17/2006 2:44p).]

Just got off the phone with my dad and got his mid-Spring Training report. Not good news, my friends. He is very discouraged so far. I will try to remember everything he told me, but I might forget some of it. If you have a question, ask it and maybe it will jog my memory.

Pitching Staff
He has been very impressed with the new guys, Eyre and Howry. Said they've looked very good. Dempster has struggled so far, as has Rich Hill. Hasn't seen much of Novoa and he didn't mention Jerome Williams or Wellemeyer. Rusch has looked bad and Wuertz has looked horrible. He said Maddux hasn't looked very good either, but we all know Mad Dog is a notoriously slow starter. Obviously, he hasn't seen Zambrano, Woody, or Prior, but the Cubs PR machine is doing their best sunshine pumping job with Prior, Wood, and Wade Miller.
Veterans
Aramis has looked real good but has already missed some time. My dad didn't say if he was hurt or what, but Ramirez has only had about 20 AB's so far. He does NOT like Juan Pierre. Said he has been atrocious at the plate, especially when trying to bunt which he has done a lot of. Jacque Jones has looked good, but Mabry has struggled. Neifi and Walker have both looked pretty good at the plate, although Walker has been subpar in the field. Again, due to the WBC, he hasn't seen Barrett, Blanco, or DLee. Grissom has looked OK and word is that he will make the team. My dad also likes a guy by the name of Michael Restovich, who he thinks should make the team. I think he has been in the majors for a few years and the Cubs picked him up late in the offseason.
Youngsters
My boy Matt Murton has been on fire, but Cedeno has been awful at the plate. My dad thinks it might be best to send him to Iowa for a month or so to get his stroke (and confidence) back. The problem is: who would be the backup SS? There would be no one behind Neifi. My dad is real high on 1B Brandon Sing and Dopairek (sp?). They have both played well in DLee's absence. One should start at AAA and one at AA. He also really likes the young catchers Soto, Fox, and Anderson. Pie has done OK, but is not ready for the majors. Angel Pagan has made a big impression on my dad, who would love to see him make the Opening Day roster.

I think that covers what we talked about. As it gets closer to the end of the month, I will get an update and possibly my dad's projected Opening Day roster. Let me know if you have any questions.

One more pitcher I forgot. Will Ohman has struggled a bit, too. But my dad said he hasn't been that bad.

Old Style, thanks for the info. Maybe if I build up enough I can go to Spring Training with my wife and watch the Cubs when I retire.

I think Aramis had a fingernail infection or one of those strange injuries that no normal human being gets. I don't really understand how these guys are supposed to be in superior athletic shape and somehow come up with the most odd injuries.

I had thought that Jerome Williams had been doing decent at least but it sounded to me as if he had the upper hand over Rusch for that last spot (that is before Prior was put on the DL). Last I saw Pierre was batting .196 or something like that.

I really hope this is just some of the guys working some of the kinks out. I was kind of hopeful but this last week has deflated that a bit. I do hold out hope that we can hang around the top all season and maybe pick up someone near the trading deadline. If Jones keeps things up that will definitely sure up our lineup. Before I was more worried about our relievers than our starters but I was clearly not thinking about that.

I will be at the Cubs spring game on Thursday and will take some pics. Let me know if anyone wants pics of something in particular.

Oh, and Maddux is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA this spring!

Brian, I'd be interested in seeing some of the newer guys on the team: Pierre, Jones, Howry and Eyre and maybe some of the younger guys: Pie, Murton.

Enjoy the game. I wish I could be there myself. I'm up in Cincinnati on business. Too bad this trip didn't happen two weeks later.

dp

[This message has been edited by bluestainedivy (edited 3/20/2006 12:57a).]