Bradley was on fire in spring training and been slumping since the start of the season and playing in the cold doesn't help his groin. If he can ever get going then he could very well be worth the money, barring causing any problems in the clubhouse. I really wish that if we wind up trading Lee and puting Hoff at first, then I'll think that letting Derosa go was a mistake and could have had Hoff be the LH bat that Bradley was supposed to be and put Derosa in right. I also wish we could have kept Wood. He was Cub baseball.

 

It's too early in the season to really criticize anyone and I'll wait till the all-star break before I give my opinion on this team. So many changes that its hard to tell. If everyone gels and plays to there abilities, they could be scarey good. But if Soto, and D. Lee are still batting around .200 or less, I'll still be screaming for Hoff and Hill to be playing more. But I don't think we'll have to worry about that.

 

I wonder what kind of pitching we could get for D. Lee?

You'd rather play Hill over Soto? Really?

You'd rather play Hill over Soto? Really?

 

If Soto is still batting below .200:lol:

I said it all winter & continue to say it now.

 

The Cubs did nothing to improve themselves this offseason. In fact, I thought they actually regressed. It remains to be seen if their moves pay off.

I said it all winter & continue to say it now.

 

The Cubs did nothing to improve themselves this offseason. In fact, I thought they actually regressed. It remains to be seen if their moves pay off.

 

Sounds like wishful thinking:sssh:

Sounds like wishful thinking:sssh:

 

Not really.

 

What, in your opinion, did the Cubs do to improve their team this offseason?

Bradley will sit until completely healthy.

 

 

CHICAGO -- Milton Bradley and Lou Piniella had a little chat on Thursday, and the end result was the outfielder being benched until he's 100 percent healthy, and when he is, he'll be bumped to sixth in the order.

Bradley made his first start since April 12 on Wednesday, and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He is 1-for-23 with the Cubs so far, and has been bothered by a strained right groin that forced him out of the April 12 game in Milwaukee.

"He's not 100 percent," Piniella said of Bradley, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Cubs this offseason. "When he's 100 percent, I'll put him out there to play. Until then, I'll use [Reed] Johnson and [Micah] Hoffpauir in the outfield."

Hoffpauir, who is 5-for-13 on the homestand, started in right on Thursday in the Cubs' series finale against the Cincinnati Reds.

"I don't play people unless they're totally healthy," Piniella said. "That's been my M.O. throughout my managerial career. With Milton, when he's ready to play, I'll put him out there. "I told him, basically, I'll take him out of the fourth hole when he comes back and put him in the sixth hole, where he might be a little more comfortable, and we'll go from there," Piniella said. "When I get him out there, I expect him to run hard and play hard the way he always has."

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090423&content_id=4395458&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Not really.

 

What, in your opinion, did the Cubs do to improve their team this offseason?

 

Not saying they improved anything, but they certainly havent regressed. I think they'll finish with at least 93 wins, which technically could be a regression but not to the point where they don't make the playoffs or something

Not saying they improved anything, but they certainly havent regressed. I think they'll finish with at least 93 wins, which technically could be a regression but not to the point where they don't make the playoffs or something

 

Well, I stand by my opinion that they've regressed. At least on the offensive side of things.

 

Milton Bradley is not a great addition. When you're paying him $10 mill per year, it's a horrible signing.

 

The Cubs let DeRosa walk. He did a lot of things for the Cubbies that were under-appreciated, IMO. He has the ability to play almost everywhere and provides a solid stick in the lineup. He also killed the Reds (not that it means much.)

 

The Cubs acquired Kevin Gregg, who is a quality reliever; however, it's pretty clear that nobody in Chicago has any faith in Gregg as a closer. They already want Marmol in the closer's role.

 

They have a great 1-2 punch with Zambrano & Harden. But Zambrano wore down at the end of last season & it's likely that Harden won't last the entire season.

Not saying they improved anything, but they certainly havent regressed. I think they'll finish with at least 93 wins, which technically could be a regression but not to the point where they don't make the playoffs or something

I think they've regressed. Zambrano has health issues. Dempster isn't likely to be worth his new contract. Lee is in decline. The bullpen shuffle will be a net loss. The defense is shaky in a few spots. There isn't a regular on this team who figures to be better than they were last year to make up for the losses, and the biggest addition to the offense has a history of being injured frequently.

I think they've regressed. Zambrano has health issues. Dempster isn't likely to be worth his new contract. Lee is in decline. The bullpen shuffle will be a net loss. The defense is shaky in a few spots. There isn't a regular on this team who figures to be better than they were last year to make up for the losses, and the biggest addition to the offense has a history of being injured frequently.

 

:thumb:

 

With that said, any lineup with Lee, Ramirez & Soriano is still a threat...

 

And the Cubbies are still the team to beat in the Central.

:thumb:

 

With that said, any lineup with Lee, Ramirez & Soriano is still a threat...

 

And the Cubbies are still the team to beat in the Central.

That's more of an indictment of the division as a whole ... the Cubs are the favorite, but they're ripe to be picked if another team can put things together.

That's more of an indictment of the division as a whole ... the Cubs are the favorite, but they're ripe to be picked if another team can put things together.

 

When you look at the payrolls, it's easy to see why the Cubs are the favorite.

When you look at the payrolls, it's easy to see why the Cubs are the favorite.

It isn't just the payroll ... it's one factor, but not the only one.

It isn't just the payroll ... it's one factor, but not the only one.

 

It is the biggest factor, by far.