Milton Bradley hasn't been worth spit ever since Hasbro bought him out.

bighasbeen: Jesus Christ, again with a Cubs/Milton Bradley story? You know, the last 101 years were bad, but Milton Bradley made last year the worst EVAR!

Even if he was everything that was wrong with your team last year he would still account for less than 1% of your franchise's failures.

Get. Over. It.

Never said this before, but holy fark, THIS.

Maybe if he could connect four hits together, he'd still have a job.

VvonderJesus: Maybe if he could connect four hits together, he'd still have a job.

He is currently in AZ with Pinella's old team. Enjoy Silva!!!!

It's not like Milton Bradley has a Monopoly on douchiness...

Wait. Wut?

VvonderJesus: Maybe if he could connect four hits together, he'd still have a job.

Clete Orris: VvonderJesus: Maybe if he could connect four hits together, he'd still have a job.

yogaFLAME: Have there been more Cubs bashing greenlights than usual?

..Because it's glorious.

Go Cards

+1

Let's go White Sox!
Chicago does have one competitive club. Way more fun to watch too. Starting pitching for the Sox could be legendary this season.

alonzinator: VvonderJesus: Maybe if he could connect four hits together, he'd still have a job.

He is currently in AZ with Pinella's old team. Enjoy Silva!!!!

This. Seriously, the Cubs *kept* Silva? Didn't eat the contract? (don't care how big it is)... Silva in a hitter's park is going to be fun to watch. He might even be responsible for evening out the offenses between AL and NL by the time this season's over.

/Carlos Silva - the Steve Trout of the Oughts for the M's.

Clete Orris: It's not like Milton Bradley has a Monopoly on douchiness...

Wait. Wut?

For the last time, Monopoly is Parker Brothers. Get it right.

/Sure, they're both Hasbro. But so is Wizards of the Coast, and you don't see Parker Brothers claiming Magic, do you?

Is it Jim Hendry's fault he hit .205 with runners in scoring position? He had like 45 RBIs on the season!

/White Sox Fan
//Hendry is an idiot for signing him
///Bradley is just a bad human being however

You're all racists.

Have fun with him, Seattle.

It was a mistake signing Bradley. He does need to look in the mirror before blaming others. Blaming racism is stupid. The Cubs probably did try to work with Bradley to make him happy, and hate mail probably didn't come from inside the organization.

So except for the "AAHHHHHHCUBSUK102YAERSWIGLEYHASTROFFS!!!!!" angle the mouth breathers are going for, what exactly did Hendry say that was wrong or stupid? Maybe he shouldn't feed the troll, but after two Bradley interviews in 3 days, a response is reasonable.

WrongTrousers: alonzinator: VvonderJesus: Maybe if he could connect four hits together, he'd still have a job.

He is currently in AZ with Pinella's old team. Enjoy Silva!!!!

This. Seriously, the Cubs *kept* Silva? Didn't eat the contract? (don't care how big it is)... Silva in a hitter's park is going to be fun to watch. He might even be responsible for evening out the offenses between AL and NL by the time this season's over.

/Carlos Silva - the Steve Trout of the Oughts for the M's.

Well, if you put more than four seconds of thought into it....

If the Cubs just cut him during camp (which they probably will), They basically did the same thing as eat the Bradley contract, only they got some money from Seattle to offset it.

The Cubs made a bad mistake in signing Bradley, but at least he was coming off a good year. Seattle traded for him after a not-so-good year where he acted like a total douchebag.

The Cubs know Silva isn't going to do anything, all he amounts to is a little bit of financial release.

El Brujo: Chicago does have one competitive club.

The Sox were no more "competitive" than the Cubs were last year. Their staff does look to be pretty damned good tho.

abhorrent1: You're all racists.

LOLs.

Dammit-Hi: El Brujo: Chicago does have one competitive club.

The Sox were no more "competitive" than the Cubs were last year. Their staff does look to be pretty damned good tho.

abhorrent1: You're all racists.

LOLs.

The Sox starting lineup does look good. I don't follow the Sox that closely, but I saw a while ago they signed Juan Pierre. How's he going to fit in? He was the odd man out in L.A., isn't he going to be pretty much the odd man out in Chicago?

Also, did they do anything with their bullpen? Wasn't that their big problem the last couple of years? All I really know about the Sox is what I hear in soundbites on radio and TV. Realistically, are they looking good for their division this year?

Orgasmatron138: Juan Pierre. How's he going to fit in? He was the odd man out in L.A., isn't he going to be pretty much the odd man out in Chicago?

Also, did they do anything with their bullpen? Wasn't that their big problem the last couple of years?

As far as I've heard, Ozzie is going to use Vizquel, Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre, and Carlos Quentin as rotating outfield/DH. If their starting pitching staff stays healthy, they are going to be awesome and they solidified the bullpen with Putz. But the big problem with the Sox last year was the bats. If they don't start hitting the ball, they will be in a lot of 3-2 ballgames and will come out on the short end of that if their bullpen continues to struggle.

^^Ozzie obviously won't have Vizquel in the outfield, but he'll be in the DH rotation...maybe add Alex Rios in that outfield rotation as well if he doesn't play well enough on an every day basis^^

/should never post before 10am. brain's not functioning yet.

chimp_ninja: bighasbeen: Jesus Christ, again with a Cubs/Milton Bradley story? You know, the last 101 years were bad, but Milton Bradley made last year the worst EVAR! Even if he was everything that was wrong with your team last year he would still account for less than 1% of your franchise's failures. Get. Over. It.

Milton Bradley's impact on last year:
He provided a league-average bat (.257/.378/.397, OPS+ 99) and somewhat below-average defense at an easy position (RF) over 124 games and 471 PA.

He was vastly overpaid for that, but all the pretending that he doomed the team single-handedly is just scapegoating. The Cubs finished 7.5 out in the Central, and 8.5 out of the wild card race. No version of Milton Bradley could have fixed that. Even if he repeated his anomalously good 2008, he would have been worth maybe +3 wins (using WARP3 as an estimate here) over his 2009 performance.

I don't think most Cubs fans would say he doomed the team. My personal feeling is that this incarnation of the Cubs has peaked (in 2008) and will have to rebuild to seriously contend again.

What Bradley is symbolic of is how the team was mismanaged from the top down. How good your team is depends a lot on your farm system. If you are unable to consistently produce major league ready talent from your farm system, you have to do stupid things like hand out big money, no-trade contracts.

I would be okay with the Cubs blowing up and starting again AS LONG AS THERE IS A REAL PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

It sounds like the new owners are more serious about the farm system - they are looking to have more of an international scouting presence, for starters, and that's important.

Over the last 10 years, the Cubs have competed by spending a lot of money. However, they've only advanced in the playoffs once. The new owners will not be able to just spend like crazy.

However, if they sign young players, invest seriously in getting great scouting and coaching, and make smart decisions on when to bring up the new talent, they can save their money and get big time, real superstars to fill the gaps, rather than overpriced, slightly above average talent to try to build the whole team.

chimp_ninja: He was vastly overpaid for that, but all the pretending that he doomed the team single-handedly is just scapegoating.

Pointing out a disastrous signing isn't the same as scapegoating Milton alone for the Cubs season. Pretty everyone but Derek Lee, Angel Guzman and Sean Marshal underperformed or got hurt last season.

bighasbeen: Jesus Christ, again with a Cubs/Milton Bradley story? You know, the last 101 years were bad, but Milton Bradley made last year the worst EVAR!Even if he was everything that was wrong with your team last year he would still account for less than 1% of your franchise's failures.

You do realize that journalists write news stories, right? You seem to believe that these articles come from some giant Cubs fan hive mind. I wonder, do you often find yourself asking the question, "Is this real life?"

Orgasmatron138: I would be okay with the Cubs blowing up and starting again AS LONG AS THERE IS A REAL PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

I don't think they need to blow it up and still be prepared for the future. It seems like there are a few pretty good prospects coming up in the organization but I take that with a grain of salt as it is coming from within the org. itself. We have 3 solid prospects at short (Barney, Castro, and Lee -and Andres Blanco is still young) and some decent CF (Colvin, Jackson) prospects. If Soto can return to his rookie year form along with Theriot moving to 2b at some point, we could have a pretty solid base up the middle in the next couple years while still competing right now. But they need to stop with the horrible contracts (Fukudome, Soriano, Bradley).

Seriously, I'm a White Sox fan and enjoy a Cubs bash as much as the next guy, but I'm on Hendry's side here; Bradley's a grade-A dick and making up stories about racists in the Cubs organization is just ridiculous.

markyp09: Orgasmatron138: I would be okay with the Cubs blowing up and starting again AS LONG AS THERE IS A REAL PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

I don't think they need to blow it up and still be prepared for the future. It seems like there are a few pretty good prospects coming up in the organization but I take that with a grain of salt as it is coming from within the org. itself. We have 3 solid prospects at short (Barney, Castro, and Lee -and Andres Blanco is still young) and some decent CF (Colvin, Jackson) prospects. If Soto can return to his rookie year form along with Theriot moving to 2b at some point, we could have a pretty solid base up the middle in the next couple years while still competing right now. But they need to stop with the horrible contracts (Fukudome, Soriano, Bradley).

I have my doubts about Soto. From 2001 to 2006, his grand total of home runs in the minors was 28. All of a sudden in 2007 he hits 26 in one year.

2008, he has a monster year. Then, in 2009, he falls completely off the radar, in part because he lost his muscle definition and got fat. This, year, the story coming out of spring training is that he lost what, like 40 pounds?

I'm not accusing him of anything, but that looks damn suspicious. I don't think he's ever going to match his rookie year. Now, catchers generally don't HAVE to be offensive threats, but last year, when the Cubs suffered, it was because of the bats, not the pitching (more often than not). They need all the good sticks they can get.

Orgasmatron138: The Sox starting lineup does look good. I don't follow the Sox that closely, but I saw a while ago they signed Juan Pierre. How's he going to fit in? He was the odd man out in L.A., isn't he going to be pretty much the odd man out in Chicago?

Typical outfield will be Pierre-Rios-Quentin. Quentin will DH some days, Andruw Jones will DH some days and play outfield others (he looks like he's moving a lot better than last year, losing 25 pounds and having your leg healthy will do that I guess). Kotsay will DH some days and give Konerko the occasional break.

I like the flexibility to give guys a break from the field (especially Quentin), and it should be a vastly improved defensive outfield from last year. Dye was just hideous out there, and when Quentin played on his bum foot/leg he could barely move in the field. Wasn't like Pods is a good defender either. Pierre is plus in left, Rios is plus in center, and Quentin if healthy is average to a little below in right (but with a strong arm).

The keys are Pierre has to get on base, Quentin has to stay healthy, and Rios has to have his head screwed on straight enough to produce a solid year. Beckham's going to put up 20+ HR and solid numbers across the board. Alexei matching his better plate discipline from last year with the power and hitting from his first would be huge. And Teahen is going to be a butcher at 3rd. The offense is pretty much hosed if Quentin isn't Quentin again though unless Andruw Jones has found the fountain of youth somewhere.

Oh, and I'm guessing Milton Bradley's "racist letters" or whatever he's yapping about are as real as the ones Dusty Baker claimed he got but always refused to show anyone.

IlGreven: Clete Orris: It's not like Milton Bradley has a Monopoly on douchiness...

Wait. Wut?

For the last time, Monopoly is Parker Brothers. Get it right.

/Sure, they're both Hasbro. But so is Wizards of the Coast, and you don't see Parker Brothers claiming Magic, do you?

True, but D&D 4th edition is getting pretty close.

Orgasmatron138: I'm not accusing him of anything, but that looks damn suspicious.

I agree that it's suspicious. I guess I shouldn't have said "returned to form" about Soto. I don't expect him to have the same power he had after losing all that weight (and whatever was going on in 2007-2008). But if he returns to ripping doubles down the line and can hit .275 with 15 homers and 70 RBI, it'll be a huge help. At this point, I don't even know where he'll hit in the lineup. I think Fontenot might have to hit 7th to break up the righties and Soto is looking at 8th most likely because Soriano is going to be stuck in the 6-hole.

Kornchex: Do you think the Cards would dump money like that? No. Instead they sign Holiday and Pujols. That's really all you need to know.

The Cardinals may come to regret the Holiday signing when it comes time to pay for a pitching staff in a couple of years.

bigwave: I'm just going to leave this right here...

100% THIS

chewielouie

That "poster" is amusing considering that girl isn't a Cubs fan -- if I remember correctly Sterger claims to be a Rays fan.

El Brujo:
Chicago does have one competitive club. Way more fun to watch too. Starting pitching for the Sox could be legendary this season.

Over the past three seasons, the Cubs have been just as competitive or more so than the Sox. The southside pitching better be legendary this year, good luck putting together 3 runs with that lineup this year.

WrongTrousers: This. Seriously, the Cubs *kept* Silva? Didn't eat the contract? (don't care how big it is)... Silva in a hitter's park is going to be fun to watch. He might even be responsible for evening out the offenses between AL and NL by the time this season's over.


Do you have any idea how baseball contracts work? You can't just "eat" one. The closest thing you can do is trade the player to another team for their crappy contract... which is exactly how the Cubs got Silva. He will be on the 40 man for the duration of his contract and spend the entire season on the DL.

Orgasmatron138:
What Bradley is symbolic of is how the team was mismanaged from the top down. How good your team is depends a lot on your farm system. If you are unable to consistently produce major league ready talent from your farm system, you have to do stupid things like hand out big money, no-trade contracts.

I would be okay with the Cubs blowing up and starting again AS LONG AS THERE IS A REAL PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

It sounds like the new owners are more serious about the farm system - they are looking to have more of an international scouting presence, for starters, and that's important.

Over the last 10 years, the Cubs have competed by spending a lot of money. However, they've only advanced in the playoffs once. The new owners will not be able to just spend like crazy.

However, if they sign young players, invest seriously in getting great scouting and coaching, and make smart decisions on when to bring up the new talent, they can save their money and get big time, real superstars to fill the gaps, rather than overpriced, slightly above average talent to try to build the whole team.

The new owners are not the ones who started the Cubs international scouting. They have been the major force in the Pacific Rim for the past 5 years. The new owners have not changed one thing about the scouting, nor should they.

Currently, most people have the Cubs minors as a top 10 system. This has nothing to do with the new owners. It is from the efforts over the past five years of the organization. The one flaw with the system is that is fairly weak at AAA (i.e., noone coming up the next 2 years). But the system has been constantly producing major league players (they graduated 5 players in '09).

I think you confuse not having a plan with having a plan fail.

bacongood: Do you have any idea how baseball contracts work?

Apparently you don't.

Step 1) Designate Silva for assignment
Step 2) Silva refuses minor league assignment
Step 3) Silva is released and the Cubs still have to pay him

In baseball parlance, they call that "eating the contract".

GQueue: In baseball parlance, they call that "eating the contract".

Isn't that possibility still open? It doesn't hurt to take a look at the guy in spring training and see if he can get his mechanics fixed and return to the form he showed in Minnesota. If not, cut his ass.

markyp09: Isn't that possibility still open? It doesn't hurt to take a look at the guy in spring training and see if he can get his mechanics fixed and return to the form he showed in Minnesota. If not, cut his ass.

Oh yeah, doesn't cost them anything to look now, they have to pay him regardless. I was simply pointing out that they most certainly could (and probably will in reality) just cut him and eat the contract.

Kornchex: Dammit-Hi: Kornchex: Do you think the Cards would dump money like that? No. Instead they sign Holiday and Pujols. That's really all you need to know.

The Cardinals may come to regret the Holiday signing when it comes time to pay for a pitching staff in a couple of years.

True. My point was that they won't regret it as much as the Cubs already regret signing Soriano, much less how much they'll regret Soriano's contract when dude is 37.

It really is insane to think they are still stuck with him for the next 5 years, and he has a full NTC on top of it.