RedFlash2

I believe the Cubs were NEVER in on Prince Fielder. Didn't fit into what Theo was saying. I think Cubs inclusion was a media and/or Boras creation trying to create a market for his client. Now that there is no NY/LA/Chicago/Boston in the talks, Boras is likely crying in a fetal position. As for the deal, Cashner has more upside but Rizzo is more likely to reach his ceiling. I'm hoping Adrian Gonzalez lite with Rizzo. Prolly a longshot, but hey one can dream right? More likely a rich man's version of Adam LaRoche. I like Cashner but it will be at least 2 years before he'll be a starter. A #1 prospect for essentially a reliever? That's a win for the Cubs and that doesn't include Cates .v. Na. As for Cates .v. Na, a power bullpen arm .v. a potential 4th OFer? Sign me up. Great trade for us Cubs, and it's great to have a competent front office.

5th starter for 5th trade, imo. Nothing more/nothing less. Marlins want to compete and Z gives them that, the Cubs wanted the higher upside pitcher.

Brewer fans I can assure you...............the Cubs are not signing Prince Fielder. I think letting ARam walk, shopping Garza (anytime between now and the start of the new year I expect Garza to be dealt), trading Sean Marshall all but assures the Cubs are going rebuild mode. Personally, I think Prince ends up either with Texas or with the Nationals. My gut feeling is that the Cubs 1b next year will be someone like Anthony Rizzo, or I hope so cause I don't want Bryan $%!$%' LaHair as starting 1B. Cubs are out on Prince and if you hear the Cubs name still connected to Prince, I guarantee you it will be because Boras is trying to use the Cubs name to up the negotiations. The Cubs are definately going to be battling the Houston Astros for 6th in the Central.

Five years of Travis Wood .v. one year of Sean Marshall, I don't know if I would have done that if I was the Reds? And there are some rumors that one of the two players is a top 10 prospect, which makes this deal look a little worse for the Reds. Don't get me wrong, if you are going to overpay for a player make sure that player is a good one. Sean Marshall is an impact reliever. But if adding Latos and Marshall worth pretty setting the farm system back at least 5 years? Especially on Marshall who isn't likely to re-sign with them in the offseason and the Reds won't get a draft pick for his services. Not a great move for the future of the Reds, but it is a great move for the short term.

REAL Cubs fans are ok with ARam leaving, even to the Brewers, it is the meatheads Cub fans that would be pissed. Those are the fans that don't understand crap about baseball.

It sounds like Sveum will be the next Cub manager (especially with Maddux pulling out due to family concerns). I trust Hoystein on his calling. If they think he is the right man for the job, then who is to argue with them.

Agreed. NO wild card winner should ever have the privilege of having a home field advantage in the World Series. Nice rule you included into the All Star Game, Bud Selig. Whether a Wild Card winner should be able to have home field in a World Series is another question, but you do realize that if Bud had never instituted the All-Star home field advantage rule and they'd stuck with the just-as-random alternating-year rule that had been in place prior that St. Louis would still have home field advantage, right? Anyway, it's hard for me to like Motte as he was the one who did TLR's evil bidding and plunked Braun First: Rotating HFA for the World Series between the leagues is a lot better idea then letting HFA be the prize for winning a meaningless exhibition game during the season. Outside of the NBA All Star Game, none of the ASG will be popular or bring in huge waiting, so let's stop this crap of awarding HFA to the winner of the popularity contest? Second: Why can't baseball go back to the days in which whoever had the best record, regardless of league, having HFA? Best record=HFA. But of course Bud Selig can't see it because it requires common sense, which apparently he has none.

Agreed. NO wild card winner should ever have the privilege of having a home field advantage in the World Series. Nice rule you included into the All Star Game, Bud Selig. St. Louis can fall off the map for all I care. In fact come Monday, I will forget who won the 2011 World Series and conclude that like the 1994 WS there was no winner, only losers. Special shout out to those choking dogs of Texas. One dang strike, one $%+%$' strike.

danzig6767 (and to the NSBB boys who visit this site as guests) Earl Weaver was the wrong comparasion. Hiring Epstein represents a 180 degree change in philosophy from the Dusty Baker era. I mean Dusty once said, "It's called hitting, and it ain't called walking. Do you ever see the top 10 walking? You see top 10 batting average. " Can you believe that? You can see why we are excited. Good luck to you guys against the Cardinals.

Regardless of which side of the fence you are on when it comes to Epstein, for us Cub fans we are excited (at least cautiously optimistic until the intro PC is announced) about the change of organizational philosophy this move represent. I know you guys don't follow the Cubs, but the last several Cubs GMs (Hendry/Lynch/MacPhail, etc) definately do not adhere to the "Moneyball" era of baseball and they have been stuck on the Earl Weaver's "Double-plays and the Three Run Homer" philosophy for decades. So this change of philosophy is a welcome sight. Getting Epstein basically said, "welcome to the 21st century of baseball" Cubs. So, you can imagine how excited we are about Epstein.

You're welcome Brew-Crew. You most certainly earn the division. As a Cub fan anything that can screw the Cardinals out of going to playoffs, or at worst hinder their chances of making the playoffs, I would do in a heartbeat. Now do me a favor and please show up for the playoffs. I still have nightmares about the Cubs 2007-08 times that crapped the bed when the playoffs began. Here's to a good run in the playoffs for you guys.

I have no love lost for the Cards, none whatsoever, but will somebody please tell Prince Fielder to go sit on Morgan until Nyger promises to keep his mouth shut. I mean geez, even if Carpenter started it , just point to the standings, laugh, and move on. No need to egg it on. Somebody tell Morgan this is not the last year of professional baseball and that the Brewers will have to play the Cardinals again in possibly in 2011 but more likely in 2012. And if history has taught us anything it is that the Cardinals have VERY LONG memories. I hope you guys do well this year, I really do (and it pains me to say it), but Nyger needs to keep his mouth shut and just play baseball. What he is doing is childish and immature.

Alright, so do you do Aramis Ramirez+Sean Marshall+Marlon Byrd for Tyler Thornburg+Caleb Gindl? Marshall fills @*#*%% in our pen, albeit one that's not that big with our new found depth, but a nice one either way. Then finish it off with a Jamey Carroll trade. From the Cubs POV I would NOT do that trade even if the Brewers are willing to eat Soriano's contract. IMO, the only way the Cubs move Sean Marshall this year if said team that wants him take Soriano's contract without the Cubs eating 0% of the deal. In other words, I doubt Marshall get's move this year as Jim Hendry still maintain that he expect the Cubs to compete in 2012, which is why I don't see ARam or Marshall being move. Marlon Byrd on the other hand.................the Cubs have Brett Jackson fast approaching and IMO would like to move Byrd to open up CF for him. Byrd/Baker for Hinton/Schafter is a deal I could see the Cubs being interested in.

You have to know the Cubs are going to want the most they can get if they are going to move ARam. If ARam waives his no-trade clause he instantly because the best available bat on the market, even more so than Hunter Pence. If the Mets can get the Giants 3rd best prospect/best pitching prospect then the Cubs should reasonable expect Gamel AND say Thornburg (or one of Peralta/Nelson). The price would be high but you also have the possibility of having ARam this year and perhaps next year especially if you reallocate Fielders/FRod's money to ARam among others. So yes the price will be high. With that said, from a personal standpoint I don't want to trade ARam. If the Cubs trade ARam then they might as well blow the whole thing up and wait for 2013 cause 2012 would be lost. With that said if you think that the price is high the Brewers might want to consider Jeff Baker. Outside of versatility (1b/2b/3b) he is hitting lefties hard this yr to the line of .358/.373/.494/.867 and the price would likely be someone in you in the 20-25 range on your prospect list.

The Cubs have NO immediate replacement at 3rd base if the Cubs could to trade ARam and get him to waive it. Vitters is at least two years away and the rest of the 3rd base prospects project to be eiither 2B (like LeMahieu or Flaherty) or utility players (like Marquez Smith). And looking over potential FA and that is a big pile of crap. And I don't like the thought of guys like Jeff Baker or Blake DeWitt at 3rd. So IF the Cubs were to talk to the Brewers about an ARam trade negotiations would start and end at Mat Gamel, imo. This will not be a straight salary dump. If you are willing to part with Gamel then I have no problems with parting with ARam. Truth to be told if the Cubs want to contend in 2012 they can't afford to trade ARam, so I would prefer not to trade ARam, but if they are to trade him the Cubs HAVE to get a 3rd baseman in return and from the Brewers that's Gamel (and no we will not McGehee back).