Thinking big

I am cursed to be an optimist. I just can't help it. Instead of worrying about whether the Cubs will manage to resign Wood, Lee, and Ramirez after next season, I'm busy thinking big. Very big.

Realistically, all I have to do is look at Greg Maddux to see how the Cubs historically have treated their stars. Or I could look at all the Dave Smiths, Danny Jacksons, Jeff Blausers, Matt Stairs, and many, many, many more to see that the Cubs don't go after top talent in the free agent market. To example just how painfully optimistic I can be (and therefore STUPID), I heralded the signing of Moises Alou as the first real example of the Cubs comitting to winning by signing a Grade A player. Ok, so maybe they spent top DOLLAR on the guy, but he isn't a star. He's a roleplayer. The post season has led me to believe that he'll still be a contributor next year, and that he has a lot of heart (unlike Dominican contemporary Sammy Sosa who puts up numbers because he has a lot of EGO). But no, Moises Alou is not a star. The Cubs don't sign stars. But maybe that'll change.

Here's how things are looking right now. A lot of us bitch and moan about real lack of hitters to come out of the Cubs farm system. Corey Patterson is the only example on the roster right now. He may or may not have been playing as a fluke last year. He may or may not return a good player from his season-ending injury. However, as things stand, the Cubs have three guys under 30 right now who can contribute in their lineup. If Hendry writes a couple of checks, the entire infield could be young and talented. And while Alou and Sosa are old and declining, I have reason to hope that Pie and Harvey will be joining Patterson within the next two or three years.

No one expects Hendry to deal Gonzalez and persue Matsui. In fact if he wants to play it safe and suffer one more season of Gonzo's no-hit gold-glove-caliber play, a guy named Edgar Renteria will be available to play shortstop for the Cubs in '05. And he's only 28 as well. Likewise, I don't think I've read a legitimate article about the Cubs forcefully persuing Luis Castillo, but they should be. Castillo also is only 28 and has speed. If I'm the Cubs, I'm after Castillo like Jason's after recently devirginized co-eds.

Realistically I can't say bad things about Hendry - he keeps surprising me with quality trades. Well I guess I can say that he hasn't shown the best free agent savy - overpaying for his bullpen cost him on that one. Realistically the Cubs probably will have a new starting second baseman next season, and if we're lucky, maybe even a new short stop, although I doubt they'll be Castillo and Matsui. But let's say it happens... what does that mean? Let's say they lock up Castillo and Matsui, negotiate extensions with Lee and Ramirez, sign Wood to a long term deal...

That leaves you with a core of Wood (26), Prior (23), Zambrano (22), Lee (28), Castillo (28), Matsui (28), Ramirez (25), and Patterson (24), possibly with Pie (19), Harvey (19), Sisko (20) and Guzman (21) on the way.

From my perspective, the prospects on the way don't even have to make it for that core team to be VERY formidable. From my perspective, and yes, I know, I am an eternal optimist, the Chicago organization will only improve in the next five years. They will only improve, and already they were a mere five outs away from a pennant.

It's a good time to be a Cubs fan.

What's next?

Hee Seop Choi has been traded to the Marlins for their first baseman Derek Lee. Initial response seems to be favorable toward the Cubs. They get a power hitting first baseman with speed still in his prime, the Marlins get a young power hitting first baseman who could be an offensive threat for more than a decade.

Now all the Cubs have to do is sign Castillo and Pudge and they can be the Chicago Marlins. Actually I'm thinking the Marlins made this move in part so they have a little more spending room to keep some of their expensive, departing talent. I've read elsewhere that the Cubs will likely sign Lee to a four year extension, possibly for 5 million a year. That's a great deal for Chicago.

So now I have to ask what's next. Getting Lee is a respectable first move. He doesn't turn 29 until September, he hit 31 homeruns last year in a pitcher's park, drove in 92, walked 88 times, and stole 21 bases in 29 attempts. He actually hit 20 of his homeruns on the road, and batted .297 to boot. He batted .385 against top notch Chicago pitching at Wrigley Field.

However, Lee is not the end-all solution to making this team better. It certainly helps, but the Cubs still need to upgrade at second base - getting Castillo would be a great move in that direction. Speculation has it that the market has been slow because everyone wants to go after the non-tenders at the end of December. However I think it'd be making a statement to start buying talent NOW, and I hope to see that happen soon.

Historically the Cubs make most of their big moves over a few days in November, followed by a few more moves during the Cubs Convention. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

To be a Cubs fan

Looks like forklift and the sloth are talking about being a Cubs fan. Well, just because I haven't posted in over a week, I thought I'd give my two cents to it as well.

I've been a Cubs fan since I was 7. The reason I became a fan was because my best friend at the time was also a Cubs fan. I started seriously following the team when I was 9. I spent many days during the summer of 89 watching Cubs baseball. In some ways, I was never more of a fan. I knew every player. I knew his jersey number. I knew his statistics. I watched the come-from-behind game against Houston, and I followed them into their defeat against the Giants.

When I was 10 I moved to West Virginia. I could no longer watch WGN. I had to follow their stats in Baseball Weekly. When I moved back at age 14, I continued to follow, watching on WGN and keeping up with their statistics in Baseball Weekly. When I was 16 I started posting on AOL. When I was 18, the Cubs blundered their way into a quick post season exit, riding the bat of Sammy Sosa and the arm of phenom Kerry Wood. I watched or listened to practically every game that season. I missed a series against St. Louis because I'd gone on my class trip to Disney World, and I missed a series against the White Sox because I'd gone to my best friend's graduation in South Carolina. Since then I've followed the Cubs daily on the net, and although I don't get to watch many games these days, I catch as many as I can.

So what kind of Cubs fan am I? Am I hardcore? I know that I bleed with the team. Whenever I think about the playoffs I still get a sick feeling in my stomach, and in the back of my mind I have these horrible thoughts that that will be as close as they ever get in my life time. When I was younger I used to say that if someone told me the Cubs could win a World Series, and all I had to do was live in poverty after it happened - or even die - I would say "SURE!"

Well, I'm a bit older now, and more realistic. I'm engaged and I want to have a family, so no, I don't want to die or live in poverty just to watch the Cubs triumph over nearly 100 years of mediocrity.

Likewise, I don't think I'm any different than thousands of other fans who follow the team. I'm sure there are guys who live farther away from Chicago than me who see more games at Wrigley. I'm sure there are guys who make less money than me who outspend me on Cubs apparal. Also, surely there are busier guys than me who watch more games on tv or listen to them on the radio. And I know for a FACT that there are guys who have been hit harder by this team's failures, yet love the Cubs more. You can find many of them over at the Coven - a place where I'm not welcome.

In my mind, pound for pound, the greatest Cubs fan is Ron Santo. This is a man who'd give his legs - again - to see them win a World Series. This a man who lives - and in spite of all ill health, just REFUSES to DIE - to see the Cubs win.

There is a psychological occurence that was noted after January 1, 2000. It seems that after Y2K hit, there was an unproportionate number of deaths. This happened, they thought, because people had forced themselves to live longer to see this event occur. After the event passed, they died. Since I read about that, I'd wondered to myself, how many people are going to die after the Cubs win the Series? How many true, hardcore fans have forced themselves along for 2, 5, 10 years with the hopes that the Cubs would win the Big One in their life time?

Me, naw, I'm not a great Cubs fan. I'm just another guy, like thousands if not millions of others.

That old Cubs board

I've been following the Cubs on the internet for a long time now. I still remember the first Cubs board I ever visited, way back when I was 16 (I was looking around because the Cubs had just traded Brian McRae to the Mets).

There was a time when I was a community leader on a private Cubs board on AOL. The patrons of that board are still around - they run the Coven over at yahoo. I was on that board for several years, and I can honestly say they just didn't like me. Why? Lots of reasons, some of which were beyond my control.

I came on along with two other guys as an entirely new CL team after the former leader, who was well-loved, was removed because he had, for a time, lost his internet connection. A very crappy move by AOL there, which unfortunately was never fixed. I remember the first post I made as CL was a list of new "rules." These rules included "don't talk badly about other teams," "don't even mention other teams unless it's involving the Cubs," and in case you didn't get the idea, "any time I get an update up on time you have to send me $5." (Re: it was a JOKE, kids, the entire thing was satire). That very post caused one member to leave immediately - he didn't return for several months.

While on that board I made a few terrible mistakes. Those mistakes were that I 1) defended the Cubs organization, 2) defended the idiot posters who also frequented that board, 3) antagonized the core board group in the process, and 4) was lax on updating the team page. While the previous CL - who was, frankly, the best - would criticise the team for stupid moves like signing Matt Stairs, we simply reported it as a headline news event - CUBS SIGN MATT STAIRS, yadda yadda yadda.

For me, who was a journalism student at the time, I wasn't out to criticise the Cubs, I was out to write about the news. If the posters on the board wanted to criticse them, that's cool, but I'd defend them in the process if I disagreed. That I wouldn't relent on my defense was something else that pissed guys off.

As for defending the idiot posters, the way I saw it, these were kids who were eventually going to grow up to be (hopefully) articulate Cubs fans, who would eventually (ok, well, hopefully) become intelligent, and I didn't want to give them negative experiences on the board. I wanted them to feel welcome, so that as(if) they grew more intelligent, they'd stick around and hopefully contribute. In the process of defending these guys, I antagonized the core board group.

Anyway, long story short, they didn't like me from the start. I didn't help things out by telling them when I thought they were wrong. I was for signing Moises Alou and losing Roosey Brown, other guys (like Hawk) thought it was the worst mistake ever and felt that Brown would be a clutch hitter if he ever got the chance (how's he doing in Japan, anyway?)

It actually got to the point where once, Hawk jumped me because I said that Larry Bowa was the only poor offensive contributer on the 84 club.

Really folks, it was that absurd. They hated the new CLs because we replaced BK. (I am happy to see that the other two have been accepted, at least.) One thing I wonder if any are aware of... I EMailed BK AND the head of the sportsline department on several occasions asking to get BK reinstated as CL of the team, even if it meant him taking my own spot. I wanted him back, too. And while I do remember getting the department head to say she'd consider it if BK EMailed her, as far as I know, BK never did.

So, did I do things that were wrong? Yes. I was very argumenative with the team members. I did not update the team page. When I did I was often times an apologist for the Cubs. In the latter months of my time as CL there, I was the ONLY one updating it, although at the same time I was trying to graduate from college. Everyone left - they couldn't stand me so off to the Coven they went.

Very briefly earlier this past summer I flirted with posting at the Coven, but I said to them that if a single one didn't want me there, I wouldn't post. And although the Coven was created as a place where you argue ideas, where you don't attack people, five guys said "see ya" and said a few other things, and so I quit the group.

The funny thing is, for a time I was reading posts there, and I have to say that many of the guys who "hate" me would actually get along with me pretty well if they hadn't already made up their minds. I tend to agree with them on a lot of subjects.

I know that one of those old board members reads my blog (Sloth). I think I get along with him well enough, but I think that with the others, it's hopeless. I am sorry that they hate me that much, I think it was a bum rap. Maybe I'll find another board to post on someday, but in the meantime, the nation of blogs is a good place to be.

A bull among bears

Market recession continues to be the trend in baseball right now. According to Peter Gammons, ML teams are looking to cut an average of 4.5 million from their payrolls, or $135 million all together. Meanwhile the Cubs are looking to spend more (perhaps Hendry didn't get the "we're trying to look like we're losing money" memo). This means that with a little creative GMing, it's possible that the Cubs could cheaply acquire prime talent from perhaps half the teams in the league, maybe even more.

I'm sitting with eager anticipation, awaiting the hot stove league to get going.

Cy Gagne

Trivia question folks, before Gagne, whow as the last Canadian to win a Cy Young award? The answer? Fergie Jenkins.

Tough luck to Mark Prior, but like everyone else, I forsee him having the numbers to contend for a few more of those awards. And now Prior will be getting 12 million over the next 5 years, I think I read. His contract keeps increasing, although I'm unfamiliar with all the terms. Maybe Ruz over at The Cub Reporter could dig them up somewhere.

Looking at the blogs, I think a lot of fans out there are expecting the club to recline next year, as they always do. Not decline, recline. After all, historically the Cubs tend to suck after a post season year. Since the Tribune era, their average record is 74-88. (In fact, the average record of a Cubs team the following year after a winning season is: 72-90 with the 94 season averaged out to what the record would've been had they played 162 games.) We Cub fans have seen enough to know that one glory trip to the post season is ultimately meaningless.

And me, well, I've always been called an optimist. In fact I used to drive a board into histerics because I tended to look on the bright side of every transaction. I defended most every move made. I defended most every other stupid idiot poster who supported said made move, or Sammy Sosa. (More on the old board another time, I think).

I'm not the optimist I was. I've grown to be very critical of the team at times. However, I've got three reasons to think that next year will not be a recline into mediocrity. Those reasons are Wood, Prior, and Zambrano. Clement could be Reason Four, as I doubt he'll be dealt.

All other years, with the possible exception of 84, the Cubs won by a fluke rotation, not that they knew it at the time. In retrospect, it makes sense to me to believe that Mike Bielecki would've floundered in 90, that Sutcliffe would've been hurt at some point that year, and so on. In 99, who really believed that Tapani would pitch well, that Traschel would remain at all dependable, and so on?

This time, the Cubs have four solid pitchers. They improve the bullpen and they win 94 games. They improve the lineup and they win 100. But the hard part is improving. I think everyone, myself included, wants to see Hendry make this huge year-breaking deal with a team, or a free agent. A deal that announces to everyone, "The Cubs are for real."

Well guess what folks, history has taught us that said deal won't come, and I believe it.

History has also taught us that the team to make the groundbreaking deal in the offseason also usually falls flat on its face. Maybe they compete, but they usually don't make the post season, and hell, they usually don't even finish at over .500. Where have the Rangers been, after all. What happened to the Rockies when they landed Hampton and Neagle? What happened to the Mets anytime they've tried to buy a winner? Hell, what happened to the Phillies last year?

This harkens back to my thoughts that getting A-Rod would be the nail in the coffin, the Big Mistake that would eventually end Hendry and McFail's time in Chicago. At the same time, you can't go the other way with it either. No hodge-podge conglomeration of journeymen has-beens. For the Cubs to compete, they need solid acquisations. They need to find a solid, dependable, Maddux-like #5 pitcher *hint, hint.* They need a talented leadoff hitting second baseman, like Castillo *hint, hint.* They need an improved bullpen, with the likes of Wendell, Adams, Sullivan, or Beck *hint, hint, hint.*

They could use a better catcher. Hell, I'd take Piazza from the Mets if they'd pay $10 mil of his $30 mil contract, but Pudge would be a better, possibly cheaper choice.

I have been called in the past a guy who wants his team to go out and get the all stars. Well... I suppose that is still relatively true. In reality I just want solid players. They don't have to stand out, they just have to be capable of performing necessary tasks. These tasks include: leading off, calling a good game behind the plate while being capable of hitting (unfortunately ONLY all-star catchers seem capable of this), pitching a solid 200 innings, and holding leads late in games.

Just my thoughts on it. I'm going to officially predict a 78 win season no matter WHAT they do this off season, but I do believe they should win the division again, unless St. Loser goes out and buys a winner.

A-Rod?? For Wood?! Hell no!

For the A-Rod enthusiasts out there, I offer you a challenge. Since the contract explosion of the 90's, where individual players began receiving gargantuan sums, go back and find me the team each year paying the highest sum to the single player. Tell me, how often have these guys reached the post season? I honestly don't know the answer to this question, but I have a suspision, and my suspision leads me to believe that it almost never occurs.

Yeah, A-Rod is a stunning, stellar player. He's a guy who can hit 50 homeruns, drive in 130 RBI, score 120 runs, etc etc etc. And they pay him 25 million a year. On the other hand, in the current market state, you can probably get three guys who can hit 25 homeruns, drive in 90 RBI and score 90 runs a year. Admittedly I'm not great with math, but that is arguably 75 homeruns, 270 RBI and 270 runs scored to 50 homeruns, 130 RBI, and 120 runs scored. Plus it's three solid spots in the lineup compared to just one, plus they'd be signed for a shorter period of time so your hands wouldn't be cuffed if some freak accident occurs that injures someone.

It's just that when we hear A-Rod, what we really hear is "Single Best Player in the Game Today" and our eyes bulge, sort of like when cartoon characters see dollar signs everywhere, or something. Having the SBPGT is kinda cool, but you know, it's not something I think I'd prefer. I'd rather have good pitching and good hitting. I'd rather the Cubs wait a year and get the more affordable Renteria, who'd be valuable to the Cubs as he'd be a leadoff type hitter with good speed.

In the meantime, I want to see the Cubs use their valuable spending money on getting Castillo and Pudge, and upgrading the pen. Screw A-Rod, especially for Wood. Pitching got us within 5 outs of the Series last year, you don't deal a cornerstone of that pitching for a guy with an absurdly big paycheck.

Just my two cents on it.

Is Mark Prior the Cy Young?

It's awards week around the Major Leagues, and this particular subject has been on my mind since the middle of September.

Maybe I'm biased, but I absolutely believe Mark Prior should be the Cy Young this season. However I can be a realist, and I suspect it will go to Gagne, who was amazing. Gagne struck out 137 in 82.1 innings, saved 55 games in as many opportunities, and most impressively, his ERA was only 1.20. To be honest, I don't think relief pitchers should win the Cy Young award (although had Gagne posted those numbers as a Cub, you can believe I'd be screaming that he should win the award). Likewise, because the Dodgers failed to make the post season, I think that also should be taken into consideration. But realistically, Gagne will win the award.

Prior obviously wasn't at all bad, however. He finished the year with an 18-6 record with 245 ks in 211.1 innings, and a great 2.43 ERA. Most impressively was Prior's second half. He went 10-1 with a 1.52 ERA and 95 k's in 82.2 innings pitched. Most impressively, Prior only walked 16 in 11 games. I think the decisive reason that Prior should win the Cy Young is because, very obviously, the Cubs never would've made the post season without him.

The good news to me is that even if Prior doesn't win it this year, he's only 23 and will get better. And hopefully so will Wood. It would be really great to see a two or three way battle for the Cy Young Award for the next four or five years among the three young aces on the club.

Anyway, moot point, but if I could vote it would be for Prior. If I wasn't a Cubs fan, well, I dunno, it's not so clear to me in that case.

The Cubs should bring back Maddux

According to Sloth's blog, Hall of Famer Greg Maddux has expressed interest in returning to Chicago to end his career.

Chances are he's going to command 8-10 million for 1-2 years. This is money the Cubs could spend on Richie Sexson (assuming he's acquired via trade). This is money the Cubs could spend on Pudge; on Castillo; on improving the bullpen.

I say they should go for it.

It's not just for sentimental reasons, although I would LOVE to see an old mistake corrected. It's because I truly believe that a pitching master like Maddux could teach Wood, Prior, Zambrano, and Clement a world of knowledge.

In my mind, if I'm Hendry, I call Greg up and I say "Five year deal for 22.5 million. 18 million over the first two years as a pitcher for the club, 4.5 over the next three years as our pitching coach." I'd also pay him 12 million that first season and six million his last year with the club. That leaves the Cubs with 18 million for free agents, in theory. (Realistically some of the guys costing them money next year will be dealt).

With that 18 million, the Cubs could acquire Luis Castillo, give Choi first base, sign Beck, Adams, and Wendell to the bullpen, and still have extra money left over to acquire backups and the such.

Then, we get to watch Greg Maddux win his 300th as a Cub. We get to see Maddux hopefully show our young pitchers how to be a true professional. We get to watch him implode as a CUB in the post season, for once. But really, I think he'd be a huge asset, even in his old age.

Everyone say it with me. Maddux in 2004!

More free agent ideas:

Now THOSE were some long posts.

I keep writing about it because I keep thinking about it. The Cubs have said their payroll will hit at around 90-95 million next year.

They could use new starters at the following positions: C, 1B, 2B, SS.

They could also benefit from another SP and maybe as many as four RP's.

The Cub reporter has a great list of how much money Cubs players are making. The following players are due for raises: SP Matt Clement (4.0 million in '03), RP Kyle Farnsworth (.60 in '03), Joe Borowski (.410 in '03) SP Kerry Wood (6.19 in '03), 1B Randall Simon (1.475 in '03) and SP Carlos Zambrano (.340 in '03). Not counting those guys, the payroll for next year is presently at: $44. I'm going to guess that next year, Clement gets 6.0, Farnsworth 1.25, Borowski 1.50, Wood 9.0 (unless locked up long term), Simon 2.25, and Zambrano .75. That would take the team up to: 64.75 with the following positions to fill: SP, RPx3, C, 2B, IFx2, OFx2.

There's more speculation that the market will be weak. If this is true, even Vlad might come for cheaper than what Sammy is earning currently.

I'm done speculating on what the Cubs should do, but they do have roughly 30 million to play with, so I hope something good happens. Guess we'll see.

Final Season Grades (conclusion)

First... I've been away for the weekend, so I apologize for the delay. Also, our friend Ruz who runs The Cub Reporter has experienced a tragedy - the San Diego fires took his home, as well as that of his father's. Head over to the Reporter and wish him well. Now then:

The Bullpen
Todd Wellmeyer/Juan Cruz: D+
Why a D+: While these guys had runs of extreme effectiveness which bodes well for the future, they were also very erratic in how they pitched.
Why they should return: They both provide a cheap solution to the bullpen next year. They both have the stuff to pitch, but they haven't really done effectively thus far.
Why they should leave: Cruz represents the single best trade bait of any young pitcher on the team. Brimming with potential, Cruz could probably help rope in any player, including Richie Sexson. Wellmeyer likewise represents trade bait and could be used in that way to improve the squad.

Dave Veres: D-
Why a D-: I'm being generous. Veres did not do well for the Cubs this year. He came in expected to be one of the best relievers on the team but because of arm problems, he was a dud.
Why he should return: Guys like Veres tend to have rebound years before it's all said and done, and in theory he could come back cheaply.
Why he should leave: He was a waste and the team really need to try to improve the pen above all else. I hated watching leads get squandered, and while Veres *could* improve next year, I think they're better off without him.

Antonio Alfonseca: F-
Why an F-: Some fans, myself included, still doubt Hendry's skills as a GM in spite of his great moves with the Pirates this year. He seems to do good with trades but bad with signing talent, and his bringing back Alfonseca is a huge example why. I was among the many surprised fans last winter when Antonio was resigned - FOR FOUR MILLION DOLLARS!!
Why he should return: Well if Hendry is a sadist and enjoys torturing Cub fans, resigning Alfonseca would be a great way to do it.
Why he should leave: I firmly believe that the Cubs could give a pitching machine his spot on the roster and do as good or bad. See ya, Antonio.

Mark Guthrie: B
Why a B: Guthrie had good numbers this past season. A 2.74 ERA along with 10 holds. However he blew some clutch situations and has started showing signs of age - only 24 k's to 22 walks in 42.2 innings pitched.
Why he should return: Guthrie probably won't totally fall off the face of baseball next year. He should still be dependable.
Why he should leave: He won't get any better, and once again, this is about improving the bullpen, not maintaining it. I liked Guthrie as a Cub, but he was a cancer in the post season and his ERA went up by about a run during the last month of the season.

Kyle Farnsworth: B
Why a B: He was good. Real good. 3.30 ERA, 92 k's in 76.1 innings pitched. He can throw 100 miles an hour. But he still has that five cent head, and mentally I don't think he'll ever be a great pitcher. It felt like during the season, during any real clutch situation, Farnsworth would come in and blow it. For this reason, he doesn't get a B+, he doesn't get an A-, but a B.
Why he should return: He has a golden arm. He was an attribute to the pen. Farnsworth could continue to be a good reliever, and he'll likely have a good year next season, if he doen't break his foot kicking baseballs at the scoreboard.
Why he should leave: Trade bait. I suspect he'll be highly coveted and for the right players, I'd trade him in a heartbeat. His mental lapses will remain problems and as effective as he can be, I hate to see him lose important games.

Mike Remlinger: A-
Why an A-: I know, I'm giving him too high a grade but I really loved having Remlinger on the team last year. To me, he will forever be remembered for the game against the Yankees. Wood had just exited. Bases were loaded. Full count. Two outs. Giambi at the plate, and what does Remlinger do to hold onto the fragile one run lead? He throws the guy a CHANGE UP and strikes him out. That man has huge balls, and while he wasn't the Remlinger that we saw with Atlanta, he was effective and definitely contributed to the team.
Why he should return: Well, he's under contract and he's a huge part of the pen. If he fails next year, it's going to be that much harder for this team to win. As it is, he's a rock out there.
Why he should leave: Well... he's getting older. He is making too much money. I suppose that if the Cubs could trade him and somehow upgrade, they should. I can't see how that would happen, however.

Joe Borowski: A
Why an A: Borowski is the biggest reason out of the bullpen that this team succeeded last year. He stepped up above anyone's expectations. I think I can recall last year saying "no way does Borowski play like this again," and I think most people agreed. Yet there he was, being a quality closer who at times bordered on dominating.
Why should he return: He is the essential part of the pen. If he's not closing, he's a good setup man. He just goes out and does his job. Someone in Chicago should do an ad with Borowski wearing a hardhat, because he really does seem like the "Working Joe" sorta guy to me. I have tremendous respect for him.
Why should he leave: I don't think he should, although once again he probably won't be AS good next year. If the Cubs can improve in a deal, I guess they should take it, but I hope he stays a Cub.

Well that's all for now. I tried to post this earlier but Blogger ate it. We'll try again.