2012 Chicago Cubs

[Dan Michler]

Cubs continue to pick away and sign Paul Maholm.

I read this about him.
Last year lefty Paul Maholm allowed 3 earned runs or less in 19 of his 26 starts, and 2 earned runs or less in 14 starts

I think they signed Maholm for 1 year to fill out the 5 man rotation once they eventually trade Matt Garza for prospects.  Every move the Cubs have made this offseason has indicated they are looking several years down the line, and have basically waved the white flag on 2012.

The Reds are definitely making a play for this year.  They signed Ryan Madson a 1 year deal to close for them.  They've also added Sean Marshall to their pen and Mat Latos to the front of their rotation.  They were 2nd only to the Cards in the NL in runs scored last year, so if their pitching gets better they could be pretty formidable this year.

[pdga#7648]

How about the Rangers dropping $51.7M for the right to negotiate a contract with this 25 year old Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish?  Supposedly he'll command about $75M for a 5 year deal on top of that.

Doesn't this seem crazy?  Why didn't they just pay C.J. Wilson?   Wilson signed a 5 yr/$77M deal to go to the Angels.

Either they are making a desperation move after seeing the Angels make a power move to take back the AL West by signing Pujols and CJ Wilson, or they are REALLY sure that Yu Darvish is going to be GREAT!  Basically they are paying $125M to get Yu Darvish for 5 years instead of $75M to get a proven major league starter in CJ Wilson.

With the recent history of Japanese players in MLB, I'm not sure how you could be so sure.  I know I really enjoyed Fukudome's 4 years in Chicago....

they got Darvish for 6 yrs. $60M

[airspuds]

cubs wont win more than  75  games  this year

still glaring holes



on the plus side both the boss and roger waters will be playing there

[Dan Michler]

How many games are your Sox going to win Spuds?

[pdga#7648]

75? really Spuds?  you are being way to generous! they wont win 65!

[CEValkyrie]

I'll bet you they win 65 or more Doug. $20?

[pdga#7648]

Damn. I was hoping Dan would be the 1st one to take the bait! Knowing that he likes to give money back to me after he had it won easily!

Brett, you do realize they only won 71 last year right? I know you gave up on them rather late in the season(June  ) but I would think you knew that 71 was their total.  Considering I have a Cubs fan at work, and we bet $1 a game haed to head, and $20 for the season series, I will still come out ahead, so it's a bet!  $20

[CEValkyrie]

It's on Doug.

[CEValkyrie]

The Cubs suck but %'s are in my favor. There were only 2 teams (Houston 56 & MN 63) that did not win 65 games last season.

[airspuds]

I think sox will be at same level

75 

[pdga#7648]

like his daddy was, Fielder is now a Tiger!  Central division winners in the NL will be in the State o Missouri!

[Dan Michler]

Fielder and Cabrera in the middle of the Detroit lineup.  Scary!

Not sure which one DH's next year.  And when VMart comes back from ACL surgery, they'll probably have to move Cabrera to the OF.

[tacimala]

Cabrera at third probably in the games that both play defense.

[Dan Michler]

I predict the Cabrera at 3B experiment is short-lived in Detroit.  Cabrera was god awful at 3B when he was with the Marlins, which is why he was rotated to LF and then 1B.  He's bulked up quite a bit since then.  He's developed into the worst 1B in baseball, so why anybody would think this guy can make a semi-competent 3B today is beyond me.  DH him or stick him in LF Soriano-style. 

The other option is you could pitch Verlander every day and hope he strikes everybody out.

[CEValkyrie]

Cuban left handed starter Gerardo Concepcion, an 18-year-old phenom who defected last June, has reached a $7 million guaranteed contract with the Chicago Cubs, a source close to the negotiation told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com.

[pdga#7648]

April 13th, Cubs VS Cardinals!    get the Cubbies early this year. 2 series within the 1st month. going to be a great year!

[Dan Michler]

Braun no longer suspended.  MLB is making it sound like he was guilty but got off on a technicality with the handling of the sample.  I'll be interested to hear the other side of the story.  I think he'll always be considered guilty in the court of public opinion, as there is no real way to prove his innocence at this point.

At any rate, you can move Ryan Braun back near the top of your fantasy rankings.

[CEValkyrie]

I'm interested to hear the details on that one.

[Tom McManus]

Braun no longer suspended.  MLB is making it sound like he was guilty but got off on a technicality with the handling of the sample.  I'll be interested to hear the other side of the story.  I think he'll always be considered guilty in the court of public opinion, as there is no real way to prove his innocence at this point.

At any rate, you can move Ryan Braun back near the top of your fantasy rankings.

I don't think Braun is going to have the numbers this year that he had last year.  By what I have heard, he was not clean and got off on a technicality. It will be interesting to see what numbers he does have in 2012.

[Dan Michler]

I disagree.  I expect another stellar year from him on the field in 2012.