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YEAH! Alfonseca is gone for good! I thikn the BRaves are definetly done after that one. The Phillies will win the division next year, Mqarlins will be in the wild card hunt.

BURRRN IT!

Maddux wants to finish a Cub. And he will. Hopefully, he will go back to how he was the year before last. He really wasn't bad at all last year, just got off to a bad start. He would also be a great mentor for our extremely young talented pitching. if Maddux signs, it will not only counter-act the Petite sign, but obliviate it. Maddux pitching for the Cubs, young pitching blossoming because of it, fans jacked because he's back, recamped bull pen, revamped lineup. The Cards and Stros won't stand a chance (especially the Cards).

Kenny Lofton (it isn't official yet) will be a big aquisition for them. They get a great lead-off hitter, great defense, and Bernie as the DH. Great pickup. We'll miss you in chi-town, Kenny.

F YOU RAMP! F YOU!!!!!

Zambrano. He's a gamer. Well, so is Prior, but Zambrano is just fun to watch. But between beckett and Prior. Prior. No br.ainer

No. Vlad is a heck of a player, but Clemente was probably the best all-around player the game ahs ever seen.

Ater the WS, Beckett is the preseason favorite for NL Cy Young. No one educated about baseball would make that assesment. In fact, you'll see that Prior will end up being most peoples front runner. He proved it all season. Beckett didn't. End of discussion.

Prior has the best poise of any yonug pitcher in baseball. Entering 2004: Prior = Beckett Not by any stretch of the imagination. I think he is serious and I agree with him. Beckett hasn't pitched a full season without injury yet and has shown that he can dominate like the way Clemens used to or the way Pedro does now. You know who else dominates? Right now? This season? Mark Prior. Don't act like Pedro is in a league of his own. Prior hasn't just shown that he CAN be as dominant as Pedro, Prior IS as dominant as Pedro. No if's.

Keep dreaming. Bartman changed the whole momentum of that game. Other things like this have happened before, and the team never comes back. Prior is the most dominant pitcher on either of the two teams. He was better than anyone on your team. Two games cannot detrmine which is better. But seasons can. Prior.

Good for the Stros. Might make it instresting in the central. The Cardinals are slowly fading away. Hopefully this will urge Jim Hendry to sign Pudge, which wuold give the Cubs a huge edge. I mean, Petite compiled a Clement like ERA, he will not win 20 games in Houston like that.

He didn't take the loss. He was pulled after 5 working a shutout. And the Pirates were still one of the top hitting teams last year. 7th in batting average or something?

And Pierzynski was better anyways.

C- Joe Mauer (considered the best Catching prospect since Posada) Need I remind you who they could have had instead?

Mitre is raw. The pittsburg pirates are a very good hitting club. He shut them down. I'd much rather have him than Cruz, as he has much more poise. But he'll probably never get further than the Cubs bullpen. Guzman will pan out.

On a basis of consistency over the long run, Prior blows beckett out ofthe water. Burnett is better than wood, not prior. WOod has a chance to be better than burnett if pitching with Prior continues to help him. Zambrano will be even better next year. Clement continues to improve. Our possible fives: Cruz Mitre Guzman Mitre is awesome. He pitched great in the season finale against a tough Pirate lineup (and they are tough) But guzman will just be dominant.

The Cubs would be a powerhouse next year if they sign Pudge.

I'm not underestimating them.

Our fifth spot is kinda up for grabs... But Guzman is gonna be a helluva a starter, at one point or another. Maddux actually wants to come back tot he Cubs. He would be the third or fourth man, knocking clement to fifth. But that probably wont happen. In which case Guzman (hopefuly) or Juan Cruz could step up into the five spot. Also, Clement has been improving the past few years. Don't be surprised if he post more carreer highs in 04. A mid, high three ERA and win of 15 ish again. I'm really glad he's not on your side anymore. Maybe you guys could sign Alf back for your bullpen? LOL. Let's look at the match-ups.. Prior vs Burnett- Prior Prior vs Beckett- Prior Wood vs Burnett- Burnett Wood vs Beckett- Tie I Believe Dontrelle vs Zambrano- In my opinion, Carlos, though it is pretty even. Dontrelle sucked up the second half. Zambrano vs Penny- couldn't tell ya Clement vs Penny- Penny Clement vs Dontrell- Maybe Dontrelle, but I think he's been figured out our fifth starter vs your fifth starter- WHO KNOWS!?

I'll also posts the Cubs niftier looking bullpen. Please do the same for the Marlins. Farnsworth Cruz Remlinger Hawkins Borowski

Projected rotation in 2004 for the Cubs: Mark Prior Kerry Wood Carlos Zambrano Matt Clement Angel Guzman Now, Guzman, I hope we'll be our fifth starter. he is pretty much the most prized pitcher in the minors. Could someone project the Marlins rotation so we could get this debate underway?

More money than hes's worth. He would have gotten more if he left. He hit .314 last year. We wouldn't have made it without him. He's MORE than woth it. but mark my words 2B will be a hole in the lineup and field. He was one of the most consistent 2B fielders...and once again hit .314.

The Cubs have the greatest fans in the worlds. Marlins fans don't have the right to say different. Their stadium was completely empty till late in the season. And once you guys start to lose again, it will empty out...again.

That is awesome. I like how he says Prior will be the best pitcher for the new 10-15 years

Weren't they the runaway favorites last year without I-Rod? And what did they do? They sucked until they stole some Pirates. No one had the Cubs winning the central.