Writes Ben,
What’s it with all these NYC papers that think the only serious contender for Carlos Beltran is George Steinbummer? Is it really the thinking in New York that no one but the Yankees could seriously top Houston’s $81 million/6 year offer? Even the Tigers — mentioned as a Beltran suitor for I think the first time — with all that pizza money can beat that kind of deal, not to mention the Cubs. There’s quite a gap btwn. 81 million and the 200 million/10 year deal Scott Boras wants. If $81 million were all that was out there the Angels would still be bidding. I won’t be surprised if the Yanks get Beltran, but they’re hardly the favorite. The idea that the Cubs MUST dump Sosa to afford him is retarded, especially after letting Alou go. New York is tops in rats, pretzel vendors, holiday balloon parades, and nothing else.
Sorry, Ben, but you’re totally out of line with your comments about the Big Apple. I was just in New York the other day and I didn’t see a single pretzel vendor.
Of course, Chicago is tops for so many things. Baseball, football, basketball and hockey teams with no conceivable hope for the near future….and many good musicians (who are originally from Louisville).
The idea that the Cubs MUST dump Sosa to afford him is retarded, especially after letting Alou go.
Perhaps, but the idea that the cubs must dump sosa in order to retain any sort of clubhouse harmony is valid. There has been nothing but bad blood between sammy and the front office since before last season ended. Kerry Wood took a baseball bat to sammy’s stereo in the clubhouse when he learned that sammy bailed on the last game of the season last year. Unless you have a team full of superstars who have the talent to transcend the petty bickering it’s impossible for that team to win and I don’t think the cubs team, as it stands now, can do that. Look at the bosox team of last year, one petulant superstar with diminishing talent can conceivably submarine the rest of the team. At the risk of repeating myself, Sammy can not start the season on the roster, even having him on the team in spring training will be a mistake.
on a different cubs-related subject, who is going to replace clement in the rotation? and who the hell is going to close out the games?
Nah, Dusty says it’s all good. I hear he’s up for Rumsfeld’s job.