This team makes my eyes bleed

that’s pretty funny

just wanted to mention the (this has had to be discussed here ad naseum, right?) that your logo is quite ironic. your page is called viewed from the bleachers but the picture is a view OF the bleachers.

any way, go cubs.

Chillaxe.

What does that mean? We expected him to suck so whatever?

Well… being that the discussion was about how a player performed in relation to past performance, that is exactly what it means.

Has Soriano stole 40 bases for the Cubs? Or are you referring to his success rate?

Maybe you should read where I wrote this: “Soriano has been more successful stealing since coming to the Cubs than before. He just hasn’t done it as much.“

Did you like the way Jones would throw the ball directly into the grass everytime he had an assist opportunity? How many games did Floyd play, 14? Burnitz, .240?

First, I never said that I liked Jones, did I? Second, Jones struggled throwing the ball before he came to the Cubs, so I am not sure why you or anyone else would expected that to magically change. As for Cliff Floyd, sure, 14 games is kinda’ similar to 108. But only kinda’. And Burnitz hit .258 for the Cubs, slightly better than his .253 career average. Though he did show less patience and power as a Cub.

You really don’t like to deal with reality, do you?

But regardless of your desire to make things up, that isn’t even the point of this discussion. I am not making any judgment on any of these players being good and bad. I am simply responding to the idea that “Year after year the guys that we pick up (for whatever reason) do not perform as they have in the past.” Lets try to stick to the point of the discussion instead of completely changing it.

Aaron Miles has underperformed, but it isn’t like anyone expected much out of him.

What does that mean? We expected him to suck so whatever?

Soriano has been more successful stealing since coming to the Cubs than before. He just hasn’t done it as much. Part of that is Soriano’s health/age, but part of it is also Lou and the Cubs not running as much.

Has Soriano stole 40 bases for the Cubs? Or are you referring to his success rate? He was signed for $160M directly following a 40/40 year. Thus he is being paid for 40/40 productions, ain’t doin it. Underperforming.

I would say that Jones, Floyd, and Burnitz all performed pretty similar to their career numbers, but I would have to check on that.

Did you like the way Jones would throw the ball directly into the grass everytime he had an assist opportunity? How many games did Floyd play, 14? Burnitz, .240?

Like who? You can’t name any?

I thought is was clear I was naming everyone on the roster except the starting pitchers. I didn’t feel the need to list all of the names as you had so nicely just done so. I hope my shortcomings don’t cause anybody to burst an aneurysm.

AAMiles and Fukudome underperfomed.

Aaron Miles has underperformed, but it isn’t like anyone expected much out of him. He was signed as a backup. And then has been hurt. As for Fukudome, he probably has underperformed expectations, but I would argue that may have been more the fault of the expectations than Fukudome.

Soriano has underperformed in the stolen bases department every year and now is underperforming in the batters box.

Soriano has been more successful stealing since coming to the Cubs than before. He just hasn’t done it as much. Part of that is Soriano’s health/age, but part of it is also Lou and the Cubs not running as much.

Add that to Jaque Jones, Cliff Floyd and Jeremy Burnitz and I would have to say our outfield recruits haven’t been good.

I would say that Jones, Floyd, and Burnitz all performed pretty similar to their career numbers, but I would have to check on that.

Edmonds was definitely a good signing, and was much better than expectations. Reed Johnson has been solid, for a backup. And he was not a trade. He was signed as a free agent in March of 2008.

Don’t get me wrong – there have been players who have underperformed. Recently you could say Bradley, possibly Fukudome. I wouldn’t really say that Soriano has underperformed. Folks like Miles mean very little to a team, so I don’t put much weight on their over/under-performing.

But Hendry has also made some very good signings/trades of players who have outperformed expectations.

Hendry’s success/failure rate isn’t much different than any other GM in baseball.

Add that to Jaque Jones, Cliff Floyd and Jeremy Burnitz and I would have to say our outfield recruits haven’t been good. What OF free agent has been good?

RJ was a trade.

Pitching is good though.

As for Cub signees that have not met expectations, I’d have to vote for damn near all of them.

Like who? You can’t name any?

We know that Bradley has underperformed. You could make an argument for Soriano too, but not much of one. Gregg? Not really… as his current numbers are pretty similar to his career numbers.

So can you name others? Because I have already named several who have arguably outperformed expectations.