Theo Epstein said yesterday that phone calls between teams are picking up, and that he sees now as the time for the Cubs to be open to deals that could improve the organization long term. So, unsurprisingly, Cubs related rumors are kicking up like mid-June fireflies. Or some other folksy analogy.
- Rumors are really flying about Ryan Dempster, who may well be the first Cubs player to be dealt this Summer (yup, I capitalized “Summer” – that’s my rule, because there is no logical reason that seasons should not be capitalized). The Dodgers are a team we’re likely to hear quite a bit about until/if Dempster is traded. Danny Knobler says the Dodgers are “definitely” interested in Dempster, and Ken Rosenthal quotes a rival GM who calls Dempster a “classic [Dodgers GM] Ned Colletti buy.” The Dodgers are loaded with pitching prospects (most of their top 10 prospects before the season were pitchers), so there might be a fit there. Knobler says he hears that Dempster could be moved around the All-Star break.
- The real question with Dempster continues to be: how much is he worth? You know the competing arguments: either the new CBA’s limitation on draft pick compensation (if Dempster is dealt, his new team can’t get draft pick compensation if he departs as a free agent) will reduce the return on a rental player like Dempster, or the added Wild Card will leave more teams in contention, thus creating a strong seller’s market and increasing the return on a rental player like Dempster. The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s David O’Brien discusses both issues when it comes to the Braves trading for Dempster, and concludes that the latter concern is the more troubling one for the Braves. In other words, he thinks Dempster’s price might be too steep for the Braves.
- Speaking of a Dempster trade, would you like to smile in spite of yourself? Well, here goes. Usually, when you look at local (i.e., non-Chicago) write-ups of proposed trades, the suggested return to the Cubs is a pittance. For example, Matt Garza to the Yankees? You might read in a New York paper that Delin Betances would get the job done (ridiculous). You get the idea. So when I read in MLive – a Detroit site – that “[i]f the Cubs are willing to settle for Turner and Crosby [for Dempster], the Tigers would be wise to consider finalizing the trade.” Um, I don’t know how to respond without tearing the corners of my mouth from smiling too aggressively. Suffice it to say that, if the Tigers were willing to deal Turner, alone, for Dempster, the Cubs would probably kill themselves trying to ensure that Dempster accepted the trade.
- David Schoenfield offers some Dempster trade proposals, most of which are for far too much or far too little.
- Ken Rosenthal (article linked above) suggests that the Indians could be a landing spot for Alfonso Soriano, since they need cheap power.
- Nick Cafardo took to the Twitters about the Cubs yesterday, dropping a number of thoughts: (1) he quotes an AL exec on why teams will want Dempster: ”He’s pitching well and he’d give you a good character guy/leader,” (2) he expects Theo to be busy this trade deadline, with Dempster, Matt Garza, and Soriano all capable of being moved, (3) he says the Red Sox will explore (and probably have already explored) acquiring Garza, and (4) the Cubs will eat most of Soriano’s contract in order to move him.
- The Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Phillies have been scouting Cubs players of late, says Gordon Wittenmyer. The Blue Jays have a ridiculous farm system, so getting them involved in any kind of deal would be swell. The Phillies are an interesting case as they have many needs, but they are also kind of a sinking stone right now.
Any chance Dodgers would give up Eovaldi?
Would the Blue Jays give the Cubs Norris and Gose for Dempster or is that asking too much? For Garza I would want one more guy like dnaurd or marisnick or syndergaard…
Definitely too much. If the Cubs got Gose or Norris, alone, for Dempster, that would be a coup. I’d lower the expectations.
See I was hoping for just one as well and my expectations are fairly low, just thought id get some different views on it
Yup Brett, I would gladly take Turner in a heartbeat….never mind Crosby!
Of course, let’s not discourage the Tigers from thinking it would take both to get the deal done.
yes, we need to learn from the previous offseason and start high:
Cabrera and Fielder with $250M for Dempster
I’m from NY and everyone thinks those 2 pitchers are the going to be aces. I love the Dempster-Turner trade though I’m sure everyone would be ecstatic if that went down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJCTbCbauZQ&feature=plcp
Conan suggestions for Cubs mascots. This should also put a smile on a few faces.
Thank you for the link.
Really liked the Cub batter trying to hit the pinata. Just sums up the season to date.
Fantastic work on all of the trade rumors so far Brett! Love these updates
Thanks, mag. I do what I can.
“yup, I capitalized “Summer” – that’s my rule, because there is no logical reason that seasons should not be capitalized”
How about because it’s not a proper noun? Do you write “I turned 21 this Year” or “I went to the store last Weekend?”
No, I don’t write those things, because that would be stupid. I actually understand the English language fairly well.
Summer SHOULD be a proper noun. As should each of the seasons. They are a discrete, specific subsection of the calendar year, and they each repeat once a year. Sound familiar? I just defined months. And, guess what? They’re capitalized as proper nouns! So why in the world does it make sense for seasons not to be capitalized? It’s a completely arbitrary rule, and one that I believe “they” have incorrect. So I’m doing my part to fix it. This is how language evolves.
Funny how my English teachers never bought that “This is how language evolves” argument when grading my papers…
Ha. Some teachers actually do, though. I had one who said, if you can justify it, feel free to make up a word and use it in your paper.
[insert grumpy old man comment about declining educational standards...]
That’s what I say to my students everyday. Language (especially American English) is fluid and dynamic. If a student can justify what they are doing and understand the precedent that was previously set then I’m a proud teacher because they have been listening and paying attention. Teachers who don’t keep themselves progressive with their understanding of language is one of the greatest flaws to the education system.
Easy Ace, take a moment for a couple “Woooosaaahhhh’s”
by this logic shouldn’t Day and Night be capitalized (unless you are reference to a number of days). Is Day not the discrete, specific subsection of a 24 hours period that repeats?
It’s a category: Wednesday:day as Summer:season.
I think part of the confusion is that day (the time of day that it is light out) is the same word as day (the 24 hours period) but for your categories
Wednesday:part of the week, Summer:part of the year, Night:part of the day (24 hours period).
Brett, calm down. You on edge about something? That poor poster was just trying to be relevant on a fast paced, highly competitive message board.
I remember the first time I posted…..
Didn’t mean to sound angry or uncalm (I’m quite calm). Just wanted to lay the whole position out clearly.
Everyone in the world experiences the days of the week and months of the year and hence those should be capitalized as the Gregorian calendar has been accepted by most of the world.
Seasons are based on closeness to the equator. Tropical countries only experience 2 seasons (wet and dry). Further from the equator, countries experience 4 seasons.
Eh. The seasons in the US have a specific beginning and end date.
I think this off-topic discussion reflects the fact we no longer have to speculate about Jorge Soler!
Ha, true and the fact the BleacheNation has the best posters in the world and we are more than sport fan meatheads. Everyone on here is amazing.
nice one
That’s thoughtful, but let me ask you, what makes a proper noun? Is it specificity? Is that why we capitalize specific months or days of the week? Is a particular season not specific enough for you? It’s a period of time (like a day of a week or a month) which repeats periodically. It’s not the general time unit (month, week, day, season), but a specific period within the general category. If you refer to “Summer”, how is it conceptually different from referring to “June?” Why would deem one to be a “proper noun” and the other not?
Preach.
” If you refer to “Summer”, how is it conceptually different from referring to “June?” ”
The majority of June is in the Spring.
Sorry, I’m not sure how that’s relevant to what I’m asking. When I talk about the conceptual similarities, I’m talking about the unit in relation to other units within its category. June is 1/12. Wednesday is 1/7. Summer is 1/4. Another way to think about this is how would you write out the year without numbers? “Two Thousand and Twelve,” not “two thousand and twelve.” Why do you capitalize it? Because it is specific in relation to all other years. Summer is specific in relation to all other seasons.
Cani just add I’m so happy that this discussion has lasted for two days. Students, I hope you’re reading this do you can lay down some knowledge to your teachers and if they respond “because that’s the rule” ask them “why?” Challenging the norms is one of the greatest gift of having a education.
Preach on MG! I agree whole-heartedly. You’re not truly educated until you can question, analyze, and challenge generally accepted truths.
Precisely, the key is to understand the precedent, have relevant research to support your claim, and present it in a respectful and intellectual manner. Too many students/people believe they can argue anything without knowing anything. Do your homework first.
Give me an “AMEN”!!!
can we just get rid of all capital letters?
punctuation rules blow ass too
The conceptual difference would be that months and days of the week (as we practice them) are arbitrary divisions, whereas the seasons are a function of nature.
We could choose, if we wanted, to have 15 months a year, or eight. We could split decide that there are five days in a week, or 13. But the four seasons weren’t created by man, they were simply described.
Set dates to end and begin. Same is same. Besides, that distinction, as it relates to language, seems pretty thin to me.
Thin or not, it holds up pretty well across the language.
Two distinct groups. One is for climatological states, the other is for arbitrary divisions of time.
The former group includes “day,” “night,” “high tide,” “low tide,” “windy,” “sunny,” “rainy,” “stormy,” etc.
The latter group includes “Sunday,” “Monday,” “January,” “February,” “March,” etc.
I think it’s pretty clear that the colloquial seasons belong in the former.
I guess if you wanted, you could make the case that the colloquial, climate-based seasons belong in the former category, but the solar seasons belong in the latter.
In which case “summer” refers to “That period in the middle of the year when it’s too damned hot” and “Summer” refers to the precisely defined astronomical period.
Makes sense to me. In this case, I would say that Brett used it correctly, because he clearly was referring to a period of time, and not weather:
“Rumors are really flying about Ryan Dempster, who may well be the first Cubs player to be dealt this Summer”
As opposed to if you were talking about “the hottest summer on record” or something like that.
It’s the latter half of your post that we’re arguing. And, I think I agree with you, that you can distinguish between summer, the climate-based concept, and Summer, the calendar-defined season. Consider:
Memorial Day is the first day of summer! vs.
June 20th is the first day of Summer!
BTW, can I just say how much I love this blog? It’s amazing that so many thoughtful, well-educated people congregate here every day. I enjoy these chats whether they be baseball-related or otherwise.
That gets back to my implied noun arguement from yesterday.
That is why meteorologists distinguish between “meterological summer” (which begins some time in May) and the solstice. For myself, it’s not a new season until I see the Wee People dancing around the Stones…..
Which Stones? It would be a sight to see the Wee People dancing around Keith Richards.
I think what this comes down to is the norm and traditional rule has been to not capitalize the seasons, but as we are arguing is that rule is completely arbitrary and does make much logical sense. When becomes apparent language changes.
But you can’t force language changes just because you think the rules are illogical.
When I see Summer capitalized like that, I find it jarring because it goes against convention. I think most readers would agree. And anything that is an impediment to understanding and flow should be excised from good writing.
Changing something that illogical is exactly when it should be changed. The history of the world is about changing the illogical and if we just kept something because it is the convention women couldn’t vote, we’d still say thee, and we wouldn’t have landed on the moon. Just because something is comfortable does mean its correct.
I suppose James Joyce wasn’t a good writer because he refused to follow conventions?
Yeah he sucks as does Jack Keroac, e.e. cummings, and Shakespeare (yes he was very unconventional and his writing changed language forever).
I don’t think people have any concept of how much Shakespeare shaped the English language. He invented words and contractions all the time. Grammar, like language generally, is simply a means to an end; it’s not an end in and of itself.
Max, exactly. Shakespeare completely redefined the English language. He invented countless words and challenged the norm of the conventions he was taught. Writing and literature shapes language and constantly breaks and rewrites what is the norm.
“Bleacher Nation: We are the next Shakespeare.”
Make the shirt!
I suppose no matter how good a writer is, we can’t account for poor readers
Note that I didn’t say all defiance of convention is bad. I said anything that impedes understanding is bad. Great writers defy convention in ways that improve the communication of their ideas.
Except for Charles Dickens, who, I am convinced, was determined, in time, to learn, by means of experimentation, practice, and much diligence to, dare I say, insane levels, just how many commas a writer, whether a great writer or, as the case may be, a more humble sort, can, in fact, inject into a single sentence.
He’s a great writer, but I am certain that some of his sentences were constructed as nothing more than practical jokes on the readers trying to sort through them.
Do I be the jerk? I think that first bit, while brilliant, was not actually a complete sentence, strictly speaking.
It was actually. With the unnecessary bits removed, you get this.
“Except for Charles Dickens, who… was determined…to learn… just how many commas a writer… can… inject into a single sentence.”
And that is tame compared some of the mind benders he dropped in his novels. ”A Tale of Two Cities” is the worst culprit, I think.
Edit: Unless you’re arguing that it is not a sentence because it begins with an extraneous clause that lacks any sort of a verb, that is. There might be a case there, but I, like Dickens, would plead creative license and go back to my box full of shiny new commas.
With apologies, “Except for Charles Dickens” is not a sentence. The rest is merely a very artful dependent clause modifying “Charles Dickens.” It is technically a sentence fragment, no? An obviously acceptable one, but a fragment nonetheless (like this one).
I would argue, although not vehemently, that the subject of the sentence is “who”, and that the initial clause, while useful in re-identifying the subject, is extraneous.
I’d probably be wrong, but it’s a good story.
Nicely done Brett, but fragments are regularly used in writing and quite acceptable (which I know you know). I love this discussion.
I think it goes pretty far to say capitalizing a season “impedes understanding.”
we’ve been talking about this for a real long time….lol
Think Ernest Hemingway.
He’s my favorite. My favorite passage of all time is from Hemingway (and is not grammatically correct!). Brett, I particularly think you would enjoy reading it. The entire passage is in this Google book. http://books.google.com/books?id=8nREHjKkIooC&pg=PA321&lpg=PA321&dq=%22all+the+palm+fronds+of+our+victories%22&source=bl&ots=pkirzNge2y&sig=nKLziYAPYY5OInGylRb87TlIjvI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RhTZT-OhIISc8gS3v-TFAw&sqi=2&ved=0CE0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22all%20the%20palm%20fronds%20of%20our%20victories%22&f=false
This seems pretty compelling to me. Kyle FTW?
Actually, months were designed to go with one rotation of the moon, and weeks were designed to go with one quarter phase shift in the moon. Of course, the moon does not do these things exactly 12 times in one rotation, so it gets off.
That being written, unless you live some place where high tide makes a big difference, it might just as well be arbitrary.
Um, what does this have to do with baseball? Or do we want to restrict Cubs night games to full moons?
Doc could smell this argument from across the laboratory…
When the Cubs are bad and rebuilding is still some time away, we have to find topics to keep ourselves entertained. Grammar was considered to be less contentious than politics or religion.
“Grammar was considered to be less contentious than politics or religion.”
We’ll see about that…
Since when does an “or” go between politics and religion?
Ooops….
This does remind me of that great scene in “The Life of Brian” where the Roman soldier catches Brian trying to write “Romans go home” on the walls, corrects his Latin, and tells him to do it again 100 times…..
Niiiiiiice…for both the joke and the Monty Python reference.
It became even funnier after studying Latin.
Latin is one of the top 3 languages I would love to learn. German and Spanish being the other two.
I would love to learn Russian. My Sergeant Major knows it, and speaks it when he gets really pissed….
I used to be decent in Russian. I’m seriously out of practice, though.
Latin is insane I did two semesters are still don’t get anything. I need to learn Spanish it will make me better teacher.
seems that if you can master Latin you would have a much easier time learning most European (at least w(or W?)estern European languages).
True but Latin is crazy complicated, there is no syntax to the language. It helps with vocabulary of other languages but since it’s not spoken it doesn’t help you communicate.
For even more contributions to language usage check out the changes put in place by Samuel Clemmens.
Days as a unit aren’t decided by the rising and setting of the sun? Just because we name a natural phenomenon doesn’t make it arbitrary. While I agree the naming is arbitrary or the number of division is arbitrary, once it is set in the language, it becomes a specific period of time for our purposes. The seasons also don’t have to be set at 4 as the seasons are quite different from one region to the next. I used to live in Florida, and we only had two seasons: Hot and Less Hot. We still called the periods of time Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.
A day is described by the solar cycle, which is why we don’t capitalize “day.”
The difference between Sunday and Monday is entirely arbitrary.
Once again: Wednesday:day as Summer:season.
Meh. We describe all kinds of natural things with proper nouns. Oceans, mountains, etc.
Seasons are measured by the equinox, solstice (I believe “Summer Solstice” is capitilized by most style guided – can anyone check that?) therefore they can be considered a measurement of time as months and days of the week.
The seasons were decided as such. In reality they are as arbitrary as the perception of time.
Some places have 2 seasons (wet, dry), some places have 4, some places have 6, Hallmark has 52, etc… The creation of the 4 specific Seasons was a man made thing (just as the concept of the day, week, month, year). To make things easy they lined it up with celestial events since that was something that the scientists of the day could easily track.
For me, Summer is June 21 to Sept 21. summer is the warmest time of the year for wherever I am. To do anything else, makes you a Cardinals fan.
So by that arguement monday and june should not be capitalized?
And the key to whatever rules of grammar you follow is to COMMUNICATE!
no, Summer (June 21-Sept 21 (ish on both of those)) is a proper noun as you have said before. That is a specific thing.
if you want to say you enjoy summer weather, then it makes less sense to capitalize because you are not talking about the specific time period but, rather, an adjective tied to a general concept. You are not specifically tying the adjective to a proper noun such as you would be in “The Wednesday meeting was cancelled.” Plus it reads better than: I enjoy Summer weather.
This is why I check this site everyday!
Crosby is another kid I coached against in high school…was so, so wild…I would have bet….and lost…a lot of money that he would never make it….lesson to prospective fathers…tie your sons right hands behind their backs….
Trade rumors are almost as exciting as actual baseball.
If we can turn Demp and Garza into 4-5 top prospects ( of which POSSIBLY 2 will pan out) then you combine that with our Soler acquisition, our #6 pick in Almora, and the Rizzo explosion…. Put me in my Delorean and make it 2015 already.
I know there’s always that rush at the trade deadline, but if a player is an upgrade for you at a position, why not make the move earlier in the year? If teams wait til the end of July for a Dempster or a Garza, as opposed to, say, June 13th, they wouldn’t get near as many starts (or value).
Guess this is my way of saying that GMs need to get it in gear! NOW!
Nick Cafardo is teh dumb. Not necessarily for this article (though he didn’t say anything that wasn’t said 10 months ago) but ever since all his nonsensical ramblings of about the theo compensation I can’t stand to read the guy.
Oh man, the Summer thing is tilting Me so Hard I Can’t Read The Rest of the Post.
What about Dempster to the Braves for Jair Jurrjens? I was reading the Atlanta article posted above and it talked about how Demp has too much left on his contract, but if we got Jurrjens they would about even out. I know Jurrjens is having a rough year, but he seems like the sort of player Theo would take a shot on, hope the change of scenery gets him back to All-Star form.
I don’t think Jurrjens ever was as good as his numbers suggested, and it seems to be balancing out some this year, even in triple A. He’s either hurt, has mechanical issues, or his luck has run out. Regardless, I’d rather see the Cubs pick up a top level prospect or two for Dempster than see them go after another bounceback candidate.
There are two rules for the English language.
1. Know and follow the rules.
2. There are no rules.
The Tigers are more willing to give up Turner for Dempster than for Garza? Crazy. If they offered Turner only for Garza, I’d be annoyed at the Tigers lowballing. If they offered only Turner for Dempster, I would be as happy as I was when we got Soler. I still want Cast somehow. Could we do a package deal with Detriot to get Cast, Turner and some lower level prospects for Demp and Garza? That would be awesome…
If we could get that return then I wouldnt worry about salary relief. Two upside pitchers and a bat would be great to have in the system.
@AD: It could be entirely possible if the whole rumor about Turner for Demp is actually true.
Calicub, I’m picking up what your laying down. If I’m a contending club, and have a top flight farm, I’m calling the Cubs and offering a quality package for Demp and Garza. One stop shop for both organizations.
If Im Theo, If I can get salary relief PLUS restock my farm, let’s do this.
@Steve: See? It isnt a half bad idea. This trade would probably put the Cubs farm system in the top 5 or 10 range. Right now, we are in the top 15. Turner would really help our otherwise weak farm pitching. Theo would be a genius and we would all sing kumbaya or some crap like that for 5 minutes, then we would rip each others’ throats out again! (=
Cubs should target 2 pitchers when /if dealing with Dodgers – Shawn Tolleson or Ethan Martin. Tolleson is more of a power reliever while Martin is a control, middle of rotation starter. One or the other would be best we will get from Ned. I prefer looking to AL East.
If we should deal Soriano to TB Rays look at LHP / starter Enny Romero. Matsui is not performing well as the new DH, hitting under .200 while Carlos Pena continues to struggle at the plate – also under .200. Maybe LaHair would fit down in Tampa.
Anyone notice Cashner was sent to minors yesterday by San Diego. Maybe Theo’s trade for Rizzo is better than many thought.
Cashner was sent down to strech him out for the rotation, not because of performance. So that in itself is not a factor in the merits of the trade.
I didnt like Cashner to begin with. He was overrated in my opinion. I thought we won the trade as soon as I heard of the trade. If San Diego wants to open that Pandora’s box and have him start, I would just say good luck with that San Diego!
Does it matter that the months are mostly named after gods/individuals? That seems like a good reason to capitalize. The same is not true for seasons.
Wow, we are on a Cubs site, and we are talking about grammer… (Btw, you are right Brett. Summer is capitalized. I was taught that.)
If we could get Turner for Demp, then we could even keep Garza. I would then sign Hamels and Greinke in the offseason and you have one of the best rotations in baseball. Hamels, greinke, garza, shark, and turner.
@ John or ibcnu: What about the contract for Garza? If we give him want he wants in that contract, odds are we can’t afford both Greinke and Hamels. But if it does work out for us, we would have one of the best rotations in baseball.
Trade Dempster for Samuel Johnson and EB White?
Now that’s witty, nicely done
Cafardo is the best at stating the obvious….if you want actual news though, he’s awful.
Yeah, carrie muskrat isn’t any better. Apparently only idiots become beat writers.
Whatever happened to muskrat luv?
Luvved ee, but jack was poseur.
I have no idea how usage evolved so that we do not use caps for the seasons. It may be because they are used more generically to describe general weather trends. I believe that if you’re referring to a specific calendar event then you actually do use caps: e.g. summer vs. Summer Solstice. But I’m not sure about that, just a guess.
That makes me wonder how we got there, too. Anyone want do to some etimological digging?
(Haha. I really love this place.)
I check a few places and yes Summer Solstice is capitalized because its considered a specific, proper event. So by that reasoning is Summer a specific event (it has dates, and reoccurs regularly.)
I also checked a few sites. What I found is that you wouldn’t capitalize the seasons because they are described as “generic nouns.” You would use capitalization when it occurs in a title, to start a sentence, or if you were personifying the season (i.e. The Summer rose).
For the record, I think it should be as Brett and others have stated.
Sounds like you stumbled upon the Grammar Literati’s propaganda! What tyrant decided they are generic nouns? To that tyrant, I say, “Nay, we shall not go peacefully into the night. We have not yet begun to fight for our right to capitalize consistently!”
“Rage, rage against the dying of the light”
“Give me capitalization for all discrete, specific subsections of the calendar year, that each repeat once a year or give me death!”
patrick henry
from the ncsu website: http://www.ncsu.edu/ncsu/grammar/Capital3.html
Answer: The names of the seasons are almost never capitalized, except in poetry, where they are occasionally personified.
So I guess we will comment
now in poetry
to capitalize seasons
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens
On of my favorite poems of all times! Nicely done Max.
I hate that poem.
Yes that is the standard convention that is taught, but we’ve been arguing that the convention is illogical and should be changed. Join us in the revolution.
I think the convention of not overusing (LOL)s and exclamation points is illogical and should be changed.
It should be followed by a swift kick in the arse. That’s a conventions can agree to follow.
Acquiring Turner from the Tigers would be a stellar return.
I will say this front office has been pretty good about keeping tight-lipped on deals in the works. Most of them have not been very leaked, with the exception of maybe Zambrano which mostly I think came from the Miami side. So I’m sure a few of these deals will come all of the sudden out of the blue.
Btw, more Cubs picks signed. Prieto is one of them, which makes me happy (=.
Brett, we need a new article so we have something new to talk about!!!!
Could always try the proper and improper use of euphisms.
I have a few questions:
- If the Cubs trade Garza, Dempster, Soriano, and possibly LeHair, and Samardzija doesn’t realize his potential what will this team look like for the rest of the year?
- And the year after that for that matter?
- Won’t the rest of the season be one of torture for the ages?
- How long would that torture last?
- How many games do you think they will lose?
- If you think the Cubs are hard to watch now won’t it be unbearable?
- awful
- at least pretty bad, probably awful
- yes
- Awhile
- in 2013? Probably not more than about 90. It’s hard to lose more than that, this season not withstanding
- Meh. Stockholm Syndrome kicks in after awhile.
I’ll preface my reply by saying it is just my opinion. I doubt they will trade Shark, but if Garza and Demp are dealt then the rotation would look like Shark, Maholm, Wood, Wells, and most likely Lopez. Of course, it also depends on what the Cubs get back for those two. For example, if the Cubs were to get Drabek(I’m just throwing out a name) from Toronto then he would immediately go into the rotation. If Soriano and LaHair were to be traded then everyone would assume that B-Jax would be called up, but Cubs could keep him down and bring someone like Sappelt up along with Rizzo (if Cubs are completely sure he is ready). If Sappelt were to be called up then he would more likely platoon with Campy in center, DeJesus would stay in RF, and Mather would play LF. I’m just saying that the Cubs have options to fill any holes left by any trades they make. I don’t believe that the rest of the season would be as torturous as one may think because I hope that Cub fans will realize, I hope, that the new direction is a reality.