February 25 -- first Spring Training game

[Butcher]

Just because.

[Jody]

Fuck the Dodgers!!

[Clapp]

This is going to be the longest season ever.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=5490:date=Dec 17 2008, 01:00 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Dec 17 2008, 01:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->This is going to be the longest season ever.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

I feel ya. I'll just be waiting for the postseason for 162 games...

[rok]

Is Peavy getting the nod for this game?

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=5520:date=Dec 17 2008, 03:38 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Dec 17 2008, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Is Peavy getting the nod for this game?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Either Peavy or Lowe.

[Ace]

You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=5583:date=Dec 17 2008, 06:49 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And the answer to that question appears to be, "Kevin Gregg and Joey Gathright."

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=5583:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They'll win this division unless at least a few players have serious injuries. CC and Sheets leaving sealed that.

[AlexV]

<!--quoteo(post=5588:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:54 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5583:date=Dec 17 2008, 06:49 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And the answer to that question appears to be, "Kevin Gregg and Joey Gathright."
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Nah, we couldn't do it without Bako.

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=5592:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:01 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Dec 17 2008, 07:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5583:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They'll win this division unless at least a few players have serious injuries. CC and Sheets leaving sealed that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Not necessarily.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=5673:date=Dec 18 2008, 01:12 AM:name=PcB)-->QUOTE (PcB @ Dec 18 2008, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5592:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:01 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Dec 17 2008, 07:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5583:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They'll win this division unless at least a few players have serious injuries. CC and Sheets leaving sealed that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Not necessarily.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm pretty confident in it, much more so than the last 2 years. We lose a few games in the standings possibly, but who(as currently built) is gonna catch us?

Milwaukee won't be nearly as good, they can't be without those 2 pitchers. They finish 15-20 games out in 08 without CC and Sheets.

Ryan Ludwick, Kyle Lohse, and Todd Wellemeyer won't come close to doing what they did in 08. If they get a couple guys like Orlando Hudson and Brian Fuentes, they'll probably finish ahead of the Brewdicks, but still far behind us.

Houston's been ordered to cut payroll a lot. Ty Wigginton was a key hitter in their lineup, he's gone. They still might trade Tejada. Besides that, they're old, and they won't be able to make a big splash at the deadline to improve their team.

Cincy and Pittsburgh are the same ole.

You never know, look at the Rays this year and the Rockies in 07. But as it currently looks, I'd be more than shocked if we didn't win the division(unless a bunch of guys get hurt like I said). Winning a single game in October is a whole different animal, and I'm not expecting to see that again in my lifetime.

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=5676:date=Dec 18 2008, 12:38 AM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Dec 18 2008, 12:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5673:date=Dec 18 2008, 01:12 AM:name=PcB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PcB @ Dec 18 2008, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5592:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:01 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Dec 17 2008, 07:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5583:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5569:date=Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Dec 17 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5552:date=Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 17 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know what is a really weird consideration?

The Cubs might not make the playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't say?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It feels really weird to consider that right now, doesn't it? Our entire offseason discussion has been built on a foundation of "what does it take to win in the playoffs?"
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They'll win this division unless at least a few players have serious injuries. CC and Sheets leaving sealed that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Not necessarily.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm pretty confident in it, much more so than the last 2 years. We lose a few games in the standings possibly, but who(as currently built) is gonna catch us?

Milwaukee won't be nearly as good, they can't be without those 2 pitchers. They finish 15-20 games out in 08 without CC and Sheets.

Ryan Ludwick, Kyle Lohse, and Todd Wellemeyer won't come close to doing what they did in 08. If they get a couple guys like Orlando Hudson and Brian Fuentes, they'll probably finish ahead of the Brewdicks, but still far behind us.

Houston's been ordered to cut payroll a lot. Ty Wigginton was a key hitter in their lineup, he's gone. They still might trade Tejada. Besides that, they're old, and they won't be able to make a big splash at the deadline to improve their team.

Cincy and Pittsburgh are the same ole.

You never know, look at the Rays this year and the Rockies in 07. But as it currently looks, I'd be more than shocked if we didn't win the division(unless a bunch of guys get hurt like I said). Winning a single game in October is a whole different animal, and I'm not expecting to see that again in my lifetime.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Spot on. The Reds have the most talent of the cellar dwellers, but they don't have the pitching, unlike the Rays who were loaded with a solid young staff. I say we win by 20 games, the Cards come in second.