http://tinyurl.com/yo6q37

I'm really looking forward to seeing Soto. He's probably our best hope for an all around everyday catcher since Damon Berryhill, and I hope he takes the position over and doesn't give it back for a long time.

http://tinyurl.com/2opmo4

I wonder if McDonough sees the handwriting on the wall. It's no secret who Selig wants to be the next owner of the Cubs, even though Selig will never admit it publicly, and what Selig wants, Selig usually gets eventually. I wonder if word has leaked out of the Canning camp that it intends to clean house if and when MLB approves them as the new owners. If this were the case, it would be logical for McDonough to start looking for greener pastures. As for Hendry, he is probably stuck without a parachute, but I really don't care. I just hope Piniella, his coaching staff and Wilken survive.

http://tinyurl.com/25gsac

And to think that all this time I thought Rick Morrisey had no sense of humor. I guess the workers dug that up too.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=58202&src=152

I'm not sure if Flieta has not been part of the problem, especially when you look at the Cubs best hitting prospect over the last several years. The strikeout to walk ratios are terrible. We are either drafting and signing the wrong kinds of amateur hitters, and/or the kids we are drafting and signing are not being properly taught. Flieta is to connected to MacPhail and Hendry for my taste.

http://tinyurl.com/ywdwr8

I have to wonder if Paul Sullivan is writing stuff just to have something to write. With ownership up in the air and not likely to be decided before opening day of 2008, I just don't see the Cubs being all that active this winter. My biggest hope for the Cubs this off-season is just getting a new owner who understands the difference between successful and unsuccessful organizations is more than just money.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3062658

The Reds just got worse. I live in Reds country, and I work with a bunch of die-hard Reds fans. None of them are happy about this, and I can't blame them. I can't figure this one out for the life of me. It doesn't make any sense for either the team or Baker.

Why would the Reds choose Baker? They have a bright future. Jay Bruce is Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year, and their farm system is stacked from top to bottom. Baker won't play the kids if he has a veteran to play, and he is not interested in teaching the game to kids. If they don't immeidately perform like all-stars, they will soon be setting on the end of the bench to be forgotten, breaking their confidence.

The Sun Times Chris De Luca seems to think so.

http://tinyurl.com/2pg4s6

This article by Peter Gammons rings true for the most part to me.

http://tinyurl.com/2dt2ro

Money doesn't buy World Series Championships.

I know it's an old cliche, but it's true none the less. If it weren't, the Yankees would win the World Series every year, but as history tells, they have not won a World Series since 2000. If the next owners of the Cubs want to be the first in money spent, let it be in the categories of amateur and professional scouting and player development.

"From talking to Andy MacPhail and people who have been here for awhile, it's been this way for a long time. I think more night games will help. We can try to keep the ball in the ballpark. This is a tough ballpark to keep the ball in when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. It's something I've been wondering about and have been researching."

The above quote came from the Cubs' esteemed manager, Dusty Baker, and as usual Dusty does not seem to get it.