[Pun]

I didn't want to put this on OO, but I wanted it saved for posterity. It's from an AIM conversation between myself and Devil.

[21:58] OODevilSoprano: I'm willing to say Lilly and Marquis go a combined 13-20 with an era over 5
[21:58] natecorbitt: I'll take that bet.

So, Devil, what's the bet?

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Holy shit, it's a bet between the guys with the most AIM screen names EVAR.

I'll take natecorbittnatec73 to win. Lilly and Marquis will win at least 16 combined.

[Jack Quinn]

you should counter with a bet that Dookie and Pelfrey will win a combined 14 with an era over 5

[DevSop]

I never used the term bet especially cause I'd lose the bet if they go 14-19 with an era of 4.9, but I'd still be laughing.

The bet I am willing to make is that the Cubs are out of the races by mid-late August at the latest.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Two words: Wes Helms.

[Jack Quinn]

like I am gonna listen to Solly, how'd my prediction on Howard you accused me of being insane for go?

Or your wire to wire prediction?

Or that Mets World Series win?


And Soprano, you are insane. The Cubs have greatly improved, and the NL Central is fairly weak, the Cubbies will be there at least for the division until the end

[Pun]

Devil doesn't have different screen names. I use a program called Trillian that let's me connect to multiple chat clients with one program. The main reason I use it, though is because it allows me to change the way it displays people's screen names so I can remember who's who. I changed Devil's display name along with a lot of other people from OO that I talk to on AIM.

And I'll take the August bet, Devil. Name the stakes.

[DevSop]

Moose you a Tiglies fan. Your opinion don't matter much.

Stakes, since it'll be summer, I'd be okay with a sig image or av image type bet. Unless you're talking monetarily.

And the Cubs may have improved on paper. I don't doubt that. Hell, I'd love to see them do well cause I think Pun doesn't deserve the heartache. But the team just screams '91 Mets...in other words, "The Worst Team Money Could Buy." I think Lilly and Marquis are going to be MASSIVE failures. Pinella and Zambrano may have one pull-apart brawl at some point. Soriano will stop caring around May and totally be HR/SB happy and not care about the team. Wood and Prior combined still won't top 200 innings. And IF Soriano is the CF, I'm going to watch every windy game possible at Wrigley cause it will be FUN FUN FUN.

[williamssl]

admin said:

I use a program called Trillian that let's me connect to multiple chat clients with one program....

This any good? And do you use the shareware/free version of the "for fee" one....and why?

[The Jewish Cunthead]

devilsoprano said:

But the team just screams '91 Mets...in other words, "The Worst Team Money Could Buy."

Sighs.. it was the '93 team and thank god nothing else happened in the East that year. Nope, nothing at all.

[Jack Quinn]

hmmmm what was that, boy I wish I could remember, seems like something important.......

Oh yeah, its the same thing that is gonna happen in the east this year (well except for the part where the Phillies lose to the Blue Jays I hope)

[DevSop]

coughJOECARTERcough

[Jack Quinn]

[cough]MonkeyStrikesOutLooking[cough]

[cough]1993 59-103,38 games behind the Phillies[cough]

[Pun]

williamssl said:

admin said:

I use a program called Trillian that let's me connect to multiple chat clients with one program....

This any good? And do you use the shareware/free version of the "for fee" one....and why?

I use the free version and it's fine for me. I have been using Trillian for years. I only talk to a couple people on Yahoo Messenger (you are one of them), but it's nice not to have to have multiple programs open to talk to people. The changing display name things is a life saver, though.

[Lucky]

I'm with the "bad bet, Devil" crowd. I'm not sure what I think of the Cubs but I do know that division sucks nuts at the moment. Cardinals are a year older and no better. Astros add Lee and lost Pettitte and most likely Clemens. Brewers and Reds are the same place they were. That division produced a just slightly over .500 team last season and there's not a ton of reason to doubt they might do that again. Plus the entire NL sucked nuts last year and kept the Wild Card race low. You have to REALLY suck to not stay in that.

Unless the NL improves quite a bit Chicago should have at least enough offense to stay compeitive for awhile.

[Pun]

devilsoprano said:

Pinella and Zambrano may have one pull-apart brawl at some point.

Good, shake things up a little. They need to have their cages rattled from time to time.

Wood and Prior combined still won't top 200 innings.

They aren't being counted on to. Wood is coming out of the pen, quite possibly as the closer. And the team has already stated many times that they aren't counting on Prior for '07. Anything they get out of him will be a bonus. Personally, I think that is somewhat of a veiled statement to Prior that he better get his ass in gear.

[DevSop]

On paper I agree with the sentiment I'm making a bad bet. But there's just an underlying feeling I have that while the Cubs may have been bad the last 2 seasons, they're going to IMPLODE this season. Just a complete disaster on the field and then off the field when they realize that Soriano, Lilly, Marquis and co. are still signed for a minimum of 2 more years and a max of 6.

As I said, I want the Cubs to do well. They're a feel-good team, but there's just something not sitting right with what they've done this offseason and I think it will get alot worse before it gets better.

[Lucky]

I'm VERY down on the length and size of the Sori deal. But I think you've gone overboard with the Sori dislike for awhile. He SHOULD be a solid contributor for at least a few years. And the guy has NEVER caused a problem with anyone. The two times he came close he bowed to both Buck Showalter and Frank Robinson before it became a real issue. So I don't expect him to implode on or off the field.

Lilly and Marquis are bad deals. But Pun's right. They're no worse than what they had and probably better. Lilly IS better. He's even pretty good. 4/$40 good? No. But he's a solid pitcher and above the pack, probably. I think this is going to be a potentialy disastrous offseason in the future. If this team fails to be a World Series winner but has a lot of money invested poorly. But I don't expect them to field a 100 loss season with a top 10 payroll. I just don't see any reasoning for that.

But hey, gut is gut. I always make a few picks on that sort of thing. A couple of seasons ago it somehow called the Orioles' surprise 1st place run.

[Jack Quinn]

well so far Sop's not looking so good, Lilly and Marquis are a combined 14-9 and both have a 3.67 ERA.

That could change, but so far, so good

[Andy]

williamssl said:

This any good? And do you use the shareware/free version of the "for fee" one....and why?

Its not any good. Its all the good. The free version beats the shit out of any other messenger so the feature Pun mentioned and also just being able to talk to absolutely everyone. Its is the shit and the piss rolled into a ball.